Manager’s large-cap value strategy wins big retail distribution channel. Merrill Lynch clients now have access to the Eaton Vance’s Large-Cap Value strategy Merrill’s Consults separately managed account platform, bringing the number of Boston-based Eaton Vance account portfolios in the Consults Program to three.

“This represents a significant opportunity for Eaton Vance,” says Larry Sinsimer, Eaton Vance's managing director in charge of managed accounts. “We are very pleased that [this strategy] is now live on the [Consults] platform and can be used as a managed account option for Merrill Lynch clients.”

The other Eaton Vance accounts on Consults are Parametric Portfolio Associates ’ Tax Managed Core Portfolio and the Eaton Vance/Parametric Tax-Managed Diversified Portfolio. Eaton Vance also offers 69 mutual funds on other retail platforms at Merrill.

Seattle-based Parametric is a subsidiary of Eaton Vance that specializes in overlay portfolio management in competition with outfits like Placemark Investments and IXIS Asset Management Advisors ’s Managed Portfolio Advisors.

Eaton Vance manages $118.8 billion in mutual funds and SMAs.

The five wirehouses – Merrill, Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wachovia –account for about 75% of all SMA distribution, with Merrill and Smith Barney the undisputed leaders of the field. –FWR

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