EVF Eaton Vance Senior Income

Investments in fixed-income and other debt obligations, including loans, (referred to below as “debt instruments”) are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled principal and interest. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the party obligated to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Such non-payments and defaults may reduce the value of Fund shares and income distributions. The value of debt instruments also may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make principal and interest payments. In addition, the credit ratings of debt instruments may be lowered if the financial condition of the party obligated to make payments with respect to such instruments deteriorates. In the event of bankruptcy of the issuer of a debt instrument, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing the instrument. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, bankruptcy or similar situation, the Fund may be required to retain legal or similar counsel, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses and adversely affect NAV. Due to their lower place in the borrower’s capital structure, Junior Loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans to the same borrower.

Loans are traded in a private, unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank resale market and are generally subject to contractual restrictions that must be satisfied before a loan can be bought or sold. These restrictions may impede the Fund’s ability to buy or sell loans (thus affecting their liquidity) and may negatively impact the transaction price. See also “Market Risk” above. It also may take longer than seven days for transactions in loans to settle. The types of covenants included in loan agreements generally vary depending on market conditions, the creditworthiness of the issuer, the nature of the collateral securing the loan and possibly other factors. Loans with fewer covenants that restrict activities of the borrower may provide the borrower with more flexibility to take actions that may be detrimental to the loan holders and provide fewer investor protections in the event of such actions or if covenants are breached. The Fund may experience relatively greater realized or unrealized losses or delays and expense in enforcing its rights with respect to loans with fewer restrictive covenants. Loans to entities located outside of the U.S. may have substantially different lender protections and covenants as compared to loans to U.S. entities and may involve greater risks. The Fund may have difficulties and incur expense enforcing its rights with respect to non-U.S. loans and such loans could be subject to bankruptcy laws that are materially different than in the U.S. Loans may be structured such that they are not securities under securities law, and in the event of fraud or misrepresentation by a borrower, lenders may not have the protection of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Loans are also subject to risks associated with other types of income investments, including credit risk and risks of lower rated investments.

The Fund’s investments in Non-Investment Grade Bonds, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” are predominantly speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, Non-Investment Grade Bonds typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. Issuers of Non-Investment Grade Bonds are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed to the Fund, and such defaults will reduce the Fund’s NAV and income distributions. The prices of these lower rated obligations are more sensitive to negative developments than higher rated securities. Adverse business conditions, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or an economic downturn, generally lead to a higher non-payment rate. In addition, a security may lose significant value before a default occurs as the market adjusts to expected higher non-payment rates.

During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, Borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled. For fixed-income securities, such payments often occur during periods of declining interest rates, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Non-Investment Grade Bonds frequently have call features that allow the issuer to redeem the security at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met (“call protection”). An issuer may redeem a Non-Investment Grade Bond if, for example, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. Senior Loans typically have no such call protection. For premium bonds (bonds acquired at prices that exceed their par or principal value) purchased by the Fund, prepayment risk may be enhanced.

The value of corporate income-producing securities held by the Fund may decline for a number of reasons, which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services.

Leverage, including leverage from the issuance of preferred shares and borrowings, creates risks, including the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV and market price of, and distributions from, the common shares and the risk that fluctuations in dividend rates on preferred shares and in the costs of borrowings may affect the return to common shareholders. To the extent the income derived from investments purchased with funds received from leverage exceeds the cost of leverage, the Fund’s distributions will be greater than if leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income from the investments purchased with such funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leverage, the amount of income available for distribution to common shareholders will be less than if leverage had not been used. In the latter case, the investment adviser may nevertheless determine to maintain the Fund’s leveraged position if it deems such action to be appropriate. While the Fund has preferred shares or borrowings outstanding, an increase in short-term rates would also result in an increased cost of leverage, which would adversely affect the Fund’s income available for distribution. In connection with its borrowings and preferred shares, the Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverage by applicable federal securities laws and (as applicable) the terms of the preferred shares and its credit facility. The Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio investments on unfavorable terms if market fluctuations or other factors cause the required asset coverage to be less than the prescribed amount. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Foreign investments can be adversely affected by political, economic and market developments abroad, including the imposition of economic and other sanctions by the United States or another country against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals. There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers because they may not be subject to reporting practices, requirements or regulations comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. Adverse changes in investment regulations, capital requirements or exchange controls could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Foreign markets may be smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major markets in the United States, and as a result, Fund share values may be more volatile. Trading in foreign markets typically involves higher expense than trading in the United States. The Fund may have difficulties enforcing its legal or contractual rights in a foreign country.

. Investment markets within emerging market countries are typically smaller, less liquid, less developed and more volatile than those in more developed markets like the United States, and may be focused in certain sectors. Emerging market securities often involve greater risks than developed market securities. The information available about an emerging market issuer may be less reliable than for comparable issuers in more developed capital markets.

Different types of U.S. government securities are subject to different levels of credit risk, including the risk of default, depending on the nature of the particular government support for that security. Although certain U.S. Government sponsored agencies (such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association) may be chartered or sponsored by acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. With respect to U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is a risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if not obligated to do so by law. U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government agency securities generally have a lower return than other obligations because of their higher credit quality and market liquidity.

Pooled investment vehicles are open- and closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Pooled investment vehicles are subject to the risks of investing in the underlying securities or other investments.  Shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs may trade at a premium or discount to NAV and are subject to secondary market trading risks.  In addition, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the operating expenses of a pooled investment vehicle in which it invests.

The value of equity securities and related instruments may decline in response to adverse changes in the economy or the economic outlook; deterioration in investor sentiment; interest rate, currency, and commodity price fluctuations; adverse geopolitical, social or environmental developments; issuer and sector-specific considerations; unexpected trading activity among retail investors; or other factors. Market conditions may affect certain types of stocks to a greater extent than other types of stocks. If the stock market declines in value, the value of the Fund’s equity securities will also likely decline. Although prices can rebound, there is no assurance that values will return to previous levels.

The Fund is exposed to liquidity risk when trading volume, lack of a market maker or trading partner, large position size, market conditions, or legal restrictions impair its ability to sell particular investments or to sell them at advantageous market prices. Consequently, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell an investment or continue to hold it or keep the position open, sell other investments to raise cash or abandon an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s performance. These effects may be exacerbated during times of financial or political stress.

As with any security, the market value of the common shares may increase or decrease from the amount initially paid for the common shares. The Fund’s common shares have traded both at a premium and at a discount relative to NAV. The shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. This is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV may decrease.

Money market instruments may be adversely affected by market and economic events, such as a sharp rise in prevailing short-term interest rates; adverse developments in the banking industry, which issues or guarantees many money market instruments; adverse economic, political or other developments affecting issuers of money market instruments; changes in the credit quality of issuers; and default by a counterparty.

Income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations into lower yielding instruments.

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions thereon can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, dividend rates of preferred shares would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to common shareholders. This risk is mitigated to some degree by the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans.

With the increased use of technologies by Fund service providers to conduct business, such as the Internet, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. The Fund relies on communications technology, systems, and networks to engage with clients, employees, accounts, shareholders, and service providers, and a cyber incident may inhibit the Fund’s ability to use these technologies. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cybersecurity failures by or breaches of the Fund’s investment adviser or administrator and other service providers (including, but not limited to, the custodian or transfer agent), and the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, may disrupt and otherwise adversely affect their business operations. This may result in financial losses of the Fund, impede Fund trading, interfere with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, limit a Fund shareholders’ ability to transact business or cause violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, litigation costs, or additional compliance costs.

The increasing interconnectivity between global economies and markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country, region, sector, industry or market or, with respect to one company, may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region, industry or market. For example, adverse developments in the banking or financial services could impact companies operating in various sectors or industries and adversely impact the Fund’s investments. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform due to inflation (or expectations for inflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, natural disasters, health emergencies (such as epidemics and pandemics), terrorism, regulatory events and governmental or quasi-governmental actions. The occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as terrorist attacks around the world, natural disasters, health emergencies, social and political discord, war or debt crises and downgrades, among others, may result in market volatility and may have long term effects on both the U.S. and global financial markets. Other financial, economic and other global market and social developments or disruptions may result in similar adverse circumstances, and it is difficult to predict when similar events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have and the duration of those effects (which may last for extended periods). Such global events may negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations, cause a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, adversely affect and increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price and/or exacerbate preexisting political, social and economic risks to the Fund. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted and any such event(s) could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. There is a risk that you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans.

Global instability, war, geopolitical tensions and terrorist attacks in the United States and around the world have previously resulted, and may in the future result in market volatility and may have long-term effects on the United States and worldwide financial markets and may cause further economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide. The Fund cannot predict the effects of significant future events on the global economy and securities markets. A similar disruption of the financial markets could impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the common shares. In particular, Non-Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans tend to be more volatile than higher rated fixed-income securities so that these events and any actions resulting from them may have a greater impact on the prices and volatility of Non-Investment Grade Bonds and Senior Loans than on higher rated fixed-income securities.

The Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) and Amended and Restated By-Laws include provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other persons or entities to acquire control of the Fund or to change the composition of its Board. For example, pursuant to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, the Board is divided into three classes of Trustees with each class serving for a three-year term and certain types of transactions require the favorable vote of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The Fund is not a complete investment program and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

1    

Calculated by subtracting the Trust’s total liabilities (not including the notes payable and preferred shares) from the Trust’s total assets, and dividing the result by the notes payable balance in thousands.

2    

Calculated by subtracting the Trust’s total liabilities (not including the notes payable and preferred shares) from the Trust’s total assets, dividing the result by the sum of the value of the notes payable and liquidation value of the preferred shares, and multiplying the result by the liquidation value of one preferred share.

3    

Plus accumulated and unpaid dividends.