GROWTH PORTFOLIO
POS AMI, 1997-12-19
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 1997

                                                               File No. 811-8558



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                        THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940          [ X ]

                                  AMENDMENT NO. 4                   [ X ]

                                GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                ----------------
               (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                 ----------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (617) 482-8260
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)


                                 Alan R. Dynner
                 24 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                 ----------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

<PAGE>

   
     Throughout  this  Registration  Statement,  information  concerning  Growth
Portfolio (the  "Portfolio")  is incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 70
to the  Registration  Statement of Eaton Vance  Growth  Trust (File No.  2-22019
under  the   Securities   Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "1933  Act"))  (the
"Amendment"),  which was filed  electronically  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 19,  1997 (Accession No.  0000950156-97-001003).      The
Amendment  contains  the  prospectus  and  statement of  additional  information
("SAI")  of  Eaton  Vance  Growth  Fund  (the  "Feeder  Fund"),   which  invests
substantially all of its assets in the Portfolio.
    

                                     PART A

     Responses  to  Items 1  through  3 and 5A have  been  omitted  pursuant  to
Paragraph 4 of Instruction F of the General Instructions to Form N-1A.

ITEM 4.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT

   
     The Portfolio is a  diversified,  open-end  management  investment  company
which was organized as a trust under the laws of the State of New York on May 1,
1992.  Interests  in the  Portfolio  are  issued  solely  in  private  placement
transactions  that do not involve any  "public  offering"  within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act.  Investments  in the Portfolio may be made only by
U.S.  and  foreign  investment  companies,  common or  commingled  trust  funds,
organizations  or trusts  described in Section  401(a) or 501(a) of the Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  or similar  organizations  or
entities  that are  "accredited  investors"  within the meaning of  Regulation D
under the 1933 Act. This Registration Statement, as amended, does not constitute
an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any "security"  within
the meaning of the 1933 Act.

     The Portfolio is not intended to be a complete  investment  program,  and a
prospective   investor  should  take  into  account  its  objectives  and  other
investments when  considering the purchase of an interest in the Portfolio.  The
Portfolio cannot assure achievement of its investment objective.

     Registrant incorporates by reference information concerning the Portfolio's
investment  objective  and  investment  practices  from "The  Fund's  Investment
Objective" and "Investment Policies and Risks" in the Feeder Fund prospectus.
    

ITEM 5.  MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

     Registrant incorporates by reference information concerning the Portfolio's
management  from  "Management  of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the Feeder Fund
prospectus.

ITEM 6.  CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference  information  concerning interests in
the Portfolio  from  "Organization  of the Fund and the Portfolio" in the Feeder
Fund  prospectus and "Other  Information" in the Feeder Fund SAI. An interest in
the  Portfolio  has no  preemptive  or  conversion  rights and is fully paid and
nonassessable by the Portfolio, except as described in Item 18 below.

     As of December 1, 1997,  the Feeder  Fund,  a series of Eaton Vance  Growth
Trust,  controlled the Portfolio by virtue of owning  approximately 99.9% of the
outstanding voting interests in the Portfolio.
    

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

     The net asset value of the  Portfolio is  determined  each day on which the
New  York  Stock  Exchange  (the  "Exchange")  is open for  trading  ("Portfolio
Business Day"). This determination is made each Portfolio Business Day as of the
close of regular  trading on the Exchange  (currently  4:00 p.m., New York time)
(the "Portfolio Valuation Time").

     Each investor in the  Portfolio may add to or reduce its  investment in the
Portfolio on each Portfolio Business Day as of the Portfolio Valuation Time. The
value  of each  investor's  interest  in the  Portfolio  will be  determined  by
multiplying the net asset value of the Portfolio by the  percentage,  determined
on the prior Portfolio  Business Day, which  represents that investor's share of
the  aggregate  interests in the  Portfolio on such prior day. Any  additions or
withdrawals for the current Portfolio  Business Day will then be recorded.  Each
investor's  percentage of the aggregate  interests in the Portfolio will then be
recomputed as a percentage equal to a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the
value  of  such  investor's  investment  in the  Portfolio  as of the  Portfolio
Valuation Time on the prior  Portfolio  Business Day plus or minus,  as the case
may be,  the  amount of any  additions  to or  withdrawals  from the  investor's
investment in the Portfolio on the current  Portfolio  Business Day and (ii) the
denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of the
Portfolio  Valuation Time on the prior Portfolio  Business Day plus or minus, as
the case may be,  the amount of the net  additions  to or  withdrawals  from the
aggregate  investment in the Portfolio on the current Portfolio  Business Day by
all  investors in the  Portfolio.  The  percentage  so  determined  will then be
applied to determine the value of the  investor's  interest in the Portfolio for
the current Portfolio Business Day.

   
     The Portfolio  will allocate at least  annually among its investors its net
investment  income,  net realized  capital gains, and any other items of income,
gain, loss,  deduction or credit. The Portfolio's net investment income consists
of all income  accrued on the  Portfolio's  assets,  less all actual and accrued
expenses of the  Portfolio,  determined in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.
    

     Under the anticipated  method of operation of the Portfolio,  the Portfolio
will not be subject to any federal  income tax.  (See Part B, Item 20.) However,
each investor in the Portfolio will take into account its allocable share of the
Portfolio's  ordinary  income and capital gain in determining its federal income
tax liability.  The  determination of each such share will be made in accordance
with the governing  instruments of the  Portfolio,  which are intended to comply
with the requirements of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

   
     It is intended  that the  Portfolio's  assets and income will be managed in
such a way  that an  investor  in the  Portfolio  which  seeks to  qualify  as a
regulated  investment company ("RIC") under the Code will be able to satisfy the
requirements for such qualification.
    

ITEM 7.  PURCHASE OF INTERESTS IN THE PORTFOLIO

     Interests  in  the  Portfolio  are  issued  solely  in  private   placement
transactions  that do not involve any  "public  offering"  within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. See "General Description of Registrant" above.

   
     Registrant incorporates by reference information concerning the computation
of net asset value and valuation of Portfolio  assets from  "Valuing  Shares" in
the Feeder Fund prospectus. For further information, see Item 19 of Part B.
    

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

     There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment in the Portfolio.  The
Portfolio  reserves the right to cease  accepting  investments at any time or to
reject any investment order.

     The  placement  agent for the Portfolio is Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
("EVD"),  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Eaton Vance  Management.  The principal
business address of EVD is 24 Federal Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02110. EVD
receives no compensation for serving as the placement agent for the Portfolio.

ITEM 8.  REDEMPTION OR DECREASE OF INTEREST

     An investor in the Portfolio may withdraw all of (redeem) or any portion of
(decrease) its interest in the Portfolio if a withdrawal  request in proper form
is furnished by the investor to the Portfolio.  All withdrawals will be effected
as of the next Portfolio  Valuation  Time. The proceeds of a withdrawal  will be
paid by the Portfolio  normally on the Portfolio  Business Day the withdrawal is
effected,  but in any event within seven days. The Portfolio  reserves the right
to pay the  proceeds of a  withdrawal  (whether a  redemption  or decrease) by a
distribution in kind of portfolio  securities  (instead of cash). The securities
so  distributed  would be valued at the same amount as that  assigned to them in
calculating the net asset value for the interest  (whether  complete or partial)
being  withdrawn.  If an  investor  received  a  distribution  in kind upon such
withdrawal,  the investor could incur  brokerage and other charges in converting
the securities to cash. The Portfolio has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission")  a  notification  of  election  on Form  N-18F-1
committing to pay in cash all requests for withdrawals by any investor,  limited
in amount with respect to such  investor  during any 90 day period to the lesser
of (a)  $250,000  or (b) 1% of the  net  asset  value  of the  Portfolio  at the
beginning of such period.

     Investments in the Portfolio may not be transferred.

   
     The right of any investor to receive payment with respect to any withdrawal
may be suspended or the payment of the withdrawal  proceeds postponed during any
period in which the  Exchange is closed  (other than  weekends or  holidays)  or
trading on the Exchange is restricted or, to the extent  otherwise  permitted by
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), if an emergency
exists,  or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for the
protection of investors.
    

ITEM 9.  PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     Not applicable.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

                                     PART B

ITEM 10.  COVER PAGE

     Not applicable.

ITEM 11.  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                               Page

   
     General Information and History ................................B-1
     Investment Objectives and Policies .............................B-1
     Management of the Portfolio ....................................B-1
     Control Persons and Principal Holder of Securities .............B-1
     Investment Advisory and Other Services .........................B-2
     Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices........................B-2
     Capital Stock and Other Securities .............................B-2
     Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities..................B-3
     Tax Status......................................................B-4
     Underwriters....................................................B-6
     Calculation of Performance Data.................................B-6
     Financial Statements............................................B-6
    

ITEM 12.  GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY

     Not applicable.

ITEM 13.  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     Part A contains additional  information about the investment objectives and
policies of the Portfolio.  This Part B should be read in conjunction  with Part
A.  Capitalized  terms used in this Part B and not  otherwise  defined  have the
meanings give them in Part A.

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning the
investment  policies of the  Portfolio  as well as  information  concerning  the
investment  restrictions  of the Portfolio from  "Additional  Information  about
Investment  Policies" and "Investment  Restrictions" in the Feeder Fund SAI. The
Portfolio's  portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1997
and 1996 were 28% and 62%, respectively.
    

ITEM 14.  MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference additional information concerning the
management of the Portfolio from "Trustees and Officers" in the Feeder Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 15.  CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDER OF SECURITIES

   
     As of December 1, 1997, the Feeder Fund  controlled the Portfolio by virtue
of owning  approximately 99.2% of the value of the outstanding  interests in the
Portfolio.  Because the Feeder Fund controls the Portfolio,  the Feeder Fund may
take  actions  without the approval of any other  investor.  The Feeder Fund has
informed  the  Portfolio  that  whenever  it is  requested  to vote  on  matters
pertaining to the fundamental policies of the Portfolio,  it will hold a meeting
of shareholders and will cast its votes as instructed by its shareholders. It is
anticipated  that any other  investor in the  Portfolio  which is an  investment

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

company  registered  under  the  1940 Act  would  follow  the same or a  similar
practice.  The Feeder Fund is a series of Eaton Vance Growth Trust,  an open-end
management  investment  company  organized as a business trust under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The address of the Feeder Fund is 24 Federal
Street, Boston, MA 02110.
    

ITEM 16.  INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

   
     Registrant  incorporates  by reference  information  concerning  investment
advisory and other services  provided to the Portfolio from "Investment  Adviser
and Administrator",  "Custodian" and "Independent  Certified Public Accountants"
in the Feeder Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 17.  BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

   
     Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning the brokerage
practices of the Portfolio from "Portfolio Security  Transactions" in the Feeder
Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 18.  CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES

   
     Under the Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust, the Trustees are authorized to
issue interests in the Portfolio. Investors are entitled to participate pro rata
in distributions of taxable income, loss, gain and credit of the Portfolio. Upon
dissolution  of the Portfolio,  the Trustees  shall  liquidate the assets of the
Portfolio and apply and distribute the proceeds  thereof as follows:  (a) first,
to the payment of all debts and  obligations  of the  Portfolio to third parties
including, without limitation, the retirement of outstanding debt, including any
debt owed to holders of record of  interests  in the  Portfolio  ("Holders")  or
their affiliates, and the expenses of liquidation,  and to the setting up of any
reserves for contingencies which may be necessary; and (b) second, in accordance
with the Holders'  positive Book Capital  Account  balances after adjusting Book
Capital  Accounts for certain  allocations  provided in the Declaration of Trust
and in  accordance  with the  requirements  described  in  Treasury  Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Trustees
shall  determine  that an  immediate  sale of part or all of the  assets  of the
Portfolio would cause undue loss to the Holders, the Trustees, in order to avoid
such loss,  may,  after having  given  notification  to all the Holders,  to the
extent not then prohibited by the law of any jurisdiction in which the Portfolio
is then formed or qualified and  applicable in the  circumstances,  either defer
liquidation of and withhold from  distribution  for a reasonable time any assets
of the Portfolio  except those  necessary to satisfy the  Portfolio's  debts and
obligations or distribute the Portfolio's  assets to the Holders in liquidation.
Certificates  representing  an  investor's  interest in the Portfolio are issued
only upon the written request of a Holder.
    

     Each Holder is entitled to vote in proportion to the amount of its interest
in the Portfolio. Holders do not have cumulative voting rights. The Portfolio is
not  required and has no current  intention to hold annual  meetings of Holders,
but the  Portfolio  will hold  meetings of Holders  when in the  judgment of the
Portfolio's Trustees it is necessary or desirable to submit matters to a vote of
Holders at a  meeting.  Any  action  which may be taken by Holders  may be taken
without a meeting if Holders holding more than 50% of all interests  entitled to
vote (or such  larger  proportion  thereof as shall be  required  by any express
provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Portfolio) consent to the action in
writing and the consents are filed with the records of meetings of Holders.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>

     The  Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust may be amended by vote of Holders of
more than 50% of all  interests in the Portfolio at any meeting of Holders or by
an  instrument  in writing  without a  meeting,  executed  by a majority  of the
Trustees and consented to by the Holders of more than 50% of all interests.  The
Trustees may also amend the Declaration of Trust (without the vote or consent of
Holders) to change the Portfolio's name or the state or other jurisdiction whose
law shall be the  governing  law,  to supply any  omission  or cure,  correct or
supplement any ambiguous,  defective or inconsistent  provision,  to conform the
Declaration  of  Trust  to  applicable  federal  law  or  regulations  or to the
requirements  of the Code,  or to  change,  modify  or  rescind  any  provision,
provided  that such change,  modification  or  rescission  is  determined by the
Trustees to be necessary  or  appropriate  and not to have a materially  adverse
effect  on  the  financial  interests  of  the  Holders.  No  amendment  of  the
Declaration  of Trust which would change any rights with respect to any Holder's
interest  in  the  Portfolio  by  reducing  the  amount  payable   thereon  upon
liquidation of the Portfolio may be made, except with the vote or consent of the
Holders of two-thirds of all interests.  References in the  Declaration of Trust
and in Part A or this  Part B to a  specified  percentage  of, or  fraction  of,
interests in the Portfolio,  means Holders whose  combined Book Capital  Account
balances  represent such  specified  percentage or fraction of the combined Book
Capital Account balance of all, or a specified group of, Holders.

     The  Portfolio  may  merge  or  consolidate  with  any  other  corporation,
association,  trust  or  other  organization  or may  sell  or  exchange  all or
substantially  all of its  assets  upon such terms and  conditions  and for such
consideration  when and as  authorized  by the Holders of (a) 67% or more of the
interests in the Portfolio present or represented at the meeting of Holders,  if
Holders of more than 50% of all interests are present or  represented  by proxy,
or (b) more than 50% of all  interests,  whichever is less. The Portfolio may be
terminated (i) by the affirmative vote of Holders of not less than two-thirds of
all interests at any meeting of Holders or by an instrument in writing without a
meeting,  executed by a majority of the Trustees and  consented to by Holders of
not less than  two-thirds of all  interests,  or (ii) by the Trustees by written
notice to the Holders.

     The  Portfolio  is  organized as a trust under the laws of the State of New
York.  Investors  in the  Portfolio  will  be  held  personally  liable  for its
obligations  and  liabilities,  subject,  however,  to  indemnification  by  the
Portfolio in the event that there is imposed upon an investor a greater  portion
of the  liabilities  and  obligations  of the Portfolio  than its  proportionate
interest in the Portfolio. The Portfolio intends to maintain fidelity and errors
and omissions  insurance  deemed adequate by the Trustees.  Thus, the risk of an
investor incurring financial loss on account of investor liability is limited to
circumstances in which both inadequate insurance exists and the Portfolio itself
is unable to meet its obligations.

   
     The Declaration of Trust provides that obligations of the Portfolio are not
binding  upon the  Trustees  individually  but only  upon  the  property  of the
Portfolio  and that the Trustees will not be liable for any action or failure to
act,  but nothing in the  Declaration  of Trust  protects a Trustee  against any
liability  to  which  he  would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence,  or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.
    

ITEM 19.  PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SECURITIES

   
     See "Purchase of Interests in the Portfolio" and "Redemption or Decrease of
Interest" in Part A.

                                      B-3
<PAGE>

         Registrant  incorporates by reference information  concerning valuation
of the Portfolio's assets from  "Determination of Net Asset Value" in the Feeder
Fund SAI.
    

ITEM 20.  TAX STATUS

   
     The Portfolio has been advised by tax counsel that,  provided the Portfolio
is  operated  at all times  during its  existence  in  accordance  with  certain
organizational and operational documents,  the Portfolio will be classified as a
partnership under the Code, and it should not be a "publicly traded partnership"
within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code. Consequently, the Portfolio does
not expect that it will be required to pay any federal  income tax, and a Holder
will be  required to take into  account in  determining  its federal  income tax
liability its share of the Portfolio's  income,  gains,  losses,  deductions and
credits.

     Under Subchapter K of the Code, a partnership is considered to be either an
aggregate  of its members or a separate  entity  depending  upon the factual and
legal context in which the question arises.  Under the aggregate approach,  each
partner is treated as an owner of an undivided  interest in  partnership  assets
and  operations.  Under the entity  approach,  the  partnership  is treated as a
separate entity in which partners have no direct interest in partnership  assets
and operations.  The Portfolio has been advised by tax counsel that, in the case
of a Holder that seeks to qualify as a RIC, the aggregate approach should apply,
and each such Holder should  accordingly be deemed to own a proportionate  share
of each of the assets of the Portfolio and to be entitled to the gross income of
the Portfolio  attributable  to that share for purposes of all  requirements  of
Sections 851(b),  852(b)(5),  853(a) and 854 of the Code. Further, the Portfolio
has been  advised by tax counsel that each Holder that seeks to qualify as a RIC
should be deemed to hold its proportionate  share of the Portfolio's  assets for
the  period the  Portfolio  has held the assets or for the period the Holder has
been an investor  in the  Portfolio,  whichever  is  shorter.  Investors  should
consult  their tax  advisers  regarding  whether  the  entity  or the  aggregate
approach  applies  to  their  investment  in the  Portfolio  in  light  of their
particular tax status and any special tax rules applicable to them.

     In order to enable a Holder  (that is  otherwise  eligible) to qualify as a
RIC, the Portfolio  intends to satisfy the  requirements  of Subchapter M of the
Code relating to sources of income and diversification of assets as if they were
applicable  to the  Portfolio  and to permit  withdrawals  in a manner that will
enable a Holder  which is a RIC to  comply  with the  distribution  requirements
applicable to RICs  (including  those under  Sections 852 and 4982 of the Code).
The  Portfolio  will  allocate at least  annually  to each Holder such  Holder's
distributive  share of the  Portfolio's  net  investment  income,  net  realized
capital gains, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit in
a manner intended to comply with the Code and applicable  Treasury  regulations.
Tax counsel  has  advised the  Portfolio  that the  Portfolio's  allocations  of
taxable income and loss should have "economic effect" under applicable  Treasury
regulations.

     To the  extent the cash  proceeds  of any  withdrawal  (or,  under  certain
circumstances,  such  proceeds  plus  the  value  of any  marketable  securities
distributed to an investor) ("liquid proceeds") exceed a Holder's adjusted basis
of his interest in the Portfolio,  the Holder will generally  realize a gain for
federal income tax purposes.  If, upon a complete withdrawal  (redemption of the
entire  interest),  a Holder  receives only liquid proceeds  (and/or  unrealized
receivables)  and the  Holder's  adjusted  basis  of his  interest  exceeds  the
proceeds  of such  withdrawal,  the  Holder  will  generally  realize a loss for

                                       B-4
<PAGE>

federal income tax purposes. In addition, on a distribution to a Holder from the
Portfolio  (whether pursuant to a partial or complete  withdrawal or otherwise),
(1) income or gain will be recognized if the  distribution  is in liquidation of
the Holder's  entire  interest in the Portfolio and includes a  disproportionate
share of any unrealized  receivables  held by the Portfolio and (2) gain or loss
may be recognized on a distribution to a Holder that contributed property to the
Portfolio.  The tax  consequences of a withdrawal of property  (instead of or in
addition to liquid  proceeds)  will be different and will depend on the specific
factual circumstances. A Holder's adjusted basis of an interest in the Portfolio
will  generally be the aggregate  prices paid therefor  (including  the adjusted
basis of  contributed  property  and any  gain  recognized  on the  contribution
thereof),  increased by the amounts of the Holder's  distributive share of items
of income  (including  interest  income  exempt  from  federal  income  tax) and
realized net gain of the Portfolio,  and reduced, but not below zero, by (i) the
amounts of the Holder's  distributive share of items of Portfolio loss, and (ii)
the amount of any cash distributions (including distributions of interest income
exempt from federal income tax and cash  distributions  on withdrawals  from the
Portfolio)  and the basis to the Holder of any property  received by such Holder
other than in  liquidation,  and (iii) the  Holder's  distributive  share of the
Portfolio's  nondeductible  expenditures  not  properly  chargeable  to  capital
account.  Increases  or  decreases  in  a  Holder's  share  of  the  Portfolio's
liabilities  may also result in  corresponding  increases  or  decreases in such
adjusted basis.

     The  Portfolio's  transactions  in  options,  futures  contracts,   forward
contracts and certain other transactions involving foreign exchange gain or loss
will be subject to special tax rules,  the effect of which may be to  accelerate
income to the  Portfolio,  defer  Portfolio  losses,  cause  adjustments  in the
holding  periods of Portfolio  securities,  convert  capital gain into  ordinary
income and convert  short-term  capital  losses into long-term  capital  losses.
Income  from  transactions  in  options  and  futures  contracts  derived by the
Portfolio  with respect to its business of investing in securities  will qualify
as permissible  income for its Holders that are RICs under the requirement  that
at least 90% of a RIC's gross  income each  taxable  year  consist of  specified
types of income.

     The Portfolio  anticipates  that it will be subject to foreign  withholding
taxes with respect to income on certain foreign  securities.  These taxes may be
reduced or eliminated  under the terms of an applicable  U.S. income tax treaty.
Certain  foreign  exchange  gains and losses  realized by the Portfolio  will be
treated as ordinary  income and losses.  Certain  uses of foreign  currency  and
investment by the Portfolio in certain  "passive foreign  investment  companies"
may be limited or a tax election may be made, if  available,  in order to enable
an investor  that is a RIC to preserve  its  qualification  as a RIC or to avoid
imposition of a tax on such an investor.

     An entity  that is treated  as a  partnership  under the Code,  such as the
Portfolio, is generally treated as a partnership under state and local tax laws,
but certain states may have  different  entity  classification  criteria and may
therefore  reach  a  different  conclusion.  Entities  that  are  classified  as
partnerships  are not treated as taxable entities under most state and local tax
laws,  and the income of a  partnership  is  considered to be income of partners
both in timing and in character.  The  exemption of interest  income for federal
income tax purposes does not necessarily result in exemption under the income or
tax laws of any state or local taxing authority.  The laws of the various states
and local taxing  authorities vary with respect to the taxation of such interest
income, as well as to the status of a partnership interest under state and local
tax laws,  and each holder of an interest in the Portfolio is advised to consult
his own tax adviser.

                                      B-5
<PAGE>

    The foregoing  discussion does not address the special tax rules applicable
to  certain  classes  of  investors,  such  as  tax-exempt  entities,  insurance
companies and financial  institutions.  Investors  should  consult their own tax
advisers  with  respect to special tax rules that may apply in their  particular
situations, as well as the state, local or foreign tax consequences of investing
in the Portfolio.
    

ITEM 21.  UNDERWRITERS

   
     The placement agent for the Portfolio is EVD. Investment companies,  common
and  commingled  trust  funds  and  similar   organizations   and  entities  may
continuously invest in the Portfolio.
    

ITEM 22.  CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA

     Not applicable.

ITEM 23.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
     The   following   audited   financial   statements  of  the  Portfolio  are
incorporated  by  reference  into this Part B and have been so  incorporated  in
reliance upon the report of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,  independent  accountants,
as experts in accounting and auditing.

         Portfolio of  Investments as of August 31, 1997
         Statement of Assets and Liabilities  as of August 31,  1997
         Statement  of  Operations  for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997
         Statement  of Changes in Net Assets for the fiscal  years ended
         August 31, 1997 and 1996
         Supplementary Data for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1997, 1996
         and 1995, and for the period from the start of business, August 2,
         1994,  to August  31,  1994
         Notes to  Financial  Statements
         Independent Auditors' Report

     For  purposes  of the EDGAR  filing of this  amendment  to the  Portfolio's
registration  statement,  the  Portfolio  incorporates  by  reference  the above
audited  financial  statements  as  previously  filed  electronically  with  the
Commission (Accession Number 0000950109-97-007097).
    

                                      B-6
<PAGE>

                                     PART C

ITEM 24.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (a)  Financial Statements

   
          The financial  statements  called for by this Item are incorporated by
          reference in Part B and listed in Item 23 hereof.
    

     (b)  Exhibits

          1.   Declaration  of Trust dated May 1, 1992 a  substantially  similar
               copy of  which  was  filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  No. 1 to
               Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement of Stock Portfolio,
               File No.  811-8548,  filed with the  Commission on April 25, 1996
               (Accession No.  0001002391-96-000023)  and is incorporated herein
               by reference. (The document differs only with respect to the name
               of the executing  parties and the date of the Portfolio's  fiscal
               year-end.)

          2.   By-Laws of the  Registrant  adopted  May 1, 1992 a  substantially
               similar copy of which was filed  electronically  as Exhibit No. 2
               to  Amendment  No.  1 to  the  Registration  Statement  of  Stock
               Portfolio,  File No. 811-8548, filed with the Commission on April
               28, 1995 (Accession No. 0000898432-95-000164) and is incorporated
               herein by reference.  (The document  differs only with respect to
               the name of the executing parties.)

          5.   Investment  Advisory  Agreement between the Registrant and Boston
               Management  and Research  dated  August 1, 1994, a  substantially
               similar copy of which was filed  electronically  as Exhibit No. 5
               to  Amendment  No.  1 to  the  Registration  Statement  of  Stock
               Portfolio,  File No. 811-8548, filed with the Commission on April
               28, 1995 (Accession No. 0000898432-95-000164) and is incorporated
               herein by reference.  (The document  differs only with respect to
               the name of the executing parties.)

   
          6.   Placement  Agent  Agreement with Eaton Vance  Distributors,  Inc.
               dated  November 1, 1996 filed as Exhibit No. 6 to Amendment No. 3
               and incorporated herein by reference.

          7.   The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted the Registrant
               an  exemptive  order that  permits the  Registrant  to enter into
               deferred compensation arrangements with its independent Trustees.
               See IN THE MATTER OF CAPITAL  EXCHANGE  FUND,  INC.,  Release No.
               IC-20671 (November 1, 1994).
    

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

          8.   (a) Custodian Agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company dated
               August 1, 1994, a  substantially  similar copy of which was filed
               electronically  as Exhibit  No.  8(a) to  Amendment  No. 2 to the
               Registration  Statement of Stock  Portfolio,  File No.  811-8548,
               filed  with the  Commission  on April  25,  1996  (Accession  No.
               0001003291-96-000023)  and is  incorporated  herein by reference.
               (The  document  differs  only  with  respect  to the  name of the
               executing parties.)

   
          8.   (b) Amendment to the Custodian  Agreement dated October 23, 1995,
               filed as Exhibit No.  8(b) to  Amendment  No. 2 and  incorporated
               herein by reference.
    

          13.  Investment  representation letter of Eaton Vance Growth Trust (on
               behalf of Eaton Vance Growth  Fund) dated May 10,  1994,  filed a
               substantially  similar copy of which was filed  electronically as
               Exhibit No. 13 to Amendment No. 1 to the  Registration  Statement
               of Stock Portfolio,  File No. 811-8548, filed with the Commission
               on April 28, 1995  (Accession  No.  0000898432-95-000164)  and is
               incorporated herein by reference. (The document differs only with
               respect to the name of the executing parties.)

ITEM 25.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

     Not applicable.

ITEM 26.  NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   
                       (1)                        (2)
                                               Number of
                  Title of Class            Record Holders
                  --------------            --------------
                                         As of December 1, 1997

                   Interests                       3
    

ITEM 27.  INDEMNIFICATION

   
     Article V of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust contains indemnification
provisions  for  Trustees  and  officers.  The  Trustees  and  officers  of  the
Registrant and the personnel of the Registrant's  investment adviser are insured
under an errors and omissions liability insurance policy.

     The Placement Agent Agreement also provides for reciprocal indemnity of the
placement agent, on the one hand, and the Trustees and officers, on the other.
    

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

ITEM 28.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS

     To the knowledge of the Portfolio,  none of the trustees or officers of the
Portfolio's  investment  adviser,  except  as set forth on its Form ADV as filed
with the Commission, is engaged in any other business,  profession,  vocation or
employment of a substantial  nature,  except that certain  trustees and officers
also hold various  positions  with and engage in business for  affiliates of the
investment adviser.

ITEM 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS

     Not applicable.

ITEM 30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

   
     All applicable  accounts,  books and documents required to be maintained by
the  Registrant  by  Section  31(a) of the 1940  Act and the  Rules  promulgated
thereunder  are in the  possession  and custody of the  Registrant's  custodian,
Investors Bank & Trust Company, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116, with the
exception of certain corporate documents and portfolio trading documents,  which
are in the possession and custody of the Registrant's  investment  adviser at 24
Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110. The Registrant is informed that all applicable
accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by registered investment
advisers  are in the  custody  and  possession  of the  Registrant's  investment
adviser.
    

ITEM 31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

     Not applicable.

ITEM 32.  UNDERTAKINGS

     Not applicable.

                                      C-3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


   
     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on
Form  N-1A  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized in the City of Boston,  and the  Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the
19th day of December, 1997.
    


                                    GROWTH PORTFOLIO



                                    By: /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                       -------------------------------
                                            James B. Hawkes
                                            President


                                      C-4
<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.       Description of Exhibit
- -----------       ----------------------



                                      C-5

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000925461
<NAME> GROWTH PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      112,557,007
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     175,436,528
<RECEIVABLES>                                4,103,429
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   6,255
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             179,805,346
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       20,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             20,600
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   116,906,433
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    62,878,313
<NET-ASSETS>                               179,784,746
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            1,729,718
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              254,117
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,190,538
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        793,297
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    13,698,858
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   32,471,499
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       46,963,654
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      33,052,856
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,038,600
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,191,197
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       166,312,914
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                  0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.72
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


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