Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to the classes based on the relative net assets of each class. Distribution fees, if any, are calculated daily at the class level based on the appropriate net assets of each class and the specific expense rates applicable to each class.
Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC (“EIMC”), a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the investment advisor to the Fund and is paid an annual fee starting at 0.51% and declining to 0.26% as average daily net assets increase. For the six months ended March 31, 2009, the advisory fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.51% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
On October 3, 2008, Wells Fargo and Wachovia Corporation (“Wachovia”) announced that Wells Fargo agreed to acquire Wachovia in a whole company transaction that would include all of Wachovia’s banking and other businesses. In connection with this transaction, Wachovia issued preferred shares to Wells Fargo representing approximately a 40% voting interest in Wachovia. Due to its ownership of preferred shares, Wells Fargo may have been deemed to control EIMC. If Wells Fargo was deemed to control EIMC, then the existing advisory agreement between the Fund and EIMC would have terminated automatically in connection with the issuance of preferred shares. To address this possibility, on October 20, 2008 the Board of Trustees approved an interim advisory agreement with EIMC with the same terms and conditions as the existing agreement which became effective upon the issuance of the preferred shares. EIMC’s receipt of the advisory fees under the interim advisory agreement was subject to the approval by shareholders of the Fund of a new advisory agreement with EIMC.
On December 31, 2008, Wachovia merged with and into Wells Fargo and as a result of the merger, EIMC, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. (“EIS”) and Evergreen Service Company, LLC (“ESC”) became subsidiaries of Wells Fargo. After the merger, a new interim advisory agreement with the same terms and conditions between the Fund and EIMC went into effect.
Shareholders approved the new advisory agreement between the Fund and EIMC on February 12, 2009.
From time to time, EIMC may voluntarily or contractually waive its fee and/or reimburse expenses in order to limit operating expenses. During the six months ended March 31, 2009, EIMC voluntarily waived its advisory fee in the amount of $304,157.
The Fund may invest in money market funds which are advised by EIMC. Income earned on these investments is included in income from affiliated issuers on the Statement of Operations.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) continued
EIMC also serves as the administrator to the Fund providing the Fund with facilities, equipment and personnel. EIMC is paid an annual rate determined by applying percentage rates to the aggregate average daily net assets of the Evergreen funds (excluding money market funds) starting at 0.10% and declining to 0.05% as the aggregate average daily net assets of the Evergreen funds (excluding money market funds) increase. For the six months ended March 31, 2009, the administrative services fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
ESC, an affiliate of EIMC and a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund. ESC receives account fees that vary based on the type of account held by the shareholders in the Fund. For the six months ended March 31, 2009, the transfer agent fees were equivalent to an annual rate of 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Wachovia Bank NA, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo and an affiliate of EIMC, through its securities lending division, Wachovia Global Securities Lending, acts as the securities lending agent for the Fund (see Note 5).
The Fund has placed a portion of its portfolio transactions with brokerage firms that are affiliates of Wells Fargo. During the six months ended March 31, 2009, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $21,498 to Wachovia Securities, LLC, a broker-dealer affiliated with Wells Fargo.
4. DISTRIBUTION PLANS
EIS, an affiliate of EIMC and a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, serves as distributor of the Fund���s shares. The Fund has adopted Distribution Plans, as allowed by Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act, for each class of shares, except Class I. Under the Distribution Plans, the Fund is permitted to pay distribution fees at an annual rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets for Class A shares and up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets for each of Class B and Class C shares. However, currently the distribution fees for Class A shares are limited to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the class.
For the six months ended March 31, 2009, EIS received $1,529 from the sale of Class A shares and $10,405 and $74 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares, respectively.
5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) were $53,883,723 and $91,899,106, respectively, for the six months ended March 31, 2009.
On October 1, 2008, the Fund implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”). FAS 157 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and
24
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) continued
expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy based upon the various inputs used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
As of March 31, 2009, the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets, which are carried at fair value, were as follows:
Valuation Inputs | | Investments in Securities |
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Level 1 – Quoted Prices | | $ | 309,734,911 | |
Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs | | | 0 | |
Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs | | | 0 | |
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Total | | $ | 309,734,911 | |
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During the year ended March 31, 2009, the Fund loaned securities to certain brokers and earned $319,954, net of $34,225 paid to Wachovia Global Securities Lending as the securities lending agent. At March 31, 2009, the value of securities on loan and the total value of collateral received for securities loaned amounted to to $41,059,037 and $43,327,829, respectively.
On March 31, 2009, the aggregate cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was $418,029,495. The gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation on securities based on tax cost was $13,690,391 and $121,984,975, respectively, with a net unrealized depreciation of $108,294,584.
For income tax purposes, capital losses incurred after October 31 within the Fund’s fiscal year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the following fiscal year. As of September 30, 2008, the Fund incurred and elected to defer post-October losses of $1,681,675.
6. INTERFUND LENDING
Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may participate in an interfund lending program with certain funds in the Evergreen fund family. This program allows the Fund to borrow from, or lend money to, other participating funds. During the six months ended March 31, 2009, the Fund did not participate in the interfund lending program.
25
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) continued
7. EXPENSE REDUCTIONS
Through expense offset arrangements with ESC and the Fund’s custodian, a portion of fund expenses has been reduced.
8. DEFERRED TRUSTEES’ FEES
Each Trustee of the Fund may defer any or all compensation related to performance of his or her duties as a Trustee. The Trustees’ deferred balances are allocated to deferral accounts, which are included in the accrued expenses for the Fund. The investment performance of the deferral accounts is based on the investment performance of certain Evergreen funds. Any gains earned or losses incurred in the deferral accounts are reported in the Fund’s Trustees’ fees and expenses. At the election of the Trustees, the deferral account will be paid either in one lump sum or in quarterly installments for up to ten years.
9. FINANCING AGREEMENT
The Fund and certain other Evergreen funds share in a $100 million unsecured revolving credit commitment for temporary and emergency purposes, including the funding of redemptions, as permitted by each participating fund’s borrowing restrictions. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at 0.50% per annum above the Federal Funds rate. All of the participating funds are charged an annual commitment fee of 0.09% on the unused balance, which is allocated pro rata. During the six months ended March 31, 2009, the Fund had no borrowings.
10. REGULATORY MATTERS AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Evergreen funds, EIMC and certain of EIMC’s affiliates are involved in various legal actions, including private litigation and class action lawsuits, and are and may in the future be subject to regulatory inquiries and investigations.
The SEC and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Securities Division, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are conducting separate investigations of EIMC, EIS and Evergreen Ultra Short Opportunities Fund (the “Ultra Short Fund”) concerning alleged issues surrounding the drop in net asset value of the Ultra Short Fund in May and June 2008. In addition, three purported class actions have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts relating to the same events; defendants include various Evergreen entities, including EIMC and EIS, and Evergreen Fixed Income Trust and its Trustees. The cases generally allege that investors in the Ultra Short Fund suffered losses as a result of (i) misleading statements in Ultra Short Fund’s registration statement and prospectus, (ii) the failure to accurately price securities in the Ultra Short Fund at different points in time and (iii) the failure of the Ultra Short Fund’s risk disclosures and description of its investment strategy to inform investors adequately of the actual risks of the fund.
26
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) continued
EIMC does not expect that any of the legal actions, inquiries or investigations currently pending or threatened will have a material adverse impact on the financial position or operations of the Fund to which these financial statements relate. Any publicity surrounding or resulting from any legal actions or regulatory inquiries involving EIMC or its affiliates or any of the Evergreen Funds could result in reduced sales or increased redemptions of Evergreen fund shares, which could increase Evergreen fund transaction costs or operating expenses or have other adverse consequences on the Evergreen funds, including the Fund.
11. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
In April 2009, FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (“FAS 157-4”). FAS 157-4 provides additional guidance for determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or a liability have significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly. FAS 157-4 requires enhanced disclosures about the inputs and valuation technique(s) used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques and related inputs, if any, during the period. In addition, the three-level hierarchy disclosure and the level three roll-forward disclosure will be expanded for each major category of assets. Management of the Fund does not believe the adoption of FAS 157-4 will materially impact the financial statement amounts, but will require additional disclosures. FAS 157-4 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (unaudited)
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
On February 12, 2009, a Special Meeting of Shareholders for the Fund was held to consider a number of proposals. On December 1, 2008, the record date for the meeting, the Fund had $260,926,303 of net assets outstanding of which $138,961,249 (53.26%) of net assets were represented at the meeting.
Proposal 1 — To consider and act upon a new Investment Advisory Agreement with Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC:
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Net assets voted “For” | $ | 126,573,940 |
Net assets voted “Against” | $ | 5,351,437 |
Net assets voted “Abstain” | $ | 7,035,872 |
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31
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
TRUSTEES1 | | |
Charles A. Austin III Trustee DOB: 10/23/1934 Term of office since: 1991 Other directorships: None | | Investment Counselor, Anchor Capital Advisors, LLC. (investment advice); Director, The Andover Companies (insurance); Trustee, Arthritis Foundation of New England; Former Director, The Francis Ouimet Society (scholarship program); Former Director, Executive Vice President and Treasurer, State Street Research & Management Company (investment advice) |
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K. Dun Gifford Trustee DOB: 10/23/1938 Term of office since: 1974 Other directorships: None | | Chairman and President, Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust (education); Trustee, Member of the Executive Committee, Former Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Former Treasurer, Cambridge College |
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Dr. Leroy Keith, Jr. Trustee DOB: 2/14/1939 Term of office since: 1983 Other directorships: Trustee, Phoenix Fund Complex (consisting of 50 portfolios as of 12/31/2008) | | Managing Director, Almanac Capital Management (commodities firm); Trustee, Phoenix Fund Complex; Director, Diversapack Co. (packaging company); Former Partner, Stonington Partners, Inc. (private equity fund); Former Director, Obagi Medical Products Co.; Former Director, Lincoln Educational Services |
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Carol A. Kosel Trustee DOB: 12/25/1963 Term of office since: 2008 Other directorships: None | | Former Consultant to the Evergreen Boards of Trustees; Former Vice President and Senior Vice President, Evergreen Investments, Inc.; Former Treasurer, Evergreen Funds; Former Treasurer, Vestaur Securities Fund |
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Gerald M. McDonnell Trustee DOB: 7/14/1939 Term of office since: 1988 Other directorships: None | | Former Manager of Commercial Operations, CMC Steel (steel producer) |
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Patricia B. Norris Trustee DOB: 4/9/1948 Term of office since: 2006 Other directorships: None | | President and Director of Buckleys of Kezar Lake, Inc. (real estate company); Former President and Director of Phillips Pond Homes Association (home community); Former Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (independent registered public accounting firm) |
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William Walt Pettit2 Trustee DOB: 8/26/1955 Term of office since: 1988 Other directorships: None | | Partner and Vice President, Kellam & Pettit, P.A. (law firm); Director, Superior Packaging Corp. (packaging company); Member, Superior Land, LLC (real estate holding company), Member, K&P Development, LLC (real estate development); Former Director, National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. (non-profit organization) |
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David M. Richardson Trustee DOB: 9/19/1941 Term of office since: 1982 Other directorships: None | | President, Richardson, Runden LLC (executive recruitment advisory services); Director, J&M Cumming Paper Co. (paper merchandising); Former Trustee, NDI Technologies, LLP (communications); Former Consultant, AESC (The Association of Executive Search Consultants) |
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Russell A. Salton III, MD Trustee DOB: 6/2/1947 Term of office since: 1984 Other directorships: None | | President/CEO, AccessOne MedCard, Inc. |
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32
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS continued
Michael S. Scofield Trustee DOB: 2/20/1943 Term of office since: 1984 Other directorships: None | | Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield; Former Director and Chairman, Branded Media Corporation (multi-media branding company) |
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Richard J. Shima Trustee DOB: 8/11/1939 Term of office since: 1993 Other directorships: None | | Independent Consultant; Director, Hartford Hospital; Trustee, Greater Hartford YMCA; Former Director, Trust Company of CT; Former Trustee, Saint Joseph College (CT) |
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Richard K. Wagoner, CFA3 Trustee DOB: 12/12/1937 Term of office since: 1999 Other directorships: None | | Member and Former President, North Carolina Securities Traders Association; Member, Financial Analysts Society |
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OFFICERS | | |
W. Douglas Munn4 President DOB: 4/21/1963 Term of office since: 2009 | | Principal occupations: Chief Operating Officer, Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC; former Chief Operating Officer, Evergreen Investment Company, Inc. |
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Jeremy DePalma4 Treasurer DOB: 2/5/1974 Term of office since: 2005 | | Principal occupations: Senior Vice President, Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC; Former Vice President, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc.; Former Assistant Vice President, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. |
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Michael H. Koonce4 Secretary DOB: 4/20/1960 Term of office since: 2000 | | Principal occupations: Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc.; Secretary, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC and Evergreen Service Company, LLC |
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Robert Guerin4 Chief Compliance Officer DOB: 9/20/1965 Term of office since: 2007 | | Principal occupations: Chief Compliance Officer, Evergreen Funds and Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Company, Inc.; Former Managing Director and Senior Compliance Officer, Babson Capital Management LLC; Former Principal and Director, Compliance and Risk Management, State Street Global Advisors; Former Vice President and Manager, Sales Practice Compliance, Deutsche Asset Management |
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1 | Each Trustee serves until a successor is duly elected or qualified or until his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal from office. Each Trustee oversaw 77 Evergreen funds as of December 31, 2008. Correspondence for each Trustee may be sent to Evergreen Board of Trustees, P.O. Box 20083, Charlotte, NC 28202. |
2 | It is possible that Mr. Pettit may be viewed as an “interested person” of the Evergreen funds, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of his law firm’s previous representation of affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), the parent to the Evergreen funds’ investment advisor, EIMC. The Trustees are treating Mr. Pettit as an interested trustee for the time being. |
3 | Mr. Wagoner is an “interested person” of the Evergreen funds because of his ownership of shares in Wells Fargo & Company, the parent to the Evergreen funds’ investment advisor. |
4 | The address of the Officer is 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116. |
Additional information about the Fund’s Board of Trustees and Officers can be found in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and is available upon request without charge by calling 800.343.2898.
33

569842 rv5 05/2009
Item 2 - Code of Ethics
Not required for this semi-annual filing.
Item 3 - Audit Committee Financial Expert
Not required for this semi-annual filing.
Items 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Not required for this semi-annual filing.
Items 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable.
Item 6 – Schedule of Investments
Please see schedule of investments contained in the Report to Stockholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees that have been implemented since the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of this Item.
Item 11 - Controls and Procedures
(a) | The Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely. |
(b) | There has been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12 - Exhibits
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.
(a) | Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the Registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit. |
(b)(1) | Separate certifications for the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached as EX99.CERT. |
(b)(2) | Separate certifications for the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 1350 of Title 18 of United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached as EX99.906CERT. The certifications furnished pursuant to this paragraph are not deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certifications are not deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates them by reference. |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Evergreen Equity Trust
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By: | /s/ W. Douglas Munn | | | |
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| W. Douglas Munn Principal Executive Officer | | | |
Date: June 16, 2009
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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By: | /s/ W. Douglas Munn | | | |
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| W. Douglas Munn Principal Executive Officer | | | |
Date: June 16, 2009
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By: | /s/ Jeremy DePalma | | | |
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| Jeremy DePalma Principal Financial Officer | | | |
Date: June 16, 2009