As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2007
1933 Act Registration No. 33-17619
1940 Act Registration No. 811-5349
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
þ
Post-Effective Amendment No. 149
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and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
þ
Amendment No. 150
þ
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrants Telephone Number,
including Area Code 312-655-4400
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Peter V. Bonanno, Esq.
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Copies to:
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Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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Kenneth L. Greenberg, Esq.
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One New York Plaza 37
th
Floor
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Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
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New York, New York 10004
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One Logan Square
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18
th
and Cherry Streets
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Philadelphia, PA 19103
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(Name and address of agent for service)
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
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þ
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Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
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o
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On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
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60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
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75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485
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On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485
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If appropriate, check the following box:
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this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective
amendment.
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GOLDMAN SACHS STRUCTURED
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND AND
STRUCTURED SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Class A, Class B, Class C, Service and
Institutional Shares
Supplement dated January 19, 2007 to the
Prospectus dated January 19, 2007
The Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares, Service Shares and Institutional Shares of the Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap
Growth Fund have been created in connection with the proposed
acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth
Fund, respectively (each a Fund), of AXA Enterprise
Funds Trust (Enterprise Trust).
It is anticipated that at a shareholder meeting in the second
quarter of 2007, the shareholders of each Fund will be asked to
approve a proposed agreement and plan of reorganization whereby
the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise
Small Company Growth Fund would be acquired by the Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth
Fund, respectively.
The Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund and Structured
Small Cap Growth Fund are each a newly organized fund that has
been created for purposes of acquiring the assets and
liabilities of the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund, respectively. If the
reorganization is approved by the AXA Enterprise Small Company
Value and AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Funds
respective shareholders, for purposes of the reorganization, the
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise Small
Company Growth Fund will each be considered the accounting
survivor of their respective reorganization, and accordingly,
certain financial highlights and other information relating to
the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise
Small Company Growth Fund have been included in the attached
prospectus and presented as if the Enterprise Trust
reorganizations have been consummated. However, as of the date
of this prospectus, the reorganizations have not yet been
approved by shareholders and have not occurred.
AXASTK 1-07
538575
Prospectus
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Class A, B
and C Shares
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January 19, 2007
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GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED EQUITY FUNDS
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n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
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THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
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NOT
FDIC-INSURED
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May Lose
Value
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No Bank
Guarantee
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General Investment
Management Approach
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Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
(GSAM
®
)
serves as investment adviser to the Structured Small Cap Value
and Structured Small Cap Growth Funds. GSAM is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
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GSAMs
Quantitative Investment Philosophy:
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GSAMs quantitative style of funds
management emphasizes the three building blocks of active
management:
fundamentally-based stock selection
,
careful portfolio construction
and
efficient
implementation.
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GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED FUNDS
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Step
1: Stock Selection
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The Investment Adviser attempts to forecast
expected returns on approximately 10,000 stocks on a daily
basis using proprietary CORE
SM
(Computer-Optimized, Research-Enhanced) models
developed by the Global Quantitative Equity (GQE)
team. These quantitative models are based on six investment
themesValuation, Momentum, Analyst Sentiment,
Profitability, Earnings Quality and Management Impact. The
Valuation theme attempts to capture potential mispricings of
securities by comparing measures of the companys intrinsic
value to its market value. The Momentum theme attempts to
forecast companies future returns based on their past
stock price performance, measured over various periods. The
Analyst Sentiment theme looks at how Wall Street analysts
views about a companys earnings and prospects are changing
over time. The Profitability theme assesses a companys
profit margins and operating efficiency relative to its peers,
and views those that are more profitable as more attractive.
Finally, the Management Impact theme evaluates a companys
management strategy through the companys investing and
financing behavior.
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Step
2: Portfolio Construction
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The Investment Adviser uses a proprietary risk
model to help manage the expected deviation of the
portfolios returns from those of the benchmark. The model
attempts to identify and measure the comparative risks between
equity investments as accurately as possible by including all
the above themes used in the return model, as well as several
other factors associated with risk but not return. In this
process, the Investment Adviser seeks to manage risk by
overweighting stocks with positive characteristics identified in
the return models and underweighting stocks
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1
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with negative characteristics relative to their
benchmark weights, while maintaining other characteristics such
as size and sector weights close to the benchmark. A
computer
optimizer
evaluates many different security combinations
(considering many possible weightings) in an effort
to
construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio
given
each Structured Funds benchmark.
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Step
3: Efficient Implementation
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The portfolio management team considers
transaction costs at each step of the investment process. The
team incorporates expected portfolio turnover when assigning
weights to the variables in the multifactor model. The team also
factors expected execution costs into portfolio construction and
evaluates multiple trading options. The team then selects the
trading strategy it believes will minimize the total transaction
costs to the Fund.
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Goldman Sachs Structured Funds are
fully invested, broadly diversified and offer consistent overall
portfolio characteristics. They may serve as good
foundations on which to build a portfolio.
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References in this Prospectus to a Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how a particular Fund
is managed.
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2
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Fund Investment Objectives
and Strategies
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Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
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FUND FACTS
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Objective:
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Long-term growth of capital
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Benchmark:
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Russell
2000
®
Value Index
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Investment
Focus:
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Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
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Investment
Style:
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Quantitative, applied to
small-cap value stocks
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The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
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PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus
any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at time of
purchase) (Net Assets) in a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in small-cap U.S. issuers,
including foreign issuers that are traded in the United States.*
However, it is currently anticipated that, under normal
circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its Net
Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers will
have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
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To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in a Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
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3
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Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
continued
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required to, sell the securities. The
capitalization range of the Russell
2000
®
Value Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$94 million and $3.0 billion.
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As described in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to the Russell
2000
®
Value Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
universe of small cap companies with low earnings growth
expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize expected return while
maintaining these and other characteristics similar to the
benchmark.
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Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
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4
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND STRATEGIES
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Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
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FUND FACTS
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Objective:
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Long-term growth of capital
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Benchmark:
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Russell
2000
®
Growth Index
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Investment
Focus:
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Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
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Investment
Style:
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Quantitative, applied to
small-cap growth stocks
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The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
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PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a
broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap
U.S. issuers, including foreign issuers that are traded in the
United States.* However, it is currently anticipated that, under
normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its
Net Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers
will have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Growth Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of
the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$90 million and $3.0 billion.
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To the extent required by SEC regulations,
shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the
manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Funds
policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the
particular type of investment suggested by its name.
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5
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Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
continued
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As discussed in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
universe of small cap companies with above average earnings
growth expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize expected return
while maintaining these and other characteristics similar to the
benchmark.
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Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
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6
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The
table also highlights the differences among the Funds in their
use of these techniques and other investment practices and
investment securities. Numbers in this table show allowable
usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds annual/
semi-annual reports (when available). For more information about
these and other investment practices and securities, see
Appendix A. Each Fund publishes on its website
(http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings
for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a
fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and
the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the
Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings
subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
This information will be available on the website until the date
on which a Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings
report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. In addition,
a description of the Funds policies and procedures with
respect to the disclosure of a Funds portfolio securities
is available in the Funds Statement of Additional
Information (Additional Statement).
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10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
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10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
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No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited
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Structured
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Structured
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only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
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Small Cap
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Small Cap
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Value
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Growth
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Fund
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Fund
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Investment
Practices
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Borrowings
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33 1/3
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33 1/3
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Cross Hedging of Currencies
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Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
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Equity Swaps*
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Foreign Currency
Transactions**
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Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
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1
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1
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Investment Company
Securities (including iShares
SM
and Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts
)
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10
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10
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Options on Foreign
Currencies
2
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Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
3
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Repurchase Agreements
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Securities Lending
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33 1/3
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33 1/3
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Unseasoned Companies
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Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
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When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
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*
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Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
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**
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Limited by the amount a Fund invests in
foreign securities.
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The Funds may enter into futures transactions
only with respect to a representative index.
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2
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The Funds may purchase and sell call and put
options.
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3
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The Funds may sell covered call and put
options and purchase call and put options.
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7
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10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
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10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
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No specific percentage limitation on usage;
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Structured
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Structured
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limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
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Small Cap
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Small Cap
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Value
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Growth
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Fund
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Fund
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Investment
Securities
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American and Global
Depositary Receipts
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Bank
Obligations
4
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Convertible
Securities
5
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Corporate Debt
Obligations
4
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Equity Investments
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80+
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80+
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Fixed-Income
Securities
4,6
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20
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20
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Foreign
Securities
7
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Real Estate Investment
Trusts
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Structured
Securities
*
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Temporary Investments
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35
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35
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U.S. Government
Securities
4
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*
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Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
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4
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Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities and limited to cash equivalents only.
The Funds may invest in bank obligations issued by U.S. or
foreign banks.
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The Funds have no minimum rating criteria for
convertible debt securities.
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Except as noted under Convertible
Securities, fixed-income securities must be investment
grade (i.e., BBB or higher by Standard & Poors Rating
Group (Standard & Poors), Baa or higher by
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys)
or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (NRSRO)).
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Equity securities of foreign issuers must be
traded in the United States.
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8
Principal Risks of the Funds
Loss of money is a risk of investing in each
Fund. An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of any bank and
is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Funds and may
result in a loss of your investment. None of the Funds should be
relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no
assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
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Structured
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Structured
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Small Cap
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Small Cap
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Value
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Growth
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Applicable
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Fund
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Fund
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Foreign
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Stock
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Derivatives
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Interest Rate
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Management
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Market
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Liquidity
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Investment Style
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Small Cap
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9
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n
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Foreign
Risk
The risk that when a
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. A
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations.
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n
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Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
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Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from a Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, structured securities and other derivative instruments.
These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may
produce disproportionate losses to a Fund.
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Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, securities held by a Fund will decline
in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have
more price volatility because of this risk than short-term
fixed-income securities.
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Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
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Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which a Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. A Funds investments may be overweighted from time
to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the
Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments
affecting those sectors.
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Liquidity
Risk
The risk that a Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. Funds that invest in small and mid-capitalization
stocks and REITs will be especially subject to the risk that
during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or
industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Funds and other funds for
which GSAM or an affiliate now or in the future acts as
investment adviser or underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset
Allocation Portfolio of its position in a Fund may further
increase liquidity risk and may impact a Funds net asset
value (NAV).
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Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. A
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10
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE
FUNDS
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Fund may outperform or underperform other funds
that employ a different investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
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Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization companies involve greater risks than those
associated with larger, more established companies and may be
subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of
such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a
Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a
substantial drop in price. Small-cap companies often have
narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial
resources than larger, more established companies. As a result,
their performance can be more volatile and they face greater
risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of
a Funds portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company
size, the greater these risks.
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More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
11
HOW THE FUNDS
HAVE PERFORMED
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The Funds have not commenced operations before
the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance
information is provided in this section. The Structured Small
Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth Fund first began
operations as the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (each a Predecessor Fund), respectively. Each
Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of Goldman
Sachs Trust. Performance of each Predecessor Fund is not shown
because as part of the reorganization each Predecessor Fund
changed its investment adviser to GSAM.
|
12
Fund Fees and Expenses
(Class A, B and C Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Class A, Class B, or
Class C Shares of a Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
5.5%
|
1
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales
Charge (Load)
2
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
5.0%
|
3
|
|
|
1.0%
|
4
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
6*
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Distribution and Service
(12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
7*
|
|
|
0.26%
|
|
|
|
0.26%
|
|
|
|
0.26%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses
*
|
|
|
1.36%
|
|
|
|
2.11%
|
|
|
|
2.11%
|
|
|
See page 15 for all other footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Management Fees, Other
Expenses and Total Fund Operating Expenses
(after any waivers and expense limitations) set forth below have
been restated to reflect the current waivers and expense
limitations that are expected for the current fiscal year. The
waivers and expense limitations may be modified or terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this
occurs, Management Fees, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
6
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
7
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after
current expense limitations)
|
|
|
1.25%
|
|
|
|
2.00%
|
|
|
|
2.00%
|
|
|
13
Fund Fees and Expenses
continued
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
5.5%
|
1
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales
Charge (Load)
2
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
5.0%
|
3
|
|
|
1.0%
|
4
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
6*
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Distribution and Service
(12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
7*
|
|
|
0.37%
|
|
|
|
0.37%
|
|
|
|
0.37%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses
*
|
|
|
1.47%
|
|
|
|
2.22%
|
|
|
|
2.22%
|
|
|
See page 15 for all other footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Management Fees, Other
Expenses and Total Fund Operating Expenses
(after any waivers and expense limitations) set forth below have
been restated to reflect the current waivers and expense
limitations that are expected for the current fiscal year. The
waivers and expense limitations may be modified or terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this
occurs, Management Fees, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
6
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
|
|
0.81%
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
7
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
|
0.19%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after
current expense limitations)
|
|
|
1.25%
|
|
|
|
2.00%
|
|
|
|
2.00%
|
|
|
14
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
|
|
|
1
|
|
The maximum sales charge is a percentage of
the offering price. Under certain circumstances, as described in
the Shareholder Guide, the maximum sales charge may be reduced
or waived entirely. A CDSC of 1% may be imposed on certain
redemptions (within 18 months of purchase) of Class A
Shares sold without an initial sales charge as part of an
investment of $1 million or more.
|
2
|
|
The maximum CDSC is a percentage of the lesser
of the NAV at the time of the redemption or the NAV when the
shares were originally purchased.
|
3
|
|
A CDSC is imposed upon Class B Shares
redeemed within six years of purchase at a rate of 5% in the
first year, declining to 1% in the sixth year, and eliminated
thereafter.
|
4
|
|
A CDSC of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares
redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
|
5
|
|
The Funds annual operating expenses have
been estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
6
|
|
The Investment Adviser is entitled to
management fees from the Funds at annual rates equal to the
following percentages of the average daily net assets of the
Funds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed
to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets. The Investment Adviser may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
|
|
|
7
|
|
Other Expenses include transfer
agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis to 0.19%
of the average daily net assets of each Funds
Class A, B and C Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses
not detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily
agreed to reduce or limit Other Expenses (excluding
management fees, distribution and service fees, transfer agency
fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and
litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other
extraordinary expenses exclusive of any expense offset
arrangements) to the following annual percentage rates of each
Funds average daily net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
These expense reductions may be terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
|
|
15
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in a Fund (without the waivers and
expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual
funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in
Class A, B or C Shares of a Fund for the time periods
indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5%
return each year and that a Funds operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
$
|
681
|
|
|
$
|
957
|
|
|
$
|
1,254
|
|
|
$
|
2,095
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
714
|
|
|
$
|
961
|
|
|
$
|
1,334
|
|
|
$
|
2,250
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
214
|
|
|
$
|
661
|
|
|
$
|
1,134
|
|
|
$
|
2,250
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
314
|
|
|
$
|
661
|
|
|
$
|
1,134
|
|
|
$
|
2,441
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
214
|
|
|
$
|
661
|
|
|
$
|
1,134
|
|
|
$
|
2,441
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Growth
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
$
|
691
|
|
|
$
|
989
|
|
|
$
|
1,309
|
|
|
$
|
2,211
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
725
|
|
|
$
|
994
|
|
|
$
|
1,390
|
|
|
$
|
2,365
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
225
|
|
|
$
|
694
|
|
|
$
|
1,190
|
|
|
$
|
2,365
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
325
|
|
|
$
|
694
|
|
|
$
|
1,190
|
|
|
$
|
2,554
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
225
|
|
|
$
|
694
|
|
|
$
|
1,190
|
|
|
$
|
2,554
|
|
|
The hypothetical example assumes that a CDSC will
not apply to redemptions of Class A Shares within the first
18 months.
Certain institutions that sell Fund shares and/or
their salespersons may receive other compensation in connection
with the sale and distribution of Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares for services to their customers
accounts and/or the Funds. For additional information regarding
such compensation, see What Should I Know When I Purchase
Shares Through An Authorized Dealer? in the Prospectus and
Payments to Intermediaries in the Additional
Statement.
16
|
|
|
Investment Adviser
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (GSAM)
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSAM has been registered as an investment adviser
with the SEC since 1990 and is an affiliate of Goldman,
Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of
September 30, 2006, GSAM had assets under management of
$576.4 billion.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Funds and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Funds, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Funds:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the
Funds
|
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Funds
|
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
|
|
n
|
Maintains the records of each Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
|
|
|
As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
|
17
|
|
|
monthly, at the annual
rates listed below (as a percentage of each respective
Funds average daily net assets):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to
waive a portion of its advisory fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets, and may discontinue or
modify any such voluntary limitations in the future at its
discretion.
|
|
|
|
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the
Funds will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
Quantitative
Domestic Equity Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
A stable and growing team supported by an
extensive internal staff
|
|
|
n
|
More than $100 billion in equities currently
under management, including over $52 billion in US equities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily
|
|
|
Name and Title
|
|
Fund Responsibility
|
|
Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Ms. Brown joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1998. From 1984
to 1998, she was the director of Quantitative Equity Research
and served on the Investment Policy Committee at Prudential
Securities Equity Research.
|
|
Robert C. Jones
Chief Investment Officer
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Mr. Jones joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1989.
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director and
Senior Portfolio Manager for US portfolios. She is also a
member of the GQE Investment Policy Committee. Robert C.
Jones, CFA, is a Managing Director and Chair of the
GQE Investment Policy Committee, which oversees the
portfolio management process. He currently serves as the Chief
Investment Officer for the GQE Team. The computer optimizer
constructs the portfolio based on the teams models and
design and no one person
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
|
on the team has a subjective override of the
computer optimizer process, except in very specific limited
cases.
|
|
|
|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Funds, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of each Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois
60606, also serves as each Funds transfer agent (the
Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
|
|
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Funds. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
|
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
a Fund or limit a Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financier, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Funds directly and
indirectly invest. Thus, it is likely that the Funds will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Funds and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Funds. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any information
regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the
activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by
them, for the benefit of the management of the Funds. The
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19
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results of a Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its
affiliates and other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and it is
possible that a Fund could sustain losses during periods in
which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts
achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or
other accounts. In addition, the Funds may, from time to time,
enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other
clients have an adverse interest. For example, a Fund may take a
long position in a security at the same time that Goldman Sachs
or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser take a short
position in the same security (or vice versa). These and other
transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or
Goldman Sachs advised clients may adversely impact the Funds.
Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the
Investment Adviser may have the effect of diluting or otherwise
disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of
the Funds. A Funds activities may be limited because of
regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply
with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm,
Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking
and financial services to issuers of securities and investors in
securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated
with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in
and affect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the
Funds, and may also perform or seek to perform investment
banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates may have business relationships with and
purchase or distribute or sell services or products from or to
distributors, consultants or others who recommend the Fund or
who engage in transactions with or for the Funds. For more
information about conflicts of interest, see the Additional
Statement.
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Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Funds have retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for each Fund to the extent that the Funds engage
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Funds, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for loaned securities. In addition,
the Funds may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates in connection with the Funds portfolio
investment transactions.
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On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of
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20
SERVICE PROVIDERS
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New York against The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers of the
Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York. On June 29, 2004,
the three complaints were consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Fee Litigation
, and
on November 17, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated
amended complaint against GSG, GSAM, Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI), Goldman, Sachs
& Co., the Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
(GSVIT), the Trustees and Officers of the Trust and
GSVIT and John Doe Defendants (collectively, the
Defendants) in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York. Certain investment portfolios
of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the Goldman Sachs
Funds) were also named as nominal defendants in the
amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second amended
consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
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The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees
and charges; and reasonable costs and expenses, including
counsel fees and expert fees. On January 13, 2006, all
claims against the Defendants were dismissed by the
U.S. District Court. On February 22, 2006, the
plaintiffs appealed this
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21
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decision. By agreement, plaintiffs subsequently
withdrew their appeal without prejudice but reserved their right
to reactivate their appeal pending a decision by the circuit
court of appeals on similar litigation.
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Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material adverse
financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote, and the
pending action is not likely to materially affect their ability
to provide investment management services to their clients,
including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
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22
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Dividends
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Each Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
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n
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Cash
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n
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Additional shares of the same class of the same
Fund
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n
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Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
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You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
your dividends and distributions will be reinvested
automatically in the applicable Fund.
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The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
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Dividends from net investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid as
follows:
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Investment
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Capital Gains
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Fund
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Income Dividends
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Distributions
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Structured Small Cap Value
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Annually
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Annually
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Structured Small Cap Growth
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Annually
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Annually
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From time to time a portion of a Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
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When you purchase shares of a Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
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23
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Shareholder
Guide
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The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds shares.
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How Can
I Purchase Class A, Class B And Class C Shares Of
The Funds?
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You may purchase shares of the Funds through:
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n
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Authorized Dealers;
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n
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Goldman Sachs; or
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n
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Directly from the Trust.
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In order to make an initial investment in a Fund,
you must furnish to the Fund, Goldman Sachs or your Authorized
Dealer the information in the Account Application. An order will
be processed upon receipt of payment.
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To Open
an Account:
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Complete the Account Application
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Mail your payment and Account Application to:
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Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft
should be made payable to your Authorized Dealer
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Your Authorized Dealer is responsible for
forwarding payment promptly (within three business days) to the
Fund
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or
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Goldman Sachs
Funds,
P.O. Box 219711, Kansas
City, MO 64121-9711
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Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft
should be made payable to Goldman Sachs Funds (Name
of Fund
and
Class of Shares)
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Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
(BFDS), the Funds sub-transfer agent, will not
accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third-party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving
the transfer of retirement assets, the Funds may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
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Federal funds wire, Automated Clearing House
Network (ACH) transfer or bank wires should be sent
to State Street Bank and Trust Company (State
Street) (each Funds custodian). Please call the
Funds at 1-800-526-7384 to get detailed instructions on how to
wire your money.
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24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Funds?
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Initial
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Additional*
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Regular Accounts
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$1,000
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$50
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Employee Sponsored Benefit
Plans
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$250
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No Minimum
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Uniform Gift/ Transfer to
Minor (UTMA/UGMA)
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$250
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$50
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Individual Retirement
Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
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$250
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$50
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Automatic Investment Plans
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$250
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$50
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*
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No minimum additional investment requirements
are imposed with respect to investors trading through
intermediaries who aggregate shares in omnibus or similar
accounts (e.g., retirement plan accounts, wrap program accounts
or traditional brokerage house accounts).
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The minimum investment requirement may be waived
for certain mutual fund wrap programs at the
discretion of the Trusts officers. No minimum amount is
required for subsequent investments.
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What
Alternative Sales Arrangements Are Available?
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The Funds offer three classes of shares through
this Prospectus.
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Maximum Amount You Can
Buy In The Aggregate Across Funds
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Class A
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No limit
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Class B
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$100,000*
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Class C
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$1,000,000*
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Initial Sales
Charge
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Class A
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Applies to purchases of
less than $1 millionvaries by size of investment with
a maximum of 5.5%
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Class B
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None
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Class C
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None
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CDSC
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Class A
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1.00% on certain
investments of $1 million or more
if
you sell
within 18 months
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Class B
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6 year declining CDSC
with a maximum of 5%
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Class C
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1% if shares are redeemed
within 12 months of purchase
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Conversion
Feature
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Class A
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None
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Class B
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Class B Shares
automatically convert to Class A Shares after 8 years
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Class C
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None
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*
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No additional Class B Shares or
Class C Shares may be purchased by an investor either in an
initial purchase or in subsequent purchases if the current
market value of the shares owned and/or purchased is equal to or
exceeds $100,000 in the case of Class B Shares or
$1,000,000 in the case of Class C Shares.
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25
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What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
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The Trust reserves the right to:
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n
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Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
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n
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Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for
any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by
a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of shares of a
Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a
subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that would
disrupt the management of a Fund.
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n
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Close a Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by a
Funds Investment Adviser.
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n
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Modify or waive the minimum investment
requirements.
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n
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Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
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n
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Modify the sales charge rates applicable to
future purchases of shares.
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Generally, the Funds will not allow non-U.S.
citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the
United States to open an account directly with the Funds.
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The Funds may allow you to purchase shares with
securities instead of cash if consistent with a Funds
investment policies and operations and if approved by the
Funds Investment Adviser.
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Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Funds to obtain, verify and record identifying information,
which may include the name, residential or business street
address, date of birth (for an individual), Social Security
Number or taxpayer identification number or other identifying
information, for investors who open accounts with the Funds.
Applications without the required information, which will be
reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, may not be
accepted by the Funds. After accepting an application, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or their customer
identification program, the Funds reserve the right to
(i) place limits on transactions in any account until the
identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an
investment in the Funds; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an
investors shares and close an account in the event that
the Funds are unable to verify an investors identity. The
Funds and their agents will not be responsible for any loss in
an investors account resulting from the investors
delay in providing all required identifying information or from
closing an account and redeeming an investors shares
pursuant to the customer identification program.
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26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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How Are
Shares Priced?
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The price you pay when you buy shares is the
Funds next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted
for any applicable sales charge). The price you receive when you
sell shares is the Funds next determined NAV for a share
class, with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable
charge (e.g., CDSCs). Each class calculates its NAV as
follows:
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NAV =
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(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
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The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
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In the event that a Fund invests a significant
portion of assets in foreign equity securities, fair
value prices are provided by an independent fair value
service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by
the Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Funds, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
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In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining a Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
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27
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One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Funds
to price their investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
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Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
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n
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NAV per share of each share class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or other later time as
the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially
close. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is closed.
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n
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When you buy shares, you pay the NAV (as adjusted
for any applicable sales charge) next calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper form.
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n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper
form. Redemption proceeds are reduced by any applicable CDSC.
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n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than a
Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently adjusted,
and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as
adjusted.
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n
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The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
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Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
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Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for
purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if
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28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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the Federal Reserve wire payment system is
open. To learn whether a Fund is open for business during an
emergency situation, please call 1-800-526-7384.
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|
Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days a Fund is closed. As a result, if a Fund holds
foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when
investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
|
COMMON QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A
SHARES
|
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|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class A Shares?
|
|
The offering price of Class A Shares of
each Fund is the next determined NAV per share plus an initial
sales charge paid to Goldman Sachs at the time of purchase of
shares.
The sales charge varies
depending upon the amount you purchase. In some cases, described
below, the initial sales charge may be eliminated altogether,
and the offering price will be the NAV per share. The current
sales charges and commissions paid to Authorized Dealers for
Class A Shares of the Funds are as follows:
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Sales Charge
|
|
Maximum Dealer
|
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Sales Charge as
|
|
as Percentage
|
|
Allowance as
|
Amount of Purchase
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
of Net Amount
|
|
Percentage of
|
(including sales charge, if any)
|
|
Offering Price
|
|
Invested
|
|
Offering Price*
|
|
|
Less than $50,000
|
|
|
5.50
|
%
|
|
|
5.82
|
%
|
|
|
5.00
|
%
|
$50,000 up to (but less
than) $100,000
|
|
|
4.75
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
$100,000 up to (but less
than) $250,000
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
3.90
|
|
|
|
3.00
|
|
$250,000 up to (but less
than) $500,000
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
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|
2.25
|
|
$500,000 up to (but less
than) $1 million
|
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2.00
|
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|
2.04
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
$1 million or more
|
|
|
0.00
|
**
|
|
|
0.00
|
**
|
|
|
***
|
|
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|
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|
*
|
|
Dealers allowance may be changed
periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge
may be allowed to Authorized Dealers. Authorized Dealers to whom
substantially the entire sales charge is allowed may be deemed
to be underwriters under the Securities Act of
1933.
|
**
|
|
No sales charge is payable at the time of
purchase of Class A Shares of $1 million or more, but
a CDSC of 1% may be imposed in the event of certain redemptions
within 18 months of purchase.
|
***
|
|
The Distributor may pay a one-time commission
to Authorized Dealers who initiate or are responsible for
purchases of $1 million or more of shares of the Funds
equal to 1.00% of the amount under $3 million, 0.50% of the
next $2 million, and 0.25% thereafter. In instances where an
Authorized Dealer (including Goldman Sachs Private Wealth
Management Unit) agrees to waive its receipt of the one-time
commission described above, the CDSC on Class A Shares,
generally, will be waived. The Distributor may also pay, with
respect to all or a portion of the amount purchased, a
commission in accordance with the foregoing schedule to
Authorized Dealers who initiate or are responsible for purchases
of $500,000 or more by certain Section 401(k), profit
sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined
benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including
health savings accounts) that are sponsored by one or more
employers (including governmental or church employers) or
employee organizations investing in the Funds which satisfy the
criteria set forth below in When Are Class A Shares
Not Subject To A Sales Load? or $1 million or more by
certain wrap accounts. Purchases by such plans will
be made at NAV with no initial sales charge, but if shares are
redeemed within 18 months after the end of
|
29
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the calendar month in which such purchase was
made, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan
sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition,
Authorized Dealers will remit to the Distributor such payments
received in connection with wrap accounts in the
event that shares are redeemed within 18 months after the
end of the calendar month in which the purchase was
made.
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You should note that the actual sales charge that
appears in your mutual fund transaction confirmation may differ
slightly from the rate disclosed above in the Prospectus due to
rounding calculations.
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As indicated in the above chart, and as discussed
further below and in the section titled How Can the Sales
Charge on Class A Shares Be Reduced?, you may, under
certain circumstances, be entitled to pay reduced sales charges
on your purchases of Class A Shares or have those charges
waived entirely. To take advantage of these discounts, you or
your Authorized Dealer or financial intermediary must notify the
Funds Transfer Agent at the time of your purchase order
that a discount may apply to your current purchases. You may
also be required to provide appropriate documentation to receive
those discounts, including:
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Funds or other Goldman Sachs Funds held in all accounts
(
e.g.,
retirement accounts) of the shareholder at the
financial intermediary;
|
|
|
(ii)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Funds or other Goldman Sachs Funds held in any account of the
shareholder at another financial intermediary; and
|
|
|
(iii)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Funds or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any financial
intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as
members of the same family or household.
|
|
|
|
You should note in particular that, if the
Funds Transfer Agent is properly notified, under the
Right of Accumulation described below, the
Amount of Purchase in the chart on the preceding
page will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B
and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were
acquired by purchase or exchange, and that were subject to a
sales charge, that are held at the time of purchase by any of
the following persons: (i) you, your spouse and your
children; and (ii) any trustee, guardian or other fiduciary
of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account. This
includes, for example, any Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares held at a broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary other than the one handling your current purchase.
In some circumstances, other Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares may be aggregated with your current purchase
under the Right of Accumulation as described in the Additional
Statement. For purposes of determining the Amount of
Purchase, all Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares held at the time of purchase will be valued
at their current market value.
|
30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
You should also note that if you provide the
Transfer Agent a signed written Statement of Intention to invest
(not counting reinvestments of dividends and distributions) in
the aggregate $50,000 or more in Class A Shares of one or
more Goldman Sachs Funds within a 13-month period, any
investments you make during the 13 months will be treated
as though the total quantity were invested in one lump sum and
you will receive the discounted sales load based on your
investment commitment. You must, however, inform the Transfer
Agent that the Statement of Intention is in effect each time
shares are purchased. Each purchase will be made at the public
offering price applicable to a single transaction of the dollar
amount specified on the Statement of Intention.
|
|
|
|
In addition to the information provided in this
Prospectus and the Additional Statement, information about sales
charge discounts is available from your Authorized Dealer or
financial intermediary and, free of charge, on the Funds
website at http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Class A Shares
CDSC?
|
|
Purchases of $1 million or more of
Class A Shares will be made at NAV with no initial sales
charge. However, if you redeem shares within 18 months
after the end of the calendar month in which the purchase was
made, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed
if your Authorized Dealer enters into an agreement with the
Distributor to return all or an applicable prorated portion of
its commission to the Distributor. The CDSC is waived on
redemptions in certain circumstances. See In What
Situations May The CDSC On Class A, B Or C Shares Be Waived
Or Reduced? below.
|
|
|
When
Are Class A Shares Not Subject To A Sales Load?
|
|
Class A Shares of the Funds may be sold at
NAV without payment of any sales charge to the following
individuals and entities:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or their respective
officers, partners, directors or employees (including retired
employees and former partners), any partnership of which Goldman
Sachs is a general partner, any Trustee or officer of the Trust
and designated family members of any of these individuals;
|
|
n
|
Qualified employee benefit plans of Goldman Sachs;
|
|
n
|
Trustees or directors of investment companies for
which Goldman Sachs or an affiliate acts as sponsor;
|
|
n
|
Any employee or registered representative of any
Authorized Dealer or their respective spouses, children and
parents;
|
|
n
|
Banks, trust companies or other types of
depository institutions;
|
|
n
|
Any state, county or city, or any
instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof, which
is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales
charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares
of a Fund;
|
31
|
|
|
|
n
|
Section 401(k), profit sharing, money
purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit
pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health
savings accounts) that are sponsored by one or more employers
(including governmental or church employers) or employee
organizations (Employee Benefit Plans) that:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Buy shares of Goldman Sachs Funds worth $500,000
or more; or
|
|
n
|
Have 100 or more eligible employees at the time
of purchase; or
|
|
n
|
Certify that they expect to have annual plan
purchases of shares of Goldman Sachs Funds of $200,000 or more;
or
|
|
n
|
Are provided administrative services by certain
third-party administrators that have entered into a special
service arrangement with Goldman Sachs relating to such plans; or
|
|
n
|
Have at the time of purchase aggregate assets of
at least $2,000,000;
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Non-qualified pension plans sponsored by
employers who also sponsor qualified plans that qualify for and
invest in Goldman Sachs Funds at NAV without the payment of any
sales charge;
|
|
|
|
n
|
Insurance company separate accounts that make the
Funds available as underlying investments in certain group
annuity contracts;
|
|
|
n
|
Wrap accounts for the benefit of
clients of broker-dealers, financial institutions or financial
planners, provided they have entered into an agreement with GSAM
specifying aggregate minimums and certain operating policies and
standards;
|
|
n
|
Registered investment advisers investing for
accounts for which they receive asset-based fees;
|
|
n
|
Accounts over which GSAM or its advisory
affiliates have investment discretion;
|
|
n
|
Shareholders receiving distributions from a
qualified Employee Benefit Plan invested in the Goldman Sachs
Funds and reinvesting such proceeds in a Goldman Sachs IRA;
|
|
n
|
Shareholders who roll over distributions from any
tax-qualified Employee Benefit Plan or tax-sheltered annuity to
an IRA which invests in the Goldman Sachs Funds if the
tax-qualified Employee Benefit Plan or tax-sheltered annuity
receives administrative services provided by certain third-party
administrators that have entered into a special service
arrangement with Goldman Sachs relating to such plan or annuity;
|
|
n
|
State sponsored 529 college savings plans; or
|
|
|
n
|
Investors who qualify under other exemptions that
are stated from time to time in the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
|
You must certify eligibility for any of the
above exemptions on your Account Application and notify the Fund
if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
The Fund will grant you an exemption
subject to confirmation of your entitlement. You may be charged
a fee if you effect your transactions through a broker or agent.
|
32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
How Can
The Sales Charge On Class A Shares Be Reduced?
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Right of Accumulation:
When buying Class A Shares in
Goldman Sachs Funds, your current aggregate investment
determines the initial sales load you pay. You may qualify for
reduced sales charges when the current market value of holdings
across Class A, Class B and/or Class C shares,
plus new purchases, reaches $50,000 or more. Class A,
Class B and/or Class C Shares of any of the Goldman
Sachs Funds may be combined under the Right of Accumulation. For
purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the
Funds and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing
client of Goldman Sachs Wealth Management or GS Ayco Holding LLC
will be combined with Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares and other assets held by all other Goldman
Sachs Wealth Management accounts or accounts of GS Ayco Holding
LLC, respectively. In addition, under some circumstances,
Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the
Funds and Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares
of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners,
directors, officers or employees of the same business
organization, groups of individuals represented by and investing
on the recommendation of the same accounting firm, and certain
other organizations may be combined for the purpose of
determining whether a purchase will qualify for the Right of
Accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge
level. To qualify for a reduced sales load, you or your
Authorized Dealer must notify the Funds Transfer Agent at
the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable.
Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.
The Additional Statement has more information about the Right of
Accumulation.
|
|
n
|
Statement of Intention:
You may obtain a reduced sales
charge by means of a written Statement of Intention which
expresses your non-binding commitment to invest (not counting
reinvestments of dividends and distributions) in the aggregate
$50,000 or more within a period of 13 months in
Class A Shares of one or more of the Goldman Sachs Funds.
Any investments you make during the period will receive the
discounted sales load based on the full amount of your
investment commitment. At your request, purchases made during
the previous 90 days may be included; however, capital
appreciation does not apply toward these combined purchases. If
the investment commitment of the Statement of Intention is not
met prior to the expiration of the 13-month period, the entire
amount will be subject to the higher applicable sales charge
unless the failure to meet the investment commitment is due to
the death of the investor. By selecting the Statement of
Intention, you authorize the Transfer Agent to escrow and redeem
Class A Shares in your account to pay this additional
charge. The Additional Statement has more information about the
Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.
|
33
COMMON QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS B
SHARES
|
|
|
|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class B Shares?
|
|
You may purchase Class B Shares of the
Funds at the next determined NAV without an initial sales
charge. However, Class B Shares redeemed within six years
of purchase will be subject to a CDSC at the rates shown in the
table below based on how long you held your shares.
|
|
|
The CDSC schedule is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CDSC as a
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
Dollar Amount
|
Year Since Purchase
|
|
Subject to CDSC
|
|
|
First
|
|
|
5%
|
|
Second
|
|
|
4%
|
|
Third
|
|
|
3%
|
|
Fourth
|
|
|
3%
|
|
Fifth
|
|
|
2%
|
|
Sixth
|
|
|
1%
|
|
Seventh and thereafter
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from the CDSC are payable to the
Distributor and may be used in whole or in part to defray the
Distributors expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Funds in connection with
the sale of Class B Shares, including the payment of
compensation to Authorized Dealers. A commission equal to 4% of
the amount invested is paid to Authorized Dealers.
|
|
|
What
Should I Know About The Automatic Conversion Of Class B
Shares?
|
|
Class B Shares of a Fund will automatically
convert into Class A Shares of the same Fund at the end of
the calendar quarter that is eight years after the purchase date.
|
|
|
If you acquire Class B Shares of a Fund by
exchange from Class B Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund,
your Class B Shares will convert into Class A Shares
of such Fund based on the date of the initial purchase and the
CDSC schedule of that purchase.
|
|
|
If you acquire Class B Shares through
reinvestment of distributions, your Class B Shares will
convert into Class A Shares based on the date of the
initial purchase of the shares on which the distribution was
paid.
|
|
|
The conversion of Class B Shares to
Class A Shares will not occur at any time the Funds are
advised that such conversions may constitute taxable events for
federal tax purposes, which the Funds believe is unlikely. If
conversions do not occur as a
|
34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
result of possible taxability, Class B
Shares would continue to be subject to higher expenses than
Class A Shares for an indeterminate period.
|
A COMMON QUESTION
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS C
SHARES
|
|
|
|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class C Shares?
|
|
You may purchase Class C Shares of the
Funds at the next determined NAV without paying an initial sales
charge. However, if you redeem Class C Shares within
12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1% will normally be
deducted from the redemption proceeds. In connection with
purchases by Employee Benefit Plans, where Class C Shares
are redeemed within 12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1% may
be imposed upon the plan sponsor or third-party
administrator.
|
|
|
Proceeds from the CDSC are payable to the
Distributor and may be used in whole or in part to defray the
Distributors expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Funds in connection with
the sale of Class C Shares, including the payment of
compensation to Authorized Dealers. An amount equal to 1% of the
amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to
Authorized Dealers.
|
COMMON
QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A,
B AND C SHARES
|
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A, B Or C
Shares?
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
The CDSC is based on the lesser of the NAV of the
shares at the time of redemption or the original offering price
(which is the original NAV).
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
No CDSC is charged on shares acquired from
reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions.
|
|
n
|
No CDSC is charged on the per share appreciation
of your account over the initial purchase price.
|
|
n
|
When counting the number of months since a
purchase of Class B or Class C Shares was made, all
payments made during a month will be combined and considered to
have been made on the first day of that month.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time
you place a request to sell shares, the Funds will first sell
any shares in your account that do not carry a CDSC and then the
shares in your account that have been held the longest.
|
35
|
|
|
In What
Situations May The CDSC On Class A, B Or C Shares Be Waived
Or Reduced?
|
|
The CDSC on Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or
reduced if the redemption relates to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Retirement distributions or loans to participants
or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
|
|
|
n
|
The death or disability (as defined in
Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code)) of a shareholder, participant or
beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
|
n
|
Hardship withdrawals by a participant or
beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Satisfying the minimum distribution requirements
of the Code;
|
|
n
|
Establishing substantially equal periodic
payments as described under Section 72(t)(2) of the
Code;
|
|
n
|
The separation from service by a participant or
beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Excess contributions distributed from an Employee
Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Distributions from a qualified Employee Benefit
Plan invested in the Goldman Sachs Funds which are being rolled
over to a Goldman Sachs IRA, in the same share class; or
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in
accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its
advisory affiliates have investment discretion.
|
|
|
|
In addition, Class A, B and C Shares subject
to a systematic withdrawal plan may be redeemed without a CDSC.
The Funds reserve the right to limit such redemptions, on an
annual basis, to 12% each of the value of your Class B and
C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares.
|
|
|
How Do
I Decide Whether To Buy Class A, B Or C Shares?
|
|
The decision as to which Class to purchase
depends on the amount you invest, the intended length of the
investment and your personal situation.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Class A
Shares.
If you are making an
investment of $50,000 or more that qualifies for a reduced sales
charge, you should consider purchasing Class A Shares.
|
|
n
|
Class B
Shares.
If you plan to hold your
investment for at least six years and would prefer not to pay an
initial sales charge, you might consider purchasing Class B
Shares. By not paying a front-end sales charge, your entire
investment in Class B Shares is available to work for you
from the time you make your initial investment. However, the
distribution and service fee paid by Class B Shares will
cause your Class B Shares (until conversion to Class A
Shares) to have a higher expense ratio, and thus lower
performance and lower dividend payments (to the extent dividends
are paid) than Class A Shares. A maximum
|
36
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
|
|
purchase limitation of $100,000 in the aggregate
normally applies to Class B Shares across all Goldman Sachs
Funds.
|
|
|
n
|
Class C
Shares.
If you are unsure of the
length of your investment or plan to hold your investment for
less than six years and would prefer not to pay an initial sales
charge, you may prefer Class C Shares. By not paying a
front-end sales charge, your entire investment in Class C
Shares is available to work for you from the time you make your
initial investment. However, the distribution and service fee
paid by Class C Shares will cause your Class C Shares
to have a higher expense ratio, and thus lower performance and
lower dividend payments (to the extent dividends are paid) than
Class A Shares (or Class B Shares after conversion to
Class A Shares).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Although Class C Shares are subject to a
CDSC for only 12 months, Class C Shares do not have
the automatic eight year conversion feature applicable to
Class B Shares and your investment may pay higher
distribution fees indefinitely.
|
|
|
|
|
A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in
the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C
Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Authorized Dealers may receive
different compensation for selling Class A, Class B or
Class C Shares.
|
|
|
In addition to Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares, each Fund also offers other classes of
shares to investors. These other share classes are subject to
different fees and expenses (which affect performance), have
different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to
different services. Information regarding these other share
classes may be obtained from your sales representative or from
Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this
Prospectus.
|
37
|
|
|
How Can
I Sell Class A, Class B And Class C Shares Of The
Funds?
|
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account
by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
Generally, each Fund will redeem its shares upon request on
any business day at the NAV next determined after receipt of
such request in proper form, subject to any applicable CDSC.
You may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by
check or by wire (if the wire instructions are on record).
Redemptions may be requested in writing or by telephone.
|
|
|
|
Instructions For Redemptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Your
name(s) and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Your
account number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund name and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount you want to sell
|
|
|
n
How
and where to send the proceeds
|
|
|
n
Obtain
a Medallion signature guarantee (see details below)
|
|
|
n
Mail
your request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
219711
Kansas City, MO 64121-9711
|
|
|
or for overnight delivery:
|
|
|
Goldman
Sachs Funds
330 West 9th
Street
Poindexter Bldg., 1st
Floor
Kansas City, MO 64105
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have not declined
the telephone redemption privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-526-7384
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
n
You
may redeem up to $50,000 of your shares daily
|
|
|
n
Proceeds
which are sent directly to a Goldman
Sachs
brokerage account or to the
bank account designated on
your
Account Application are not
subject to the $50,000 limit
|
|
|
|
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person with a Medallion signature
guarantee. The written request may be confirmed by telephone
with both the requesting party and the designated bank account
to verify instructions.
|
38
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee is required if:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You are requesting in writing to redeem shares in
an amount over $50,000;
|
|
n
|
You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
|
|
n
|
You would like to change the bank designated on
your Account Application.
|
|
|
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that
is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot
provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Additional
documentation may be required.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests
that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may
accept telephone redemption instructions from any person
identifying himself or herself as the owner of an account or the
owners registered representative where the owner has not
declined in writing to use this service. Thus, you risk possible
losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by you.
|
|
|
In an effort to prevent unauthorized or
fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone,
Goldman Sachs and BFDS each employ reasonable procedures
specified by the Trust to confirm that such instructions are
genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust
may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent
transactions. The following general policies are currently in
effect:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
All telephone requests are recorded.
|
|
n
|
Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be
sent only to your address of record or authorized bank account
designated in the Account Application (unless you provide
written instructions and a Medallion signature guarantee,
indicating another address or account).
|
|
|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will only be filled by a wire
transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Applications (see immediately preceding bullet point). In order
to receive the redemption by check during this time period, the
redemption request must be in the form of a written, Medallion
signature guaranteed letter.
|
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option does not apply to
shares held in a street name account. Street
name accounts are accounts maintained and serviced by your
Authorized Dealer. If your account is held in street
name, you should contact your registered representative of
record, who may make telephone redemptions on your behalf.
|
39
|
|
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
|
|
|
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
|
|
|
How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
By Wire:
You
may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal
funds to the domestic bank account designated in your Account
Application. The following general policies govern wiring
redemption proceeds:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business
day delay), but may be paid up to three business days following
receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request.
|
|
n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as
permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment
Company Act. Generally, under that section, redemption requests
or payments may be postponed or suspended if (i) the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is
restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the
disposal of securities owned by a Fund or the fair determination
of the value of the Funds net assets not reasonably
practicable; or (iii) the SEC by order permits the
suspension of the right of redemption.
|
|
n
|
If you are selling shares you recently paid for
by check, a Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which
may take up to 15 days. If the Federal Reserve Bank is
closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily
be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be delayed one
additional business day.
|
|
|
n
|
To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions (with your
Medallion signature guarantee) to the Transfer Agent.
|
|
|
n
|
Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any
Authorized Dealer assumes any responsibility for the performance
of your bank or any intermediaries in the transfer process. If a
problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly
with your bank or any such intermediaries.
|
|
|
|
By Check:
You
may elect to receive your redemption proceeds by check.
Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the
address of record within three business days of a properly
executed redemption request. If you are selling shares you
recently paid for by check, a Fund will pay you when your check
has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
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40
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
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|
|
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
|
|
n
|
Institutions (including banks, trust companies,
brokers and investment advisers) are responsible for the timely
transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the
Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of
redemption requests, these institutions may set times by which
they must receive redemption requests. These institutions may
also require additional documentation from you.
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|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
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|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares if your account balance falls
below the required Fund minimum as a result of a redemption. The
Funds will not redeem your shares on this basis if the value of
your account falls below the minimum account balance solely as a
result of market conditions. The Funds will give you
60 days prior written notice to allow you to purchase
sufficient additional shares of the Fund in order to avoid such
redemption.
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|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized
Dealers relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and
you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Dealer.
The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an
investors account or tax liability resulting from the
redemption.
|
|
|
n
|
Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interests of the Trust.
|
|
n
|
Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
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|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to a Fund as
undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. This provision
may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts or to
a closed account. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal
program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No
interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed
distribution or redemption checks.
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|
|
|
n
|
Charge an additional fee in the event a
redemption is made via wire transfer.
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|
|
Can I
Reinvest Redemption Proceeds In The Same Or Another Goldman
Sachs Fund?
|
|
You may redeem shares of a Fund and reinvest a
portion or all of the redemption proceeds (plus any additional
amounts needed to round off purchases to the nearest full share)
at NAV. To be eligible for this privilege, you must have held
the shares
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41
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|
you want to redeem for at least 30 days and
you must reinvest the share proceeds within 90 days after
you redeem. You may reinvest as follows:
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|
|
|
|
n
|
Class A or B SharesClass A Shares
of the same Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund
|
|
n
|
Class C SharesClass C Shares of
the same Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and read the applicable
prospectuses before investing in any other Funds.
|
|
|
n
|
If you pay a CDSC upon redemption of Class A
or Class C Shares and then reinvest in Class A or
Class C Shares as described above, your account will be
credited with the amount of the CDSC you paid. The reinvested
shares will, however, continue to be subject to a CDSC. The
holding period of the shares acquired through reinvestment will
include the holding period of the redeemed shares for purposes
of computing the CDSC payable upon a subsequent redemption. For
Class B Shares, you may reinvest the redemption proceeds in
Class A Shares at NAV but the amount of the CDSC paid upon
redemption of the Class B Shares will not be credited to your
account.
|
|
n
|
The reinvestment privilege may be exercised at
any time in connection with transactions in which the proceeds
are reinvested at NAV in a tax-sheltered Employee Benefit Plan.
In other cases, the reinvestment privilege may be exercised once
per year upon receipt of a written request.
|
|
n
|
You may be subject to tax as a result of a
redemption. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the
tax consequences of a redemption and reinvestment.
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42
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
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|
|
You may exchange shares of a Fund at NAV without
the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC at the time of
exchange for shares of the same class of another Goldman Sachs
Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or
withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice to
you.
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|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
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|
By Writing:
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|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Account
number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount you want to exchange
|
|
|
n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
219711
Kansas City, MO 64121-9711
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|
|
or for overnight
delivery
|
|
|
Goldman
Sachs Funds
330 West 9th
St.
Poindexter Bldg., 1st
Floor
Kansas City, MO 64105
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have not declined
the telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-526-7384
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
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|
|
|
|
You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund you are acquiring before
making an exchange.
|
|
n
|
Currently, there is no charge for exchanges,
although the Funds may impose a charge in the future.
|
|
|
n
|
The exchanged shares may later be exchanged for
shares of the same class of the original Fund at the next
determined NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge
or CDSC if the amount in the Fund resulting from such exchanges
is less than the largest amount on which you have previously
paid the applicable sales charge.
|
|
|
n
|
When you exchange shares subject to a CDSC, no
CDSC will be charged at that time. The exchanged shares will be
subject to the CDSC of the shares originally held. For purposes
of determining the amount of the applicable CDSC, the length of
time you have owned the shares will be measured from the date
you acquired the original shares subject to a CDSC and will not
be affected by a subsequent exchange.
|
43
|
|
|
|
n
|
Eligible investors may exchange certain classes
of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For
further information, call Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-526-7384
and see the Additional Statement.
|
|
n
|
All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment
requirements of that Fund.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into a money market fund need not meet
the traditional minimum investment requirements for that fund if
the entire balance of the original Fund account is exchanged.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
|
|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs and BFDS may use reasonable
procedures described under What Do I Need to Know About
Telephone Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent
unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
|
|
n
|
Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into a Fund from another Goldman Sachs
Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the other
Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
|
|
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax
consequences of an exchange.
|
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|
|
Can I
Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular
Basis?
|
|
|
You may be able to make systematic investments
through your bank via ACH transfer or via bank draft each month.
The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the
initial investment and $50 per month. Forms for this option are
available from Goldman Sachs and your Authorized Dealer, or you
may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
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44
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
Can My
Dividends And Distributions From A Fund Be Invested In Other
Funds?
|
|
|
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and
capital gain distributions paid by a Fund in shares of the same
class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares will be purchased at NAV.
|
|
|
|
n
|
You may elect cross-reinvestment into an
identically registered account or a similarly registered account
provided that at least one name on the account is registered
identically.
|
|
|
|
|
Can I
Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular
Basis?
|
|
|
You may elect to exchange automatically a
specified dollar amount of shares of a Fund for shares of the
same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares will be purchased at NAV if a sales charge
had been imposed on the initial purchase.
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this
program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from
the Fund into which the exchange is made depending upon the date
and value of your original purchase.
|
|
|
n
|
Automatic exchanges are made monthly on the 15th
day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
|
|
n
|
Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
|
|
|
|
What
Else Should I Know About Cross-Reinvestments And Automatic
Exchanges?
|
|
Cross-reinvestments and automatic exchanges are
subject to the following conditions:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You must invest an amount in the Fund into which
cross-reinvestments or automatic exchanges are being made that
is equal to that Funds minimum initial investment.
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and read the prospectus of the
Fund into which dividends are invested or automatic exchanges
are made.
|
|
|
|
Can I
Have Automatic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
|
|
|
You may redeem from your account systematically
via check or ACH transfer in any amount of $50 or more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
It is normally undesirable to maintain a
systematic withdrawal plan at the same time that you are
purchasing additional Class A, Class B or Class C
Shares because of the sales charge imposed on your purchases of
Class A Shares and/or the imposition of a CDSC on your
redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C Shares.
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Checks are normally mailed the next business day
after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the
15th or 25th of the month.
|
|
|
n
|
Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and
therefore a taxable transaction.
|
|
n
|
The CDSC applicable to Class A, Class B
or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal
plan may be waived.
|
|
|
|
What
Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My
Investment?
|
|
You will be provided with a printed confirmation
of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account
statement. A year-to-date statement for your account will be
provided upon request made to Goldman Sachs. If your account is
held in a street name you may receive your
statements and confirmations on a different schedule.
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|
|
You will also receive an annual shareholder
report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual
shareholder report. If you have consented to the delivery of a
single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other
information to all shareholders who share the same mailing
address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any
time by contacting Goldman Sachs Funds by phone at
1-800-526-7384 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box
219711, Kansas City, MO 64121. The Funds will begin sending
individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of
your revocation.
|
|
|
The Funds do not generally provide sub-accounting
services.
|
|
|
What
Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized
Dealer?
|
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial
intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their
clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition,
Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries are
responsible for providing to you any communication, from a Fund
to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectus
supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of
dividend payments pursuant to Section 19 under the
Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not
described in this Prospectus to their customers for such
services.
|
|
|
|
If shares of a Fund are held in a street
name account with an Authorized Dealer, all recordkeeping,
transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to
your account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not
by a Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Funds will have no
record of your transactions, you should contact the Authorized
Dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes
in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain
information about your account. The transfer of shares in a
street name account to an account with another
dealer or to an account directly
|
|
46
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
|
with a Fund involves special procedures and will
require you to obtain historical purchase information about the
shares in the account from the Authorized Dealer. If your
Authorized Dealers relationship with Goldman Sachs is
terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another
Authorized Dealer, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your
shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an
investors account resulting from a redemption.
|
|
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial
intermediaries may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the
Trust, purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on
behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Trust, to
designate other intermediaries to accept such orders. In these
cases:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
A Fund will be deemed to have received an order
that is in proper form when the order is accepted by an
Authorized Dealer or intermediary on a business day, and the
order will be priced at the Funds NAV per share (adjusted
for any applicable sales charge and redemption fee) next
determined after such acceptance.
|
|
n
|
Authorized Dealers and intermediaries are
responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Funds within
the time period agreed upon by them.
|
|
|
|
You should contact your Authorized Dealer or
intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders
for the Trust.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to Authorized Dealers and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These
payments are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Funds. The payments are in
addition to the distribution and service fees and sales charges
described in this Prospectus. Such payments are intended to
compensate Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing
shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may
consist of payments relating to Funds included on preferred or
recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to
time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing
|
47
|
|
|
services that are in addition to the fees paid
for these services by the Funds. The amount of these additional
payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized)
of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries.
Please refer to the Payments to Intermediaries
section of the Additional Statement for more information about
these payments.
|
|
|
The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at
least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your Authorized Dealer or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
|
DISTRIBUTION
SERVICES AND FEES
|
|
|
|
What
Are The Different Distribution And Service Fees Paid By
Class A, B and C Shares?
|
|
The Trust has adopted distribution and service
plans (each a Plan) under which Class A,
Class B and Class C Shares bear distribution and
service fees paid to Authorized Dealers and Goldman Sachs. If
the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed
its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these
arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution and
service fees on a quarterly basis.
|
|
|
|
Under the Plans, Goldman Sachs is entitled to a
monthly fee from each Fund for distribution services equal, on
an annual basis, to 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.75%, respectively, of a
Funds average daily net assets attributed to Class A,
Class B and Class C Shares. Because these fees are
paid out of the Funds assets on an ongoing basis, over
time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of such charges.
|
|
|
|
The distribution fees are subject to the
requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
Act, and may be used (among other things) for:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Compensation paid to and expenses incurred by
Authorized Dealers, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers,
employees and sales representatives;
|
|
n
|
Commissions paid to Authorized Dealers;
|
|
n
|
Allocable overhead;
|
|
n
|
Telephone and travel expenses;
|
|
n
|
Interest and other costs associated with the
financing of such compensation and expenses;
|
48
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
n
|
Printing of prospectuses for prospective
shareholders;
|
|
n
|
Preparation and distribution of sales literature
or advertising of any type; and
|
|
n
|
All other expenses incurred in connection with
activities primarily intended to result in the sale of
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.
|
|
|
|
In connection with the sale of Class C
Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.75%
distribution fee as an ongoing commission to Authorized Dealers
after the shares have been held for one year.
|
PERSONAL ACCOUNT
MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES
|
|
|
|
Under the Plans, Goldman Sachs is also entitled
to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of
each Funds average daily net assets attributed to
Class B or Class C Shares. This fee is for personal
and account maintenance services, and may be used to make
payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Dealers and their
officers, sales representatives and employees for responding to
inquiries of, and furnishing assistance to, shareholders
regarding ownership of their shares or their accounts or similar
services not otherwise provided on behalf of the Funds. If the
fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its
expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this
arrangement.
|
|
|
In connection with the sale of Class C
Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing
service fee to Authorized Dealers after the shares have been
held for one year.
|
RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES
|
|
|
|
Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
and does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer-term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practice of the respective Funds.
Excessive, short-term (market timing) trading practices may
disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of
|
49
|
|
|
excessive trading or if an investors
trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or Goldman Sachs), has
been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In making this judgment,
trades executed in multiple accounts under common ownership or
control may be considered together to the extent they can be
identified. No waivers of the provisions of the policy
established to detect and deter market timing and other
excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the
Trust or its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of
the Trust or its shareholders to those of Goldman Sachs or any
affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
|
To deter excessive shareholder trading, the
International Equity Funds and certain Fixed Income Funds (which
are offered in separate prospectuses) impose a redemption fee on
redemptions made within 30 calendar days of purchase
(60 calendar days of purchase with respect to the Goldman
Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield Municipal Fund) subject to
certain exceptions. For more information about these Funds,
obtain a prospectus from your Authorized Dealer or Goldman Sachs
by calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that
it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive.
Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available
information relating to the trading activity in the Funds in
order to assess the likelihood that a Fund may be the target of
excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance
process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis, examines
transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or
numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the
standards described above, if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs
detects excessive, short term trading, Goldman Sachs may reject
or restrict a purchase or exchange request and may further seek
to close an investors account with a Fund. Goldman Sachs
may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to
time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive
trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will
apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs
judgment, will be uniform.
|
|
|
|
|
Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Funds with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors shares
are netted against one another. The identity of individual
investors whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated
are not known by the Funds. A number of these financial
intermediaries
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50
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
|
may not have the capability or may not be willing
to apply the Funds market timing policies or any
applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share
turnover at the omnibus account level, a Funds ability to
monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any
applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts is limited.
The netting effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate
and eliminate market timing activities. In addition, those
investors who engage in market timing and other excessive
trading activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid
detection. There can be no assurance that the Funds and Goldman
Sachs will be able to identify all those who trade excessively
or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in
every instance.
|
51
|
|
|
Taxation
|
|
|
As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Funds will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Funds.
|
|
|
Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
|
|
|
|
Each Fund contemplates declaring as dividends
each year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Funds are generally subject
to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
|
|
Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Funds from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of a Funds distributions
that qualifies for this favorable tax treatment may be reduced
as a result of a Funds securities lending activities, by a
high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt
securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.
For these lower rates to apply, the non-corporate shareholder
must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend date.
|
|
|
A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
|
52
TAXATION
|
|
|
Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the
Funds dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be
eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. This
percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a Funds
securities lending activities, by a high portfolio turnover
rate, or by investments in debt securities or foreign
corporations. Character and tax status of all distributions will
be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar
year.
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Each Fund may be subject to foreign withholding
or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. In general, each Fund may deduct these taxes in
computing its taxable income.
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If you buy shares of a Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
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Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of that Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant
to a dividend reinvestment in shares of that Fund. If
disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the
basis of the shares acquired.
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When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, a Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do
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53
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not provide your correct taxpayer identification
number, or certify that it is correct, or if the IRS instructs
the Fund to do so.
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Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Funds do not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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54
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Funds will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed-income
securities, that Fund will also be subject to the risks
associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks include
interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk. In
general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest
rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends
to increase. Conversely, when interest rates increase, the
market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit
risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default
on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment.
Call risk and extension risk are normally present when the
borrower has the option to prepay its obligations.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or
more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Funds Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the
Funds investment objectives and all investment policies
not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental,
and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in a Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
Companies.
Each Fund may, to the
extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in small
capitalization companies. Investments in small capitalization
companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility
than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the
reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments
are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the
lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities.
Small capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have
to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small
lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these
securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods
the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all
securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or
disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse
economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions
whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient
market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be
required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then
at a substantial drop in price. Small capitalization companies
include unseasoned issuers that do not have an
established financial history; often have limited product lines,
markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key
personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and
risks of bankruptcy. Small capitalization companies may be
operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating
results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with
products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may
require substantial additional capital to support their
operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their
competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may
otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these
companies may face intense competition, including competition
from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive
development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities,
and a larger number of qualified
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APPENDIX A
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managerial and technical personnel. Transaction
costs for these investments are often higher than those of
larger capitalization companies. Investments in small
capitalization companies may be more difficult to price
precisely than other types of securities because of their
characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Funds may make foreign
investments. However, the Funds may only invest in foreign
issuers that are traded in the U.S. Foreign investments involve
special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar
denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign
investments may be affected by changes in currency rates,
changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to
such investments and changes in exchange control regulations
(
e.g.
, currency blockage).
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be
less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than
about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less
government regulation of foreign markets, companies and
securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal
remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies
available in the United States. Furthermore, with respect to
certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of
nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation,
imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest
payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions),
limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such
countries, and risks of political or social instability or
diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments
in those countries.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
A Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, structured
securities and foreign currency transactions involve additional
risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between
changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio
assets (if any) being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the
markets for derivative instruments, the failure of the
counterparty to perform its contractual obligations, or the
risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage
factors associated with such transactions. The use of these
management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of
fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency
prices or credit events. Each Fund may also invest in derivative
investments for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to
increase total return). Investing for non-hedging purposes is
considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk
of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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n
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
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n
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Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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n
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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n
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Certain over-the-counter options
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n
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Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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n
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of a Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Funds may include securities (including zero coupon bonds)
issued by the U.S. government (and its agencies,
instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign
governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other
issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in
the next section below. Further information is provided in the
Additional Statement.
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58
APPENDIX A
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Temporary Investment Risks.
Each Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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n
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U.S. government securities
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n
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Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
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n
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Certificates of deposit
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n
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Bankers acceptances
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n
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Repurchase agreements
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n
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Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
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When a Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
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This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Funds, including their associated risks.
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The Funds may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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Convertible Securities.
Each Fund may invest in
convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred
stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common
stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or
dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar
quality. Convertible securities in which a Fund invests are
subject to the same rating criteria as its other investments in
fixed-income securities. Convertible securities have both equity
and fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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59
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
A Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions
for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated
changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
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The Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into
U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, a Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are not
guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a
contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction
costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the
Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the
current market price.
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Structured Securities.
Each Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the
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60
APPENDIX A
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Reference. Consequently, structured securities
may present a greater degree of market risk than many types of
securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and more
difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
Each
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage
loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of
the REITs managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow
dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the
REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable
income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally
associated with investments in real estate including possible
declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic
conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest
rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are
concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain
other respects, these risks may be heightened. A Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses,
including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. Each Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its
investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call
options on foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in a Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase a
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Funds may be traded on U.S. exchanges.
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61
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based on a particular
securities index. The Funds may engage in futures transactions
on U.S. exchanges.
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Each Fund may purchase and sell futures
contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on
futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or
to hedge against changes in securities prices or, to the extent
a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates.
Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale
transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The
Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the
definition of the term commodity pool operator under
the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore is not subject to
registration or regulation as a pool operator under that Act
with respect to the Funds.
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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n
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While a Fund may benefit from the use of futures
and options on futures, unanticipated changes in securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall
performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures
contracts or options transactions.
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n
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Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to additional risk of
loss.
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n
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The loss incurred by a Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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n
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Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of a Funds NAV.
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n
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As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to a Fund.
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n
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Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
a Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
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62
APPENDIX A
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example, a Fund must set aside liquid assets
equal to the full notional value of the futures contracts while
the positions are open. With respect to futures contracts that
do cash settle, however, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid
assets in an amount equal to the Funds daily
marked-to-market net obligations (
i.e.
the Funds
daily net liability) under the futures contracts, if any, rather
than their full notional value. Each Fund reserves the right to
modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply
with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated
by the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation. By setting
aside assets equal to only its net obligations under
cash-settled futures contracts, a Fund will have the ability to
employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were
required to segregate assets equal to the full notional amount
of the futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
Each Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
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An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in
a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities
in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted
for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or
disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, a Fund
may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of some
components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common
stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Furthermore, a Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty
defaults. Because equity swaps are normally illiquid, a Fund may
be unable to terminate its obligations when desired.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
Each Fund may
purchase when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase
or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond
customary settlement time. When-issued securities are securities
that have been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued
securities are purchased in order to secure what is considered
to be an advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of
entering into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the
entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a
fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement
period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-
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63
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issued or forward commitment basis with the
intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, a Fund
may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments
prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it
appropriate.
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Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. Each
Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with securities
dealers and banks which furnish collateral at least equal in
value or market price to the amount of their repurchase
obligation.
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If the other party or seller
defaults, a Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, a Fund could suffer additional losses
if a court determines that the Funds interest in the
collateral is not enforceable.
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The Funds, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities.
Each Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for
any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of a
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
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A Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of
its securities or incur a loss if the institution
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64
APPENDIX A
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with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan
transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund or becomes
insolvent.
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Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
Each Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend
and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated
by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an
event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the
preferred stock.
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Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
|
|
|
|
Other Investment Companies.
Each Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on any Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of a Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. A Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
|
|
|
|
Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Funds may,
consistent with their investment policies, purchase Standard
& Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs).
SPDRs are securities traded on an exchange that represent
ownership in the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established
to accumulate and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is
intended to track the price
|
65
|
|
|
|
|
performance and dividend yield of the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading,
or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may
not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P
500
®
.
|
|
|
n
|
iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI
indices for various countries and regions. The market prices of
iShares are expected to fluctuate in accordance with both
changes in the NAVs of their underlying indices and supply and
demand of iShares on an exchange. However, iShares have a
limited operating history and information is lacking regarding
the actual performance and trading liquidity of iShares for
extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition,
there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange
necessary to maintain the listing of iShares will continue to be
met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or
other disruptions affecting iShares occur in the future, the
liquidity and value of a Funds shares could also be
substantially and adversely affected. If such disruptions were
to occur, a Fund could be required to reconsider the use of
iShares as part of its investment strategy.
|
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies.
Each Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
|
|
|
Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Each Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
|
|
|
Bank Obligations.
Each Fund may invest in
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank
obligations, including without limitation, time deposits,
bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be
general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the
issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by
government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but
different governmental regulations which may limit both the
amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates
which may be charged. In addition, the
|
66
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
profitability of the banking industry is largely
dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the
purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money
market conditions. General economic conditions as well as
exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial
difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the
operation of this industry.
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Securities.
Each Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury;
(ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S.
government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or
(iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government
Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and
other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest
and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities
are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may
also include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose
principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate
of inflation.
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
Each Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts
or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest
payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third
party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other
arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust.
Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in
custodial receipts and trust certificates.
|
|
|
Borrowings.
Each Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. A Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
|
67
|
|
|
Appendix B
Predecessor Funds
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
The financial highlights table is intended to
help you understand a Funds financial performance for the
past five years. Certain information reflects financial results
for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions).
|
|
|
|
The financial highlights information for the
Class A, B and C shares of the Structured Small Cap Value
Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth Fund is based on the
financial history of the Class A, B and C Shares of the AXA
Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise Small
Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds Trust (the
Predecessor Value Fund and the Predecessor
Growth Fund respectively). The information for the
Predecessor Value Fund and Predecessor Growth Fund has been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with
the Predecessor Value and Predecessor Growth Funds
financial statements are included in its annual report and is
available upon request.
|
|
68
APPENDIX B
PREDECESSOR VALUE
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
11.49
|
|
|
$
|
10.45
|
|
|
$
|
9.78
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
|
$
|
8.17
|
|
|
$
|
7.84
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
2.10
|
|
|
|
1.23
|
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
|
2.73
|
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)
|
|
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
2.15
|
|
|
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
0.67
|
|
|
|
2.69
|
|
|
|
(0.97
|
)
|
|
|
0.36
|
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
13.19
|
|
|
$
|
11.49
|
|
|
$
|
10.45
|
|
|
$
|
9.78
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
|
$
|
8.17
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
19.38
|
%
|
|
|
11.35
|
%
|
|
|
6.85
|
%
|
|
|
37.94
|
%
|
|
|
(11.88
|
)%
|
|
|
4.63
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
264,595
|
|
|
$
|
252,526
|
|
|
$
|
254,300
|
|
|
$
|
250,241
|
|
|
$
|
188,979
|
|
|
$
|
218,905
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.57
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.63
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.57
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
0.37
|
%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.21
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
0.38
|
%
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers
a
|
|
|
0.37
|
%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.21
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income (loss)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 74 for all footnotes.
69
PREDECESSOR VALUE
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2006
c
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
10.70
|
|
|
$
|
9.79
|
|
|
$
|
9.21
|
|
|
$
|
6.71
|
|
|
$
|
7.78
|
|
|
$
|
7.52
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
1.95
|
|
|
|
1.15
|
|
|
|
0.65
|
|
|
|
2.58
|
|
|
|
(0.88
|
)
|
|
|
0.35
|
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
1.93
|
|
|
|
1.05
|
|
|
|
0.58
|
|
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
(0.96
|
)
|
|
|
0.29
|
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
12.18
|
|
|
$
|
10.70
|
|
|
$
|
9.79
|
|
|
$
|
9.21
|
|
|
$
|
6.71
|
|
|
$
|
7.78
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b,
|
|
|
18.73
|
%
|
|
|
10.78
|
%
|
|
|
6.30
|
%
|
|
|
37.26
|
%
|
|
|
(12.35
|
)%
|
|
|
3.89
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
175,297
|
|
|
$
|
198,305
|
|
|
$
|
208,457
|
|
|
$
|
210,248
|
|
|
$
|
156,569
|
|
|
$
|
161,373
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.12
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.18
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.12
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.16
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.96
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.04
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.76
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.95
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.16
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.96
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.04
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.76
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income (loss)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 74 for all footnotes.
70
APPENDIX B
PREDECESSOR VALUE
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October ,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
10.98
|
|
|
$
|
10.04
|
|
|
$
|
9.45
|
|
|
$
|
6.88
|
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
|
$
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
1.19
|
|
|
|
0.67
|
|
|
|
2.65
|
|
|
|
(0.91
|
)
|
|
|
0.36
|
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
1.98
|
|
|
|
1.08
|
|
|
|
0.59
|
|
|
|
2.57
|
|
|
|
(0.99
|
)
|
|
|
0.30
|
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
12.51
|
|
|
$
|
10.98
|
|
|
$
|
10.04
|
|
|
$
|
9.45
|
|
|
$
|
6.88
|
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
18.71
|
%
|
|
|
10.81
|
%
|
|
|
6.24
|
%
|
|
|
37.35
|
%
|
|
|
(12.42
|
)%
|
|
|
3.93
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
92,123
|
|
|
$
|
107,803
|
|
|
$
|
114,721
|
|
|
$
|
111,311
|
|
|
$
|
78,811
|
|
|
$
|
78,665
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.13
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.18
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.14
|
%
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
2.13
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.17
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.96
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.04
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.76
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.16
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.95
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.17
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.96
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.04
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.76
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income (loss)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 74 for all footnotes.
71
PREDECESSOR GROWTH
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
28.23
|
|
|
$
|
26.45
|
|
|
$
|
26.74
|
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
28.90
|
|
|
$
|
30.90
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)
|
|
|
(0.26
|
)
|
|
|
(0.29
|
)
|
|
|
(0.33
|
)
|
|
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
|
(0.39
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
|
|
6.64
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
5.31
|
|
|
|
(6.79
|
)
|
|
|
(1.40
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
6.26
|
|
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
|
(0.29
|
)
|
|
|
4.98
|
|
|
|
(7.14
|
)
|
|
|
(1.79
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
32.78
|
|
|
$
|
28.23
|
|
|
$
|
26.45
|
|
|
$
|
26.74
|
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
28.90
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
23.15
|
%
|
|
|
6.69
|
%
|
|
|
(1.08
|
)%
|
|
|
22.89
|
%
|
|
|
(24.71
|
)%
|
|
|
(5.72
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
47,721
|
|
|
$
|
42,959
|
|
|
$
|
44,184
|
|
|
$
|
44,265
|
|
|
$
|
31,714
|
|
|
$
|
37,413
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.73
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.18
|
%
|
|
|
2.23
|
%
|
|
|
2.02
|
%
|
|
|
2.04
|
%
|
|
|
2.09
|
%
|
|
|
2.01
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(1.30
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.37
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.43
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.40
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.25
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.92
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.83
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.79
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.56
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
|
|
88
|
%
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
0.16
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
See page 74 for all footnotes.
72
APPENDIX B
PREDECESSOR GROWTH
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
26.79
|
|
|
$
|
25.25
|
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
$
|
20.98
|
|
|
$
|
28.02
|
|
|
$
|
30.11
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.52
|
)
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
|
(0.44
|
)
|
|
|
(0.47
|
)
|
|
|
(0.53
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
|
|
6.27
|
|
|
|
1.94
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
5.10
|
|
|
|
(6.57
|
)
|
|
|
(1.34
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
1.54
|
|
|
|
(0.39
|
)
|
|
|
4.66
|
|
|
|
(7.04
|
)
|
|
|
(1.87
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemptions fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
30.83
|
|
|
$
|
26.79
|
|
|
$
|
25.25
|
|
|
$
|
25.64
|
|
|
$
|
20.98
|
|
|
$
|
28.02
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
22.40
|
%
|
|
|
6.14
|
%
|
|
|
(1.52
|
)%
|
|
|
22.21
|
%
|
|
|
(25.12
|
)%
|
|
|
(6.17
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
30,515
|
|
|
$
|
33,060
|
|
|
$
|
37,430
|
|
|
$
|
42,327
|
|
|
$
|
33,447
|
|
|
$
|
41,749
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.28
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.73
|
%
|
|
|
2.78
|
%
|
|
|
2.57
|
%
|
|
|
2.59
|
%
|
|
|
2.64
|
%
|
|
|
2.56
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(1.85
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.92
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.89
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.98
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.47
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(2.37
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.26
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.11
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
|
|
88
|
%
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.28
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 74 for all footnotes.
73
PREDECESSOR GROWTH
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
26.89
|
|
|
$
|
25.34
|
|
|
$
|
25.73
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
28.11
|
|
|
$
|
30.21
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment
operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.52
|
)
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)
|
|
|
(0.53
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
|
|
6.30
|
|
|
|
1.95
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
5.13
|
|
|
|
(6.60
|
)
|
|
|
(1.35
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
5.78
|
|
|
|
1.55
|
|
|
|
(0.39
|
)
|
|
|
4.68
|
|
|
|
(7.06
|
)
|
|
|
(1.88
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
30.96
|
|
|
$
|
26.89
|
|
|
$
|
25.34
|
|
|
$
|
25.73
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
28.11
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
22.48
|
%
|
|
|
6.12
|
%
|
|
|
(1.52
|
)%
|
|
|
22.23
|
%
|
|
|
(25.12
|
)%
|
|
|
(6.18
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
13,294
|
|
|
$
|
13,431
|
|
|
$
|
15,856
|
|
|
$
|
16,567
|
|
|
$
|
10,448
|
|
|
$
|
9,367
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.27
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.73
|
%
|
|
|
2.78
|
%
|
|
|
2.57
|
%
|
|
|
2.59
|
%
|
|
|
2.66
|
%
|
|
|
2.56
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(1.85
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.92
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.89
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.97
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.47
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(2.37
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.26
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.36
|
)%
|
|
|
(2.11
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
|
|
88
|
%
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.28
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year-ended October 31, 2005,
these ratios and per share amounts were not provided.
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is less than
$0.005.
|
|
|
The total returns for Class A,
Class B and Class C do not include sales
charges.
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less than one year are
annualized.
|
b
|
|
Total return for periods less than one year
are not annualized.
|
c
|
|
Net investment income and capital changes per
share are based on daily average shares outstanding.
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund ratios adjusted for
class specific expenses.
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than
one year are not annualized.
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
3 Fund
Investment Objectives and Strategies
|
|
|
3
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
5
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
7 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
9
Principal Risks of the Funds
|
|
|
|
12 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
13 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
17
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
23
Dividends
|
|
|
|
24
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
24
|
|
How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
38
|
|
How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
52
Taxation
|
|
|
|
55
Appendix A
Additional
Information on
Portfolio Risks,
Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
68
Appendix B
Predecessor
Funds
Financial
Highlights
|
|
|
|
Structured Equity Funds
Prospectus
(Class A, B and
C Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/Semi-annual
Report
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Funds had not commenced operations.
The annual report for the fiscal year ending August 31,
2007 will become available to shareholders in October 2007.
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Funds and their
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-526-7384.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-526-7384
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may
also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating
fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to:
publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of the public
reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Prospectus
|
|
|
Institutional
Shares
|
|
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED EQUITY FUNDS
|
|
|
|
|
n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
|
|
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOT
FDIC-INSURED
|
|
May Lose
Value
|
|
No Bank
Guarantee
|
|
|
|
|
General Investment
Management Approach
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
(GSAM
®
)
serves as investment adviser to the Structured Small Cap Value
and Structured Small Cap Growth Funds. GSAM is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
GSAMs
Quantitative Investment Philosophy:
|
|
GSAMs quantitative style of funds
management emphasizes the three building blocks of active
management:
fundamentally-based
stock selection
,
careful
portfolio construction
and
efficient
implementation.
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED FUNDS
|
|
|
|
Step
1: Stock Selection
|
|
The Investment Adviser attempts to forecast
expected returns on approximately 10,000 stocks on a daily
basis using proprietary CORE
SM
(Computer-Optimized, Research-Enhanced) models
developed by the Global Quantitative Equity (GQE)
team. These quantitative models are based on six investment
themesValuation, Momentum, Analyst Sentiment,
Profitability, Earnings Quality and Management Impact. The
Valuation theme attempts to capture potential mispricings of
securities by comparing measures of the companys intrinsic
value to its market value. The Momentum theme attempts to
forecast companies future returns based on their past
stock price performance, measured over various periods. The
Analyst Sentiment theme looks at how Wall Street analysts
views about a companys earnings and prospects are changing
over time. The Profitability theme assesses a companys
profit margins and operating efficiency relative to its peers,
and views those that are more profitable as more attractive.
Finally, the Management Impact theme evaluates a companys
management strategy through the companys investing and
financing behavior.
|
|
|
Step
2: Portfolio Construction
|
|
The Investment Adviser uses a proprietary risk
model to help manage the expected deviation of the
portfolios returns from those of the benchmark. The model
attempts to identify and measure the comparative risks between
equity investments as accurately as possible by including all
the above themes used in the return model, as well as several
other factors associated with risk but not return. In this
process, the Investment Adviser seeks to manage risk by
overweighting stocks with positive characteristics identified in
the return models and underweighting stocks
|
1
|
|
|
with negative characteristics relative to their
benchmark weights, while maintaining other characteristics such
as size and sector weights close to the benchmark. A
computer
optimizer
evaluates many different security combinations
(considering many possible weightings) in an effort
to
construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio
given
each Structured Funds benchmark.
|
|
|
Step
3: Efficient Implementation
|
|
The portfolio management team considers
transaction costs at each step of the investment process. The
team incorporates expected portfolio turnover when assigning
weights to the variables in the multifactor model. The team also
factors expected execution costs into portfolio construction and
evaluates multiple trading options. The team then selects the
trading strategy it believes will minimize the total transaction
costs to the Fund.
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Funds are
fully invested, broadly diversified and offer consistent overall
portfolio characteristics. They may serve as good
foundations on which to build a portfolio.
|
|
|
|
References in this Prospectus to a Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how a particular Fund
is managed.
|
2
|
|
|
Fund Investment Objectives
and Strategies
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
Russell
2000
®
Value Index
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Quantitative, applied to
small-cap value stocks
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus
any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at time of
purchase) (Net Assets) in a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in small-cap U.S. issuers,
including foreign issuers that are traded in the United States.*
However, it is currently anticipated that, under normal
circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its Net
Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers will
have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in a Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
|
3
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
continued
|
|
|
|
|
required to, sell the securities. The
capitalization range of the Russell
2000
®
Value Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$94 million and $3.0 billion.
|
|
|
|
|
As described in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to the Russell
2000
®
Value Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
universe of small cap companies with low earnings growth
expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize expected return while
maintaining these and other characteristics similar to the
benchmark.
|
|
|
|
Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
|
4
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND STRATEGIES
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
Russell
2000
®
Growth Index
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Quantitative, applied to
small-cap growth stocks
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a
broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap
U.S. issuers, including foreign issuers that are traded in the
United States.* However, it is currently anticipated that, under
normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its
Net Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers
will have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Growth Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of
the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$90 million and $3.0 billion.
|
|
|
|
|
As discussed in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to
|
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by SEC regulations,
shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the
manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Funds
policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the
particular type of investment suggested by its name.
|
5
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
continued
|
the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
universe of small cap companies with above average earnings
growth expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize expected return
while maintaining these and other characteristics similar to the
benchmark.
|
|
|
Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
|
6
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The
table also highlights the differences among the Funds in their
use of these techniques and other investment practices and
investment securities. Numbers in this table show allowable
usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds annual/
semi-annual reports (when available). For more information about
these and other investment practices and securities, see
Appendix A. Each Fund publishes on its website
(http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings
for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a
fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and
the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the
Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings
subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
This information will be available on the website until the date
on which a Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings
report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. In addition,
a description of the Funds policies and procedures with
respect to the disclosure of a Funds portfolio securities
is available in the Funds Statement of Additional
Information (Additional Statement).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
|
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Practices
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
33 1/3
|
|
33 1/3
|
Cross Hedging of Currencies
|
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Swaps*
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign Currency
Transactions**
|
|
|
|
|
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
Investment Company
Securities (including iShares
SM
and Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts
)
|
|
10
|
|
10
|
Options on Foreign
Currencies
2
|
|
|
|
|
Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
3
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
|
|
Securities Lending
|
|
33 1/3
|
|
33 1/3
|
Unseasoned Companies
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
|
|
|
|
|
When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
**
|
|
Limited by the amount a Fund invests in
foreign securities.
|
1
|
|
The Funds may enter into futures transactions
only with respect to a representative index.
|
2
|
|
The Funds may purchase and sell call and put
options.
|
3
|
|
The Funds may sell covered call and put
options and purchase call and put options.
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
|
10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Securities
|
|
|
American and Global
Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
|
|
Bank
Obligations
4
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible
Securities
5
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Debt
Obligations
4
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Investments
|
|
80+
|
|
80+
|
Fixed-Income
Securities
4,6
|
|
20
|
|
20
|
Foreign
Securities
7
|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
Securities
*
|
|
|
|
|
Temporary Investments
|
|
35
|
|
35
|
U.S. Government
Securities
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
4
|
|
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities and limited to cash equivalents only.
The Funds may invest in bank obligations issued by U.S. or
foreign banks.
|
5
|
|
The Funds have no minimum rating criteria for
convertible debt securities.
|
6
|
|
Except as noted under Convertible
Securities, fixed-income securities must be investment
grade (i.e., BBB or higher by Standard & Poors Rating
Group (Standard & Poors), Baa or higher by
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys)
or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (NRSRO)).
|
7
|
|
Equity securities of foreign issuers must be
traded in the United States.
|
8
Principal Risks of the Funds
Loss of money is a risk of investing in each
Fund. An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of any bank and
is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Funds and may
result in a loss of your investment. None of the Funds should be
relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no
assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
Applicable
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Style
|
|
|
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
n
|
Foreign
Risk
The risk that when a
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. A
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations.
|
|
|
n
|
Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
|
|
n
|
Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from a Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, structured securities and other derivative instruments.
These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may
produce disproportionate losses to a Fund.
|
n
|
Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, securities held by a Fund will decline
in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have
more price volatility because of this risk than short-term
fixed-income securities.
|
n
|
Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
|
n
|
Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which a Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. A Funds investments may be overweighted from time
to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the
Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments
affecting those sectors.
|
|
n
|
Liquidity
Risk
The risk that a Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. Funds that invest in small and mid-capitalization
stocks and REITs will be especially subject to the risk that
during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or
industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Funds and other funds for
which GSAM or an affiliate now or in the future acts as
investment adviser or underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset
Allocation Portfolio of its position in a Fund may further
increase liquidity risk and may impact a Funds net asset
value (NAV).
|
|
n
|
Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. A
|
10
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE
FUNDS
|
|
|
Fund may outperform or underperform other funds
that employ a different investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
|
n
|
Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization companies involve greater risks than those
associated with larger, more established companies and may be
subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of
such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a
Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a
substantial drop in price. Small-cap companies often have
narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial
resources than larger, more established companies. As a result,
their performance can be more volatile and they face greater
risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of
a Funds portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company
size, the greater these risks.
|
More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
11
HOW THE FUNDS
HAVE PERFORMED
|
|
|
|
The Funds have not commenced operations before
the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance
information is provided in this section. The Structured Small
Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth Fund first began
operations as the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (each a Predecessor Fund), respectively. Each
Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of Goldman
Sachs Trust. Performance of each Predecessor Fund is not shown
because as part of the reorganization each Predecessor Fund
changed its investment adviser to GSAM.
|
12
Fund Fees and Expenses
(Institutional Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of a Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
2
*
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
Distribution and Service
(12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Other Expenses
3
*
|
|
|
0.11
|
%
|
|
|
0.22
|
%
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses*
|
|
|
0.96
|
%
|
|
|
1.07
|
%
|
|
See page 14 for all other
footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Management Fees, Other
Expenses and Total Fund Operating Expenses
(after any waivers and expense limitations) set forth below have
been restated to reflect the current waivers and expense
limitations that are expected for the current fiscal year. The
waivers and expense limitations may be modified or terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this
occurs, Management Fees, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
2
|
|
|
0.81
|
%
|
|
|
0.81
|
%
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Other Expenses
3
|
|
|
0.04
|
%
|
|
|
0.04
|
%
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current
waivers and expense limitations)
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
13
Fund Fees and Expenses
continued
|
|
|
1
|
|
The Funds annual operating expenses have
been estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
2
|
|
The Investment Adviser is entitled to
management fees from the Funds at annual rates equal to the
following percentage of the average daily net assets of the
Funds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed
to waive a portion of its advisory fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets. The Investment Adviser may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
|
|
|
3
|
|
Other Expenses include transfer
agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis to 0.04%
of the average daily net assets of each Funds
Institutional Shares plus all other ordinary expenses not
detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to
reduce or limit Other Expenses (excluding management
fees, transfer agency fees and expenses, taxes, interest,
brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification, shareholder
meeting and other extraordinary expenses exclusive of any
expense offset arrangements) to the following annual percentage
rates of each Funds average daily net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
These expense reductions may be terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
|
|
14
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in a Fund (without the waivers and
expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual
funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in
Institutional Shares of a Fund for the time periods indicated
and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.
The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return
each year and that a Funds operating expenses remain the
same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based
on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
|
|
$
|
98
|
|
|
$
|
306
|
|
|
$
|
531
|
|
|
$
|
1,178
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Growth
|
|
$
|
109
|
|
|
$
|
340
|
|
|
$
|
590
|
|
|
$
|
1,306
|
|
|
Institutions that invest in Institutional Shares
on behalf of their customers may charge other fees directly to
their customer accounts in connection with their investments.
You should contact your institution for information regarding
such charges. Such fees, if any, may affect the return such
customers realize with respect to their investments.
Certain institutions that invest in Institutional
Shares may receive other compensation in connection with the
sale and distribution of Institutional Shares or for services to
their customers accounts and/or the Funds. For additional
information regarding such compensation, see Shareholder
Guide in the Prospectus and Payments to
Intermediaries in the Additional Statement.
15
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Investment Adviser
|
|
Fund
|
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|
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (GSAM)
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
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|
|
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|
GSAM has been registered as an investment adviser
with the SEC since 1990 and is an affiliate of Goldman,
Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of
September 30, 2006, GSAM had assets under management of
$576.4 billion.
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|
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|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Funds and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Funds, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
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|
The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Funds:
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|
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n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the
Funds
|
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Funds
|
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n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
|
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n
|
Maintains the records of each Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
|
|
|
As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
|
16
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
monthly, at the annual rates listed below (as a
percentage of each respective Funds average daily net
assets):
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to
waive a portion of its advisory fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets, and may discontinue or
modify any such voluntary limitations in the future at its
discretion.
|
|
|
|
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the
Funds will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
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|
Quantitative
Domestic Equity Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
A stable and growing team supported by an
extensive internal staff
|
|
|
n
|
More than $100 billion in equities currently
under management, including over $52 billion in US equities
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily
|
|
|
Name and Title
|
|
Fund Responsibility
|
|
Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Ms. Brown joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1998. From 1984
to 1998, she was the director of Quantitative Equity Research
and served on the Investment Policy Committee at Prudential
Securities Equity Research.
|
|
Robert C. Jones
Chief Investment Officer
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Mr. Jones joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1989.
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director and
Senior Portfolio Manager for US portfolios. She is also a
member of the GQE Investment Policy Committee. Robert C.
Jones, CFA, is a Managing Director and Chair of the
GQE Investment Policy Committee, which oversees the
portfolio management process. He currently serves as the Chief
Investment Officer for the GQE Team. The computer optimizer
constructs the portfolio based on the teams models and
design and no one person
|
17
|
|
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on the team has a subjective override of the
computer optimizer process, except in very specific limited
cases.
|
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|
|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Funds, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of each Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois
60606, also serves as each Funds transfer agent (the
Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
|
|
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Funds. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
|
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
a Fund or limit a Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financier, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Funds directly and
indirectly invest. Thus, it is likely that the Funds will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Funds and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Funds. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any information
regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the
activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by
them, for the benefit of the management of the Funds. The
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
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|
results of a Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its
affiliates and other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and it is
possible that a Fund could sustain losses during periods in
which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts
achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or
other accounts. In addition, the Funds may, from time to time,
enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other
clients have an adverse interest. For example, a Fund may take a
long position in a security at the same time that Goldman Sachs
or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser take a short
position in the same security (or vice versa). These and other
transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or
Goldman Sachs advised clients may adversely impact the Funds.
Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the
Investment Adviser may have the effect of diluting or otherwise
disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of
the Funds. A Funds activities may be limited because of
regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply
with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm,
Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking
and financial services to issuers of securities and investors in
securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated
with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in
and affect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the
Funds, and may also perform or seek to perform investment
banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates may have business relationships with and
purchase or distribute or sell services or products from or to
distributors, consultants or others who recommend the Fund or
who engage in transactions with or for the Funds. For more
information about conflicts of interest, see the Additional
Statement.
|
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|
Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Funds have retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for each Fund to the extent that the Funds engage
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Funds, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for loaned securities. In addition,
the Funds may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates in connection with the Funds portfolio
investment transactions.
|
|
|
|
On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of
|
19
|
|
|
|
New York against The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers of the
Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York. On June 29, 2004,
the three complaints were consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Fee Litigation
, and
on November 17, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated
amended complaint against GSG, GSAM, Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI), Goldman, Sachs
& Co., the Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
(GSVIT), the Trustees and Officers of the Trust and
GSVIT and John Doe Defendants (collectively, the
Defendants) in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York. Certain investment portfolios
of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the Goldman Sachs
Funds) were also named as nominal defendants in the
amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second amended
consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
|
|
|
|
The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees
and charges; and reasonable costs and expenses, including
counsel fees and expert fees. On January 13, 2006, all
claims against the Defendants were dismissed by the
U.S. District Court. On February 22, 2006, the
plaintiffs appealed this
|
20
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
|
decision. By agreement, plaintiffs subsequently
withdrew their appeal without prejudice but reserved their right
to reactivate their appeal pending a decision by the circuit
court of appeals on similar litigation.
|
|
|
|
Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material adverse
financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote, and the
pending action is not likely to materially affect their ability
to provide investment management services to their clients,
including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
21
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
Each Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Cash
|
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the same
Fund
|
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
your dividends and distributions will be reinvested
automatically in the applicable Fund.
|
|
|
The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
|
|
|
Dividends from net investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
Capital Gains
|
Fund
|
|
Income Dividends
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
Annually
|
|
Annually
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Annually
|
|
Annually
|
|
|
|
|
|
From time to time a portion of a Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
|
|
|
|
|
When you purchase shares of a Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
|
|
22
|
|
|
Shareholder
Guide
|
|
|
The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds Institutional Shares.
|
|
|
|
How Can
I Purchase Institutional Shares Of The Funds?
|
|
You may purchase Institutional Shares on any
business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of an
order. No sales load is charged. You should either:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Place an order with Goldman Sachs at
1-800-621-2550 and wire federal funds to The Northern Trust
Company (Northern), as subcustodian for State Street
Bank and Trust Company (State Street) (each
Funds custodian) on the next business day;
or
|
|
|
n
|
Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to
Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares),
P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Fund will not
accept a check drawn on foreign banks, third-party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations, involving
the transfer of retirement assets, a Fund may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
|
|
|
|
|
In order to make an initial investment in a Fund,
you must furnish to the Fund or Goldman Sachs the Account
Application. Purchases of Institutional Shares must be settled
within three business days of receipt of a complete purchase
order.
|
|
|
How Do
I Purchase Shares Through A Financial Institution?
|
|
Certain institutions (including banks, trust
companies, brokers and investment advisers) that provide
recordkeeping, reporting and processing services to their
customers may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust,
purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf
of their customers, and may designate other intermediaries to
accept such orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
A Fund will be deemed to have received an order
in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized
institution or intermediary on a business day, and the order
will be priced at the Funds NAV per share next determined
after such acceptance.
|
|
|
n
|
Authorized institutions and intermediaries will
be responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to
the Trust within the time period agreed upon by them.
|
|
|
|
You should contact your institution or
intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders
for the Trust. These institutions may receive payments from the
|
23
|
|
|
Funds or Goldman Sachs for the services provided
by them with respect to the Funds Institutional Shares.
These payments may be in addition to other payments borne by the
Funds.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to authorized dealers and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These
payments are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Funds. Such payments are
intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things:
marketing shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds,
which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on
preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs
from time to time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative, and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these
services by the Funds. The amount of these additional payments
is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the
amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please refer
to the Payments to Intermediaries section of the
Additional Statement for more information about these payments.
|
|
|
|
The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at
least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your authorized dealer or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
|
|
|
In addition to Institutional Shares, each Fund
also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other
share classes are subject to different fees and expenses (which
affect performance), have different minimum investment
requirements and are entitled to different services than
Institutional Shares. Information regarding
|
24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
these other share classes may be obtained from
your sales representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling the
number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
|
|
What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Funds?
|
|
|
|
Type of Investor
|
|
Minimum Investment
|
|
|
n
Banks,
trust companies or other
depository
institutions investing for
their own account
or on behalf of
their clients
|
|
$1,000,000 in
Institutional Shares of a Fund alone or in combination with
other assets under the management of GSAM and its affiliates
|
n
Section 401(k),
profit sharing, money
purchase
pension, tax-sheltered
annuity, defined benefit
pension, or
other employee benefit plans that
are
sponsored by one or more
employers (including
governmental or
church employers) or
employee
organizations
|
|
|
n
State,
county, city or any
instrumentality,
department,
authority or agency thereof
|
|
|
n
Corporations
with at least $100 million in assets
or
in outstanding publicly traded
securities
|
|
|
n
Wrap
account sponsors (provided they have
an
agreement covering the arrangement
with GSAM)
|
|
|
n
Registered
investment advisers investing
for
accounts for which they receive
asset-based
fees
|
|
|
n
Qualified
non-profit organizations,
charitable
trusts, foundations and
endowments
|
|
|
|
n
Individual
investors
|
|
$10,000,000
|
n
Accounts
over which GSAM or its
advisory
affiliates have investment
discretion
|
|
|
|
n
Individual
Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
for which
GSAM or its advisory
affiliates act
as fiduciary
|
|
No minimum
|
|
|
|
|
The minimum investment requirement may be waived
for current and former officers, partners, directors or
employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; brokerage
or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management
and accounts for which Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. or the
Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware acts in a fiduciary
capacity (i.e., as agent or trustee); certain mutual fund
wrap programs; and for other investors at the
discretion of the Trusts officers. No minimum amount is
required for subsequent investments.
|
25
|
|
|
What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
|
|
n
|
Modify or waive the minimum investment amounts.
|
|
n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for
any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by
a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of
Institutional Shares of a Fund is evident, or if purchases,
sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might
be, of a size that would disrupt the management of a Fund.
|
|
n
|
Close a Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by a
Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Generally, the Funds will not allow
non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing
outside the United States to open an account directly with the
Fund.
|
|
|
The Funds may allow you to purchase shares with
securities instead of cash if consistent with a Funds
investment policies and operations and if approved by the
Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Funds to obtain, verify and record identifying information,
which may include the name, residential or business street
address, date of birth (for an individual), Social Security
Number or taxpayer identification number or other identifying
information, for each investor who opens an account with the
Funds. Applications without the required information, which will
be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, may not
be accepted by the Funds. After accepting an application, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or their customer
identification program, the Funds reserve the right to
(i) place limits on transactions in any account until the
identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an
investment in the Funds; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an
investors shares and close an account in the event that
the Funds are unable to verify an investors identity. The
Funds and their agents will not be responsible for any loss in
an investors account resulting from the investors
delay in providing all required identifying information or from
closing an account and redeeming an investors shares
pursuant to the customer identification program.
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How Are
Shares Priced?
|
|
|
The price you pay when you buy Institutional
Shares is a Funds next determined NAV for the share class.
The price you receive when you sell Institutional Shares is
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26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
a Funds next determined NAV for the share
class, with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable
charge. The Funds calculate NAV as follows:
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|
NAV =
|
|
(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
|
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|
The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
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|
In the event that a Fund invests a significant
portion of assets in foreign equity securities, fair
value prices are provided by an independent fair value
service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by
the Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Funds, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
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In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining a Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
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One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Funds
to price their investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
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27
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Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
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|
n
|
NAV per share of each class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such other time as the New
York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially close. Fund
shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is closed.
|
|
|
n
|
When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next
calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper
form.
|
|
n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper
form.
|
|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than a
Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently adjusted,
and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as
adjusted.
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n
|
The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
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Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
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Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for
purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal
Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether a Fund is
open for business during an emergency situation, please call
1-800-621-2550.
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|
Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days a Fund is closed. As a result, if a Fund holds
foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when
investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
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|
How Can
I Sell Institutional Shares Of The Funds?
|
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account
by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
Generally,
each Fund will redeem its Institutional Shares upon request on
any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt
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28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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of such request in proper form.
You may request that redemption
proceeds be sent to you by check or by wire (if the wire
instructions are on record). Redemptions may be requested in
writing or by telephone.
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|
Instructions For Redemptions:
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|
By Writing:
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|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
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|
n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Account
number
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|
|
n
The
Fund name and Class of Shares
|
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|
n
The
dollar amount you want to sell
|
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|
n
How
and where to send the proceeds
|
|
|
n
A
Medallion signature guarantee may be required (see details below)
|
|
|
n
Mail
your request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O.
Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
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|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have elected the
telephone redemption privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
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|
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|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person (a Medallion signature guarantee
may be required). The written request may be confirmed by
telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank
account to verify instructions.
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|
Certain institutions and intermediaries are
authorized to accept redemption requests on behalf of the Funds
as described under How Do I Purchase Shares Through A
Financial Institution?
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|
When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required
if:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
|
|
n
|
You would like to change your current bank
designations.
|
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|
A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that
is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot
provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Additional
documentation may be required.
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29
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|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests
that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. In an effort
to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange
requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs employs reasonable
procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such
instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not
employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to
unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general
policies are currently in effect:
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|
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|
|
n
|
All telephone requests are recorded.
|
|
n
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated on the
Account Application must be in writing and signed by an
authorized person designated on the Account Application with a
Medallion signature guarantee. The written request may be
confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the
designated bank account to verify instructions.
|
|
|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will generally be filled by a
wire transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Applications (see immediately preceding bullet point). For
direct accounts, to receive the redemption by check during this
time period, a redemption request must be in the form of a
written letter (a Medallion signature guarantee may be required).
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|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
|
|
|
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
|
|
|
How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
By Wire:
You
may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal
funds to the domestic bank account designated in your Account
Application. The following general policies govern wiring
redemption proceeds:
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|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds, (for a total of one business
day delay) but may be paid up to three business days following
receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request.
|
|
n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as
permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment
Company Act. Generally, under that section, redemption requests
or payments may be postponed or suspended if (i) the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is
restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the
disposal of securities owned by the Fund or the fair
determination of the value
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30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
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|
of the Funds net assets not reasonably
practicable; or (iii) the SEC by order permits the
suspension of the right of redemption.
|
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n
|
If you are selling shares you recently paid for
by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared,
which may take up to 15 days. If the Federal Reserve Bank
is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would
ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be
delayed one additional business day.
|
|
n
|
To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions signed by an
authorized person designated on the account application with a
Medallion signature guarantee to the Transfer Agent.
|
|
n
|
Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any other
institution assumes any responsibility for the performance of
your bank or any intermediaries in the transfer process. If a
problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly
with your bank or any such intermediaries.
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|
By Check:
You
may elect in writing to receive your redemption proceeds by
check. Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed
to the address of record within three business days of receipt
of a properly executed redemption request. If you are selling
shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you
when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
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|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
|
|
n
|
Institutions (including banks, trust companies,
brokers and investment advisers) are responsible for the timely
transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the
Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of
redemption requests, these institutions may set times by which
they must receive redemption requests. These institutions may
also require additional documentation from you.
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|
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|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event an
Institutions relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated
and you do not transfer your account to another Institution with
a relationship with Goldman Sachs. The Trust will not be
responsible for any loss in an investors account or tax
liability resulting from a redemption.
|
|
|
n
|
Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interest of the Trust.
|
|
n
|
Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
31
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|
|
|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to a Fund as
undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. This provision
may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts or to
a closed account. No interest will accrue on amounts represented
by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
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|
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|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
|
|
You may exchange Institutional Shares of a Fund
at NAV for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. The
exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at
any time upon 60 days written notice to you.
|
|
|
|
|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Account
number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount to be exchanged
|
|
|
n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O.
Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have elected the
telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
|
|
You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund you are acquiring before
making an exchange.
|
|
|
n
|
All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum
initial investment requirement of that Fund or the entire
balance of the original Fund account should be exchanged. This
requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust.
|
|
|
|
n
|
Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
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32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures
described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone
Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent unauthorized
or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into a Fund from another Goldman Sachs
Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the other
Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
|
|
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax
consequences of an exchange.
|
|
|
What
Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding Investments In
Institutional Shares?
|
|
You will be provided with a printed confirmation
of each transaction in your account and a monthly statement. If
your account is held in a street name you may
receive your statements and confirmations on a different
schedule.
|
|
|
You will also receive an annual shareholder
report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual
shareholder report. If you have consented to the delivery of a
single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other
information to all shareholders who share the same mailing
address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any
time by contacting Goldman Sachs Funds by phone at
1-800-621-2550 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O.
Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Funds will
begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after
receipt of your revocation.
|
|
|
In addition, Institutions and other financial
intermediaries will be responsible for providing any
communications from the Fund to its shareholders, including but
not limited to prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy
materials and notices regarding the sources of dividend payments
pursuant to Section 19 of the Investment Company Act.
|
33
RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES
|
|
|
|
|
Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
and does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer-term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practices of the respective Funds.
Excessive, short-term (market timing) trading practices may
disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of excessive trading or if an
investors trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or
Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In
making this judgment, trades executed in multiple accounts under
common ownership or control may be considered together to the
extent they can be identified. No waivers of the provisions of
the policy established to detect and deter market timing and
other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm
the Trust or its shareholders or would subordinate the interests
of the Trust or its shareholders to those of Goldman Sachs or
any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
|
To deter excessive shareholder trading, the
International Equity Funds and certain Fixed Income Funds (which
are offered in separate prospectuses) impose a redemption fee on
redemptions made within 30 calendar days of purchase
(60 calendar days with respect to Goldman Sachs High Yield
Fund and High Yield Municipal Fund) subject to certain
exceptions. For more information about these Funds, obtain a
prospectus from your sales representative or Goldman Sachs by
calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that
it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive.
Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available
information relating to the trading activity in the Funds in
order to assess the likelihood that a Fund may be the target of
excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance
process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis, examines
transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or
numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the
standards described above, if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs
detects excessive, short term trading, Goldman Sachs is
authorized to reject or
|
|
34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
restrict a purchase or exchange request and may
further seek to close an investors account with a Fund.
Goldman Sachs may modify its surveillance procedures and
criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the
detection of excessive trading or to address specific
circumstances. Goldman Sachs will apply the criteria in a manner
that, in Goldman Sachs judgment, will be uniform.
|
|
|
|
Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Funds with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchase and redemption of Fund shares by the investors are
netted against one another. The identity of individual investors
whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are not
known by the Funds. A number of these financial intermediaries
may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the
Funds market timing policies or any applicable redemption
fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the
omnibus account level, a Funds ability to monitor and
detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable
redemption fee in these omnibus accounts is limited. The netting
effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate
market timing activities. In addition, those investors who
engage in market timing and other excessive trading activities
may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can
be no assurance that the Funds and Goldman Sachs will be able to
identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market
timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance.
|
|
35
|
|
|
Taxation
|
|
|
As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Funds will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Funds.
|
|
|
Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
|
|
|
|
Each Fund contemplates declaring as dividends
each year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Funds are generally subject
to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
|
|
Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Funds from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of a Funds distributions
that qualifies for this favorable tax treatment may be reduced
as a result of a Funds securities lending activities, by a
high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt
securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.
For these lower rates to apply, the non-corporate shareholder
must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend date.
|
|
|
A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
|
36
TAXATION
|
|
|
Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the
Funds dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be
eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. This
percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a Funds
securities lending activities, by a high portfolio turnover
rate, or by investments in debt securities or foreign
corporations. Character and tax status of all distributions will
be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar
year.
|
|
|
Each Fund may be subject to foreign withholding
or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. In general, each Fund may deduct these taxes in
computing its taxable income.
|
|
|
If you buy shares of a Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
|
|
|
|
Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of that Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant
to a dividend reinvestment in shares of that Fund. If
disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the
basis of the shares acquired.
|
|
|
|
When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, a Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do
|
37
|
|
|
not provide your correct
taxpayer identification number, or certify that it is correct,
or if the IRS instructs the Fund to do so.
|
|
|
Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Funds do not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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38
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Funds will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed-income
securities, that Fund will also be subject to the risks
associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks include
interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk. In
general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest
rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends
to increase. Conversely, when interest rates increase, the
market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit
risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default
on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment.
Call risk and extension risk are normally present when the
borrower has the option to prepay its obligations.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or
more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Funds Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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39
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the
Funds investment objectives and all investment policies
not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental,
and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in a Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
Companies.
Each Fund may, to the
extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in small
capitalization companies. Investments in small capitalization
companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility
than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the
reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments
are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the
lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities.
Small capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have
to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small
lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these
securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods
the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all
securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or
disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse
economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions
whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient
market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be
required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then
at a substantial drop in price. Small capitalization companies
include unseasoned issuers that do not have an
established financial history; often have limited product lines,
markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key
personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and
risks of bankruptcy. Small capitalization companies may be
operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating
results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with
products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may
require substantial additional capital to support their
operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their
competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may
otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these
companies may face intense competition, including competition
from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive
development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities,
and a larger number of qualified
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40
APPENDIX A
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managerial and technical
personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often
higher than those of larger capitalization companies.
Investments in small capitalization companies may be more
difficult to price precisely than other types of securities
because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Funds may make foreign
investments. However, the Funds may only invest in foreign
issuers that are traded in the U.S. Foreign investments involve
special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar
denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign
investments may be affected by changes in currency rates,
changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to
such investments and changes in exchange control regulations
(
e.g.
, currency blockage).
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be
less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than
about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less
government regulation of foreign markets, companies and
securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal
remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies
available in the United States. Furthermore, with respect to
certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of
nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation,
imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest
payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions),
limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such
countries, and risks of political or social instability or
diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments
in those countries.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
A Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, structured
securities and foreign currency transactions involve additional
risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between
changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio
assets (if any) being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the
markets for derivative instruments, the failure of the
counterparty to perform its contractual obligations, or the
risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage
factors associated with such
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41
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transactions. The use of these management
techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment
Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in
securities prices, interest rates or currency prices or credit
events. Each Fund may also invest in derivative investments for
non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total
return). Investing for non-hedging purposes is considered a
speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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n
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
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n
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Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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n
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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n
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Certain over-the-counter options
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n
|
Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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n
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of a Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Funds may include securities (including zero coupon bonds)
issued by the U.S. government (and its agencies,
instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign
governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other
issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in
the next section below. Further information is provided in the
Additional Statement.
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Temporary Investment Risks.
Each Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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n
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U.S. government securities
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n
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Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
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n
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Certificates of deposit
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n
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Bankers acceptances
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42
APPENDIX A
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n
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Repurchase agreements
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n
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Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
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When a Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
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This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Funds, including their associated risks.
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|
The Funds may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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|
Convertible Securities.
Each Fund may invest in
convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred
stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common
stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or
dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar
quality. Convertible securities in which a Fund invests are
subject to the same rating criteria as its other investments in
fixed-income securities. Convertible securities have both equity
and fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
A Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions
for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated
changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
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43
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The Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into
U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, a Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are not
guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a
contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction
costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the
Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the
current market price.
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Structured Securities.
Each Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many
types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and
more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
Each
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or
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44
APPENDIX A
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securing mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs
are dependent upon the ability of the REITs managers, and
are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers
and the qualification of the REITs under applicable regulatory
requirements for favorable income tax treatment. REITs are also
subject to risks generally associated with investments in real
estate including possible declines in the value of real estate,
general and local economic conditions, environmental problems
and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets
underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property
type or in certain other respects, these risks may be
heightened. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share
of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT in
which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. Each Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its
investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call
options on foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in a Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase a
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Funds may be traded on U.S. exchanges.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based
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45
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on a particular securities index. The Funds may
engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.
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Each Fund may purchase and sell futures
contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on
futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or
to hedge against changes in securities prices or, to the extent
a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates.
Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale
transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The
Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the
definition of the term commodity pool operator under
the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore is not subject to
registration or regulation as a pool operator under that Act
with respect to the Funds.
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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n
|
While a Fund may benefit from the use of futures
and options on futures, unanticipated changes in securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall
performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures
contracts or options transactions.
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n
|
Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to additional risk of
loss.
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n
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The loss incurred by a Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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n
|
Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of a Funds NAV.
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n
|
As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to a Fund.
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n
|
Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
a Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
example, a Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to the full
notional value of the futures contracts while the positions are
open. With respect to futures contracts that do cash settle,
however, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an
amount equal to the Funds daily marked-to-market net
obligations (
i.e.
the Funds daily net liability)
under the futures contracts, if any, rather than their full
notional value. Each Fund reserves the right to modify its asset
segregation policies in the future
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46
APPENDIX A
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to comply with any changes in the positions from
time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset
segregation. By setting aside assets equal to only its net
obligations under cash-settled futures contracts, a Fund will
have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if
the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full
notional amount of the futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
Each Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
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An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in
a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities
in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted
for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or
disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, a Fund
may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of some
components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common
stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Furthermore, a Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty
defaults. Because equity swaps are normally illiquid, a Fund may
be unable to terminate its obligations when desired.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
Each Fund may
purchase when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase
or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond
customary settlement time. When-issued securities are securities
that have been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued
securities are purchased in order to secure what is considered
to be an advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of
entering into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the
entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a
fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement
period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities
for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of when-issued securities
or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment
Adviser deems it appropriate.
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Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date
|
47
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and price. Each Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements with securities dealers and banks which furnish
collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount
of their repurchase obligation.
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If the other party or seller
defaults, a Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, a Fund could suffer additional losses
if a court determines that the Funds interest in the
collateral is not enforceable.
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The Funds, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities.
Each Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for
any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of a
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
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A Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of
its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which it
has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its
agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
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Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
Each Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations
|
48
APPENDIX A
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of an issuer of preferred stock, including
dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be
accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the
occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the
issuer of the preferred stock.
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Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
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Other Investment Companies.
Each Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on any Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of a Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. A Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
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Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
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|
n
|
Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Funds may,
consistent with their investment policies, purchase Standard
& Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs).
SPDRs are securities traded on an exchange that represent
ownership in the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established
to accumulate and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is
intended to track the price performance and dividend yield of
the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading,
or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may
not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P
500
®
.
|
49
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n
|
iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI
indices for various countries and regions. The market prices of
iShares are expected to fluctuate in accordance with both
changes in the NAVs of their underlying indices and supply and
demand of iShares on an exchange. However, iShares have a
limited operating history and information is lacking regarding
the actual performance and trading liquidity of iShares for
extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition,
there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange
necessary to maintain the listing of iShares will continue to be
met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or
other disruptions affecting iShares occur in the future, the
liquidity and value of a Funds shares could also be
substantially and adversely affected. If such disruptions were
to occur, a Fund could be required to reconsider the use of
iShares as part of its investment strategy.
|
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies.
Each Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
|
|
|
Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Each Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
|
|
|
Bank Obligations.
Each Fund may invest in
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank
obligations, including without limitation, time deposits,
bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be
general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the
issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by
government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but
different governmental regulations which may limit both the
amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates
which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the
banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and
cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations
under prevailing money market conditions. General economic
conditions as well as exposure to
|
50
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
credit losses arising from possible financial
difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the
operation of this industry.
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Securities.
Each Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury;
(b) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury; (c) the discretionary authority of the U.S.
government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or
(d) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government
Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and
other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest
and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities
are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may
also include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose
principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate
of inflation.
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
Each Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts
or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest
payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third
party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other
arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust.
Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in
custodial receipts and trust certificates.
|
|
|
Borrowings.
Each Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. A Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
|
51
|
|
|
Appendix B
Predecessor Funds
|
|
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
The financial highlights tables are intended to
help you understand a Funds financial performance for the
past five years. Certain information reflects financial results
for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions).
|
|
|
|
The financial highlights information for the
Small Cap Value Fund and Small Cap Growth Fund is based on the
financial history of the Class Y Shares of the AXA
Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA Enterprise Small
Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds Trust (each a
Predecessor Value Fund and Predecessor Growth
Fund respectively). The information for the Predecessor
Value Fund and Predecessor Growth Fund has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Predecessor Value and Predecessor Growth Funds financial
statements are included in its annual report and is available
upon request.
|
|
52
APPENDIX B
PREDECESSOR VALUE
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class Y
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
12.13
|
|
|
$
|
10.97
|
|
|
$
|
10.24
|
|
|
$
|
7.39
|
|
|
$
|
8.47
|
|
|
$
|
8.09
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
|
0.11
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
2.23
|
|
|
|
1.30
|
|
|
|
0.72
|
|
|
|
2.85
|
|
|
|
(0.97
|
)
|
|
|
0.40
|
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
2.34
|
|
|
|
1.30
|
|
|
|
0.73
|
|
|
|
2.85
|
|
|
|
(0.97
|
)
|
|
|
0.41
|
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
14.02
|
|
|
$
|
12.13
|
|
|
$
|
10.97
|
|
|
$
|
10.24
|
|
|
$
|
7.39
|
|
|
$
|
8.47
|
|
|
|
|
Total return
b
|
|
|
19.94
|
%
|
|
|
11.91
|
%
|
|
|
7.13
|
%
|
|
|
38.57
|
%
|
|
|
(11.46
|
)%
|
|
|
5.10
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
25,954
|
|
|
$
|
21,728
|
|
|
$
|
9,587
|
|
|
$
|
10,072
|
|
|
$
|
7,029
|
|
|
$
|
7,067
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.14
|
%
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.14
|
%
|
|
|
1.18
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.14
|
%
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
1.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
0.82
|
%
|
|
|
0.04
|
%
|
|
|
0.07
|
%
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.18
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
0.82
|
%
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers
a
|
|
|
0.82
|
%
|
|
|
0.04
|
%
|
|
|
0.07
|
%
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.18
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income (loss)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
See page 54 for all footnotes.
53
PREDECESSOR GROWTH
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class Y
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
29.32
|
|
|
$
|
27.35
|
|
|
$
|
27.55
|
|
|
$
|
22.31
|
|
|
$
|
29.51
|
|
|
$
|
31.39
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.26
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)
|
|
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|
|
(0.26
|
)
|
|
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
|
|
6.93
|
|
|
|
2.11
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
5.47
|
|
|
|
(6.94
|
)
|
|
|
(1.39
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
6.67
|
|
|
|
1.97
|
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)
|
|
|
5.24
|
|
|
|
(7.20
|
)
|
|
|
(1.66
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
34.28
|
|
|
$
|
29.32
|
|
|
$
|
27.35
|
|
|
$
|
27.55
|
|
|
$
|
22.31
|
|
|
$
|
29.51
|
|
|
|
|
Total return
b
|
|
|
23.71
|
%
|
|
|
7.20
|
%
|
|
|
(0.73
|
)%
|
|
|
23.49
|
%
|
|
|
(24.40
|
)%
|
|
|
(5.25
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
19,037
|
|
|
$
|
11,836
|
|
|
$
|
10,434
|
|
|
$
|
11,317
|
|
|
$
|
7,375
|
|
|
$
|
9,257
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.29
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.15
|
%
|
|
|
0.75
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.73
|
%
|
|
|
1.78
|
%
|
|
|
1.57
|
%
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.56
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.85
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.92
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.89
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.95
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.98
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.95
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.47
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.38
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.26
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.33
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.11
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
|
|
88
|
%
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
0.17
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year ended October 31, 2005,
these ratios and per share amounts were not provided.
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is less than
$0.005.
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less than one year are
annualized.
|
b
|
|
Total return for periods less than one year
are not annualized.
|
c
|
|
Net investment income and capital changes per
share are based on daily average shares outstanding.
|
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund ratios adjusted for
class specific expenses.
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than
one year are not annualized.
|
54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
3 Fund
Investment Objectives and Strategies
|
|
|
3
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
5
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
7 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
9
Principal Risks of the Funds
|
|
|
|
12 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
13 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
16
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
22
Dividends
|
|
|
|
23
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
23
|
|
How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
28
|
|
How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
36
Taxation
|
|
|
|
39
Appendix A
Additional
Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
52
Appendix B
Predecessor
Funds
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
|
Structured Equity Funds
Prospectus
(Institutional
Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/Semi-annual
Report
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Funds had not commenced operations.
The semi-annual report for the fiscal year ending
August 31, 2007 will become available in October 2007.
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Funds and their
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-621-2550
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You
may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a
duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference
Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic
request to: publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of
the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Prospectus
|
|
|
Service
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED EQUITY FUNDS
|
|
|
|
|
n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
n
Goldman
Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
|
|
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOT
FDIC-INSURED
|
|
May Lose
Value
|
|
No Bank
Guarantee
|
|
|
|
|
General Investment
Management Approach
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
(GSAM
®
)
serves as investment adviser to the Structured Small Cap Value
and Structured Small Cap Growth Funds. GSAM is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
GSAMs
Quantitative Investment Philosophy:
|
|
|
GSAMs quantitative style of funds
management emphasizes the three building blocks of active
management:
fundamentally-based stock selection
,
careful portfolio construction
and
efficient
implementation.
|
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
STRUCTURED FUNDS
|
|
|
|
Step
1: Stock Selection
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser attempts to forecast
expected returns on approximately 10,000 stocks on a daily
basis using proprietary CORE
SM
(Computer-Optimized, Research-Enhanced) models
developed by the Global Quantitative Equity (GQE)
team. These quantitative models are based on six investment
themesValuation, Momentum, Analyst Sentiment,
Profitability, Earnings Quality and Management Impact. The
Valuation theme attempts to capture potential mispricings of
securities by comparing measures of the companys intrinsic
value to its market value. The Momentum theme attempts to
forecast companies future returns based on their past
stock price performance, measured over various periods. The
Analyst Sentiment theme looks at how Wall Street analysts
views about a companys earnings and prospects are changing
over time. The Profitability theme assesses a companys
profit margins and operating efficiency relative to its peers,
and views those that are more profitable as more attractive.
Finally, the Management Impact theme evaluates a companys
management strategy through the companys investing and
financing behavior.
|
|
|
|
Step
2: Portfolio Construction
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser uses a proprietary risk
model to help manage the expected deviation of the
portfolios returns from those of the benchmark. The model
attempts to identify and measure the comparative risks between
equity investments as accurately as possible by including all
the above themes used in the return model, as well as several
other factors associated with risk but not return. In this
process, the Investment Adviser seeks to manage risk by
overweighting stocks with positive characteristics identified in
the return models and underweighting stocks
|
|
1
|
|
|
with negative characteristics relative to their
benchmark weights, while maintaining other characteristics such
as size and sector weights close to the benchmark. A
computer
optimizer
evaluates many different security combinations
(considering many possible weightings) in an effort
to
construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio
given
each Structured Funds benchmark.
|
|
|
Step
3: Efficient Implementation
|
|
|
The portfolio management team considers
transaction costs at each step of the investment process. The
team incorporates expected portfolio turnover when assigning
weights to the variables in the multifactor model. The team also
factors expected execution costs into portfolio construction and
evaluates multiple trading options. The team then selects the
trading strategy it believes will minimize the total transaction
costs to the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Funds are
fully invested, broadly diversified and offer consistent overall
portfolio characteristics. They may serve as good
foundations on which to build a portfolio.
|
|
|
|
References in this Prospectus to a Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how a particular Fund
is managed.
|
2
|
|
|
Fund Investment Objectives
and Strategies
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
Russell
2000
®
Value Index
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Quantitative, applied to
small-cap value stocks
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus
any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at time of
purchase) (Net Assets) in a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in small-cap U.S. issuers,
including foreign issuers that are traded in the United States.*
However, it is currently anticipated that, under normal
circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its Net
Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers will
have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the
Russell 2000
®
Value Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of
the Russell
2000
®
Value Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$94 million and $3.0 billion.
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in a Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
|
3
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
continued
|
|
|
|
|
As described in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to the Russell
2000
®
Value Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
universe of small cap companies with low earnings growth
expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize expected return while
maintaining these and other characteristics similar to the
benchmark.
|
|
|
|
Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
|
4
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND STRATEGIES
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
Russell
2000
®
Growth Index
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
small-cap U.S. companies
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Quantitative, applied to
small-cap growth stocks
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified
portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a
broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap
U.S. issuers, including foreign issuers that are traded in the
United States.* However, it is currently anticipated that, under
normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its
Net Assets in such equity investments. Most of these issuers
will have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares
available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that
of the range of the market capitalizations of companies
constituting the
Russell 2000
®
Growth Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required
to limit its investments to securities in the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. If the market capitalization of a company held by
the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not
required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of
the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index is currently (as of November 30, 2006) between
$90 million and $3.0 billion.
|
|
|
|
|
As discussed in General Investment
Management Approach, the Funds investments are
selected using a variety of quantitative techniques, derived
from fundamental research, including but not limited to
valuation, momentum, profitability and earnings quality, in
seeking to maximize the Funds expected return. The Fund
maintains risk, style, capitalization and industry
characteristics similar to the Russell
2000
®
Growth Index. The index is designed to represent an investable
|
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by SEC regulations,
shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the
manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Funds
policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the
particular type of investment suggested by its name.
|
5
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
continued
|
universe of small cap companies with above
average earnings growth expectations. The Fund seeks to maximize
expected return while maintaining these and other
characteristics similar to the benchmark.
|
|
|
Other.
The
Funds investments in fixed-income securities are limited
to securities that are considered cash equivalents.
|
6
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The
table also highlights the differences among the Funds in their
use of these techniques and other investment practices and
investment securities. Numbers in this table show allowable
usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds annual/
semi-annual reports (when available). For more information about
these and other investment practices and securities, see
Appendix A. Each Fund publishes on its website
(http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings
for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a
fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and
the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the
Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings
subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
This information will be available on the website until the date
on which a Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings
report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. In addition,
a description of the Funds policies and procedures with
respect to the disclosure of a Funds portfolio securities
is available in the Funds Statement of Additional
Information (Additional Statement).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
|
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Practices
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
33 1/3
|
|
33 1/3
|
Cross Hedging of Currencies
|
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Swaps*
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign Currency
Transactions**
|
|
|
|
|
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
Investment Company
Securities (including iShares
SM
and Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts
)
|
|
10
|
|
10
|
Options on Foreign
Currencies
2
|
|
|
|
|
Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
3
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
|
|
Securities Lending
|
|
33 1/3
|
|
33 1/3
|
Unseasoned Companies
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
|
|
|
|
|
When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
**
|
|
Limited by the amount a Fund invests in
foreign securities.
|
1
|
|
The Funds may enter into futures transactions
only with respect to a representative index.
|
2
|
|
The Funds may purchase and sell call and put
options.
|
3
|
|
The Funds may sell covered call and put
options and purchase call and put options.
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending collateral)
(italic type)
|
10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Securities
|
|
|
American and Global
Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
|
|
Bank
Obligations
4
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible
Securities
5
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Debt
Obligations
4
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Investments
|
|
80+
|
|
80+
|
Fixed-Income
Securities
4,6
|
|
20
|
|
20
|
Foreign
Securities
7
|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
Securities
*
|
|
|
|
|
Temporary Investments
|
|
35
|
|
35
|
U.S. Government
Securities
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
4
|
|
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities and limited to cash equivalents only.
The Funds may invest in bank obligations issued by U.S. or
foreign banks.
|
5
|
|
The Funds have no minimum rating criteria for
convertible debt securities.
|
6
|
|
Except as noted under Convertible
Securities, fixed-income securities must be investment
grade (i.e., BBB or higher by Standard & Poors Rating
Group (Standard & Poors), Baa or higher by
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys)
or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (NRSRO)).
|
7
|
|
Equity securities of foreign issuers must be
traded in the United States.
|
8
Principal Risks of the Funds
Loss of money is a risk of investing in each
Fund. An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of any bank and
is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insur-ance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Funds and may
result in a loss of your investment. None of the Funds should be
relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no
assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
Applicable
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Style
|
|
|
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
n
|
Foreign
Risk
The risk that when a
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. A
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations.
|
|
|
n
|
Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
|
|
n
|
Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from a Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, structured securities and other derivative instruments.
These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may
produce disproportionate losses to a Fund.
|
n
|
Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, securities held by a Fund will decline
in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have
more price volatility because of this risk than short-term
fixed-income securities.
|
n
|
Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
|
n
|
Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which a Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. A Funds investments may be overweighted from time
to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the
Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments
affecting those sectors.
|
|
n
|
Liquidity
Risk
The risk that a Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. Funds that invest in small and mid-capitalization
stocks and REITs will be especially subject to the risk that
during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or
industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Funds and other funds for
which GSAM or an affiliate now or in the future acts as
investment adviser or underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset
Allocation Portfolio of its position in a Fund may further
increase liquidity risk and may impact a Funds net asset
value (NAV).
|
|
n
|
Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. A
|
10
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE
FUNDS
|
|
|
Fund may outperform or underperform other funds
that employ a different investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
|
n
|
Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization companies involve greater risks than those
associated with larger, more established companies and may be
subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of
such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a
Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a
substantial drop in price. Small-cap companies often have
narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial
resources than larger, more established companies. As a result,
their performance can be more volatile and they face greater
risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of
a Funds portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company
size, the greater these risks.
|
More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
11
HOW THE FUNDS
HAVE PERFORMED
|
|
|
|
The Funds have not commenced operations before
the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance
information is provided in this section. The Structured Small
Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth Fund first began
operations as the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (each a Predecessor Fund), respectively. Each
Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of Goldman
Sachs Trust. Performance of each Predecessor Fund is not shown
because as part of the reorganization each Predecessor Fund
changed its investment adviser to GSAM.
|
12
Fund Fees and
Expenses
(Service Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Service Shares of a Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
2
*
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
Other Expenses*
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
0.69
|
%
|
|
Service
Fees
3
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
Shareholder
Administration Fees
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
All Other
Expenses
4
*
|
|
|
0
|
.11%
|
|
|
0
|
.22%
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses*
|
|
|
1.46%
|
|
|
|
1.57%
|
|
|
See page 14 for all other
footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Management Fees, Other
Expenses and Total Fund Operating Expenses
(after any waivers and expense limitations) set forth below have
been restated to reflect the current waivers and expense
limitations that are expected for the current fiscal year. The
waivers and expense limitations may be modified or terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this
occurs, Management Fees, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
|
|
Structured
|
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
Small Cap
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
2
|
|
|
0.81
|
%
|
|
|
0.81
|
%
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
0.54
|
%
|
|
|
0.54
|
%
|
|
Service Fees
3
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
Shareholder Administration Fees
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
|
0
|
.25%
|
|
All Other Expenses
4
|
|
|
0
|
.04%
|
|
|
0
|
.04%
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current
waivers and expense limitations)
|
|
|
1.35
|
%
|
|
|
1.35
|
%
|
|
13
Fund Fees and
Expenses
continued
|
|
|
1
|
|
The Funds operating expenses have been
estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
2
|
|
The Investment Adviser is entitled to
management fees from the Funds at annual rates equal to the
following percentages of the average daily net assets of the
Funds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
First $
|
2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77%
|
|
|
Over $
|
2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
First $
|
2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.77%
|
|
|
Over $
|
2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed
to waive a portion of its advisory fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets. The Investment Adviser may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
|
3
|
|
Service Organizations may charge other fees to
their customers who are beneficial owners of Service Shares in
connection with their customers accounts. Such fees may
affect the return customers realize with respect to their
investments.
|
|
4
|
|
All Other Expenses include
transfer agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis
to 0.04% of the average daily net assets of each Funds
Service Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed
above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce
or limit All Other Expenses (excluding management
fees, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees,
shareholder administration fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees
and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other
extraordinary expenses exclusive of any expense offset
arrangements) to the following annual percentage rates of each
Funds average daily net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.004%
|
|
|
|
|
|
These expense reductions may be terminated at
any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
14
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in a Fund (without the waivers and
expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual
funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Service
Shares of a Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem
all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that
a Funds operating expenses remain the same. Although your
actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions
your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
|
|
$
|
149
|
|
|
$
|
462
|
|
|
$
|
797
|
|
|
$
|
1,746
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Growth
|
|
$
|
160
|
|
|
$
|
496
|
|
|
$
|
855
|
|
|
$
|
1,867
|
|
|
Service Organizations that invest in Service
Shares on behalf of their customers may charge other fees
directly to their customer accounts in connection with their
investments. You should contact your Service Organization for
information regarding such charges. Such fees, if any, may
affect the return such customers realize with respect to their
investments.
Certain Service Organizations that invest in
Service Shares on behalf of their customers may receive other
compensation in connection with the sale and distribution of
Service Shares or for services to their customers accounts
and/or the Funds. For additional information regarding such
compensation, see Shareholder Guide in the
Prospectus and Payments to Intermediaries in the
Additional Statement.
15
|
|
|
Investment Adviser
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. (GSAM)
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
|
|
Structured Small Cap
Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSAM has been registered as an investment adviser
with the SEC since 1990 and is an affiliate of Goldman,
Sachs & Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of
September 30, 2006, GSAM had assets under management of
$576.4 billion.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Funds and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Funds, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Funds:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the
Funds
|
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Funds
|
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
|
|
n
|
Maintains the records of each Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
|
|
|
As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
|
16
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
monthly, at the annual rates listed below (as a
percentage of each respective Funds average daily net
assets):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
Fund
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
First $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
%
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to
waive a portion of its advisory fee equal to 0.04% of each
Funds average daily net assets, and may discontinue or
modify any such voluntary limitations in the future at its
discretion.
|
|
|
|
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the
Funds will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
Quantitative
Domestic Equity Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
A stable and growing team supported by an
extensive internal staff
|
|
|
n
|
More than $100 billion in equities currently
under management, including over $52 billion in US equities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily
|
|
|
Name and Title
|
|
Fund Responsibility
|
|
Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Ms. Brown joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1998. From 1984
to 1998, she was the director of Quantitative Equity Research
and served on the Investment Policy Committee at Prudential
Securities Equity Research.
|
|
Robert C. Jones
Chief Investment Officer
Managing Director
|
|
Senior Portfolio
Manager
Structured Small Cap Value
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Since
2007
2007
|
|
Mr. Jones joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1989.
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown, CFA, is a Managing Director and
Senior Portfolio Manager for US portfolios. She is also a
member of the GQE Investment Policy Committee. Robert C.
Jones, CFA, is a Managing Director and Chair of the
GQE Investment Policy Committee, which oversees the
portfolio management process. He currently serves as the Chief
Investment Officer for the GQE Team. The computer optimizer
constructs the portfolio based on the teams models and
design and no one person
|
17
|
|
|
|
on the team has a subjective override of the
computer optimizer process, except in very specific limited
cases.
|
|
|
|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Funds, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of each Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois
60606, also serves as each Funds transfer agent (the
Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
|
|
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Funds. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
|
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
a Fund or limit a Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financier, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Funds directly and
indirectly invest. Thus, it is likely that the Funds will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Funds and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Funds. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any information
regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the
activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by
them, for the benefit of the management of the Funds. The
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
|
results of a Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its
affiliates and other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and it is
possible that a Fund could sustain losses during periods in
which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts
achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or
other accounts. In addition, the Funds may, from time to time,
enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other
clients have an adverse interest. For example, a Fund may take a
long position in a security at the same time that Goldman Sachs
or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser take a short
position in the same security (or vice versa). These and other
transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or
Goldman Sachs advised clients may adversely impact the Funds.
Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the
Investment Adviser may have the effect of diluting or otherwise
disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of
the Funds. A Funds activities may be limited because of
regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply
with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm,
Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking
and financial services to issuers of securities and investors in
securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated
with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in
and affect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the
Funds, and may also perform or seek to perform investment
banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates may have business relationships with and
purchase or distribute or sell services or products from or to
distributors, consultants or others who recommend the Fund or
who engage in transactions with or for the Funds. For more
information about conflicts of interest, see the Additional
Statement.
|
|
|
|
Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Funds have retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for each Fund to the extent that the Funds engage
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Funds, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for loaned securities. In addition,
the Funds may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs
and its affiliates in connection with the Funds portfolio
investment transactions.
|
|
|
|
On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of
|
19
|
|
|
|
New York against The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers of the
Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York. On June 29, 2004,
the three complaints were consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Fee Litigation
, and
on November 17, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated
amended complaint against GSG, GSAM, Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI), Goldman, Sachs
& Co., the Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
(GSVIT), the Trustees and Officers of the Trust and
GSVIT and John Doe Defendants (collectively, the
Defendants) in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York. Certain investment portfolios
of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the Goldman Sachs
Funds) were also named as nominal defendants in the
amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second amended
consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
|
|
|
|
The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees
and charges; and reasonable costs and expenses, including
counsel fees and expert fees. On January 13, 2006, all
claims against the Defendants were dismissed by the
U.S. District Court. On February 22, 2006, the
plaintiffs appealed this
|
20
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
|
decision. By agreement, plaintiffs subsequently
withdrew their appeal without prejudice but reserved their right
to reactivate their appeal pending a decision by the circuit
court of appeals on similar litigation.
|
|
|
|
Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material adverse
financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote, and the
pending action is not likely to materially affect their ability
to provide investment management services to their clients,
including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
21
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
Each Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Cash
|
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the same
Fund
|
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
your dividends and distributions will be reinvested
automatically in the applicable Fund.
|
|
|
The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
|
|
|
Dividends from net investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
Capital Gains
|
Fund
|
|
Income Dividends
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
Annually
|
|
Annually
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
Annually
|
|
Annually
|
|
|
|
|
|
From time to time a portion of a Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
|
|
|
|
|
When you purchase shares of a Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
|
|
22
|
|
|
Shareholder
Guide
|
|
|
The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds Service Shares.
|
|
|
|
How Can
I Purchase Service Shares Of The Funds?
|
|
Generally, Service Shares may be purchased only
through institutions that have agreed to provide personal and
account maintenance and shareholder administration services to
their customers who are the beneficial owners of Service Shares.
These institutions are called Service Organizations.
Customers of a Service Organization will normally give their
purchase instructions to the Service Organization, and the
Service Organization will, in turn, place purchase orders with
Goldman Sachs. Service Organizations will set times by which
purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their
customers. Generally, Service Shares may be purchased from the
Funds on any business day at their NAV next determined after
receipt of an order by Goldman Sachs from a Service
Organization. No sales load is charged. Purchases of Service
Shares must be settled within three business days of receipt of
a complete purchase order.
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|
|
Service Organizations are responsible for
transmitting purchase orders and payments to Goldman Sachs in a
timely fashion. Service Organizations should either:
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|
n
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Place an order with Goldman Sachs at
1-800-621-2550 and wire federal funds to The Northern Trust
Company (Northern), as subcustodian for State Street
Bank and Trust Company (State Street) (each
Funds custodian) on the next business day;
or
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|
n
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Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to
Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares),
P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Funds will not
accept a check drawn on foreign banks, third-party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques, or credit card checks. In limited situations involving
the transfer of retirement assets, a Fund may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
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What Do
I Need To Know About Service Organizations?
|
|
Service Organizations may provide the following
services in connection with their customers investments in
Service Shares:
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|
|
n
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Personal and account maintenance services; and
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n
|
Shareholder administration services.
|
23
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Personal and account maintenance services include:
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n
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Providing facilities to answer inquiries and
responding to correspondence with the Service
Organizations customers
|
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n
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Acting as liaison between the Service
Organizations customers and the Trust
|
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n
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Assisting customers in completing application
forms, selecting dividend and other options, and similar services
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Shareholder administration services include:
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n
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Acting, directly or through an agent, as the sole
shareholder of record
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n
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Maintaining account records for customers
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n
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Processing orders to purchase, redeem and
exchange shares for customers
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n
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Processing payments for customers
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Some (but not all) Service Organizations are
authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, purchase,
redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their
customers, and may designate other intermediaries to accept such
orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
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n
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A Fund will be deemed to have received an order
in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized
Service Organization or intermediary on a business day, and the
order will be priced at the Funds NAV per share next
determined after such acceptance.
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|
n
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Service Organizations and intermediaries will be
responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to the
Trust within the time period agreed upon by them.
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You should contact your Service Organization
directly to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for
the Trust.
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Pursuant to a service plan and a separate
shareholder administration plan adopted by the Trusts
Board of Trustees, Service Organizations are entitled to receive
payments for their services from the Trust. These payments are
equal to 0.25% (annualized) for personal and account maintenance
services plus an additional 0.25% (annualized) for shareholder
administration services of the average daily net assets of the
Service Shares of the Funds that are attributable to or held in
the name of the Service Organization for its customers.
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The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to Service Organizations and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These
payments are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Funds. The payments are in
addition to the service fees described in this Prospectus. Such
payments are intended to compensate
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24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing
shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may
consist of payments relating to Funds included on preferred or
recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to
time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these
services by the Funds. The amount of these additional payments
is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of
the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please
refer to the Payments to Intermediaries section of
the Additional Statement for more information about these
payments.
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The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at
least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your Service Organization or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
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In addition to Service Shares, each Fund also
offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share
classes are subject to different fees and expenses (which affect
performance), have different minimum investment requirements and
are entitled to different services than Service Shares.
Information regarding these other share classes may be obtained
from your sales representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling
the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
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What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Funds?
|
|
The Funds do not have any minimum purchase or
account requirements with respect to Service Shares. A Service
Organization may, however, impose a minimum amount for initial
and subsequent investments in Service Shares, and may establish
other requirements such as a minimum account balance. A Service
Organization may redeem Service Shares held by non-complying
accounts, and may impose a charge for any special services.
|
25
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What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
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|
n
|
Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
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n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for
any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by
a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of Service
Shares of a Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges
are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that
would disrupt the management of a Fund.
|
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n
|
Close a Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by a
Funds Investment Adviser.
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|
Generally, the Funds will not allow
non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing
outside the United States to open an account directly with the
Funds.
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|
The Funds may allow Service Organizations to
purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent
with a Funds investment policies and operations and if
approved by the Funds Investment Adviser.
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|
|
|
Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Funds to obtain, verify and record identifying information,
which may include the name, residential or business street
address, date of birth (for an individual), Social Security
Number or taxpayer identification number or other identifying
information, for each investor who opens an account with the
Funds. Applications without the required information, which will
be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, may not
be accepted by the Funds. After accepting an application, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or their customer
identification program, the Funds reserve the right to
(i) place limits on transactions in any account until the
identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an
investment in the Funds; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an
investors shares and close an account in the event that
the Funds are unable to verify an investors identity. The
Funds and their agents will not be responsible for any loss in
an investors account resulting from the investors
delay in providing all required identifying information or from
closing an account and redeeming an investors shares
pursuant to the customer identification program.
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|
How Are
Shares Priced?
|
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|
The price you pay when you buy Service Shares is
a Funds next determined NAV for a share class. The price
you receive when you sell Service Shares is a Funds
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26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
next determined NAV for a share class, with the
redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charge. The Funds
calculate NAV as follows:
|
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|
|
NAV =
|
|
(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
|
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|
|
The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
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|
|
In the event that a Fund invests a significant
portion of assets in foreign equity securities, fair
value prices are provided by an independent fair value
service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by
the Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Funds, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
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|
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining a Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
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|
One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Funds
to price their
|
27
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|
|
investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
|
|
|
Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
NAV per share of each class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such other time as
the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially
close. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is closed.
|
|
|
n
|
When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next
calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper
form.
|
|
n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Funds receive your order in proper
form.
|
|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than a
Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently adjusted,
and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as
adjusted.
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|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
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|
|
|
Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
|
|
|
|
Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for
purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal
Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether a Fund is
open for business during an emergency situation, please call
1-800-621-2550.
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|
Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days a Fund is closed. As a result, if a Fund holds
foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when
investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
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28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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How Can
I Sell Service Shares Of The Funds?
|
|
|
Generally, Service Shares may be sold (redeemed)
only through Service Organizations. Customers of a Service
Organization will normally give their redemption instructions to
the Service Organization, and the Service Organization will, in
turn, place redemption orders with the Funds.
Generally, each
Fund will redeem its Service Shares upon request on any business
day at their NAV next determined after receipt of such request
in proper form.
Redemption proceeds may be sent to
recordholders by check or by wire (if the wire instructions are
on record).
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|
|
A Service Organization may request redemptions in
writing or by telephone if the optional telephone redemption
privilege is elected on the Account Application.
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|
By Writing:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
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|
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person (a Medallion signature guarantee
may be required). The written request may be confirmed by
telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank
account to verify instructions.
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|
|
|
When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required
if:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
|
|
n
|
You would like to change your current bank
designations.
|
|
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|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that
is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot
provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Additional
documentation may be required.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone
|
29
|
|
|
redemption requests that the Trust reasonably
believes to be genuine. In an effort to prevent unauthorized or
fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone,
Goldman Sachs employs reasonable procedures specified by the
Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. If
reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust may be liable
for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The
following general policies are currently in effect:
|
|
|
|
|
n
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All telephone requests are recorded.
|
|
n
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated on the
Account Application must be in writing and signed by an
authorized person designated on the Account Application. The
written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the
requesting party and the designated bank account to verify
instructions.
|
|
|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will generally be filled by a
wire transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Application (see immediately preceding bullet point). For direct
accounts to receive the redemption by check during this time
period, a redemption request must be in the form of a written
letter (a Medallion signature guarantee may be required).
|
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
|
|
|
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
|
|
|
How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
By
Wire:
The Funds will arrange
for redemption proceeds to be wired as federal funds to the
domestic bank account designated in the recordholders
Account Application. The following general policies govern
wiring redemption proceeds:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business
day delay), but may be paid up to three business days following
receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request.
|
|
n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as
permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment
Company Act. Generally, under that section, redemption requests
or payments may be postponed or suspended if (i) the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is
restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the
disposal of securities owned by a Fund or the fair determination
of the value of the Funds net assets not reasonably
practicable; or (iii) the SEC by order permits the
suspension of the right of redemption.
|
|
n
|
If the shares to be sold were recently paid for
by check, a Fund will pay the redemption proceeds when the check
has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
|
30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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|
|
If the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day
that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring
the redemption proceeds may be delayed one additional business
day.
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|
n
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To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions signed by an
authorized person (a Medallion signature guarantee may be
required) to the Service Organization.
|
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|
n
|
Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any
responsibility for the performance of intermediaries or your
Service Organization in the transfer process. If a problem with
such performance arises, you should deal directly with such
intermediaries or Service Organization.
|
|
|
|
By
Check:
A recordholder may
elect in writing to receive redemption proceeds by check.
Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the
address of record within three business days of receipt of a
properly executed redemption request. If the shares to be sold
were recently paid for by check, a Fund will pay the redemption
proceeds when the check has cleared, which may take up to 15
days.
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
|
|
n
|
Service Organizations are responsible for the
timely transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to
the Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely
transmittal of redemption requests, Service Organizations may
set times by which they must receive redemption requests.
Service Organizations may also require additional documentation
from you.
|
|
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event a Service
Organizations relationship with Goldman Sachs is
terminated and you do not transfer your account to another
Service Organization with a relationship with Goldman Sachs. The
Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investors
account or tax liability resulting from the redemption.
|
|
|
n
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Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interest of the Trust.
|
|
n
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Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
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|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to a
|
|
31
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|
Fund as undeliverable or remain uncashed for six
months. This provision may not apply to certain retirement or
qualified accounts or to a closed account. No interest will
accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distribution or
redemption checks.
|
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|
|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
|
|
A Service Organization may exchange Service
Shares of a Fund at NAV for certain shares of another Goldman
Sachs Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or
withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice.
|
|
|
|
|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
The
recordholder name(s) and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
The
account number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount to be exchanged
|
|
|
n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O.
Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have elected the
telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
|
|
You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an
exchange.
|
|
n
|
All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment
requirement of that Fund or the entire balance of the original
Fund account should be exchanged. This requirement may be waived
at the discretion of the Trust.
|
|
|
n
|
Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
|
|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures
described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone
Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent unauthorized
or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
|
32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into a Fund from another Goldman Sachs
Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the other
Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
|
|
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax
consequences of an exchange.
|
|
|
What
Types Of Reports Will Be Sent Regarding Investments In Service
Shares?
|
|
Service Organizations will receive from the Funds
annual reports containing audited financial statements and
semi-annual reports. Service Organizations will also be provided
with a printed confirmation for each transaction in their
account and a monthly account statement. Service Organizations
are responsible for providing these or other reports to their
customers who are the beneficial owners of Service Shares in
accordance with the rules that apply to their accounts with the
Service Organizations. In addition, Service Organizations and
other financial intermediaries will be responsible for providing
any communication from a Fund to its shareholders, including but
not limited to prospectus supplements, proxy materials, and
notices regarding the sources of dividend payments pursuant to
Section 19 under the Investment Company Act.
|
RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES
|
|
|
|
Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
and does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer-term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practices of the respective Funds.
Excessive, short-term (market timing) trading practices may
disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of excessive trading or if an
investors trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or
Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In
making this judgment, trades executed in multiple accounts under
common ownership or control may be considered together to the
extent they can be identified. No waivers of the
|
33
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|
|
provisions of the policy established to detect
and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are
permitted that would harm the Trust or its shareholders or would
subordinate the interests of the Trust or its shareholders to
those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated
person of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
To deter excessive shareholder trading, the
International Equity Funds and certain Fixed Income Funds (which
are offered in separate prospectuses) impose a redemption fee on
redemptions made within 30 calendar days of purchase (60
calendar days with respect to the Goldman Sachs High Yield Fund
and High Yield Municipal Fund) subject to certain exceptions.
For more information about these Funds, obtain a prospectus from
your Service Organization or from Goldman Sachs by calling the
number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
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Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that
it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive.
Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available
information relating to the trading activity in the Funds in
order to assess the likelihood that a Fund may be the target of
excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance
process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis, examines
transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or
numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the
standards described above, if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs
detects excessive, short term trading, Goldman Sachs may reject
or restrict a purchase or exchange request and may further seek
to close an investors account with a Fund. Goldman Sachs
may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to
time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive
trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will
apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs
judgment, will be uniform.
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Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Funds with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are
netted against one another. The identity of individual investors
whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are not
known by the Funds. A number of these financial intermediaries
may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the
Funds market timing policies or any applicable redemption
fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the
omnibus account level, a Funds ability to monitor and
detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable
redemption fee in
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34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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these omnibus accounts is limited. The netting
effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate
market timing activities. In addition, those investors who
engage in market timing and other excessive trading activities
may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can
be no assurance that the Funds and Goldman Sachs will be able to
identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market
timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance.
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35
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Taxation
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As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Funds will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Funds.
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Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
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Each Fund contemplates declaring as dividends
each year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Funds are generally subject
to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
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Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Funds from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of a Funds distributions
that qualifies for this favorable tax treatment may be reduced
as a result of a Funds securities lending activities, by a
high portfolio turnover rate or by investments in debt
securities or non-qualified foreign corporations.
For these lower rates to apply, the non-corporate shareholder
must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend date.
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A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
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36
TAXATION
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Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the
Funds dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be
eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. This
percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a Funds
securities lending activities, by a high portfolio turnover
rate, or by investments in debt securities or foreign
corporations. Character and tax status of all distributions will
be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar
year.
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Each Fund may be subject to foreign withholding
or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. In general, each Fund may deduct these taxes in
computing its taxable income.
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If you buy shares of a Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
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Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of that Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant
to a dividend reinvestment in shares of that Fund. If
disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the
basis of the shares acquired.
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When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, a Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do
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37
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not provide your correct taxpayer identification
number, or certify that it is correct, or if the IRS instructs
the Fund to do so.
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Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Funds do not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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38
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Funds will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed-income
securities, that Fund will also be subject to the risks
associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks include
interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk. In
general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest
rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends
to increase. Conversely, when interest rates increase, the
market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit
risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default
on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment.
Call risk and extension risk are normally present when the
borrower has the option to prepay its obligations.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or
more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Funds Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the
Funds investment objectives and all investment policies
not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental,
and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in a Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
Companies.
Each Fund may, to the
extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in small
capitalization companies. Investments in small capitalization
companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility
than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the
reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments
are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the
lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities.
Small capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have
to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small
lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these
securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods
the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all
securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or
disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse
economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions
whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient
market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be
required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then
at a substantial drop in price. Small capitalization companies
include unseasoned issuers that do not have an
established financial history; often have limited product lines,
markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key
personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and
risks of bankruptcy. Small capitalization companies may be
operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating
results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with
products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may
require substantial additional capital to support their
operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their
competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may
otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these
companies may face intense competition, including competition
from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive
development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities,
and a larger number of qualified
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40
APPENDIX A
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managerial and technical personnel. Transaction
costs for these investments are often higher than those of
larger capitalization companies. Investments in small
capitalization companies may be more difficult to price
precisely than other types of securities because of their
characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Funds may make foreign
investments. However, the Funds may only invest in foreign
issuers that are traded in the U.S. Foreign investments involve
special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar
denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign
investments may be affected by changes in currency rates,
changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to
such investments and changes in exchange control regulations
(
e.g.
, currency blockage).
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be
less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than
about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less
government regulation of foreign markets, companies and
securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal
remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies
available in the United States. Furthermore, with respect to
certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of
nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation,
imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest
payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions),
limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such
countries, and risks of political or social instability or
diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments
in those countries.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
A Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, structured
securities and foreign currency transactions involve additional
risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between
changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio
assets (if any) being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the
markets for derivative instruments, the failure of the
counterparty to perform its contractual obligations, or the
risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage
factors associated with such
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41
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transactions. The use of these management
techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment
Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in
securities prices, interest rates or currency prices or credit
events. Each Fund may also invest in derivative investments for
non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total
return). Investing for non-hedging purposes is considered a
speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
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Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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n
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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Certain over-the-counter options
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n
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Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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n
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of a Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Funds may include securities (including zero coupon bonds)
issued by the U.S. government (and its agencies,
instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign
governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other
issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in
the next section below. Further information is provided in the
Additional Statement.
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Temporary Investment Risks.
Each Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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n
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U.S. government securities
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n
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Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
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n
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Certificates of deposit
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Bankers acceptances
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42
APPENDIX A
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n
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Repurchase agreements
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n
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Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
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When a Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
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This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Funds, including their associated risks.
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The Funds may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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Convertible Securities.
Each Fund may invest in
convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred
stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common
stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or
dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar
quality. Convertible securities in which a Fund invests are
subject to the same rating criteria as its other investments in
fixed-income securities. Convertible securities have both equity
and fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
A Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions
for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated
changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
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The Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into
U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, a Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are not
guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a
contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction
costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the
Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the
current market price.
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Structured Securities.
Each Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many
types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and
more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
Each
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or
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44
APPENDIX A
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securing mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs
are dependent upon the ability of the REITs managers, and
are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers
and the qualification of the REITs under applicable regulatory
requirements for favorable income tax treatment. REITs are also
subject to risks generally associated with investments in real
estate including possible declines in the value of real estate,
general and local economic conditions, environmental problems
and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets
underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property
type or in certain other respects, these risks may be
heightened. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share
of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT in
which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. Each Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its
investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call
options on foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in a Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase a
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Funds may be traded on U.S. exchanges.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based
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45
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on a particular securities index. The Funds may
engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.
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Each Fund may purchase and sell futures
contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on
futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or
to hedge against changes in securities prices or, to the extent
a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates.
Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale
transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The
Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the
definition of the term commodity pool operator under
the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore is not subject to
registration or regulation as a pool operator under that Act
with respect to the Funds.
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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n
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While a Fund may benefit from the use of futures
and options on futures, unanticipated changes in securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall
performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures
contracts or options transactions.
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n
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Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to additional risk of
loss.
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n
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The loss incurred by a Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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n
|
Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of a Funds NAV.
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n
|
As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to a Fund.
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n
|
Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
a Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
example, a Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to the full
notional value of the futures contracts while the positions are
open. With respect to futures contracts that do cash settle,
however, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an
amount equal to the Funds daily marked-to-market net
obligations (
i.e.
the Funds daily net liability)
under the futures contracts, if any, rather than their full
notional value. Each Fund reserves the right to modify its asset
segregation policies in the future
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46
APPENDIX A
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to comply with any changes in the positions from
time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset
segregation. By setting aside assets equal to only its net
obligations under cash-settled futures contracts, a Fund will
have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if
the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full
notional amount of the futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
Each Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
|
|
|
An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in
a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities
in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted
for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or
disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, a Fund
may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of some
components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common
stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Furthermore, a Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty
defaults. Because equity swaps are normally illiquid, a Fund may
be unable to terminate its obligations when desired.
|
|
|
When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
Each Fund may
purchase when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase
or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond
customary settlement time. When-issued securities are securities
that have been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued
securities are purchased in order to secure what is considered
to be an advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of
entering into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the
entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a
fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement
period.
|
|
|
The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities
for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of when-issued securities
or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment
Adviser deems it appropriate.
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date
|
47
|
|
|
and price. Each Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements with securities dealers and banks which furnish
collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount
of their repurchase obligation.
|
|
|
If the other party or seller
defaults, a Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, a Fund could suffer additional losses
if a court determines that the Funds interest in the
collateral is not enforceable.
|
|
|
The Funds, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
|
|
|
Lending of Portfolio Securities.
Each Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for
any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of a
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
|
|
|
A Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of
its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which it
has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its
agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
|
|
|
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
Each Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations
|
48
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
of an issuer of preferred stock, including
dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be
accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the
occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the
issuer of the preferred stock.
|
|
|
Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
|
|
|
|
Other Investment Companies.
Each Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on any Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of a Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. A Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
|
|
|
|
Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Funds may,
consistent with their investment policies, purchase Standard
& Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs).
SPDRs are securities traded on an exchange that represent
ownership in the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established
to accumulate and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is
intended to track the price performance and dividend yield of
the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading,
or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may
not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P
500
®
.
|
|
|
n
|
iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
MSCI indices for various countries and regions.
The market prices of iShares are expected to fluctuate in
accordance with both changes in the NAVs of their underlying
indices and supply and demand of iShares on an exchange.
However, iShares have a limited operating history and
information is lacking regarding the actual performance and
trading liquidity of iShares for extended periods or over
complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that
the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the
listing of iShares will continue to be met or will remain
unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions
affecting iShares occur in the future, the liquidity and value
of a Funds shares could also be substantially and
adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, a Fund
could be required to reconsider the use of iShares as part of
its investment strategy.
|
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies.
Each Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
|
|
|
Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Each Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
|
|
|
Bank Obligations.
Each Fund may invest in
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank
obligations, including without limitation, time deposits,
bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be
general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the
issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by
government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but
different governmental regulations which may limit both the
amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates
which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the
banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and
cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations
under prevailing money market conditions. General economic
conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from
possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important
part in the operation of this industry.
|
50
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Securities.
Each Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury;
(ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S.
government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or
(iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government
Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and
other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest
and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities
are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may
also include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose
principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate
of inflation.
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
Each Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts
or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest
payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third
party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other
arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust.
Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in
custodial receipts and trust certificates.
|
|
|
Borrowings.
Each Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. A Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
|
51
|
|
|
Appendix B
Predecessor Funds
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
The financial highlights table is intended to
help you understand a Funds financial performance for the
past five years. Certain information reflects financial results
for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions).
|
|
|
|
The financial highlights information for the
Structured Small Cap Value Fund and Structured Small Cap Growth
Fund is based on the financial history of the Class A
Shares of the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund and AXA
Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (each a Predecessor Value Fund and
Predecessor Growth Fund, respectively). During the
periods shown, Service shares were not offered by the
Predecessor Value Fund and Predecessor Growth Fund. Different
share classes of mutual fund investment portfolios generally
have substantially similar annual returns because they are
invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. Annual
returns differ as a result of the expenses of a particular share
class. Class A Shares of the Predecessor Fund had a 0.45%
distribution and service fee while Service Shares of the Fund
have a 0.50% combined service fee and shareholder administration
fee. The information for the Predecessor Value Fund and
Predecessor Growth Fund has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Predecessor Value and Predecessor Growth Funds financial
statements are included in their annual report and is available
upon request.
|
|
52
APPENDIX B
PREDECESSOR VALUE
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
11.49
|
|
|
$
|
10.45
|
|
|
$
|
9.78
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
|
$
|
8.17
|
|
|
$
|
7.84
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
2.10
|
|
|
|
1.23
|
|
|
|
0.70
|
|
|
|
2.73
|
|
|
|
(0.93
|
)
|
|
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
2.15
|
|
|
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
0.67
|
|
|
|
2.69
|
|
|
|
(0.97
|
)
|
|
|
0.36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
13.19
|
|
|
$
|
11.49
|
|
|
$
|
10.45
|
|
|
$
|
9.78
|
|
|
$
|
7.09
|
|
|
$
|
8.17
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
19.38
|
%
|
|
|
11.35
|
%
|
|
|
6.85
|
%
|
|
|
37.94
|
%
|
|
|
(11.88
|
)%
|
|
|
4.63
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
264,595
|
|
|
$
|
252,526
|
|
|
$
|
254,300
|
|
|
$
|
250,241
|
|
|
$
|
188,979
|
|
|
$
|
218,905
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.57
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.63
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.59
|
%
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.64
|
%
|
|
|
1.57
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
0.37
|
%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.21
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
0.38
|
%
|
|
|
(0.40
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers
a
|
|
|
0.37
|
%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.21
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
4
|
%
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income (loss)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
See page 54 for all footnotes.
53
PREDECESSOR GROWTH
FUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
28.23
|
|
|
$
|
26.45
|
|
|
$
|
26.74
|
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
28.90
|
|
|
$
|
30.90
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.38
|
)
|
|
|
(0.26
|
)
|
|
|
(0.29
|
)
|
|
|
(0.33
|
)
|
|
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
|
(0.39
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments
|
|
|
6.64
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
5.31
|
|
|
|
(6.79
|
)
|
|
|
(1.40
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
6.26
|
|
|
|
1.78
|
|
|
|
(0.29
|
)
|
|
|
4.98
|
|
|
|
(7.14
|
)
|
|
|
(1.79
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.22
|
)
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
32.78
|
|
|
$
|
28.23
|
|
|
$
|
26.45
|
|
|
$
|
26.74
|
|
|
$
|
21.76
|
|
|
$
|
28.90
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b
|
|
|
23.15
|
%
|
|
|
6.69
|
%
|
|
|
(1.08
|
)%
|
|
|
22.89
|
%
|
|
|
(24.71
|
)%
|
|
|
(5.72
|
)%
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
47,721
|
|
|
$
|
42,959
|
|
|
$
|
44,184
|
|
|
$
|
44,265
|
|
|
$
|
31,714
|
|
|
$
|
37,413
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.73
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.60
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.18
|
%
|
|
|
2.23
|
%
|
|
|
2.02
|
%
|
|
|
2.04
|
%
|
|
|
2.09
|
%
|
|
|
2.01
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(1.30
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.37
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.34
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.43
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.40
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.25
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.92
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(1.83
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.95
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.80
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.79
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.56
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
60
|
%
|
|
|
146
|
%
|
|
|
88
|
%
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
0.16
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year ended October 31, 2005,
these ratios and per share amounts were not provided.
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is less than
$0.005.
|
|
|
The total returns for Class A do not
include sales charges.
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less than one year are
annualized.
|
b
|
|
Total return for periods less than one year
are not annualized.
|
c
|
|
Net investment income and capital changes per
share are based on daily average shares outstanding.
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund ratios adjusted for
class specific expenses.
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than
one year are not annualized.
|
54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
3 Fund
Investment Objectives and Strategies
|
|
|
3
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
5
|
|
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
7 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
9
Principal Risks of the Funds
|
|
|
|
12 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
13 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
16
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
22
Dividends
|
|
|
|
23
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
23
|
|
How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
29
|
|
How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
36
Taxation
|
|
|
|
39
Appendix A
Additional
Information on
Portfolio Risks,
Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
52
Appendix B
Predecessor
Funds
Financial
Highlights
|
|
|
|
Structured Equity Funds
Prospectus
(Service
Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/
Semi-annual Report
|
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Funds had not commenced operations.
The annual report for the fiscal year ending August 31,
2007 will become available to shareholders in October 2007.
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Funds and their
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-621-2550
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You
may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a
duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference
Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic
request to: publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of
the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GOLDMAN SACHS STRATEGIC
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Class A, Class B, Class C, Service and
Institutional Shares
Supplement dated January 19, 2007 to the
Prospectus dated January 19, 2007
The Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares, Service Shares and Institutional Shares of the Goldman
Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund have been created in
connection with the proposed acquisition of the assets and
liabilities of the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund (the
Fund) of AXA Enterprise Funds Trust
(Enterprise Trust).
It is anticipated that at a shareholder meeting in the second
quarter of 2007, the shareholders of the Fund will be asked to
approve a proposed agreement and plan of reorganization whereby
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund would be acquired
by the Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund.
The Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund is a newly
organized fund that has been created for purposes of acquiring
the assets and liabilities of the AXA Enterprise International
Growth Fund. If the reorganization is approved by the AXA
Enterprise International Growth Funds shareholders, for
purposes of the reorganization, the AXA Enterprise International
Growth Fund will be considered the accounting survivor of its
reorganization, and accordingly, certain financial highlights
and other information relating to the AXA Enterprise
International Growth Fund have been included in the attached
prospectus and presented as if the Enterprise Trust
reorganization has been consummated. However, as of the date of
this prospectus, the reorganization has not yet been approved by
shareholders and has not occurred.
AXAINTLSTK 1-07
538581
Prospectus
|
|
|
Class A, B
and C Shares
|
|
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS
|
|
|
|
|
n
Goldman
Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
|
|
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOT
FDIC-INSURED
|
|
May Lose
Value
|
|
No Bank
Guarantee
|
|
|
|
|
General Investment
Management Approach
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
(GSAMI) serves as investment adviser to the
Strategic International Equity Fund. GSAMI is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
ACTIVE
INTERNATIONAL STYLE FUND
|
|
|
|
GSAMIs
Active International Investment Philosophy:
|
|
|
|
Belief
|
|
How the Investment Adviser Acts on Belief
|
|
|
n
Equity
markets are inefficient
|
|
Seeks excess return
through team driven, research intensive and bottom-up stock
selection.
|
|
n
Corporate
fundamentals
ultimately drive share price
|
|
Seeks to conduct rigorous,
first-hand research of business and company management.
|
|
n
A
business intrinsic value
will be achieved over
time
|
|
Seeks to realize value
through a long-term investment horizon.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser attempts to
manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio
construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. As a
result, bottom-up stock selection, driven by fundamental
research, should be a main driver of returns.
|
|
|
|
Investments are selected through a
rigorous bottom-up research process. Particular emphasis is
placed on investing in companies that demonstrate long-term
earnings power, which the Investment Adviser defines as the
ability of a company to generate strong, sustainable earnings
and to create value for shareholders over the long term.
Rigorous, formal and informal debate enhances the quality of the
Investment Advisers final investment decisions regarding
these companies.
|
|
|
|
|
References in this Prospectus to the Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.
|
1
|
|
|
Fund Investment Objective
and Strategies
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
MSCI
®
EAFE
®
Index (unhedged)
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
companies organized outside the United States or whose
securities are principally traded outside the United States
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Active International
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective by investing in the stocks of leading
companies within developed and emerging countries around the
world, outside the U.S.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, substantially all, and at least 80%
of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes
(measured at time of purchase) (Net Assets) in a
diversified portfolio of equity investments in companies that
are organized outside the United States or whose securities are
principally traded outside the United States.* The Fund intends
to invest in companies with public stock market capitalizations
that are larger than $500 million at the time of investment.
|
|
|
|
The Fund may allocate its assets among countries
as determined by the Investment Adviser provided that the
Funds assets are invested in at least three foreign
countries.
|
|
|
|
The Fund expects to invest a substantial portion
of its assets in the securities of issuers located in the
developed countries of Western Europe and in Japan. From time to
time, the Funds investments in a particular developed
country may exceed 25% of its investment portfolio. In addition,
the Fund may also invest in the securities of issuers located in
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in emerging
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in the Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
|
2
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND STRATEGIES
|
|
|
countries. Currently, emerging countries include,
among others, most Latin and South American, African, Asian and
Eastern European nations.
|
|
|
|
Other.
The
Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Net Assets in fixed-income
securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt
obligations.
|
3
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Numbers in
this table show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult
the Funds annual/semi-annual reports (when available). For
more information about these and other investment practices and
securities, see Appendix A. The Fund publishes on its
website (http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio
holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter
subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
In addition, the Fund publishes on its website month-end top ten
holdings subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of
the information and the date on which the information is
disclosed. This information will be available on the website
until the date on which the Fund files its next quarterly
portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q
with the SEC. In addition, a description of the Funds
policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the
Funds portfolio securities is available in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information (Additional
Statement).
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral) (
italic type
)
|
|
|
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
|
Strategic
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
International
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies
|
|
Equity
|
of the Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Practices
|
Borrowings
|
|
33 1/3
|
Cross Hedging of Currencies
|
|
|
Currency
Swaps
*
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
|
|
|
Equity
Swaps
*
|
|
|
Foreign Currency
Transactions
|
|
|
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
|
|
|
Investment Company
Securities (including exchange-traded funds)
|
|
10
|
Options on Foreign
Currencies
1
|
|
|
Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
2
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies
|
|
|
Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
Securities Lending
|
|
33 1/3
|
Short Sales Against the Box
|
|
25
|
When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
1
|
|
The Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options.
|
2
|
|
The Fund may sell covered call and put options
and purchase call and put options.
|
4
OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES
AND SECURITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending collateral) (
italic type
)
|
|
|
10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
|
Strategic
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
International
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies
|
|
Equity
|
of the Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Securities
|
|
American, European and
Global Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset-Backed and
Mortgage-Backed Securities
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank
Obligations
1,2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Debt
Obligations
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Investments
|
|
|
80+
|
|
|
Emerging Country Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed-Income
Securities
3
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
Foreign Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign Government
Securities
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Investment Grade
Fixed-Income Securities
2,4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured
Securities
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
Temporary Investments
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
U.S. Government
Securities
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
1
|
|
Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
|
2
|
|
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities.
|
3
|
|
Except as noted under Non-Investment
Grade Fixed-Income Securities, fixed-income securities are
investment grade (e.g., BBB or higher by Standard &
Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or have a comparable
rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (NRSRO)).
|
4
|
|
May be BB or lower by Standard &
Poors, Ba or lower by Moodys or have a comparable
rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
|
5
Principal Risks of the Fund
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is
not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Fund and may result
in a loss of your investment. The Fund should not be relied upon
as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that
the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic
|
|
|
International
|
Applicable
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Credit/Default
|
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
|
Emerging Countries
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
Liquidity
|
|
|
|
Investment Style
|
|
|
|
Geographic
|
|
|
|
Mid Cap and Small Cap
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Credit/Default
Risk
The risk that an issuer
or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
n
|
Foreign
Risk
The risk that when the
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. The
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations. Foreign risks will normally be
greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging
countries.
|
n
|
Emerging Countries
Risk
The securities markets
of Asian, Latin, Central and South American, Eastern European,
Middle Eastern, African and other emerging countries are less
liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have
smaller market capitalizations, have less government regulation
and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting,
financial and other reporting requirements
|
6
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND
|
|
|
as the securities markets of more developed
countries. Further, investment in equity securities of issuers
located in certain emerging countries involves risk of loss
resulting from problems in share registration and custody and
substantial economic and political disruptions. These risks are
not normally associated with investment in more developed
countries.
|
|
n
|
Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
|
|
n
|
Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from the Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, options on swaps, structured securities and other
derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so
that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the
Fund.
|
n
|
Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the
Fund will decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities
will normally have more price volatility because of this risk
than short-term fixed-income securities.
|
n
|
Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
|
n
|
Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. The Funds investments may be overweighted from
time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will
increase the Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse
developments affecting those sectors.
|
n
|
Liquidity
Risk
The risk that the Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. The Fund will be especially subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Fund and other funds for which
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM) or an
affiliate now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its
position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may
impact a Funds net asset value (NAV).
|
n
|
Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund
may outperform or underperform other funds that employ a
different
|
7
|
|
|
investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
|
n
|
Geographic
Risk
Concentration of the
investments in issuers located in a particular country or region
will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments
were less concentrated, to the risks of adverse securities
markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory or
economic events which may occur in that country or region.
|
|
n
|
Mid Cap and Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization and mid-capitalization companies involve greater
risks than those associated with larger, more established
companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price
movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market
liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous
time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-cap and
small-cap companies often have narrower markets and more limited
managerial and financial resources than larger, more established
companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile
and they face greater risk of business failure, which could
increase the volatility of the Funds portfolio. Generally,
the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
|
|
More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
8
HOW THE FUND HAS
PERFORMED
|
|
|
|
The Fund has not commenced operations before the
date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information
is provided in this section. The Fund first began operations as
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA
Enterprise Funds Trust (the Predecessor Fund).
The Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of
Goldman Sachs Trust. Performance of the Predecessor Fund is not
shown because as part of the reorganization the Predecessor Fund
changed its investment adviser to GSAMI.
|
9
Fund Fees and Expenses
(Class A, B and C Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Class A, Class B, or
Class C Shares of the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
5.5%
|
1
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales
Charge (Load)
2
|
|
|
None
|
1
|
|
|
5.0%
|
3
|
|
|
1.0%
|
4
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
5
|
|
|
2.0%
|
|
|
|
2.0%
|
|
|
|
2.0%
|
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
7
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Distribution and Service
(12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
8
*
|
|
|
0.55%
|
|
|
|
0.55%
|
|
|
|
0.55%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses*
|
|
|
1.65%
|
|
|
|
2.40%
|
|
|
|
2.40%
|
|
|
See page 11 for all other
footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Other Expenses and Total
Fund Operating Expenses (after any waivers and expense
limitations) set forth below have been restated to reflect the
current waiver and expense limitations that are expected for the
current fiscal year. The waivers and expense limitations may be
modified or terminated at any time at the option of the
Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
6
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
7
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Other Expenses
8
|
|
|
0.35%
|
|
|
|
0.35%
|
|
|
|
0.35%
|
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current
expense limitations)
|
|
|
1.45%
|
|
|
|
2.20%
|
|
|
|
2.20%
|
|
|
10
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
|
|
|
1
|
|
The maximum sales charge is a percentage of
the offering price. Under certain circumstances, which are
described in the Shareholder Guide, the maximum sales charge may
be reduced or waived entirely. A CDSC of 1% may be imposed on
certain redemptions (within 18 months of purchase) of
Class A Shares sold without an initial sales charge as part
of an investment of $1 million or more.
|
|
2
|
|
The maximum CDSC is a percentage of the lesser
of the NAV at the time of the redemption or the NAV when the
shares were originally purchased.
|
|
3
|
|
A CDSC is imposed upon Class B Shares
redeemed within six years of purchase at a rate of 5% in the
first year, declining to 1% in the sixth year, and eliminated
thereafter.
|
|
4
|
|
A CDSC of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares
redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
|
|
5
|
|
A 2% redemption fee will be imposed on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for
30 calendar days or less.
|
|
6
|
|
The Funds annual operating expenses have
been estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
|
7
|
|
The Investment Adviser is entitled to a
management fee from the Fund at an annual rate equal to the
following percentages of the average daily net assets of the
Fund: 0.85% on the first $1 billion, 0.77% on the next
$1 billion and 0.73% over $2 billion.
|
|
|
8
|
|
Other Expenses include transfer
agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis to 0.19%
of the average daily net assets of the Funds Class A,
B and C Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed
above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce
or limit Other Expenses (excluding management fees,
distribution and service fees, transfer agency fees and
expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and litigation,
indemnification, shareholder meeting and other extraordinary
expenses exclusive of any expense offset arrangements) to 0.16%
the Funds average daily net assets. These expense
reductions may be terminated at any time at the option of the
Investment Adviser.
|
|
11
Fund Fees and
Expenses
continued
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in the Fund (without expense
limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, B
or C Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then
redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each
year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the
same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based
on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
$
|
709
|
|
|
$
|
1,042
|
|
|
$
|
1,398
|
|
|
$
|
2,397
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
743
|
|
|
$
|
1,048
|
|
|
$
|
1,480
|
|
|
$
|
2,550
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
243
|
|
|
$
|
748
|
|
|
$
|
1,280
|
|
|
$
|
2,550
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assuming
complete redemption at end of period
|
|
$
|
343
|
|
|
$
|
748
|
|
|
$
|
1,280
|
|
|
$
|
2,736
|
|
|
Assuming no
redemption
|
|
$
|
243
|
|
|
$
|
748
|
|
|
$
|
1,280
|
|
|
$
|
2,736
|
|
|
The hypothetical example assumes that a CDSC will
not apply to redemptions of Class A Shares within the first
18 months.
Certain institutions that sell Fund shares and/or
their salespersons may receive other compensation in connection
with the sale and distribution of Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares for services to their customers
accounts and/or the Fund. For additional information regarding
such compensation, see What Should I Know When I Purchase
Shares Through An Authorized Dealer? in the Prospectus and
Payments to Intermediaries in the Additional
Statement.
12
|
|
|
Investment Adviser
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSAMI, a member of the Investment Management
Regulatory Organization Limited since 1990 and a registered
investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs
& Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of September 30,
2006, GSAMI had assets under management of $576.4 billion.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
|
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
|
|
n
|
Maintains the records of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
13
|
|
|
As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
monthly, at the annual rates (as a percentage of the Funds
average daily net assets) listed below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
|
Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
GSAMI:
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
First $1 Billion
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
|
|
Next $1 Billion
|
|
|
|
0.73
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a
portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
|
|
|
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund
will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
14
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
Active
International Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Global portfolio teams based in London,
Singapore, Tokyo and New York. Local presence is a key to the
Investment Advisers fundamental research capabilities
|
|
|
n
|
Team manages over $17 billion in
international equities for retail, institutional and high net
worth clients
|
|
|
n
|
Focus on bottom-up stock selection as main driver
of returns, though the team leverages the asset allocation,
currency and risk management capabilities of GSAMI
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
London-Based
Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily
|
|
|
Name and Title
|
|
Fund Responsibility
|
|
Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beveridge, CFA
Managing Director,
Chief Investment Officer, Non-US Active Equity
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Beveridge
joined the Investment Adviser in December 2004 as Chief
Investment Officer of the Non-US Active Equity business which
encompasses the Global/International, UK/European, Asia
ex Japan and Japan strategies. Prior to joining the
Investment Adviser, he spent 19 years at Franklin
Templeton, where he was Executive Vice President and Senior
Portfolio Manager responsible for
ex-US portfolios.
|
|
William Howard, CFA
Managing Director
Director of Research,
Non-US Active Equity
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Howard joined the
Investment Adviser in January 2005 as a portfolio manager. He is
also Director of Research for Non-US Active Equity. From 1993 to
2004 he was a Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton
responsible for ex-US portfolios.
|
|
Michael Stanes
Executive Director
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Stanes joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in November 2002.
From 1986 to 2001, he worked at Mercury Asset Management, where
he managed UK equity portfolios in London, Japanese equity
portfolios in Tokyo and US and global portfolios in the
US.
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beveridge serves as Chief Investment Officer
(CIO) of GSAMs Non-US Active Equity team and
CIO of GSAMIs Global/EAFE strategies. As CIO,
Mr. Beveridge is ultimately responsible for the composition
of a Funds structure at both the stock and industry level.
Along with the other portfolio managers on the
|
15
|
|
|
|
team, Mr. Beveridge has specific industry
research responsibilities. Each portfolio manager is responsible
for liaising with research analysts around the world, promoting
his or her stock selection ideas to the other members of the
team and after debating their inclusion in the portfolio.
|
|
|
|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of the Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago,
Illinois 60606, also serves as the Funds transfer agent
(the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
|
|
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
|
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financer, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Fund directly and
indirectly invests. Thus, it is likely that the Fund will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any
|
16
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
information regarding their proprietary
activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used
for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the
management of the Fund. The results of the Funds
investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates, and other accounts managed by
Goldman Sachs, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain
losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates
and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading
for proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may,
from time to time, enter into transactions in which Goldman
Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. For
example, the Fund may take a long position in a security at the
same time that Goldman Sachs or other accounts managed by the
Investment Adviser take a short position in the same security
(or vice versa). These and other transactions undertaken by
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients
may adversely impact the Fund. Transactions by one or more
Goldman Sachs advised clients or the Investment Adviser may have
the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values,
prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Funds
activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions
applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their
internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As
a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a
wide range of investment banking and financial services to
issuers of securities and investors in securities. Goldman
Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create
markets or specialize in, have positions in and affect
transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and may
also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial
services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may
have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or
sell services or products from or to, distributors, consultants
and others who recommend the Fund as when acquisitions with or
for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest,
see the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Fund has retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for the Fund to the extent that the Fund engages
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Fund, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In
addition, the Fund may make brokerage and other payments to
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the
Funds portfolio investment transactions.
|
17
|
|
|
|
On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York against The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers
of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York.
On June 29, 2004, the three complaints were
consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs
Mutual Funds Fee Litigation,
and on November 17, 2004,
the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint against
GSG, GSAM, GSAMI, Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Trust,
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (GSVIT) the
Trustees and Officers of the Trust and John Doe Defendants
(collectively, the Defendants) in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York. Certain
investment portfolios of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the
Goldman Sachs Funds) were named as nominal
defendants in the amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second
amended consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
|
|
|
|
The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of-fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees
and charges; and
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
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reasonable costs and expenses, including counsel
fees and expert fees. On January 13, 2006, all claims
against the Defendants were dismissed by the U.S. District
Court. On February 22, 2006, the plaintiffs appealed this
decision. By agreement, plaintiffs subsequently withdrew their
appeal without prejudice but reserved their right to reactivate
their appeal pending a decision by the circuit court of appeals
on similar litigation.
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Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material
adverse financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote,
and the pending action is not likely to materially affect their
ability to provide investment management services to their
clients, including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
19
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Dividends
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The Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
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n
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Cash
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n
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Additional shares of the same class of the Fund
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n
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Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
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You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
dividends and distributions will be reinvested automatically in
the Fund.
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The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
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The Funds investments in foreign securities
may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. Under certain
circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through these taxes to
you. If this election is made, a proportionate amount of such
taxes will constitute a distribution to you, which would allow
you either (i) to credit such proportionate amount of
foreign taxes against your U.S. federal income tax liability or
(ii) to take such amount as an itemized deduction.
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Dividends from investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid
annually by the Fund.
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From time to time a portion of the Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
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When you purchase shares of the Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
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20
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Shareholder
Guide
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The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds shares.
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How Can
I Purchase Class A, Class B And Class C Shares Of
The Fund?
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You may purchase shares of the Fund through:
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n
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Authorized Dealers;
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n
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Goldman Sachs; or
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n
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Directly from the Trust.
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In order to make an initial investment in the
Fund, you must furnish to the Fund, Goldman Sachs or your
Authorized Dealer the information in the Account Application. An
order will be processed upon receipt of payment.
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To Open
an Account:
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n
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Complete the Account Application
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n
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Mail your payment and Account Application to:
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Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft
should be made payable to your Authorized Dealer
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Your Authorized Dealer is responsible for
forwarding payment promptly (within three business days) to the
Fund
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or
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Goldman Sachs
Funds
, P.O. Box 219711, Kansas
City, MO 64121-9711
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Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft
should be made payable to Goldman Sachs Funds (Name
of Fund
and
Class of Shares)
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Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
(BFDS), the Funds sub-transfer agent, will not
accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third-party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving
the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
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For federal funds wire, Automated Clearing House
Network (ACH) transfer or bank wires, please call
the Fund at 1-800-526-7384 to get detailed instructions on how
to wire your money.
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21
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What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
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Initial
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Additional*
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Regular Accounts
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$1,000
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$50
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Employee Sponsored Benefit
Plans
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$250
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No Minimum
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Uniform Gift/Transfer to
Minors (UTMA/UGMA)
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$250
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$50
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Individual Retirement
Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
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$250
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$50
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Automatic Investment Plans
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$250
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$50
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*
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No minimum additional investment requirements
are imposed with respect to investors trading through
intermediaries who aggregate shares in omnibus or similar
accounts (e.g., retirement plan accounts, wrap program accounts
or traditional brokerage house accounts).
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The minimum investment requirement may be waived
for certain mutual fund wrap programs at the
discretion of the Trusts officers. No minimum amount is
required for subsequent investments.
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What
Alternative Sales Arrangements Are Available?
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The Fund offers three classes of shares through
this Prospectus.
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Maximum Amount You Can
Buy In The Aggregate Across Funds
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Class A
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No limit
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Class B
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$100,000*
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Class C
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$1,000,000*
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Initial Sales
Charge
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Class A
|
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Applies to purchases of
less than $1 millionvaries by size of investment with
a maximum of 5.5%
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Class B
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None
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Class C
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None
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CDSC
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Class A
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1.00% on certain
investments of $1 million or more
if
you sell
within 18 months
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Class B
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6 year declining CDSC
with a maximum of 5%
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Class C
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1% if shares are redeemed
within 12 months of purchase
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Conversion
Feature
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Class A
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None
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Class B
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Class B Shares
automatically convert to Class A Shares after 8 years
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Class C
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None
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*
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No additional Class B Shares or
Class C Shares may be purchased by an investor either in an
initial purchase or in subsequent purchases if the current
market value of the shares owned and/or purchased equals or
exceeds $100,000 in the case of Class B Shares or
$1,000,000 in the case of Class C Shares.
|
22
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
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The Trust reserves the right to:
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n
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Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
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n
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Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for
any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by
a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of shares of
the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or
a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that would
disrupt the management of the Fund.
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n
|
Close the Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by a
Funds Investment Adviser.
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n
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Modify or waive the minimum investment
requirements.
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n
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Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
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n
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Modify the sales charge rates applicable to
future purchases of shares.
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Generally, the Fund will not allow non-U.S.
citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United
States to open an account directly with the Fund.
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The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with
securities instead of cash if consistent with the Funds
investment policies and operations and if approved by the
Funds Investment Adviser.
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Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which
may include the name, residential or business street address,
date of birth (for an individual), Social Security Number or
taxpayer identification number or other identifying information,
for investors who open accounts with the Fund. Applications
without the required information, which will be reviewed solely
for customer identification purposes, may not be accepted by the
Fund. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by
applicable law or their customer identification program, the
Fund reserves the right to (i) place limits on transactions
in any account until the identity of the investor is verified;
(ii) refuse an investment in the Fund; or
(iii) involuntarily redeem an investors shares and
close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify
an investors identity. The Fund and its agents will not be
responsible for any loss in an investors account resulting
from the investors delay in providing all required
identifying information or from closing an account and redeeming
an investors shares pursuant to the customer
identification program.
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23
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How Are
Shares Priced?
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|
The price you pay when you buy shares is the
Funds next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted
for any applicable sales charge). The price you receive when you
sell or exchange shares is the Funds next determined NAV
for a share class, with the redemption proceeds reduced by any
applicable charge (e.g., CDSCs or redemption fees). Each
class calculates its NAV as follows:
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NAV =
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|
(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
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The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
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For Funds that invest a significant portion of
assets in foreign equity securities, fair value
prices are provided by an independent fair value service in
accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the
Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Fund, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
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In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining the Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
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24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Fund
to price its investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
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Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
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n
|
NAV per share of each share class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such other time as
the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially
close. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is closed.
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n
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When you buy shares, you pay the NAV, (as
adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper form.
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n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper
form. Redemption proceeds are reduced by any applicable CDSC or
redemption fee.
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|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than
the Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently
adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV as
adjusted.
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n
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The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
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|
Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
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|
Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open the Fund for purchase,
redemption and exchange transactions if the
|
25
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|
Federal Reserve wire payment system is
open. To learn whether the Fund is open for business during an
emergency situation, please call 1-800-526-7384.
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|
|
Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the NAV of
the Fund may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase
or redeem Fund shares.
|
COMMON QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A
SHARES
|
|
|
|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class A Shares?
|
|
The offering price of Class A Shares
of the Fund is the next determined NAV per share plus an initial
sales charge paid to Goldman Sachs at the time of purchase of
shares.
The sales charge varies
depending upon the amount you purchase. In some cases, described
below, the initial sales charge may be eliminated altogether,
and the offering price will be the NAV per share. The current
sales charges and commissions paid to Authorized Dealers for
Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:
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|
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|
Sales Charge
|
|
Maximum Dealer
|
|
|
Sales Charge as
|
|
as Percentage
|
|
Allowance as
|
Amount of Purchase
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
of Net Amount
|
|
Percentage of
|
(including sales charge, if any)
|
|
Offering Price
|
|
Invested
|
|
Offering Price*
|
|
|
Less than $50,000
|
|
|
5.50
|
%
|
|
|
5.82
|
%
|
|
|
5.00
|
%
|
$50,000 up to (but less
than) $100,000
|
|
|
4.75
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
|
|
4.00
|
|
$100,000 up to (but less
than) $250,000
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
3.90
|
|
|
|
3.00
|
|
$250,000 up to (but less
than) $500,000
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
$500,000 up to (but less
than) $1 million
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
$1 million or more
|
|
|
0.00
|
**
|
|
|
0.00
|
**
|
|
|
***
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Dealers allowance may be changed
periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge
may be allowed to Authorized Dealers. Authorized Dealers to whom
substantially the entire sales charge is allowed may be deemed
to be underwriters under the Securities Act of
1933.
|
**
|
|
No sales charge is payable at the time of
purchase of Class A Shares of $1 million or more, but
a CDSC of 1% may be imposed in the event of certain
redemptions within 18 months of purchase.
|
***
|
|
The Distributor may pay a one-time commission
to Authorized Dealers who initiate or are responsible for
purchases of $1 million or more of shares of the Fund equal
to 1.00% of the amount under $3 million, 0.50% of the next
$2 million, and 0.25% thereafter. In instances where an
Authorized Dealer (including Goldman Sachs Private Wealth
Management Unit) agrees to waive its receipt of the one-time
commission described above, the CDSC on Class A Shares,
generally, will be waived. The Distributor may also pay, with
respect to all or a portion of the amount purchased, a
commission in accordance with the foregoing schedule to
Authorized Dealers who initiate or are responsible for purchases
of $500,000 or more by certain Section 401(k), profit
sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined
benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including
health savings accounts) that are sponsored by one or more
employers (including governmental or church employers) or
employee organizations investing in the Fund which satisfy the
criteria set forth below in When Are Class A Shares
Not Subject To A Sales Load? or $1 million or more by
certain wrap accounts. Purchases by such plans will
be made at NAV with no initial sales charge, but if shares are
redeemed within 18 months after the end of the calendar
month in which such purchase
|
26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
|
was made, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the
plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In
addition, Authorized Dealers will remit to the Distributor such
payments received in connection with wrap accounts
in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months
after the end of the calendar month in which the purchase was
made.
|
|
|
|
You should note that the actual sales charge that
appears in your mutual fund transaction confirmation may differ
slightly from the rate disclosed above in the Prospectus due to
rounding calculations.
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|
|
As indicated in the above chart, and as discussed
further below and in the section titled How Can the Sales
Charge on Class A Shares Be Reduced?, you may, under
certain circumstances, be entitled to pay reduced sales charges
on your purchases of Class A Shares or have those charges
waived entirely. To take advantage of these discounts, you or
your Authorized Dealer or financial intermediary must notify the
Funds Transfer Agent at the time of your purchase order
that a discount may apply to your current purchases. You may
also be required to provide appropriate documentation to receive
these discounts, including:
|
|
|
|
|
|
(i)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held in all accounts
(
e.g.,
retirement accounts) of the shareholder at the
financial intermediary;
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held in any account of the
shareholder at another financial intermediary; and
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|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
Information or records regarding shares of the
Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any financial
intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as
members of the same family or household.
|
|
|
|
You should note in particular that, if the
Funds Transfer Agent is properly notified, under the
Right of Accumulation described below, the
Amount of Purchase in the chart on the preceding
page will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B
and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were
acquired by purchase or exchange, and that were subject to a
sales charge, that are held at the time of purchase by any of
the following persons: (i) you, your spouse and your
children; and (ii) any trustee, guardian or other fiduciary
of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account. This
includes, for example, any Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares held at a broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary other than the one handling your current purchase.
In some circumstances, other Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares may be aggregated with your current purchase
under the Right of Accumulation as described in the Additional
Statement. For purposes of determining the Amount of
Purchase, all Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares held at the time of purchase will be valued
at their current market value.
|
27
|
|
|
|
You should also note that if you provide the
Transfer Agent a signed written Statement of Intention to invest
(not counting reinvestments of dividends and distributions) in
the aggregate, $50,000 or more in Class A Shares of one or
more Goldman Sachs Funds within a 13-month period, any
investments you make during the 13 months will be treated
as though the total quantity were invested in one lump sum and
you will receive the discounted sales load based on your
investment commitment. You must, however, inform the Transfer
Agent that the Statement of Intention is in effect each time
shares are purchased. Each purchase will be made at the public
offering price applicable to a single transaction of the dollar
amount specified on the Statement of Intention.
|
|
|
|
In addition to the information provided in this
Prospectus and the Additional Statement, information about sales
charge discounts is available from your Authorized Dealer or
financial intermediary and, free of charge, on the Funds
website at http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Class A Shares
CDSC?
|
|
Purchases of $1 million or more of Class A
Shares will be made at NAV with no initial sales charge.
However, if you redeem shares within 18 months after the
end of the calendar month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC
of 1% may be imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your
Authorized Dealer enters into an agreement with the Distributor
to return all or an applicable prorated portion of its
commission to the Distributor. The CDSC is waived on redemptions
in certain circumstances. See In What Situations May The
CDSC On Class A, B Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?
below.
|
|
|
When
Are Class A Shares Not Subject To A Sales Load?
|
|
Class A Shares of the Fund may be sold at
NAV without payment of any sales charge to the following
individuals and entities:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or their respective
officers, partners, directors or employees (including retired
employees and former partners), any partnership of which Goldman
Sachs is a general partner, any Trustee or officer of the Trust
and designated family members of any of these individuals;
|
|
n
|
Qualified employee benefit plans of Goldman Sachs;
|
|
n
|
Trustees or directors of investment companies for
which Goldman Sachs or an affiliate acts as sponsor;
|
|
n
|
Any employee or registered representative of any
Authorized Dealer or their respective spouses, children and
parents;
|
|
n
|
Banks, trust companies or other types of
depository institutions;
|
|
n
|
Any state, county or city, or any
instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof, which
is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales
charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares
of the Fund;
|
28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
n
|
Section 401(k), profit sharing, money
purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit
pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health
savings accounts) that are sponsored by one or more employers
(including governmental or church employers) or employee
organizations (Employee Benefit Plans) that:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Buy shares of Goldman Sachs Funds worth $500,000
or more; or
|
|
n
|
Have 100 or more eligible employees at the time
of purchase; or
|
|
n
|
Certify that they expect to have annual plan
purchases of shares of Goldman Sachs Funds of $200,000 or more;
or
|
|
n
|
Are provided administrative services by certain
third-party administrators that have entered into a special
service arrangement with Goldman Sachs relating to such plans; or
|
|
n
|
Have at the time of purchase aggregate assets of
at least $2,000,000;
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Non-qualified pension plans sponsored by
employers who also sponsor qualified plans that qualify for and
invest in Goldman Sachs Funds at NAV without the payment of any
sales charge;
|
|
|
|
n
|
Insurance company separate accounts that make the
Funds available as underlying investments in certain group
annuity contracts;
|
|
|
n
|
Wrap accounts for the benefit of
clients of broker-dealers, financial institutions or financial
planners, provided they have entered into an agreement with GSAM
specifying aggregate minimums and certain operating policies and
standards;
|
|
n
|
Registered investment advisers investing for
accounts for which they receive asset-based fees;
|
|
n
|
Accounts over which GSAM or its advisory
affiliates have investment discretion;
|
|
|
n
|
Shareholders receiving distributions from a
qualified Employee Benefit Plan invested in the Goldman Sachs
Funds and reinvesting such proceeds in a Goldman Sachs IRA;
|
|
|
n
|
Shareholders who roll over distributions from any
tax-qualified Employee Benefit plan or tax-sheltered annuity to
an IRA which invests in the Goldman Sachs Funds if the
tax-qualified Employee Benefit plan or tax-sheltered annuity
receives administrative services provided by certain third-party
administrators that have entered into a special service
arrangement with Goldman Sachs relating to such plan or annuity;
|
|
n
|
State sponsored 529 college savings plans; or
|
|
n
|
Investors who qualify under other exemptions that
are stated from time to time in the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
You must certify eligibility for any of the
above exemptions on your Account Application and notify the Fund
if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
The Fund will grant you an exemption
subject to confirmation of your
|
29
|
|
|
entitlement. You may be charged a fee if you
effect your transactions through a broker or agent.
|
|
|
How Can
The Sales Charge On Class A Shares Be Reduced?
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Right of Accumulation:
When buying Class A Shares in
Goldman Sachs Funds, your current aggregate investment
determines the initial sales load you pay. You may qualify for
reduced sales charges when the current market value of holdings
across Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares,
plus new purchases, reaches $50,000 or more. Class A,
Class B and/or Class C Shares of any of the Goldman
Sachs Funds may be combined under the Right of Accumulation. For
purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the
Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing
client of Goldman Sachs Wealth Management or GS Ayco Holding LLC
will be combined with Class A, Class B and/or
Class C Shares and other assets held by all other Goldman
Sachs Wealth Management accounts or accounts of GS Ayco Holding
LLC, respectively. In addition, under some circumstances,
Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the
Fund and Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares
of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners,
directors, officers or employees of the same business
organization, groups of individuals represented by and investing
on the recommendation of the same accounting firm, and certain
other organizations may be combined for the purpose of
determining whether a purchase will qualify for the Right of
Accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge
level. To qualify for a reduced sales load, you or your
Authorized Dealer must notify the Funds Transfer Agent at
the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable.
Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.
The Additional Statement has more information about the Right of
Accumulation.
|
|
|
|
n
|
Statement of Intention:
You may obtain a reduced sales
charge by means of a written Statement of Intention which
expresses your non-binding commitment to invest (not counting
reinvestments of dividends and distributions) in the aggregate
$50,000 or more within a period of 13 months in
Class A Shares of one or more of the Goldman Sachs Funds.
Any investments you make during the period will receive the
discounted sales load based on the full amount of your
investment commitment. At your request, purchases made during
the previous 90 days may be included; however, capital
appreciation does not apply toward these combined purchases. If
the investment commitment of the Statement of Intention is not
met prior to the expiration of the 13-month period, the entire
amount will be subject to the higher applicable sales charge
unless the failure to meet the investment commitment is due to
the death of the investor. By selecting the Statement of
Intention, you authorize the Transfer Agent to escrow and redeem
Class A Shares in your account to pay this additional
|
|
30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
|
charge. The Additional Statement has more
information about the Statement of Intention, which you should
read carefully.
|
COMMON QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS B
SHARES
|
|
|
|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class B Shares?
|
|
You may purchase Class B Shares of the
Fund at the next determined NAV without an initial sales charge.
However, Class B Shares redeemed within six years of
purchase will be subject to a CDSC at the rates shown in the
table below based on how long you held your shares.
|
|
|
The CDSC schedule is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CDSC as a
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
Dollar Amount
|
Year Since Purchase
|
|
Subject to CDSC
|
|
|
First
|
|
|
5%
|
|
Second
|
|
|
4%
|
|
Third
|
|
|
3%
|
|
Fourth
|
|
|
3%
|
|
Fifth
|
|
|
2%
|
|
Sixth
|
|
|
1%
|
|
Seventh and thereafter
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from the CDSC are payable to the
Distributor and may be used in whole or in part to defray the
Distributors expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the
sale of Class B Shares, including the payment of
compensation to Authorized Dealers. A commission equal to 4% of
the amount invested is paid to Authorized Dealers.
|
|
|
What
Should I Know About The Automatic Conversion Of Class B
Shares?
|
|
Class B Shares of the Fund will
automatically convert into Class A Shares of the Fund at
the end of the calendar quarter that is eight years after the
purchase date.
|
|
|
If you acquire Class B Shares of the Fund by
exchange from Class B Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund,
your Class B Shares will convert into Class A Shares
of the Fund based on the date of the initial purchase and the
CDSC schedule of that purchase.
|
|
|
If you acquire Class B Shares through
reinvestment of distributions, your Class B Shares will convert
into Class A Shares based on the date of the initial
purchase of the shares on which the distribution was paid.
|
31
|
|
|
The conversion of Class B Shares to
Class A Shares will not occur at any time the Fund is
advised that such conversions may constitute taxable events for
federal tax purposes, which the Fund believes is unlikely. If
conversions do not occur as a result of possible taxability,
Class B Shares would continue to be subject to higher
expenses than Class A Shares for an indeterminate period.
|
A COMMON QUESTION
ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS C
SHARES
|
|
|
|
What Is
The Offering Price Of Class C Shares?
|
|
You may purchase Class C Shares of the
Fund at the next determined NAV without paying an initial sales
charge. However, if you redeem Class C Shares within
12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1% will normally be
deducted from the redemption proceeds. In connection with
purchases by Employee Benefit Plans, where Class C Shares
are redeemed within 12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1% may
be imposed upon the plan sponsor or third-party
administrator.
|
|
|
Proceeds from the CDSC are payable to the
Distributor and may be used in whole or in part to defray the
Distributors expenses related to providing
distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the
sale of Class C Shares, including the payment of
compensation to Authorized Dealers. An amount equal to 1% of the
amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to
Authorized Dealers.
|
COMMON
QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A,
B AND C SHARES
|
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A, B Or C
Shares?
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
The CDSC is based on the lesser of the NAV of the
shares at the time of redemption or the original offering price
(which is the original NAV).
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
No CDSC is charged on shares acquired from
reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions.
|
|
n
|
No CDSC is charged on the per share appreciation
of your account over the initial purchase price.
|
|
n
|
When counting the number of months since a
purchase of Class B or Class C Shares was made, all
payments made during a month will be combined and considered to
have been made on the first day of that month.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time
you place a request to sell shares, the Fund will first sell any
shares in your account that do not carry a CDSC and then the
shares in your account that have been held the longest.
|
32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
In What
Situations May The CDSC On Class A, B Or C Shares Be Waived
Or Reduced?
|
|
The CDSC on Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or
reduced if the redemption relates to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Retirement distributions or loans to participants
or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
|
|
|
n
|
The death or disability (as defined in
Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code)) of a shareholder, participant or
beneficiary in a Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
|
n
|
Hardship withdrawals by a participant or
beneficiary in a Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Satisfying the minimum distribution requirements
of the Code;
|
|
n
|
Establishing substantially equal periodic
payments as described under Section 72(t)(2) of the
Code;
|
|
n
|
The separation from service by a participant or
beneficiary in a Employee Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Excess contributions distributed from a Employee
Benefit Plan;
|
|
n
|
Distributions from a qualified Employee Benefit
Plan invested in the Goldman Sachs Funds which are being rolled
over to a Goldman Sachs IRA in the same share class; or
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in
accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its
advisory affiliates have investment discretion.
|
|
|
|
In addition, Class A, B and C Shares subject
to a systematic withdrawal plan may be redeemed without a CDSC.
The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an
annual basis, to 12% each of the value of your Class B and
C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares.
|
|
|
How Do
I Decide Whether To Buy Class A, B Or C Shares?
|
|
The decision as to which Class to purchase
depends on the amount you invest, the intended length of the
investment and your personal situation.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Class A
Shares.
If you are making an
investment of $50,000 or more that qualifies for a reduced sales
charge, you should consider purchasing Class A Shares.
|
|
n
|
Class B
Shares.
If you plan to hold your
investment for at least six years and would prefer not to pay an
initial sales charge, you might consider purchasing Class B
Shares. By not paying a front-end sales charge, your entire
investment in Class B Shares is available to work for you
from the time you make your initial investment. However, the
distribution and service fee paid by Class B Shares will
cause your Class B Shares (until conversion to Class A
Shares) to have a higher expense ratio, and thus lower
performance and lower dividend payments (to the extent dividends
are paid) than Class A Shares. A maximum
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
purchase limitation of $100,000 in the aggregate
normally applies to Class B Shares across all Goldman Sachs
Funds.
|
|
|
n
|
Class C
Shares.
If you are unsure of the
length of your investment or plan to hold your investment for
less than six years and would prefer not to pay an initial sales
charge, you may prefer Class C Shares. By not paying a
front-end sales charge, your entire investment in Class C
Shares is available to work for you from the time you make your
initial investment. However, the distribution and service fee
paid by Class C Shares will cause your Class C Shares
to have a higher expense ratio, and thus lower performance and
lower dividend payments (to the extent dividends are paid) than
Class A Shares (or Class B Shares after conversion to
Class A Shares).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Although Class C Shares are subject to a
CDSC for only 12 months, Class C Shares do not have
the automatic eight year conversion feature applicable to
Class B Shares and your investment may pay higher
distribution fees indefinitely.
|
|
|
|
|
A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in
the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C
Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Authorized Dealers may receive
different compensation for selling Class A, Class B or
Class C Shares.
|
|
|
In addition to Class A, Class B and
Class C Shares, the Fund also offers other classes of
shares to investors. These other share classes are subject to
different fees and expenses (which affect performance), have
different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to
different services. Information regarding these other share
classes may be obtained from your sales representative or from
Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this
Prospectus.
|
|
|
|
How Can
I Sell Class A, Class B And Class C Shares Of The
Fund?
|
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account
by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
Generally, the Fund will redeem its shares upon request on
any business day at the NAV next determined after receipt of
such request in proper form, subject to any applicable CDSC or
redemption fee.
You may request that redemption proceeds be
sent to you by check or by wire (if the wire instructions are on
record). Redemptions may be requested in writing or by telephone.
|
34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
Instructions For Redemptions:
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Your
name(s) and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Your
account number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund name and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount you want to sell
|
|
|
n
How
and where to send the proceeds
|
|
|
n
Obtain
a Medallion signature guarantee (see details below)
|
|
|
n
Mail
your request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
219711
Kansas City, MO 64121-9711
|
|
|
or for overnight
delivery:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
330 West 9th
Street
Poindexter Bldg., 1st
Floor
Kansas City, MO 64105
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have not declined
the telephone redemption privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-526-7384
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
n
You
may redeem up to $50,000 of your shares daily
|
|
|
n
Proceeds
which are sent directly to a Goldman
Sachs
brokerage account or to the
bank account designated on
your
Account Application are not
subject to the $50,000 limit
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person with a Medallion signature
guarantee. The written request may be confirmed by telephone
with both the requesting party and the designated bank account
to verify instructions.
|
|
|
|
When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee is required if:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You are requesting in writing to redeem shares in
an amount over $50,000;
|
|
n
|
You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
|
|
n
|
You would like to change the bank designated on
your Account Application.
|
|
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee
|
35
|
|
|
|
Program or that is otherwise approved by the
Trust. A notary public cannot provide a Medallion signature
guarantee. Additional documentation may be required.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests
that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may
accept telephone redemption instructions from any person
identifying himself or herself as the owner of an account or the
owners registered representative where the owner has not
declined in writing to use this service. Thus, you risk possible
losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by you.
|
|
|
In an effort to prevent unauthorized or
fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone,
Goldman Sachs and BFDS each employ reasonable procedures
specified by the Trust to confirm that such instructions are
genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust
may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent
transactions. The following general policies are currently in
effect:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
All telephone requests are recorded.
|
|
n
|
Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be
sent only to your address of record or authorized bank account
designated in the Account Application (unless you provide
written instructions and a Medallion signature guarantee,
indicating another address or account).
|
|
|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will only be filled by a wire
transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Applications (see immediately preceding bullet point). In order
to receive the redemption by check during this time period, the
redemption request must be in the form of a written Medallion
signature guaranteed letter.
|
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option does not apply to
shares held in a street name account. Street
name accounts are accounts maintained and serviced by your
Authorized Dealer. If your account is held in street
name, you should contact your registered representative of
record, who may make telephone redemptions on your behalf.
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
|
|
|
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
|
36
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
By Wire:
You
may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal
funds to the domestic bank account designated in your Account
Application. The following general policies govern wiring
redemption proceeds:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business
day delay), but may be paid up to three business days following
receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request.
|
|
n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as
permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment
Company Act. Generally, under that section, redemption requests
or payments may be postponed or suspended if (i) the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is
restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the
disposal of securities owned by the Fund or the fair
determination of the value of the Funds net assets not
reasonably practicable; or (iii) the SEC by order permits
the suspension of the right of redemption.
|
|
n
|
If you are selling shares you recently paid for
by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared,
which may take up to 15 days.
|
|
n
|
If the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day
that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring
the redemption proceeds may be delayed one additional business
day.
|
|
|
n
|
To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions (with your
Medallion signature guarantee) to the Transfer Agent.
|
|
|
n
|
Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any
Authorized Dealer assumes any responsibility for the performance
of your bank or any intermediaries in the transfer process. If a
problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly
with your bank or any such intermediaries.
|
|
|
|
|
By Check:
You
may elect to receive your redemption proceeds by check.
Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the
address of record within three business days of a properly
executed redemption request. If you are selling shares you
recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your
check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About The Redemption Fee?
|
|
The Fund will charge a 2% redemption fee on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for 30
calendar days or less. For this purpose, the Fund uses a
first-in first-out (FIFO) method so that shares held
longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held
shortest will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption
fee will be paid to the Fund, and is intended to offset the
trading costs, market impact and other costs associated with
short-term money
|
37
|
|
|
movements in and out of the Fund. The redemption
fee may be collected by deduction from the redemption proceeds
or, if assessed after the redemption transaction, through a
separate billing.
|
|
|
The redemption fee does not apply to transactions
involving the following:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares acquired by reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares that are acquired or
redeemed in connection with the participation in a systematic
withdrawal program or automatic investment plan.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares by other Goldman Sachs
Funds (
e.g.
, Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios).
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares held through discretionary
wrap programs or models programs that utilize a regularly
scheduled automatic rebalancing of assets and that have provided
GSAM with certain representations regarding certain operating
policies and standards.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares involving transactions
other than participant initiated exchanges from retirement plans
and accounts maintained pursuant to Section 401
(tax-qualified pension, profit sharing, 401(k), money purchase
and stock bonus plans), 403 (qualified annuity plans and
tax-sheltered annuities) and 457 (deferred compensation plans
for employees of tax-exempt entities or governments) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Redemptions involving
transactions other than participant initiated exchanges would
include, for example: loans; required minimum distributions;
rollovers; forfeiture; redemptions of shares to pay fees; plan
level redemptions or exchanges; redemptions pursuant to
systematic withdrawal programs; return of excess contribution
amounts; hardship withdrawals; redemptions related to death,
disability or qualified domestic relations order; and certain
other transactions.
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares from accounts of financial
institutions in connection with hedging services provided in
support of nonqualified deferred compensation plans offering the
Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
n
|
Redemption of shares where the Fund is made
available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity
contracts.
|
|
n
|
Redemption of shares that are issued as part of
an investment company reorganization to which a Goldman Sachs
Fund is a party.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares representing seed
capital investments by Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.
|
|
|
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to modify or
eliminate the redemption fee or waivers at any time and will
give 60 days prior written notice of any material
changes, unless otherwise provided by law. The redemption fee
policy may be modified or amended in the future.
|
38
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
In addition to the circumstances noted above, the
Trust reserves the right to grant additional exceptions based on
such factors as system limitations, operational limitations,
contractual limitations and further guidance from the SEC or
other regulators.
|
|
|
|
If your shares are held through a financial
intermediary in an omnibus or other group account, the Trust
relies on the financial intermediary to assess the redemption
fee on underlying shareholder accounts. The application of
redemption fees may vary and certain intermediaries may not
apply the exceptions listed above. If you invest through a
financial intermediary, please contact your intermediary for
more information regarding when redemption fees will be applied
to the redemption of your shares.
|
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
|
|
n
|
Institutions (including banks, trust companies,
brokers and investment advisers) are responsible for the timely
transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the
Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of
redemption requests, these institutions may set times by which
they must receive redemption requests. These institutions may
also require additional documentation from you.
|
|
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares if your account balance falls
below the required Fund minimum as a result of a redemption. The
Fund will not redeem your shares on this basis if the value of
your account falls below the minimum account balance solely as a
result of market conditions. The Fund will give you
60 days prior written notice to allow you to purchase
sufficient additional shares of the Fund in order to avoid such
redemption.
|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized
Dealers relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and
you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Dealer.
The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an
investors account or tax liability resulting from the
redemption.
|
|
|
n
|
Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interests of the Trust.
|
|
n
|
Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
39
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to the Fund as
undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. This provision
may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts or to
a closed account. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal
program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No
interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed
distribution or redemption checks.
|
|
|
|
n
|
Charge an additional fee in the event a
redemption is made via wire transfer.
|
|
|
|
|
Can I
Reinvest Redemption Proceeds In The Same Or Another Goldman
Sachs Fund?
|
|
You may redeem shares of the Fund and reinvest a
portion or all of the redemption proceeds (plus any additional
amounts needed to round off purchases to the nearest full share)
at NAV. To be eligible for this privilege, you must have held
the shares you want to redeem for at least 30 days and you
must reinvest the share proceeds within 90 days after you
redeem. You may reinvest as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Class A or B SharesClass A Shares
of the Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund
|
|
n
|
Class C SharesClass C Shares of
the Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and read the applicable
prospectuses before investing in any other Funds.
|
|
|
n
|
If you pay a CDSC upon redemption of Class A
or Class C Shares and then reinvest in Class A or
Class C Shares as described above, your account will be
credited with the amount of the CDSC you paid. The reinvested
shares will, however, continue to be subject to a CDSC. The
holding period of the shares acquired through reinvestment will
include the holding period of the redeemed shares for purposes
of computing the CDSC payable upon a subsequent redemption. For
Class B Shares, you may reinvest the redemption proceeds in
Class A Shares at NAV but the amount of the CDSC paid upon
redemption of the Class B Shares will not be credited to your
account.
|
|
n
|
The reinvestment privilege may be exercised at
any time in connection with transactions in which the proceeds
are reinvested at NAV in a tax-sheltered Employee Benefit Plan.
In other cases, the reinvestment privilege may be exercised once
per year upon receipt of a written request.
|
|
n
|
You may be subject to tax as a result of a
redemption. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the
tax consequences of a redemption and reinvestment.
|
|
|
|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
|
|
You may exchange shares of the Fund at NAV
without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC at the
time of exchange for shares of the same class of another Goldman
Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) of the
Fund that are held for 30 calendar days or less (60 calendar
days or less with respect to the Goldman Sachs High Yield Fund
and High Yield Municipal
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40
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
Fund) may however, be subject to a redemption fee
as described above under What Do I Need To Know About The
Redemption Fee? The exchange privilege may be
materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon
60 days written notice to you.
|
|
|
|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Account
number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount you want to exchange
|
|
|
n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
219711
Kansas City, MO 64121-9711
|
|
|
or for overnight
delivery -
Goldman Sachs
Funds
330 West 9th
St.
Poindexter Bldg., 1st
Floor
Kansas City, MO 64105
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have not declined
the telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-526-7384
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
|
|
You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund you are acquiring before
making an exchange.
|
|
n
|
Currently, there is no charge for exchanges,
although the Fund may impose a charge in the future.
|
|
|
n
|
The exchanged shares may later be exchanged for
shares of the same class of the original Fund at the next
determined NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge
or CDSC (but subject to any applicable redemption fee) if the
amount in the Fund resulting from such exchanges is less than
the largest amount on which you have previously paid the
applicable sales charge.
|
|
|
n
|
When you exchange shares subject to a CDSC, no
CDSC will be charged at that time. The exchanged shares will be
subject to the CDSC of the shares originally held. For purposes
of determining the amount of the applicable CDSC, the length of
time you have owned the shares will be measured from the date
you acquired the original shares subject to a CDSC and will not
be affected by a subsequent exchange.
|
41
|
|
|
|
n
|
Eligible investors may exchange certain classes
of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For
further information, call Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-526-7384
and see the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
n
|
All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment
requirement of that Fund. Exchanges into a money market fund
need not meet the traditional minimum investment requirements
for that fund if the entire balance of the original Fund account
is exchanged.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
|
|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs and BFDS may use reasonable
procedures described under What Do I Need to Know About
Telephone Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent
unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
|
|
n
|
Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into the Fund from another Goldman
Sachs Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the
other Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
|
|
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax
consequences of an exchange.
|
|
|
|
Can I
Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular
Basis?
|
|
|
You may be able to make systematic investments
through your bank via ACH transfer or via bank draft each month.
The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the
initial investment and $50 per month. Forms for this option are
available from Goldman Sachs and your Authorized Dealer, or you
may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
|
|
42
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
Can My
Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other
Funds?
|
|
|
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and
capital gain distributions paid by the Fund in shares of the
same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares will be purchased at NAV.
|
|
|
|
n
|
You may elect cross-reinvestment into an
identically registered account or a similarly registered account
provided that at least one name on the account is registered
identically.
|
|
|
|
|
Can I
Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular
Basis?
|
|
|
You may elect to exchange automatically a
specified dollar amount of shares of the Fund for shares of the
same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares will be purchased at NAV if a sales charge
had been imposed on the initial purchase.
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this
program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from
the Fund into which the exchange is made depending upon the date
and value of your original purchase.
|
|
|
n
|
Automatic exchanges are made monthly on the 15th
day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
|
|
n
|
Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
|
|
|
|
What
Else Should I Know About Cross-Reinvestments And Automatic
Exchanges?
|
|
Cross-reinvestments and automatic exchanges are
subject to the following conditions:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You must invest an amount in the Fund into which
cross-reinvestments or automatic exchanges are being made that
is equal to that Funds minimum initial investment.
|
|
n
|
You should obtain and read the prospectus of the
Fund into which dividends are invested or automatic exchanges
are made.
|
|
|
|
Can I
Have Automatic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
|
|
|
You may redeem from your account systematically
via check or ACH transfer in any amount of $50 or more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
It is normally undesirable to maintain a
systematic withdrawal plan at the same time that you are
purchasing additional Class A, Class B or Class C
Shares because of the sales charge imposed on your purchases of
Class A Shares or the imposition of a CDSC on your
redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C Shares.
|
|
|
n
|
Checks are normally mailed the next business day
after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the
15th or the 25th of the month.
|
|
|
n
|
Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and
therefore a taxable transaction.
|
43
|
|
|
|
n
|
The CDSC applicable to Class A, Class B
or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal
plan may be waived.
|
|
|
|
What
Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My
Investment?
|
|
You will be provided with a printed confirmation
of each transaction in your account and quarterly account
statement. A year-to-date statement for your account will be
provided upon request made to Goldman Sachs. If your account is
held in a street name you may receive your
statements and confirmations on a different schedule.
|
|
|
You will also receive an annual shareholder
report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual
shareholder report. If you have consented to the delivery of a
single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other
information to all shareholders who share the same mailing
address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any
time by contacting Goldman Sachs Funds by phone at
1-800-526-7384 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box
219711, Kansas City, MO 64121. The Fund will begin sending
individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of
your revocation.
|
|
|
The Fund does not generally provide
sub-accounting services.
|
|
|
What
Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized
Dealer?
|
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial
intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their
clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition,
Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries will be
responsible for providing to you any communication, from the
Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to,
prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding
the source of dividend payments pursuant to Section 19 of
the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not
described in this Prospectus to their customers for such
services.
|
|
|
If shares of the Fund are held in a street
name account with an Authorized Dealer, all recordkeeping,
transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to
your account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not
by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no
record of your transactions, you should contact the Authorized
Dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes
in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain
information about your account. The transfer of shares in a
street name account to an account with another
dealer or to an account directly with the Fund involves special
procedures and will require you to obtain historical purchase
information about the shares in the account from the Authorized
Dealer. If your Authorized Dealers relationship with
Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your
account to another Authorized Dealer, the Trust reserves the
right
|
44
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be
responsible for any loss in an investors account resulting
from a redemption.
|
|
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial
intermediaries may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the
Trust, purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on
behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Trust, to
designate other intermediaries to accept such orders. In these
cases:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
The Fund will be deemed to have received an order
that is in proper form when the order is accepted by an
Authorized Dealer or intermediary on a business day, and the
order will be priced at the Funds NAV per share (adjusted
for any applicable sales charge and redemption fee) next
determined after such acceptance.
|
|
n
|
Authorized Dealers and intermediaries are
responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within
the time period agreed upon by them.
|
|
|
|
You should contact your Authorized Dealer or
intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders
for the Trust.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to Authorized Dealers and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These payments
are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Fund. The payments are in
addition to the distribution and service fees and sales charges
described in this Prospectus. Such payments are intended to
compensate Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing
shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may
consist of payments relating to Funds included on preferred or
recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to
time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these
services by the Fund. The amount of these additional payments is
normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the
amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please refer
to the Payments to Intermediaries section of the
Additional Statement for more information about these payments.
|
45
|
|
|
The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend the Fund based,
at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your Authorized Dealer or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
|
DISTRIBUTION
SERVICES AND FEES
|
|
|
|
What
Are The Different Distribution And Service Fees Paid By
Class A, B and C Shares?
|
|
The Trust has adopted distribution and service
plans (each a Plan) under which Class A,
Class B and Class C Shares bear distribution and
service fees paid to Authorized Dealers and Goldman Sachs. If
the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed
its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these
arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution and
service fees on a quarterly basis.
|
|
|
Under the Plans, Goldman Sachs is entitled to a
monthly fee from the Fund for distribution services equal, on an
annual basis, to 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.75%, respectively, of the
Funds average daily net assets attributed to Class A,
Class B and Class C Shares. Because these fees are
paid out of the Funds assets on an ongoing basis, over
time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and
may cost you more than paying other types of such charges.
|
|
|
The distribution fees are subject to the
requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
Act, and may be used (among other things) for:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Compensation paid to and expenses incurred by
Authorized Dealers, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers,
employees and sales representatives;
|
|
n
|
Commissions paid to Authorized Dealers;
|
|
n
|
Allocable overhead;
|
|
n
|
Telephone and travel expenses;
|
|
n
|
Interest and other costs associated with the
financing of such compensation and expenses;
|
|
n
|
Printing of prospectuses for prospective
shareholders;
|
|
n
|
Preparation and distribution of sales literature
or advertising of any type; and
|
|
n
|
All other expenses incurred in connection with
activities primarily intended to result in the sale of
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.
|
46
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
In connection with the sale of Class C
Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.75%
distribution fee as an ongoing commission to Authorized Dealers
after the shares have been held for one year.
|
PERSONAL ACCOUNT
MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES
|
|
|
|
Under the Plans, Goldman Sachs is also entitled
to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of
the Funds average daily net assets attributed to
Class B or Class C Shares. This fee is for personal
and account maintenance services, and may be used to make
payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Dealers and their
officers, sales representatives and employees for responding to
inquiries of, and furnishing assistance to, shareholders
regarding ownership of their shares or their accounts or similar
services not otherwise provided on behalf of the Fund. If the
fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its
expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this
arrangement.
|
|
|
In connection with the sale of Class C
Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing
service fee to Authorized Dealers after the shares have been
held for one year.
|
RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES
|
|
|
|
Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
and does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practices of the Fund. Excessive,
short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt
portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of excessive trading or if an
investors trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or
Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. In
making this judgment, trades executed in multiple accounts under
common ownership or control may be considered together to the
extent they can be identified. No waivers of the provisions of
the policy established to detect and deter market timing and
other excessive trading activity are permitted that would
|
47
|
|
|
harm the Trust or its shareholders or would
subordinate the interests of the Trust or its shareholders to
those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated
person of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
|
To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund,
certain other International Equity Funds and certain Fixed
Income Funds (which are offered in separate prospectuses) impose
a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 calendar days of
purchase (60 calendar days of purchase with respect to Goldman
Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield Municipal Fund) subject to
certain exceptions. See Shareholder Guide How
to Sell Shares What Do I Need to Know About the
Redemption Fee? for more information about the redemption
fee, including transactions and certain omnibus accounts to
which the redemption fee does not apply. As a deterrent to
excessive trading, many foreign equity securities held by the
Fund are priced by an independent pricing service using fair
valuation. For more information on fair valuation, please see
Shareholder Guide How to Buy
Shares How are Shares Priced?
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that
it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive.
Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available
information relating to the trading activity in the Fund in
order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target
of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading
surveillance process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis,
examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or
numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the
standards described above, if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs
detects excessive, short term trading, Goldman Sachs may reject
or restrict a purchase or exchange request and may further seek
to close an investors account with the Fund. Goldman Sachs
may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to
time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive
trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will
apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs
judgment, will be uniform.
|
|
|
|
|
Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are
netted against one another. The identity of individual investors
whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are not
known by the Fund. A number of these financial intermediaries
may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the
Funds market
|
|
48
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
timing policies or any applicable redemption fee.
While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus
account level, the Funds ability to monitor and detect
market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption
fee in these omnibus accounts is limited. The netting effect
makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate market
timing activities. In addition, those investors who engage in
market timing and other excessive trading activities may employ
a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can be no
assurance that the Fund and Goldman Sachs will be able to
identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market
timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance.
|
49
|
|
|
Taxation
|
|
|
As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Fund.
|
|
|
Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
|
|
|
|
The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each
year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Fund are generally subject to
federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
|
|
Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of the Funds
distributions that qualify for this favorable tax treatment may
be reduced as a result of the Funds securities lending
activities, by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments
in debt securities or non-qualified foreign
corporations. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate
shareholder must own Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend rate.
|
|
|
A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
|
50
TAXATION
|
|
|
Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. It is not anticipated that any
significant percentage of the Funds dividends paid to
corporate shareholders will be eligible for the corporate
dividends-received deduction. Character and tax status of all
distributions will be available to shareholders after the close
of each calendar year.
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The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or
other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. The Fund may make an election to treat a
proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a
distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either
(i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against
U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or
(ii) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.
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If you buy shares of the Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
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Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the
loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the
shares acquired.
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51
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When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, the Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do not
provide your correct taxpayer identification number, or certify
that it is correct, or if the IRS instructs the Fund to do so.
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Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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52
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Fund will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that the Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Fund
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities, the Fund will also be subject to the
risks associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks
include interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk.
In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when
interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income
securities tends to increase (although many mortgage-related
securities will have less potential than other debt securities
for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates).
Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of
fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves
the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its
obligations, and the Fund will not recover its investment. Call
risk and extension risk are normally present in mortgage-backed
securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners
have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the
duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either
shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if
interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the
interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate
of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on
existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment
would be expected to decrease. In either case, a change in the
prepayment rate can result in losses to
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53
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investors. The same would be true of asset-backed
securities such as securities backed by car loans.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for the Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100%
or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Fund Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that all
investment objectives and all investment policies not
specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental, and
may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in the Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
and Mid-Capitalization Companies.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, invest in small and
mid-capitalization companies. Investments in small and
mid-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio
price volatility than investments in larger capitalization
stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of
these investments are the less certain growth prospects of
smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets
for such securities. Small and mid-capitalization companies may
be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from
current market prices or in small lots over an extended period
of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities in particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or
adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of
the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the
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54
APPENDIX A
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Fund may incur losses because it will be required
to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a
substantial drop in price. Small and mid-capitalization
companies include unseasoned issuers that do not
have an established financial history; often have limited
product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or
use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible
to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Small and mid-capitalization
companies may be operating at a loss or have significant
variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly
changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of
obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to
support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain
their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings
or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition,
these companies may face intense competition, including
competition from companies with greater financial resources,
more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other
capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and
technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are
often higher than those of larger capitalization companies.
Investments in small and mid-capitalization companies may be
more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities
because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Fund may make foreign
investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are
not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted
securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected
by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or
restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in
exchange control regulations (
e.g.
, currency blockage). A
decline in the exchange rate of the currency (
i.e.
,
weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a
portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S.
dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In
addition, if the currency in which the Fund receives dividends,
interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S.
dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to
shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to
sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such
dividends.
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Brokerage commissions, custodial services and
other costs relating to investment in international securities
markets generally are more expensive than in the United States.
In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be
different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such
procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct
such transactions.
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There
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may be less publicly available information about
a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is
generally less government regulation of foreign markets,
companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and
the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the
remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities
markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities
markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid
and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic
issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries,
there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes
on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital
gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or
other assets from such countries, and risks of political or
social instability or diplomatic developments which could
adversely affect investments in those countries.
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Concentration of the Funds assets in one or
a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater
risks than if a Funds assets were not geographically
concentrated.
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Investment in sovereign debt obligations by the
Fund involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate
issuers. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities
that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or
unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance
with the terms of such debt, and the Fund may have limited
recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. Periods of
economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market
prices of sovereign debt, and in turn the Funds NAV, to a
greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations
of U.S. issuers.
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A sovereign debtors willingness or ability
to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be
affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the
extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of
sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the
relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a
whole, the sovereign debtors policy toward international
lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign
debtor may be subject.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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56
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Euro.
On January 1, 1999, the
European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new
single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the
national currencies of the following member countries: Austria,
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. In
addition, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovakia became members of the EMU
on May 1, 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania became members of
the EMU on January 1, 2007, but these countries will not
adopt the euro as their new currency until they can show that
their economies have converged with the economies of the euro
zone.
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The European Central Bank has control over each
countrys monetary policies. Therefore, the member
countries no longer control their own monetary policies by
directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The
national governments of the participating countries, however,
have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and
public debt levels.
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The change to the euro as a single currency is
relatively new and untested. The elimination of currency risk
among EMU countries has affected the economic environment and
behavior of investors, particularly in European markets, but the
long-term impact of those changes on currency values or on the
business or financial condition of European countries and
issuers cannot be fully assessed at this time. In addition, the
introduction of the euro presents other unique uncertainties,
including the fluctuation of the euro relative to non-euro
currencies; whether the interest rate, tax and labor regimes of
European countries participating in the euro will converge over
time; and whether the conversion of the currencies of other
countries that now are or may in the future become members of
the European Union (EU) will have an impact on the
euro. Also, it is possible that the euro could be abandoned in
the future by countries that have already adopted its use. In
May and June 2005, voters in France and the Netherlands rejected
ratification of the EU Constitution causing some other countries
to postpone moves toward ratification. These or other events,
including political and economic developments, could cause
market disruptions, and could adversely affect the value of
securities held by the Fund. Because of the number of countries
using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets
held by the Fund may be denominated in the euro.
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Risks of Emerging Countries.
The Fund may invest in securities
of issuers located in emerging countries. The risks of foreign
investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an
emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in
the Asia and Pacific regions, Eastern Europe, Latin and South
America and Africa. The Funds purchase and sale of
portfolio securities in certain emerging
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57
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countries may be constrained by limitations
relating to daily changes in the prices of listed securities,
periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on
aggregate holdings of foreign investors. Such limitations may be
computed based on the aggregate trading volume by or holdings of
the Fund, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their
respective clients and other service providers. The Fund may not
be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading
or settlement volume limitations have been reached.
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Foreign investment in the securities markets of
certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to
varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or
increase the administrative costs of such investments. For
example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval
prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by
foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an
issuers outstanding securities or a specific class of
securities which may have less advantageous terms (including
price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by
nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or
prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries
deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may
affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that
may be purchased by the Fund. The repatriation of both
investment income and capital from certain emerging countries is
subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental
consents. In situations where a country restricts direct
investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and
other countries), the Fund may invest in such countries through
other investment funds in such countries.
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Many emerging countries have experienced currency
devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely
high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have
experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a
negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such
emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally
are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international
trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be
affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners,
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in
relative currency values and other protectionist measures
imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
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Many emerging countries are subject to a
substantial degree of economic, political and social
instability. Governments of some emerging countries are
authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a
result of military coups, while governments in other emerging
countries have periodically used force to suppress civil
dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of
democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection,
among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence
and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated
political or social developments may result in sudden and
significant investment
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58
APPENDIX A
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losses. Investing in emerging countries involves
greater risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization,
confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of
restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of
capital invested. As an example, in the past some Eastern
European governments have expropriated substantial amounts of
private property, and many claims of the property owners have
never been fully settled. There is no assurance that similar
expropriations will not recur in Eastern European or other
countries.
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The Funds investment in emerging countries
may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be
significant and may reduce the return from an investment in such
countries to the Fund.
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Settlement procedures in emerging countries are
frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United
States and may involve the Funds delivery of securities
before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition,
significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering
the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems
may make it more difficult for the Fund to value its portfolio
securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive
investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets
uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a
counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the
Funds inability to complete its contractual obligations
because of theft or other reasons.
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The creditworthiness of the local securities
firms used by the Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound
as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed
countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater
risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of
its responsibilities.
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The small size and inexperience of the securities
markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of
trading in securities in those countries may make the
Funds investments in such countries less liquid and more
volatile than investments in countries with more developed
securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most
Western European countries). The Funds investments in
emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of
a particular investment, or investments generally, in such
countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning
as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions
or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate.
Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the Fund may
incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a
disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in
price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult
to price precisely because of the characteristics discussed
above and lower trading volumes.
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59
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The Funds use of foreign currency
management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The
Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the
Funds currency exposure in emerging countries may not be
covered by these techniques.
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Risk of Equity Swap Transactions.
Equity swaps are two party
contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In
a standard swap transaction, the parties agree to
pay or exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of
return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset
(or group of assets) which may be adjusted for transaction
costs, interest payments, dividends paid on the reference asset
or other factors. The gross returns to be paid or
swapped between the parties are generally calculated
with respect to a notional amount, for example, the
increase or decrease in value of a particular dollar amount
invested in the asset.
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Equity swaps may be structured in different ways.
For example, when the Fund takes a long position, a counterparty
may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the
notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value
had it been invested in a particular stock (or group of stocks),
plus the dividends that would have been received on the stock.
In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty
interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the
amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have
decreased in value had it been invested in such stock.
Therefore, in this case the return to the Fund on the equity
swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus
dividends on the stock less the interest paid by the Fund on the
notional amount. In other cases, when the Fund takes a short
position, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount,
if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would
have decreased in value had the Fund sold a particular stock (or
group of stocks) short, less the dividend expense that the Fund
would have paid on the stock, as adjusted for interest payments
or other economic factors.
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Under an equity swap, payments may be made at the
conclusion of the equity swap or periodically during its term.
Sometimes, however, the Investment Adviser may be able to
terminate a swap contract prior to its term, subject to any
potential termination fee that is in addition to the Funds
accrued obligations under the swap. Equity swaps will be made in
the over-the-counter market and will be entered into with a
counterparty that typically will be an investment banking firm,
broker-dealer or bank.
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Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can
be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser does
not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the
values of assets or economic factors, the Fund may suffer a
loss, which may be substantial.
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60
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
The Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, interest
rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and foreign
currency transactions involve additional risk of loss. Loss can
result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value
of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any)
being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the markets for
derivative instruments, the failure of the counterparty to
perform its contractual obligations, or the risks arising from
margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with
such transactions. The use of these management techniques also
involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect
in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices,
interest rates, or currency prices or credit events. The Fund
may also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging
purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return). Investing
for non-hedging purposes is considered a speculative
practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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n
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
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n
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Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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n
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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n
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Certain over-the-counter options
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n
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Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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n
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued
by the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and
sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and
foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these
fixed-income securities are described in the next section below.
Further information is provided in the Additional Statement.
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61
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Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard
& Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO are considered investment
grade. Securities rated BBB or Baa are considered
medium-grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken
their issuers capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. A security will be deemed to have met a rating
requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at
least one such rating organization even though it has been rated
below the minimum rating by one or more other rating
organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the
security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of
comparable credit quality. A security satisfies a Funds
minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking
(for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating
category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies the
Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase
and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will
not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade
occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action,
including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of
the Fund and its shareholders.
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The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities
rated BB or Ba or below (or comparable unrated securities) which
are commonly referred to as junk bonds. Junk bonds
are considered predominantly speculative and may be questionable
as to principal and interest payments.
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In some cases, junk bonds may be highly
speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade
standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such
bonds will present greater speculative risks than those
associated with investment in investment grade bonds. Also, to
the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the
Funds portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization,
the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely
affected.
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Risks of Initial Public Offerings.
The Fund may invest in IPOs. An
IPO is a companys first offering of stock to the public.
IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will
fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a
prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of
shares available for trading and limited information about the
issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction
costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk.
When the Funds asset base is small, a significant portion
of the Funds performance could be attributable to
investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a
magnified impact on the Fund. As the Funds assets grow,
the effect of the Funds investments in IPOs on the
Funds performance probably will decline, which could
reduce the Funds performance. Because of the
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62
APPENDIX A
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price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may
choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This
may increase the turnover of the Funds portfolio and may
lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and
transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize
taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.
In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or
inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance
that the Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO
shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in
some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell
significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on
prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by
substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of
additional shares and by concentration of control in existing
management and principal shareholders.
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Temporary Investment Risks.
The Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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n
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U.S. government securities
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n
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Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
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n
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Certificates of deposit
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n
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Bankers acceptances
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n
|
Repurchase agreements
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n
|
Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
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When the Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
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This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
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The Fund may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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Convertible Securities.
The Fund may invest in convertible
securities. Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt
obligations that are convertible into common stock. Convertible
securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields
than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible
securities in which the Fund invests are subject to the same
rating criteria as its other investments in fixed-income
securities. Convertible securities have both equity and
fixed-income risk
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63
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characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. The Fund may engage in foreign currency
transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against
anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
In addition, the Fund may enter into foreign currency
transactions to seek a closer correlation between the
Funds overall currency exposures and the currency
exposures of the Funds performance benchmark. The Fund may
also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total
return, which is considered a speculative practice.
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The Fund may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. The Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into
U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, the Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are
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64
APPENDIX A
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not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a
default on a contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized
profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge
or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale
commitments, if any, at the current market price.
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Structured Securities.
The Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many
types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and
more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
The
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage
loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of
the REITs managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow
dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the
REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable
income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally
associated with investments in real estate including possible
declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic
conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest
rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are
concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain
other respects, these risks may be heightened. The Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses,
including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. The Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. The Fund may also,
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65
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to the extent consistent with its investment
policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on
foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in the Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Fund may be traded on either U.S. or foreign exchanges or
over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will
present greater possibility of loss because of their greater
illiquidity and credit risks.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based on particular
securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other
financial instruments and indices. The Fund may engage in
futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.
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The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts,
and purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge
against changes in interest rates, securities prices or, to the
extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange
rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector
selection and duration in accordance with its investment
objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into closing
purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts
and options. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has claimed an
exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore
is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator
under that Act with respect to the Fund.
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66
APPENDIX A
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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n
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While the Fund may benefit from the use of
futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in
interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may
result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not
entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
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n
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Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to additional risk
of loss.
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n
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The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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n
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Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of the Funds NAV.
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n
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As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the
Fund.
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n
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Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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n
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Foreign exchanges may not provide the same
protection as U.S. exchanges.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
the Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to the full
notional value of the futures contracts while the positions are
open. With respect to futures contracts that do cash settle,
however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an
amount equal to the Funds daily marked-to-market net
obligations (
i.e.
the Funds daily net
liability) under the futures contracts, if any, rather than
their full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify
its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any
changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the
SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation. By setting aside
assets equal to only its net obligations under cash-settled
futures contracts, the Fund will have the ability to employ
leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to
segregate assets equal to the full notional amount of the
futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
The Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
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67
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An equity swap may be used by the Fund to invest
in a market without owning or taking physical custody of
securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be
restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical
or disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, the
Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of
some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a
common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest
rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the
counterparty defaults. Because equity swaps are normally
illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations
when desired.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
The Fund may purchase
when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase or sell
securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary
settlement time. When-issued securities are securities that have
been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued securities are
purchased in order to secure what is considered to be an
advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of entering
into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the entering
into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price
at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although the Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities
for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued
securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the
Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.
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Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The
Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with securities
dealers and banks which furnish collateral at least equal in
value or market price to the amount of their repurchase
obligation.
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If the other party or seller
defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund could suffer additional
losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in
the collateral is not enforceable.
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68
APPENDIX A
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The Fund, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities.
The Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by the Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund will be responsible
for any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
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The Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery
of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which
it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its
agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
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Short Sales Against-the-Box.
The Fund may make short sales
against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all
times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal
amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for, without payment of any further
consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same
issuer as the securities sold short.
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Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
The Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend
and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated
by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an
event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the
preferred stock.
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69
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Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
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Other Investment Companies.
The Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, the Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
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Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
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n
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Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Fund may,
consistent with its investment policies, purchase Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs). SPDRs
are securities traded on an exchange that represent ownership in
the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established to accumulate
and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track
the price performance and dividend yield of the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading,
or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may
not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P
500
®
.
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n
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iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI
indices for various countries and regions. iShares are listed on
an exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996.
The market prices of iShares are expected to fluctuate in
accordance with both changes in the NAVs of their underlying
indices and supply and demand of iShares on an exchange.
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70
APPENDIX A
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However, iShares have a limited operating history
and information is lacking regarding the actual performance and
trading liquidity of iShares for extended periods or over
complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that
the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the
listing of iShares will continue to be met or will remain
unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions
affecting iShares occur in the future, the liquidity and value
of the Funds shares could also be substantially and
adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, the Fund
could be required to reconsider the use of iShares as part of
its investment strategy.
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Unseasoned Companies.
The Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
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Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. The Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
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Bank Obligations.
The Fund may invest in obligations
issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations,
including without limitation, time deposits, bankers
acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general
obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing
branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government
regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different
governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and
types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be
charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry
is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for
the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing
money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as
exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial
difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the
operation of this industry.
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U.S. Government Securities.
The Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(i) the full faith and
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71
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credit of the U.S. Treasury; (ii) the right
of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (iii) the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase
certain obligations of the issuer; or (iv) only the credit
of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury
receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government
Securities, where the interest and principal components of
stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently.
U.S. Government Securities may also include Treasury
inflation-protected securities whose principal value is
periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation.
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Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
The Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which the Fund may invest. The custodial
receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of
a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap
or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes the Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, the Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. The
Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial
receipts and trust certificates.
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Mortgage-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent
direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by
and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property.
Mortgage-backed securities can be backed by either fixed rate
mortgage loans or adjustable rate mortgage loans, and may be
issued by either a governmental or non-governmental entity.
Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are normally
structured with one or more types of credit
enhancement. However, these mortgage-backed securities
typically do not have the same credit standing as U.S.
government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
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Mortgage-backed securities may include multiple
class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations
(CMOs) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
(REMIC) pass-through or participation certificates.
A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment and
invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in
real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an
investor with a specified interest in the cash flow from a pool
of
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72
APPENDIX A
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underlying mortgages or of other mortgage-backed
securities. CMOs are issued in multiple classes each with a
specified fixed or floating interest rate and a final scheduled
distribution rate. In many cases, payments of principal are
applied to the CMO classes in the order of their respective
stated maturities, so that no principal payments will be made on
a CMO class until all other classes having an earlier stated
maturity date are paid in full.
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Sometimes, however, CMO classes are
parallel pay,
i.e.
, payments of principal are
made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs
may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed
security whose price can be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit
more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other
types of mortgage-related obligations, and under certain
interest rate and payment scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup
fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless
of their credit quality.
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Mortgaged-backed securities also include stripped
mortgage-backed securities (SMBS), which are
derivative multiple class mortgage-backed securities. SMBS are
usually structured with two different classes: one that receives
substantially all of the interest payments and the other that
receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool
of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely
of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in
response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that
receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are
generally higher than prevailing market yields on other
mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are
more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial
investment will not be fully recouped.
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Asset-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by
pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables,
leases, installment contracts and personal property.
Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid
repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a
result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the
underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates,
prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be
expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Funds ability to
maintain positions in such securities will be affected by
reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting
from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of
principal at comparable yields is subject to generally
prevailing interest rates at that time. Asset-backed securities
present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed
securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do
not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that
is comparable to mortgage assets. If the issuer of an
asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there
is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable
to
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73
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|
|
possess and sell the underlying collateral and
that the Funds recoveries on repossessed collateral may
not be available to support payments on the securities. In the
event of a default, the Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell
collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed.
|
|
|
Borrowings.
The Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
|
74
|
|
|
Appendix B
Predecessor Fund
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
The financial highlights table is intended to
help you understand the Funds financial performance for
the past five years. Certain information reflects financial
results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions).
|
|
|
|
The financial highlights information for the Fund
is based on the financial history of the Class A, B and C
Shares of the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of
AXA Enterprise Funds Trust (the Predecessor
Fund). The information for the Predecessor Fund has been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with
the Predecessor Funds financial statements are included in
their annual report and is available upon request.
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
15.24
|
|
|
$
|
12.86
|
|
|
$
|
13.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.30
|
|
|
$
|
12.82
|
|
|
$
|
18.35
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
3.77
|
|
|
|
2.36
|
|
|
|
(0.54
|
)
|
|
|
3.04
|
|
|
|
(2.58
|
)
|
|
|
(5.49
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
3.76
|
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
(0.53
|
)
|
|
|
3.05
|
|
|
|
(2.54
|
)
|
|
|
(5.56
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and
distributions
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
18.93
|
|
|
$
|
15.24
|
|
|
$
|
12.86
|
|
|
$
|
13.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.30
|
|
|
$
|
12.82
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b,
|
|
|
24.79
|
%
|
|
|
18.59
|
%
|
|
|
(3.96
|
)%
|
|
|
30.00
|
%
|
|
|
(19.66
|
)%
|
|
|
(30.14
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
87,839
|
|
|
$
|
35,599
|
|
|
$
|
32,757
|
|
|
$
|
30,444
|
|
|
$
|
23,226
|
|
|
$
|
34,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.96
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
d
|
|
|
1.74
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.88
|
%
|
|
|
1.95
|
%
|
|
|
2.10
|
%
|
|
|
1.96
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
|
|
0.14
|
%
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
|
|
|
0.06
|
%
|
|
|
0.35
|
%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)%
|
|
|
0.02
|
%
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.10
|
%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
136
|
%
|
|
|
115
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
182
|
%
|
|
|
99
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 78 for all footnotes.
76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class B
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
14.40
|
|
|
$
|
12.23
|
|
|
$
|
12.78
|
|
|
$
|
9.89
|
|
|
$
|
12.40
|
|
|
$
|
17.89
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.16
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
3.58
|
|
|
|
2.23
|
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)
|
|
|
2.87
|
|
|
|
(2.49
|
)
|
|
|
(5.33
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
3.48
|
|
|
|
2.19
|
|
|
|
(0.55
|
)
|
|
|
2.82
|
|
|
|
(2.51
|
)
|
|
|
(5.49
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and
distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
17.88
|
|
|
$
|
14.40
|
|
|
$
|
12.23
|
|
|
$
|
12.78
|
|
|
$
|
9.89
|
|
|
$
|
12.40
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b,
|
|
|
24.17
|
%
|
|
|
17.91
|
%
|
|
|
(4.30
|
)%
|
|
|
29.22
|
%
|
|
|
(20.24
|
)%
|
|
|
(30.69
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
27,959
|
|
|
$
|
19,327
|
|
|
$
|
18,181
|
|
|
$
|
21,726
|
|
|
$
|
16,905
|
|
|
$
|
21,738
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.53
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.30
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.29
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.74
|
%
|
|
|
2.43
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.50
|
%
|
|
|
2.65
|
%
|
|
|
2.53
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.70
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.49
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.21
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.13
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.56
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.30
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.72
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.75
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.48
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.59
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.13
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
136
|
%
|
|
|
115
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
182
|
%
|
|
|
99
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
See page 78 for all footnotes.
77
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class C
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
14.50
|
|
|
$
|
12.31
|
|
|
$
|
12.88
|
|
|
$
|
9.97
|
|
|
$
|
12.50
|
|
|
$
|
18.04
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
3.59
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
|
|
(0.52
|
)
|
|
|
2.89
|
|
|
|
(2.52
|
)
|
|
|
(5.39
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
3.49
|
|
|
|
2.21
|
|
|
|
(0.57
|
)
|
|
|
2.84
|
|
|
|
(2.54
|
)
|
|
|
(5.54
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and
distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
17.99
|
|
|
$
|
14.50
|
|
|
$
|
12.31
|
|
|
$
|
12.88
|
|
|
$
|
9.97
|
|
|
$
|
12.50
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b,
|
|
|
24.07
|
%
|
|
|
17.96
|
%
|
|
|
(4.43
|
)%
|
|
|
29.19
|
%
|
|
|
(20.24
|
)%
|
|
|
(30.71
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/ Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
37,889
|
|
|
$
|
10,091
|
|
|
$
|
8,796
|
|
|
$
|
8,718
|
|
|
$
|
6,375
|
|
|
$
|
8,512
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.52
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.30
|
%
|
|
|
2.29
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.74
|
%
|
|
|
2.43
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.50
|
%
|
|
|
2.65
|
%
|
|
|
2.52
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
loss to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.68
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.41
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.45
|
)%
d
|
|
|
(0.51
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.19
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.12
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.58
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.30
|
)%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.68
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.75
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.48
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.61
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.44
|
)%
|
|
|
(1.12
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
136
|
%
|
|
|
115
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
182
|
%
|
|
|
99
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year ended
October 31, 2005, these ratios and per share amounts were
not provided.
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is
less than $0.005.
|
|
|
The total returns for
Class A, Class B and Class C do not include sales
charges.
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less
than one year are annualized.
|
b
|
|
Total return for
periods less than one year are not annualized.
|
c
|
|
Net investment income
and capital changes per share are based on daily average shares
outstanding.
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund
ratios adjusted for class specific expenses.
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate
for periods less than one year are not annualized.
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
2 Fund
Investment Objectives and Strategies
|
|
|
2
|
|
Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
4 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
6
Principal Risks of the Fund
|
|
|
|
9 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
10 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
13
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
20
Dividends
|
|
|
|
21
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
21
|
|
How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
34
|
|
How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
50
Taxation
|
|
|
|
53
Appendix A
Additional
Information on
Portfolio Risks,
Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
75
Appendix B
Predecessor
Fund
Financial
Highlights
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity
Fund
Prospectus
(Class A, B and C
Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/Semi-annual
Report
|
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Goldman Sachs Strategic
International Equity Fund had not commenced operations. The
annual report for the fiscal period ending August 31, 2007
will become available to shareholders in October 2007.
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Fund and its
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual report
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-526-7384.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-526-7384
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds,
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database: http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may
also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating
fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to:
publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of the public
reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Prospectus
|
|
|
Institutional
Shares
|
|
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
GOLDMAN SACHS
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS
|
|
|
|
|
n
Goldman
Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
|
|
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOT
FDIC-INSURED
|
|
May Lose
Value
|
|
No Bank
Guarantee
|
|
|
|
|
General Investment
Management Approach
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
(GSAMI) serves as investment adviser to the
Strategic International Equity Fund. GSAMI is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
ACTIVE
INTERNATIONAL STYLE FUND
|
|
|
|
GSAMIs
Active International Investment Philosophy:
|
|
|
|
Belief
|
|
How the Investment Adviser Acts on Belief
|
|
|
n
Equity
markets are inefficient
|
|
Seeks excess return
through team driven, research intensive and bottom-up stock
selection.
|
|
n
Corporate
fundamentals
ultimately drive share price
|
|
Seeks to conduct rigorous,
first-hand research of business and company management.
|
|
n
A
business intrinsic value
will be achieved over
time
|
|
Seeks to realize value
through a long-term investment horizon.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser attempts to
manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio
construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. As a
result, bottom-up stock selection, driven by fundamental
research, should be a main driver of returns.
|
|
|
|
Investments are selected through a
rigorous bottom-up research process. Particular emphasis is
placed on investing in companies that demonstrate long-term
earnings power, which the Investment Adviser defines as the
ability of a company to generate strong, sustainable earnings
and to create value for shareholders over the long term.
Rigorous, formal and informal debate enhances the quality of the
Investment Advisers final investment decisions regarding
these companies.
|
|
|
|
|
References in this Prospectus to the Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.
|
1
|
|
|
Fund Investment Objective
and Strategies
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
FUND FACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Objective:
|
|
Long-term growth of capital
|
|
|
|
|
Benchmark:
|
|
MSCI
®
EAFE
®
Index (unhedged)
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Focus:
|
|
Equity investments in
companies organized outside the United States or whose
securities are principally traded outside the United States
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
Style:
|
|
Active International
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective by investing in the stocks of leading
companies within developed and emerging countries around the
world, outside the U.S.
|
PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
|
|
|
Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, substantially all, and at least 80%
of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes
(measured at time of purchase) (Net Assets) in a
diversified portfolio of equity investments in companies that
are organized outside the United States or whose securities are
principally traded outside the United States. The Fund intends
to invest in companies with public stock market capitalizations
that are larger than $500 million at the time of investment.
|
|
|
|
The Fund may allocate its assets among countries
as determined by the Investment Adviser provided that the
Funds assets are invested in at least three foreign
countries.
|
|
|
|
The Fund expects to invest a substantial portion
of its assets in the securities of issuers located in the
developed countries of Western Europe and in Japan. From time to
time, the Funds investments in a particular developed
country may exceed 25% of its investment portfolio. In addition,
the Fund may also invest in the securities of issuers located in
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in emerging
|
|
|
*
|
To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in the Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
|
2
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
AND STRATEGIES
|
|
|
countries. Currently, emerging countries include,
among others, most Latin and South American, African, Asian and
Eastern European nations.
|
|
|
Other.
The
Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Net Assets in fixed-income
securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt
obligations.
|
3
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Numbers in
this table show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult
the Funds annual/semi-annual reports (when available). For
more information about these and other investment practices and
securities, see Appendix A. The Fund publishes on its
website (http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio
holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter
subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
In addition, the Fund publishes on its website month-end top ten
holdings subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of
the information and the date on which the information is
disclosed. This information will be available on the website
until the date on which the Fund files its next quarterly
portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q
with the SEC. In addition, a description of the Funds
policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the
Funds portfolio securities is available in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information (Additional
Statement).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral) (
italic type
)
|
|
Strategic
|
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
|
|
International
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
Equity
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Practices
|
Borrowings
|
|
33 1/3
|
Cross Hedging of Currencies
|
|
|
Currency
Swaps
*
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
|
|
|
Equity
Swaps
*
|
|
|
Foreign Currency
Transactions
|
|
|
Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
|
|
|
Investment Company
Securities (including exchange-traded funds)
|
|
10
|
Options on Foreign
Currencies
1
|
|
|
Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
2
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies
|
|
|
Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
Securities Lending
|
|
33 1/3
|
Short Sales Against the Box
|
|
25
|
When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
1
|
|
The Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options.
|
2
|
|
The Fund may sell covered call and put options
and purchase call and put options.
|
4
OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES
AND SECURITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending
|
|
|
collateral) (
italic type
)
|
|
|
10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment
|
|
|
purposes) (roman type)
|
|
Strategic
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
|
|
International
|
limited only by the objectives and strategies
|
|
Equity
|
of the Fund
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment
Securities
|
|
American, European and
Global Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
|
Asset-Backed and
Mortgage-Backed Securities
2
|
|
|
|
Bank
Obligations
1,2
|
|
|
|
Convertible Securities
|
|
|
|
Corporate Debt
Obligations
2
|
|
|
|
Equity Investments
|
|
80+
|
|
Emerging Country Securities
|
|
|
|
Fixed-Income
Securities
3
|
|
20
|
|
Foreign Securities
|
|
|
|
Foreign Government
Securities
2
|
|
|
|
Non-Investment Grade
Fixed-Income Securities
2,4
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Investment
Trusts
|
|
|
|
Structured
Securities
*
|
|
|
|
Temporary Investments
|
|
35
|
|
U.S. Government
Securities
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
|
|
1
|
|
Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
|
2
|
|
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities.
|
3
|
|
Except as noted under Non-Investment
Grade Fixed-Income Securities, fixed-income securities are
investment grade (e.g., BBB or higher by Standard &
Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or have a comparable
rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (NRSRO)).
|
4
|
|
May be BB or lower by Standard &
Poors, Ba or lower by Moodys or have a comparable
rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
|
5
Principal Risks of the Fund
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is
not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Fund and may result
in a loss of your investment. The Fund should not be relied upon
as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that
the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic
|
|
|
International
|
Applicable
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Credit/Default
|
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
|
Emerging Countries
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
|
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
Liquidity
|
|
|
|
Investment Style
|
|
|
|
Geographic
|
|
|
|
Mid Cap and Small Cap
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Credit/Default
Risk
The risk that an issuer
or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
n
|
Foreign
Risk
The risk that when the
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. The
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations. Foreign risks will normally be
greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging
countries.
|
n
|
Emerging Countries
Risk
The securities markets
of Asian, Latin, Central and South American, Eastern European,
Middle Eastern, African and other emerging countries are less
liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have
smaller market capitalizations, have less government regulation
and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting,
financial and other reporting requirements
|
6
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND
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as the securities markets of more developed
countries. Further, investment in equity securities of issuers
located in certain emerging countries involves risk of loss
resulting from problems in share registration and custody and
substantial economic and political disruptions. These risks are
not normally associated with investment in more developed
countries.
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|
n
|
Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
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|
n
|
Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from the Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, options on swaps, structured securities and other
derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so
that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the
Fund.
|
n
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Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the
Fund will decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities
will normally have more price volatility because of this risk
than short-term fixed-income securities.
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n
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Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
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n
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Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. The Funds investments may be overweighted from
time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will
increase the Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse
developments affecting those sectors.
|
n
|
Liquidity
Risk
The risk that the Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. The Fund will be especially subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Fund and other funds for which
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM) or an
affiliate now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its
position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may
impact a Funds net asset value (NAV).
|
n
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Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund
may outperform or underperform other funds that employ a
different
|
7
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investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
|
n
|
Geographic
Risk
Concentration of the
investments in issuers located in a particular country or region
will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments
were less concentrated, to the risks of adverse securities
markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory or
economic events which may occur in that country or region.
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n
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Mid Cap and Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization and mid-capitalization companies involve greater
risks than those associated with larger, more established
companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price
movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market
liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous
time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-cap and
small-cap companies often have narrower markets and more limited
managerial and financial resources than larger, more established
companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile
and they face greater risk of business failure, which could
increase the volatility of the Funds portfolio. Generally,
the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
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|
More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
8
HOW THE FUND HAS
PERFORMED
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The Fund has not commenced operations before the
date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information
is provided in this section. The Fund first began operations as
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise
Funds Trust (the Predecessor Fund). The Predecessor
Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of Goldman Sachs Trust.
Performance of the Predecessor Fund is not shown because as part
of the reorganization the Predecessor Fund changed its
investment adviser to GSAMI.
|
9
Fund Fees and Expenses
(Institutional Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the
Fund.
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Strategic
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International
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Equity Fund
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
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Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
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None
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Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
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None
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Redemption Fees
1
|
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2.0%
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Exchange Fees
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None
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Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
2
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Management Fees
3
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0.85%
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Distribution and Service
(12b-1) Fees
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None
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Other Expenses
4
*
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0.40%
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Total Fund Operating
Expenses*
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1.25%
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See page 11 for all other
footnotes.
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*
|
The Other Expenses and Total
Fund Operating Expenses (after any waivers and expense
limitations) set forth below have been restated to reflect the
current waivers and expense limitations that are expected for
the current fiscal year. The waivers and expense limitations may
be modified or terminated at any time at the option of the
Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
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Strategic
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International
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Equity Fund
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
2
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Management Fees
3
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0.85%
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
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None
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Other Expenses
4
|
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0.20%
|
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Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current
waivers and expense limitations)
|
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1.05%
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|
|
10
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
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1
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|
A 2% redemption fee will be imposed on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for
30 calendar days or less.
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2
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The Funds annual operating expenses have
been estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
3
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The Investment Adviser is entitled to a
management fee from the Fund at an annual rate equal to the
following percentages of the average daily net assets of the
Fund: 0.85% on the first $1 billion, 0.77% on the next
$1 billion, and 0.73% over $2 billion.
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4
|
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Other Expenses include transfer
agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis to 0.04%
of the average daily net assets of the Funds Institutional
Shares plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed above. The
Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limit
Other Expenses (excluding management fees, transfer
agency fees and expenses, dividend expenses on short sales,
taxes, interest, brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification,
shareholder meeting and other extraordinary expenses exclusive
of any expense offset arrangements) to 0.16% of the Funds
average daily net assets. These expense reductions may be
terminated at any time at the option of the Investment
Adviser.
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11
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in the Fund (without the waivers
and expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other
mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in
Institutional Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated
and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.
The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return
each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the
same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based
on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 Year
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3 Years
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5 Years
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10 Years
|
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|
Strategic International
Equity Fund
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|
$
|
127
|
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|
$
|
397
|
|
|
$
|
686
|
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|
$
|
1,511
|
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|
Institutions that invest in Institutional Shares
on behalf of their customers may charge other fees directly to
their customer accounts in connection with their investments.
You should contact your institution for information regarding
such charges. Such fees, if any, may affect the return such
customers realize with respect to their investments.
Certain institutions that invest in Institutional
Shares may receive other compensation in connection with the
sale and distribution of Institutional Shares or for services to
their customers accounts and/or the Fund. For additional
information regarding such compensation, see Shareholder
Guide in the Prospectus and Payments to
Intermediaries in the Additional Statement.
12
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Investment Adviser
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Fund
|
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Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
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Strategic International
Equity
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GSAMI, a member of the Investment Management
Regulatory Organization Limited since 1990 and a registered
investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs
& Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of September 30,
2006, GSAMI had assets under management of $576.4 billion.
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|
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The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
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The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Fund:
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n
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Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
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n
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Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
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n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
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n
|
Maintains the records of the Fund
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n
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Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
13
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As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
monthly, at the annual rates (as a percentage of the Funds
average daily net assets) listed below:
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Management
|
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Fee
|
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Average Daily
|
GSAMI:
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Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
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Strategic International
Equity
|
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0.85
|
%
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First $1 Billion
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0.77
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Next $1 Billion
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0.73
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Over $2 Billion
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The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a
portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
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A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund
will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
14
SERVICE PROVIDERS
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Active
International Portfolio Management Team
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n
|
Global portfolio teams based in London,
Singapore, Tokyo and New York. Local presence is a key to the
Investment Advisers fundamental research capabilities
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n
|
Team manages over $17 billion in
international equities for retail, institutional and high net
worth clients
|
|
|
n
|
Focus on bottom-up stock selection as main driver
of returns, though the team leverages the asset allocation,
currency and risk management capabilities of GSAMI
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
London-Based
Portfolio Management Team
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Years
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Primarily
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Name and Title
|
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Fund Responsibility
|
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Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
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Mark Beveridge, CFA
Managing Director,
Chief Investment Officer, Non-US Active Equity
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|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
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|
Mr. Beveridge
joined the Investment Adviser in December 2004 as Chief
Investment Officer of the Non-US Active Equity business which
encompasses the Global/International, UK/European, Asia
ex Japan and Japan strategies. Prior to joining the
Investment Adviser, he spent 19 years at Franklin
Templeton, where he was Executive Vice President and Senior
Portfolio Manager responsible for
ex-US portfolios.
|
|
William Howard, CFA
Managing Director
Director of Research,
Non-US Active Equity
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Howard joined the
Investment Adviser in January 2005 as a portfolio manager. He is
also Director of Research for Non-US Active Equity. From 1993 to
2004 he was a Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton
responsible for ex-US portfolios.
|
|
Michael Stanes
Executive Director
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|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Stanes joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in November 2002.
From 1986 to 2001, he worked at Mercury Asset Management, where
he managed UK equity portfolios in London, Japanese equity
portfolios in Tokyo and US and global portfolios in the
US.
|
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Mark Beveridge serves as Chief Investment Officer
(CIO) of GSAMs Non-US Active Equity team and
CIO of GSAMIs Global/EAFE strategies. As CIO,
Mr. Beveridge is ultimately responsible for the composition
of a Funds structure at both the stock and industry level.
Along with the other portfolio managers on the
|
15
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|
team, Mr. Beveridge has specific industry
research responsibilities. Each portfolio manager is responsible
for liaising with research analysts around the world, promoting
his or her stock selection ideas to the other members of the
team and after debating their inclusion in the portfolio.
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|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
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|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of the Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago,
Illinois 60606, also serves as the Funds transfer agent
(the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
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|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
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|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financier, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Fund directly and
indirectly invests. Thus, it is likely that the Fund will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any
|
16
SERVICE PROVIDERS
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information regarding their proprietary
activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used
for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the
management of the Fund. The results of the Funds
investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates, and other accounts managed by
Goldman Sachs, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain
losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates
and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading
for proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may,
from time to time, enter into transactions in which Goldman
Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. For
example, the Fund may take a long position in a security at the
same time that Goldman Sachs or other accounts managed by the
Investment Adviser take a short position in the same security
(or vice versa). These and other transactions undertaken by
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients
may adversely impact the Fund. Transactions by one or more
Goldman Sachs advised clients or the Investment Adviser may have
the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values,
prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Funds
activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions
applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their
internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As
a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a
wide range of investment banking and financial services to
issuers of securities and investors in securities. Goldman
Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create
markets or specialize in, have positions in and affect
transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and may
also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial
services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may
have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or
sell services or products from or to, distributors, consultants
and others who recommend the Fund as when acquisitions with or
for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest,
see the Additional Statement.
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|
Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Fund has retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for the Fund to the extent that the Fund engages
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Fund, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In
addition, the Fund may make brokerage and other payments to
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the
Funds portfolio investment transactions.
|
17
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On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York against The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers
of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York.
On June 29, 2004, the three complaints were
consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs
Mutual Funds Fee Litigation,
and on November 17, 2004,
the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint against
GSG, GSAM, GSAMI, Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Trust,
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (GSVIT) the
Trustees and Officers of the Trust and John Doe Defendants
(collectively, the Defendants) in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York. Certain
investment portfolios of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the
Goldman Sachs Funds) were named as nominal
defendants in the amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second
amended consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
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The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of-fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees
and charges; and
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
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reasonable costs and expenses, including counsel
fees and expert fees. On January 13, 2006, all claims
against the Defendants were dismissed by the U.S. District
Court. On February 22, 2006, the plaintiffs appealed this
decision. By agreement, plaintiffs subsequently withdrew their
appeal without prejudice but reserved their right to reactivate
their appeal pending a decision by the circuit court of appeals
on similar litigation.
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|
Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material
adverse financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote,
and the pending action is not likely to materially affect their
ability to provide investment management services to their
clients, including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
19
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|
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Dividends
|
|
|
The Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Cash
|
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
dividends and distributions will be reinvested automatically in
the Fund.
|
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|
The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
|
|
|
The Funds investments in foreign securities
may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. Under certain
circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through these taxes to
you. If this election is made, a proportionate amount of such
taxes will constitute a distribution to you, which would allow
you either (i) to credit such proportionate amount of
foreign taxes against your U.S. federal income tax liability or
(ii) to take such amount as an itemized deduction.
|
|
|
Dividends from investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid
annually by the Fund.
|
|
|
|
From time to time a portion of the Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
|
|
|
|
|
When you purchase shares of the Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
|
|
20
|
|
|
Shareholder
Guide
|
|
|
The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds Institutional Shares.
|
|
|
|
How Can
I Purchase Institutional Shares Of The Fund?
|
|
You may purchase Institutional Shares on any
business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of an
order. No sales load is charged. You should either:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Place an order with Goldman Sachs at
1-800-621-2550 and wire federal funds to The Northern Trust
Company (Northern), as subcustodian for
JPMorganChase Bank, N.A. (JPMorganChase) (the
Funds custodian), on the next business day;
or
|
|
|
|
n
|
Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to
Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares),
P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Fund will not
accept a check drawn on foreign banks, third-party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations, involving
the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
|
|
|
|
|
In order to make an initial investment in the
Fund, you must furnish to the Fund or Goldman Sachs the Account
Application. Purchases of Institutional Shares must be settled
within three business days of receipt of a complete purchase
order.
|
|
|
How Do
I Purchase Shares Through A Financial Institution?
|
|
Certain institutions (including banks, trust
companies, brokers and investment advisers) that provide
recordkeeping, reporting and processing services to their
customers may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust,
purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf
of their customers, and may designate other intermediaries to
accept such orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
The Fund will be deemed to have received an order
in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized
institution or intermediary on a business day, and the order
will be priced at the Funds NAV per share (less any
applicable redemption fee) next determined after such acceptance.
|
|
|
n
|
Authorized institutions and intermediaries will
be responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to
the Trust within the time period agreed upon by them.
|
21
|
|
|
You should contact your institution or
intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders
for the Trust. These institutions may receive payments from the
Fund or Goldman Sachs for the services provided by them with
respect to the Funds Institutional Shares. These payments
may be in addition to other payments borne by the Fund.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to authorized dealers and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These payments
are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Fund. Such payments are
intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things:
marketing shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds,
which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on
preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs
from time to time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative, and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these
services by the Fund. The amount of these additional payments is
normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount
sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please refer to the
Payments to Intermediaries section of the Additional
Statement for more information about these payments.
|
|
|
|
The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at
least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your authorized dealer or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
|
|
|
In addition to Institutional Shares, the Fund
also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other
share classes are subject to different fees and expenses
|
22
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
(which affect performance), have different
minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different
services than Institutional Shares. Information regarding these
other share classes may be obtained from your sales
representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling the number on
the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
|
|
What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
|
|
|
|
Type of Investor
|
|
Minimum Investment
|
|
|
n
Banks,
trust companies or other
depository
institutions investing for
their own account
or on behalf of
their clients
|
|
$1,000,000 in
Institutional Shares of the Fund alone or in combination with
other assets under the management of GSAM and its affiliates
|
n
Section 401(k),
profit sharing, money
purchase
pension, tax-sheltered
annuity, defined benefit
pension, or
other employee benefit plans that
are
sponsored by one or more
employers (including
governmental or
church employers) or
employee
organizations
|
|
|
n
State,
county, city or any
instrumentality,
department,
authority or agency thereof
|
|
|
n
Corporations
with at least $100 million in assets
or
in outstanding publicly traded
securities
|
|
|
n
Wrap
account sponsors (provided they have
an
agreement covering the arrangement
with GSAM)
|
|
|
n
Registered
investment advisers investing
for
accounts for which they receive
asset-based
fees
|
|
|
n
Qualified
non-profit organizations,
charitable
trusts, foundations and
endowments
|
|
|
|
n
Individual
investors
|
|
$10,000,000
|
n
Accounts
over which GSAM or its
advisory
affiliates have investment
discretion
|
|
|
|
n
Individual
Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
for which
GSAM or its advisory
affiliates act
as fiduciary
|
|
No minimum
|
|
|
|
|
The minimum investment requirement may be waived
for current and former officers, partners, directors or
employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; brokerage
or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management
and accounts for which Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., or the
Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware acts in a fiduciary
capacity (i.e., as agent or trustee);
|
23
|
|
|
certain mutual fund wrap programs;
and for other investors at the discretion of the Trusts
officers. No minimum amount is required for subsequent
investments.
|
|
|
What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
|
|
n
|
Modify or waive the minimum investment amounts.
|
|
n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for
any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by
a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of
Institutional Shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases,
sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might
be, of a size that would disrupt the management of the Fund.
|
|
n
|
Close the Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen the Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by the
Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Generally, the Fund will not allow non-U.S.
citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United
States to open an account directly with the Fund.
|
|
|
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with
securities instead of cash if consistent with the Funds
investment policies and operations and if approved by the
Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which
may include the name, residential or business street address,
date of birth (for an individual), Social Security Number or
taxpayer identification number or other identifying information,
for each investor who opens an account with the Fund.
Applications without the required information, which will be
reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, may not be
accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or their customer
identification program, the Fund reserves the right to
(i) place limits on transactions in any account until the
identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an
investment in the Fund; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an
investors shares and close an account in the event that
the Fund is unable to verify an investors identity. The
Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an
investors account resulting from the investors delay
in providing all required identifying information or from
closing an account and redeeming an investors shares
pursuant to the customer identification program.
|
|
|
|
How Are
Shares Priced?
|
|
|
The price you pay when you buy Institutional
Shares is the Funds next determined NAV for the share
class. The price you receive when you sell or exchange
|
|
24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
Institutional Shares is the Funds next
determined NAV for the share class, with the redemption proceeds
reduced by any applicable charge (e.g., redemption fees). The
Fund calculates NAV as follows:
|
|
|
|
NAV =
|
|
(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
|
|
|
|
The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
|
|
|
For Funds that invest a significant portion of
assets in foreign equity securities, fair value
prices are provided by an independent fair value service in
accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the
Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Fund, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
|
|
|
|
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining the Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
|
|
|
|
One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Fund
to price its investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
|
25
|
|
|
Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
NAV per share of each class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such other time as the New
York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially close. Fund
shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is closed.
|
|
|
n
|
When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next
calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper
form.
|
|
|
n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper
form. Redemption proceeds are reduced by any applicable
redemption fee.
|
|
|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than
the Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently
adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as
adjusted.
|
|
n
|
The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
|
|
|
|
|
Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
|
|
|
|
Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open the Fund for purchase,
redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire
payment system is open. To learn whether the Fund is open for
business during an emergency situation, please call
1-800-621-2550.
|
|
|
Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the NAV of a
Fund that holds foreign securities may be impacted on days when
investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
|
26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
How Can
I Sell Institutional Shares Of The Fund?
|
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account
by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares.
Generally,
the Fund will redeem its Institutional Shares upon request on
any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of
such request in proper form, subject to any applicable
redemption fee.
You may request that redemption proceeds be
sent to you by check or by wire (if the wire instructions are on
record). Redemptions may be requested in writing or
by telephone.
|
|
|
|
Instructions For Redemptions:
|
|
|
|
|
By Writing:
|
|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
|
|
|
n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
|
|
|
n
Account
number
|
|
|
n
The
Fund name and Class of Shares
|
|
|
n
The
dollar amount you want to sell
|
|
|
n
How
and where to send the proceeds
|
|
|
n
A
Medallion signature guarantee may be required (see
details
below)
|
|
|
n
Mail
your request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have elected the
telephone redemption privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person (a Medallion signature guarantee
may be required). The written request may be confirmed by
telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank
account to verify instructions.
|
|
|
|
Certain institutions and intermediaries are
authorized to accept redemption requests on behalf of the Fund
as described under How Do I Purchase Shares Through A
Financial Institution?
|
|
|
|
When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required
if:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
|
|
n
|
You would like to change your current bank
designations.
|
27
|
|
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that
is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot
provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Additional
documentation may be required.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests
that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. In an effort
to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange
requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs employs reasonable
procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such
instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not
employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to
unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general
policies are currently in effect:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
All telephone requests are recorded.
|
|
n
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated on the
Account Application must be in writing and signed by an
authorized person designated on the Account Application with a
Medallion signature guarantee. The written request may be
confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the
designated bank account to verify instructions.
|
|
|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will generally be filled by a
wire transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Application (see immediately preceding bullet point). For direct
accounts to receive the redemption by check during this time
period, a redemption request must be in the form of a written
letter (a Medallion signature guarantee may be required).
|
|
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
|
|
|
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
|
|
|
How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
|
By Wire:
You
may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal
funds to the domestic bank account designated in your Account
Application. The following general policies govern wiring
redemption proceeds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business
day delay), but may be paid up to three business days following
receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request.
|
|
n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or
|
28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
|
|
suspended as permitted pursuant to
Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act. Generally,
under that section, redemption requests or payments may be
postponed or suspended if (i) the New York Stock Exchange
is closed for trading or trading is restricted; (ii) an
emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by
the Fund or the fair determination of the value of the
Funds net assets not reasonably practicable; or
(iii) the SEC by order permits the suspension of the right
of redemption.
|
|
n
|
If you are selling shares you recently paid for
by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared,
which may take up to 15 days. If the Federal Reserve Bank
is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would
ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be
delayed one additional business day.
|
|
|
n
|
To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions (with your
Medallion signature guarantee) to the Transfer Agent.
|
|
|
n
|
Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any other
institution assumes any responsibility for the performance of
your bank or any intermediaries in the transfer process. If a
problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly
with your bank or any such intermediaries.
|
|
|
|
|
By Check:
You
may elect in writing to receive your redemption proceeds by
check. Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed
to the address of record within three business days of receipt
of a properly executed redemption request. If you are selling
shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you
when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About The Redemption Fee?
|
|
The Fund will charge a 2% redemption fee on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for 30
calendar days or less. For this purpose, the Fund uses a
first-in first-out (FIFO) method so that shares held
longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held
shortest will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption
fee will be paid to the Fund from which the redemption is made,
and is intended to offset the trading costs, market impact and
other costs associated with short-term money movements in and
out of the Fund. The redemption fee may be collected by
deduction from the redemption proceeds or, if assessed after the
redemption transaction, through a separate billing.
|
|
|
The redemption fee does not apply to transactions
involving the following:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares acquired by reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares that are acquired or
redeemed in connection with the participation in a systematic
withdrawal program or automatic investment plan.
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares by other Goldman Sachs
Funds (e.g., Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios).
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares held through discretionary
wrap programs or models programs that utilize a regularly
scheduled automatic rebalancing of assets and that have provided
GSAM with certain representations regarding certain operating
policies and standards.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares involving transactions
other than participant initiated exchanges from retirement plans
and accounts maintained pursuant to Section 401
(tax-qualified pension, profit sharing, 401(k), money purchase
and stock bonus plans), 403 (qualified annuity plans and
tax-sheltered annuities) and 457 (deferred compensation plans
for employees of tax-exempt entities or governments) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Redemptions involving
transactions other than participant initiated exchanges would
include, for example: loans; required minimum distributions;
rollovers; forfeiture; redemptions of shares to pay fees; plan
level redemptions or exchanges; redemptions pursuant to
systematic withdrawal programs; return of excess contribution
amounts; hardship withdrawals; redemptions related to death,
disability or qualified domestic relations order; and certain
other transactions.
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares from accounts of financial
institutions in connection with hedging services provided in
support of nonqualified deferred compensation plans offering the
Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
|
n
|
Redemption of shares where the Fund is made
available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity
contracts.
|
|
n
|
Redemption of shares that are issued as part of
an investment company reorganization to which a Goldman Sachs
Fund is a party.
|
|
|
n
|
Redemptions of shares representing seed
capital investments by Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.
|
|
|
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to modify or
eliminate the redemption fee or waivers at any time and will
give 60 days prior written notice of any material
changes, unless otherwise provided by law. The redemption fee
policy may be modified or amended in the future.
|
|
|
In addition to the circumstances noted above, the
Trust reserves the right to grant additional exceptions based on
such factors as system limitations, operational limitations,
contractual limitations and further guidance from the SEC or
other regulators.
|
|
|
If your shares are held through a financial
intermediary in an omnibus or other group account, the Trust
relies on the financial intermediary to assess the redemption
fee on underlying shareholder accounts. The application of
redemption fees and exceptions may vary and certain
intermediaries may not apply the exceptions listed above. If you
invest through a financial intermediary, please
|
30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
contact your intermediary for more information
regarding when redemption fees will be applied to the redemption
of your shares.
|
|
|
What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
|
|
n
|
Institutions (including banks, trust companies,
brokers and investment advisers) are responsible for the timely
transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the
Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of
redemption requests, these institutions may set times by which
they must receive redemption requests. These institutions may
also require additional documentation from you.
|
|
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event an
Institutions relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated
and you do not transfer your account to another Institution with
a relationship with Goldman Sachs. The Trust will not be
responsible for any loss in an investors account or tax
liability resulting from a redemption.
|
|
|
n
|
Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interest of the Trust.
|
|
n
|
Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
|
|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to the Fund as
undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. This provision
may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts or to
a closed account. No interest will accrue on amounts represented
by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
|
|
|
|
|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
|
|
You may exchange Institutional Shares of the Fund
at NAV for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.
Redemption of shares (including by exchange) that are held for
30 calendar days or less (60 calendar days or less with respect
to the Goldman Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield Municipal
Fund) may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as described
above under What Do I Need To
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31
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Know About The Redemption Fee? The
exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at
any time upon 60 days written notice to you.
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Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
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By Writing:
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n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
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n
Name(s)
and signature(s)
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n
Account
number
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n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
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n
The
dollar amount to be exchanged
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n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
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By Telephone:
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If you have elected the
telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
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n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
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You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
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You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an
exchange.
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All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment
requirement of that Fund. Exchanges into a money market fund
need not meet the traditional minimum initial investment
requirement for that fund if the entire balance of the original
Fund account is exchanged.
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Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
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Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
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It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
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Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures
described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone
Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent unauthorized
or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
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n
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Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
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n
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Exchanges into the Fund from another Goldman
Sachs Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the
other Goldman Sachs Fund.
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For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
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32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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exchange. You should consult your tax adviser
concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
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What
Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding Investments In
Institutional Shares?
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You will be provided with a printed confirmation
of each transaction in your account and a monthly statement. If
your account is held in a street name you may
receive your statements and confirmations on a different
schedule.
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You will also receive an annual shareholder
report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual
shareholder report. If you have consented to the delivery of a
single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other
information to all shareholders who share the same mailing
address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any
time by contacting Goldman Sachs Funds by phone at
1-800-621-2550 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Funds,
P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Fund
will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after
receipt of your revocation.
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In addition, institutions and other financial
intermediaries will be responsible for providing any
communications from the Fund to its shareholders, including but
not limited to prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy
materials and notices regarding the sources of dividend payments
pursuant to Section 19 of the Investment Company Act.
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RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES
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Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
and does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer-term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practices of the Fund. Excessive,
short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt
portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of excessive trading or if an
investors trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or
Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. In
making this judgment, trades executed in multiple accounts under
common ownership or control may be considered together to the
extent they
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33
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can be identified. No waivers of the provisions
of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and
other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm
the Trust or its shareholders or would subordinate the interests
of the Trust or its shareholders to those of Goldman Sachs or
any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
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To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund,
certain other International Equity Funds and certain Fixed
Income Funds (which are offered in separate prospectuses) impose
a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 calendar days of
purchase (60 calendar days of purchase with respect to Goldman
Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield Municipal Fund) subject to
certain exceptions. See Shareholder GuideHow to Sell
SharesWhat Do I Need to Know About the Redemption
Fee? for more information about the redemption fee,
including transactions and certain omnibus accounts to which the
redemption fee does not apply. As a further deterrent to
excessive trading, many foreign equity securities held by the
Fund are priced by an independent pricing service using fair
valuation. For more information on fair valuation, please see
Shareholder GuideHow to Buy SharesHow are
Shares Priced?
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Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that
it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive.
Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available
information relating to the trading activity in the Fund in
order to assess the likelihood that the Fund may be the target
of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading
surveillance process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis,
examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or
numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the
standards described above, if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs
detects excessive, short term trading, Goldman Sachs may reject
or restrict a purchase or exchange request and may further seek
to close an investors account with the Fund. Goldman Sachs
may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to
time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive
trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will
apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs
judgment, will be uniform.
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Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are
netted against one another. The identity of individual investors
whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are not
known by the Fund. A number of these financial intermediaries
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34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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may not have the capability or may not be willing
to apply the Funds market timing policies or any
applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share
turnover at the omnibus account level, the Funds ability
to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any
applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts is limited.
The netting effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate
and eliminate market timing activities. In addition, those
investors who engage in market timing and other excessive
trading activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid
detection. There can be no assurance that the Fund and Goldman
Sachs will be able to identify all those who trade excessively
or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in
every instance.
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35
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Taxation
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As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Fund.
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Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
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The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each
year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Fund are generally subject to
federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
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Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of the Funds
distributions that qualify for this favorable tax treatment may
be reduced as a result of the Funds securities lending
activities, by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments
in debt securities or non-qualified foreign
corporations. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate
shareholder must own Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend rate.
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A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
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36
TAXATION
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Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. It is not anticipated that any
significant percentage of the Funds dividends paid to
corporate shareholders will be eligible for the corporate
dividends-received deduction. Character and tax status of all
distributions will be available to shareholders after the close
of each calendar year.
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The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or
other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. The Fund may make an election to treat a
proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a
distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either
(i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against
U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or
(ii) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.
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If you buy shares of the Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
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Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the
loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the
shares acquired.
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37
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When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, the Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do not
provide your correct taxpayer identification number, or certify
that it is correct, or if the IRS instructs the Fund to do so.
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Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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38
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Fund will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that the Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Fund
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities, the Fund will also be subject to the
risks associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks
include interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk.
In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when
interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income
securities tends to increase (although many mortgage-related
securities will have less potential than other debt securities
for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates).
Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of
fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves
the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its
obligations, and the Fund will not recover its investment. Call
risk and extension risk are normally present in mortgage-backed
securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners
have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the
duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either
shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if
interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the
interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate
of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on
existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment
would be expected to decrease. In either case, a change in the
prepayment rate can result in losses to
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39
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investors. The same would be true of asset-backed
securities such as securities backed by car loans.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for the Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100%
or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Fund Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that all
investment objectives and all investment policies not
specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental, and
may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in the Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
and Mid-Capitalization Companies.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, invest in small and
mid-capitalization companies. Investments in small and
mid-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio
price volatility than investments in larger capitalization
stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of
these investments are the less certain growth prospects of
smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets
for such securities. Small and mid-capitalization companies may
be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from
current market prices or in small lots over an extended period
of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities in particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or
adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of
the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the
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40
APPENDIX A
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Fund may incur losses because it will be required
to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a
substantial drop in price. Small and mid-capitalization
companies include unseasoned issuers that do not
have an established financial history; often have limited
product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or
use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible
to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Small and mid-capitalization
companies may be operating at a loss or have significant
variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly
changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of
obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to
support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain
their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings
or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition,
these companies may face intense competition, including
competition from companies with greater financial resources,
more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other
capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and
technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are
often higher than those of larger capitalization companies.
Investments in small and mid-capitalization companies may be
more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities
because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Fund may make foreign
investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are
not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted
securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected
by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or
restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in
exchange control regulations (
e.g.
, currency blockage). A
decline in the exchange rate of the currency (
i.e.
,
weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a
portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S.
dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In
addition, if the currency in which the Fund receives dividends,
interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S.
dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to
shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to
sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such
dividends.
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Brokerage commissions, custodial services and
other costs relating to investment in international securities
markets generally are more expensive than in the United States.
In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be
different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such
procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct
such transactions.
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There
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41
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may be less publicly available information about
a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is
generally less government regulation of foreign markets,
companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and
the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the
remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities
markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities
markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid
and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic
issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries,
there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes
on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital
gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or
other assets from such countries, and risks of political or
social instability or diplomatic developments which could
adversely affect investments in those countries.
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Concentration of the Funds assets in one or
a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater
risks than if a Funds assets were not geographically
concentrated.
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Investment in sovereign debt obligations by the
Fund involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate
issuers. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities
that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or
unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance
with the terms of such debt, and the Fund may have limited
recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. Periods of
economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market
prices of sovereign debt, and in turn the Funds NAV, to a
greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations
of U.S. issuers.
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A sovereign debtors willingness or ability
to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be
affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the
extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of
sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the
relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a
whole, the sovereign debtors policy toward international
lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign
debtor may be subject.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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42
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Euro.
On January 1, 1999, the
European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new
single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the
national currencies of the following member countries: Austria,
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. In
addition, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovakia became members of the EMU
on May 1, 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania became members of
the EMU on January 1, 2007, but these countries will not
adopt the euro as their new currency until they can show that
their economies have converged with the economies of the euro
zone.
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The European Central Bank has control over each
countrys monetary policies. Therefore, the member
countries no longer control their own monetary policies by
directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The
national governments of the participating countries, however,
have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and
public debt levels.
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The change to the euro as a single currency is
relatively new and untested. The elimination of currency risk
among EMU countries has affected the economic environment and
behavior of investors, particularly in European markets, but the
long-term impact of those changes on currency values or on the
business or financial condition of European countries and
issuers cannot be fully assessed at this time. In addition, the
introduction of the euro presents other unique uncertainties,
including the fluctuation of the euro relative to non-euro
currencies; whether the interest rate, tax and labor regimes of
European countries participating in the euro will converge over
time; and whether the conversion of the currencies of other
countries that now are or may in the future become members of
the European Union (EU) will have an impact on the
euro. Also, it is possible that the euro could be abandoned in
the future by countries that have already adopted its use. In
May and June 2005, voters in France and the Netherlands rejected
ratification of the EU Constitution causing some other countries
to postpone moves toward ratification. These or other events,
including political and economic developments, could cause
market disruptions, and could adversely affect the value of
securities held by the Fund. Because of the number of countries
using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets
held by the Fund may be denominated in the euro.
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Risks of Emerging Countries.
The Fund may invest in securities
of issuers located in emerging countries. The risks of foreign
investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an
emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in
the Asia and Pacific regions, Eastern Europe, Latin and South
America and Africa. The Funds purchase and sale of
portfolio securities in certain emerging
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43
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countries may be constrained by limitations
relating to daily changes in the prices of listed securities,
periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on
aggregate holdings of foreign investors. Such limitations may be
computed based on the aggregate trading volume by or holdings of
the Fund, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their
respective clients and other service providers. The Fund may not
be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading
or settlement volume limitations have been reached.
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Foreign investment in the securities markets of
certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to
varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or
increase the administrative costs of such investments. For
example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval
prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by
foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an
issuers outstanding securities or a specific class of
securities which may have less advantageous terms (including
price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by
nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or
prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries
deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may
affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that
may be purchased by the Fund. The repatriation of both
investment income and capital from certain emerging countries is
subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental
consents. In situations where a country restricts direct
investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and
other countries), the Fund may invest in such countries through
other investment funds in such countries.
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Many emerging countries have experienced currency
devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely
high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have
experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a
negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such
emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally
are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international
trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be
affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners,
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in
relative currency values and other protectionist measures
imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
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Many emerging countries are subject to a
substantial degree of economic, political and social
instability. Governments of some emerging countries are
authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a
result of military coups, while governments in other emerging
countries have periodically used force to suppress civil
dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of
democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection,
among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence
and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated
political or social developments may result in sudden and
significant investment
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44
APPENDIX A
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losses. Investing in emerging countries involves
greater risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization,
confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of
restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of
capital invested. As an example, in the past some Eastern
European governments have expropriated substantial amounts of
private property, and many claims of the property owners have
never been fully settled. There is no assurance that similar
expropriations will not recur in Eastern European or other
countries.
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The Funds investment in emerging countries
may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be
significant and may reduce the return from an investment in such
countries to the Fund.
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Settlement procedures in emerging countries are
frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United
States and may involve the Funds delivery of securities
before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition,
significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering
the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems
may make it more difficult for the Fund to value its portfolio
securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive
investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets
uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a
counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the
Funds inability to complete its contractual obligations
because of theft or other reasons.
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The creditworthiness of the local securities
firms used by the Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound
as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed
countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater
risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of
its responsibilities.
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The small size and inexperience of the securities
markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of
trading in securities in those countries may make the
Funds investments in such countries less liquid and more
volatile than investments in countries with more developed
securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most
Western European countries). The Funds investments in
emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of
a particular investment, or investments generally, in such
countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning
as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions
or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate.
Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the Fund may
incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a
disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in
price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult
to price precisely because of the characteristics discussed
above and lower trading volumes.
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45
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The Funds use of foreign currency
management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The
Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the
Funds currency exposure in emerging countries may not be
covered by these techniques.
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Risk of Equity Swap Transactions.
Equity swaps are two party
contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In
a standard swap transaction, the parties agree to
pay or exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of
return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset
(or group of assets) which may be adjusted for transaction
costs, interest payments, dividends paid on the reference asset
or other factors. The gross returns to be paid or
swapped between the parties are generally calculated
with respect to a notional amount, for example, the
increase or decrease in value of a particular dollar amount
invested in the asset.
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Equity swaps may be structured in different ways.
For example, when the Fund takes a long position, a counterparty
may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the
notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value
had it been invested in a particular stock (or group of stocks),
plus the dividends that would have been received on the stock.
In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty
interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the
amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have
decreased in value had it been invested in such stock.
Therefore, in this case the return to the Fund on the equity
swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus
dividends on the stock less the interest paid by the Fund on the
notional amount. In other cases, when the Fund takes a short
position, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount,
if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would
have decreased in value had the Fund sold a particular stock (or
group of stocks) short, less the dividend expense that the Fund
would have paid on the stock, as adjusted for interest payments
or other economic factors.
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Under an equity swap, payments may be made at the
conclusion of the equity swap or periodically during its term.
Sometimes, however, the Investment Adviser may be able to
terminate a swap contract prior to its term, subject to any
potential termination fee that is in addition to the Funds
accrued obligations under the swap. Equity swaps will be made in
the over-the-counter market and will be entered into with a
counterparty that typically will be an investment banking firm,
broker-dealer or bank.
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Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can
be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser does
not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the
values of assets or economic factors, the Fund may suffer a
loss, which may be substantial.
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46
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
The Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, interest
rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and foreign
currency transactions involve additional risk of loss. Loss can
result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value
of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any)
being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the markets for
derivative instruments, the failure of the counterparty to
perform its contractual obligations, or the risks arising from
margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with
such transactions. The use of these management techniques also
involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect
in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices,
interest rates, currency prices or credit events. The Fund may
also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes
(that is, to seek to increase total return). Investing for
non-hedging purposes is considered a speculative practice
and presents even greater risk of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
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Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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Certain over-the-counter options
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Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued
by the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and
sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and
foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these
fixed-income securities are described in the next section below.
Further information is provided in the Additional Statement.
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47
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Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard
& Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO are considered investment
grade. Securities rated BBB or Baa are considered
medium-grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken
their issuers capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. A security will be deemed to have met a rating
requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at
least one such rating organization even though it has been rated
below the minimum rating by one or more other rating
organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the
security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of
comparable credit quality. A security satisfies a Funds
minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking
(for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating
category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies the
Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase
and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will
not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade
occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action,
including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of
the Fund and its shareholders.
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The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities
rated BB or Ba or below (or comparable unrated securities) which
are commonly referred to as junk bonds. Junk bonds
are considered predominantly speculative and may be questionable
as to principal and interest payments.
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In some cases, junk bonds may be highly
speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade
standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such
bonds will present greater speculative risks than those
associated with investment in investment grade bonds. Also, to
the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the
Funds portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization,
the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely
affected.
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48
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Initial Public Offerings.
The Fund may invest in IPOs. An
IPO is a companys first offering of stock to the public.
IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will
fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a
prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of
shares available for trading and limited information about the
issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction
costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk.
When the Funds asset base is small, a significant portion
of the Funds performance could be attributable to
investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a
magnified impact on the Fund. As the Funds assets grow,
the effect of the Funds investments in IPOs on the
Funds performance probably will decline, which could
reduce the Funds performance. Because of the price
volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may choose to hold IPO shares
for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover
of the Funds portfolio and may lead to increased expenses
to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By
selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will
subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market
for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended
periods of time. There is no assurance that the Fund will be
able to obtain allocable portions of IPO shares. The limited
number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it
more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts
of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices.
Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution
in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and
by concentration of control in existing management and principal
shareholders.
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Temporary Investment Risks.
The Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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U.S. government securities
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Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
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Certificates of deposit
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Bankers acceptances
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Repurchase agreements
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Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
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When the Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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49
C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
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This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
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The Fund may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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Convertible Securities.
The Fund may invest in convertible
securities. Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt
obligations that are convertible into common stock. Convertible
securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields
than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible
securities in which the Fund invests are subject to the same
rating criteria as its other investments in fixed-income
securities. Convertible securities have both equity and
fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. The Fund may engage in foreign currency
transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against
anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
In addition, the Fund may enter into foreign currency
transactions to seek a closer correlation between the
Funds overall currency exposures and the currency
exposures of the Funds performance benchmark. The Fund may
also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total
return, which is considered a speculative practice.
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The Fund may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. The Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser,
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50
APPENDIX A
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it would be beneficial to convert such currency
into U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, the Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are not
guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a
contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized profits,
transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could
force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if
any, at the current market price.
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Structured Securities.
The Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many
types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and
more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
The
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage
loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of
the REITs managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow
dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the
REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable
income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks
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51
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generally associated with investments in real
estate including possible declines in the value of real estate,
general and local economic conditions, environmental problems
and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets
underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property
type or in certain other respects, these risks may be
heightened. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate
share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT
in which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. The Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. The Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its
investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call
options on foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in the Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Fund may be traded on either U.S. or foreign exchanges or
over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will
present greater possibility of loss because of their greater
illiquidity and credit risks.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based on particular
securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other
financial instruments and indices. The Fund may engage in
futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.
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52
APPENDIX A
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The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts,
and purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge
against changes in interest rates, securities prices or, to the
extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange
rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector
selection and duration in accordance with its investment
objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into closing
purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts
and options. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has claimed an
exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore
is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator
under that Act with respect to the Fund.
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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While the Fund may benefit from the use of
futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in
interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may
result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not
entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
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Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to additional risk
of loss.
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The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of the Funds NAV.
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As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the
Fund.
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n
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Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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Foreign exchanges may not provide the same
protection as U.S. exchanges.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
the Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to the full
notional value of the futures contracts while the positions are
open. With respect to futures contracts that do cash settle,
however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an
amount equal to the Funds daily marked-to-market net
obligations (
i.e.
the Funds daily net
liability) under the futures contracts, if any, rather than
their full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify
its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any
changes in the positions from time to time articulated by
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53
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the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.
By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under
cash-settled futures contracts, the Fund will have the ability
to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were
required to segregate assets equal to the full notional amount
of the futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
The Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
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An equity swap may be used by the Fund to invest
in a market without owning or taking physical custody of
securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be
restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical
or disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, the
Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of
some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a
common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest
rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the
counterparty defaults. Because equity swaps are normally
illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations
when desired.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
The Fund may purchase
when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase or sell
securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary
settlement time. When-issued securities are securities that have
been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued securities are
purchased in order to secure what is considered to be an
advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of entering
into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the entering
into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price
at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although the Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities
for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued
securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the
Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.
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Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The
Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with securities dealers
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54
APPENDIX A
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and banks which furnish collateral at least equal
in value or market price to the amount of their repurchase
obligation.
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If the other party or seller
defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund could suffer additional
losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in
the collateral is not enforceable.
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The Fund, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities.
The Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by the Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund will be responsible
for any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
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The Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery
of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which
it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its
agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
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Short Sales Against-the-Box.
The Fund may make short sales
against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all
times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal
amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for, without payment of any further
consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same
issuer as the securities sold short.
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55
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Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
The Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend
and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated
by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an
event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the
preferred stock.
|
|
|
Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
|
|
|
|
Other Investment Companies.
The Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, the Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
|
|
|
|
Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Fund may,
consistent with its investment policies, purchase Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs). SPDRs
are securities traded on an exchange that represent ownership in
the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established to accumulate
and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track
the price performance and dividend yield of the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash
|
56
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
|
|
flows or trading, or reducing transaction costs.
The price movement of SPDRs may not perfectly parallel the price
action of the S&P
500
®
.
|
|
|
n
|
iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI
indices for various countries and regions. iShares are listed on
an exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996.
The market prices of iShares are expected to fluctuate in
accordance with both changes in the NAVs of their underlying
indices and supply and demand of iShares on an exchange.
However, iShares have a limited operating history and
information is lacking regarding the actual performance and
trading liquidity of iShares for extended periods or over
complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that
the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the
listing of iShares will continue to be met or will remain
unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions
affecting iShares occur in the future, the liquidity and value
of the Funds shares could also be substantially and
adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, the Fund
could be required to reconsider the use of iShares as part of
its investment strategy.
|
|
|
|
Unseasoned Companies.
The Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
|
|
|
Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. The Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
|
|
|
Bank Obligations.
The Fund may invest in obligations
issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations,
including without limitation, time deposits, bankers
acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general
obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing
branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government
regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different
governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and
types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be
charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry
is largely dependent upon the availability and
|
57
|
|
|
cost of funds for the purpose of financing
lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.
General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses
arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play
an important part in the operation of this industry.
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Securities.
The Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury;
(ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S.
government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or
(iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government
Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and
other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest
and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities
are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may also
include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose principal
value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of
inflation.
|
|
|
|
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
The Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which the Fund may invest. The custodial
receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of
a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap
or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes the Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, the Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. The
Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial
receipts and trust certificates.
|
|
|
Mortgage-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent
direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by
and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property.
Mortgage-backed securities can be backed by either fixed rate
mortgage loans or adjustable rate mortgage loans, and may be
issued by either a governmental or non-governmental entity.
Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are normally
structured with one or more types of credit
enhancement. However, these
|
58
APPENDIX A
|
|
|
mortgage-backed securities typically do not have
the same credit standing as U.S. government guaranteed
mortgage-backed securities.
|
|
|
Mortgage-backed securities may include multiple
class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations
(CMOs) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
(REMIC) pass-through or participation certificates.
A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment and
invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in
real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an
investor with a specified interest in the cash flow from a pool
of underlying mortgages or of other mortgage-backed securities.
CMOs are issued in multiple classes each with a specified fixed
or floating interest rate and a final scheduled distribution
rate. In many cases, payments of principal are applied to the
CMO classes in the order of their respective stated maturities,
so that no principal payments will be made on a CMO class until
all other classes having an earlier stated maturity date are
paid in full.
|
|
|
Sometimes, however, CMO classes are
parallel pay,
i.e.
, payments of principal are
made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs
may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed
security whose price can be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit
more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other
types of mortgage-related obligations, and under certain
interest rate and payment scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup
fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless
of their credit quality.
|
|
|
Mortgaged-backed securities also include stripped
mortgage-backed securities (SMBS), which are
derivative multiple class mortgage-backed securities. SMBS are
usually structured with two different classes: one that receives
substantially all of the interest payments and the other that
receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool
of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely
of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in
response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that
receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are
generally higher than prevailing market yields on other
mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are
more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial
investment will not be fully recouped.
|
|
|
Asset-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by
pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables,
leases, installment contracts and personal property.
Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid
repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a
result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the
underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates,
prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be
expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Funds ability to
|
59
|
|
|
maintain positions in such securities will be
affected by reductions in the principal amount of such
securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to
reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is
subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time.
Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not
presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because
asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a
security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage
assets. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on
its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some
cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the
underlying collateral and that the Funds recoveries on
repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments
on the securities. In the event of a default, the Fund may
suffer a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive
the amount it is owed.
|
|
|
Borrowings.
The Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
|
60
|
|
|
Appendix B
Predecessor Fund
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
The financial highlights table is intended to
help you understand the Funds financial performance for
the past five years. Certain information reflects financial
results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions).
|
|
|
|
The financial highlights information for the Fund
is based on the financial history of the Class Y Shares of
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise
Funds Trust (the Predecessor Fund). The information
for the Predecessor Fund has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Predecessor Funds financial statements are included in
their annual report and is available upon request.
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Months
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class Y
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning
of period
|
|
$
|
15.56
|
|
|
$
|
13.08
|
|
|
$
|
13.56
|
|
|
$
|
10.39
|
|
|
$
|
12.90
|
|
|
$
|
18.41
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
0.09
|
|
|
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
|
|
|
0.09
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
3.83
|
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
(0.54
|
)
|
|
|
3.04
|
|
|
|
(2.61
|
)
|
|
|
(5.49
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
3.92
|
|
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
(0.48
|
)
|
|
|
3.10
|
|
|
|
(2.52
|
)
|
|
|
(5.51
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and
distributions
|
|
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
0.07
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
19.34
|
|
|
$
|
15.56
|
|
|
$
|
13.08
|
|
|
$
|
13.56
|
|
|
$
|
10.39
|
|
|
$
|
12.90
|
|
|
|
|
Total return
b
|
|
|
25.35
|
%
|
|
|
19.12
|
%
|
|
|
(3.54
|
)%
|
|
|
30.51
|
%
|
|
|
(19.46
|
)%
|
|
|
(29.93
|
)%
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
34,332
|
|
|
$
|
5,937
|
|
|
$
|
15,199
|
|
|
$
|
15,097
|
|
|
$
|
10,616
|
|
|
$
|
13,797
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.53
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.30
|
%
d
|
|
|
1.29
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
d
|
|
|
1.74
|
%
|
|
|
1.43
|
%
d
|
|
|
1.50
|
%
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
1.53
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
0.39
|
%
|
|
|
0.59
|
%
|
|
|
0.55
|
%
d
|
|
|
0.50
|
%
|
|
|
0.80
|
%
|
|
|
(0.12
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
0.48
|
%
|
|
|
0.70
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
0.39
|
%
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
|
0.52
|
%
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
0.55
|
%
|
|
|
(0.12
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
136
|
%
|
|
|
115
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
182
|
%
|
|
|
99
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment income
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year ended October 31, 2005,
these ratios and per share amounts were not provided.
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is less than
$0.005.
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less than one year are
annualized.
|
b
|
|
Total return for periods less than one year
are not annualized.
|
c
|
|
Net investment income and capital changes per
share are based on daily average shares outstanding.
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund ratios adjusted for
class specific expenses.
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than
one year are not annualized.
|
62
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
2 Fund
Investment Objective and Strategies
|
|
|
|
|
2 Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity
Fund
|
|
|
|
4 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
6
Principal Risks of the Fund
|
|
|
|
9 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
10 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
13
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
20
Dividends
|
|
|
|
21
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
|
|
21 How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
|
|
27 How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
36
Taxation
|
|
|
|
39
Appendix A
Additional
Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
61
Appendix B
Predecessor
Fund Financial Highlights
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity
Fund
Prospectus
(Institutional
Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/Semi-annual
Report
|
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Goldman Sachs Strategic
International Equity Fund had not commenced operations. The
annual report for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2007
will become available to shareholders in October 2007.
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Fund and its
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-621-2550
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds,
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You
may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a
duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference
Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic
request to: publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of
the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Prospectus
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Service
Shares
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January 19, 2007
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GOLDMAN SACHS
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS
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n
Goldman
Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund
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THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS
NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN
INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE
MONEY IN A FUND.
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NOT
FDIC-INSURED
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May Lose
Value
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No Bank
Guarantee
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General Investment
Management Approach
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Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
(GSAMI) serves as investment adviser to the
Strategic International Equity Fund. GSAMI is referred to in
this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
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ACTIVE
INTERNATIONAL STYLE FUND
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GSAMIs
Active International Investment Philosophy:
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Belief
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How the Investment Adviser Acts on Belief
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n
Equity
markets are inefficient
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Seeks excess return
through team driven, research intensive and bottom-up stock
selection.
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n
Corporate
fundamentals
ultimately drive share price
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Seeks to conduct rigorous,
first-hand research of business and company management.
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n
A
business intrinsic value
will be achieved over
time
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Seeks to realize value
through a long-term investment horizon.
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The Investment Adviser attempts to
manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio
construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. As a
result, bottom-up stock selection, driven by fundamental
research, should be a main driver of returns.
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Investments are selected through a
rigorous bottom-up research process. Particular emphasis is
placed on investing in companies that demonstrate long-term
earnings power, which the Investment Adviser defines as the
ability of a company to generate strong, sustainable earnings
and to create value for shareholders over the long term.
Rigorous, formal and informal debate enhances the quality of the
Investment Advisers final investment decisions regarding
these companies.
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References in this Prospectus to the Funds
benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless
otherwise noted are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.
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1
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Fund Investment Objective
and Strategies
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Goldman Sachs
Strategic International Equity Fund
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FUND FACTS
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Objective:
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Long-term growth of capital
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Benchmark:
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MSCI
®
EAFE
®
Index (unhedged)
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Investment
Focus:
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Equity investments in
companies organized outside the United States or whose
securities are principally traded outside the United States
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Investment
Style:
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Active International
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The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The
Fund seeks this objective by investing in the stocks of leading
companies within developed and emerging countries around the
world, outside the U.S.
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PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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Equity
Investments.
The Fund invests,
under normal circumstances, substantially all, and at least 80%
of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes
(measured at time of purchase) (Net Assets) in a
diversified portfolio of equity investments in companies that
are organized outside the United States or whose securities are
principally traded outside the United States. The Fund intends
to invest in companies with public stock market capitalizations
that are larger than $500 million at the time of investment.
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The Fund may allocate its assets among countries
as determined by the Investment Adviser provided that the
Funds assets are invested in at least three foreign
countries.
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The Fund expects to invest a substantial portion
of its assets in the securities of issuers located in the
developed countries of Western Europe and in Japan. From time to
time, the Funds investments in a particular developed
country may exceed 25% of its investment portfolio. In addition,
the Fund may also invest in the securities of issuers located in
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in emerging
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*
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To the extent required by Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders
will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed
by the SEC before any change in the Funds policy to invest
at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of
investment suggested by its name.
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2
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
AND STRATEGIES
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countries. Currently, emerging countries include,
among others, most Latin and South American, African, Asian and
Eastern European nations.
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Other.
The
Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Net Assets in fixed-income
securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt
obligations.
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3
Other Investment Practices
and Securities
The table below identifies some of the investment
techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the
Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Numbers in
this table show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult
the Funds annual/semi-annual reports (when available). For
more information about these and other investment practices and
securities, see Appendix A. The Fund publishes on its
website (http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio
holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter
subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed.
In addition, the Fund publishes on its website month-end top ten
holdings subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of
the information and the date on which the information is
disclosed. This information will be available on the website
until the date on which the Fund files its next quarterly
portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q
with the SEC. In addition, a description of the Funds
policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the
Funds portfolio securities is available in the Funds
Statement of Additional Information (Additional
Statement).
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10
Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral) (
italic type
)
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10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
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Strategic
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No specific percentage limitation on usage;
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International
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limited only by the objectives and strategies
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Equity
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of the Fund
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Fund
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Investment
Practices
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Borrowings
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33 1/3
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Cross Hedging of Currencies
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Currency
Swaps
*
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Custodial Receipts and
Trust Certificates
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Equity
Swaps
*
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Foreign Currency
Transactions
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Futures Contracts and
Options on Futures Contracts
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Investment Company
Securities (including exchange-traded funds)
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10
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Options on Foreign
Currencies
1
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Options on Securities and
Securities Indices
2
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Unseasoned Companies
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Warrants and Stock
Purchase Rights
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Repurchase Agreements
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Securities Lending
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33 1/3
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Short Sales Against the Box
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25
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When-Issued Securities and
Forward Commitments
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*
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Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
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1
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The Fund may purchase and sell call and put
options.
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2
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The Fund may sell covered call and put options
and purchase call and put options.
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4
OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES
AND SECURITIES
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10
Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending
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|
collateral) (
italic type
)
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10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment
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|
purposes) (roman type)
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Strategic
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No specific percentage limitation on usage;
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International
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limited only by the objectives and strategies
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Equity
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of the Fund
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Fund
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Investment
Securities
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American, European and
Global Depositary Receipts
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Asset-Backed and
Mortgage-Backed Securities
2
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Bank
Obligations
1,2
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Convertible Securities
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Corporate Debt
Obligations
2
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Equity Investments
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80+
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Emerging Country Securities
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Fixed-Income
Securities
3
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20
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Foreign Securities
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Foreign Government
Securities
2
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Non-Investment Grade
Fixed-Income Securities
2,4
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Real Estate Investment
Trusts
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Structured
Securities
*
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Temporary Investments
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35
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U.S. Government
Securities
2
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*
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Limited to 15% of net assets (together with
other illiquid securities) for all structured securities and all
swap transactions that are not deemed liquid.
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1
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Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
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2
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Limited by the amount the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities.
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3
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Except as noted under Non-Investment
Grade Fixed-Income Securities, fixed-income securities are
investment grade (e.g., BBB or higher by Standard &
Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or have a comparable
rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization (NRSRO)).
|
4
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|
May be BB or lower by Standard &
Poors, Ba or lower by Moodys or have a comparable
rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
|
5
Principal Risks of the Fund
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is
not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following
summarizes important risks that apply to the Fund and may result
in a loss of your investment. The Fund should not be relied upon
as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that
the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
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Strategic
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International
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Applicable
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Equity
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Credit/Default
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Foreign
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Emerging Countries
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Stock
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Derivatives
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Interest Rate
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Management
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Market
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Liquidity
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Investment Style
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Geographic
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Mid Cap and Small Cap
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n
|
Credit/Default
Risk
The risk that an issuer
or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
n
|
Foreign
Risk
The risk that when the
Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk
of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may
result because of less foreign government regulation, less
public information and less economic, political and social
stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange
controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. The
Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign
currency rate fluctuations. Foreign risks will normally be
greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging
countries.
|
n
|
Emerging Countries
Risk
The securities markets
of Asian, Latin, Central and South American, Eastern European,
Middle Eastern, African and other emerging countries are less
liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have
smaller market capitalizations, have less government regulation
and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting,
financial and other reporting requirements
|
6
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND
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|
as the securities markets of more developed
countries. Further, investment in equity securities of issuers
located in certain emerging countries involves risk of loss
resulting from problems in share registration and custody and
substantial economic and political disruptions. These risks are
not normally associated with investment in more developed
countries.
|
|
n
|
Stock
Risk
The risk that stock
prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles.
Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced
substantial price volatility.
|
|
n
|
Derivatives
Risk
The risk that loss may
result from the Funds investments in options, futures,
swaps, options on swaps, structured securities and other
derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so
that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the
Fund.
|
n
|
Interest Rate
Risk
The risk that when
interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the
Fund will decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities
will normally have more price volatility because of this risk
than short-term fixed-income securities.
|
n
|
Management
Risk
The risk that a strategy
used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended
results.
|
n
|
Market
Risk
The risk that the value
of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in
response to the prospects of individual companies, particular
industry sectors or governments and/or general economic
conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended
periods. The Funds investments may be overweighted from
time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will
increase the Funds exposure to risk of loss from adverse
developments affecting those sectors.
|
n
|
Liquidity
Risk
The risk that the Fund
will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time
period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market
conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or
other reasons. The Fund will be especially subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities within particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political
events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset
Allocation Portfolios) expect to invest a significant
percentage of their assets in the Fund and other funds for which
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM) or an
affiliate now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its
position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may
impact a Funds net asset value (NAV).
|
n
|
Investment Style
Risk
Different investment
styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund
may outperform or underperform other funds that employ a
different
|
7
|
|
|
investment style. Examples of different
investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth
stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are
more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing
companys growth of earnings potential. Growth companies
are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a
certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can
punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an
absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a
high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may
lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock
prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically
underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are
those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to
adverse business developments or other factors.
|
n
|
Geographic
Risk
Concentration of the
investments in issuers located in a particular country or region
will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments
were less concentrated, to the risks of adverse securities
markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory or
economic events which may occur in that country or region.
|
|
n
|
Mid Cap and Small Cap
Risk
The securities of small
capitalization and mid-capitalization companies involve greater
risks than those associated with larger, more established
companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price
movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market
liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous
time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-cap and
small-cap companies often have narrower markets and more limited
managerial and financial resources than larger, more established
companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile
and they face greater risk of business failure, which could
increase the volatility of the Funds portfolio. Generally,
the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
|
|
More information about the Funds portfolio
securities and investment techniques, and their associated
risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the
investment risks discussed in this section and in
Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.
8
HOW THE FUND HAS
PERFORMED
|
|
|
|
The Fund has not commenced operations before the
date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information
is provided in this section. The Fund first began operations as
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA
Enterprise Funds Trust (the Predecessor Fund).
The Predecessor Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of
Goldman Sachs Trust. Performance of the Predecessor Fund is not
shown because as part of the reorganization the Predecessor Fund
changed its investment adviser to GSAMI.
|
9
Fund Fees and Expenses
(Service Shares)
This table describes the fees and expenses that
you would pay if you buy and hold Service Shares of the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic
|
|
|
International
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Purchases
|
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
|
|
|
None
|
|
Redemption Fees
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
1
|
Exchange Fees
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating
Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund
assets):
2
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
3
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
0.77%
|
|
|
Service Fees
4
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
Shareholder Administration
Fees
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
All Other
Expenses
5
*
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
Total Fund Operating
Expenses*
|
|
|
1.75%
|
|
|
See page 11 for all other
footnotes.
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
The Other Expenses and Total
Fund Operating Expenses (after any waivers and expense
limitations) set forth below have been restated to reflect the
current waivers and expense limitations that are expected for
the current fiscal year. The waivers and expense limitations may
be modified or terminated at any time at the option of the
Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses
and Total Fund Operating Expenses may increase
without shareholder approval.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic
|
|
|
International
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):
2
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fees
3
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
|
0.70%
|
|
|
Service Fees
4
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
Shareholder Administration Fees
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
All Other Expenses
5
|
|
|
0.20
|
%
|
|
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after
current expense limitations)
|
|
|
1.55%
|
|
|
10
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
|
|
|
1
|
|
A 2% redemption fee will be imposed on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for 30
calendar days or less.
|
2
|
|
The Funds operating expenses have been
estimated for the current fiscal year.
|
3
|
|
The Investment Adviser is entitled to a
management fee from the Fund at annual rates equal to the
following percentages of the average daily net assets of the
Fund: 0.85% of the first $1 billion, 0.77% on the next
$1 billion and 0.73% over $2 billion.
|
4
|
|
Service Organizations may charge other fees to
their customers who are beneficial owners of Service Shares in
connection with their customers accounts. Such fees may
affect the return customers realize with respect to their
investments.
|
|
5
|
|
All Other Expenses include
transfer agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis
to 0.04% of the average daily net assets of the Funds
Service Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed
above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce
or limit All Other Expenses (excluding management
fees, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees,
shareholder administration fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees
and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other
extraordinary expenses exclusive of any expense offset
arrangements) to 0.16% of the Funds average daily net
assets. These expense reductions may be terminated at any time
at the option of the Investment Adviser.
|
|
11
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
Example
The following Example is intended to help you
compare the cost of investing in a Fund (without the waivers and
expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual
funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Service
Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then
redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The
Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each
year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the
same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based
on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
$
|
178
|
|
|
$
|
551
|
|
|
$
|
949
|
|
|
$
|
2,062
|
|
|
Service Organizations that invest in Service
Shares on behalf of their customers may charge other fees
directly to their customer accounts in connection with their
investments. You should contact your Service Organization for
information regarding such charges. Such fees, if any, may
affect the return such customers realize with respect to their
investments.
Certain Service Organizations that invest in
Service Shares may receive other compensation in connection with
the sale and distribution of Service Shares or for services to
their customers accounts and/or the Fund. For additional
information regarding such compensation, see Shareholder
Guide in the Prospectus and Payments to
Intermediaries in the Additional Statement.
12
|
|
|
Investment Adviser
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International (GSAMI)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSAMI, a member of the Investment Management
Regulatory Organization Limited since 1990 and a registered
investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs
& Co. (Goldman Sachs). As of September 30,
2006, GSAMI had assets under management of $576.4 billion.
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice
regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment
Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places
purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio
transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by
applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers,
including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment
Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the
Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its
asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and
management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In
addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and
certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs,
and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in
determining the appropriate allocations among categories of
issuers and types of securities.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the
following additional services for the Fund:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary
executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
|
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax
returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of
additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and
other regulatory authorities
|
|
n
|
Maintains the records of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office
equipment and services
|
13
|
|
|
As compensation for its services and its
assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is
entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable
monthly, at the annual rates (as a percentage of the Funds
average daily net assets) listed below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
|
|
|
|
|
Fee
|
|
Average Daily
|
GSAMI:
|
|
Annual Rate
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Strategic International
Equity
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
First $1 Billion
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
|
|
Next $1 Billion
|
|
|
|
0.73
|
|
|
Over $2 Billion
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a
portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may
discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the
future at its discretion.
|
|
|
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of
Trustees approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund
will be available in the Funds annual report dated
August 31, 2007.
|
14
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
Active
International Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Global portfolio teams based in London,
Singapore, Tokyo and New York. Local presence is a key to the
Investment Advisers fundamental research capabilities
|
|
|
n
|
Team manages over $17 billion in
international equities for retail, institutional and high net
worth clients
|
|
|
n
|
Focus on bottom-up stock selection as main driver
of returns, though the team leverages the asset allocation,
currency and risk management capabilities of GSAMI
|
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
London-Based
Portfolio Management Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primarily
|
|
|
Name and Title
|
|
Fund Responsibility
|
|
Responsible
|
|
Five Year Employment History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beveridge, CFA
Managing Director,
Chief Investment Officer, Non-US Active Equity
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Beveridge
joined the Investment Adviser in December 2004 as Chief
Investment Officer of the Non-US Active Equity business which
encompasses the Global/ International, UK/European, Asia
ex Japan and Japan strategies. Prior to joining the
Investment Adviser, he spent 19 years at Franklin
Templeton, where he was Executive Vice President and Senior
Portfolio Manager responsible for
ex-US portfolios.
|
|
William Howard, CFA
Managing Director,
Director of Research,
Non-US Active Equity
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Howard joined the
Investment Adviser in January 2005 as a portfolio manager. He is
also Director of Research for Non-US Active Equity. From 1993 to
2004 he was a Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton
responsible for ex-US portfolios.
|
|
Michael Stanes
Executive Director
|
|
Portfolio
Manager
Strategic International Equity
|
|
Since
2007
|
|
Mr. Stanes joined
the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in November 2002.
From 1986 to 2001, he worked at Mercury Asset Management, where
he managed UK equity portfolios in London, Japanese equity
portfolios in Tokyo and US and global portfolios in the
US.
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beveridge serves as Chief Investment Officer
(CIO) of GSAMs Non-US Active Equity team and
CIO of GSAMIs Global/EAFE strategies. As CIO,
Mr. Beveridge is ultimately responsible for the composition
of a Funds structure at both the stock and industry level.
Along with the other portfolio managers on the
|
15
|
|
|
|
team, Mr. Beveridge has specific industry
research responsibilities. Each portfolio manager is responsible
for liaising with research analysts around the world, promoting
his or her stock selection ideas to the other members of the
team and after debating their inclusion in the portfolio.
|
|
|
|
For more information about the portfolio
managers compensation, other accounts managed by the
portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of
securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.
|
DISTRIBUTOR AND
TRANSFER AGENT
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the
Distributor) of the Funds shares. Goldman
Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago,
Illinois 60606, also serves as the Funds transfer agent
(the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various
shareholder servicing functions.
|
|
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its
affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman
Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of
the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES
OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN
SACHS
|
|
|
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser,
Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or
their interest in, other accounts and other activities of
Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to
the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman
Sachs is a full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset
management and financial services organization and a major
participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an
investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, financer, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker,
lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect
interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity,
equity and other markets in which the Fund directly and
indirectly invests. Thus, it is likely that the Fund will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage
in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or
obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs
or seeks to perform investment banking or other services.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading
and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives
similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete
for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and
instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will
not have any obligation to make available any
|
16
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
information regarding their proprietary
activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used
for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the
management of the Fund. The results of the Funds
investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates, and other accounts managed by
Goldman Sachs, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain
losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates
and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading
for proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may,
from time to time, enter into transactions in which Goldman
Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. For
example, the Fund may take a long position in a security at the
same time that Goldman Sachs or other accounts managed by the
Investment Adviser take a short position in the same security
(or vice versa). These and other transactions undertaken by
Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients
may adversely impact the Fund. Transactions by one or more
Goldman Sachs advised clients or the Investment Adviser may have
the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values,
prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Funds
activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions
applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their
internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As
a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a
wide range of investment banking and financial services to
issuers of securities and investors in securities. Goldman
Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create
markets or specialize in, have positions in and affect
transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and may
also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial
services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may
have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or
sell services or products from or to, distributors, consultants
and others who recommend the Fund as when acquisitions with or
for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest,
see the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
Under a securities lending program approved by
the Funds Board of Trustees, the Fund has retained an
affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for the Fund to the extent that the Fund engages
in the securities lending program. For these services, the
lending agent may receive a fee from the Fund, including a fee
based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of the
cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In
addition, the Fund may make brokerage and other payments to
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the
Funds portfolio investment transactions.
|
17
|
|
|
|
On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff
identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs
Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative
action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York against The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. (GSG), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers
of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), and John Doe
Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of
the Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and
May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action
lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and
requests for redress were filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York.
On June 29, 2004, the three complaints were
consolidated into one action,
In re Goldman Sachs
Mutual Funds Fee Litigation,
and on November 17, 2004,
the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint against
GSG, GSAM, GSAMI, Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Trust, Goldman
Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (GSVIT) the Trustees
and Officers of the Trust and John Doe Defendants (collectively,
the Defendants) in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York. Certain investment
portfolios of the Trust and GSVIT (collectively, the
Goldman Sachs Funds) were named as nominal
defendants in the amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed a second
amended consolidated complaint on April 15, 2005.
|
|
|
|
|
The second amended consolidated complaint, which
is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares
in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and
January 9, 2004, inclusive (the Class Period),
asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the Investment Company Act) and
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law
breaches of fiduciary duty and (iii) unjust enrichment. The
complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class
Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage
commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the
Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of-fact in
registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the
Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such
registration statements and reports from being materially false
and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the
Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment
advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that
GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes
and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further
alleges that the Trusts Officers and Trustees breached
their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The
plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages;
rescission of GSAMs and GSAMIs investment advisory
agreement and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman
Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments;
restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained
|
|
18
SERVICE PROVIDERS
|
|
|
|
fees and charges; and reasonable costs and
expenses, including counsel fees and expert fees. On
January 13, 2006, all claims against the Defendants were
dismissed by the U.S. District Court. On February 22,
2006, the plaintiffs appealed this decision. By agreement,
plaintiffs subsequently withdrew their appeal without prejudice
but reserved their right to reactivate their appeal pending a
decision by the circuit court of appeals on similar litigation.
|
|
|
|
Based on currently available information, GSAM
and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported
class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material
adverse financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote,
and the pending action is not likely to materially affect their
ability to provide investment management services to their
clients, including the Goldman Sachs Funds.
|
19
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
The Fund pays dividends from its investment
income and distributions from net realized capital gains. You
may choose to have dividends and distributions paid in:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Cash
|
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the Fund
|
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of
another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for
certain Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios
(ILA Portfolios). See the Additional Statement.
|
|
|
|
You may indicate your election on your Account
Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing to Goldman
Sachs at any time before the record date for a particular
dividend or distribution. If you do not indicate any choice,
dividends and distributions will be reinvested automatically in
the Fund.
|
|
|
The election to reinvest dividends and
distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax
treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be
treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.
|
|
|
The Funds investments in foreign securities
may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. Under certain
circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through these taxes to
you. If this election is made, a proportionate amount of such
taxes will constitute a distribution to you, which would allow
you either (i) to credit such proportionate amount of
foreign taxes against your U.S. federal income tax liability or
(ii) to take such amount as an itemized deduction.
|
|
|
Dividends from investment income and
distributions from net capital gains are declared and paid
annually by the Fund.
|
|
|
|
From time to time a portion of the Funds
dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes,
and/or may include amounts in excess of the Funds net
investment income for the period calculated in accordance with
good accounting practice.
|
|
|
|
|
When you purchase shares of the Fund, part of the
NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or
realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund.
Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such
income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the
NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced
below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions
thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.
|
|
20
|
|
|
Shareholder
Guide
|
|
|
The following section will provide you with
answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding
buying and selling the Funds Service Shares.
|
|
|
|
How Can
I Purchase Service Shares Of The Fund?
|
|
Generally, Service Shares may be purchased only
through institutions that have agreed to provide personal and
account maintenance and shareholder administration services to
their customers who are the beneficial owners of Service Shares.
These institutions are called Service Organizations.
Customers of a Service Organization will normally give their
purchase instructions to the Service Organization, and the
Service Organization will, in turn, place purchase orders with
Goldman Sachs. Service Organizations will set times by which
purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their
customers. Generally, Service Shares may be purchased from the
Fund on any business day at their NAV next determined after
receipt of an order by Goldman Sachs from a Service
Organization. No sales load is charged. Purchases of Service
Shares must be settled within three business days of receipt of
a complete purchase order.
|
|
|
Service Organizations are responsible for
transmitting purchase orders and payments to Goldman Sachs in a
timely fashion. Service Organizations should either:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Place an order with Goldman Sachs at
1-800-621-2550 and wire federal funds to The Northern Trust
Company (Northern), as subcustodian for
JPMorganChase Bank, N.A. (JPMorganChase) (the
Funds custodian) on the next business day;
or
|
|
|
n
|
Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to
Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares),
P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, IL 60606-6306. The Fund will not accept
a check drawn on foreign banks, third party checks,
cashiers checks or official checks, temporary checks,
electronic checks, drawer checks, cash, money orders, travelers
cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving
the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept
cashiers checks or official bank checks.
|
|
|
|
What Do
I Need To Know About Service Organizations?
|
|
Service Organizations may provide the following
services in connection with their customers investments in
Service Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Personal and account maintenance services; and
|
21
|
|
|
|
n
|
Shareholder administration services.
|
|
|
|
Personal and account maintenance services include:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Providing facilities to answer inquiries and
responding to correspondence with the Service
Organizations customers
|
|
n
|
Acting as liaison between the Service
Organizations customers and the Trust
|
|
n
|
Assisting customers in completing application
forms, selecting dividend and other options, and similar services
|
|
|
|
Shareholder administration services include:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Acting, directly or through an agent, as the sole
shareholder of record
|
|
n
|
Maintaining account records for customers
|
|
n
|
Processing orders to purchase, redeem and
exchange shares for customers
|
|
n
|
Processing payments for customers
|
|
|
|
Some (but not all) Service Organizations are
authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, purchase,
redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their
customers, and may designate other intermediaries to accept such
orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
The Fund will be deemed to have received an order
in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized
Service Organization or intermediary on a business day, and the
order will be priced at the Funds NAV per share (less any
applicable redemption fee) next determined after such acceptance.
|
|
|
n
|
Service Organizations or intermediaries will be
responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to the
Trust within the time period agreed upon by them.
|
|
|
|
You should contact your Service Organization
directly to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for
the Trust.
|
|
|
Pursuant to a service plan and a separate
shareholder administration plan adopted by the Trusts
Board of Trustees, Service Organizations are entitled to receive
payments for their services from the Trust. These payments are
equal to 0.25% (annualized) for personal and account maintenance
services plus an additional 0.25% (annualized) for shareholder
administration services of the average daily net assets of the
Service Shares of the Fund that are attributable to or held in
the name of the Service Organization for its customers.
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may make payments to Service Organizations and other
financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time
to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of
shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These payments
are made out of the Investment Advisers,
Distributors and/or their affiliates own assets, and
are not an additional charge to the Funds. The payments are in
addition to the service fees
|
22
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
described in this Prospectus. Such payments are
intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things:
marketing shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds,
which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on
preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs
from time to time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the
Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons,
including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in
training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or
other specified services intended to assist in the distribution
and marketing of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The
payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable
regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive
arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor
various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions.
The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor
and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for
subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these
services by the Fund. The amount of these additional payments is
normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount
sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please refer to the
Payments to Intermediaries section of the Additional
Statement for more information about these payments.
|
|
|
The payments made by the Investment Adviser,
Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for
different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the
basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a
particular Intermediary, registered representative or
salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at
least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should
contact your Service Organization or Intermediary for more
information about the payments it receives and any potential
conflicts of interest.
|
|
|
In addition to Service Shares, the Fund also
offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share
classes are subject to different fees and expenses (which affect
performance), have different minimum investment requirements and
are entitled to different services than Service Shares.
Information regarding these other share classes may be obtained
from your sales representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling
the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
|
|
What Is
My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
|
|
The Fund does not have any minimum purchase or
account requirements with respect to Service Shares. A Service
Organization may, however, impose a minimum amount for initial
and subsequent investments in Service Shares, and may establish
other requirements such as a minimum account balance. A Service
|
23
|
|
|
Organization may redeem Service Shares held by
non-complying accounts, and may impose a charge for any special
services.
|
|
|
What
Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
|
|
|
|
n
|
Refuse to open an account if you fail to
(i) provide a Social Security Number or other taxpayer
identification number; or (ii) certify that such number is
correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
|
|
n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order
by a particular purchaser (or group related purchasers) for any
reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, the
Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by a
particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a
pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of Service
Shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or
exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a
size that would disrupt the management of the Fund.
|
|
n
|
Close the Fund to new investors from time to time
and reopen the Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by a
Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Generally, the Fund will not allow non-U.S.
citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the
United States to open an account directly with the Fund.
|
|
|
The Fund may allow Service Organizations to
purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent
with the Funds investment policies and operations and if
approved by the Funds Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
Customer Identification
Program.
Federal law requires the
Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which
may include the name, residential or business street address,
date of birth (for an individual), Social Security Number or
taxpayer identification number or other identifying information,
for each investor who opens an account with the Fund.
Applications without the required information, which will be
reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, may not be
accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the
extent permitted by applicable law or their customer
identification program, the Fund reserves the right to:
(i) place limits on transactions in any account until the
identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an
investment in the Fund; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an
investors shares and close an account in the event that
the Fund is unable to verify an investors identity. The
Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an
investors account resulting from the investors delay
in providing all required identifying information or from
closing an account and redeeming an investors shares
pursuant to the customer identification program.
|
|
24
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
How Are
Shares Priced?
|
|
|
The price you pay when you buy Service Shares is
the Funds next determined NAV for the share class. The
price you receive when you sell or exchange Service Shares is
the Funds next determined NAV for the share class, with
the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charge (e.g.,
redemption fees). The Fund calculates NAV as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
NAV =
|
|
(Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
|
|
|
|
The Funds investments are valued based on
market quotations or if market quotations are not readily
available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such
quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value
of the Funds investments may be determined in good faith
under procedures established by the Trustees.
|
|
|
For Funds that invest a significant portion of
assets in foreign equity securities, fair value
prices are provided by an independent fair value service in
accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the
Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign
markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the
major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of
foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would
not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair
value service does not provide a fair value for a particular
security or if the value does not meet the established criteria
for the Fund, the most recent closing price for such a security
on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on
such date.
|
|
|
|
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent
with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an
adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or
foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect
what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the
time of determining the Funds NAV. Significant events that
could affect a large number of securities in a particular market
may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one
or more single issuers in a market sector; significant
fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market
closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as
the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or
the securities markets even though not tied directly to the
securities markets. Other significant events that could relate
to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to:
corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs;
corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and
regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
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25
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One effect of using an independent fair value
service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing
arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares.
However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Fund
to price its investments may be different from those used by
other investment companies and investors to price the same
investments.
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Investments in other registered mutual funds (if
any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which
may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
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|
n
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NAV per share of each class is generally
calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of
the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange
(normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such other time as
the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially
close. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is closed.
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n
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When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next
calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper
form.
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n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next
calculated
after
the Fund receives your order in proper
form. Redemption proceeds are reduced by any applicable
redemption fee.
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n
|
The Trust reserves the right to reprocess
purchase (including dividend re-investments), redemption and
exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than
the Funds official closing NAV that is subsequently
adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to)
shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as
adjusted.
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n
|
The Trust reserves the right to advance the time
by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for
same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.
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Consistent with industry practice, investment
transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and
factored into a Funds net asset value on the business day
following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally
does not, but may, result in a net asset value that differs
materially from the net asset value that would result if all
transactions were reflected on their trade dates.
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Note: The time at which transactions and
shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received
may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than
4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock
Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the
Trust may, but is not required to, open the Fund for purchase,
redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire
payment system is open. To learn whether the Fund is open for
business during an emergency situation, please call
1-800-621-2550.
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26
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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Foreign securities may trade in their local
markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the NAV of the
Fund may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or
redeem Fund shares.
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How Can
I Sell Service Shares Of The Fund?
|
|
Generally, Service Shares may be sold (redeemed)
only through Service Organizations. Customers of a Service
Organization will normally give their redemption instructions to
the Service Organization, and the Service Organization will, in
turn, place redemption orders with the Fund.
Generally, the
Fund will redeem its Service Shares upon request on any business
day at their NAV next determined after receipt of such request
in proper form, subject to any applicable redemption fee.
Redemption proceeds may be sent to recordholders by check or by
wire (if the wire instructions are on record).
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A Service Organization may request redemptions in
writing or by telephone if the optional telephone redemption
privilege is elected on the Account Application.
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By Writing:
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Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
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By Telephone:
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1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
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Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated in the
current records of the Transfer Agent must be in writing and
signed by an authorized person (a Medallion signature guarantee
may be required). The written request may be confirmed by
telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank
account to verify instructions.
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When Do
I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem
Shares?
|
|
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required
if:
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|
|
n
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You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an
address that is not your address of record; or
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n
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You would like to change your current bank
designations.
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A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained
from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that
is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that
is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot
provide a Medallion signature guarantee. Additional
documentation may be required.
|
27
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|
What Do
I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
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|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that
the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests
that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. In an effort
to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange
requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs employs reasonable
procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such
instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not
employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to
unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general
policies are currently in effect:
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n
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All telephone requests are recorded.
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n
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Any redemption request that requires money to go
to an account or address other than that designated on the
Account Application must be in writing and signed by an
authorized person designated on the Account Application. The
written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the
requesting party and the designated bank account to verify
instructions.
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|
n
|
For the 30-day period following a change of
address, telephone redemptions will generally be filled by a
wire transfer to the bank account designated in the Account
Application (see immediately preceding bullet point). For direct
accounts to receive the redemption by check during this time
period, a redemption request must be in the form of a written
letter (a Medallion signature guarantee may be required).
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n
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The telephone redemption option may be modified
or terminated at any time.
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Note: It may be difficult to make telephone
redemptions in times of drastic economic or market
conditions.
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How Are
Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
|
By
Wire:
The Fund will arrange
for redemption proceeds to be wired as federal funds to the
domestic bank account designated in the recordholders
Account Application. The following general policies govern
wiring redemption proceeds:
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n
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Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the
next business day in federal funds, but may be paid up to three
business days following receipt of a properly executed wire
transfer redemption request.
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n
|
Although redemption proceeds will normally be
wired as described above, under certain circumstances,
redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as
permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment
Company Act. Generally, under that section, redemption requests
or payments may be postponed or suspended if (i) the New
York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is
restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the
disposal of securities owned by the Fund or the fair
determination of the value of the Funds net assets not
reasonably practicable; or (iii) the SEC by order permits
the suspension of the right of redemption.
|
28
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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n
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If the shares to be sold were recently paid for
by check, the Fund will pay the redemption proceeds when the
check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days. If the
Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day that the redemption
proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption
proceeds may be delayed one additional business day.
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n
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To change the bank designated on your Account
Application, you must send written instructions (with your
Medallion signature guarantee) to the Service Organization.
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n
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Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any
responsibility for the performance of intermediaries or your
Service Organization in the transfer process. If a problem with
such performance arises, you should deal directly with such
intermediaries or Service Organization.
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|
By
Check:
A recordholder may
elect in writing to receive redemption proceeds by check.
Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the
address of record within three business days of receipt of a
properly executed redemption request. If the shares to be sold
were recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay the
redemption proceeds when the check has cleared, which may take
up to 15 days.
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What Do
I Need To Know About The Redemption Fee?
|
|
The Fund will charge a 2% redemption fee on the
redemption of shares (including by exchange) held for 30
calendar days or less. For this purpose, the Fund uses a
first-in first-out (FIFO) method so that shares held
longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held
shortest will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption
fee will be paid to the Fund from which the redemption is made,
and is intended to offset the trading costs, market impact and
other costs associated with short-term money movements in and
out of the Fund. The redemption fee may be collected by
deduction from the redemption proceeds or, if assessed after the
redemption transaction, through a separate billing.
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The redemption fee does not apply to transactions
involving the following:
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|
|
n
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Redemptions of shares acquired by reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions.
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n
|
Redemptions of shares that are acquired or
redeemed in connection with the participation in a systematic
withdrawal program or automatic investment plan.
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n
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Redemptions of shares by other Goldman Sachs
Funds (e.g., Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios).
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n
|
Redemptions of shares held through discretionary
wrap programs or models programs that utilize a regularly
scheduled automatic rebalancing of assets and that have provided
GSAM with certain representations regarding certain operating
policies and standards.
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29
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n
|
Redemptions of shares involving transactions
other than participant initiated exchanges from retirement plans
and accounts maintained pursuant to Section 401
(tax-qualified pension, profit sharing, 401(k), money purchase
and stock bonus plans), 403 (qualified annuity plans and
tax-sheltered annuities) and 457 (deferred compensation plans
for employees of tax-exempt entities or governments) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Redemptions involving
transactions other than participant initiated exchanges would
include, for example: loans; required minimum distributions;
rollovers; forfeiture; redemptions of shares to pay fees; plan
level redemptions or exchanges; redemptions pursuant to
systematic withdrawal programs; return of excess contribution
amounts; hardship withdrawals; redemptions related to death,
disability or qualified domestic relations order; and certain
other transactions.
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n
|
Redemptions of shares from accounts of financial
institutions in connection with hedging services provided in
support of nonqualified deferred compensation plans offering the
Goldman Sachs Funds.
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n
|
Redemption of shares where the Funds are made
available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity
contracts.
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n
|
Redemption of shares that are issued as part of
an investment company reorganization to which a Goldman Sachs
Fund is a party.
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n
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Redemptions of shares representing seed
capital investments by Goldman Sachs or its affiliates.
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The Trust reserves the right to modify or
eliminate the redemption fee or waivers at any time and will
give 60 days prior written notice of any material
changes, unless otherwise provided by law. The redemption fee
policy may be modified or amended in the future.
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In addition to the circumstances noted above, the
Trust reserves the right to grant additional exceptions based on
such factors as system limitations, operational limitations,
contractual limitations and further guidance from the SEC or
other regulators.
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If your shares are held through a financial
intermediary in an omnibus or other group account, the Trust
relies on the financial intermediary to assess the redemption
fee on underlying shareholder accounts. The application of
redemption fees and exceptions may vary and certain
intermediaries may not apply the exceptions listed above. If you
invest through a financial intermediary, please contact your
intermediary for more information regarding when redemption fees
will be applied to the redemption of your shares.
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30
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
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What
Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
|
The following generally applies to redemption
requests:
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|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when
deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request
will not be in proper form until such additional documentation
has been received.
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n
|
Service Organizations are responsible for the
timely transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to
the Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely
transmittal of redemption requests, Service Organizations may
set times by which they must receive redemption requests.
Service Organizations may also require additional documentation
from you.
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|
The Trust reserves the right to:
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|
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|
n
|
Redeem your shares in the event a Service
Organizations relationship with Goldman Sachs is
terminated and you do not transfer your account to another
Service Organization with a relationship with Goldman Sachs. The
Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investors
account or tax liability resulting from the redemption.
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|
n
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Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in
other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in
the best interest of the Trust.
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n
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Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of
securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds
in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the
disposition of those securities.
|
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|
n
|
Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends,
distributions, or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to
receive by check should your check be returned to the Fund as
undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. This provision
may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts or to
a closed account. No interest will accrue on amounts represented
by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
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|
Can I
Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
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|
A Service Organization may exchange Service
Shares of the Fund at NAV for certain shares of another Goldman
Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) that
are held for 30 calendar days or less (60 calendar days or less
with respect to the Goldman Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield
Municipal Fund) may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as
described above under What Do I Need To Know About The
Redemption Fee? The exchange privilege may be
materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon
60 days written notice.
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31
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Instructions For Exchanging Shares:
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By Writing:
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|
n
Write
a letter of instruction that includes:
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n
The
recordholder name(s) and signature(s)
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n
The
account number
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|
n
The
Fund names and Class of Shares
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|
n
The
dollar amount to be exchanged
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|
n
Mail
the request to:
Goldman Sachs
Funds
P.O. Box
06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
By Telephone:
|
|
If you have elected the
telephone exchange privilege on your Account Application:
|
|
|
n
1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. New York time)
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|
|
You should keep in mind the following factors
when making or considering an exchange:
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|
|
n
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You should obtain and carefully read the
prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an
exchange.
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n
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All exchanges which represent an initial
investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment
requirement of that Fund. Exchanges into a money market fund
need not meet the traditional minimum investment requirement for
that fund if the entire balance of the original Fund account is
exchanged.
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|
|
n
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Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only
to an identically registered account.
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|
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where
exchanges may be legally made.
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|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges
in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
|
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures
described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone
Redemption Requests? in an effort to prevent unauthorized
or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds that are
closed to new investors may be restricted.
|
|
|
n
|
Exchanges into the Fund from another Goldman
Sachs Fund may be subject to any redemption fee imposed by the
other Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
|
|
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from
one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of
the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be
subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the
|
32
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
exchange. You should consult your tax adviser
concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
|
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|
What
Types Of Reports Will Be Sent Regarding Investments In Service
Shares?
|
|
Service Organizations will receive from the Fund
annual reports containing audited financial statements and
semi-annual reports. Service Organizations will also be provided
with a printed confirmation for each transaction in their
account and a monthly account statement. Service Organizations
are responsible for providing these or other reports to their
customers who are the beneficial owners of Service Shares in
accordance with the rules that apply to their accounts with the
Service Organizations. In addition, Service Organizations and
other financial intermediaries will be responsible for providing
any communications from the Fund to its shareholders, including
but not limited to prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy
materials, and notices regarding the sources of dividend
payments pursuant to Section 19 of the Investment Company
Act.
|
RESTRICTIONS ON
EXCESSIVE TRADING
|
|
|
|
Policies and Procedures on Excessive
Trading Practices.
In accordance
with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust
discourages frequent purchases and redemption of Fund shares and
does not permit market timing or other excessive trading
practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to
longer-term investment purposes only that are consistent with
the investment policies and practices of the Fund. Excessive,
short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt
portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and
administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in
dilution in the value of Fund shares held by longer-term
shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to
reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any
investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any
loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To
minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman
Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right
if, in the Trusts (or Goldman Sachs) judgment, an
investor has a history of excessive trading or if an
investors trading, in the judgment of the Trust (or
Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. In
making this judgment, trades executed in multiple accounts under
common ownership or control may be considered together to the
extent they can be identified. No waivers of the provisions of
the policy established to detect and deter market timing and
other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm
the Trust or its shareholders or would subordinate the interests
of the Trust or its shareholders to
|
33
|
|
|
those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person
or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
|
To deter excessive shareholder trading, the Fund,
certain other International Equity Funds and certain Fixed
Income Funds (which are offered in separate prospectuses) impose
a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 calendar days of
purchase (60 calendar days of purchase with respect to
Goldman Sachs High Yield Fund and High Yield Municipal Fund)
subject to certain exceptions. See Shareholder
GuideHow to Sell SharesWhat Do I Need to Know About
the Redemption Fee? for more information about the
redemption fee, including transactions and certain omnibus
accounts to which the redemption fee does not apply. As a
further deterrent to excessive trading, many foreign equity
securities held by the Fund are priced by the independent
pricing service using fair valuation. For more information on
fair valuation, please see Shareholder GuideHow to
Buy SharesHow are Shares Priced?
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of
Trustees, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that it uses to
identify trading activity that may be excessive. Goldman Sachs
reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information
relating to the trading activity in the Fund in order to assess
the likelihood that the Fund may be the target of excessive
trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process,
Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that
exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a
period of time. Consistent with the standards described above,
if, in its judgment, Goldman Sachs detects excessive, short term
trading, Goldman Sachs may reject or restrict a purchase or
exchange request and may further seek to close an
investors account with the Fund. Goldman Sachs may modify
its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time
without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive
trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will
apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs
judgment, will be uniform.
|
|
|
|
|
Fund shares may be held through omnibus
arrangements maintained by intermediaries such as
broker-dealers, investment advisers, transfer agents,
administrators and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares
may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans and
other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple
investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a
net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are
netted against one another. The identity of individual investors
whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are not
known by the Fund. A number of these financial intermediaries
may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the
Funds market timing policies or any applicable redemption
fee. While Goldman Sachs may
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34
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
|
|
|
monitor share turnover at the omnibus account
level, the Funds ability to monitor and detect market
timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption fee in
these omnibus accounts is limited. The netting effect makes it
more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate market timing
activities. In addition, those investors who engage in market
timing and other excessive trading activities may employ a
variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can be no
assurance that the Fund and Goldman Sachs will be able to
identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market
timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance.
|
35
|
|
|
Taxation
|
|
|
As with any investment, you should consider how
your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information
below is provided as general information. More tax information
is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult
your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax
consequences of your investment in the Fund.
|
|
|
Unless your investment is through an IRA or other
tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax
consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund
shares.
|
|
|
|
The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each
year all or substantially all of its taxable income.
Distributions you receive from the Fund are generally subject to
federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local
taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in
additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax
purposes, Fund distributions attributable to short-term capital
gains and net investment income are generally taxable to you as
ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter
how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
|
|
Under current provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code), the maximum long-term capital gain
tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%.
Also, Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders
attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and
certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed
at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other
requirements are met. The amount of the Funds
distributions that qualify for this favorable tax treatment may
be reduced as a result of the Funds securities lending
activities, by a high portfolio turnover rate or by investments
in debt securities or non-qualified foreign
corporations. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate
shareholder must own Fund shares for at least 61 days
during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the
Funds ex-dividend rate.
|
|
|
A sunset provision provides that the 15%
long-term capital gain rate and the taxation of dividends at the
long-term capital gain rate will revert back to a prior version
of these provisions in the Code for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2010.
|
36
TAXATION
|
|
|
Although distributions are generally treated as
taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared
in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable
as if they were paid in December. It is not anticipated that any
significant percentage of the Funds dividends paid to
corporate shareholders will be eligible for the corporate
dividends-received deduction. Character and tax status of all
distributions will be available to shareholders after the close
of each calendar year.
|
|
|
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or
other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign
securities. The Fund may make an election to treat a
proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a
distribution to each shareholder, which would allow you either
(i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against
U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or
(ii) to take that amount as an itemized deduction.
|
|
|
If you buy shares of the Fund before it makes a
distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even
though it may actually be a return of a portion of your
investment. This is known as buying into a dividend.
|
|
|
|
Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction
for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to
state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your
Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the
same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally
recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the
difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the
amount received. Generally, this gain or loss is long-term or
short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds
twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for
six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received
on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed
under wash sale rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the
loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the
shares acquired.
|
37
|
|
|
When you open your account, you should provide
your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your
Account Application. By law, the Fund must withhold 28% of your
taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do not
provide your correct taxpayer identification number, or certify
that it is correct, or if the IRS instructs the Fund to do so.
|
|
|
|
Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S.
withholding and estate tax. But, withholding is generally not
required on properly designated distributions of long-term
capital gains and of short-term capital gains and qualified
interest income paid before August 31, 2008. Although this
designation will be made for capital gain distributions, the
Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income
designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income
will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.
More information about U.S. taxation of non-U.S. investors is
included in the Additional Statement.
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38
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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
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A. General
Portfolio Risks
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The Fund will be subject to the risks associated
with equity investments. Equity investments may
include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real
estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations,
convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and
similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and
synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures
contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity
securities. In general, the values of equity investments
fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies
and in response to general market and economic conditions.
Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that the Fund
holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock
markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices
generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This
volatility means that the value of your investment in the Fund
may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets
have experienced substantial price volatility.
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To the extent that the Fund invests in
fixed-income securities, the Fund will also be subject to the
risks associated with its fixed-income securities. These risks
include interest rate risk, credit risk and call/extension risk.
In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when
interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income
securities tends to increase (although many mortgage-related
securities will have less potential than other debt securities
for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates).
Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of
fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves
the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its
obligations, and the Fund will not recover its investment. Call
risk and extension risk are normally present in mortgage-backed
securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners
have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the
duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either
shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if
interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the
interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate
of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on
existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment
would be expected to decrease. In either case, a change in the
prepayment rate can result in losses to
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39
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investors. The same would be true of asset-backed
securities such as securities backed by car loans.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the
portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment
decisions for the Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100%
or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be
borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to
result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to
shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases
of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the
Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a
maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See
Predecessor Fund Financial Highlights in
Appendix B for a statement of the Predecessor Funds
historical portfolio turnover rates.
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The following sections provide further
information on certain types of securities and investment
techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their
associated risks. Additional information is provided in the
Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among
other things, the Additional Statement describes certain
fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed
without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that all
investment objectives and all investment policies not
specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental, and
may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a
change in the Funds investment objective, you should
consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in
light of your then current financial position and needs.
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Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization
and Mid-Capitalization Companies.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, invest in small and
mid-capitalization companies. Investments in small and
mid-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio
price volatility than investments in larger capitalization
stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of
these investments are the less certain growth prospects of
smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets
for such securities. Small and mid-capitalization companies may
be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from
current market prices or in small lots over an extended period
of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk
that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers
or industries, or all securities in particular investment
categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without
warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or
adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of
the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the
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40
APPENDIX A
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Fund may incur losses because it will be required
to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a
substantial drop in price. Small and mid-capitalization
companies include unseasoned issuers that do not
have an established financial history; often have limited
product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or
use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible
to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Small and mid-capitalization
companies may be operating at a loss or have significant
variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly
changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of
obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to
support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain
their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings
or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition,
these companies may face intense competition, including
competition from companies with greater financial resources,
more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other
capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and
technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are
often higher than those of larger capitalization companies.
Investments in small and mid-capitalization companies may be
more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities
because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
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Risks of Foreign Investments.
The Fund may make foreign
investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are
not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted
securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected
by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or
restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in
exchange control regulations (
e.g.
, currency blockage). A
decline in the exchange rate of the currency (
i.e.
,
weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a
portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S.
dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In
addition, if the currency in which the Fund receives dividends,
interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S.
dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to
shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to
sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such
dividends.
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Brokerage commissions, custodial services and
other costs relating to investment in international securities
markets generally are more expensive than in the United States.
In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be
different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such
procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct
such transactions.
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Foreign issuers are not generally subject to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There
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41
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may be less publicly available information about
a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is
generally less government regulation of foreign markets,
companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and
the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the
remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities
markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities
markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid
and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic
issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries,
there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes
on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital
gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or
other assets from such countries, and risks of political or
social instability or diplomatic developments which could
adversely affect investments in those countries.
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Concentration of the Funds assets in one or
a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater
risks than if a Funds assets were not geographically
concentrated.
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Investment in sovereign debt obligations by the
Fund involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate
issuers. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities
that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or
unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance
with the terms of such debt, and the Fund may have limited
recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. Periods of
economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market
prices of sovereign debt, and in turn the Funds NAV, to a
greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations
of U.S. issuers.
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A sovereign debtors willingness or ability
to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be
affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the
extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of
sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the
relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a
whole, the sovereign debtors policy toward international
lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign
debtor may be subject.
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Investments in foreign securities may take the
form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs), Global Depositary Receipts
(GDRs), European Depositary Receipts
(EDRs) or other similar instruments representing
securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the
right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a
bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in
the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United
States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside
the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in
U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in
the same currency as the underlying security.
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42
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Euro.
On January 1, 1999, the
European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new
single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the
national currencies of the following member countries: Austria,
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. In
addition, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovakia became members of the EMU
on May 1, 2004 and Bulgaria and Romania became members of
the EMU on January 1, 2007, but these countries will not
adopt the euro as their new currency until they can show that
their economies have converged with the economies of the euro
zone.
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The European Central Bank has control over each
countrys monetary policies. Therefore, the member
countries no longer control their own monetary policies by
directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The
national governments of the participating countries, however,
have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and
public debt levels.
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The change to the euro as a single currency is
relatively new and untested. The elimination of currency risk
among EMU countries has affected the economic environment and
behavior of investors, particularly in European markets, but the
long-term impact of those changes on currency values or on the
business or financial condition of European countries and
issuers cannot be fully assessed at this time. In addition, the
introduction of the euro presents other unique uncertainties,
including the fluctuation of the euro relative to non-euro
currencies; whether the interest rate, tax and labor regimes of
European countries participating in the euro will converge over
time; and whether the conversion of the currencies of other
countries that now are or may in the future become members of
the European Union (EU) will have an impact on the
euro. Also, it is possible that the euro could be abandoned in
the future by countries that have already adopted its use. In
May and June 2005, voters in France and the Netherlands rejected
ratification of the EU Constitution causing some other countries
to postpone moves toward ratification. These or other events,
including political and economic developments, could cause
market disruptions, and could adversely affect the value of
securities held by the Fund. Because of the number of countries
using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets
held by the Fund may be denominated in the euro.
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Risks of Emerging Countries.
The Fund may invest in securities
of issuers located in emerging countries. The risks of foreign
investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an
emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in
the Asia and Pacific regions, Eastern Europe, Latin and South
America and Africa. The Funds purchase and sale of
portfolio securities in certain emerging countries may be
constrained by limitations relating to daily changes in the
prices
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43
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of listed securities, periodic trading or
settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of
foreign investors. Such limitations may be computed based on the
aggregate trading volume by or holdings of the Fund, the
Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their respective clients
and other service providers. The Fund may not be able to sell
securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement
volume limitations have been reached.
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Foreign investment in the securities markets of
certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to
varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or
increase the administrative costs of such investments. For
example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval
prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by
foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an
issuers outstanding securities or a specific class of
securities which may have less advantageous terms (including
price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by
nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or
prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries
deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may
affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that
may be purchased by the Fund. The repatriation of both
investment income and capital from certain emerging countries is
subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental
consents. In situations where a country restricts direct
investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and
other countries), the Fund may invest in such countries through
other investment funds in such countries.
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Many emerging countries have experienced currency
devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely
high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have
experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a
negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such
emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally
are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international
trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be
affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners,
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in
relative currency values and other protectionist measures
imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
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Many emerging countries are subject to a
substantial degree of economic, political and social
instability. Governments of some emerging countries are
authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a
result of military coups, while governments in other emerging
countries have periodically used force to suppress civil
dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of
democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection,
among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence
and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated
political or social developments may result in sudden and
significant investment losses. Investing in emerging countries
involves greater risk of loss due to
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44
APPENDIX A
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expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of
assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign
investments and on repatriation of capital invested. As an
example, in the past some Eastern European governments have
expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and many
claims of the property owners have never been fully settled.
There is no assurance that similar expropriations will not recur
in Eastern European or other countries.
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The Funds investment in emerging countries
may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be
significant and may reduce the return from an investment in such
countries to the Fund.
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Settlement procedures in emerging countries are
frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United
States and may involve the Funds delivery of securities
before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition,
significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering
the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems
may make it more difficult for the Fund to value its portfolio
securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive
investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets
uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a
counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the
Funds inability to complete its contractual obligations
because of theft or other reasons.
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The creditworthiness of the local securities
firms used by the Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound
as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed
countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater
risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of
its responsibilities.
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The small size and inexperience of the securities
markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of
trading in securities in those countries may make the
Funds investments in such countries less liquid and more
volatile than investments in countries with more developed
securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most
Western European countries). The Funds investments in
emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of
a particular investment, or investments generally, in such
countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning
as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions
or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate.
Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, the Fund may
incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a
disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in
price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult
to price precisely because of the characteristics discussed
above and lower trading volumes.
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The Funds use of foreign currency
management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The
Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the
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45
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Funds currency exposure in emerging
countries may not be covered by these techniques.
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Risk of Equity Swap Transactions.
Equity swaps are two party
contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In
a standard swap transaction, the parties agree to
pay or exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of
return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset
(or group of assets) which may be adjusted for transaction
costs, interest payments, dividends paid on the reference asset
or other factors. The gross returns to be paid or
swapped between the parties are generally calculated
with respect to a notional amount, for example, the
increase or decrease in value of a particular dollar amount
invested in the asset.
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Equity swaps may be structured in different ways.
For example, when the Fund takes a long position, a counterparty
may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the
notional amount of the equity swap would have increased in value
had it been invested in a particular stock (or group of stocks),
plus the dividends that would have been received on the stock.
In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty
interest on the notional amount of the equity swap plus the
amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have
decreased in value had it been invested in such stock.
Therefore, in this case the return to the Fund on the equity
swap should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus
dividends on the stock less the interest paid by the Fund on the
notional amount. In other cases, when the Fund takes a short
position, a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount,
if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap would
have decreased in value had the Fund sold a particular stock (or
group of stocks) short, less the dividend expense that the Fund
would have paid on the stock, as adjusted for interest payments
or other economic factors.
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Under an equity swap, payments may be made at the
conclusion of the equity swap or periodically during its term.
Sometimes, however, the Investment Adviser may be able to
terminate a swap contract prior to its term, subject to any
potential termination fee that is in addition to the Funds
accrued obligations under the swap. Equity swaps will be made in
the over-the-counter market and will be entered into with a
counterparty that typically will be an investment banking firm,
broker-dealer or bank.
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Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can
be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser does
not accurately analyze and predict future market trends, the
values of assets or economic factors, the Fund may suffer a
loss, which may be substantial.
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46
APPENDIX A
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Risks of Derivative Investments.
The Funds transactions, if
any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, interest
rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and foreign
currency transactions involve additional risk of loss. Loss can
result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value
of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any)
being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the markets for
derivative instruments, the failure of the counterparty to
perform its contractual obligations, or the risks arising from
margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with
such transactions. The use of these management techniques also
involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect
in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices,
interest rates, currency prices or credit events. The Fund may
also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes
(that is, to seek to increase total return). Investing for
non-hedging purposes is considered a speculative practice
and presents even greater risk of loss.
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Risks of Illiquid Securities.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of
its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed
of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair
value. Illiquid securities include:
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n
|
Both domestic and foreign securities that are not
readily marketable
|
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n
|
Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
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n
|
Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a
notice or demand period of more than seven days
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n
|
Certain over-the-counter options
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|
n
|
Certain structured securities and swap
transactions
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|
n
|
Certain restricted securities, unless it is
determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a
specific restricted security, that such restricted security is
liquid because it is so-called 4(2) commercial paper
or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act of 1933
(144A Securities).
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Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the
liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that
qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in
purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and
subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities
normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the
market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market
exists.
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Credit/Default Risks.
Debt securities purchased by the
Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued
by the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and
sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and
foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these
fixed-income securities are described in the next section below.
Further information is provided in the Additional Statement.
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47
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Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard
& Poors Rating Group (Standard &
Poors), Baa or higher by Moodys Investors
Service, Inc. (Moodys) or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO are considered investment
grade. Securities rated BBB or Baa are considered
medium-grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and
adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken
their issuers capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. A security will be deemed to have met a rating
requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at
least one such rating organization even though it has been rated
below the minimum rating by one or more other rating
organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the
security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of
comparable credit quality. A security satisfies a Funds
minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking
(for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating
category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies the
Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase
and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will
not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade
occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action,
including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of
the Fund and its shareholders.
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The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities
rated BB or Ba or below (or comparable unrated securities) which
are commonly referred to as junk bonds. Junk bonds
are considered predominantly speculative and may be questionable
as to principal and interest payments.
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In some cases, junk bonds may be highly
speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade
standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such
bonds will present greater speculative risks than those
associated with investment in investment grade bonds. Also, to
the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the
Funds portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization,
the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely
affected.
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Risks of Initial Public Offerings.
The Fund may invest in IPOs. An
IPO is a companys first offering of stock to the public.
IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will
fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a
prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of
shares available for trading and limited information about the
issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction
costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk.
When the Funds asset base is small, a significant portion
of the Funds performance could be attributable to
investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a
magnified impact on the Fund. As the Funds assets grow,
the effect of the Funds investments in IPOs on the
Funds performance probably will decline, which could
reduce the Funds performance. Because of the
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48
APPENDIX A
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|
price volatility of IPO shares, the Fund may
choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This
may increase the turnover of the Funds portfolio and may
lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and
transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize
taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.
In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or
inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance
that the Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO
shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in
some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell
significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on
prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by
substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of
additional shares and by concentration of control in existing
management and principal shareholders.
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Temporary Investment Risks.
The Fund may, for temporary
defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
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|
|
n
|
U.S. government securities
|
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n
|
Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard
& Poors, P-2 by Moodys or having a comparable
rating by another NRSRO
|
|
n
|
Certificates of deposit
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n
|
Bankers acceptances
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n
|
Repurchase agreements
|
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n
|
Non-convertible preferred stocks and
non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of
less than one year
|
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|
When the Funds assets are invested in such
instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment
objective.
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C. Portfolio
Securities and Techniques
|
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|
This section provides further information on
certain types of securities and investment techniques that may
be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
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|
The Fund may purchase other types of securities
or instruments similar to those described in this section if
otherwise consistent with the Funds investment objectives
and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional
Statement, which is available upon request.
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|
Convertible Securities.
The Fund may invest in convertible
securities. Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt
obligations that are convertible into common stock. Convertible
securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields
than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible
securities in which the Fund invests are subject to the same
rating criteria as its other investments in fixed-income
securities. Convertible securities have both equity and
fixed-income risk
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49
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|
characteristics. Like all fixed-income
securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible
to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest
rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities
tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to
increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market
price of the common stock underlying a convertible security
exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the
convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the
underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying
common stock declines, the convertible security, like a
fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield
basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as
the underlying common stock.
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Foreign Currency Transactions.
The Fund may, to the extent
consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell
foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts.
A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of
the contract. The Fund may engage in foreign currency
transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against
anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates.
In addition, the Fund may enter into foreign currency
transactions to seek a closer correlation between the
Funds overall currency exposures and the currency
exposures of the Funds performance benchmark. The Fund may
also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total
return, which is considered a speculative practice.
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The Fund may also engage in cross-hedging by
using forward contracts in a currency different from that in
which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. The Fund may
hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in
foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment
Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into
U.S. dollars at a later date (
e.g.
, the Investment
Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate
against the U.S. dollar).
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Currency exchange rates may fluctuate
significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with
other factors, the Funds NAV to fluctuate (when the
Funds NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up
or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected
unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments
or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency
controls or political developments in the United States or
abroad.
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The market in forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated
currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by
the other party to such instruments than is available for
currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will
default on its obligations. Since these contracts are
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50
APPENDIX A
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not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a
default on a contract would deprive the Fund of unrealized
profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge
or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale
commitments, if any, at the current market price.
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Structured Securities.
The Fund may invest in structured
securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is
determined by reference to changes in the value of specific
currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative
change in two or more References.
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The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased
depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured
securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that
appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or
decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at
maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the
value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes
in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many
types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and
more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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REITs.
The
Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles
that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate
related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the
value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage
loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of
the REITs managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow
dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the
REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable
income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally
associated with investments in real estate including possible
declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic
conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest
rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are
concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain
other respects, these risks may be heightened. The Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses,
including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.
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Options on Securities, Securities Indices
and Foreign Currencies.
A put
option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the
underlying instrument during the option period. A call option
gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the
writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the
underlying instrument during the option period. The Fund may
write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and
call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or
on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may
invest. The Fund may also,
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51
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to the extent consistent with its investment
policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on
foreign currencies.
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The writing and purchase of options is a highly
specialized activity which involves special investment risks.
Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging
purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is
considered a speculative activity). The successful use of
options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of
correlation between the options and securities (or currency)
markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the
correlation between the instruments or indices on which options
are written and purchased and the instruments in the Funds
investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would
not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the
Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by
the Fund may be traded on either U.S. or foreign exchanges or
over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will
present greater possibility of loss because of their greater
illiquidity and credit risks.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures
Contracts.
Futures contracts are
standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the
sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency
at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures
contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the
option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures
contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period
of time. A futures contract may be based on particular
securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other
financial instruments and indices. The Fund may engage in
futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.
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The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts,
and purchase and write call and put options on futures
contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge
against changes in interest rates, securities prices or, to the
extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange
rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector
selection and duration in accordance with its investment
objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into closing
purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts
and options. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has claimed an
exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore
is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator
under that Act with respect to the Fund.
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52
APPENDIX A
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Futures contracts and related options present the
following risks:
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While the Fund may benefit from the use of
futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in
interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may
result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not
entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
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n
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Because perfect correlation between a futures
position and a portfolio position that is intended to be
protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may
not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to additional risk
of loss.
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n
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The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into
futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is
potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received.
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n
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Futures markets are highly volatile and the use
of futures may increase the volatility of the Funds NAV.
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As a result of the low margin deposits normally
required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement
in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the
Fund.
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Futures contracts and options on futures may be
illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures
contract prices during a single day.
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Foreign exchanges may not provide the same
protection as U.S. exchanges.
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As an investment company registered with the SEC,
the Fund must set aside (often referred to as
asset segregation) liquid assets, or engage in other
SEC- or staff-approved measures to cover open
positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts.
In the case of futures contracts that do not cash settle, for
example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to the full
notional value of the futures contracts while the positions are
open. With respect to futures contracts that do cash settle,
however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an
amount equal to the Funds daily marked-to-market net
obligations (
i.e.
the Funds daily net
liability) under the futures contracts, if any, rather than
their full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify
its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any
changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the
SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation. By setting aside
assets equal to only its net obligations under cash-settled
futures contracts, the Fund will have the ability to employ
leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to
segregate assets equal to the full notional amount of the
futures contracts.
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Equity Swaps.
The Fund may invest in equity
swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to
exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an
equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or
an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or
equity investment.
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53
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An equity swap may be used by the Fund to invest
in a market without owning or taking physical custody of
securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be
restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical
or disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value
can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser
does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative
fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, the
Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of
some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a
common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest
rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the
counterparty defaults. Because equity swaps are normally
illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations
when desired.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward
Commitments.
The Fund may purchase
when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase or sell
securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary
settlement time. When-issued securities are securities that have
been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued securities are
purchased in order to secure what is considered to be an
advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of entering
into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the entering
into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price
at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines before the settlement
date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment
basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold
may increase before the settlement date. Although the Fund will
generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities
for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued
securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the
Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.
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Repurchase Agreements.
Repurchase agreements involve the
purchase of securities subject to the sellers agreement to
repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The
Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with securities
dealers and banks which furnish collateral at least equal in
value or market price to the amount of their repurchase
obligation.
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If the other party or seller
defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the
proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other
collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price
and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement
of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of
bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund could suffer additional
losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in
the collateral is not enforceable.
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54
APPENDIX A
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The Fund, together with other registered
investment companies having advisory agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer
uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily
aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more
repurchase agreements.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities.
The Fund may engage in securities
lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities
owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain
broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman
Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans
continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government
securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to
the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may
be invested by the Fund in short-term investments, including
unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral
is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market
depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund will be responsible
for any loss that might result from its investment of the
borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines
to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may
not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including
any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the
percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus
regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash
equivalents.
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The Fund may lend its securities to increase its
income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery
of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which
it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its
agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
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Short Sales Against-the-Box.
The Fund may make short sales
against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all
times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal
amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for, without payment of any further
consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same
issuer as the securities sold short.
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Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights.
The Fund may invest in preferred
stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that
represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims
on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock
owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the
obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend
and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated
by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an
event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the
preferred stock.
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55
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Warrants and other rights are options to buy a
stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at
any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of
warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends
and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
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Other Investment Companies.
The Fund may invest in securities
of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds
such as SPDRs and iShares
SM
, as defined below)
subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment
Company Act. These limitations include in certain circumstances
a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on
investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in
securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its
total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund
will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management
fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
Although the Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, the Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of
its assets in a single open-end investment company or series
thereof that has substantially the same investment objective,
policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to
an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment
companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds
which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
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Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and
iShares
SM
are shares of unaffiliated investment
companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on
a national securities exchange or the
NASDAQ
®
National Market System.
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Standard & Poors Depositary
Receipts.
The Fund may,
consistent with its investment policies, purchase Standard &
Poors Depositary Receipts (SPDRs). SPDRs
are securities traded on an exchange that represent ownership in
the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established to accumulate
and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track
the price performance and dividend yield of the S&P
500
®
.
SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not
limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading,
or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may
not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P
500
®
.
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n
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iShares
SM
.
iShares are shares of an
investment company that invests substantially all of its assets
in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI
indices for various countries and regions. iShares are listed on
an exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996.
The market prices of iShares are expected to fluctuate in
accordance with both changes in the NAVs of their underlying
indices and supply and demand of iShares on an exchange.
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56
APPENDIX A
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However, iShares have a limited operating history
and information is lacking regarding the actual performance and
trading liquidity of iShares for extended periods or over
complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that
the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the
listing of iShares will continue to be met or will remain
unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions
affecting iShares occur in the future, the liquidity and value
of the Funds shares could also be substantially and
adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, the Fund
could be required to reconsider the use of iShares as part of
its investment strategy.
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Unseasoned Companies.
The Fund may invest in companies
which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than
three years. The securities of such companies may have limited
liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or
lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments
in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater
risk than do investments in companies with an established
operating record.
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Corporate Debt Obligations.
Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations
of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. The Fund
may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and
certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in
the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In
addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt
obligations include securities issued by banks and other
financial institutions and supranational entities (
i.e.
,
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
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Bank Obligations.
The Fund may invest in obligations
issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations,
including without limitation, time deposits, bankers
acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general
obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing
branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government
regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different
governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and
types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be
charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry
is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for
the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing
money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as
exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial
difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the
operation of this industry.
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U.S. Government Securities.
The Fund may invest in U.S.
Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S.
Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by
(i) the full faith and
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57
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credit of the U.S. Treasury; (ii) the right
of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (iii) the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase
certain obligations of the issuer; or (iv) only the credit
of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury
receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government
Securities, where the interest and principal components of
stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently.
U.S. Government Securities may also include Treasury
inflation-protected securities whose principal value is
periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation.
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Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.
The Fund may invest in custodial
receipts and trust certificates representing interests in
securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so
held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types
of securities in which the Fund may invest. The custodial
receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying
securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of
a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap
or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain
securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust
certificates may not be considered obligations of the
U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by
the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes the Fund is not
considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in
the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax
consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust
certificates, the Fund will bear its proportionate share of the
fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. The
Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial
receipts and trust certificates.
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Mortgage-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent
direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by
and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property.
Mortgage-backed securities can be backed by either fixed rate
mortgage loans or adjustable rate mortgage loans, and may be
issued by either a governmental or non-governmental entity.
Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are normally
structured with one or more types of credit
enhancement. However, these mortgage-backed securities
typically do not have the same credit standing as U.S.
government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.
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Mortgage-backed securities may include multiple
class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations
(CMOs) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
(REMIC) pass-through or participation certificates.
A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment and
invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in
real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an
investor with a specified interest in the cash flow
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58
APPENDIX A
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from a pool of underlying mortgages or of other
mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued in multiple classes
each with a specified fixed or floating interest rate and a
final scheduled distribution rate. In many cases, payments of
principal are applied to the CMO classes in the order of their
respective stated maturities, so that no principal payments will
be made on a CMO class until all other classes having an earlier
stated maturity date are paid in full.
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Sometimes, however, CMO classes are
parallel pay,
i.e.
, payments of principal are
made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs
may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed
security whose price can be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit
more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other
types of mortgage-related obligations, and under certain
interest rate and payment scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup
fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless
of their credit quality.
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Mortgaged-backed securities also include stripped
mortgage-backed securities (SMBS), which are
derivative multiple class mortgage-backed securities. SMBS are
usually structured with two different classes: one that receives
substantially all of the interest payments and the other that
receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool
of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely
of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in
response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that
receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are
generally higher than prevailing market yields on other
mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are
more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial
investment will not be fully recouped.
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Asset-Backed Securities.
The Fund may invest in
asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by
pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables,
leases, installment contracts and personal property.
Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid
repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a
result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the
underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates,
prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be
expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Funds ability to
maintain positions in such securities will be affected by
reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting
from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of
principal at comparable yields is subject to generally
prevailing interest rates at that time. Asset-backed securities
present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed
securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do
not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that
is comparable to mortgage assets. If the issuer of an
asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there
is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable
to
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59
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possess and sell the underlying collateral and
that the Funds recoveries on repossessed collateral may
not be available to support payments on the securities. In the
event of a default, the Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell
collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed.
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Borrowings.
The Fund can borrow money from
banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding
one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency
purposes. The Fund may not make additional investments if
borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
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60
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Appendix B
Predecessor Fund
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Financial Highlights
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The financial highlights table is intended to
help you understand the Funds financial performance for
the past five years. Certain information reflects financial
results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table
represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on
an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions).
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The financial highlights information for the Fund
is based on the financial history of the Class A Shares of
the AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA
Enterprise Funds Trust (the Predecessor Fund).
The information for the Predecessor Fund has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the
Predecessor Funds financial statements are included in
their annual report and is available upon request.
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During the periods shown, Service Shares were not
offered by the Predecessor Fund. Different share classes of
mutual fund investment portfolios generally have substantially
similar annual returns because they are invested in the same
investment portfolio of securities. Annual returns differ as a
result of the expenses of a particular share class. Class A
Shares of the Predecessor Fund had a 0.45% distribution and
service fee while Service Shares of the Fund have a 0.50%
combined service fee and shareholder administration fee.
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61
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Ten Months
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Year Ended
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Year Ended
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Ended
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Year Ended December 31,
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October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
October 31,
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
2006
c
|
|
2005
c,d
|
|
2004
c
|
|
2003
c
|
|
2002
c
|
|
2001
c
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value,
beginning of period
|
|
$
|
15.24
|
|
|
$
|
12.86
|
|
|
$
|
13.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.30
|
|
|
$
|
12.82
|
|
|
$
|
18.35
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from
investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
(loss)
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and
unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
|
3.77
|
|
|
|
2.36
|
|
|
|
(0.54
|
)
|
|
|
3.04
|
|
|
|
(2.58
|
)
|
|
|
(5.49
|
)
|
|
|
|
Total from investment
operations
|
|
|
3.76
|
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
(0.53
|
)
|
|
|
3.05
|
|
|
|
(2.54
|
)
|
|
|
(5.56
|
)
|
|
|
|
Less
Distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends from net
investment income
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from
realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total dividends and
distributions
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption fees
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
|
#
|
|
|
0.04
|
|
|
|
0.02
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, end of
period
|
|
$
|
18.93
|
|
|
$
|
15.24
|
|
|
$
|
12.86
|
|
|
$
|
13.39
|
|
|
$
|
10.30
|
|
|
$
|
12.82
|
|
|
|
|
Total
return
b,
|
|
|
24.79
|
%
|
|
|
18.59
|
%
|
|
|
(3.96
|
)%
|
|
|
30.00
|
%
|
|
|
(19.66
|
)%
|
|
|
(30.14
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period
(000s)
|
|
$
|
87,839
|
|
|
$
|
35,599
|
|
|
$
|
32,757
|
|
|
$
|
30,444
|
|
|
$
|
23,226
|
|
|
$
|
34,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
1.96
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
d
|
|
|
1.74
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
d
|
|
|
2.19
|
%
|
|
|
1.88
|
%
|
|
|
1.95
|
%
|
|
|
2.10
|
%
|
|
|
1.96
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of net investment
income (loss) to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers
a
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
|
|
0.14
|
%
|
|
|
0.05
|
%
|
|
|
0.06
|
%
|
|
|
0.35
|
%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
After waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.25
|
%
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before waivers and fees
paid indirectly
a
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)%
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)%
|
|
|
0.02
|
%
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)%
|
|
|
0.10
|
%
|
|
|
(0.50
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio turnover
rate
e
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
136
|
%
|
|
|
115
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
182
|
%
|
|
|
99
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of contractual
expense limitation during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share benefit to net
investment loss
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Prior to the year ended
October 31, 2005, these ratios and per share amounts were
not provided.
|
|
#
|
|
Per share amount is
less than $0.005.
|
|
|
|
The total returns for
Class A do not include sales charges.
|
|
a
|
|
Ratios for periods less
than one year are annualized.
|
|
b
|
|
Total return for
periods less than one year are not annualized.
|
|
c
|
|
Net investment income
and capital changes per share are based on daily average shares
outstanding.
|
|
d
|
|
Reflects overall fund
ratios adjusted for class specific expenses.
|
|
e
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate
for periods less than one year are not annualized.
|
62
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
General Investment Management Approach
|
|
|
|
2 Fund
Investment Objective and Strategies
|
|
|
2
|
|
Goldman Sachs
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
4 Other
Investment Practices and Securities
|
|
|
|
6
Principal Risks of the Fund
|
|
|
|
9 Fund
Performance
|
|
|
|
10 Fund
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
13
Service Providers
|
|
|
|
20
Dividends
|
|
|
|
21
Shareholder Guide
|
|
|
21
|
|
How To Buy Shares
|
|
|
27
|
|
How To Sell Shares
|
|
|
|
36
Taxation
|
|
|
|
39
Appendix A
Additional
Information on
Portfolio Risks,
Securities
and
Techniques
|
|
|
|
61
Appendix B
Predecessor
Fund
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity
Fund
Prospectus
(Service
Shares)
|
|
|
|
Annual/Semi-annual
Report
|
|
|
Additional information about the Funds
investments is available in the Funds annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual
reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the
Funds performance during the last fiscal year. Before the
date of this Prospectus, the Goldman Sachs Strategic
International Equity Fund had not commenced operations. The
annual report for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2007
will become available to shareholders in October 2007.
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Additional Information
|
|
Additional information about the Fund and its
policies is also available in the Funds Additional
Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this
Prospectus).
|
|
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports
(when available), and the Additional Statement, are available
free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual
reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds website:
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com.
|
|
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder
inquiries:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
telephone:
|
|
1-800-621-2550
|
|
|
|
|
n
By
mail:
|
|
Goldman Sachs Funds,
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606-6306
|
|
|
|
|
n
On
the Internet:
|
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
|
|
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund
documents (including the Additional Statement) by visiting the
SECs public reference room in Washington, D.C. You
may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a
duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference
Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic
request to: publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of
the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
(202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration
number is 811-5349.
GSAM
®
is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
SERVICE SHARES
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
GOLDMAN SACHS STRUCTURED SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS STRUCTURED SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Supplement Dated January 19, 2007 to the Statement of Additional Information dated January 19, 2007
The Class A, Class B, Class C, Service and Institutional Shares of: Goldman Sachs Structured
Small Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund and Goldman Sachs Strategic
International Equity Fund have been created in connection with the proposed acquisition of the
assets and liabilities of the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund, AXA Enterprise Small Company
Growth Fund and AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund, respectively, of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (Enterprise Trust).
It is anticipated that at a shareholder meeting in the second quarter of 2007, the
shareholders of the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund, AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth
Fund and AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of Enterprise Trust will be asked to approve a
proposed agreement and plan of reorganization whereby the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund,
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund and AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund will be
acquired by the Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap
Growth Fund and Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund, respectively.
The Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth
Fund and Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund are newly organized Funds that have been
created in connection with the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value Fund, AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund and AXA Enterprise International
Growth Fund (each a Predecessor Fund and collectively, the Predecessor Funds), respectively.
If the reorganization is approved by the Predecessor Funds shareholders, for purposes of the
reorganization, the Predecessor Funds will be considered the accounting survivors, and accordingly,
certain financial information relating to the Predecessor Funds has been included in the attached
statement of additional information and presented as if the reorganization has been consummated.
However, as of the date of this statement of additional information, the reorganization has not yet
been approved by shareholders and has not occurred.
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED JANUARY 19, 2007
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
SERVICE SHARES
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
GOLDMAN SACHS STRUCTURED SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS STRUCTURED SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
(Equity Portfolios of Goldman Sachs Trust)
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
This Statement of Additional Information (the Additional Statement) is not a Prospectus.
This Additional Statement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses for the Class A
Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Service Shares and Institutional Shares of: Goldman Sachs
Structured Small Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund and Goldman Sachs
Strategic International Equity Fund dated January 19, 2007 (the Prospectuses), as they may be
further amended and/or supplemented from time to time, which may be obtained without charge from
Goldman, Sachs & Co. by calling the telephone number, or writing to one of the addresses, listed
below or from institutions (Service Organizations) acting on behalf of their customers. The
audited financial statements and related report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm for the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund, AXA Enterprise
Small Company Growth Fund and AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise Funds
Trust (Enterprise Trust) (each, a Predecessor Fund and collectively, the Predecessor Funds)
contained in such Predecessor Funds 2006 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the
section Financial Statements. No other parts of the Predecessor Funds Annual Report are
incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the Predecessor Funds Annual Report may be obtained
upon request and without charge by calling Goldman, Sachs & Co., at (800) 621-2550.
GSAM® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
INTRODUCTION
|
|
|
B-1
|
|
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
|
|
|
B-2
|
|
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
|
|
|
B-38
|
|
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
|
|
|
B-40
|
|
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
|
|
|
B-49
|
|
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
|
|
|
B-62
|
|
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
|
|
|
B-75
|
|
NET ASSET VALUE
|
|
|
B-79
|
|
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
|
|
|
B-81
|
|
SHARES OF THE TRUST
|
|
|
B-84
|
|
TAXATION
|
|
|
B-88
|
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
B-94
|
|
PROXY VOTING
|
|
|
B-94
|
|
PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES
|
|
|
B-95
|
|
OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
B-97
|
|
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS
|
|
|
B-99
|
|
OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS,EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS
|
|
|
B-101
|
|
SERVICE PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER ADMINISTRATION PLAN
|
|
|
B-104
|
|
APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
|
|
|
1-A
|
|
APPENDIX B 2006 ISS PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
|
|
|
1-B
|
|
APPENDIX C BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OF GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
|
|
|
1-C
|
|
APPENDIX D STATEMENT OF INTENTION (applicable only to Class A Shares)
|
|
|
1-D
|
|
The date of this Additional Statement is January 19, 2007.
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
Investment Adviser to:
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Distributor
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Transfer Agent
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET
MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
Investment Adviser to:
Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A7HD
Toll free (in U.S.) . . . 800-621-2550
INTRODUCTION
Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust) is an open-end, management investment company. The Trust is
organized as a Delaware statutory trust and was established by a Declaration of Trust dated January
28, 1997. The Trust is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust that was combined with the
Trust on April 30, 1997. The following series of the Trust are described in this Additional
Statement: Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund (Structured Small Cap Value Fund),
Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund (Structured Small Cap Growth Fund) and Goldman
Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund (Strategic International Equity Fund) (collectively
referred to herein as the Funds).
The Trustees of the Trust have authority under the Declaration of Trust to create and classify
shares into separate series and to classify and reclassify any series or portfolio of shares into
one or more classes without further action by shareholders. Pursuant thereto, the Trustees have
created the Funds and other series. Additional series may be added in the future from time to
time. Each Fund currently offers five classes of shares: Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C
Shares, Service Shares and Institutional Shares. See Shares of the Trust.
The Structured Small Cap Value Fund, Structured Small Cap Growth Fund and Strategic
International Equity Fund are newly organized funds that have been created in connection with the
acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund, AXA
Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund and AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund of AXA Enterprise
Funds Trust (Enterprise Trust) (each, a Predecessor Fund and collectively, the Predecessor
Funds), respectively. The Predecessor Funds, for purposes of the reorganization, are considered
the accounting survivors and accordingly, certain financial history of the Predecessor Funds is
included in this statement of additional information.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM), an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Goldman
Sachs) serves as the Investment Adviser to the Structured Small Cap Value and Structured Small Cap
Growth Funds. Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (GSAMI) serves as the Investment
Adviser to the Strategic International Equity Fund. GSAM and GSAMI are sometimes individually
referred to as an Investment Adviser and collectively herein as the Investment Advisers. In
addition, Goldman Sachs serves as each Funds distributor and transfer agent. State Street Bank
and Trust Company (State Street) serves as the custodian to the Structured Small Cap Value and
Structured Small Cap Growth Funds. JPMorganChase Bank, N.A. (JPMorganChase) serves as the
custodian to the Strategic International Equity Fund.
The following information relates to and supplements the description of each Funds investment
policies contained in the Prospectuses. See the Prospectuses for a more complete description of
the Funds investment objectives and policies. Investing in the Funds entails certain risks and
there is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectuses.
B-1
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
Each Fund has a distinct investment objective and policies. There can be no assurance that a
Funds objective will be achieved. Each Fund is a diversified open-end management company as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Act). The investment objective
and policies of each Fund, and the associated risks of each Fund, are discussed in the Funds
Prospectuses, which should be read carefully before an investment is made. All investment
objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed
without shareholder approval. However, with respect to the Structured Small Cap Value, Structured
Small Cap Growth and Strategic International Equity Funds, to the extent required by U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty
days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Funds policy to invest at
least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of
purchase) or total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that
collateral) in the particular type of investment suggested by its name. Additional information
about the Funds, their policies, and the investment instruments they may hold, is provided below.
Each Funds share price will fluctuate with market, economic and, to the extent applicable,
foreign exchange conditions, so that an investment in any of the Funds may be worth more or less
when redeemed than when purchased. None of the Funds should be relied upon as a complete
investment program.
The following discussion supplements the information in the Funds Prospectuses.
General Information Regarding The Funds
The Investment Adviser may purchase for the Funds common stocks, preferred stocks, interests
in real estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks,
equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar
enterprises, warrants and stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments that have
economic characteristics similar to equity securities (equity investments). The Investment
Adviser utilizes first-hand fundamental research, including visiting company facilities to assess
operations and to meet decision-makers, in choosing a Funds securities. The Investment Adviser
may also use macro analysis of numerous economic and valuation variables to anticipate changes in
company earnings and the overall investment climate. The Investment Adviser is able to draw on the
research and market expertise of the Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Department and other
affiliates of the Investment Adviser, as well as information provided by other securities dealers.
Equity investments in a Funds portfolio will generally be sold when the Investment Adviser
believes that the market price fully reflects or exceeds the investments fundamental valuation or
when other more attractive investments are identified.
Quantitative Style Funds.
The Structured Small Cap Value and Structured Small Cap Growth
Funds (the Structured Equity Funds) are managed using both quantitative and fundamental
techniques. The investment process and the proprietary multifactor model used to implement it are
discussed below.
Investment Process
.
The Investment Adviser begins with a broad universe of U.S. equity
investments for the Structured Equity Funds. As described more fully below, the Investment Adviser
uses
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a proprietary multifactor model (the Multifactor Model) to forecast the returns of different
markets, currencies and individual securities.
In building a diversified portfolio for each Structured Equity Fund, the Investment Adviser
utilizes optimization techniques to seek to construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio
given each Structured Funds benchmark. Each portfolio is primarily composed of securities that the
Investment Adviser believes maximize the portfolios risk/return tradeoff characteristics. Each
portfolio holds industry weightings similar to those of the relevant Funds benchmark.
Multifactor Model
.
The Multifactor Model is a rigorous computerized rating system for
forecasting the returns of different equity markets, currencies and individual equity investments
according to fundamental investment characteristics. The Structured Equity Funds use one
Multifactor Model to forecast the returns of securities in the relevant forecast universe. The
Multifactor Model incorporates such variables as measures of value, price momentum, profitability,
earnings quality, management impact and analyst sentiment. All of the factors used in the
Multifactor Model have been shown to significantly impact the performance of the securities,
currencies and markets in the forecast universe.
The weightings assigned to the factors in the Multifactor Model used by the Structured Equity
Funds are derived using a statistical formulation that considers each factors historical
performance, volatility and stability of ranking in different market environments. As such, the
Multifactor Model is designed to evaluate each security using factors that are statistically
related to returns over the long run. Because it includes many disparate factors, the Investment
Adviser believes that the Multifactor Model is broader in scope and provides a more thorough
evaluation than traditional investment processes. Securities and markets ranked highest by the
Multifactor Model do not have one dominant investment characteristic; rather, they possess an
attractive combination of investment characteristics. By using a variety of relevant factors to
select securities, currencies or markets, the Investment Adviser believes that the Fund will be
better balanced and have more consistent performance than an investment portfolio that uses only
one or two factors to select such investments.
The Investment Adviser will monitor, and may occasionally suggest and make changes to, the
method by which securities, currencies or markets are selected for or weighted in a Fund. Such
changes (which may be the result of changes in the Multifactor Model or the method of applying the
Multifactor Model) may include: (i) evolutionary changes to the structure of the Multifactor Model
(
e.g.
, the addition of new factors or a new means of weighting the factors); (ii) changes in
trading procedures (
e.g.
, trading frequency or the manner in which a Fund uses futures); or (iii)
changes in the method by which securities, currencies or markets are weighted in a Fund. Any such
changes will preserve a Funds basic investment philosophy of combining qualitative and
quantitative methods of selecting securities using a disciplined investment process.
Other Information
.
Since normal settlement for equity investments is three trading days (for
certain international markets settlement may be longer), the Funds will need to hold cash balances
to satisfy shareholder redemption requests. Such cash balances will normally range from 2% to 5%
of a Funds net assets. The Structured Equity Funds may enter into futures transactions only with
respect to a representative index in order to keep a Funds effective equity exposure close to
100%. For example, if cash balances are equal to 5% of the net assets, the Fund may enter into
long futures contracts
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covering an amount equal to 5% of the Funds net assets. As cash balances fluctuate based on new
contributions or withdrawals, a Fund may enter into additional contracts or close out existing
positions.
Actively Managed Strategic International Equity Fund.
The Strategic International Equity Fund
is managed using an active international approach, which utilizes a consistent process of stock
selection undertaken by portfolio management teams located within each of the major investment
regions, including Europe, Japan, Asia and the United States. In selecting securities, the
Investment Adviser uses a bottom-up strategy based on first-hand fundamental research that is
designed to give broad exposure to the available opportunities while seeking to add return
primarily through stock selection. Equity investments for the Fund are evaluated based on three
key factorsthe business, the management and the valuation. The Investment Adviser ordinarily
seeks securities that have, in the Investment Advisers opinion, superior earnings growth
potential, sustainable franchise value with management attuned to creating shareholder value and
relatively discounted valuations. In addition, the Investment Adviser uses a multi-factor risk
model which seeks to ensure that deviations from the benchmark are justifiable.
Additional Information About the Strategic International Equity Fund
The Strategic International Equity Fund invests, under normal circumstances, substantially
all, and at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at
the time of purchase) in equity investments of companies that are organized outside the United
States or whose securities are principally traded outside the United States.
The Strategic International Equity Funds Investment Advisor believes that outperformance
achieved by investing in companies that demonstrate long-term earnings power, when purchased at
attractive prices.
The Investment Advisors Strategic International Equity strategy is defined by a bottom-up,
research driven approach to investing that seeks to identify the most attractive investment
opportunities from a broad opportunity set and not to restrict itself to investing in only value
or growth stocks. The following strengths are deemed key to the success of this investment
strategy:
Extensive resources
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Deep research team
: A broad and deep research network comprises 45+ fundamental equity
research analysts focused on generating the best investment ideas from around the world for
the Strategic International Equity Fund.
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Local presence and global perspective
: Research analysts are located in Tokyo,
Singapore, Shanghai, London, New York, Boston and Mumbai. This local presence ensures that
the team conducts the frequency of meetings with company managements necessary to truly
understand the businesses, while a familiarity with local languages, traditions and customs
facilitates communication and the flow of information and insights from the managements
during these meetings.
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B-4
Team-based approach
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Experienced Portfolio Management team
: GSAMIs International Equity team comprises
seven portfolio investment professionals with 15 years average investment experience. The
team is headed by Mark Beveridge, CFA, who serves as Chief Investment Officer of Non-US
Active Equity and has 21 years of investment experience. This depth of experience
facilitates effective analysis of potential investment ideas for inclusion in the
Concentrated International Equity Fund.
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Multiple teams discussing each stock
: Investment ideas are first debated within the
regional research teams, then presented to the broader research network at the twice-weekly
Global Research Calls. Only if an idea is approved for the Buy List do the portfolio
managers consider whether it warrants inclusion in the investment portfolio of the
Strategic International Equity Fund. This team-based approach enriches debate, strengthens
the consistency of the Investment Advisers process and enhances the quality of its
investment decisions.
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Disciplined research
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Focus on long-term earnings power
: The International Equity team defines long-term
earnings power as the ability of a company to generate strong, sustainable earnings and to
create value for shareholders. This concept is critical to how the team thinks about
valuation. This focus on companies normalized earnings is deemed key to successful stock
comparison and selection, and that a long-term view provides the opportunity to uncover
mis-priced securities overlooked by the markets short-term focus.
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Common valuation framework
: A common valuation framework is used to ensure consistency
when research analysts are valuing a company and comparing it to its peers globally,
improve the dialogue between analysts and allows the portfolio managers to identify and
purchase the best holding in any given industry.
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Corporate Debt Obligations
Each Fund may, under normal market conditions, invest in corporate debt obligations, including
obligations of industrial, utility and financial issuers. Corporate debt obligations include
bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal.
The Structured Equity Funds may only invest in debt securities that are cash equivalents.
Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuers inability to meet principal and
interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to price volatility due to such
factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and
general market liquidity.
An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers of junk
bond securities to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity.
Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of junk bonds will have an adverse effect on a
Funds net asset value to the extent it invests in such securities. In addition, a Fund may incur
additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of
principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.
The secondary market for junk bonds, which is concentrated in relatively few market makers,
may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities. This reduced
liquidity may have
B-5
an adverse effect on the ability of the Strategic International Equity Fund to dispose of a
particular security when necessary to meet its redemption requests or other liquidity needs. Under
adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for junk bonds could contract further,
independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. As a result,
the Investment Advisers could find it difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the
securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon
the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under such circumstances, may be less than the
prices used in calculating a Funds net asset value.
Since investors generally perceive that there are greater risks associated with the medium to
lower rated securities of the type in which the Strategic International Equity Fund may invest, the
yields and prices of such securities may tend to fluctuate more than those for higher rated
securities. In the lower quality segments of the fixed-income securities market, changes in
perceptions of issuers creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more pronounced
manner than do changes in higher quality segments of the fixed-income securities market, resulting
in greater yield and price volatility.
Another factor which causes fluctuations in the prices of fixed-income securities is the
supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the prices of fixed-income
securities fluctuate in response to the general level of interest rates. Fluctuations in the
prices of portfolio securities subsequent to their acquisition will not affect cash income from
such securities but will be reflected in a Funds net asset value.
Medium to lower rated and comparable non-rated securities tend to offer higher yields than
higher rated securities with the same maturities because the historical financial condition of the
issuers of such securities may not have been as strong as that of other issuers. Since medium to
lower rated securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than higher
rated securities, investors should consider carefully the relative risks associated with investment
in securities which carry medium to lower ratings and in comparable unrated securities. In
addition to the risk of default, there are the related costs of recovery on defaulted issues. The
Investment Adviser will attempt to reduce these risks through portfolio diversification and by
analysis of each issuer and its ability to make timely payments of income and principal, as well as
broad economic trends and corporate developments.
The Investment Adviser employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of
existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuers
sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the current trend of earnings. The
Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in a Funds portfolio and evaluates whether
to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may
have changed.
Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations
The Funds may invest in commercial paper and other short-term obligations issued or guaranteed
by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Commercial paper represents
short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies,
corporations and finance companies.
B-6
U.S. Government Securities
Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. Some U.S. Government Securities (such as
Treasury bills, notes and bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of
issuance) are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others, such as
obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises, are supported either by (i) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury,
(ii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the
issuer or (iii) only the credit of the issuer. The U.S. government is under no legal obligation,
in general, to purchase the obligations of its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored
enterprises. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to
the U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises in the future.
U.S. Government Securities include (to the extent consistent with the Act) securities for
which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by
the U.S. government, or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government
Securities may also include (to the extent consistent with the Act) participations in loans made to
foreign governments or their agencies that are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S.
government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The secondary market for
certain of these participations is extremely limited. In the absence of a suitable secondary
market, such participations are regarded as illiquid.
Each Fund may also purchase U.S. Government Securities in private placements and may also
invest in separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by
the U.S. Treasury that are traded independently under the separate trading of registered interest
and principal of securities program (STRIPS). Each Fund may also invest in zero coupon U.S.
Treasury Securities and in zero coupon securities issued by financial institutions which represent
a proportionate interest in underlying U.S. Treasury Securities. A zero coupon security pays no
interest to its holder during its life and its value consists of the difference between its face
value at maturity and its cost. The market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more
volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically.
Bank Obligations
Each Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank
obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers acceptances and certificates of
deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by
the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation.
Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the
amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition,
the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of
funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.
General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial
difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.
B-7
Zero Coupon Bonds
Each Funds investments in fixed-income securities may include zero coupon bonds. Zero coupon
bonds are debt obligations issued or purchased at a discount from face value. The discount
approximates the total amount of interest the bonds would have accrued and compounded over the
period until maturity. Zero coupon bonds do not require the periodic payment of interest. Such
investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service but also
require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of such cash.
Such investments may experience greater volatility in market value than debt obligations which
provide for regular payments of interest. In addition, if an issuer of zero coupon bonds held by a
Fund defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. A Fund will accrue income
on such investments for each taxable year which (net of deductible expenses, if any) is
distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is generally received at the time of
accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to
satisfy the Funds distribution obligations.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities
The interest rates payable on certain fixed-income securities in which a Fund may invest are
not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. A variable rate obligation has an
interest rate which is adjusted at pre-designated periods in response to changes in the market rate
of interest on which the interest rate is based. Variable and floating rate obligations are less
effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in a particular yield. Nevertheless, such
obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between
changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other
reasons.
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
Each Fund may invest in custodial receipts and trust certificates, which may be underwritten
by securities dealers or banks, representing interests in securities held by a custodian or
trustee. The securities so held may include U.S. Government securities, municipal securities or
other types of securities in which the Funds may invest. The custodial receipts or trust
certificates are underwritten by securities dealers or banks and may evidence ownership of future
interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the
payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other
arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain securities laws purposes, custodial
receipts and trust certificates may not be considered obligations of the U.S. Government or other
issuer of the securities held by the custodian or trustee. As a holder of custodial receipts and
trust certificates, the Funds will bear their proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged
to the custodial account or trust. The Funds may also invest in separately issued interests in
custodial receipts and trust certificates.
Although under the terms of a custodial receipt or trust certificate the Funds would be
typically authorized to assert their rights directly against the issuer of the underlying
obligation, the Funds could be required to assert through the custodian bank or trustee those
rights as may exist against the underlying issuers. Thus, in the event an underlying issuer fails
to pay principal and/or interest when due, the Funds may be subject to delays, expenses and risks
that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Funds had purchased a direct
obligation of the issuer. In addition, in the event that the trust or
B-8
custodial account in which the underlying securities have been deposited is determined to be an
association taxable as a corporation, instead of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying
securities would be reduced in recognition of any taxes paid.
Certain custodial receipts and trust certificates may be synthetic or derivative instruments
that have interest rates that reset inversely to changing short-term rates and/or have embedded
interest rate floors and caps that require the issuer to pay an adjusted interest rate if market
rates fall below or rise above a specified rate. Because some of these instruments represent
relatively recent innovations, and the trading market for these instruments is less developed than
the markets for traditional types of instruments, it is uncertain how these instruments will
perform under different economic and interest-rate scenarios. Also, because these instruments may
be leveraged, their market values may be more volatile than other types of fixed income instruments
and may present greater potential for capital gain or loss. The possibility of default by an
issuer or the issuers credit provider may be greater for these derivative instruments than for
other types of instruments. In some cases, it may be difficult to determine the fair value of a
derivative instrument because of a lack of reliable objective information and an established
secondary market for some instruments may not exist. In many cases, the Internal Revenue Service
has not ruled on the tax treatment of the interest or payments received on the derivative
instruments and, accordingly, purchases of such instruments are based on the opinion of counsel to
the sponsors of the instruments.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
General Characteristics.
The Strategic International Equity Fund may invest in
mortgage-backed securities. Each mortgage pool underlying mortgage-backed securities consists of
mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by first mortgages or first deeds of trust or
other similar security instruments creating a first lien on owner occupied and non-owner occupied
one-unit to four-unit residential properties, multifamily (
i.e.
, five or more) properties,
agricultural properties, commercial properties and mixed use properties (the Mortgaged
Properties). The Mortgaged Properties may consist of detached individual dwelling units,
multifamily dwelling units, individual condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes,
row houses, individual units in planned unit developments and other attached dwelling units. The
Mortgaged Properties may also include residential investment properties and second homes.
The investment characteristics of adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities differ
from those of traditional fixed-income securities. The major differences include the payment of
interest and principal on mortgage-backed securities on a more frequent (usually monthly) schedule,
and the possibility that principal may be prepaid at any time due to prepayments on the underlying
mortgage loans or other assets. These differences can result in significantly greater price and
yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed-income securities. As a result, if the
Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a premium, a faster than expected prepayment rate will
reduce both the market value and the yield to maturity from those which were anticipated. A
prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing yield to
maturity and market value. Conversely, if the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a
discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase, while slower than expected prepayments
will reduce yield to maturity and market values. To the extent that the Fund invests in
mortgage-backed securities, its Investment Adviser may seek to manage these potential risks by
investing in a variety of mortgage-backed securities and by using certain hedging techniques.
B-9
Government Guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities.
There are several types of government
guaranteed mortgage-backed securities currently available, including guaranteed mortgage
pass-through certificates and multiple class securities, which include guaranteed Real Estate
Mortgage Investment Conduit Certificates (REMIC Certificates), other collateralized mortgage
obligations and stripped mortgage-backed securities. The Fund is permitted to invest in other
types of mortgage-backed securities that may be available in the future to the extent consistent
with its investment policies and objective.
The Funds investments in mortgage-backed securities may include securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or
sponsored enterprises, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(Freddie Mac). Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government, which means that the U.S. Government guarantees that the interest and principal will be
paid when due. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. Government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the ability to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury, and as a result, they are generally viewed by the market as high quality securities with
low credit risks. From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the
purpose of restricting or eliminating federal sponsorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that issue
guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. The Trust cannot predict what legislation, if any, may be
proposed in the future in Congress as regards such sponsorship or which proposals, if any, might be
enacted. Such proposals, if enacted, might materially and adversely affect the availability of
government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities and the Funds liquidity and value.
There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies,
authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The Fund may purchase U.S. Government
securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those
issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S.
Government securities held by the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their
legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the
funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
Ginnie Mae Certificates.
Ginnie Mae is a wholly-owned corporate instrumentality of the United
States. Ginnie Mae is authorized to guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest
on certificates that are based on and backed by a pool of mortgage loans insured by the Federal
Housing Administration (FHA Loans), or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA Loans), or
by pools of other eligible mortgage loans. In order to meet its obligations under any guaranty,
Ginnie Mae is authorized to borrow from the United States Treasury in an unlimited amount. The
National Housing Act provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the
timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae of amounts due on Ginnie Mae certificates.
Fannie Mae Certificates.
Fannie Mae is a stockholder-owned corporation chartered under an act
of the United States Congress. Generally, Fannie Mae Certificates are issued and guaranteed by
Fannie Mae and represent an undivided interest in a pool of mortgage loans (a Pool) formed by
Fannie Mae. Each Pool consists of residential mortgage loans (Mortgage Loans) either previously
owned by Fannie Mae or purchased by it in connection with the formation of the Pool. The Mortgage
Loans may be either conventional Mortgage Loans (
i.e.
, not insured or guaranteed by any U.S.
Government agency) or Mortgage Loans that are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA) or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA). However, the Mortgage Loans in Fannie
Mae Pools are primarily
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conventional Mortgage Loans. The lenders originating and servicing the Mortgage Loans are subject
to certain eligibility requirements established by Fannie Mae.
Fannie Mae has certain contractual responsibilities. With respect to each Pool, Fannie Mae is
obligated to distribute scheduled installments of principal and interest after Fannie Maes
servicing and guaranty fee, whether or not received, to Certificate holders. Fannie Mae also is
obligated to distribute to holders of Certificates an amount equal to the full principal balance of
any foreclosed Mortgage Loan, whether or not such principal balance is actually recovered. The
obligations of Fannie Mae under its guaranty of the Fannie Mae Certificates are obligations solely
of Fannie Mae.
Freddie Mac Certificates.
Freddie Mac is a publicly held U.S. Government sponsored
enterprise. The principal activity of Freddie Mac currently is the purchase of first lien,
conventional, residential mortgage loans and participation interests in such mortgage loans and
their resale in the form of mortgage securities, primarily Freddie Mac Certificates. A Freddie Mac
Certificate represents a pro rata interest in a group of mortgage loans or participations in
mortgage loans (a Freddie Mac Certificate group) purchased by Freddie Mac.
Freddie Mac guarantees to each registered holder of a Freddie Mac Certificate the timely
payment of interest at the rate provided for by such Freddie Mac Certificate (whether or not
received on the underlying loans). Freddie Mac also guarantees to each registered Certificate
holder an ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans, without any offset or
deduction, but does not, generally, guarantee the timely payment of scheduled principal. The
obligations of Freddie Mac under its guaranty of Freddie Mac Certificates are obligations solely of
Freddie Mac.
The mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Certificates consist of
adjustable rate or fixed-rate mortgage loans with original terms to maturity of up to forty years.
Substantially all of these mortgage loans are secured by first liens on one-to-four-family
residential properties or multi-family projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable
standards set forth in the law creating Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group
may include whole loans, participation interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans
and participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.
Conventional Mortgage Loans.
The conventional mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and
Fannie Mae Certificates consist of adjustable rate or fixed-rate mortgage loans normally with
original terms to maturity of between five and thirty years. Substantially all of these mortgage
loans are secured by first liens on one- to four-family residential properties or multi-family
projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the law creating
Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation
interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans and participations comprising another
Freddie Mac Certificate group.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities.
The Strategic International Equity Fund may invest in both
government guaranteed and privately issued mortgage pass-through securities (Mortgage
Pass-Throughs); that is, fixed or adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities which provide for
monthly payments that are a pass-through of the monthly interest and principal payments
(including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of
any fees or other amounts paid to any guarantor, administrator and/or servicer of the underlying
mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make
representations and warranties to
B-11
certificate holders as to certain characteristics of the mortgage loans and as to the accuracy of
certain information furnished to the trustee in respect of each such mortgage loan. Upon a breach
of any representation or warranty that materially and adversely affects the interests of the
related certificate holders in a mortgage loan, the seller or servicer may be obligated either to
cure the breach in all material respects, to repurchase the mortgage loan or, if the related
agreement so provides, to substitute in its place a mortgage loan pursuant to the conditions set
forth therein. Such a repurchase or substitution obligation may constitute the sole remedy
available to the related certificate holders or the trustee for the material breach of any such
representation or warranty by the seller or servicer.
The following discussion describes only a few of the wide variety of structures of Mortgage
Pass-Throughs that are available or may be issued.
Description of Certificates.
Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be issued in one or more classes of
senior certificates and one or more classes of subordinate certificates. Each such class may bear
a different pass-through rate. Generally, each certificate will evidence the specified interest of
the holder thereof in the payments of principal or interest or both in respect of the mortgage pool
comprising part of the trust fund for such certificates.
Any class of certificates may also be divided into subclasses entitled to varying amounts of
principal and interest. If a REMIC election has been made, certificates of such subclasses may be
entitled to payments on the basis of a stated principal balance and stated interest rate, and
payments among different subclasses may be made on a sequential, concurrent,
pro
rata
or
disproportionate basis, or any combination thereof. The stated interest rate on any such subclass
of certificates may be a fixed rate or one which varies in direct or inverse relationship to an
objective interest index.
Generally, each registered holder of a certificate will be entitled to receive its
pro
rata
share of monthly distributions of all or a portion of principal of the underlying mortgage loans or
of interest on the principal balances thereof, which accrues at the applicable mortgage
pass-through rate, or both. The difference between the mortgage interest rate and the related
mortgage pass-through rate (less the amount, if any, of retained yield) with respect to each
mortgage loan will generally be paid to the servicer as a servicing fee. Since certain adjustable
rate mortgage loans included in a mortgage pool may provide for deferred interest (
i.e.
, negative
amortization), the amount of interest actually paid by a mortgagor in any month may be less than
the amount of interest accrued on the outstanding principal balance of the related mortgage loan
during the relevant period at the applicable mortgage interest rate. In such event, the amount of
interest that is treated as deferred interest will generally be added to the principal balance of
the related mortgage loan and will be distributed
pro
rata
to certificate-holders as principal of
such mortgage loan when paid by the mortgagor in subsequent monthly payments or at maturity.
Ratings.
The ratings assigned by a rating organization to Mortgage Pass-Throughs address the
likelihood of the receipt of all distributions on the underlying mortgage loans by the related
certificate-holders under the agreements pursuant to which such certificates are issued. A rating
organizations ratings normally take into consideration the credit quality of the related mortgage
pool, including any credit support providers, structural and legal aspects associated with such
certificates, and the extent to which the payment stream on such mortgage pool is adequate to make
payments required by such certificates. A rating organizations ratings on such certificates do
not, however, constitute a statement regarding frequency of prepayments on the related mortgage
loans. In addition, the rating assigned by a
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rating organization to a certificate may not address the remote possibility that, in the event of
the insolvency of the issuer of certificates where a subordinated interest was retained, the
issuance and sale of the senior certificates may be recharacterized as a financing and, as a result
of such recharacterization, payments on such certificates may be affected.
Credit Enhancement.
Mortgage pools created by non-governmental issuers generally offer a
higher yield than government and government-related pools because of the absence of direct or
indirect government or agency payment guarantees. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on
underlying assets to make payments, mortgage pass-throughs may contain elements of credit support.
Credit support falls generally into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection
against losses resulting from default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection
refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pools of mortgages,
the provision of a reserve fund, or a combination thereof, to ensure, subject to certain
limitations, that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion.
Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at
least a portion of the assets in the pool. Such credit support can be provided by, among other
things, payment guarantees, letters of credit, pool insurance, subordination, or any combination
thereof.
Subordination; Shifting of Interest; Reserve Fund.
In order to achieve ratings on one or more
classes of Mortgage Pass-Throughs, one or more classes of certificates may be subordinate
certificates which provide that the rights of the subordinate certificate-holders to receive any or
a specified portion of distributions with respect to the underlying mortgage loans may be
subordinated to the rights of the senior certificate-holders. If so structured, the subordination
feature may be enhanced by distributing to the senior certificate-holders on certain distribution
dates, as payment of principal, a specified percentage (which generally declines over time) of all
principal payments received during the preceding prepayment period (shifting interest credit
enhancement). This will have the effect of accelerating the amortization of the senior
certificates while increasing the interest in the trust fund evidenced by the subordinate
certificates. Increasing the interest of the subordinate certificates relative to that of the
senior certificates is intended to preserve the availability of the subordination provided by the
subordinate certificates. In addition, because the senior certificate-holders in a shifting
interest credit enhancement structure are entitled to receive a percentage of principal prepayments
which is greater than their proportionate interest in the trust fund, the rate of principal
prepayments on the mortgage loans may have an even greater effect on the rate of principal payments
and the amount of interest payments on, and the yield to maturity of, the senior certificates.
In addition to providing for a preferential right of the senior certificate-holders to receive
current distributions from the mortgage pool, a reserve fund may be established relating to such
certificates (the Reserve Fund). The Reserve Fund may be created with an initial cash deposit by
the originator or servicer and augmented by the retention of distributions otherwise available to
the subordinate certificate-holders or by excess servicing fees until the Reserve Fund reaches a
specified amount.
The subordination feature, and any Reserve Fund, are intended to enhance the likelihood of
timely receipt by senior certificate-holders of the full amount of scheduled monthly payments of
principal and interest due them and will protect the senior certificate-holders against certain
losses; however, in certain circumstances the Reserve Fund could be depleted and temporary
shortfalls could result. In the event the Reserve Fund is depleted before the subordinated amount
is reduced to zero, senior certificate-holders will nevertheless have a preferential right to
receive current distributions from the mortgage pool to the extent
B-13
of the then outstanding subordinated amount. Unless otherwise specified, until the subordinated
amount is reduced to zero, on any distribution date any amount otherwise distributable to the
subordinate certificates or, to the extent specified, in the Reserve Fund will generally be used to
offset the amount of any losses realized with respect to the mortgage loans (Realized Losses).
Realized Losses remaining after application of such amounts will generally be applied to reduce the
ownership interest of the subordinate certificates in the mortgage pool. If the subordinated
amount has been reduced to zero, Realized Losses generally will be allocated
pro
rata
among all
certificate-holders in proportion to their respective outstanding interests in the mortgage pool.
Alternative Credit Enhancement.
As an alternative, or in addition to the credit enhancement
afforded by subordination, credit enhancement for Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be provided by
mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, by the deposit of cash, certificates of deposit, letters of
credit, a limited guaranty or by such other methods as are acceptable to a rating agency. In
certain circumstances, such as where credit enhancement is provided by guarantees or a letter of
credit, the security is subject to credit risk because of its exposure to an external credit
enhancement provider.
Voluntary Advances.
Generally, in the event of delinquencies in payments on the mortgage
loans underlying the Mortgage Pass-Throughs, the servicer agrees to make advances of cash for the
benefit of certificate-holders, but generally will do so only to the extent that it determines such
voluntary advances will be recoverable from future payments and collections on the mortgage loans
or otherwise.
Optional Termination.
Generally, the servicer may, at its option with respect to any
certificates, repurchase all of the underlying mortgage loans remaining outstanding at such time if
the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such mortgage loans is less than a specified
percentage (generally 5-10%) of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loans
as of the cut-off date specified with respect to such series.
Multiple Class Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations.
The
Strategic International Equity Fund may invest in multiple class securities including
collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and REMIC Certificates. These securities may be
issued by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae
or Freddie Mac or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans,
including savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies,
investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. In general, CMOs are debt
obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by, and multiple class mortgage-backed
securities represent direct ownership interests in, a pool of mortgage loans or mortgage-backed
securities the payments on which are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple class
mortgage-backed securities.
Fannie Mae REMIC Certificates are issued and guaranteed as to timely distribution of principal
and interest by Fannie Mae. In addition, Fannie Mae will be obligated to distribute the principal
balance of each class of REMIC Certificates in full, whether or not sufficient funds are otherwise
available.
Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest on Freddie Mac REMIC Certificates and
also guarantees the payment of principal as payments are required to be made on the underlying
mortgage participation certificates (PCs). PCs represent undivided interests in specified level
payment, residential mortgages or participations therein purchased by Freddie Mac and placed in a
PC pool. With respect to
B-14
principal payments on PCs, Freddie Mac generally guarantees ultimate collection of all principal of
the related mortgage loans without offset or deduction but the receipt of the required payments may
be delayed. Freddie Mac also guarantees timely payment of principal of certain PCs.
CMOs and guaranteed REMIC Certificates issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are types of
multiple class mortgage-backed securities. The REMIC Certificates represent beneficial ownership
interests in a REMIC trust, generally consisting of mortgage loans or Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or
Ginnie Mae guaranteed mortgage-backed securities (the Mortgage Assets). The obligations of
Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac under their respective guaranty of the REMIC Certificates are obligations
solely of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, respectively.
CMOs and REMIC Certificates are issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs or REMIC
Certificates, often referred to as a tranche, is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed
interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Principal
prepayments on the Mortgage Loans or the Mortgage Assets underlying the CMOs or REMIC Certificates
may cause some or all of the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates to be retired substantially
earlier than their final distribution dates. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes
of CMOs or REMIC Certificates on a monthly basis.
The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several
classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in various ways. In certain structures (known as sequential
pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates), payments of principal, including any principal prepayments, on
the Mortgage Assets generally are applied to the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in the order
of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made on any
class of sequential pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates until all other classes having an earlier final
distribution date have been paid in full.
Additional structures of CMOs and REMIC Certificates include, among others, parallel pay
CMOs and REMIC Certificates. Parallel pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates are those which are
structured to apply principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets to two or more
classes concurrently on a proportionate or disproportionate basis. These simultaneous payments are
taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class.
A wide variety of REMIC Certificates may be issued in parallel pay or sequential pay
structures. These securities include accrual certificates (also known as Z-Bonds), which only
accrue interest at a specified rate until all other certificates having an earlier final
distribution date have been retired and are converted thereafter to an interest-paying security,
and planned amortization class (PAC) certificates, which are parallel pay REMIC Certificates that
generally require that specified amounts of principal be applied on each payment date to one or
more classes or REMIC Certificates (the PAC Certificates), even though all other principal
payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets are then required to be applied to one or more
other classes of the PAC Certificates. The scheduled principal payments for the PAC Certificates
generally have the highest priority on each payment date after interest due has been paid to all
classes entitled to receive interest currently. Shortfalls, if any, are added to the amount
payable on the next payment date. The PAC Certificate payment schedule is taken into account in
calculating the final distribution date of each class of PAC. In order to create PAC tranches, one
or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the underlying
mortgage assets. These tranches tend to have market prices and yields that are much more volatile
than other PAC classes.
B-15
Asset-Backed Securities
The Strategic International Equity Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed
securities represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, assets such as motor
vehicle installment sales, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal
property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of
receivables. Such assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose
corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest may be guaranteed up to certain
amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a
financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may
be present.
Such securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date
would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans.
During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset backed securities
can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, a Funds ability to maintain positions in such
securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from
prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject
to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. To the extent that a Fund invests in
asset-backed securities, the values of such Funds portfolio securities will vary with changes in
market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of asset-backed
securities.
Asset-backed securities present certain additional risks because asset-backed securities
generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to
mortgage assets. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such
receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws,
many of which give such debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed on the credit cards,
thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles
rather than residential real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the loan
servicers to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these
obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior
to that of the holders of the asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of
vehicles involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws, the trustee
for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in the
underlying automobiles. Therefore, if the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its
payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to
possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Funds recoveries on repossessed collateral
may not be available to support payments on the securities.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
Each Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and may also purchase and write call and put
options on futures contracts. The Structured Equity Funds may only enter into such transactions
with respect to a representative index. The Strategic International Equity Fund may purchase and
sell futures contracts based on various securities, securities indices, foreign currencies and
other financial instruments and indices. Each Fund may engage in futures and related options
transactions in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest
rates, securities prices or, to the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange
rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and
B-16
duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. Each Fund may also enter into
closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Trust, on
behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool
operator under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or
regulation as a pool operator under that Act with respect to the Funds.
Futures contracts entered into by a Fund have historically been traded on U.S. exchanges or
boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the
CFTC) or with respect to certain funds, on foreign exchanges. More recently, certain futures may
also be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as derivatives transaction
execution facilities, exempt boards of trade or electronic trading facilities that are licensed
and/or regulated to varying degrees by the CFTC. Also, certain single stock futures and narrow
based security index futures may be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as
contract markets, derivatives transaction execution facilities and electronic trading facilities
that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by both the CFTC and the SEC, or on foreign
exchanges.
Neither the CFTC, National Futures Association, SEC nor any domestic exchange regulates
activities of any foreign exchange or boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and
clearing of transactions, or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign exchange
or board of trade or any applicable foreign law. This is true even if the exchange is formally
linked to a domestic market so that a position taken on the market may be liquidated by a
transaction on another market. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the
foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs. For these
reasons, a Funds investments in foreign futures or foreign options transactions may not be
provided the same protections in respect of transactions on United States exchanges. In
particular, persons who trade foreign futures or foreign options contracts may not be afforded
certain of the protective measures provided by the Commodity Exchange Act, the CFTCs regulations
and the rules of the National Futures Association and any domestic exchange, including the right to
use reparations proceedings before the CFTC and arbitration proceedings provided by the National
Futures Association or any domestic futures exchange. Similarly, those persons may not have the
protection of the United States securities laws.
Futures Contracts
. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two
parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated
month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an
index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).
When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, a Fund can seek through the
sale of futures contracts to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities.
When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, a Fund, through the purchase of
futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in
the market when it effects anticipated purchases. Similarly, the Strategic International Equity
Fund can purchase and sell futures contracts on a specified currency in order to seek to increase
total return or to protect against changes in currency exchange rates. For example, the Strategic
International Equity Fund can purchase futures contracts on foreign currency to establish the price
in U.S. dollars of a security quoted or denominated in such currency that such Fund has acquired or
expects to acquire. As another example, certain Funds may enter into futures transactions to seek
a closer correlation between a Funds overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a
Funds performance benchmark.
B-17
Positions taken in the futures market are not normally held to maturity, but are instead
liquidated through offsetting transactions which may result in a profit or a loss. While a Fund
will usually liquidate futures contracts on securities or currency in this manner, a Fund may
instead make or take delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears
economically advantageous for the Fund to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the
exchange on which futures are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be
performed on the settlement date.
Hedging Strategies
. Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more
certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price, rate of return or currency exchange
rate on portfolio securities or securities that a Fund owns or proposes to acquire. A Fund may,
for example, take a short position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to
hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices or (other than
the Structured Equity Funds) foreign currency rates that would adversely affect the dollar value of
such Funds portfolio securities. Similarly, the Strategic International Equity Fund may sell
futures contracts on a currency in which its portfolio securities are quoted or denominated, or
sell futures contracts on one currency to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the value of
securities quoted or denominated in a different currency if there is an established historical
pattern of correlation between the two currencies. If, in the opinion of the applicable Investment
Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Funds portfolio
securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other
indices, a Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of a hedging strategy. Although
under some circumstances prices of securities in a Funds portfolio may be more or less volatile
than prices of such futures contracts, the Investment Advisers will attempt to estimate the extent
of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential
by having a Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by attempting to
achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting a Funds portfolio securities. When
hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will
be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand,
any unanticipated appreciation in the value of a Funds portfolio securities would be substantially
offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.
On other occasions, a Fund may take a long position by purchasing such futures contracts.
This may be done, for example, when a Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular
securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices or currency exchange rates then
available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices or rates that are currently
available.
Options on Futures Contracts
. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts
will give a Fund the right (but not the obligation), for a specified price, to sell or to purchase,
respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the
purchaser of an option on a futures contract, a Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if
prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable
price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.
The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially
offset a decline in the value of a Funds assets. By writing a call option, a Fund becomes
obligated, in exchange for the premium, to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised,
which may have a value higher than the exercise price. The writing of a put option on a futures
contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities
that a Fund intends to purchase. However, a Fund
B-18
becomes obligated (upon the exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is
exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by a Fund
in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium
received. A Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on
futures.
The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling
or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that
such closing transactions can be effected. A Funds ability to establish and close out positions
on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.
Other Considerations
. A Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related
options transactions only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) for maintaining its qualification as a
regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. Transactions in futures contracts
and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in certain cases,
require the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets. A Fund may cover its transactions in futures
contracts and related options through the segregation of cash or liquid assets or by other means,
in any manner permitted by applicable law.
While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such
transactions themselves entail certain other risks. Thus, unanticipated changes in interest rates,
securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance for a Fund
than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. When futures
contracts and options are used for hedging purposes, perfect correlation between a Funds futures
positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. In the event of an imperfect
correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected,
the desired protection may not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.
Perfect correlation between a Funds futures positions and portfolio positions will be
difficult to achieve, particularly where futures contracts based on individual equity or corporate
fixed-income securities are currently not available. In addition, it is not possible for a Fund to
hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities quoted or
denominated in foreign currencies because the value of such securities is likely to fluctuate as a
result of independent factors unrelated to currency fluctuations. The profitability of a Funds
trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Advisers to analyze correctly the
futures markets.
Options on Securities and Securities Indices
Writing Covered Options.
Each Fund may write (sell) covered call and put options on any
securities in which it may invest. A call option written by a Fund obligates such Fund to sell
specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised on
or before the expiration date. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of a call
option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the security over a fixed price
(the exercise price) on a certain date in the future (the expiration date) or (ii) has the
right to any appreciation in the value of the security over the exercise price at any time prior to
the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, a Fund pays the
purchaser the difference between the price of the security
B-19
and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the
security determine the gain or loss realized by a Fund as the seller of the call option. A Fund
can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In this
case, the cost of entering into closing purchase transactions will determine the gain or loss
realized by the Fund. All call options written by a Fund are covered, which means that such Fund
will own the securities subject to the option as long as the option is outstanding or such Fund
will use the other methods described below. A Funds purpose in writing covered call options is to
realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However,
a Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying
security.
A put option written by a Fund would obligate such Fund to purchase specified securities from
the option holder at a specified price if, depending upon the type of put option, either (i) the
option is exercised at any time on or before the expiration date or (ii) the option is exercised
on the expiration date. All put options written by a Fund would be covered, which means that such
Fund will segregate cash or liquid assets with a value at least equal to the exercise price of the
put option (less any margin on deposit) or will use the other methods described below. The purpose
of writing such options is to generate additional income for the Fund. However, in return for the
option premium, each Fund accepts the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying
securities at a price in excess of the securities market value at the time of purchase.
In the case of a call option, the option is covered if a Fund owns the instrument underlying
the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument without additional cash
consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, liquid assets in such amount are
segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other instruments held by it. A call option is also
covered if a Fund holds a call on the same instrument as the option written where the exercise
price of the option held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the option written, or
(ii) greater than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates liquid
assets in the amount of the difference. A Fund may also cover options on securities by segregating
cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin on
deposit, that is equal to the market value of the securities in the case of a call option. A put
option is also covered if a Fund holds a put on the same instrument as the option written where the
exercise price of the option held is (i) equal to or higher than the exercise price of the option
written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates
liquid assets in the amount of the difference.
A Fund may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index comprised of
securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on
securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does
not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are
designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market
rather than price fluctuations in a single security.
A Fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes
are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index, or by having an absolute and immediate
right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional
consideration which has been segregated by the Fund) upon conversion or exchange of other
securities in its portfolio. A Fund may also cover call and put options on a securities index by
segregating cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any
margin on deposit, that is equal to the market value of the underlying securities in the case of a
call option, or the exercise price in the case of a put option, or by owning offsetting options as
described above.
B-20
A Fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange traded call or put option by purchasing
an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be
terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to such option.
Such purchases are referred to as closing purchase transactions.
Purchasing Options.
Each Fund may purchase put and call options on any securities in which it
may invest or options on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest. A
Fund may also, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, purchase put and call options
on foreign currencies. A Fund may also enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize
gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.
A Fund may purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of
securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle a Fund,
in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the
option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during
the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium
paid and transaction costs; otherwise such a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the
purchase of the call option.
A Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the market value of securities
in its portfolio (protective puts) or in securities in which it may invest. The purchase of a
put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at
a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset
or hedge against a decline in the market value of a Funds securities. Put options may also be
purchased by a Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of
securities which it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option
period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to
more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise such a Fund would realize either no
gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective
put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying
portfolio securities.
A Fund would purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it
would purchase options on individual securities. For a description of options on securities
indices, see Writing Covered Options above.
Risks Associated with Options Transactions
. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary
market on an options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any
particular time. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to
covered options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or
dispose of segregated assets until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if a Fund is
unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it will have
to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the
purchase or sale of underlying securities.
Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following:
(i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed
by an exchange on opening or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or
other restrictions
B-21
may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or
the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume;
or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some
future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in
which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would
cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options
Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in
accordance with their terms.
There can be no assurance that higher trading activity, order flow or other unforeseen events
might, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation or various
exchanges inadequate. Such events have, in the past, resulted in the institution by an exchange of
special procedures, such as trading rotations, restrictions on certain types of order or trading
halts or suspensions with respect to one or more options. These special procedures may limit
liquidity. A Fund may purchase and sell both options that are traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges
and options traded over-the-counter with broker-dealers who make markets in these options. The
ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and
may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their
obligations.
Transactions by each Fund in options on securities and indices will be subject to limitations
established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such
options are traded governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or
purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert regardless of whether the
options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other
trading facility or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the
number of options which a Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or
purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Investment Advisers. An exchange, board of
trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of
these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.
The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment
techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities
transactions. The use of options to seek to increase total return involves the risk of loss if the
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest
rates. The successful use of options for hedging purposes also depends in part on the ability of
the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between
the options and securities (or currency) markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its
expectation of changes in securities prices or determination of the correlation between the
securities or securities indices on which options are written and purchased and the securities in a
Funds investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The
writing of options could increase a Funds portfolio turnover rate and, therefore, associated
brokerage commissions or spreads.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Each Fund may invest in shares of real estate investment trusts (REITs). REITs are pooled
investment vehicles which invest primarily in real estate or real estate related loans. REITs are
generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs.
Equity
B-22
REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily
from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties
that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate
mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Like regulated investment
companies such as the Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided
they comply with certain requirements under the Code. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate
share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by a Fund.
Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in
the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by
the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not
diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing
projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation,
and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under
the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from the Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs)
are also subject to interest rate risks.
Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
Each Fund may invest in warrants or rights (in addition to those acquired in units or attached
to other securities) which entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a
specific period of time. A Fund will invest in warrants and rights only if such equity securities
are deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser for investment by the Fund. The Structured Equity
Funds have no present intention of acquiring warrants or rights. Warrants and rights have no voting
rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Foreign Securities
Each Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. The Strategic International Equity
Fund will invest primarily in foreign securities under normal circumstances. With respect to the
Structured Equity Funds, equity securities of foreign issuers must be traded in the United States.
Investments in foreign securities may offer potential benefits not available from investments
solely in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of domestic issuers. Such benefits may
include the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear, in the opinion of the applicable
Investment Adviser, to offer the opportunity for potential long-term growth of capital and income,
the opportunity to invest in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different
from those of the United States and the opportunity to take advantage of foreign stock markets that
do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets.
Investing in foreign securities involves certain special risks, including those discussed in
the Funds Prospectuses and those set forth below, which are not typically associated with
investing in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in foreign
securities usually involve currencies of foreign countries. Accordingly, a Fund that invests in
foreign securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in
exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various
currencies. The Strategic International Equity Fund may be subject to currency exposure
independent of its securities positions. To the extent that a Fund is
B-23
fully invested in foreign securities while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed
to greater combined risk.
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They
generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the
relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or anticipated changes in interest
rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange
rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central
banks or the failure to intervene or by currency controls or political developments in the United
States or abroad.
Since foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies,
there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company.
Volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than in the United States and
securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. companies. The securities of foreign issuers may be listed on foreign securities
exchanges or traded in foreign over-the-counter markets. Fixed commissions on foreign securities
exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although each Fund
endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is
generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers,
dealers and listed and unlisted companies than in the United States, and the legal remedies for
investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States.
Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain
markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in
settlement could result in temporary periods when some of a Funds assets are uninvested and no
return is earned on such assets. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due
to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability
to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the
Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered
into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. In
addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, limitations on the movement of funds and other assets between different
countries, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect
a Funds investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ
favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national
product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments
position.
Each Fund may invest in foreign securities which take the form of sponsored and unsponsored
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and (except for the
Structured Equity Funds) may also invest in European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) or other similar
instruments representing securities of foreign issuers (together, Depositary Receipts).
ADRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a domestic bank
or a correspondent bank. ADRs are traded on domestic exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter
market and, generally, are in registered form. EDRs and GDRs are receipts evidencing an
arrangement with a non-
B-24
U.S. bank similar to that for ADRs and are designed for use in the non-U.S. securities markets.
EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.
To the extent a Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do not have a
contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts
to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there may be an increased possibility
that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock
splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack
of information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in
Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of
non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary Receipts is dependent upon the market value of
the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the
Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. However, by investing in Depositary
Receipts, such as ADRs, that are quoted in U.S. dollars, a Fund may avoid currency risks during the
settlement period for purchases and sales.
As described more fully below, the Strategic International Equity Fund may invest in countries
with emerging economies or securities markets. Political and economic structures in many of such
countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may
lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries.
Certain of such countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at
times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks
described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be
heightened. See Investing in Emerging Markets, including Asia and Eastern Europe, below.
Investing in Emerging Countries, including Asia and Eastern Europe
. Strategic International
Equity Fund is intended for long-term investors who can accept the risks associated with investing
primarily in equity and equity-related securities of foreign issuers, including emerging country
issuers, as well as the risks associated with investments quoted or denominated in foreign
currencies.
The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price
volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets. In certain
countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities and the market may be dominated by a few
issues or sectors. Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as
extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive
government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S. In particular, the assets
and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their
financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S.
issuers. Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers
than is available about issuers in the United States.
Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market
capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of
industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of
investors. The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of
their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries
may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or
trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of
developed countries. The limited size of
B-25
many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that
affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be
unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market
making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute
to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging
country securities may also affect the Strategic International Equity Funds ability to accurately
value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it
wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.
With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may
have an adverse impact on the Strategic International Equity Fund. For example, while the
potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation
is generally limited to the amount of the shareholders investment, the notion of limited liability
is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging
market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders of U.S. corporations.
Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries
may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets. In addition,
existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging
countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and
regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift
and equitable enforcement of the law.
Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or
controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Funds investment in certain
emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require
governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign
persons to only a specified percentage of an issuers outstanding securities or a specific class of
securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company
available for purchase by nationals. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and
capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents
or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time. Even where there is no outright
restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of
the operation of a Fund. A Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other
arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.
Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and
social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western
European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i)
authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making,
including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii)
popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii)
internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and
racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing
foreign private investments and private property. Such economic, political and social instability
could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Strategic International Equity Fund may
invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds assets. A Funds investments can also be
adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.
B-26
The Strategic International Equity Fund may seek investment opportunities within former east
bloc countries in Eastern Europe. Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned,
socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many Eastern European
countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic
liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move
towards a market economy. However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not
have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of
Eastern European countries attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently
unclear. In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European countries may
halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring
and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.
The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such
respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources,
self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past,
and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times
accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and
sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging
countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic
recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international
trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of
their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to
weakness in world prices for their commodity exports.
The Strategic International Equity Funds income and, in some cases, capital gains from
foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in
which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some
cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates. See Taxation.
Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain
markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of
securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in
settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Strategic
International Equity Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability
of the Strategic International Equity Fund to make intended security purchases or sales due to
settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value
of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities,
could result in possible liability to the purchaser.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
. The Structured Equity Funds may enter into
forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against
anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. The Strategic International Equity
Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes, to seek to
protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates and to seek to
increase total return. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to
purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from
the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.
These contracts are traded in the interbank market between currency traders (usually large
commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement,
and no commissions are generally charged at any stage for trades.
B-27
At the maturity of a forward contract a Fund may either accept or make delivery of the
currency specified in the contract or, at or prior to maturity, enter into a closing transaction
involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to
forward contracts are often, but not always, effected with the currency trader who is a party to
the original forward contract.
A Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in several circumstances.
First, when a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated or
quoted in a foreign currency, or when a Fund anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of
dividend or interest payments on such a security which it holds, the Fund may desire to lock in
the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest
payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a
fixed amount of dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions,
the Fund will attempt to protect itself against an adverse change in the relationship between the
U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the
security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the
date on which such payments are made or received.
Additionally, when the Investment Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign
country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward
contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating
the value of some or all of such Funds portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign
currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities
involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign
currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities
between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. Using forward
contracts to protect the value of a Funds portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a
currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply
establishes a rate of exchange, which a Fund can achieve at some future point in time. The precise
projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides
a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of a Funds foreign assets.
Each Fund may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge
against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency. In
addition, certain Funds may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation
between a Funds overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Funds performance
benchmark.
The Strategic International Equity Fund may also enter into forward contracts to seek to
increase total return. Unless otherwise covered in accordance with applicable regulations, cash or
liquid assets of the Strategic International Equity Fund will be segregated in an amount equal to
the value of the Funds total assets committed to the consummation of forward foreign currency
exchange contracts. If the value of the segregated assets declines, additional cash or liquid
assets will be segregated so that the value of the assets will equal the amount of the Strategic
International Equity Funds commitments with respect to such contracts.
While a Fund may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange rate risks,
transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from
such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall
performance for the Fund than if it
B-28
had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between a
Funds portfolio holdings of securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward
contracts entered into by such Fund. Such imperfect correlation may cause a Fund to sustain losses
which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign
exchange loss.
Markets for trading foreign forward currency contracts offer less protection against defaults
than is available when trading in currency instruments on an exchange. Forward contracts are
subject to the risk that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since
a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a
default on the contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the
benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any,
at the current market price. In addition, the institutions that deal in forward currency contracts
are not required to continue to make markets in the currencies they trade and these markets can
experience periods of illiquidity. A Fund will not enter into forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, currency swaps or other privately negotiated currency instruments unless the credit
quality of the unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the counterparty is considered
to be investment grade by the Investment Adviser. To the extent that a substantial portion of a
Funds total assets, adjusted to reflect the Funds net position after giving effect to currency
transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be
more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries.
Writing and Purchasing Currency Call and Put Options.
A Fund may, to the extent that it
invests in foreign securities, write and purchase put and call options on foreign currencies for
the purpose of protecting against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign portfolio securities
and against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign securities to be acquired. As with other
kinds of option transactions, however, the writing of an option on foreign currency will constitute
only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received. If and when a Fund seeks to close
out an option, the Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous
exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on foreign currency may
constitute an effective hedge against exchange rate fluctuations; however, in the event of exchange
rate movements adverse to a Funds position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium
plus related transaction costs. Options on foreign currencies may be traded on U.S. and foreign
exchanges or over-the-counter.
Options on currency may also be used for cross-hedging purposes, which involves writing or
purchasing options on one currency to seek to hedge against changes in exchange rates for a
different currency with a pattern of correlation, or to seek to increase total return when the
Investment Adviser anticipates that the currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but the
securities quoted or denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment
opportunities and are not included in the Funds portfolio.
A call option written by a Fund obligates a Fund to sell a specified currency to the holder of
the option at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. A put
option written by a Fund would obligate a Fund to purchase a specified currency from the option
holder at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. The writing of
currency options involves a risk that a Fund will, upon exercise of the option, be required to sell
currency subject to a call at a price that is less than the currencys market value or be required
to purchase currency subject to a put at a price that exceeds the currencys market value. Written
put and call options on foreign currencies may be covered
B-29
in a manner similar to written put and call options on securities and securities indices described
under Writing Covered Options above.
A Fund may terminate its obligations under a call or put option by purchasing an option
identical to the one it has written. Such purchases are referred to as closing purchase
transactions. A Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or
minimize losses on options purchased by the Fund.
A Fund may purchase call options on foreign currency in anticipation of an increase in the
U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities to be acquired by a Fund are quoted or
denominated. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid,
to purchase specified currency at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would
ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of such currency exceeded the sum
of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize
either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.
A Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the U.S. dollar value of
currency in which securities in its portfolio are quoted or denominated (protective puts). The
purchase of a put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified
currency at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is usually
designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the dollar value of a Funds portfolio securities
due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the
option period, the value of the underlying currency decreased below the exercise price sufficiently
to more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no
gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective
put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of underlying currency
or portfolio securities.
As noted, in addition to using options for the hedging purposes described above, the Funds may
use options on currency to seek to increase total return. The Funds may write (sell) covered put
and call options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on
portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing covered call options for additional
income, the Funds may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the
underlying currency. Also, when writing put options, the Funds accept, in return for the option
premium, the risk that they may be required to purchase the underlying currency at a price in
excess of the currencys market value at the time of purchase.
Special Risks Associated with Options on Currency.
An exchange-traded options position may be
closed out only on an options exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same
series. Although a Fund will generally purchase or write only those options for which there
appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on
an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time. For some options no
secondary market on an exchange may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect
closing transactions in particular options, with the result that a Fund would have to exercise its
options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the sale of
underlying securities pursuant to the exercise of put options. If a Fund as a covered call option
writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be
able to sell the underlying currency (or security quoted or denominated in that currency), or
B-30
dispose of the segregated assets, until the option expires or it delivers the underlying currency
upon exercise.
There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events
might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation
inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may
interfere with the timely execution of customers orders.
A Fund may purchase and write over-the-counter options to the extent consistent with its
limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Trading in over-the-counter options is subject
to the risk that the other party will be unable or unwilling to close out options purchased or
written by a Fund.
The amount of the premiums, which a Fund may pay or receive, may be adversely affected as new
or existing institutions, including other investment companies, engage in or increase their option
purchasing and writing activities.
Currency Swaps
The Strategic International Equity Fund may enter into currency swaps for both hedging
purposes and to seek to increase total return. Currency swaps involve the exchange by the
Strategic International Equity Fund with another party of their respective rights to make or
receive payments in specified currencies.
A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However,
currency swaps usually involve the delivery of a gross payment stream in one designated currency in
exchange for the gross payment stream in another designated currency. Therefore, the entire
payment stream under a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will
default on its contractual delivery obligations. To the extent that the Funds exposure in a
transaction involving a swap is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets or otherwise,
the Funds and the Investment Advisers believe that swaps do not constitute senior securities under
the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Funds borrowing restrictions.
A Fund will not enter into transactions involving swaps unless the unsecured commercial paper,
senior debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment
grade by the Investment Adviser.
The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and
risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If an
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates
and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fund would be less favorable than it
would have been if this investment technique were not used. The Investment Advisers, under the
supervision of the Board of Trustees, are responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity
of the Funds transactions in swaps.
B-31
Convertible Securities
Each Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures,
notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified
amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a
specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest that is
generally paid or accrued on debt or a dividend that is paid or accrued on preferred stock until
the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities
have unique investment characteristics, in that they generally (i) have higher yields than common
stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities, (ii) are less subject to
fluctuation in value than the underlying common stock due to their fixed-income characteristics and
(iii) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common
stock increases.
The value of a convertible security is a function of its investment value (determined by its
yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do
not have a conversion privilege) and its conversion value (the securitys worth, at market value,
if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is
influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value normally declining as interest rates
increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other
factors may also have an effect on the convertible securitys investment value. The conversion
value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock.
If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible
security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the
underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible
security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally
will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on
the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed-income security.
A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price
established in the convertible securitys governing instrument. If a convertible security held by
a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the
security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Any of these
actions could have an adverse effect on a Funds ability to achieve its investment objective,
which, in turn, could result in losses to the Fund.
In evaluating a convertible security, the Investment Adviser will give primary emphasis to the
attractiveness of the underlying common stock. Convertible debt securities are equity investments
for purposes of each Funds investment policies.
Preferred Securities
Each Fund may invest in preferred securities. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an
issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be
accelerated by the holders of preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default (such as a
covenant default or filing of a bankruptcy petition) or other non-compliance by the issuer with the
terms of the preferred stock. Often, however, on the occurrence of any such event of default or
non-compliance by the issuer, preferred
B-32
stockholders will be entitled to gain representation on the issuers board of directors or increase
their existing board representation. In addition, preferred stockholders may be granted voting
rights with respect to certain issues on the occurrence of any event of default.
Equity Swaps
Each Fund may enter into equity swap contracts to invest in a market without owning or taking
physical custody of securities in various circumstances, including circumstances where direct
investment in the securities is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. Equity
swaps may also be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The counterparty
to an equity swap contract will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.
Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, a counterparty may agree
to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would
have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the
dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay
to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract
plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been
invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on the equity swap contract should be
the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the
Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and the Fund may each agree to pay
the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved
if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or
indices of stocks).
A Fund will generally enter into equity swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment
streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount
of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or
periodically during its term. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or
other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally
limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other
party to an equity swap defaults, a Funds risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that
such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Inasmuch as these transactions are entered
into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover the Funds
exposure, the Funds and their Investment Advisers believe that transactions do not constitute
senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Funds
borrowing restrictions.
A Fund will not enter into swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior
debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by
the Investment Adviser. A Funds ability to enter into certain swap transactions may be limited by
tax considerations.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
Each Fund may lend portfolio securities. Under present regulatory policies, such
loans may be made to institutions, such as brokers or dealers (including Goldman Sachs), and are
required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents, letters of credit or
U.S. Government Securities maintained on a current basis at an amount, marked to market daily, at
least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash received as collateral for
securities lending transactions may be invested in
B-33
short-term investments. Investing the collateral subjects it to market depreciation or
appreciation, and a Fund is responsible for any loss that may result from its investment of the
borrowed collateral. A Fund will have the right to terminate a loan at any time and recall the
loaned securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions. For
the duration of the loan, a Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or
dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and will also receive compensation from
investment of the collateral. A Fund will not have the right to vote any securities having voting
rights during the existence of the loan, but a Fund may call the loan in anticipation of an
important vote to be taken by the holders of the securities or the giving or withholding of their
consent on a material matter affecting the investment. As with other extensions of credit there
are risks of delay in recovering, or even loss of rights in, the collateral and loaned securities
should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the loans will be made only to
firms deemed to be of good standing, and when the consideration which can be earned currently from
securities loans of this type is deemed to justify the attendant risk. In determining whether to
lend securities to a particular borrower, and during the period of the loan, the creditworthiness
of the borrower will be considered and monitored. It is intended that the value of securities
loaned by a Fund will not exceed one-third of the value of a Funds total assets (including the
loan collateral). Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to
the percentage limitations stated elsewhere in this Additional Statement or the Prospectuses
regarding investing in fixed-income securities and cash equivalents.
The Funds Board of Trustees has approved each Funds participation in a securities lending
program and adopted policies and procedures relating thereto. Under the securities lending
program, the Funds have retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities
lending agent for the Funds. For these services, the lending agent may receive a fee from the
Funds, including a fee based on the returns earned on the Funds investment of cash received as
collateral for the loaned securities. In addition, the Fund may make brokerage and other payments
to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Funds portfolio investment
transactions. The lending agent may, on behalf of the Funds, invest cash collateral received by
the Funds for securities loans in, among other things, other registered or unregistered funds.
These funds include private investing funds or money market funds that are managed by the
Investment Adviser or its affiliates for the purpose of investing cash collateral generated from
securities lending activities, and which pay the Investment Adviser or its affiliates for their
services. The Funds Board of Trustees will periodically review securities loan transactions for
which the Goldman Sachs affiliate has acted as lending agent for compliance with a Funds
securities lending procedures. Goldman Sachs also has been approved as a borrower under the Funds
securities lending program, subject to certain conditions.
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a
forward commitment basis beyond the customary settlement time. These transactions involve a
commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date. The price of the underlying
securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered
and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated.
When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other
party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges. A Fund will generally purchase securities
on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the
intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If
deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or negotiate a
commitment after entering into it. A Fund may also sell securities it has committed to purchase
before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the
B-34
settlement date. A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions.
For purposes of determining a Funds duration, the maturity of when-issued or forward commitment
securities will be calculated from the commitment date. A Fund is generally required to segregate,
until three days prior to the settlement date, cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to
meet the purchase price unless the Funds obligations are otherwise covered. Alternatively, a Fund
may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities that it owns.
Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involve a risk of loss if
the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of
the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date.
Investment in Unseasoned Companies
Each Fund may invest in companies (including predecessors) which have operated less than three
years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their
being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in
unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies
with an established operating record.
Other Investment Companies
A Fund reserves the right to invest up to 10% of its total assets, calculated at the time of
purchase, in the securities of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds such as
Standard & Poors Depositary Receipts in (SPDRs) and iShares
sm
, as defined below) but,
except as otherwise provided in the Act, may neither invest more than 5% of its total assets in the
securities of any one investment company nor acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any
other investment company. Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, the Funds may
invest in money market funds for which an Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as
investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. A Fund will indirectly bear its
proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which
it invests in addition to the management fees (and other expenses) paid by the Fund. However, to
the extent that the Fund invests in a money market fund for which an Investment Adviser or any of
its affiliates acts as Investment Adviser, the management fees payable by the Fund to an Investment
Adviser will, to the extent required by the SEC, be reduced by an amount equal to the Funds
proportionate share of the management fees paid by such money market fund to its Investment
Adviser. Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is
authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or
series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental
restrictions as the Fund.
Exchange-traded funds are shares of unaffiliated investment companies issuing shares which are
traded like traditional equity securities on a national stock exchange or the National Association
of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (NASDAQ) National Market System. SPDRs are
interests in a unit investment trust (UIT) that may be obtained from the UIT or purchased in the
secondary market (SPDRs are listed on a stock exchange). The UIT was established to accumulate and
hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track the price performance and dividend
yield of the Standard & Poors 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the S&P 500). SPDRs may be used
for several reasons, including, but not limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or
trading or reducing
B-35
transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may not perfectly parallel the price activity of
the S&P 500. The UIT will issue SPDRs in aggregations known as Creation Units in exchange for a
Portfolio Deposit consisting of (i) a portfolio of securities substantially similar to the
component securities (Index Securities) of the S&P 500, (ii) a cash payment equal to a pro rata
portion of the dividends accrued on the UITs portfolio securities since the last dividend payment
by the UIT, net of expenses and liabilities, and (iii) a cash payment or credit (Balancing
Amount) designed to equalize the net asset value of the S&P 500 and the net asset value of a
Portfolio Deposit.
SPDRs are not individually redeemable, except upon termination of the UIT. To redeem, an
investor must accumulate enough SPDRs to reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small
holdings of SPDRs, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market. Upon
redemption of a Creation Unit, an investor will receive Index Securities and cash identical to the
Portfolio Deposit required of an investor wishing to purchase a Creation Unit that day.
The price of SPDRs is derived from and based upon the securities held by the UIT.
Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of a SPDR is similar to the risk
involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing
mechanism for SPDRs is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities
underlying SPDRs purchased or sold by the Funds could result in losses on SPDRs.
The Strategic International Equity Fund may also purchase shares of investment companies
investing primarily in foreign securities, including country funds. Country funds have
portfolios consisting primarily of securities of issuers located in specified foreign countries or
regions. Each Fund may, subject to the limitations stated above, invest in iShares
sm
and similar securities that invest in securities included in specified indices, including the
MSCI
®
indices for various countries and regions. iShares
sm
are listed on a
stock exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996. The market prices of
iShares
sm
are expected to fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the asset values
of their underlying indices and supply and demand of iShares
sm
on the exchange on which
the iShares
sm
are listed. However, iShares
sm
have a limited operating
history and information is lacking regarding the actual performance and trading liquidity of
iShares
sm
for extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition, there is no
assurance that the requirements of a stock exchange necessary to maintain the listing of
iShares
sm
will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial
market or other disruptions affecting iShares
sm
should occur in the future, the
liquidity and value of a Funds shares could also be substantially and adversely affected. If such
disruptions were to occur, a Fund could be required to reconsider the use of iShares
sm
as part of its investment strategy.
Repurchase Agreements
Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks, brokers and securities dealers
which furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of their repurchase
obligation. The Strategic International Equity Fund may also enter into repurchase agreements
involving certain foreign government securities. A repurchase agreement is an arrangement under
which a Fund purchases securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the securities within a
particular time and at a specified price. Custody of the securities is maintained by a Funds
custodian (or subcustodian). The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the
difference being income to a Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with
interest at a stated rate due to a Fund together with
B-36
the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to a Fund is unrelated to the
interest rate on the security subject to the repurchase agreement.
For purposes of the Act and generally for tax purposes, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be
a loan from a Fund to the seller of the security. For other purposes, it is not always clear
whether a court would consider the security purchased by a Fund subject to a repurchase agreement
as being owned by a Fund or as being collateral for a loan by a Fund to the seller. In the event
of commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the security
before repurchase of the security under a repurchase agreement, a Fund may encounter delay and
incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a
decline in price of the security. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a Fund
has not perfected a security interest in the security, a Fund may be required to return the
security to the sellers estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an
unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest
involved in the transaction.
Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the
seller may fail to repurchase the security. However, if the market value of the security subject
to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest), a
Fund will direct the seller of the security to deliver additional securities so that the market
value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the repurchase price.
Certain repurchase agreements which provide for settlement in more than seven days can be
liquidated before the nominal fixed term on seven days or less notice. Such repurchase agreements
will be regarded as liquid instruments.
The Funds, together with other registered investment companies having advisory agreements with
the Investment Advisers or their affiliates, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a single
joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more repurchase
agreements.
Short Sales
The Strategic International Equity Fund may engage in short sales against the box. In a short
sale, the seller sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to
return the identical security. The seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is
said to have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. While a short sale is
made by selling a security the seller does not own, a short sale is against the box to the extent
that the seller contemporaneously owns or has the right to obtain, at no added cost, securities
identical to those sold short. It may be entered into by the Fund, for example, to lock in a sales
price for a security the Fund does not wish to sell immediately. If the Fund sells securities
short against the box, it may protect itself from loss if the price of the securities declines in
the future, but will lose the opportunity to profit on such securities if the price rises.
If the Strategic International Equity Fund effects a short sale of securities at a time when
it has an unrealized gain on the securities, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had
actually sold the securities (as a constructive sale) on the date it effects the short sale.
However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if the Fund closes out the short sale with
securities other than the appreciated securities held at the time of the short sale and if certain
other conditions are satisfied. Uncertainty
regarding the tax consequences of effecting short sales may limit the extent to which the Fund may
effect short sales.
B-37
Portfolio Turnover
Each Fund may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from price disparities among
different issues of securities or among the markets for equity securities, or for other reasons.
It is anticipated that the portfolio turnover may vary greatly from year to year as well as within
a particular year, and may be affected by changes in the holdings of specific issuers, changes in
country and currency weightings, cash requirements for redemption of shares and by requirements
which enable the Funds to receive favorable tax treatment. The Funds are not restricted by policy
with regard to portfolio turnover and will make changes in their investment portfolio from time to
time as business and economic conditions as well as market prices may dictate.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Trust as fundamental
policies that cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority (as defined in the Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the affected Fund.
The investment objective of each Fund and all other investment policies or practices of each Fund
are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without
shareholder approval. For purposes of the Act, a majority of the outstanding voting securities
means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or a Fund present at a
meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or a Fund are
present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares of the Trust or a Fund.
For purposes of the following limitations, any limitation which involves a maximum percentage
shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and
is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
With respect to the Funds fundamental investment restriction no. 3, asset coverage of at least
300% (as defined in the Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.
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As a matter of fundamental policy, a Fund may not:
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(1)
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Make any investment inconsistent with the Funds classification as a diversified company
under the Act.
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(2)
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Invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting
their principal business activities in the same industry (excluding the U.S. Government or any
of its agencies or instrumentalities).
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(3)
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Borrow money, except (a) each Fund may to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow from
banks (as defined in the Act), other affiliated investment companies and other persons or
through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including
the amount borrowed), (b) each Fund may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up
to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (c) each Fund may obtain such
short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio
securities, (d) each Fund may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by
applicable law and (e) each Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which
are accounted for as financings.
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B-38
(4)
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Make loans, except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with the Funds
investment objective and policies, (b) repurchase agreements with banks, brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions, (c) loans of securities as permitted by applicable law, and (d)
loans to affiliates of the Funds to the extent permitted by law.
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(5)
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Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the sale of portfolio
securities by the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriting.
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(6)
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Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, although a Fund may purchase and sell securities that
are secured by real estate or interests therein, securities of real estate investment trusts
and mortgage-related securities and may hold and sell real estate acquired by a Fund as a
result of the ownership of securities.
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(7)
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Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may invest in currency and
financial instruments and contracts that are commodities or commodity contracts.
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(8)
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Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law.
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Each Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest
some or all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof with
substantially the same fundamental investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund.
In addition to the fundamental policies mentioned above, the Trustees have adopted the
following non-fundamental policies which can be changed or amended by action of the Trustees
without approval of shareholders. Again, for purposes of the following limitations, any limitation
which involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the
percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition of securities by the Fund.
(a)
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Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.
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(b)
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Invest more than 15% of the Funds net assets in illiquid investments including illiquid
repurchase agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, securities which
are not readily marketable and restricted securities not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act).
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(c)
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Purchase additional securities if the Funds borrowings (excluding covered mortgage dollar
rolls) exceed 5% of its net assets.
|
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(d)
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Make short sales of securities, except that a Fund may make short sales against the box.
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B-39
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees
subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trusts Declaration of Trust. The Trustees
are responsible for deciding matters of general policy and reviewing the actions of the Trusts
service providers. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise each Funds daily business
operations.
Trustees of the Trust
Information pertaining to the Trustees of the Trust is set forth below. Trustees who are not
deemed to be interested persons of the Trust as defined in the Act are referred to as
Independent Trustees. Trustees who are deemed to be interested persons of the Trust are
referred to as Interested Trustees.
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Independent Trustees
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Term of
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Number of
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Office and
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Portfolios in
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Position(s)
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Length of
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Fund Complex
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Name,
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Held with
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|
Time
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Principal Occupation(s)
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Overseen by
|
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Other Directorships
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Address and Age
1
|
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the Trust
2
|
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Served
3
|
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During Past 5 Years
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Trustee
4
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Held by Trustee
5
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Ashok N. Bakhru
Age: 64
|
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Chairman of the
Board of Trustees
|
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Since 1991
|
|
President, ABN
Associates (July
1994March 1996 and
November
1998Present);
Executive Vice
President Finance
and Administration and
Chief Financial
Officer, Coty Inc.
(manufacturer of
fragrances and
cosmetics) (April
1996November 1998);
Director of Arkwright
Mutual Insurance
Company (19841999);
Trustee of
International House of
Philadelphia (program
center and residential
community for students
and professional
trainees from the
United States and
foreign countries)
(1989-2004); Member of
Cornell University
Council (1992-2004);
Trustee of the Walnut
Street Theater
(1992-2004); Trustee,
Scholarship America
(1998-2005); Trustee,
Institute for Higher
Education Policy
(2003-Present);
Director, Private
Equity InvestorsIII
and IV (November
1998-Present), and
Equity-Limited
Investors II (April
2002-Present); and
Chairman, Lenders
Service Inc. (provider
of mortgage lending
services) (2000-2003).
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77
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None
|
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|
Chairman of the Board
of Trustees Goldman
Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered
investment companies).
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John P. Coblentz, Jr.
Age: 65
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Trustee
|
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Since 2003
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Partner, Deloitte &
Touche LLP (June 1975
May 2003). Trustee Goldman
Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered
investment companies).
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77
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None
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B-40
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Independent Trustees
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Term of
|
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|
Number of
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Office and
|
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|
Portfolios in
|
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|
Position(s)
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Length of
|
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|
Fund Complex
|
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Name,
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Held with
|
|
Time
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Principal Occupation(s)
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Overseen by
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Other Directorships
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Address and Age
1
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the Trust
2
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Served
3
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During Past 5 Years
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Trustee
4
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Held by Trustee
5
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Patrick T. Harker
Age: 47
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Trustee
|
|
Since 2000
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Dean and Reliance
Professor of
Operations and
Information
Management, The
Wharton School,
University of
Pennsylvania (February
2000-Present); Interim
and Deputy Dean, The
Wharton School,
University of
Pennsylvania (July
1999-January 2000);
and Professor and
Chairman of Department
of Operations and
Information
Management, The
Wharton School,
University of
Pennsylvania (July
1997August 2000).
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77
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None
|
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|
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|
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Trustee Goldman
Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered
investment companies).
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Mary P. McPherson
Age: 71
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Trustee
|
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Since 1997
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Vice President, The
Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation (provider
of grants for
conservation,
environmental and
educational purposes)
(October
1997-Present);
Director, Smith
College
(1998-Present);
Director, Josiah Macy,
Jr. Foundation (health
educational programs)
(1977-Present);
Director, Philadelphia
Contributionship
(insurance)
(1985-Present);
Director Emeritus,
Amherst College
(19861998); Director,
The Spencer Foundation
(educational research)
(1993-February 2003);
member of PNC Advisory
Board (banking)
(1993-1998); Director,
American School of
Classical Studies in
Athens (1997-Present);
and, Trustee, Emeriti
Retirement Health
Solutions
(post-retirement
medical insurance
program for
not-for-profit
institutions) (since
2005).
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trustee Goldman
Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered
investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Strubel
Age: 67
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Since 1987
|
|
Vice Chairman and
Director, Cardean
Learning Group
(provider of
educational services
via the internet)
(2003-Present);
President, COO and
Director, Cardean
Learning Group
(1999-2003); Director,
Cantilever
Technologies, Inc. (a
private software
company) (1999-2005);
Trustee, The
University of Chicago
(1987-Present); and
Managing Director,
Tandem Partners, Inc.
(management services
firm) (19901999). Trustee Goldman
Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered
investment companies).
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
Gildan Activewear Inc.
(a clothing marketing and
manufacturing company);
Cardean Learning Group
(provider of educational
services via the internet);
Northern Mutual Fund
Complex (58 Portfolios).
|
|
B-41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
Term of
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office and
|
|
|
|
Portfolios in
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
Length of
|
|
|
|
Fund Complex
|
|
|
Name,
|
|
Held with
|
|
Time
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
|
Overseen by
|
|
Other Directorships
|
Address and Age
1
|
|
the Trust
2
|
|
Served
3
|
|
During Past 5 Years
|
|
Trustee
4
|
|
Held by Trustee
5
|
*Alan A. Shuch
Age: 56
|
|
Trustee
|
|
Since 1990
|
|
Advisory Director GSAM
(May 1999-Present);
Consultant to GSAM (December
1994 May 1999); and
Limited Partner, Goldman
Sachs (December 1994 May
1999).
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trustee Goldman Sachs
Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment
companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Mr. Shuch is considered to be an Interested
Trustee because he holds a position with
Goldman Sachs and owns securities issued by The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc. Mr. Shuch also holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM
or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
|
|
|
1
|
|
Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs, One New
York Plaza, 37
th
Floor, New York, New York, 10004, Attn: Peter V. Bonanno.
|
|
2
|
|
The Trust is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust that was combined with the
Trust on April 30, 1997.
|
|
3
|
|
Each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the earliest of: (a) the
election of his or her successor; (b) the date the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Board
of Trustees or shareholders, in accordance with the Trusts Declaration of Trust; (c) the date
the Trustee attains the age of 72 years (in accordance with the current resolutions of the
Board of Trustees, which may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder vote); or (d) the
termination of the Trust.
|
|
|
4
|
|
The Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex consists of the Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable
Insurance Trust. As of August 31, 2006, the Trust consisted of 65 portfolios and Goldman
Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 12 portfolios.
|
|
|
5
|
|
This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e., public companies) or other investment
companies registered under the Act.
|
B-42
Officers of the Trust
Information pertaining to the officers of the Trust is set forth below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers of the Trust
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held
|
|
Term of Office
|
|
|
Name, Age
|
|
With the
|
|
and Length of
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
And Address
|
|
Trust
|
|
Time Served
1
|
|
During Past 5 Years
|
Kaysie P. Uniacke
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 45
|
|
President
|
|
Since 2002
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
(1997-Present).
President Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trustee Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies) (2001-2006).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (19972002) (registered investment
companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trustee Gettysburg College.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Perlowski
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 41
|
|
Treasurer
|
|
Since 1997
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2003
Present) and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July
1995-November 2003).
Treasurer Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip V. Giuca, Jr.
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 44
|
|
Assistant
Treasurer
|
|
Since 1997
|
|
Vice President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992-Present).
Assistant Treasurer Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Fortner
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 48
|
|
Assistant
Treasurer
|
|
Since 2000
|
|
Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July
2000-Present); Associate, Prudential Insurance
Company of America (November 1985June 2000); and
Assistant Treasurer, certain closed-end funds
administered by Prudential (1999 and 2000).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Treasurer Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth G. Curran
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 42
|
|
Assistant
Treasurer
|
|
Since 2001
|
|
Vice President, Goldman Sachs (November
1998-Present); and Senior Tax Manager, KPMG Peat
Marwick (accountants) (August 1995October 1998).
Assistant Treasurer Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
B-43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers of the Trust
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held
|
|
Term of Office
|
|
|
Name, Age
|
|
With the
|
|
and Length of
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
And Address
|
|
Trust
|
|
Time Served
1
|
|
During Past 5 Years
|
Charles Rizzo
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 48
|
|
Assistant
Treasurer
|
|
Since 2005
|
|
Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August
2005Present); Managing Director and Treasurer of
Scudder Funds, Deutsche Asset Management (April
2003June 2005); Director, Tax and Financial
Reporting, Deutsche Asset Management (August
2002April 2003); Vice President and Treasurer,
Deutsche Global Fund Services (August 1999August
2002).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Treasurer Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James A. Fitzpatrick
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 46
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
Since 1997
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (October 1999
Present); and Vice President of GSAM (April
1997December 1999).
Vice President Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jesse Cole
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 43
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
Since 1998
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2006
Present); Vice President, GSAM (June
1998-Present); and Vice President, AIM Management
Group, Inc. (investment adviser) (April 1996June
1998).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vice President Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kerry K. Daniels
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 43
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
Since 2000
|
|
Manager, Financial Control Shareholder
Services, Goldman Sachs (1986-Present).
Vice President Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James McNamara
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 44
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
Since 2001
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December
1998-Present); Director of Institutional Fund
Sales, GSAM (April 1998December 2000); and
Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus
Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993
April 1998).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vice PresidentGoldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trustee Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies) (December
2002-May 2004).
|
|
B-44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers of the Trust
|
|
|
Position(s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held
|
|
Term of Office
|
|
|
Name, Age
|
|
With the
|
|
and Length of
|
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
And Address
|
|
Trust
|
|
Time Served
1
|
|
During Past 5 Years
|
Peter V. Bonanno
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 37
|
|
Secretary
|
|
Since 2003
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2006
Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman
Sachs (2002Present); Vice President (1999-2006);
and Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs
(1999-2002).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secretary Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex
(registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Fishman
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 42
|
|
Assistant
Secretary
|
|
Since 2001
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December
2001Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs
(1997December 2001).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Burke
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 43
|
|
Assistant
Secretary
|
|
Since 2001
|
|
Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1987Present).
Assistant Secretary Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth D. Anderson
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 37
|
|
Assistant
Secretary
|
|
Since 1997
|
|
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2002
Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs
(1997-December 2002) and Fund Manager, GSAM
(April 1996Present).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assistant Secretary Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund
Complex (registered investment companies).
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees or until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. Each officer holds comparable positions with certain
other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser,
administrator and/or distributor.
|
Standing Board Committees
The Board of Trustees has established seven standing committees in connection with their
governance of the Funds Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance, Valuation, Dividend,
Schedule E, and Contract Review.
The Audit Committee oversees the audit process and provides assistance to the full Board of
Trustees with respect to fund accounting, tax compliance and financial statement matters. In
performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selects and recommends annually to the entire
Board of Trustees an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and records
of the Trust for the ensuing year, and reviews with the firm the scope and results of each audit.
All of the
Independent Trustees serve on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held four meetings during
the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.
B-45
The Governance and Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board of
Trustees in matters involving mutual fund governance and industry practices; (ii) select and
nominate candidates for appointment or election to serve as Trustees who are not interested
persons of the Trust or its investment adviser or distributor (as defined by the Act); and (iii)
advise the Board of Trustees on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees
serve on the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee held
three meetings during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006. As stated above, each Trustee holds
office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies,
the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.
Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Trust at its mailing address stated in the
Funds Prospectuses and should be directed to the attention of the Goldman Sachs Trust Governance
and Nominating Committee.
The Compliance Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the compliance
processes: (i) of the Funds; and (ii) insofar as they relate to services provided to the Funds, of
the Funds investment advisers, distributor, administrator (if any), and transfer agent, except
that compliance processes relating to the accounting and financial reporting processes, and certain
related matters, are overseen by the Audit Committee. In addition, the Compliance Committee
provides assistance to the full Board of Trustees with respect to compliance matters. The
Compliance Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006. All of the
Independent Trustees serve on the Compliance Committee.
The Valuation Committee is authorized to act for the Board of Trustees in connection with the
valuation of portfolio securities held by the Funds in accordance with the Trusts Valuation
Procedures. The sole member of the Valuation Committee is
Mr. Shuch. The Valuation Committee
met twelve times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.
The Dividend Committee is authorized, subject to the ratification of Trustees who are not
members of the committee, to declare dividends and capital gain distributions consistent with each
Funds Prospectus. Currently, the sole member of the Trusts Dividend Committee is Mr. Shuch.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the Dividend Committee held six meetings with respect
to all of the Funds of the Trust.
The Schedule E Committee is authorized to address potential conflicts of interest regulated by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD). The sole member of the Trusts
Schedule E Committee is Mr. Bakhru. The Schedule E Committee did not meet during the fiscal year
ended August 31, 2006.
The Contract Review Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the processes
of the Board of Trustees for approving and monitoring the Funds investment management,
distribution, transfer agency and other agreements with the Funds Investment Advisers and their
affiliates. The Contract Review Committee is also responsible for overseeing the Board of Trustees
processes for approving and reviewing the operation of the Funds distribution, service,
shareholder
B-46
administration and other plans, and any agreements related to the plans, whether or not such plans
and agreements are adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Contract Review Committee
also provides appropriate assistance to the Board of Trustees in connection with the Boards
approval, oversight and review of the Funds other service providers including, without limitation,
the Funds custodian/accounting agent, sub-transfer agents, professional (legal and accounting)
firms and printing firms. The Contract Review Committee met three times during the fiscal year
ended August 31, 2006. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table shows the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in the
Funds and other portfolios of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Securities in All
|
|
|
Dollar Range of
|
|
Portfolios in Fund Complex
|
Name of Trustee
|
|
Equity Securities in the Funds
1
|
|
Overseen By Trustee
2
|
Ashok N. Bakhru
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick T. Harker
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary P. McPherson
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alan A. Shuch
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Strubel
|
|
None
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
The Funds were not in operation as of December 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Includes Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. As of
December 31, 2006, Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 65 portfolios and Goldman Sachs Variable
Insurance Trust consisted of 12 portfolios.
|
|
As of December 31, 2006 the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1%
of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of each Fund.
B-47
Board Compensation
The Trust pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee for his or her services as a Trustee of
the Trust, plus an additional fee for each regular and special telephonic Board meeting, Governance
and Nominating Committee meeting, Compliance Committee meeting, Contract Review Committee meeting
and Audit Committee meeting attended by such Trustee. The Independent Trustees are also
reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending such meetings. The Trust may
also pay the incidental costs of a Trustee to attend training or other types of conferences
relating to the investment company industry.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each
Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006:
Trustee Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension or
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Benefits Accrued as
|
|
Total Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Part of the Trusts
|
|
From Fund Complex
|
Name of Trustee
|
|
from the Funds*
|
|
Expenses
|
|
(including the Funds)
2
|
Ashok N. Bakhru
1
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
255,400
|
|
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,000
|
|
Patrick T. Harker
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
169,000
|
|
Mary P. McPherson
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,000
|
|
Alan A. Shuch
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilma J. Smelcer
3
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,000
|
|
Richard P. Strubel
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,000
|
|
Kaysie P.
Uniacke
3
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
The Funds were not in operation as of August 31, 2006.
|
|
1
|
|
Includes compensation as Board Chairman.
|
|
2
|
|
The Fund Complex consists of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance
Trust.
|
|
|
3
|
|
Effective January 1, 2007, Ms. Smelcer and Ms.
Uniacke resigned from the Board of Trustees.
|
|
Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 64 portfolios and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted
of 12 portfolios as of August 31, 2006.
Miscellaneous
Class A Shares of the Funds may be sold at net asset value without payment of any sales charge
to Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and their respective officers, partners, directors or employees
(including retired employees and former partners), any partnership of which Goldman Sachs is a
general partner, any Trustee or officer of the Trust and designated family members of any of the
above
individuals. These and the Funds other sales load waivers are due to the nature of the investors
and/or the reduced sales effort and expense that are needed to obtain such investments.
B-48
The Trust, its Investment Advisers and principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics
under Rule 17j-1 of the Act that permit personnel subject to their particular codes of ethics to
invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
As stated in the Funds Prospectuses, GSAM, 32 Old Slip, New York, New York, 10005 serves as
Investment Adviser to the Structured Equity Funds. GSAM is a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. GSAMI, Christchurch Court, 10-15 Newgate Street,
London, England EC1A7HD, serves as Investment Adviser to the Strategic International Equity Fund.
GSAMI is also an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. See Service Providers in the Funds Prospectuses
for a description of the applicable Investment Advisers duties to the Funds.
Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is among the oldest and largest investment banking firms in the
United States. Goldman Sachs is a leader in developing portfolio strategies and in many fields of
investing and financing, participating in financial markets worldwide and serving individuals,
institutions, corporations and governments. Goldman Sachs is also among the principal market
sources for current and thorough information on companies, industrial sectors, markets, economies
and currencies, and trades and makes markets in a wide range of equity and debt securities 24
-
hours a day. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in countries throughout
the world. It has trading professionals throughout the United States, as well as in London, Tokyo,
Hong Kong and Singapore. The active participation of Goldman Sachs in the worlds financial
markets enhances its ability to identify attractive investments. Goldman Sachs has agreed to
permit the Funds to use the name Goldman Sachs or a derivative thereof as part of each Funds
name for as long as each Funds Management Agreement is in effect.
The Investment Advisers are able to draw on the substantial research and market expertise of
Goldman Sachs, whose investment research effort is one of the largest in the industry. The Global
Investment Research Department covers approximately 1,800 securities, more than 50 economies and
over 25 stock markets. The in depth information and analyses generated by Goldman Sachs research
analysts are available to the Investment Advisers.
In addition, many of Goldman Sachs economists, securities analysts, portfolio strategists and
credit analysts have consistently been highly ranked in respected industry surveys conducted in the
United States and abroad. Goldman Sachs is also among the leading investment firms using
quantitative analytics (now used by a growing number of investors) to structure and evaluate
portfolios. For example, Goldman Sachs options evaluation model analyzes a securitys term,
coupon and call option, providing an overall analysis of the securitys value relative to its
interest risk.
In managing the Funds, the Investment Advisers have access to Goldman Sachs economics
research. The Economics Research Department based in London, conducts economic, financial and
currency markets research which analyzes economic trends and interest and exchange rate movements
B-49
worldwide. The Economics Research Department tracks factors such as inflation and money supply
figures, balance of trade figures, economic growth, commodity prices, monetary and fiscal policies,
and political events that can influence interest rates and currency trends. The success of Goldman
Sachs international research team has brought wide recognition to its members. The team has
earned top rankings in various external surveys such as Pensions and Investments, Forbes and
Dalbar. These rankings acknowledge the achievements of the firms economists, strategists and
equity analysts.
The Management Agreements provide that GSAM and GSAMI, in their capacity as Investment
Advisers, may render similar services to others so long as the services under the Management
Agreements are not impaired thereby. The Funds Management Agreements were approved by the
Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to
such agreement or interested persons (as such term is defined in the Act) of any party thereto
(the non-interested Trustees) on June 15, 2006. A discussion regarding the Trustees basis for
approving the Management Agreements for the Funds will become available in the Trusts annual
report dated August 31, 2007.
Each Management Agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2007 and will continue in
effect with respect to the applicable Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of such Funds outstanding
voting securities or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of
the non-interested Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
Each Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Act).
Each Management Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the
Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund on 60
days written notice to the applicable Investment Adviser or by the Investment Adviser on 60 days
written notice to the Trust.
Pursuant to the Management Agreements the Investment Advisers are entitled to receive the fees
set forth below, payable monthly based on such Funds average daily net assets.
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Contractual Rate
|
GSAM
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
0.85% on the first $2 billion
|
|
|
0.77% over $2 billion
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
0.85% on the first $2 billion
|
|
|
0.77% over $2 billion
|
|
B-50
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
Contractual Rate
|
GSAMI
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
0.85% on the first $1 billion
|
|
|
0.77% on the next $1 billion
|
|
|
0.73% over $2 billion
|
|
Additionally, as of the date of this Additional Statement, the Investment Adviser has
voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.04% of the Structured Equity
Funds average daily net assets.
In addition to providing advisory services, under its Management Agreement, each Investment
Adviser also: (i) supervises all non-advisory operations of each Fund that it advises; (ii)
provides personnel to perform such executive, administrative and clerical services as are
reasonably necessary to provide effective administration of each Fund; (iii) arranges for at each
Funds expense: (a) the preparation of all required tax returns, (b) the preparation and submission
of reports to existing shareholders, (c) the periodic updating of prospectuses and statements of
additional information and (d) the preparation of reports to be filed with the SEC and other
regulatory authorities; (iv) maintains each Funds records; and (v) provides office space and all
necessary office equipment and services.
Predecessor Funds Adviser and Administrator
As further explained in the Introduction section of this Additional Statement, the
Predecessor Funds were reorganized into the Funds. Investment advisory services for the
Predecessor Funds were provided by AXA Equitable Insurance Company (the Predecessor Adviser).
Each Predecessor Fund was obligated to pay the Predecessor Adviser a fee as described below for the
investment management services it provided that Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Adviser and
Enterprise Trust also entered into an expense limitation agreement with respect to each Predecessor
Fund (Expense Limitation Agreement), pursuant to which the Predecessor Adviser has agreed through
February 28, 2007 (unless the board of Enterprise Trust consents to an earlier revision or
termination of this arrangement) to waive or limit its management, administrative and other fees
and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses (with certain exceptions
described in the Prospectus) of each Predecessor Fund were limited to the extent described below.
B-51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
|
First $1
|
|
Next $1
|
|
Next $3
|
|
Next $5
|
|
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
billion
|
|
billion
|
|
billion
|
|
billion
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value
Fund
|
|
|
0.730
|
%
|
|
|
0.705
|
%
|
|
|
0.680
|
%
|
|
|
0.655
|
%
|
|
|
0.630
|
%
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company
Growth Fund
|
|
|
0.980
|
%
|
|
|
0.955
|
%
|
|
|
0.930
|
%
|
|
|
0.905
|
%
|
|
|
0.880
|
%
|
AXA Enterprise
International
Growth Fund
|
|
|
0.830
|
%
|
|
|
0.805
|
%
|
|
|
0.780
|
%
|
|
|
0.755
|
%
|
|
|
0.730
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Expenses Limited to (% of daily net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class Y
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
(Institutional)
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
|
|
|
2.30
|
%
|
|
|
2.30
|
%
|
|
|
1.30
|
%
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
|
1.65
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
2.20
|
%
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
|
1.85
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
2.40
|
%
|
|
|
1.40
|
%
|
|
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2006, October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2004,
historical data presented below is that of the Predecessors Funds. Further, the Predecessor Funds
are successors to corresponding series of The Enterprise Group of Funds, Inc., which is a
registered open-end management investment company managed by Enterprise Capital Management, Inc.
(Enterprise Capital), an affiliate of the Predecessor Adviser. The tables below show the amounts
reported by the corresponding predecessor funds as paid to Enterprise Capital or the Predecessor
Adviser for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2004 and amounts reported by the Predecessor Funds
or their predecessor funds as paid to the Predecessor Adviser or AXA Equitable for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006. The first column shows each fee without fee waivers,
the second column shows the fees actually paid to Enterprise Capital or the Predecessor Adviser
after fee waivers and the third column shows the total amount of fees waived by Enterprise Capital
or the Predecessor Adviser and other expenses of each Predecessor Fund or its predecessor fund
assumed by AXA Equitable or the Predecessor Adviser pursuant to an expense limitation agreement.
For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006, the Predecessor
Adviser and Enterprise Capital did not receive any reimbursement from the predecessor funds.
PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2004*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Amount of Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Waived and Other
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
After Fee Waiver
|
|
Expenses Assumed
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value
Fund
|
|
$
|
3,680,174
|
|
|
$
|
3,680,174
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
931,727
|
|
|
$
|
586,609
|
|
|
$
|
345,118
|
|
AXA Enterprise
International
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
546,677
|
|
|
$
|
531,687
|
|
|
$
|
14,990
|
|
|
B-52
* The Predecessor Funds changed their fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31. The
table above covers the ten-month period from January 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Amount of Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Waived and Other
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
After Fee Waiver
|
|
Expenses Assumed
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value
Fund
|
|
$
|
4,564,850
|
|
|
$
|
4,564,850
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
1,072,398
|
|
|
$
|
450,031
|
|
|
$
|
622,367
|
|
AXA Enterprise
International
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
589,315
|
|
|
$
|
350,735
|
|
|
$
|
238,580
|
|
|
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Amount of Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
Waived and Other
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Management Fee
|
|
After Fee Waiver
|
|
Expenses Assumed
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value
Fund
|
|
$
|
4,135,133
|
|
|
$
|
4,135,133
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
1,059,461
|
|
|
$
|
487,755
|
|
|
$
|
571,706
|
|
AXA Enterprise
International
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
1,065,606
|
|
|
$
|
1,065,606
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
The Predecessor Adviser has entered into sub-advisory agreements (Predecessor Sub-advisory
Agreements) on behalf of each Predecessor Fund with the following sub-advisers: (each a
Predecessor Sub-adviser and collectively the Predecessor Sub-advisers). The table below shows
the amounts reported by the Predecessor Funds and their predecessor funds as paid by Enterprise
Capital or AXA Equitable to each Sub-adviser with respect to the Predecessor Funds and their
predecessor funds for the fiscal periods ended October 31, 2004, October 31, 2005 and October 31,
2006.
B-53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-Advisory Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
|
Fiscal Period Ended
|
|
Fiscal Period Ended
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
October 31, 2006
|
|
October 31, 2005
|
|
October 31, 2004*
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company Value
Fund
|
|
$
|
2,266,702
|
|
|
$
|
2,415,037
|
|
|
$
|
1,961,842
|
|
AXA Enterprise
Small Company
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
644,853
|
|
|
$
|
616,523
|
|
|
$
|
312,212
|
|
AXA Enterprise
International
Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
748,162
|
|
|
$
|
317,787
|
|
|
$
|
255,833
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
The Predecessor Funds changed their fiscal year end from December 31
to October 31. The column above covers the ten-month period from
January 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004.
|
|
AXA Equitable served as the administrator to the Predecessor Funds. For these administrative
services, in addition to the management fee, each Predecessor Fund paid AXA Equitable a fee at an
annual rate of 0.055% of the Predecessor Funds total average net assets. Pursuant to a
sub-administration arrangement, AXA Equitable contracted with J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co.
(Predecessor Sub-Administrator) to provide Enterprise Trust with certain administrative services,
including monitoring of fund compliance and fund accounting services. During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2006, Enterprise Trust, on behalf of each Predecessor Fund, paid the following fees for
administrative services:
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Administration Fee
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
325,541
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
61,958
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
72,110
|
|
|
B-54
Portfolio Managers Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
The following tables disclose other accounts within each type of category listed below for
which the portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for day to day portfolio
management.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Based*
|
|
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type*
|
|
Registered
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
Investment
|
|
Other Pooled
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
Other Pooled
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Companies
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
Accounts
|
|
|
Companies
|
|
Investment Vehicles
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Name of
|
|
Number of
|
|
Assets
|
|
Number of
|
|
Assets
|
|
of
|
|
Assets
|
|
of
|
|
Assets
|
|
of
|
|
Assets
|
|
of
|
|
Assets
|
Portfolio Manager
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
|
Accounts
|
|
Managed
|
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
$20.4 bil
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
$19.8 bil
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
$63.9 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
$9.2 bil
|
Robert C. Jones
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
$20.4 bil
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
$19.8 bil
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
$63.9 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
$9.2 bil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melissa Brown
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
$20.4 bil
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
$19.8 bil
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
$63.9 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
$9.2 bil
|
Robert C. Jones
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
$20.4 bil
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
$19.8 bil
|
|
|
638
|
|
|
$63.9 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
$9.2 bil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Beveridge
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
$759 mil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
$1.1 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
William Howard
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
$759 mil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
$1.1 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Michael Stanes
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
$759 mil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
$1.1 bil
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
The information is as of August 31, 2006.
|
|
B-55
Conflicts of Interest
. The Investment Advisers portfolio managers are often
responsible for managing one or more of the Funds as well as other accounts, including proprietary
accounts, separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles, such as unregistered hedge funds.
A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle which may
have materially higher fee arrangements than the Fund and may also have a performance-based fee.
The side-by-side management of these funds may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to
cross trading, the allocation of investment opportunities and the aggregation and allocation of
trades.
The Investment Advisers have a fiduciary responsibility to manage all client accounts in a
fair and equitable manner. They seek to provide best execution of all securities transactions and
aggregate and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. To this
end, the Investment Advisers have developed policies and procedures designed to mitigate and manage
the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side management. In addition, the
Investment Advisers and the Funds have adopted policies limiting the circumstances under which
cross-trades may be effected between a Fund and another client account. The Investment Advisers
conduct periodic reviews of trades for consistency with these policies. For more information about
conflicts of interests that may arise in connection with the portfolio managers management of the
Funds investments and the investments of other accounts, see Potential Conflicts of Interest -
Potential Conflicts Relating to the Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds and
Other Goldman Sachs Accounts and Potential Conflicts Relating to Goldman Sachs and the Investment
Advisers Proprietary Activities and Activities on Behalf of Other Accounts.
Portfolio Managers Compensation
Quantitative Domestic Equity Portfolio Management Teams Base Salary and Performance
Bonus
.
The Investment Adviser provides compensation packages for its investment professionals, which
are comprised of a base salary and a performance bonus. The year-end performance bonus is a
function of each professionals individual performance; his or her contribution to the overall
performance of the group; the performance of GSAM; the profitability of Goldman Sachs; and
anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms.
Portfolio management teams are rewarded for their ability to outperform a benchmark while
managing risk exposure. An individuals compensation depends on his/her contribution to the team
as well as his/her ability to work as a member of the team.
The portfolio management teams performance measures are aligned with GSAMs goals to: (1)
exceed benchmark over one-year and three-year periods; (2) manage portfolios within a defined range
around a targeted tracking error; (3) perform consistently with objectives and client commitments;
(4) achieve top tier rankings and ratings; and (5) manage all similarly mandated accounts in a
consistent manner.
Performance-related remuneration for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the
following criteria: (1) overall portfolio performance and consistency of performance over time;
(2)
B-56
consistency of performance across accounts with similar profiles; (3) compliance with risk
budgets; and (4) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process.
In addition, detailed portfolio attribution is critical to the measurement process.
The benchmarks for these Funds are:
Structured Small Cap Value Fund: Russell 2000
®
Value Index
Structured Small Cap Growth Team: Russell 2000
®
Growth Index
Active International Portfolio Management Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus
. The
Investment Advisers Active International Portfolio Management Teams (the International Team)
compensation packages for portfolio managers are comprised of a base salary and performance bonus.
The performance bonus is a function of: each portfolio managers individual performance; the
International Teams total revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees
and for certain accounts; performance based fees; his or her contribution to the overall
performance of the International Team; the performance of the Investment Adviser; the profitability
of Goldman, Sachs & Co.; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio
managers are rewarded for their ability to outperform a benchmark over a three year period while
managing risk exposure.
The performance bonus for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the following
criteria: (1) overall portfolio performance; (2) consistency of performance across accounts with
similar profiles; and (3) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process.
In addition, the following factors involving the overall performance of the International Team are
also considered when the amount of performance bonus is determined: (1) whether the teams
performance exceeded performance benchmarks over three-year periods; (2) whether the team performed
consistently with objectives and client commitments; and (3) whether the team managed all similarly
mandated accounts in a consistent manner.
The benchmark for the Strategic International Equity Fund is the MSCI
®
EAFE (unhedged).
Other Compensation All Teams
. In addition to base salary and performance bonus, the
Investment Adviser has a number of additional benefits/deferred compensation programs for all
portfolio managers in place including (i) a 401k program that enables employees to direct a
percentage of their pretax salary and bonus income into a tax-qualified retirement plan; (ii) a
profit sharing program to which Goldman, Sachs & Co. makes a pretax contribution; and (iii)
investment opportunity programs in which certain professionals are eligible to participate subject
to certain net worth requirements. Portfolio managers may also receive grants of restricted stock
units and/or stock options as part of their compensation.
Certain GSAM portfolio managers may also participate in the firms Partner Compensation Plan,
which covers many of the firms senior executives. In general, under the Partner Compensation
Plan, participants receive a base salary and a bonus (which may be paid in cash or in the form of
an equity-based award) that is linked to Goldman Sachs overall financial performance.
B-57
Portfolio Managers Portfolio Managers Ownership of Securities in the Funds They Manage
The Funds were not in operation prior to the date of the Additional Statement. Consequently,
the Portfolio Managers owned no securities issued by the Funds.
Distributor and Transfer Agent
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor
of shares of the Funds pursuant to a best efforts arrangement as provided by a distribution
agreement with the Trust on behalf of each Fund. Shares of the Funds are offered and sold on a
continuous basis by Goldman Sachs, acting as agent. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, after
the Prospectuses and periodic reports have been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders,
Goldman Sachs will pay for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with
the offering to prospective investors. Goldman Sachs will also pay for other supplementary sales
literature and advertising costs. Goldman Sachs may enter into sales agreements with certain
investment dealers and other financial service firms (the Authorized Dealers) to solicit
subscriptions for Class A, Class B and Class C Shares of the Funds. Goldman Sachs receives a
portion of the sales charge imposed on the sale, in the case of Class A Shares, or redemption in
the case of Class B and Class C Shares (and in certain cases, Class A Shares), of such Fund shares.
Goldman Sachs, 71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60606 serves as the Trusts
transfer agent. Under its transfer agency agreement with the Trust, Goldman Sachs has undertaken
with the Trust to (i) record the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares, (ii) provide purchase
and redemption confirmations and quarterly statements, as well as certain other statements, (iii)
provide certain information to the Trusts custodian and the relevant sub-custodian in connection
with redemptions, (iv) provide dividend crediting and certain disbursing agent services, (v)
maintain shareholder accounts, (vi) provide certain state Blue Sky and other information, (vii)
provide shareholders and certain regulatory authorities with tax-related information, (viii)
respond to shareholder inquiries, and (ix) render certain other miscellaneous services. For its
transfer agency services, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a transfer agency fee equal, on an
annualized basis, to 0.04% of average daily net assets with respect to each Funds Institutional
and Service Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to each Funds Class A, Class
B and Class C Shares.
The Trusts distribution and transfer agency agreements each provide that Goldman Sachs may
render similar services to others so long as the services Goldman Sachs provides thereunder are not
impaired thereby. Such agreements also provide that the Trust will indemnify Goldman Sachs against
certain liabilities.
Predecessor Funds Distributor
. Enterprise Fund Distributors, Inc., Atlanta Financial
Center, 3343 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, served as the distributor
(the Predecessor Distributor) to the Predecessor Funds. Enterprise Trust had adopted in the
manner prescribed under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act separate plans of distribution pertaining to
the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of Enterprise Trust (Predecessor Plans). Under the
Predecessor Plans, each Predecessor Fund was authorized to pay the Predecessor Distributor a
service fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net
assets of each class of shares. In addition to this service fee, each Predecessor Fund was also
authorized to pay the Predecessor
B-58
Distributor a distribution fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.20% of
the average daily net assets of the Class A shares and 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the
Class B and Class C shares. There was no distribution plan with respect to Class Y (Institutional)
shares and the Predecessor Funds paid no service or distribution fees with respect to that class of
shares.
The table below shows the amounts reported by the Predecessor Funds as paid to the Predecessor
Distributor with respect to the Predecessor Funds pursuant to their Rule 12b-1 distribution plans
for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006. For this period, the Distributors actual expenditures
exceeded the amounts received from the Predecessor Funds.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Fees Paid to Distributor
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
Class B
|
|
Class C
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
1,153,763
|
|
|
$
|
1,885,628
|
|
|
$
|
982,500
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
207,439
|
|
|
$
|
327,139
|
|
|
$
|
138,616
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
273,152
|
|
|
$
|
249,236
|
|
|
$
|
225,004
|
|
|
The tables below show the amounts of sales charges reported by the Predecessor Funds as earned
by the Predecessor Distributor in connection with the sale of shares of the Predecessor Funds and
the amounts reported by the Predecessor Funds as retained by the Predecessor Distributor, net of
payments to selling dealers, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.
Class A (Front-End Sales Charge)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid to
|
|
Amount Retained
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
by Predecessor
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Distributor
|
|
Distributor
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
509
|
|
|
$
|
509
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
189
|
|
|
$
|
189
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
15,208
|
|
|
$
|
15,208
|
|
|
Class A (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid to
|
|
Amount Retained
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
by Predecessor
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Distributor
|
|
Distributor
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
6,975
|
|
|
$
|
6,975
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
2,929
|
|
|
$
|
2,929
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
2,463
|
|
|
$
|
2,463
|
|
|
B-59
Class B (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid to
|
|
Amount Retained
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
by Predecessor
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Distributor
|
|
Distributor
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
345,994
|
|
|
$
|
345,994
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
100,198
|
|
|
$
|
100,198
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
65,027
|
|
|
$
|
65,027
|
|
|
Class C (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount Paid to
|
|
Amount Retained
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
by Predecessor
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Distributor
|
|
Distributor
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
14,351
|
|
|
$
|
14,351
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
3,471
|
|
|
$
|
3,471
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
5,373
|
|
|
$
|
5,373
|
|
|
Expenses
The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is responsible for the payment of each Funds respective
expenses. The expenses include, without limitation, the fees payable to the Investment Advisers,
service fees and shareholder administration fees paid to Service Organizations, the fees and
expenses of the Trusts custodian and subcustodians, transfer agent fees and expenses, pricing
service fees and expenses, brokerage fees and commissions, filing fees for the registration or
qualification of the Trusts shares under federal or state securities laws, expenses of the
organization of the Funds, fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with membership in
investment company organizations including, but not limited to, the Investment Company Institute,
taxes, interest, costs of liability insurance, fidelity bonds or indemnification, any costs,
expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damages or other relief asserted
against, the Trust for violation of any law, legal, tax and auditing fees and expenses (including
the cost of legal and certain accounting services rendered by employees of Goldman Sachs or its
affiliates with respect to the Trust), expenses of preparing and setting in type Prospectuses,
Additional Statements, proxy material, reports and notices and the printing and distributing of the
same to the Trusts shareholders and regulatory authorities, any expenses assumed by a Fund
pursuant to its Distribution and Service Plans, compensation and expenses of its non-interested
Trustees, the fees and expenses of pricing services, dividend expenses on short sales and
extraordinary expenses, if any, incurred by the Trust. Except for fees and expenses under any
service plan, shareholder administration plan or distribution and service plans applicable to a
particular class and transfer agency fees and expenses, all Fund expenses are borne on a non-class
specific basis.
The imposition of the Investment Advisers fees, as well as other operating expenses, will
have the effect of reducing the total return to investors. From time to time, the Investment
Adviser may waive receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain expenses of a Fund, which
would have the effect of
B-60
lowering that Funds overall expense ratio and increasing total return to investors at the time
such amounts are waived or assumed, as the case may be.
As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Investment Advisers voluntarily have agreed
to reduce or limit certain Other Expenses (excluding management fees, distribution and service
fees, transfer agency fees, service fees, shareholder administration fees and expenses, taxes,
interest, brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other
extraordinary expenses exclusive of any expense offset arrangements) for the following Funds to the
extent such expenses exceed the following percentage of each Funds average daily net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Expenses
|
Structured Small Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
0.004
|
%
|
Structured Small Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
0.004
|
%
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
|
0.16
|
%
|
Such reductions or limits, if any, are calculated monthly on a cumulative basis during each
Funds fiscal year and may be discontinued or modified by the applicable Investment Adviser in its
discretion at any time.
Fees and expenses borne by the Funds relating to legal counsel, registering shares of a Fund,
holding meetings and communicating with shareholders may include an allocable portion of the cost
of maintaining an internal legal and compliance department. Each Fund may also bear an allocable
portion of the Investment Advisers costs of performing certain accounting services not being
provided by a Funds custodian.
Custodian and Sub-Custodians
State Street, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the custodian of the Trusts portfolio
securities and cash for the Structured Small Cap Value and Structured Small Cap Growth Funds.
JPMorganChase, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, is the custodian to the Strategic
International Equity Funds. State Street and JPMorganChase also maintain the Trusts accounting
records for the Funds for which they serve as custodian. State Street may appoint domestic and
foreign sub-custodians and use depositories from time to time to hold certain securities and other
instruments purchased by the Trust in foreign countries and to hold cash and currencies for the
Trust.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, is the Funds independent
registered public accounting firm. In addition to audit services, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
prepares the Funds federal and state tax returns, and provides assistance on certain non-audit
matters.
B-61
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Summary
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer,
asset management and financial services organization, and a major participant in global financial
markets. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment
manager, investment adviser, financer, advisor, market maker, proprietary trader, prime broker,
lender and agent, and has other direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency,
commodity, equity and other markets in which the Funds invest. As a result, The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc., the asset management division of Goldman Sachs, the Investment Advisers, and their
affiliates, directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees (collectively
for purposes of this Potential Conflicts of Interest section, Goldman Sachs), including those
who may be involved in the management, sales, investment activities, business operations or
distribution of the Funds, are engaged in businesses and have interests other than that of managing
the Funds. The Funds will not be entitled to compensation related to such businesses. These
activities and interests include potential multiple advisory, transactional, financial and other
interests in securities, instruments and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or
sold by the Funds and their service providers. Such additional businesses and interests may give
rise to potential conflicts of interest. The following is a brief summary description of certain
of these potential conflicts of interest:
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|
While the Investment Advisers will make decisions for the Funds in accordance with their
obligations to manage the Funds appropriately, the fees, allocations, compensation and
other benefits to Goldman Sachs (including benefits relating to business relationships of
Goldman Sachs) arising from those decisions may be greater as a result of certain
portfolio, investment, service provider or other decisions made by the Investment Advisers
than they would have been had other decisions been made which also might have been
appropriate for the Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs, its sales personnel and other financial service providers may have
conflicts associated with their promotion of the Funds or other dealings with the Funds
that would create incentives for them to promote the Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
While the allocation of investment opportunities among Goldman Sachs, the Funds and
other funds and accounts managed by Goldman Sachs may raise potential conflicts because of
financial or other interests of Goldman Sachs or its personnel, the Investment Advisers
will not make allocation decisions solely based on such factors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Advisers will give advice to and make investment decisions for the Funds
as they believe is in the fiduciary interests of the Funds. Advice given to the Funds or
investment decisions made for the Funds may differ from, and may conflict with, advice
given or investment decisions made for Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts. For
example, other funds or accounts managed by the Investment Advisers may sell short
securities of an issuer in which the Funds have taken, or will take, a long position in the
same securities. Actions taken with respect to Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts
may adversely impact the Funds, and actions taken by the Funds may benefit Goldman Sachs or
other funds or accounts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Investment Adviser may buy for the Funds securities or obligations of issuers in
which Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts have made, or are making, an investment in
securities or obligations that are subordinate or senior to securities of the Funds. For
example,
|
|
B-62
|
|
|
|
a Fund may invest in debt securities of an issuer at the same time that Goldman Sachs or
other funds or accounts are investing, or currently have an investment, in equity securities
of the same issuer. To the extent that the issuer experiences financial or operational
challenges which may impact the price of its securities and its ability to meet its
obligations, decisions by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) relating to what
actions to be taken may also raise conflicts of interests and Goldman Sachs may take actions
for certain accounts that have negative impacts on other advisory accounts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs personnel may have varying levels of economic and other interests in
accounts or products promoted or managed by such personnel as compared to other accounts or
products promoted or managed by them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation to provide to the Funds, or effect
transactions on behalf of the Funds in accordance with, any market or other information,
analysis, technical models or research in its possession. Goldman Sachs may have
information material to the management of the Funds and may not share that information with
relevant personnel of the Investment Adviser.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may enter into transactions in
which Goldman Sachs acts as principal, or in which Goldman Sachs acts on behalf of the
Funds and the other parties to such transactions. Goldman Sachs will have potentially
conflicting interests in connection with such transactions.
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or otherwise for the Funds and
will retain all commissions, fees and other compensation in connection therewith.
|
|
|
|
|
Securities traded for the Funds may, but are not required to, be aggregated with trades
for other funds or accounts managed by Goldman Sachs. When transactions are aggregated but
it is not possible to receive the same price or execution on the entire volume of
securities purchased or sold, the various prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be
charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may
operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds.
|
|
|
|
|
Products and services received by the Investment Advisers or their affiliates from
brokers in connection with brokerage services provided to the Funds and other funds or
accounts managed by Goldman Sachs may disproportionately benefit other of such funds and
accounts based on the relative amounts of brokerage services provided to the Funds and such
other funds and accounts.
|
|
|
|
|
While the Investment Advisers will make proxy voting decisions as they believe
appropriate and in accordance with the Investment Advisers policies designed to help avoid
conflicts of interest, proxy voting decisions made by the Investment Advisers with respect
to a Funds portfolio securities may favor the interests of other clients or businesses of
other divisions or units of Goldman Sachs.
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory restrictions (including relating to the aggregation of positions among
different funds and accounts) and internal Goldman Sachs policies may restrict investment
activities of the
|
B-63
Funds. Information held by Goldman Sachs could have the effect of restricting investment
activities of the Funds.
Prospective investors should carefully review the following section of this document which
more fully describes these and other potential conflicts of interest presented by Goldman Sachs
other businesses and interests.
As a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, the Investment Advisers are
required to file a Form ADV with the SEC. Form ADV contains information about assets under
management, types of fee arrangements, types of investments, potential conflicts of interest, and
other relevant information regarding the Investment Advisers. A copy of Part 1 of the Investment
Advisers Form ADV is available on the SECs website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).
Potential Conflicts Relating to Portfolio Decisions, the Sale of Fund Shares and the
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
Goldman Sachs Other Activities May Have an Impact on the Funds
The Investment Advisers make decisions for the Funds in accordance with their obligations as
the Investment Advisers of the Funds. However, Goldman Sachs other activities may have a negative
effect on the Funds. As a result of the various activities and interests of Goldman Sachs as
described in the first paragraph under Summary above, it is likely that the Funds will have
multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage in transactions with, make voting
decisions with respect to, or obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs or
seeks to perform investment banking or other services. It is also likely that the Funds will
undertake transactions in securities in which Goldman Sachs makes a market or otherwise has other
direct or indirect interests. In addition, while the Investment Advisers will make decisions for
the Funds in accordance with their obligations to manage the Funds appropriately, the fees,
allocations, compensation and other benefits (including benefits relating to business relationships
of Goldman Sachs) arising from those decisions may be greater as a result of certain portfolio,
investment, service provider or other decisions made by the Investment Advisers for the Funds than
they would have been had other decisions been made which also might have been appropriate for the
Funds.
Goldman Sachs conducts extensive broker-dealer, banking and other activities around the world
and operates a business known as Goldman Sachs Security Services (GSS) which provides prime
brokerage, administrative and other services to clients which may involve funds, markets and
securities in which the Funds invest. These businesses will give GSS and many other parts of
Goldman Sachs broad access to the current status of certain markets, investments and funds and
detailed knowledge about fund operators. In addition, with respect to advisory account that
invests in funds, given Goldman Sachs scale of activity in the prime brokerage market, it is
likely that Goldman Sachs will act as a prime broker to one or more funds in which such advisory
account may invest, in which case Goldman Sachs will have direct knowledge concerning the
investments and transactions of such funds. As a result of the activities described in this
paragraph and the access and knowledge arising from those activities, parts of Goldman Sachs may be
in possession of information in respect of markets, investments and funds, which, if known to the
Investment Adviser, might cause the Investment Adviser to seek to dispose of, retain or increase
interests in investments held by the Funds or acquire certain positions on behalf of the Funds.
Goldman Sachs will be under no duty to make any such information available to the Funds or
personnel of the Investment Adviser making investment
B-64
decisions on behalf of the Funds. In general, personnel of the Investment Adviser making
investment decisions will make decisions based solely upon information known by such decision
makers without regard to information known by other Goldman Sachs personnel.
Goldman Sachs Financial and Other Interests and Relationships May Incentivize Goldman Sachs
to Promote the Sale of Fund Shares
Goldman Sachs, its personnel and other financial service providers, have interests in
promoting sales of the Funds. With respect to both Goldman Sachs and its personnel, the
remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of the Funds or other products may
be greater than the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of other
products that might be provided or offered. Goldman Sachs and its sales personnel may directly or
indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Funds or their
shareholders. Goldman Sachs and its advisory or other personnel may also benefit from increased
amounts of assets under management. Fees and commissions may also be higher than for other products
or services, and the remuneration and profitability to Goldman Sachs and such personnel resulting
from transactions on behalf of or management of the Funds may be greater than the remuneration and
profitability resulting from other funds or products.
Conflicts may arise in relation to sales-related incentives. Goldman Sachs and its personnel
may receive greater compensation or greater profit in connection with the Funds than with an
account advised by an unaffiliated investment adviser. Differentials in compensation may be related
to the fact that Goldman Sachs may pay a portion of its advisory fee to the unaffiliated investment
adviser, or to other compensation arrangements, including for portfolio management, brokerage
transactions or account servicing. Any differential in compensation may create a financial
incentive on the part of Goldman Sachs and its personnel to recommend the Funds over other accounts
or products managed by unaffiliated investment advisers or to effect transactions differently in
the Funds as compared to other accounts or products.
Goldman Sachs may also have relationships with, and purchase, or distribute or sell, services
or products from or to, distributors, consultants and others who recommend the Funds, or who engage
in transactions with or for the Funds. For example, Goldman Sachs regularly participates in
industry and consultant sponsored conferences and may purchase educational, data related or other
services from consultants or other third parties that it deems to be of value to its personnel and
its business. The products and services purchased from consultants may include, but are not
limited to, those that help Goldman Sachs understand the consultants points of view on the
investment management process. Consultants and other parties that provide consulting or other
services to potential investors in the Funds may receive fees from Goldman Sachs or the Funds in
connection with the distribution of shares in the Funds or other Goldman Sachs products. For
example, Goldman Sachs may enter into revenue or fee sharing arrangements with consultants, service
providers, and other intermediaries relating to investments in mutual funds, collective trusts, or
other products or services offered or managed by the Investment Advisers. Goldman Sachs may also
pay a fee for membership in industry-wide or state and municipal organizations or otherwise help
sponsor conferences and educational forums for investment industry participants including, but not
limited to, trustees, fiduciaries, consultants, administrators, state and municipal personnel and
other clients. Goldman Sachs membership in such organizations allows Goldman Sachs to participate
in these conferences and educational forums and helps Goldman Sachs interact with conference
participants and to develop an understanding of the points of view and challenges of the conference
participants. In addition, Goldman Sachs personnel, including employees
B-65
of Goldman Sachs, may have board, advisory, brokerage or other relationships with issuers,
distributors, consultants and others that may have investments in the Funds or that may recommend
investments in the Funds. In addition, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, may make
charitable contributions to institutions, including those that have relationships with clients or
personnel of clients. Goldman Sachs personnel may also make political contributions. As a result
of the relationships and arrangements described in this paragraph, consultants, distributors and
other parties may have conflicts associated with their promotion of the Funds or other dealings
with the Funds that create incentives for them to promote the Funds or certain portfolio
transactions.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs may make payments to authorized
dealers and other financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time to time to promote the
Funds, Client/GS Accounts (defined below) and other products. In addition to placement fees, sales
loads or similar distribution charges, such payments may be made out of Goldman Sachs assets, or
amounts payable to Goldman Sachs rather than a separately identified charge to the Funds, Client/GS
Accounts or other products. Such payments may compensate Intermediaries for, among other things:
marketing the Funds, Client/GS Accounts and other products; access to the Intermediaries
registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance
in training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or other specified services intended
to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Funds, Client/GS Accounts and other products.
The payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various
non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote certain products, as well as sponsor various
educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions. The additional payments by Goldman Sachs
may also compensate Intermediaries for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing
services that are in addition to the fees paid for these services by such products.
The payments made by Goldman Sachs may be different for different Intermediaries. The
presence of these payments and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered
representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered
representative or salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend certain products based, at least
in part, on the level of compensation paid.
Potential Conflicts Relating to the Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds
and Other Goldman Sachs Accounts
Goldman Sachs has potential conflicts in connection with the allocation of investments or
transaction decisions for the Funds, including in situations in which Goldman Sachs or its
personnel (including personnel of the Investment Advisers) have interests. For example, the Funds
may be competing for investment opportunities with current or future accounts or funds managed or
advised by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Advisers). These accounts or funds may provide
greater fees or other compensation (including performance based fees) to Goldman Sachs (including
the Investment Advisers) or in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Advisers) or its
personnel have an interest (collectively, the Client/GS Accounts).
Goldman Sachs may manage or advise Client/GS Accounts that have investment objectives that are
similar to those of the Funds and/or may seek to make investments in securities or other
instruments in which the Funds may invest. This will create potential conflicts and potential
differences among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts, particularly where there is limited
availability or limited liquidity for those investments. Such limited availability situations may
exist, without limitation, in local and emerging markets, regulated industries, research and
development
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trades, relative value or paired trades, IPO/new issues and limited issues. The Investment
Advisers have developed policies and procedures that provide that they will allocate investment
opportunities and make purchase and sale decisions among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts in
a manner that they consider, in their sole discretion and consistent with their fiduciary
obligation to each Client/GS Account, to be reasonable. Allocations may be based on numerous
factors and may not always be pro rata based on assets managed.
The Investment Advisers will make allocation-related decisions for the Funds and other
Client/GS Accounts with reference to numerous factors that may include, without limitation, (i)
account investment horizons, investment objectives and guidelines; (ii) different levels of
investment for different strategies; (iii) client-specific investment guidelines and restrictions;
(iv) fully directed brokerage accounts; (v) tax sensitivity of accounts; (vi) suitability
requirements; (vii) account turnover guidelines; (viii) availability of cash for investment; (ix)
relative sizes and expected future sizes of applicable accounts; and/or (x) availability of other
investment opportunities. Suitability considerations can include without limitation (i) relative
attractiveness of a security to different accounts; (ii) concentration of positions in an account;
(iii) appropriateness of a security for the benchmark of an account; (iv) an accounts risk
tolerance, risk parameters and strategy allocations; (v) use of the opportunity as a replacement
for a security the Investment Advisers believe to be attractive for an account but that for some
reason cannot be held in the account; (vi) the need to hedge a short position in a pair trade;
and/or (vii) the need to give a subset of accounts exposure to an industry. In addition to
allocations of limited availability investments, the Investment Advisers may, from time to time,
develop and implement new investment opportunities and/or trading strategies, and these strategies
may not be allocated among all accounts (including the Fund) or pro rata, even if the strategy is
consistent with objectives of all accounts. The Investment Advisers may make decisions based on
such factors as strategic fit and other portfolio management considerations, including, without
limitation, an accounts capacity for such strategy, the liquidity of the strategy and its
underlying instruments, the accounts liquidity, the business risk of the strategy relative to the
accounts overall portfolio make-up, and the lack of efficacy of, or return expectations from, the
strategy for the account, and such other factors as the Investment Advisers deem relevant in their
sole discretion. For example, such a determination may, but will not necessarily, include
consideration of the fact that a particular strategy will not have a meaningful impact on an
account given the overall size of the account, the limited availability of opportunities in the
strategy and the availability of other strategies for the account. As a result, such a strategy may
be allocated to some accounts managed by the Investment Advisers and not to others.
Although allocating orders among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts may create potential
conflicts of interest because of the interests of Goldman Sachs or its personnel or because Goldman
Sachs may receive greater fees or compensation from one of the Client/GS Accounts allocations, the
Investment Advisers will not make allocation decisions based on such interests or greater fees or
compensation.
Allocation decisions among accounts may be more or less advantageous to any one account or
group of accounts. As a result of the above, the Investment Advisers may determine that investment
opportunities, strategies or particular purchases or sales are appropriate for one or more
Client/GS Accounts or for themselves or an affiliate, but not for the Funds, or are appropriate
for, or available to, the Funds but in different sizes, terms or timing than is appropriate for
other Client/GS Accounts, or may determine not to allocate to or purchase or sell for Client/GS
Accounts all investment transactions for which Client/GS Accounts may be eligible. Therefore, the
amount, timing, structuring or terms of
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an investment by the Funds may differ from, and performance may be lower than, investments and
performance of other Client/GS Accounts.
The Investment Advisers and/or their affiliates manage accounts of clients of Goldman Sachs
Private Wealth Management (PWM) business. Such PWM clients receive advice from Goldman Sachs by
means of separate accounts (PWM Separate Accounts). With respect to the Funds, the Investment
Advisers may follow a strategy that is expected to be similar over time to that delivered by the
PWM Separate Accounts. Each of the Funds and the PWM Separate Account Clients are subject to
independent management and, given the independence in the implementation of advice to these
accounts, there can be no warranty that such investment advice will be implemented simultaneously.
Neither the Investment Advisers (in the case of the Funds) nor their affiliates (in the case of PWM
Separate Accounts), will know when advice issued has been executed (if at all) and, if so, to what
extent. While each will use reasonable endeavors to procure timely execution, it is possible that
prior execution for or on behalf of the PWM Separate Accounts could adversely affect the prices and
availability of the securities, currencies and instruments in which the Funds invest.
Other Potential Conflicts Relating to the Management of the Funds by the Investment
Advisers
Potential Restrictions and Issues Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs
From time to time and subject to the Investment Advisers policies and procedures regarding
information barriers, the Investment Advisers may consult with personnel in other areas of Goldman
Sachs, or with persons unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs, or may form investment policy committees
comprised of such personnel. The performance by such persons of obligations related to their
consultation with personnel of the Investment Advisers could conflict with their areas of primary
responsibility within Goldman Sachs or elsewhere. In connection with their activities with the
Investment Advisers, such persons may receive information regarding the Investment Advisers
proposed investment activities of the Funds that is not generally available to the public. There
will be no obligation on the part of such persons to make available for use by the Funds any
information or strategies known to them or developed in connection with their own client,
proprietary or other activities. In addition, Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation to make
available any research or analysis prior to its public dissemination.
The Investment Advisers make decisions for the Funds based on the Funds investment programs.
The Investment Advisers from time to time may have access to certain fundamental analysis and
proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs and its personnel. Goldman Sachs will not
be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of the Funds in accordance with
such analysis and models.
In addition, Goldman Sachs has no obligation to seek information or to make available to or
share with the Funds any information, investment strategies, opportunities or ideas known to
Goldman Sachs personnel or developed or used in connection with other clients or activities.
Goldman Sachs and certain of its personnel, including the Investment Advisers personnel or other
Goldman Sachs personnel advising or otherwise providing services to the Funds, may be in possession
of information not available to all Goldman Sachs personnel, and such personnel may act on the
basis of such information in ways that have adverse effects on the Funds.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs may come into possession of material, non-public information
or other information that could limit the ability of the Funds to buy and sell investments.
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The investment flexibility of the Funds may be constrained as a consequence. The Investment
Advisers generally are not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information in effecting
purchases and sales in public securities transactions for the Funds.
Potential Conflicts Relating to Goldman Sachs and the Investment Advisers Proprietary
Activities and Activities On Behalf of Other Accounts
The results of the investment activities of the Funds may differ significantly from the
results achieved by Goldman Sachs for its proprietary accounts and from the results achieved by
Goldman Sachs for other Client/GS Accounts. The Investment Advisers will manage the Funds and the
other Client/GS Accounts they manage in accordance with their respective investment objectives and
guidelines. However, Goldman Sachs may give advice, and take action, with respect to any current
or future Client/GS Accounts that may compete or conflict with the advice the Investment Advisers
may give to the Funds, or may involve a different timing or nature of action than with respect to
the Funds.
Transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs or Client/GS Accounts may adversely impact the Funds.
Goldman Sachs and one or more Client/GS Accounts may buy or sell positions while the Funds are
undertaking the same or a differing, including potentially opposite, strategy, which could
disadvantage the Funds. For example, a Fund may buy a security and Goldman Sachs or Client/GS
Accounts may establish a short position in that same security. The subsequent short sale may
result in impairment of the price of the security which the Fund holds. Conversely, the Fund may
establish a short position in a security and Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts may buy that
same security. The subsequent purchase may result in an increase of the price of the underlying
position in the short sale exposure of the Fund and such increase in price would be to the Funds
detriment. Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding a Fund may benefit
Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts. For example, the sale of a long position or
establishment of a short position by a Fund may impair the price of the same security sold short by
(and therefore benefit) Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts, and the purchase of a security
or covering of a short position in a security by a Fund may increase the price of the same security
held by (and therefore benefit) Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts.
In addition, transactions in investments by one or more Client/GS Accounts and Goldman Sachs
may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment
strategies of a Fund, particularly, but not limited to, in small capitalization, emerging market or
less liquid strategies. This may occur when portfolio decisions regarding a Fund are based on
research or other information that is also used to support portfolio decisions for other Client/GS
Accounts. When Goldman Sachs or a Client/GS Account implements a portfolio decision or strategy
ahead of, or contemporaneously with, similar portfolio decisions or strategies for the Funds
(whether or not the portfolio decisions emanate from the same research analysis or other
information), market impact, liquidity constraints, or other factors could result in the Fund
receiving less favorable trading results and the costs of implementing such portfolio decisions or
strategies could be increased or the Fund could otherwise be disadvantaged. Goldman Sachs may, in
certain cases, elect to implement internal policies and procedures designed to limit such
consequences to Client/GS Accounts, which may cause a Fund to be unable to engage in certain
activities, including purchasing or disposing of securities, when it might otherwise be desirable
for it to do so.
As noted above, the Investment Adviser may, but is not required to aggregate purchase or sale
orders for the Funds with trades for other funds or accounts managed by Goldman Sachs, including
Client/GS Accounts. When orders are aggregated for execution, it is possible that GS and GS
B-69
employee interests will receive benefits from such transactions, even in limited capacity
situations. While the Investment Adviser maintains policies and procedures that it believes are
reasonably designed to deal with conflicts of interest that may arise in certain situations when
purchase or sale orders for the Funds are aggregated for execution with orders for Client/GS
Accounts, in some cases the Investment Adviser will make allocations to accounts in which Goldman
Sachs and/or employees have an interest.
The Investment Adviser has established a trade sequencing and rotation policy for certain U.S.
equity client accounts (including the Funds) and wrap fee accounts. The Investment Adviser does
not generally aggregate trades on behalf of wrap fee accounts at the present time. Wrap fees
usually cover execution costs only when trades are placed with the sponsor of the account. Trades
through different sponsors are generally not aggregated. The Investment Adviser currently utilizes
an asset-based trade sequencing and rotation policy for determining the order in which trades for
institutional and wrap accounts are placed. Given current asset levels, the Investment Advisers
trade sequencing and rotation policy provides that wrap accounts trade ahead of other accounts,
including the Funds, 10% of the time. Other accounts, including the Funds, currently trade before
wrap accounts 90% of the time. This is reflected in a ten week trade rotation schedule. The
Investment Adviser may deviate from the rotation schedule under certain circumstances. These
include situations, for example, where in the Investment Advisers view it is not practical for the
wrap fee accounts to participate in certain types of trades or when there are unusually long delays
in a given wrap sponsors execution of a particular trade. In addition, a portfolio management
team may provide instructions simultaneously regarding the placement of a trade in lieu of the
rotation schedule if the trade represents a relatively small proportion of the average daily
trading volume of the relevant security.
The directors, officers and employees of Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, may
buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through investment
funds managed by Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers). As a result of differing
trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers and
employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the
Funds. To reduce the possibility that the Funds will be materially adversely affected by the
personal trading described above, each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs, as each Funds Investment
Adviser and distributor, has established policies and procedures that restrict securities trading
in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession
of information regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. Each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs,
as each Funds Investment Adviser and distributor, has adopted a code of ethics (collectively, the
Codes of Ethics) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Act and monitoring procedures relating
to certain personal securities transactions by personnel of the Investment Advisers which the
Investment Advisers deem to involve potential conflicts involving such personnel, Client/GS
Accounts managed by the Investment Advisers and the Funds. The Codes of Ethics require that
personnel of the Investment Advisers comply with all applicable federal securities laws and with
the fiduciary duties and anti-fraud rules to which the Investment Advisers are subject. The Codes
of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.
Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
1-202-942-8090. The Codes of Ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained after paying a duplicating fee by writing
the SECs Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic request to
publicinfo@sec.gov.
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Clients of Goldman Sachs (including Client/GS Accounts) may have, as a result of receiving
client reports or otherwise, access to information regarding the Investment Advisers transactions
or views which may affect such clients transactions outside of accounts controlled by personnel of
the Investment Advisers, and such transactions may negatively impact the performance of the Funds.
The Funds may also be adversely affected by cash flows and market movements arising from purchase
and sales transactions, as well as increases of capital in, and withdrawals of capital from, other
Client/GS Accounts. These effects can be more pronounced in thinly traded and less liquid markets.
The Investment Advisers management of the Funds may benefit Goldman Sachs. For example, the
Funds may, subject to applicable law, invest directly or indirectly in the securities of companies
affiliated with Goldman Sachs or which Goldman Sachs has an equity, debt or other interest. In
addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may engage in investment
transactions which may result in other Client/GS Accounts being relieved of obligations or
otherwise divesting of investments or cause the Funds to have to divest certain investments. The
purchase, holding and sale of investments by the Funds may enhance the profitability of Goldman
Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts own investments in and its activities with respect to such
companies.
Goldman Sachs and one or more Client/GS Accounts (including the Funds) may also invest in
different classes of securities of the same issuer. As a result, one or more Client/GS Accounts
may pursue or enforce rights with respect to a particular issuer in which a Fund has invested, and
those activities may have an adverse effect on the Fund. For example, if a Client/GS Account holds
debt securities of an issuer and a Fund holds equity securities of the same issuer, if the issuer
experiences financial or operations challenges, the Client/GS Account which holds the debt
securities may seek a liquidation of the issuer, whereas the Fund which holds the equity securities
may prefer a reorganization of the issuer. A Fund may be negatively impacted by Goldman Sachs and
other Client/GS Accounts activities, and transactions for the Fund may be impaired or effected at
prices or terms that may be less favorable than would otherwise have been the case had Goldman
Sachs and other Client/GS Accounts not pursued a particular course of action with respect to the
issuer of the securities. In addition, in certain instances personnel of the Investment Adviser
may obtain information about the issuer that would be material to the management of other Client/GS
Accounts which could limit the ability of personnel of the Investment Adviser to buy or sell
securities of the issuer on behalf of the Funds.
Goldman Sachs may create, write, sell or issue, or act as placement agent or distributor of,
derivative instruments with respect to the Funds or with respect to underlying securities,
currencies or instruments of the Funds, or which may be otherwise based on the performance of the
Funds. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs (including its
personnel or Client/GS Accounts) may invest in the Funds, may hedge its derivative positions by
buying or selling shares of the Funds, and reserves the right to redeem some or all of its
investments at any time. These investments and redemptions may be significant and may be made
without notice to the shareholders. The structure or other characteristics of the derivative
instruments may have an adverse effect on the Funds. For example, the derivative instruments could
represent leveraged investments in the Funds, and the leveraged characteristics of such investments
could make it more likely, due to events of default or otherwise, that there would be significant
redemptions of interests from the Funds more quickly than might otherwise be the case. Goldman
Sachs, acting in commercial capacities in connection with such derivative instruments, may in fact
cause such a redemption. This may have an adverse effect on the investment management and
positions, flexibility and diversification strategies of the Funds and on the amount of fees,
expenses and other costs incurred directly or indirectly for the account of the Funds.
B-71
Potential Conflicts in Connection with Investments in Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds
To the extent permitted by applicable law, a Fund may invest all or some of its short term
cash investments in any money market fund advised or managed by Goldman Sachs. In connection with
any such investments, a Fund, to the extent permitted by the Act, will pay its share of all
expenses (other than advisory and administrative fees) of a money market fund in which it invests
which may result in a Fund bearing some additional expenses.
Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, may from time to
time and without notice to investors in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in
connection with a variety of services that it provides to the Funds in its administrative or other
capacities. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Potential Conflicts That May Arise When Goldman Sachs Acts in a Capacity Other Than Investment
Adviser to the Funds
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may enter into transactions and invest in
futures, securities, currencies, swaps, options, forward contracts or other instruments in which
Goldman Sachs acting as principal or on a proprietary basis for its customers, serves as the
counterparty. The Funds may also enter into cross transactions in which Goldman Sachs acts on
behalf of the Fund and for the other party to the transaction. Goldman Sachs may have a
potentially conflicting division of responsibilities to both parties to a cross transaction. For
example, Goldman Sachs may represent both a Fund and another Client/GS Account in connection with
the purchase of a security by the Fund, and Goldman Sachs may receive compensation or other
payments from either or both parties, which could influence the decision of Goldman Sachs to cause
the Fund to purchase such security. The Funds may engage in principal or cross transactions to the
extent permitted by applicable law.
Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or advisor or in other commercial
capacities for the Funds. It is anticipated that the commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, financial
advisory fees, underwriting and placement fees, sales fees, financing and commitment fees,
brokerage fees, other fees, compensation or profits, rates, terms and conditions charged by Goldman
Sachs will be in its view commercially reasonable, although Goldman Sachs, including its sales
personnel, will have an interest in obtaining fees and other amounts that are favorable to Goldman
Sachs and such sales personnel. The Funds may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow
funds from Goldman Sachs at rates and on other terms arranged with Goldman Sachs.
Goldman Sachs may be entitled to compensation when it acts in capacities other than as the
Investment Advisers, and the Funds will not be entitled to any such compensation. For example,
Goldman Sachs (and its personnel and other distributors) will be entitled to retain fees and other
amounts that it receives in connection with its service to the Funds as broker, dealer, agent,
lender, advisor or in other commercial capacities and no accounting to the Funds or their
shareholders will be required, and no fees or other compensation payable by the Funds or their
shareholders will be reduced by reason of receipt by Goldman Sachs of any such fees or other
amounts.
B-72
When Goldman Sachs acts as broker, dealer, agent, lender or advisor or in other commercial
capacities in relation to the Funds, Goldman Sachs may take commercial steps in its own interests,
which may have an adverse effect on the Funds. For example, in connection with lending
arrangements involving the Funds, Goldman Sachs may require repayment of all or part of a loan at
any time or from time to time.
The Funds will be required to establish business relationships with their counterparties based
on their own credit standing. Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, will not have any
obligation to allow its credit to be used in connection with the Funds establishment of their
business relationships, nor is it expected that the Funds counterparties will rely on the credit
of Goldman Sachs in evaluating the Funds creditworthiness.
Potential Conflicts in Connection with Brokerage Transactions and Proxy Voting
To the extent permitted by applicable law, purchases and sales of securities for a Fund may be
bunched or aggregated with orders for other Client/GS Accounts. The Investment Advisers and their
affiliates, however, are not required to bunch or aggregate orders if portfolio management
decisions for different accounts are made separately, or if they determine that bunching or
aggregating is not practicable, required or with cases involving client direction.
Prevailing trading activity frequently may make impossible the receipt of the same price or
execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold. When this occurs, the various
prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus,
the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds. In
addition, under certain circumstances, the Funds will not be charged the same commission or
commission equivalent rates in connection with a bunched or aggregated order. Time zone
differences, separate trading desks or portfolio management processes in a global organization may,
among other factors, result in separate, non-aggregated executions.
The Investment Advisers may select brokers (including, without limitation, affiliates of the
Investment Advisers) that furnish the Investment Advisers, the Funds, other Client/GS Accounts or
their affiliates or personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with research or
other appropriate services which provide, in the Investment Advisers views, appropriate assistance
to the Investment Advisers in the investment decision-making process (including with respect to
futures, fixed-price offerings and over-the-counter transactions). Such research or other services
may include, to the extent permitted by law, research reports on companies, industries and
securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; proxy analysis; trade industry
seminars; computer databases; quotation equipment and services; and research-oriented computer
hardware, software and other services and products. Research or other services obtained in this
manner may be used in servicing any or all of the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts, including in
connection with Client/GS Accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker relating to
the research or other service arrangements. Such products and services may disproportionately
benefit other Client/GS Accounts relative to the Funds based on the amount of brokerage commissions
paid by the Funds and such other Client/GS Accounts. For example, research or other services that
are paid for through one clients commissions may not be used in managing that clients account.
In addition, other Client/GS Accounts may receive the benefit, including disproportionate benefits,
of economies of scale or price discounts in connection with products and services that may be
provided to the Funds and to such other Client/GS Accounts. To the extent that the Investment
Advisers use soft dollars, they will not have to pay for those products and services themselves.
The Investment Advisers may receive research that is
B-73
bundled with the trade execution, clearing, and/or settlement services provided by a
particular broker-dealer. To the extent that the Investment Advisers receive research on this
basis, many of the same conflicts related to traditional soft dollars may exist. For example, the
research effectively will be paid by client commissions that also will be used to pay for the
execution, clearing, and settlement services provided by the broker-dealer and will not be paid by
the Investment Advisers.
The Investment Advisers may endeavor to execute trades through brokers who, pursuant to such
arrangements, provide research or other services in order to ensure the continued receipt of
research or other services the Investment Advisers believe are useful in their investment
decision-making process. The Investment Advisers may from time to time choose not to engage in the
above described arrangements to varying degrees.
The Investment Advisers have adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of
interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that they make on behalf of advisory clients,
including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with the
Investment Advisers fiduciary obligations to their clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such
proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of the Investment Advisers may
have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or
units of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates provided that the Investment Advisers believe such
voting decisions to be in accordance with their fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed
discussion of these policies and procedures, see the section of this Additional Statement entitled
Proxy Voting.
Potential Regulatory Restrictions on Investment Adviser Activity
From time to time, the activities of a Fund may be restricted because of regulatory
requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with,
limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by
Goldman Sachs would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when the
Investment Advisers may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise
restrict or limit their advice in certain securities or instruments issued by or related to
companies for which Goldman Sachs is performing investment banking, market making or other services
or has proprietary positions. For example, when Goldman Sachs is engaged in an underwriting or
other distribution of securities of, or advisory services for, a company, the Funds may be
prohibited from or limited in purchasing or selling securities of that company. Similar situations
could arise if Goldman Sachs personnel serve as directors of companies the securities of which the
Funds wish to purchase or sell. The larger the Investment Advisers investment advisory business
and Goldman Sachs businesses, the larger the potential that these restricted list policies will
impact investment transactions. However, if permitted by applicable law, the Funds may purchase
securities or instruments that are issued by such companies or are the subject of an underwriting,
distribution, or advisory assignment by Goldman Sachs, or in cases in which Goldman Sachs personnel
are directors or officers of the issuer.
The investment activities of Goldman Sachs for its proprietary accounts and for Client/GS
Accounts may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Funds. For example, in
regulated industries, in certain emerging or international markets, in corporate and regulatory
ownership definitions, and in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on
the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded without the
grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause Goldman
Sachs, the Funds or other Client/GS Accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. If
certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability
of the Investment Advisers on
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behalf of clients (including the Funds) to purchase or dispose of investments, or exercise rights
or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a
result, the Investment Advisers on behalf of clients (including the Funds) may limit purchases,
sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting
rights) when the Investment Advisers, in their sole discretion, deem it appropriate.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Investment Advisers are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the
Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of
brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are
effected through brokers who charge a negotiated commission for their services. Increasingly,
securities traded over-the-counter also involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions.
Orders may be directed to any broker including, to the extent and in the manner permitted by
applicable law, Goldman Sachs.
In the over-the-counter market, most securities have historically traded on a net basis with
dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price
of a security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are
purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally
referred to as the underwriters concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market
instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are
paid.
In placing orders for portfolio securities of a Fund, the Investment Advisers are generally
required to give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable execution and net price
available. This means that an Investment Adviser will seek to execute each transaction at a price
and commission, if any, which provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably
attainable in the circumstances. As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (Section 28(e)), a Fund may pay a broker which provides brokerage and research services to
the Fund an amount of disclosed commission in excess of the commission which another broker would
have charged for effecting that transaction. Such practice is subject to a good faith
determination that such commission is reasonable in light of the services provided and to such
policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time. While the Investment Advisers generally seek
reasonably competitive spreads or commissions, a Fund will not necessarily be paying the lowest
spread or commission available. Within the framework of this policy, the Investment Advisers will
consider research and investment services provided by brokers or dealers who effect or are parties
to portfolio transactions of a Fund, the Investment Advisers and their affiliates, or their other
clients. Such research and investment services are those which brokerage houses customarily
provide to institutional investors and include research reports on particular industries and
companies; economic surveys and analyses; recommendations as to specific securities; research
products including quotation equipment and computer related programs; advice concerning the value
of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities and the
availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities; analyses and reports
concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and
performance of accounts; services relating to effecting securities transactions and functions
incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement); and other lawful and appropriate assistance
to the Investment Advisers in the performance of their decision-making responsibilities.
B-75
Such services are used by the Investment Advisers in connection with all of their investment
activities, and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for
a Fund may be used in managing other investment accounts. Conversely, brokers furnishing such
services may be selected for the execution of transactions of such other accounts, whose aggregate
assets may be larger than those of a Funds, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used
by the Investment Advisers in providing management services for the Trust. On occasion, a
broker-dealer might furnish an Investment Adviser with a service which has a mixed use (i.e., the
service is used both for investment and brokerage activities and for other activities). Where this
occurs, an Investment Adviser will reasonably allocate the cost of the service, so that the portion
or specific component which assists in investment and brokerage activities is obtained using
portfolio commissions from the Funds or other managed accounts, and the portion or specific
component which provides other assistance (for example, administrative or non-research assistance)
is paid for by an Investment Adviser from its own funds.
On occasions when an Investment Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the
best interest of a Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other
investment company or advisory account for which such Investment Adviser acts as investment adviser
or sub-investment adviser), the Investment Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and
regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be
sold or purchased for such other customers in order to obtain the best net price and most favorable
execution under the circumstances. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or
sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Investment Adviser
in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to such
Fund and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price
and size of the position obtainable for a Fund.
Commission rates in the U.S. are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker based on
the quality and quantity of execution services provided by the broker in the light of generally
prevailing rates. The allocation of orders among brokers and the commission rates paid are
reviewed periodically by the Trustees.
The Funds may participate in a commission recapture program. Under the program, participating
broker-dealers rebate a percentage of commissions earned on Fund portfolio transactions to the
particular Fund from which they were generated. The rebated commissions are expected to be treated
as realized capital gains of the Funds.
Subject to the above considerations, the Investment Advisers may use Goldman Sachs or an
affiliate as a broker for a Fund. In order for Goldman Sachs or an affiliate, acting as agent, to
effect any portfolio transactions for a Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received
by Goldman Sachs or an affiliate must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or
other remuneration received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving
similar securities or futures contracts. Furthermore, the Trustees, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not interested Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed
to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to Goldman Sachs are consistent
with the foregoing standard. Brokerage transactions with Goldman Sachs are also subject to such
fiduciary standards as may be imposed upon Goldman Sachs by applicable law. Commission rates in
the U.S. are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker based on the quality and quantity
of execution services provided by the broker in the light of generally prevailing rates. The
amount of brokerage commissions
B-76
paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder
purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.
Predecessor Funds Brokerage Commissions
. The table below shows the amounts reported by
the Predecessor Funds and their predecessor funds as paid in brokerage commissions with respect to
the Predecessor Funds and their predecessor funds for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004,
October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage Commissions Paid*
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
2004**
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
295,607
|
|
|
$
|
167,651
|
|
|
$
|
178,084
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
471,959
|
|
|
$
|
790,140
|
|
|
$
|
237,960
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
143,714
|
|
|
$
|
277,697
|
|
|
$
|
243,302
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Brokerage commissions may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors,
including the type of investments selected by the Predecessor Sub-adviser(s), changes in
transaction costs and market conditions.
|
|
|
**
|
|
The Predecessor Funds changed their fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31. The column
above covers the ten-month period from January 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004.
|
|
Predecessor Funds Brokerage Transactions with Affiliates.
During the fiscal periods ended
October 31, 2004, October 31, 2005 and October 31, 2006 the following Predecessor Funds and their
predecessor funds paid the amounts indicated to the affiliated broker-dealers of AXA Capital, AXA
Equitable or the Predecessor Distributor or affiliates of the Predecessor Sub-Adviser to each
Predecessor Fund or their predecessor funds.
PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2004*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Total
|
|
(Based on
|
|
|
Affiliated Broker-
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Dollar
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Dealer
|
|
Paid**
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Amounts)
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
Gabelli & Company, Inc.
|
|
$
|
224,184
|
|
|
|
75.8
|
%
|
|
|
61.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
State Street Brokerage Services
|
|
$
|
14,661
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
%
|
|
|
13.5
|
%
|
|
B-77
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
The Predecessor Funds changed their fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31. The table
above covers the ten-month period from January 1, 2004 to October 31, 2004.
|
|
|
**
|
|
Brokerage commissions may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors,
including the type of investments selected by the Predecessor Sub-adviser(s), changes in
transaction costs and market conditions.
|
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Total
|
|
(Based on
|
|
|
Affiliated
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Dollar
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Broker-Dealer
|
|
Paid*
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Amounts)
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
Gabelli & Company, Inc.
|
|
$
|
95,348
|
|
|
|
56.87
|
%
|
|
|
17.68
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
State Street Global Markets
|
|
$
|
19,092
|
|
|
|
6.88
|
%
|
|
|
12.92
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Brokerage commissions may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors,
including the type of investments selected by the sub-adviser(s), changes in transaction costs and
market conditions.
|
|
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Total
|
|
(Based on
|
|
|
Affiliated
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Brokerage
|
|
Dollar
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Broker-Dealer
|
|
Paid*
|
|
Commissions
|
|
Amounts)
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
Gabelli & Company, Inc.
|
|
$
|
94,516
|
|
|
|
53.08
|
%
|
|
|
21.07
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
B-78
|
|
|
*
|
|
Brokerage commissions may vary significantly from year to year due to a variety of factors,
including the type of investments selected by the sub-adviser(s), changes in transaction costs and
market conditions.
|
Predecessor Funds Brokerage Transactions Relating to Research Services.
For the fiscal
year ended October 31, 2006, the Predecessor Funds and their predecessor funds directed the
following amount of portfolio transactions to broker-dealers that provided research services, for
which the Predecessor Funds and their predecessor funds paid the brokerage commissions indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of Portfolio
|
|
Related Brokerage
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
Transactions
|
|
Commissions Paid
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Value Fund
|
|
$
|
1,919,735
|
|
|
$
|
7,031
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise Small Company Growth Fund
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AXA Enterprise International Growth Fund
|
|
$
|
1,730,753
|
|
|
$
|
1,600
|
|
|
Predecessor Funds Investments in Regular Broker-dealers.
As of October 31, 2006, the
Predecessor Funds owned securities issued by their regular brokers or dealers (or by their parents)
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broker or Dealer
|
|
Type of
|
|
Value
|
Predecessor Fund
|
|
(or Parent Company)
|
|
Security
|
|
(000)
|
AXA Enterprise Small
Company Value Fund
|
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
|
|
Debt
|
|
$ 4,118
|
AXA Enterprise Small
Company Growth Fund
|
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
|
|
Debt
|
|
$ 3,774
|
AXA Enterprise
International Growth
Fund
|
|
JPMorgan Chase&Co.
|
|
Debt
|
|
$15,673
|
|
|
UBS Securities LLC
|
|
Equity
|
|
$ 3,544
|
|
NET ASSET VALUE
In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, the net asset value per share of each
class of each Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to each
class of that Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class. All securities
are valued on each Business
B-79
Day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally, but not always,
4:00 p.m. New York time) or such later time as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may
officially close. The term Business Day means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading, which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is closed
on the following holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washingtons Birthday
(observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.
The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be
received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York Time. The Trust reserves the right to
reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a net
asset value other than the Funds official closing net asset value that is subsequently adjusted,
and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing
net asset value. The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption
orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In
addition, each Fund may compute its net asset value as of any time permitted pursuant to any
exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.
Portfolio securities of a Fund for which accurate market quotations are available are valued
as follows: (i) securities listed on any U.S. or foreign stock exchange or on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (NASDAQ) will be valued at the last
sale price or the official closing price on the exchange or system in which they are principally
traded on the valuation date. If there is no sale on the valuation day, securities traded will be
valued at the closing bid price, or if a closing bid price is not available, at either the exchange
or system-defined close price on the exchange or system in which such securities are principally
traded. If the relevant exchange or system has not closed by the above-mentioned time for
determining a Funds net asset value, the securities will be valued at the last sale price or
official closing price, or if not available at the bid price at the time the net asset value is
determined; (ii) over-the-counter securities not quoted on NASDAQ will be valued at the last sale
price on the valuation day or, if no sale occurs, at the last bid price at the time net asset value
is determined; (iii) equity securities for which no prices are obtained under sections (i) or (ii)
including those for which a pricing service supplies no exchange quotation or a quotation that is
believed by the portfolio manager/trader to be inaccurate, will be valued at their fair value in
accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees; (iv) fixed-income securities with a
remaining maturity of 60 days or more for which accurate market quotations are readily available
will normally be valued according to dealer-supplied bid quotations or bid quotations from a
recognized pricing service (e.g., Interactive Data Corp., Merrill Lynch, J.J. Kenny, Muller Data
Corp., Bloomberg, EJV, Reuters or Standard & Poors); (v) fixed-income securities for which
accurate market quotations are not readily available are valued by the Investment Advisers based on
valuation models that take into account spread and daily yield changes on government securities in
the appropriate market (i.e., matrix pricing); (vi) debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60
days or less are valued by the Investment Adviser at amortized cost, which the Trustees have
determined to approximate fair value; and (vii) all other instruments, including those for which a
pricing service supplies no exchange quotation or a quotation that is believed by the portfolio
manager/trader to be inaccurate, will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures
approved by the Board of Trustees.
The value of all assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into
U.S. dollar values at current exchange rates of such currencies against U.S. dollars last quoted by
any major
B-80
bank or pricing service. If such quotations are not available, the rate of exchange will be
determined in good faith by or under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
Generally, trading in securities on European, Asian and Far Eastern securities exchanges and
on over-the-counter markets in these regions is substantially completed at various times prior to
the close of business on each Business Day in New York (i.e., a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading). In addition, European, Asian or Far Eastern securities trading
generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all Business Days in New
York. Furthermore, trading takes place in various foreign markets on days which are not Business
Days in New York and days on which the Funds net asset values are not calculated. Such
calculation does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the
majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. For Funds that invest a significant
portion of assets in foreign equity securities, Fair value prices are provided by an independent
fair value service (if available) and are intended to reflect more accurately the value of those
securities at the time the Funds NAV is calculated. Fair value prices are used because many
foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events
that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the
foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the
NAV. If the independent fair value service does not provide a fair value for a particular security
or if the value does not meet the established criteria for the Funds, the most recent closing price
for such a security on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on such date.
The proceeds received by each Fund and each other series of the Trust from the issue or sale
of its shares, and all net investment income, realized and unrealized gain and proceeds thereof,
subject only to the rights of creditors, will be specifically allocated to such Fund or particular
series and constitute the underlying assets of that Fund or series. The underlying assets of each
Fund will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in
respect of such Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust. Expenses of the
Trust with respect to the Funds and the other series of the Trust are generally allocated in
proportion to the net asset values of the respective Funds or series except where allocations of
expenses can otherwise be fairly made.
The Trust has adopted a policy to handle certain NAV related errors occurring in the operation
of the Funds, and under certain circumstances neither the Funds nor shareholders who purchase or
sell shares during periods that errors accrue or occur may be recompensed in connection with the
resolution of the error.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Each Fund may from time to time quote or otherwise use yield and total return information in
advertisements, shareholder reports or sales literature. Average annual total return and yield are
computed pursuant to formulas specified by the SEC.
Thirty-day yield is derived by dividing net investment income earned during the period by the
product of the average daily number of shares outstanding and entitled to receive dividends during
the period and the maximum public offering price per share on the last day of such period. The
results are compounded on a bond equivalent (semi-annual) basis and then annualized by assuming
that yield is realized each month for twelve months and is reinvested every six months. Net
investment income per
B-81
share is equal to the dividends and interest earned during the period, reduced by accrued expenses
for the period. The calculation of net investment income for these purposes may differ from the
net investment income determined for accounting purposes.
The distribution rate for a specified period is calculated by annualizing distributions of net
investment income for such period and dividing this amount by the net asset value per share or
maximum public offering price on the last day of the period.
Average annual total return (before taxes) for a specified period is derived by calculating
the actual dollar amount of the investment return on a $1,000 investment made at the maximum public
offering price applicable to the relevant class at the beginning of the period, and then
calculating the annual compounded rate of return which would produce that amount, assuming a
redemption at the end of the period. This calculation assumes a complete redemption of the
investment. It also assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value
on the reinvestment dates during the period.
Average annual total return (after taxes on distributions) for a specified period is derived
by calculating the actual dollar amount of the investment return on a $1,000 investment made at the
maximum public offering price applicable to the relevant class at the beginning of the period, and
then calculating the annual compounded rate of return (after federal income taxes on distributions
but not redemptions) which would produce that amount, assuming a redemption at the end of the
period. This calculation assumes a complete redemption of the investment but further assumes that
the redemption has no federal income tax consequences. This calculation also assumes that all
dividends and distributions, less the federal income taxes due on such distributions, are
reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period. In calculating the
impact of federal income taxes due on distributions, the federal income tax rates used correspond
to the tax character of each component of the distributions (e.g., ordinary income rate for
ordinary income distributions, short-term capital gain rate for short-term capital gain
distributions and long-term capital gain rate for long-term capital gain distributions). The
highest individual marginal federal income tax rate in effect on the reinvestment date is applied
to each component of the distributions on the reinvestment date. These tax rates may vary over the
measurement period. The effect of applicable tax credits, such as the foreign tax credit, is also
taken into account in accordance with federal tax law. The calculation disregards (i) the effect of
phase-outs of certain exemptions, deductions and credits at various income levels, (ii) the impact
of the federal alternative minimum tax and (iii) the potential tax liabilities other than federal
tax liabilities (e.g., state and local taxes).
Average annual total return (after taxes on distributions and redemptions) for a specified
period is derived by calculating the actual dollar amount of the investment return on a $1,000
investment made at the maximum public offering price applicable to the relevant class at the
beginning of the period, and then calculating the annual compounded rate of return (after federal
income taxes on distributions and redemptions) which would produce that amount, assuming a
redemption at the end of the period. This calculation assumes a complete redemption of the
investment. This calculation also assumes that all dividends and distributions, less the federal
income taxes due on such distributions, are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates
during the period. In calculating the federal income taxes due on distributions, the federal
income tax rates used correspond to the tax character of each component of the distributions (e.g.,
ordinary income rate for ordinary income distributions, short-term capital gain rate for short-term
capital gain distributions and long-term capital gain rate for
B-82
long-term capital gain distributions). The highest individual marginal federal income tax rate in
effect on the reinvestment date is applied to each component of the distributions on the
reinvestment date. These tax rates may vary over the measurement period. The effect of applicable
tax credits, such as the foreign tax credit, is taken into account in accordance with federal tax
law. The calculation disregards the (i) effect of phase-outs of certain exemptions, deductions and
credits at various income levels, (ii) the impact of the federal alternative minimum tax and (iii)
the potential tax liabilities other than federal tax liabilities (e.g., state and local taxes). In
calculating the federal income taxes due on redemptions, capital gains taxes resulting from a
redemption are subtracted from the redemption proceeds and the tax benefits from capital losses
resulting from the redemption are added to the redemption proceeds. The highest federal individual
capital gains tax rate in effect on the redemption date is used in such calculation. The federal
income tax rates used correspond to the tax character of any gains or losses (e.g., short-term or
long-term). When the return after taxes on distributions and redemption of shares is higher than
returns after taxes on distributions, it is because of realized losses. If realized losses occur
upon the sale of shares, capital loss is recorded as a tax benefit which increases returns.
Year-by-year total return and cumulative total return for a specified period are each derived
by calculating the percentage rate required to make a $1,000 investment (made at the maximum public
offering price with all distributions reinvested) at the beginning of such period equal to the
actual value of such investment at the end of such period. Total return calculations for Class A
Shares reflect the effect of paying the maximum initial sales charge. Investment at a lower sales
charge would result in higher performance figures. Total return calculations for Class B and Class
C Shares reflect deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) imposed upon
redemption of Class B and Class C Shares held for the applicable period. Each Fund may also from
time to time advertise total return on a cumulative, average, year-by-year or other basis for
various specified periods by means of quotations, charts, graphs or schedules. In addition, each
Fund may furnish total return calculations based on investments at various sales charge levels or
at net asset value. An after-tax total return for a Fund may be calculated by taking its total
return and subtracting applicable federal taxes from the portions of a Funds total return
attributable to capital gain and ordinary income distributions. This after-tax total return may be
compared to that of other mutual funds with similar investment objectives as reported by
independent sources. Any performance information which is based on a Funds net asset value per
Share would be reduced if any applicable sales charge were taken into account. In addition to the
above, each Fund may from time to time advertise its performance relative to certain averages,
performance rankings, indices, other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical
services and investments for which reliable performance information is available. The Funds
performance quotations do not reflect any fees charged by an Authorized Dealer, Service
Organization or other financial intermediary to its customer accounts in connection with
investments in the Funds.
Each Funds performance will fluctuate, unlike bank deposits or other investments which pay a
fixed yield for a stated period of time. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future
return. Actual performance will depend on such variables as portfolio quality, the type of
portfolio instruments acquired, portfolio expenses and other factors. Performance is one basis
investors may use to analyze a Fund as compared to other funds and other investment vehicles.
However, the performance of other funds and other investment vehicles may not be comparable because
of the foregoing variables, and differences in the methods used in valuing their portfolio
instruments, computing net asset value and determining performance.
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Occasionally, statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or risk. Measures of
volatility or risk are generally used to compare a Funds net asset value or performance relative
to a market index. One measure of volatility is beta. Beta is the volatility of a Fund relative
to the total market. A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the market, and a
beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market. Another measure of volatility or
risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation is used to measure variability of net asset value
or total return around an average, over a specified period of time. The premise is that greater
volatility connotes greater risk undertaken in achieving performance.
A Funds performance data will be based on historical results and will not be intended to
indicate future performance. A Funds total return, yield and distribution rate will vary based on
market conditions, portfolio expenses, portfolio investments and other factors. In addition to the
Investment Advisers decisions regarding issuer/industry/country investment selection and
allocation, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited
to, Fund operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover, and subscription and redemption cash
flows affecting a Fund. The value of a Funds shares will fluctuate and an investors shares may
be worth more or less than their original cost upon redemption. Performance may reflect expense
limitations in effect. In their absence, performance would be reduced.
Total return will be calculated separately for each class of shares in existence. Because
each class of shares is subject to different expenses, total return with respect to each class of
shares of a Fund will differ.
SHARES OF THE TRUST
The Funds are a series of Goldman Sachs Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, established by a
Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997.
The Trustees have authority under the Trusts Declaration of Trust to create and classify
shares of beneficial interest in separate series, without further action by shareholders. The
Trustees also have authority to classify and reclassify any series of shares into one or more
classes of shares. As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Trustees have classified the
shares of each of the Funds into five classes: Institutional Shares, Service Shares, Class A
Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares. Additional series and classes may be added in the
future.
Each Institutional Share, Service Share, Class A Share, Class B Share and Class C Share of a
Fund represents a proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the applicable class of the
Fund. All expenses of a Fund are borne at the same rate by each class of shares, except that fees
under Service and Shareholder Administration Plans are borne exclusively by Service Shares, fees
under Distribution and Service Plans are borne exclusively by Class A, Class B or Class C Shares
and transfer agency fees and expenses are borne at different rates by different share classes. The
Trustees may determine in the future that it is appropriate to allocate other expenses differently
among classes of shares and may do so to the extent consistent with the rules of the SEC and
positions of the Internal Revenue Service. Each class of shares may have different minimum
investment requirements and be entitled to different shareholder services. With limited
exceptions, shares of a class may only be exchanged for shares of the same or an equivalent class
of another fund. See Shareholder Guide in the Prospectus and Other Information Regarding
Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends below. In
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addition, the fees and expenses set forth below for each class may be subject to voluntary fee
waivers or reimbursements, as discussed more fully in the Funds Prospectuses.
Institutional Shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge for accounts
in the name of an investor or institution that is not compensated by a Fund under a Plan for
services provided to the institutions customers.
Service Shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge for accounts held in
the name of an institution that, directly or indirectly, provides certain shareholder
administration services and shareholder liaison services to its customers, including maintenance of
account records and processing orders to purchase, redeem and exchange Service Shares. Service
Shares bear the cost of service fees and shareholder administration fees at the annual rate of up
to 0.25% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to
Service Shares.
Class A Shares are sold, with an initial sales charge of up to 5.5%, through brokers and
dealers who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the NASD) and
certain other financial service firms that have sales agreements with Goldman Sachs. Class A
Shares bear the cost of distribution and service fees at the aggregate rate of up to 0.25% of the
average daily net assets of such Class A Shares. With respect to Class A Shares, the distributor
at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Distribution and
Services Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total
compensation under the Plan does not exceed the maximum cap on service fees imposed by the NASD.
Class B Shares of the Funds are sold subject to a CDSC of up to 5.0% through brokers and
dealers who are members of the NASD and certain other financial services firms that have sales
arrangements with Goldman Sachs. Class B Shares bear the cost of distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees at
the aggregate rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class B Shares.
Class B Shares also bear the cost of service fees at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average
daily net assets attributable to Class B Shares.
Class C Shares of the Funds are sold subject to a CDSC of up to 1.0% through brokers and
dealers who are members of the NASD and certain other financial services firms that have sales
arrangements with Goldman Sachs. Class C Shares bear the cost of distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees at
the aggregate rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares.
Class C Shares also bear the cost of service fees at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average
daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares.
It is possible that an institution or its affiliate may offer different classes of shares
(
i.e.
, Institutional, Service, Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares) to its customers
and thus receive different compensation with respect to different classes of shares of each Fund.
Dividends paid by each Fund, if any, with respect to each class of shares will be calculated in the
same manner, at the same time on the same day and will be the same amount, except for differences
caused by the fact that the respective transfer agency and Plan fees relating to a particular class
will be borne exclusively by that class. Similarly, the net asset value per share may differ
depending upon the class of shares purchased.
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Certain aspects of the shares may be altered after advance notice to shareholders if it is
deemed necessary in order to satisfy certain tax regulatory requirements.
When issued for the consideration described in the Funds Prospectuses, shares are fully paid
and non-assessable. The Trustees may, however, cause shareholders, or shareholders of a particular
series or class, to pay certain custodian, transfer agency, servicing or similar charges by setting
off the same against declared but unpaid dividends or by reducing share ownership (or by both
means). In the event of liquidation, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets
of the applicable class of the relevant Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. All
shares are freely transferable and have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. The
Trustees may require shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the Trustees.
The Act requires that where more than one series of shares exists, each series must be
preferred over all other series in respect of assets specifically allocated to such series. In
addition, Rule 18f-2 under the Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the
provisions of the Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding
voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a series shall be deemed to
be affected by a matter unless the interests of each series in the matter are substantially
identical or the matter does not affect any interest of such series. However, Rule 18f-2 exempts
the selection of independent public accountants, the approval of principal distribution contracts
and the election of trustees from the separate voting requirements of Rule 18f-2.
The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and does not intend to hold
such meetings. In the event that a meeting of shareholders is held, each share of the Trust will be
entitled, as determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of the shareholders, either to
one vote for each share or to one vote for each dollar of net asset value represented by such share
on all matters presented to shareholders including the election of Trustees (this method of voting
being referred to as dollar based voting). However, to the extent required by the Act or
otherwise determined by the Trustees, series and classes of the Trust will vote separately from
each other. Shareholders of the Trust do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of
Trustees. Meetings of shareholders of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, may be called by
the Trustees, certain officers or upon the written request of holders of 10% or more of the shares
entitled to vote at such meetings. The Trustees will call a special meeting of shareholders for
the purpose of electing Trustees, if, at any time, less than a majority of Trustees holding office
at the time were elected by shareholders. The shareholders of the Trust will have voting rights
only with respect to the limited number of matters specified in the Declaration of Trust and such
other matters as the Trustees may determine or may be required by law.
The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees, officers, employees and
agents of the Trust unless the recipient is adjudicated (i) to be liable by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of such persons office or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that such persons actions were in the best interest of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust
provides that, if any shareholder or former shareholder of any series is held personally liable
solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholders acts or
omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholders
heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives or general successors) shall be held
harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust,
acting
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on behalf of any affected series, must, upon request by such shareholder, assume the defense of any
claim made against such shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any
judgment thereon from the assets of the series.
The Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the
Trust (i) by a majority of the affected shareholders at a meeting of shareholders of the Trust,
series or class; or (ii) by a majority of the Trustees without shareholder approval if the Trustees
determine, in their sole discretion, that such action is in the best interest of the Trust, such
series, such class or their respective shareholders. The Trustees may consider such factors as
they, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate in making such determination, including (i) the
inability of the Trust or any series or class to maintain its assets at an appropriate size; (ii)
changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust, series, or class or affecting assets of the
type in which it invests; or (iii) economic developments or trends having a significant adverse
impact on the business or operations of the Trust or series.
The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Trustees, without shareholder approval, to cause the
Trust, or any series thereof, to merge or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or
other organization or sell or exchange all or substantially all of the property belonging to the
Trust or any series thereof. In addition, the Trustees, without shareholder approval, may adopt a
master-feeder structure by investing all or a portion of the assets of a series of the Trust in the
securities of another open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective,
restrictions and policies.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust without a
shareholder vote. However, shareholders of the Trust have the right to vote on any amendment (i)
that would adversely affect the voting rights of shareholders; (ii) that is required by law to be
approved by shareholders; (iii) that would amend the provisions of the Declaration of Trust
regarding amendments and supplements thereto; or (iv) that the Trustees determine to submit to
shareholders.
The Trustees may appoint separate Trustees with respect to one or more series or classes of
the Trusts shares (the Series Trustees). Series Trustees may, but are not required to, serve as
Trustees of the Trust or any other series or class of the Trust. To the extent provided by the
Trustees in the appointment of Series Trustees, the Series Trustees may have, to the exclusion of
any other Trustees of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees under the Declaration
of Trust with respect to such Series or Class, but may have no power or authority with respect to
any other series or class.
Shareholder and Trustee Liability
Under Delaware Law, the shareholders of the Funds are not generally subject to liability for
the debts or obligations of the Trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that a series of the Trust
will not be liable for the debts or obligations of any other series of the Trust. However, no
similar statutory or other authority limiting statutory trust shareholder liability exists in other
states. As a result, to the extent that a Delaware statutory trust or a shareholder is subject to
the jurisdiction of courts of such other states, the courts may not apply Delaware law and may
thereby subject the Delaware statutory trust shareholders to liability. To guard against this
risk, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or
obligations of a series. Notice of such disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement,
obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a series of the Trust. The Declaration of
Trust provides for indemnification by the relevant series for all loss suffered by a shareholder as
a result of
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an obligation of the series. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a series shall, upon
request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of
the series and satisfy any judgment thereon. In view of the above, the risk of personal liability
of shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust is remote.
In addition to the requirements under Delaware law, the Declaration of Trust provides that
shareholders of a series may bring a derivative action on behalf of the series only if the
following conditions are met: (a) shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under
Delaware law who hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the series, or 10% of the
outstanding shares of the class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the
Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time
to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees will
be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and may
require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the series for the
expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of
judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee
against liability to which he or she 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 or
her office.
TAXATION
The following is a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income, and certain state and
local, tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares in each Fund
of the Trust that are not described in the Prospectus. This summary does not address special tax
rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, insurance companies
and financial institutions. Each prospective shareholder is urged to consult his own tax adviser
with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in
each Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this Additional Statement,
which are subject to change.
Fund Taxation
Each Fund is treated as a separate taxable entity. Each Fund has elected to be treated and
intends to qualify for each taxable year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of
Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.
There are certain tax requirements that each Fund must follow if it is to avoid federal
taxation. In their efforts to adhere to these requirements, the Funds may have to limit their
investment activities in some types of instruments. Qualification as a regulated investment
company under the Code requires, among other things, that (1) the Fund derive at least 90% of its
gross income (including tax-exempt interest) for each taxable year from dividends, interest,
payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or
securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options,
futures, and forward contracts) derived with respect to the Funds business of investing in such
stocks, securities or currencies, or net income derived from an interest in a
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qualified publicly traded partnership (the 90% gross income test); and (2) the Fund diversify its
holdings so that in general, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (a) at least 50% of
the fair market value of the Funds total (gross) assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S.
Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities
limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of such
Funds total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer,
and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total (gross) assets is invested in the securities of
any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment
companies), two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related
trades or businesses, or certain publicly traded partnerships.
For purposes of the 90% gross income test, income that a Fund earns from equity interests in
certain entities that are not treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes will
generally have the same character for the Fund as in the hands of such an entity; consequently, a
Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in any such entities that earn fee income,
rental income, or other nonqualifying income. In addition, future Treasury regulations could
provide that qualifying income under the 90% gross income test will not include gains from foreign
currency transactions that are not directly related to a Funds principal business of investing in
stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities. Using foreign
currency positions or entering into foreign currency options, futures and forward or swap contracts
for purposes other than hedging currency risk with respect to securities in a Funds portfolio or
anticipated to be acquired may not qualify as directly-related under these tests.
If a Fund complies with the foregoing provisions, then in any taxable year in which the Fund
distributes, in compliance with the Codes timing and other requirements, at least 90% of its
investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable accrued
original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, any net
short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign
exchange gains and any other taxable income other than net capital gain, as defined below, and is
reduced by deductible expenses), and at least 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest
income (if any) over certain disallowed deductions, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be
relieved of federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains,
distributed to shareholders. If, instead, a Fund retains any investment company taxable income or
net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it
will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. Because there are some
uncertainties regarding the computation of the amounts deemed distributed to Fund shareholders for
these purposes including, in particular, uncertainties regarding the portion, if any, of amounts
paid in redemption of Fund shares that should be treated as such distributions there can be no
assurance that each Fund will avoid corporate-level tax in each year.
If a Fund retains any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as
undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (1) if subject to U.S. federal
income tax on long-term capital gains, will be required to include in income for federal income tax
purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of that undistributed amount, and (2) will be
entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund against their U.S.
federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds those
liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder
of the Fund will be increased by the amount of any such undistributed net capital gain included in
the shareholders gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that
amount of net capital gain. Each Fund intends to distribute for each taxable year to its
shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net capital gain
and any net
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tax-exempt interest. Exchange control or other foreign laws, regulations or practices may restrict
repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales by foreign investors
such as the Strategic International Equity Fund and may therefore make it more difficult for the
Fund to satisfy the distribution requirements described above, as well as the excise tax
distribution requirements described below. The Strategic International Equity Fund generally
expects, however, to be able to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy those requirements, from new
investors, the sale of securities or other sources. If for any taxable year a Fund does not
qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be taxed on all of its taxable income and net
capital gain at corporate rates, and its distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary
dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits.
To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, each Fund must distribute (or be deemed to have distributed)
by December 31 of each calendar year at least 98% of its taxable ordinary income for the calendar
year, at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (generally computed
on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year), and all taxable ordinary
income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for all previous years that were not
distributed for those years and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. For federal income
tax purposes, dividends declared by a Fund in October, November or December to shareholders of
record on a specified date in such a month and paid during January of the following year are
taxable to such shareholders, and deductible by the Fund, as if paid on December 31 of the year
declared. Each Fund anticipates that it will generally make timely distributions of income and
capital gains in compliance with these requirements so that it will generally not be required to
pay the excise tax.
For federal income tax purposes, each Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net
capital loss in any year to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the eight years following
the year of the loss.
Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts,
options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward
contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains and losses. Certain of
the futures contracts, forward contracts and options held by a Fund will be required to be
marked-to-market for federal income tax purposes that is, treated as having been sold at their
fair market value on the last day of the Funds taxable year (or, for excise tax purposes, on the
last day of the relevant period). These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains
without a concurrent receipt of cash. Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of
these futures contracts, forward contracts, or options will (except for certain foreign currency
options, forward contracts, and futures contracts) be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss
and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. As a result of certain hedging transactions entered into
by a Fund, it may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, forward
contracts, and options or underlying securities or foreign currencies to the extent of any
unrecognized gains on related positions held by the Fund, and the characterization of gains or
losses as long-term or short-term may be changed. The tax provisions described in this paragraph
may affect the amount, timing and character of a Funds distributions to shareholders. Application
of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and/or these tax rules
to certain investment practices, such as dollar rolls, or certain derivatives such as interest rate
swaps, floors, caps and collars and currency, total return, mortgage or index swaps may be unclear
in some respects, and a Fund may therefore be required to limit its participation in those kinds of
transactions. Certain tax elections may be available to a Fund to mitigate some of the unfavorable
consequences described in this paragraph.
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Section 988 of the Code contains special tax rules applicable to certain foreign currency
transactions and instruments, which may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or
loss recognized by a Fund. Under these rules, foreign exchange gain or loss realized with respect
to foreign currencies and certain futures and options thereon, foreign currency-denominated debt
instruments, foreign currency forward contracts, and foreign currency-denominated payables and
receivables will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss, although in some cases elections
may be available that would alter this treatment. If a net foreign exchange loss treated as
ordinary loss under Section 988 of the Code were to exceed a Funds investment company taxable
income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year, the resulting loss would not be
deductible by the Fund or its shareholders in future years. Net loss, if any, from certain foreign
currency transactions or instruments could exceed net investment income otherwise calculated for
accounting purposes, with the result being either no dividends being paid or a portion of a Funds
dividends being treated as a return of capital for tax purposes, nontaxable to the extent of a
shareholders tax basis in his shares and, once such basis is exhausted, generally giving rise to
capital gains.
A Funds investment in zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities, certain
structured securities or other securities bearing original issue discount or, if a Fund elects to
include market discount in income currently, market discount, as well as any marked-to-market
gain from certain options, futures or forward contracts, as described above, will in many cases
cause it to realize income or gain before the receipt of cash payments with respect to these
securities or contracts. For a Fund to obtain cash to enable the Fund to distribute any such
income or gain, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and to avoid
federal income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio investments sooner
than it might otherwise have done.
Investments in lower-rated securities may present special tax issues for a Fund to the extent
actual or anticipated defaults may be more likely with respect to such securities. Tax rules are
not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue
discount, or market discount; when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or
worthless securities; how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between
principal and income; and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable.
These and other issues will generally need to be addressed by a Fund, if it invests in such
securities, in order as to seek to eliminate or minimize any adverse tax consequences.
If a Fund acquires stock (including, under proposed regulations, an option to acquire stock
such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (passive foreign
investment companies), that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources
(such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of their
assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to federal income
tax and additional interest charges on excess distributions received from those companies or gain
from the sale of stock in those companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund
is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its
shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. In some cases, elections may be available
that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but those elections would require the Fund to
include each year certain amounts as income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements
described above) without a concurrent receipt of cash. Each Fund may attempt to limit and/or to
manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize its tax liability or
maximize its return from these investments.
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Foreign Taxes
Each Fund anticipates that it may be subject to foreign taxes on income (possibly including,
in some cases, capital gains) from foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries
and the United States may reduce or eliminate those foreign taxes in some cases. If, as is
anticipated with respect to the Strategic International Equity Fund, more than 50% of the Funds
total assets at the close of a taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign
corporations, the Fund may file an election with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to which the
shareholders of the Fund will be required (1) to report as dividend income (in addition to taxable
dividends actually received) their pro rata shares of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund that
are treated as income taxes under U.S. tax regulations (which excludes, for example, stamp taxes,
securities transaction taxes, and similar taxes) even though not actually received by those
shareholders, and (2) to treat those respective pro rata shares as foreign income taxes paid by
them, which they can claim either as a foreign tax credit, subject to applicable limitations,
against their U.S. federal income tax liability or as an itemized deduction. (Shareholders who do
not itemize deductions for federal income tax purposes will not, however, be able to deduct their
pro rata portion of foreign taxes paid by a Fund, although those shareholders will be required to
include their share of such taxes in gross income if the foregoing election is made by the Fund.)
If a shareholder chooses to take credit for the foreign taxes deemed paid by such shareholder
as a result of any such election by the Strategic International Equity Fund, the amount of the
credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against
which such credit is taken which the shareholders taxable income from foreign sources (but not in
excess of the shareholders entire taxable income) bears to his entire taxable income. For this
purpose, distributions from long-term and short-term capital gains or foreign currency gains by the
Fund will generally not be treated as income from foreign sources. This foreign tax credit
limitation may also be applied separately to certain specific categories of foreign-source income
and the related foreign taxes. As a result of these rules, which have different effects depending
upon each shareholders particular tax situation, certain shareholders of the Strategic
International Equity Fund may not be able to claim a credit for the full amount of their
proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by such Fund even if the election is made by that
Fund.
Shareholders who are not liable for U.S. federal income taxes, including retirement plans,
other tax-exempt shareholders and non-U.S. shareholders, will ordinarily not benefit from the
foregoing Fund election with respect to foreign taxes. Each year, if any, that the Strategic
International Equity Fund files the election described above, shareholders will be notified of the
amount of (1) each shareholders pro rata share of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund and (2)
the portion of Fund dividends that represents income from foreign sources. The other Funds will
not be entitled to elect to pass foreign taxes and associated credits or deductions through to
their shareholders because they will not satisfy the 50% requirement described above. If a Fund
cannot or does not make this election, it may deduct its foreign taxes in computing the amount it
is required to distribute.
Non-U.S. Shareholders
The discussion above relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as it applies to U.S.
persons subject to tax under such law.
B-92
For distributions attributable to a Funds taxable year beginning after December 31, 2007,
shareholders who, as to the United States, are not U.S. persons, (
i.e.
, are nonresident aliens,
foreign corporations, fiduciaries of foreign trusts or estates, foreign partnerships or other
non-U.S. investors) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% on
distributions treated as ordinary income unless the tax is reduced or eliminated pursuant to a tax
treaty or the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the
shareholder; but distributions of net capital gain, including amounts retained by a Fund which are
designated as undistributed capital gains, to such a non-U.S. shareholder will not be subject to
U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless the distributions are effectively connected with the
shareholders trade or business in the United States or, in the case of a shareholder who is a
nonresident alien individual, the shareholder is present in the United States for 183 days or more
during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Non-U.S. shareholders may also be
subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on deemed income resulting from any election by the
Structured International Equity Fund to treat qualified foreign taxes it pays as passed through to
shareholders (as described above), but they may not be able to claim a U.S. tax credit or deduction
with respect to such taxes.
Under current provisions of the Code, for distributions attributable to a Funds taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2008, non-U.S. shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on distributions attributable to portfolio interest or short-term capital
gains unless (1) the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the
shareholder, or (2) with respect to short-term capital gains, the shareholder is a nonresident
alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year
and certain other conditions are met. If the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S.
trade or business of a shareholder, then distributions will be subject to tax on a net income basis
at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. individuals or domestic corporations. Distributions by
each Fund that are attributable to short-term capital gains during the above periods will also
generally be free of U.S. withholding tax; by contrast, there will be tax withheld with respect to
distributions attributable to interest income of the Fund, so that non-U.S. shareholders who are
exempt from U.S. federal income tax with respect to all or a portion of those interest-related
dividends will need to file U.S. federal income tax returns to claim refunds of those withholding
taxes.
Any capital gain realized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale or redemption of shares of a
Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless the gain is effectively
connected with the shareholders trade or business in the U.S., or in the case of a shareholder who
is a nonresident alien individual, the shareholder is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more
during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met.
Non-U.S. persons who fail to furnish a Fund with the proper IRS Form W-8 (i.e., W-8BEN,
W-8ECI, W-8IMY or W-8EXP), or an acceptable substitute, may be subject to backup withholding at a
28% rate on dividends (including capital gain dividends) and on the proceeds of redemptions and
exchanges.
Also, non-U.S. shareholders of a Fund may be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their
Fund shares.
Each shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consult his or her tax adviser regarding the
U.S. and non-U.S. tax consequences of ownership of shares of, and receipt of distributions from,
the Funds.
B-93
State and Local Taxes
Each Fund may be subject to state or local taxes in jurisdictions in which the Fund is deemed
to be doing business. In addition, in those states or localities that impose income taxes, the
treatment of such a Fund and its shareholders under those jurisdictions tax laws may differ from
the treatment under federal income tax laws, and an investment in such a Fund may have tax
consequences for shareholders different from those of a direct investment in such Funds portfolio
securities. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers concerning state and local tax
matters.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A copy of the Annual Reports (when available) may be obtained upon request and without charge
by writing Goldman, Sachs & Co., P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling Goldman,
Sachs & Co., at the telephone number on the back cover of each Funds Prospectus. As of the date
of this Additional Statement, the Funds had not commenced operations. The Annual Report for the
fiscal year ending August 31, 2007, will become available to Shareholders in October 2007.
PROXY VOTING
The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has delegated the voting of portfolio securities to the
Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures (the Policy) for
the voting of proxies on behalf of client accounts for which the Investment Adviser has voting
discretion, including the Funds. Under the Policy, the Investment Advisers guiding principles in
performing proxy voting are to make decisions that: (i) favor proposals that tend to maximize a
companys shareholder value; and (ii) are not influenced by conflicts of interest. These
principles reflect the Investment Advisers belief that sound corporate governance will create a
framework within which a company can be managed in the interests of its shareholders.
The principles and positions reflected in the Policy are designed to guide the Investment
Adviser in voting proxies, and not necessarily in making investment decisions. Senior management
of the Investment Adviser will periodically review the Policy to ensure that it continues to be
consistent with the Investment Advisers guiding principles.
Public Equity Investments
.
To implement these guiding principles for investments in
publicly-traded equities, the Investment Adviser follows proxy voting guidelines (the Guidelines)
developed by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), except in certain circumstances, which are
generally described below. The Guidelines embody the positions and factors the Investment Adviser
generally considers important in casting proxy votes. They address a wide variety of individual
topics, including, among others, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board
structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations,
mergers, and various shareholder proposals. Attached as Appendix B is a summary of the Guidelines.
B-94
ISS has been retained to review proxy proposals and make voting recommendations in accordance
with the Guidelines. While it is the Investment Advisers policy generally to follow the
Guidelines and recommendations from ISS, the Investment Advisers portfolio management teams
(Portfolio Management Teams) retain the authority on any particular proxy vote to vote
differently from the Guidelines or a related ISS recommendation, in keeping with their different
investment philosophies and processes. Such decisions, however, remain subject to a review and
approval process, including a determination that the decision is not influenced by any conflict of
interest. In forming their views on particular matters, the Portfolio Management Teams are also
permitted to consider applicable regional rules and practices, including codes of conduct and other
guides, regarding proxy voting, in addition to the Guidelines and recommendations from ISS.
In addition to assisting the Investment Adviser in developing substantive proxy voting
positions, ISS also updates and revises the Guidelines on a periodic basis, and the revisions are
reviewed by the Investment Adviser to determine whether they are consistent with the Investment
Advisers guiding principles. ISS also assists the Investment Adviser in the proxy voting process
by providing operational, recordkeeping and reporting services.
The Investment Adviser is responsible for reviewing its relationship with ISS and for
evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the various services provided by ISS. The Investment
Adviser may hire other service providers to replace or supplement ISS with respect to any of the
services the Investment Adviser currently receives from ISS.
The Investment Adviser has implemented procedures that are intended to prevent conflicts of
interest from influencing proxy voting decisions. These procedures include the Investment
Advisers use of ISS as an independent third party, a review and approval process for individual
decisions that do not follow ISSs recommendations, and the establishment of information barriers
between the Investment Adviser and other businesses within The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Fixed Income and Private Investments
.
Voting decisions with respect to fixed income
securities and the securities of privately held issuers generally will be made by a Funds managers
based on their assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the
most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on or through the Funds website at
http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com and on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments to Authorized
Dealers, Service Organizations and other financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) from time to
time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Funds. These payments
(Additional Payments) are made out of the Investment Advisers, Distributors and/or their
affiliates own assets, and are not an additional charge to the Funds or their shareholders. The
Additional Payments are in addition to the distribution and service fees paid by the Funds
described in the Funds Prospectuses and
B-95
this Additional Statement, and are also in addition to the sales commissions payable to
Intermediaries as set forth in the Prospectuses.
These Additional Payments are intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things:
marketing shares of the Funds, which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on
preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to time sponsored by the
Intermediaries; access to the Intermediaries registered representatives or salespersons, including
at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; finders or
referral fees for directing investors to the Funds; marketing support fees for providing
assistance in promoting the sale of Fund shares (which may include promotions in communications
with the Intermediaries customers, registered representatives and salespersons); and/or other
specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Funds. In addition,
the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make Additional Payments (including
through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) for subaccounting, administrative and/or
shareholder processing services that are in addition to the transfer agent, shareholder
administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds. The Additional Payments made by
the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based
on the number of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary; may be based on a percentage of
the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be
calculated on another basis. Furthermore, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their
affiliates may, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various non-cash
and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor various
educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions. The Investment Adviser, Distributor and
their affiliates may also pay for the travel expenses, meals, lodging and entertainment of
Intermediaries and their salespersons and guests in connection with educational, sales and
promotional programs subject to applicable NASD regulations. The amount of these Additional
Payments (excluding payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) is
normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the
Intermediaries. The Additional Payments are negotiated based on a range of factors, including but
not limited to, ability to attract and retain assets (including particular classes of Funds
shares), target markets, customer relationships, quality of service and industry reputation.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their
affiliates made Additional Payments out of their own assets to approximately 91 Intermediaries.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their
affiliates paid to Intermediaries approximately $50.4 million in Additional Payments (excluding
payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) with respect to all the funds
of the Trust and all of the funds in an affiliated investment company, Goldman Sachs Variable
Insurance Trust.
The Additional Payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates
may be different for different Intermediaries and may vary with respect to the type of fund (e.g.,
equity fund, fixed income fund, specialty fund, asset allocation portfolio or money market fund)
sold by the Intermediary. In addition, the Additional Payment arrangements may include breakpoints
in compensation which provide that the percentage rate of compensation varies as the dollar value
of the amount sold or invested through an Intermediary increases. The presence of these Additional
Payments, the varying fee structure and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its
registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary,
registered representative or salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at least
in part, on the
B-96
level of compensation paid. Shareholders should contact their Authorized Dealer or other
Intermediary for more information about the payments they receive and any potential conflicts of
interest.
Please contact your Intermediary if you have a question about whether your Intermediary
receives the Additional Payments described above. For additional questions, please contact Goldman
Sachs Funds at 1-800-621-2550.
OTHER INFORMATION
Selective Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Investment Adviser have adopted a policy on
selective disclosure of portfolio holdings in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that
disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interest of Fund shareholders
and to address the conflicts between the interests of Fund shareholders and its service providers.
The policy provides that neither a Fund nor its Investment Adviser, Distributor or any agent, or
any employee thereof (Fund Representative) will disclose a Funds portfolio holdings information
to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, portfolio
holdings information means the Funds actual portfolio holdings, as well as nonpublic information
about its trading strategies or pending transactions. Under the policy, neither a Fund nor any
Fund Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in connection
with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. A Fund Representative may provide portfolio
holdings information to third parties if such information has been included in the Funds public
filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Funds publicly accessible website. Information posted
on the Funds website may be separately provided to any person commencing the day after it is first
published on the Funds website.
Portfolio holdings information that is not filed with the SEC or posted on the publicly
available website may be provided to third parties only if the third party recipients are required
to keep all portfolio holdings information confidential and are prohibited from trading on the
information they receive. Disclosure to such third parties must be approved in advance by the
Investment Advisors legal or compliance department. Disclosure to providers of auditing, custody,
proxy voting and other similar services for the Funds, as well as rating and ranking organizations,
will generally be permitted; however, information may be disclosed to other third parties
(including, without limitation, individuals, institutional investors, and intermediaries that sell
shares of the Fund,) only upon approval by the Funds Chief Compliance Officer, who must first
determine that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and check with the Fund
Transfer Agent to ascertain whether the third party has been identified as an excessive trader. In
general, each recipient of non-public portfolio holdings information must sign a confidentiality
and non-trading agreement, although this requirement will not apply when the recipient is otherwise
subject to a duty of confidentiality. In accordance with the policy, the identity of those
recipients who receive non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis is as follows:
the Investment Advisers and their affiliates, the Funds independent registered public accounting
firm, the Funds custodian, the Funds legal counsel- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, the Funds
financial printer- Bowne, and the Funds proxy voting service- ISS. In addition, certain fixed
income funds of the trust provide non-public portfolio holdings information to Standard & Poors
Ratings Service to allow such funds to be rated by it. These entities are obligated to keep such
information confidential. Third party providers of custodial or accounting services to the
B-97
Funds may release non-public portfolio holdings information of the Funds only with the permission
of Fund Representatives. From time to time portfolio holdings information may be provided to
broker-dealers solely in connection with a Fund seeking portfolio securities trading suggestions.
In providing this information reasonable precautions, including limitations on the scope of the
portfolio holdings information disclosed, are taken to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed
information. All marketing materials prepared by the Trusts principal underwriter is reviewed by
Goldman Sachs Compliance department for consistency with the Trusts portfolio holdings disclosure
policy.
The Goldman Sachs equity funds currently intend to publish on the Trusts website
(http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings for each equity fund as of the end
of each calendar quarter subject to a fifteen calendar day lag between the date of the information
and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Goldman Sachs equity funds
intend to publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a ten calendar day lag
between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The
Goldman Sachs non-money market fixed income Funds currently intend to publish complete portfolio
holdings on their website as of the end of each fiscal quarter, subject to a thirty calendar day
lag, and to post selected holdings information monthly on a ten calendar day lag. The Financial
Square Prime Obligations Fund, Financial Square Money Market Fund, Institutional Liquid Assets
Prime Obligations Portfolio and Institutional Liquid Assets Money Market Portfolio publish their
holdings as of the end of each month subject to a thirty calendar day lag between the date of the
information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The other Financial Square Funds
and Institutional Liquid Assets money market funds publish their holdings as of the end of each
calendar quarter subject to a thirty calendar day lag between the date of the information and the
date on which the information is disclosed. A Fund may publish on the website complete portfolio
holdings information more frequently if it has a legitimate business purpose for doing so.
Under the policy, Fund Representatives will initially supply the Board of the Trustees with a
list of third parties who receive portfolio holdings information pursuant to any ongoing
arrangement. In addition, the Board is to receive information, on a quarterly basis, regarding any
other disclosures of non-public portfolio holdings information that were permitted during the
preceding quarter. In addition, the Board of Trustees is to approve at its meetings a list of Fund
Representatives who are authorized to disclose portfolio holdings information under the policy. As
of the date of this Additional Statement, only certain officers of the Trust as well as certain
senior members of the compliance and legal groups of the Investment Adviser have been approved by
the Board of Trustees to authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information.
Miscellaneous
Each Fund will redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
asset value of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Each Fund, however,
reserves the right to pay redemptions exceeding $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund
at the time of redemption by a distribution in kind of securities (instead of cash) from such Fund.
The securities distributed in kind would be readily marketable and would be valued for this
purpose using the same method employed in calculating the Funds net asset value per share. See
Net Asset Value. If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in kind, the shareholder should
expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received in the
redemption.
B-98
The right of a shareholder to redeem shares and the date of payment by each Fund may be
suspended for more than seven days for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is
closed, other than the customary weekends or holidays, or when trading on such Exchange is
restricted as determined by the SEC; or during any emergency, as determined by the SEC, as a result
of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or
fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or for such other period as the SEC may by order
permit for the protection of shareholders of such Fund. (The Trust may also suspend or postpone
the recordation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)
As stated in the Prospectuses, the Trust may authorize Service Organizations, Authorized
Dealers and other institutions that provide recordkeeping, reporting and processing services to
their customers to accept on the Trusts behalf purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by
or on behalf of their customers and, if approved by the Trust, to designate other intermediaries to
accept such orders. These institutions may receive payments from the Trust or Goldman Sachs for
their services. Certain Service Organizations, Authorized Dealers or institutions may enter into
sub-transfer agency agreements with the Trust or Goldman Sachs with respect to their services.
In the interest of economy and convenience, the Trust does not issue certificates representing
the Funds shares. Instead, the Transfer Agent maintains a record of each shareholders ownership.
Each shareholder receives confirmation of purchase and redemption orders from the Transfer Agent.
Fund shares and any dividends and distributions paid by the Funds are reflected in account
statements from the Transfer Agent.
The Prospectuses and this Additional Statement do not contain all the information included in
the Registration Statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act with respect to the securities
offered by the Prospectuses. Certain portions of the Registration Statement have been omitted from
the Prospectuses and this Additional Statement pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The Registration Statement including the exhibits filed therewith may be examined at the office of
the SEC in Washington, D.C.
Statements contained in the Prospectuses or in this Additional Statement as to the contents of
any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which the Prospectuses and this Additional Statement form a part, each
such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS
(Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares Only)
Distribution and Service Plans
. As described in the Prospectuses, the Trust has adopted, on
behalf of Class A, Class B and Class C Shares of each Fund, distribution and service plans (each a
Plan). See Shareholder Guide Distribution and Service Fees in the Prospectus. The
distribution fees payable under the Plans are subject to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, and finance
distribution and other services that are provided to investors in the Funds, and enable the Funds
to offer investors the choice of investing in either Class A, Class B or Class C Shares when
investing in the Funds. In addition, distribution fees payable under the Plans may be used to
assist the Funds in reaching and maintaining asset levels that are efficient for the Funds
operations and investments.
B-99
The Plans for each Fund were most recently approved by a majority vote of the Trustees of the
Trust, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the Plans, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
approving the Plans on June 15, 2006.
The compensation for distribution services payable under a Plan to Goldman Sachs may not
exceed 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.75%, per annum of a Funds average daily net assets attributable to Class
A, Class B and Class C Shares, respectively, of such Fund. Under the Plans for Class B and Class C
Shares, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee for personal and account
maintenance services equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of each Funds average daily net assets
attributable to Class B or Class C Shares. With respect to Class A Shares, the distributor at its
discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Plan for personal and
account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plan does
not exceed the maximum cap on service fees imposed by the NASD.
Each Plan is a compensation plan which provides for the payment of a specified fee without
regard to the expenses actually incurred by Goldman Sachs. If such fee exceeds Goldman Sachs
expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these arrangements. The distribution fees
received by Goldman Sachs under the Plans and CDSC on Class A, Class B and Class C Shares may be
sold by Goldman Sachs as distributor to entities which provide financing for payments to Authorized
Dealers in respect of sales of Class A, Class B and Class C Shares. To the extent such fees are
not paid to such dealers, Goldman Sachs may retain such fees as compensation for its services and
expenses of distributing the Funds Class A, Class B and Class C Shares.
Under each Plan, Goldman Sachs, as distributor of each Funds Class A, Class B and Class C
Shares, will provide to the Trustees of the Trust for their review, and the Trustees of the Trust
will review at least quarterly, a written report of the services provided and amounts expended by
Goldman Sachs under the Plans and the purposes for which such services were performed and
expenditures were made.
The Plans will remain in effect until June 30, 2007 and from year to year thereafter, provided
that such continuance is approved annually by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Trust,
including a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the Plans. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
distribution compensation described therein without approval of a majority of the outstanding Class
A, Class B or Class C Shares of the affected Fund and affected share class, but may be amended
without shareholder approval to increase materially the amount of non-distribution compensation.
All material amendments of a Plan must also be approved by the Trustees of the Trust in the manner
described above. A Plan may be terminated at any time as to any Fund without payment of any
penalty by a vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
majority of the Class A, Class B or Class C Shares, respectively, of the affected Fund and affected
share class. If a Plan was terminated by the Trustees of the Trust and no successor plan was
adopted, the Fund would cease to make payments to Goldman Sachs under the Plan and Goldman Sachs
would be unable to recover the amount of any of its unreimbursed expenditures. So long as a Plan
is in effect, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be
committed to the discretion of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust. The Trustees of the Trust
have determined that in their judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit
the Funds and their Class A, Class B and Class C Shareholders.
B-100
OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES,
REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS
(Class A Shares, Class B Shares and Class C Shares Only)
The following information supplements the information in the Prospectus under the
captions Shareholder Guide and Dividends. Please see the Prospectus for more complete
information.
Maximum Sales Charges
Class A Shares of each Fund are sold with a maximum sales charge of 5.5%. Using the initial
net asset value per share, the maximum offering price of each Funds Class A Shares would be as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
Offering
|
|
|
Net Asset
|
|
Sales
|
|
Price to
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Charge
|
|
Public
|
Structured Small Cap Value
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
10.58
|
|
Structured Small Cap Growth
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
10.58
|
|
Strategic International Equity Fund
|
|
$
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
10.58
|
|
The actual sales charge that is paid by an investor on the purchase of Class A Shares may
differ slightly from the sales charge listed above or in a Funds Prospectus due to rounding in the
calculations. For example, the sales load disclosed above and in the Funds Prospectuses is only
shown to one decimal place (i.e., 5.5%). The actual sales charge that is paid by an investor will
be rounded to two decimal places. As a result of such rounding in the calculations, the actual
sales load paid by an investor may be somewhat greater (e.g., 5.53%) or somewhat lesser (e.g.,
5.48%) than that listed above or in the Prospectuses. Contact your financial advisor for further
information.
Other Purchase Information/Sales Charge Waivers
The sales charge waivers on the Funds shares are due to the nature of the investors involved
and/or the reduced sales effort that is needed to obtain such investments.
If shares of a Fund are held in a street name account with an Authorized Dealer, all
recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial
owners account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer
Agent. Since the Funds will have no record of the beneficial owners transactions, a beneficial
owner should contact the Authorized Dealer to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes
in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account. The
transfer of shares in a street name account to an account with another dealer or to an account
directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain
historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the Authorized Dealer.
B-101
Right of Accumulation (Class A)
A Class A shareholder qualifies for cumulative quantity discounts if the current purchase
price of the new investment plus the shareholders current holdings of existing Class A, Class B or
Class C Shares (acquired by purchase or exchange) of a Fund and Class A, Class B and/or Class C
Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund total the requisite amount for receiving a discount. For
example, if a shareholder owns shares with a current market value of $65,000 and purchases
additional Class A Shares of any Goldman Sachs Fund with a purchase price of $45,000, the sales
charge for the $45,000 purchase would be 3.75% (the rate applicable to a single purchase of
$100,000 but less than $250,000). Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the Funds and any
other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased (i) by an individual, his spouse and his children, and (ii) by a
trustee, guardian or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, will
be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for such right of
accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. For purposes of applying the
right of accumulation, shares of the Funds and any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by an
existing client of Goldman Sachs Wealth Management or GS Ayco Holding LLC will be combined with
Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares and other assets held by all other Goldman Sachs Wealth
Management accounts or accounts of GS Ayco Holding LLC, respectively. In addition, Class A, Class
B and/or Class C Shares of the Funds and Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of any other
Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners, directors, officers or employees of the same business
organization, groups of individuals represented by and investing on the recommendation of the same
accounting firm, certain affinity groups or other similar organizations (collectively, eligible
persons) may be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for the
right of accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. This right of
accumulation is subject to the following conditions: (i) the business organizations, groups or
firms agreement to cooperate in the offering of the Funds shares to eligible persons; and (ii)
notification to the relevant Fund at the time of purchase that the investor is eligible for this
right of accumulation. In addition, in connection with SIMPLE IRA accounts, cumulative quantity
discounts are available on a per plan basis if (i) your employee has been assigned a cumulative
discount number by Goldman Sachs; and (ii) your account, alone or in combination with the accounts
of other plan participants also invested in Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of Goldman Sachs
Funds, totals the requisite aggregate amount as described in the Prospectus.
Statement of Intention (Class A)
If a shareholder anticipates purchasing at least $50,000 of Class A Shares of a Fund alone or
in combination with Class A Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund within a 13-month period, the
shareholder may purchase shares of the Fund at a reduced sales charge by submitting a Statement of
Intention (the Statement). Shares purchased pursuant to a Statement will be eligible for the
same sales charge discount that would have been available if all of the purchases had been made at
the same time. The shareholder or his Authorized Dealer must inform Goldman Sachs that the
Statement is in effect each time shares are purchased. There is no obligation to purchase the full
amount of shares indicated in the Statement. A shareholder may include the value of all Class A
Shares on which a sales charge has previously been paid as an accumulation credit toward the
completion of the Statement, but a price readjustment will be made only on Class A Shares purchased
within ninety (90) days before submitting the Statement. The Statement authorizes the Transfer
Agent to hold in escrow a sufficient number of shares which can be redeemed to make up any
difference in the sales charge on the amount actually invested. For purposes of satisfying the
amount specified on the Statement, the gross amount of each investment, exclusive of any
appreciation on shares previously purchased, will be taken into account.
B-102
The provisions applicable to the Statement, and the terms of the related escrow agreement, are
set forth in Appendix D to this Additional Statement.
Cross-Reinvestment of Dividends and Distributions
Shareholders may receive dividends and distributions in additional shares of the same class of
a Fund or they may elect to receive them in cash or shares of the same class of other Goldman Sachs
Funds or ILA Service Shares of the Prime Obligations Portfolio or the Tax-Exempt Diversified
Portfolio, if they hold Class A Shares of a Fund, or ILA Class B or Class C Shares of the Prime
Obligations Portfolio, if they hold Class B or Class C Shares of a Fund (the ILA Portfolios).
A Fund shareholder should obtain and read the prospectus relating to any other Goldman Sachs
Fund or ILA Portfolio and its shares and consider its investment objective, policies and applicable
fees before electing cross-reinvestment into that Fund. The election to cross-reinvest dividends
and capital gain distributions will not affect the tax treatment of such dividends and
distributions, which will be treated as received by the shareholder and then used to purchase
shares of the acquired fund. Such reinvestment of dividends and distributions in shares of other
Goldman Sachs Funds or ILA Portfolios is available only in states where such reinvestment may
legally be made.
Automatic Exchange Program
A Fund shareholder may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of shares of
a Fund for shares of the same class or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund provided
the minimum initial investment requirement has been satisfied. A Fund shareholder should obtain
and read the prospectus relating to any other Goldman Sachs Fund and its shares and consider its
investment objective, policies and applicable fees and expenses before electing an automatic
exchange into that Goldman Sachs Fund.
Class C Exchanges
As stated in the Prospectuses, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the annual 0.75%
distribution fee on Class C Shares to Authorized Dealers after the shares have been held for one
year. When an Authorized Dealer enters into an appropriate agreement with Goldman Sachs and stops
receiving this payment on Class C Shares that have been beneficially owned by the Authorized
Dealers customers for at least ten years, those Class C Shares may be exchanged for Class A Shares
(which bear a lower distribution fee) of the same Fund at their relative net asset value without a
sales charge in recognition of the reduced payment to the Authorized Dealer.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
A systematic withdrawal plan (the Systematic Withdrawal Plan) is available to shareholders
of a Fund whose shares are worth at least $5,000. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan provides for
monthly payments to the participating shareholder of any amount not less than $50.
B-103
Dividends and capital gain distributions on shares held under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan
are reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the applicable Fund at net asset value.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in redeeming sufficient full and fractional
shares to provide the amount of the systematic withdrawal payment. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan
may be terminated at any time. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to initiate a fee of up to $5 per
withdrawal, upon thirty (30) days written notice to the shareholder. Withdrawal payments should
not be considered to be dividends, yield or income. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed
new purchases and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, the shareholders original
investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. The maintenance of a
withdrawal plan concurrently with purchases of additional Class A, Class B or Class C Shares would
be disadvantageous because of the sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A Shares or the
imposition of a CDSC on redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C Shares. The CDSC applicable to
Class A, Class B or Class C Shares redeemed under a systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. See
Shareholder Guide in the Prospectuses. In addition, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of
shares, and any gain or loss realized must be reported for federal and state income tax purposes.
A shareholder should consult his or her own tax adviser with regard to the tax consequences of
participating in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. For further information or to request a
Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please write or call the Transfer Agent.
SERVICE PLAN AND SHAREHOLDER ADMINISTRATION PLAN
(Service Shares Only)
The Funds have adopted a service plan and a separate shareholder administration plan (the
Plans) with respect to the Service Shares which authorize the Funds to compensate Service
Organizations for providing certain personal and account maintenance services and shareholder
administration services to their customers who are or may become beneficial owners of such Shares.
Pursuant to the Plans, each Fund enters into agreements with Service Organizations which purchase
Service Shares of the Fund on behalf of their customers (Service Agreements). Under such Service
Agreements the Service Organizations may perform some or all of the following services:
(a) Personal and account maintenance services, including: (i) providing facilities to answer
inquiries and respond to correspondence with customers and other investors about the status of
their accounts or about other aspects of the Trust or the applicable Fund; (ii) acting as liaison
between the Service Organizations customers and the Trust, including obtaining information from
the Trust and assisting the Trust in correcting errors and resolving problems; (iii) providing such
statistical and other information as may be reasonably requested by the Trust or necessary for the
Trust to comply with applicable federal or state law; (iv) responding to investor requests for
prospectuses; (v) displaying and making prospectuses available on the Service Organizations
premises; and (vi) assisting customers in completing application forms, selecting dividend and
other account options and opening custody accounts with the Service Organization.
(b) Shareholder administration services, including: (i) acting or arranging for another party
to act, as recordholder and nominee of the Service Shares beneficially owned by the Service
Organizations customers; (ii) establishing and maintaining, or assist in establishing and
maintaining, individual accounts and records with respect to the Service Shares owned by each
customer; (iii)
B-104
processing, or assist in processing, confirmations concerning customer orders to purchase, redeem
and exchange Service Shares; (iv) receiving and transmitting, or assist in receiving and
transmitting funds representing the purchase price or redemption proceeds of such Service Shares;
(v) facilitating the inclusion of Service Shares in accounts, products or services offered to the
Service Organizations customers by or through the Service Organization; (vi) processing dividend
payments on behalf of customers; and (vii) performing other related services which do not
constitute any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares within the
meaning of Rule 12b-1 under the Act or personal and account maintenance services within the
meaning of the NASDs Conduct Rules.
As compensation for such services, each Fund will pay each Service Organization a personal and
account maintenance service fee and a shareholder administration service fee in an amount up to
0.25% and 0.25%, respectively, (on an annualized basis) of the average daily net assets of the
Service Shares of such Fund attributable to or held in the name of such Service Organization.
The Funds have adopted the Service Plan but not the Shareholder Administration Plan pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Act in order to avoid any possibility that service fees paid to the Service
Organizations pursuant to the Service Agreements might violate the Act. Rule 12b-1, which was
adopted by the SEC under the Act, regulates the circumstances under which an investment company or
series thereof may bear expenses associated with the distribution of its shares. In particular,
such an investment company or series thereof cannot engage directly or indirectly in financing any
activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by the company unless
it has adopted a plan pursuant to, and complies with the other requirements of, such Rule. The
Trust believes that fees paid for the services provided in the Service Plan and described above are
not expenses incurred primarily for effecting the distribution of Service Shares. However, should
such payments be deemed by a court or the SEC to be distribution expenses, such payments would be
duly authorized by the Plan. The Shareholder Administration Plan has not been adopted pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the Act.
Conflict of interest restrictions (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974) may apply to a Service Organizations receipt of compensation paid by a Fund in connection
with the investment of fiduciary assets in Service Shares of a Fund. Service Organizations,
including banks regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board or the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and investment advisers and other money managers subject to
the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions, are urged to
consult their legal advisers before investing fiduciary assets in Service Shares of a Fund. In
addition, under some state securities laws, banks and other financial institutions purchasing
Service Shares on behalf of their customers may be required to register as dealers.
The Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust
and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or the related
Service Agreements, most recently voted to approve the Plans and related Service Agreements at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plans and Service Agreements on June 15, 2006.
The Plans and related Service Agreements will remain in effect until June 30, 2007 and will
continue in effect thereafter only if such continuance is specifically approved annually by a vote
of the Trustees in the manner described above. The Service Plan may not be amended (but the
Shareholder Administration Plan may be amended) to increase materially the amount to be spent for
the services described therein without approval of the Service Shareholders of the affected Fund
and all material amendments of each Plan must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner
described above. The Plans may be terminated at any time by a
B-105
majority of the Trustees as described above or by a vote of a majority of the affected Funds
outstanding Service Shares. The Service Agreements may be terminated at any time, without payment
of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Trustees as described above or by a vote of a majority
of the outstanding Service Shares of the affected Fund on not more than sixty (60) days written
notice to any other party to the Service Agreements. The Service Agreements will terminate
automatically if assigned. So long as the Plans are in effect, the selection and nomination of
those Trustees who are not interested persons will be committed to the discretion of the
non-interested Trustees. The Trustees have determined that, in their judgment, there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Funds and the holders of Service Shares of
the Funds.
B-106
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
Short-Term Credit Ratings
A Standard & Poors short-term issue credit rating is a current opinion of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original
maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard
& Poors for short-term issues:
A-1 Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligors capacity
to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain
obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligors capacity to
meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2 The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
satisfactory. Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in the higher rating categories.
A-3 Obligor has adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or
changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.
B An obligation is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The
obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it
faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation. Ratings of B1, B-2 and B-3 may be assigned to
indicate finer distinction within the B category.
C Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on
the obligation.
D Obligations are in payment default. This rating category is used when payments on an
obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless
Standard & Poors believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D
rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action
if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks Country risk considerations are a standard part of
Standard & Poors analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a
key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be
lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign
governments own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign
risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign
Currency issuer ratings are also
1-A
distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks
make them different for the same issuer.
Moodys Investors Service (Moodys) short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of
issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term
programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original
maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
Moodys employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated
issuers:
P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay
short-term debt obligations.
P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay
short-term debt obligations.
P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay
short-term obligations.
NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the
Prime rating categories.
Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (Fitch) short-term ratings scale applies to foreign
currency and local currency ratings. A short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months
for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance, in line with industry
standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that
are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis
on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner. The following
summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
F1 Securities possess the highest credit quality. This designation indicates the
strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added + to denote any
exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2 Securities possess good credit quality. This designation indicates a satisfactory
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as
in the case of the higher ratings.
F3 Securities possess fair credit quality. This designation indicates that the capacity
for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could
result in a reduction to non investment grade.
B Securities possess speculative credit quality. This designation indicates minimal
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse
changes in financial and economic conditions.
2-A
C Securities possess high default risk. Default is a real possibility. This designation
indicates a capacity for meeting financial commitments which is solely reliant upon a sustained,
favorable business and economic environment.
D Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.
NR This designation indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issuer or
issue.
WD This designation indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer
maintained by Fitch.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (DBRS) for
commercial paper and short-term debt:
R-1 (high) Short-term debt rated R-1 (high) is of the highest credit quality, and
indicates an entity possessing unquestioned ability to repay current liabilities as they fall due.
Entities rated in this category normally maintain strong liquidity positions, conservative debt
levels, and profitability that is both stable and above average. Companies achieving an R-1
(high) rating are normally leaders in structurally sound industry segments with proven track
records, sustainable positive future results, and no substantial qualifying negative factors. Given
the extremely tough definition DBRS has established for an R-1 (high), few entities are strong
enough to achieve this rating.
R-1 (middle) Short-term debt rated R-1 (middle) is of superior credit quality and, in
most cases, ratings in this category differ from R-1 (high) credits by only a small degree. Given
the extremely tough definition DBRS has established for the R-1 (high) category, entities rated
R-1 (middle) are also considered strong credits, and typically exemplify above average strength
in key areas of consideration for the timely repayment of short-term liabilities.
R-1 (low) Short-term debt rated R-1 (low) is of satisfactory credit quality. The overall
strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt and profitability ratios are not normally as favorable
as with higher rating categories, but these considerations are still respectable. Any qualifying
negative factors that exist are considered manageable, and the entity is normally of sufficient
size to have some influence in its industry.
R-2 (high) Short-term debt rated R-2 (high) is considered to be at the upper end of
adequate credit quality. The ability to repay obligations as they mature remains acceptable,
although the overall strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt, and profitability ratios is not
as strong as credits rated in the R-1 (low) category. Relative to the latter category, other
shortcomings often include areas such as stability, financial flexibility, and the relative size
and market position of the entity within its industry.
R-2 (middle) Short-term debt rated R-2 (middle) is considered to be of adequate credit
quality. Relative to the R-2 (high) category, entities rated R-2 (middle) typically have some
combination of higher volatility, weaker debt or liquidity positions, lower future cash flow
capabilities, or are negatively impacted by a weaker industry. Ratings in this category would be
more vulnerable to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
3-A
R-2 (low) Short-term debt rated R-2 (low) is considered to be at the lower end of
adequate credit quality, typically having some combination of challenges that are not acceptable
for an R-2 (middle) credit. However, R-2 (low) ratings still display a level of credit
strength that allows for a higher rating than the R-3 category, with this distinction often
reflecting the issuers liquidity profile.
R-3 Short-term debt rated R-3 is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit
quality, one step up from being speculative. While not yet defined as speculative, the R-3
category signifies that although repayment is still expected, the certainty of repayment could be
impacted by a variety of possible adverse developments, many of which would be outside the issuers
control. Entities in this area often have limited access to capital markets and may also have
limitations in securing alternative sources of liquidity, particularly during periods of weak
economic conditions.
R-4 Short-term debt rated R-4 is speculative. R-4 credits tend to have weak liquidity and
debt ratios, and the future trend of these ratios is also unclear. Due to its speculative nature,
companies with R-4 ratings would normally have very limited access to alternative sources of
liquidity. Earnings and cash flow would typically be very unstable, and the level of overall
profitability of the entity is also likely to be low. The industry environment may be weak, and
strong negative qualifying factors are also likely to be present.
R-5 Short-tern debt rated R-5 is highly speculative. There is a reasonably high level of
uncertainty as to the ability of the entity to repay the obligations on a continuing basis in the
future, especially in periods of economic recession or industry adversity. In some cases, short
term debt rated R-5 may have challenges that if not corrected, could lead to default.
D A security rated D implies the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment or the
issuer has made it clear that it will be missing such a payment in the near future. In some cases,
DBRS may not assign a D rating under a bankruptcy announcement scenario, as allowances for grace
periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once assigned, the D rating will
continue as long as the missed payment continues to be in arrears, and until such time as the
rating is suspended, discontinued, or reinstated by DBRS.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poors for long-term issues:
AAA An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poors. The
obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small
degree. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the
obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
4-A
BBB An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the
obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.
While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be
outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial,
or economic conditions which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
B An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB,
but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligors capacity or
willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon
favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions,
the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C A subordinated debt or preferred stock obligation rated C is currently highly
vulnerable to nonpayment. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy
petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued. A C also will be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or
sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.
D An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when
payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not
expired, unless Standard & Poors believes that such payments will be made during such grace
period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of
a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Plus (+) or minus (-) The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a
plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
NR This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient
information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poors does not rate a particular
obligation as a matter of policy.
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks Country risk considerations are a standard part of
Standard & Poors analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a
key factor in this analysis. An obligors capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be
lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign
governments own relatively
5-A
lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are
incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are
also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign
risks make them different for the same issuer.
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for long-term debt:
Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit
risk.
Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low
credit risk.
A Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit
risk.
Baa Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered
medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to
substantial credit risk.
B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high
credit risk.
Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default,
with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default,
with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
Note: Moodys appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification
from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of
its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3
indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:
AAA Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the
lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity
for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by
foreseeable events.
AA Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. AA ratings denote
expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
6-A
A Securities considered to be of high credit quality. A ratings denote expectations of
low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This
capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic
conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB Securities considered to be of good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that there
is currently expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is
considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to
impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category.
BB Securities considered to be speculative. BB ratings indicate that there is a
possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments
to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B Securities considered to be highly speculative. B ratings indicate that significant
credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are
currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained,
favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC and C Securities have high default risk. Default is a real possibility, and
capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or
economic developments. A CC rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. C
ratings signal imminent default.
RD Indicates an entity has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace
period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of
obligations.
D Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.
Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major
rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA category or to categories below CCC.
NR indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issue or issuer.
The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:
AAA Long-term debt rated AAA is of the highest credit quality, with exceptionally
strong protection for the timely repayment of principal and interest. Earnings are considered
stable, the structure of the industry in which the entity operates is strong, and the outlook for
future profitability is favorable. There are few qualifying factors present which would detract
from the performance of the entity. The strength of liquidity and coverage ratios is unquestioned
and the entity has established a creditable track record of superior performance. Given the
extremely high standard which DBRS has set for this category, few entities are able to achieve a
AAA rating.
AA Long-term debt rated AA is of superior credit quality, and protection of interest and
principal is considered high. In many cases they differ from long-term debt rated AAA only to a
7-A
small degree. Given the extremely restrictive definition DBRS has for the AAA category, entities
rated AA are also considered to be strong credits, typically exemplifying above-average strength
in key areas of consideration and unlikely to be significantly affected by reasonably foreseeable
events.
A Long-term debt rated A is of satisfactory credit quality. Protection of interest and
principal is still substantial, but the degree of strength is less than that of AA rated
entities. While A is a respectable rating, entities in this category are considered to be more
susceptible to adverse economic conditions and have greater cyclical tendencies than higher-rated
securities.
BBB Long-term debt rated BBB is of adequate credit quality
.
Protection of interest and
principal is considered acceptable, but the entity is fairly susceptible to adverse changes in
financial and economic conditions, or there may be other adverse conditions present which reduce
the strength of the entity and its rated securities.
BB
Long-term debt rated BB is defined to be speculative and non-investment grade, where
the degree of protection afforded interest and principal is uncertain, particularly during periods
of economic recession. Entities in the BB range typically have limited access to capital markets
and additional liquidity support. In many cases, deficiencies in critical mass, diversification,
and competitive strength are additional negative considerations.
B Long-term debt rated B is highly speculative and there is a reasonably high level of
uncertainty as to the ability of the entity to pay interest and principal on a continuing basis in
the future, especially in periods of economic recession or industry adversity.
CCC, CC and C Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is very highly speculative
and is in danger of default of interest and principal. The degree of adverse elements present is
more severe than long-term debt rated B. Long-term debt rated below B often have features
which, if not remedied, may lead to default. In practice, there is little difference between these
three categories, with CC and C normally used for lower ranking debt of companies for which the
senior debt is rated in the CCC to B range.
D
A security rated D implies the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment of
interest or principal or that the issuer has made it clear that it will miss such a payment in the
near future. In some cases, DBRS may not assign a D rating under a bankruptcy announcement
scenario, as allowances for grace periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once
assigned, the D rating will continue as long as the missed payment continues to be in arrears,
and until such time as the rating is suspended, discontinued or reinstated by DBRS.
(high, low) Each rating category is denoted by the subcategories high and low. The
absence of either a high or low designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the
category. The AAA and D categories do not utilize high, middle, and low as differential
grades.
Municipal Note Ratings
A Standard & Poors U.S. municipal note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market
access risks unique to notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.
Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following
criteria will be used in making that assessment:
8-A
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Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more
likely it will be treated as a note; and
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Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the
more likely it will be treated as a note.
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Note rating symbols are as follows:
SP-1 The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and
interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given
a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal
and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of
the notes.
SP-3 The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal
and interest.
Moodys uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered
investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are
divided into three levels MIG-1 through MIG-3. In addition, those short-term obligations
that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at
the maturity of the obligation. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moodys for these
short-term obligations:
MIG-1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded
by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to
the market for refinancing.
MIG-2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample,
although not as large as in the preceding group.
MIG-3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow
protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this
category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned;
a long- or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents
Moodys evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.
The second element represents Moodys evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability
to receive purchase price upon demand (demand feature), using a variation of the MIG rating
scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated
NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG-1.
9-A
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issues specific structural or credit features.
VMIG-1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded
by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal
protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG-2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the
strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections
that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG-3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is
afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural
and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in
this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade
short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the
timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term
credit ratings.
About Credit Ratings
A Standard & Poors issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor
with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a
specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper
programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other
forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the
obligation is denominated. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or
hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for
a particular investor.
Moodys credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not as statements of
fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.
Fitchs credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial
commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or
counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the
likelihood of receiving their money back in accordance with the terms on which they invested.
Fitchs credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational
and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the
securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by
receivables or other financial assets.
DBRS credit ratings are not buy, hold or sell recommendations, but rather the result of qualitative
and quantitative analysis focusing solely on the credit quality of the issuer and its underlying
obligations.
10-A
APPENDIX B
2006 ISS PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
Auditors
Ratifying Auditors
Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless:
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An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is
therefore not independent;
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There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion
which is neither accurate nor indicative of the companys financial position; or
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Fees for non-audit services are excessive.
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Board of Directors
Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on director nominees, examining, but not limited to, the following factors:
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Composition of the board and key board committees;
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Attendance at board and committee meetings;
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Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;
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Disclosures under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
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Long-term company performance relative to a market and peer index;
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Extent of the directors investment in the company;
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Existence of related party transactions;
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Whether the chairman is also serving as CEO;
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Whether a retired CEO sits on the board;
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Number of outside boards at which a director serves.
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WITHHOLD from individual directors who:
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Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid
excuse (such as illness, service to the nation, work on behalf of the company);
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Sit on more than six public company boards;
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Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public
companies besides their own (withhold only at their outside boards).
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WITHHOLD from the entire board (except for new nominees, who should be considered on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis) if:
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The companys poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature.
Withhold every year until this feature is removed;
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The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval since the
beginning of 2005, does not commit to putting it to shareholder vote within 12 months
of
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1-B
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adoption or reneges on a commitment to put the pill to a vote and has not yet been
withheld from for this issue;
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The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a
majority of the shares outstanding the previous year;
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The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the
majority of shares cast for the previous two consecutive years;
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The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the
shareholders tendered their shares;
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At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent
withhold votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s)
that caused the high withhold rate;
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A Russell 3000 company underperformed its industry group (GICS group). The
test will consist of the bottom performers within each industry group (GICS) based on a
weighted average TSR. The weightings are as follows: 20 percent weight on 1-year TSR;
30 percent weight on 3-year TSR; and 50 percent weight on 5-year TSR. Companys
response to performance issues will be considered before withholding.
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WITHHOLD from inside directors and affiliated outside directors when:
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The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key
committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;
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The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the
full board functions as that committee;
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The full board is less than majority independent.
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WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:
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The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive;
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A material weakness identified in the Section 404 disclosures rises to a level
of serious concern; there are chronic internal control issues and an absence of
established effective control mechanisms.
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WITHHOLD from the members of the Compensation Committee if:
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There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance;
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The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
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The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment they made to
shareholders;
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The company has poor compensation practices.
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WITHHOLD from directors, individually or the entire board, for egregious actions or failure to
replace management as appropriate.
Classification/Declassification of the Board
Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board. Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and
to elect all directors annually.
Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring the position of chair be filled by an
independent director unless there are compelling reasons to recommend against the proposal, such
as a counterbalancing governance structure. This should include all of the following:
2-B
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Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members
with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside
with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the
director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.);
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Two-thirds independent board;
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All-independent key committees;
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Established governance guidelines;
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The company does not under-perform its peers.
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Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals
Generally vote FOR reasonably crafted shareholders proposals calling for directors to be elected
with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the elimination of the plurality standard for
electing directors (including binding resolutions requesting that the board amend the companys
bylaws), provided the proposal includes a carve-out for a plurality voting standard when there are
more director nominees than board seats (e.g., contested elections). Consider voting AGAINST the
shareholder proposal if the company has adopted a formal corporate governance policy that present
a meaningful alternative to the majority voting standard and provide an adequate response to both
new nominees as well as incumbent nominees who fail to receive a majority of votes cast.
At a minimum, a companys policy should articulate the following elements to adequately address
each director nominee who fails to receive an affirmative of majority of votes cast in an
election:
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Established guidelines disclosed annually in the proxy statement concerning the
process to follow for nominees who receive majority withhold votes;
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The policy needs to outline a clear and reasonable timetable for all
decision-making regarding the nominees status;
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The policy needs to specify that the process of determining the nominees
status will be managed by independent directors and must exclude the nominee in
question;
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An outline of a range of remedies (for example, acceptance of the resignation,
maintaining the director but curing the underlying causes of the withheld votes, etc.);
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The final decision on the nominees status should be promptly disclosed via an
SEC filing. The policy needs to include the timeframe for disclosure and require a
full explanation of how the decision was reached.
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In addition, the company should articulate to shareholders why its policy is the best structure
for demonstrating accountability to shareholders.
Proxy Contests
Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following
factors:
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Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
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Managements track record;
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Background to the proxy contest;
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Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
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3-B
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Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;
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Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);
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Stock ownership positions.
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Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When voting in
conjunction with support of a dissident slate, vote FOR the reimbursement of all appropriate proxy
solicitation expenses associated with the election.
Takeover Defenses
Poison Pills
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that the company submit its poison pill to a shareholder
vote or redeem it UNLESS the company has: (1) A shareholder approved poison pill in place; or (2)
The company has adopted a policy concerning the adoption of a pill in the future specifying that
the board will only adopt a shareholder rights plan if either:
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Shareholders have approved the adoption of the plan; or
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The board, in its exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities, determines that
it is in the best interest of shareholders under the circumstances to adopt a pill
without the delay in adoption that would result from seeking stockholder approval (i.e.
the fiduciary out provision). A poison pill adopted under this fiduciary out will be
put to a shareholder ratification vote within twelve months of adoption or expire. If
the pill is not approved by a majority of the votes cast on this issue, the plan will
immediately terminate.
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Vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for poison pills to be put to a vote within a time period
of less than one year after adoption. If the company has no non-shareholder approved poison pill
in place and has adopted a policy with the provisions outlined above, vote AGAINST the proposal.
If these conditions are not met, vote FOR the proposal, but with the caveat that a vote within
twelve months would be considered sufficient.
Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of
the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:
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No lower than a 20 percent trigger, flip-in or flip-over;
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A term of no more than three years;
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No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of
a future board to redeem the pill;
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Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses
to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, ten percent of the
shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the
pill.
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Supermajority Vote Requirements
Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote. Vote FOR proposals to lower
supermajority vote requirements.
4-B
Mergers and Corporate Restructurings
For mergers and acquisitions, evaluate the proposed transaction based on these factors:
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Valuation
- Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by
the acquirer) reasonable?
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Market reaction
- How has the market responded to the proposed deal?
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Strategic rationale
- Does the deal make sense strategically? Cost and revenue
synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable.
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Negotiations and process
- Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at
arms length? Was the process fair and equitable?
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Conflicts of interest
- Are insiders benefiting from the transaction
disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the
result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more
likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests.
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Governance
- Will the combined company have a better or worse governance
profile than the parties to the transaction?
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State of Incorporation
Reincorporation Proposals
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to change a companys state of incorporation, taking into
consideration both financial and corporate governance concerns, including the reasons for
reincorporating, a comparison of the governance provisions, comparative economic benefits, and a
comparison of the jurisdictional laws. Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors
outweigh any neutral or negative governance changes.
Capital Structure
Common Stock Authorization
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for
issuance using a model developed by ISS. Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the
allowable increase when a companys shares are in danger of being delisted or if a companys
ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain. In addition, for capital requests
less than or equal to 300 percent of the current authorized shares that marginally fail the
calculated allowable cap (i.e., exceed the allowable cap by no more than 5 percent), on a
CASE-BY-CASE basis, vote FOR the increase based on the companys performance and whether the
companys ongoing use of shares has shown prudence.
Issue Stock for Use with Rights Plan
Vote AGAINST proposals that increase authorized common stock for the explicit purpose of
implementing a non-shareholder approved shareholder rights plan (poison pill).
5-B
Preferred Stock
Vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified
voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights (blank check preferred stock). Vote
AGAINST proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred stock authorized for issuance
when no shares have been issued or reserved for a specific purpose.
Vote FOR proposals to create de-clawed blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as
a takeover defense). Vote FOR proposals to authorize preferred stock in cases where the company
specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the
preferred stock appear reasonable. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank
check preferred shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given a
companys industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.
Executive and Director Compensation
Equity Compensation Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the plan if:
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The total cost of the companys equity plans is unreasonable;
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The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options without prior
shareholder approval;
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There is a disconnect between CEO pay and the companys performance;
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The companys three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2 percent and the
mean plus 1 standard deviation of its industry group; or
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The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices.
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Director Compensation
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on compensation plans for non-employee directors, based on the cost of the plans
against the companys allowable cap. Vote for the plan if ALL of the following qualitative
factors in the boards compensation plan are met and disclosed in the proxy statement:
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Stock ownership guidelines with a minimum of three times the annual cash retainer.
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Vesting schedule or mandatory holding/deferral period:
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A minimum vesting of three years for stock options or restricted stock; or
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Deferred stock payable at the end of a three-year deferral period.
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A balanced mix between cash and equity. If the mix is heavier on equity, the
vesting schedule or deferral period should be more stringent, with the lesser of five
years or the term of directorship.
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No retirement/benefits and perquisites for non-employee directors; and
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A table with a detailed disclosure of the cash and equity compensation for each
non-employee director for the most recent fiscal year.
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Disclosure of CEO Compensation-Tally Sheet
Companies should provide better and more transparent disclosure related to CEO pay. Consider
withhold votes in the future from the compensation committee and voting against equity plans if
compensation disclosure is not improved and a tally sheet is not provided.
6-B
Employee Stock Purchase PlansQualified Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on qualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR plans if:
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Purchase price is at least 85 percent of fair market value;
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Offering period is 27 months or less; and
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The number of shares allocated to the plan is ten percent or less of the
outstanding shares.
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Employee Stock Purchase PlansNon-Qualified Plans
Vote CASE-by-CASE on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR plans with:
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Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees with the exclusion of
individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial ownership of the company);
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Limits on employee contribution (a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of base
salary);
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Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employees contribution,
which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from market value;
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No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a company
matching contribution.
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Option Exchange Programs/Re-pricing Options
Vote CASE-by-CASE on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options, taking
into consideration historic trading patterns, rationale for the re-pricing, value-for-value
exchange treatment of surrendered options, option vesting, term of the option, exercise price and
participation. Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option re-pricing to a shareholder vote.
Severance Agreements for Executives/Golden Parachutes
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to require golden parachutes or executive severance agreements to
be submitted for shareholder ratification, unless the proposal requires shareholder approval prior
to entering into employment contracts. Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on proposals to ratify or
cancel golden parachutes. An acceptable parachute should include:
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A trigger beyond the control of management;
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The amount should not exceed three times base amount (defined as the average
annual taxable W-2 compensation during the five years prior to the year in which the
change of control occurs;
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Change-in-control payments should be double-triggered, i.e., (1) after a change
in the companys ownership structure has taken place, and (2) termination of the
executive as a result of the change in control.
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Corporate Responsibility
Animal Rights
Generally vote AGAINST proposals to phase out the use of animals in product testing unless:
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The company is conducting animal testing programs that are unnecessary or not
required by regulation;
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The company is conducting animal testing when suitable alternatives are
accepted and used at peer firms;
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7-B
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The company has been the subject of recent, significant controversy related to
its testing programs.
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Generally vote FOR proposals seeking a report on the companys animal welfare standards.
Drug Pricing and Re-importation
Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies implement specific price restraints on
pharmaceutical products unless the company fails to adhere to legislative guidelines or industry
norms in its product pricing. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting that the company evaluate
their product pricing considering:
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The existing level of disclosure on pricing policies;
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Deviation from established industry pricing norms;
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The companys existing initiatives to provide its products to needy consumers;
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Whether the proposal focuses on specific products or geographic regions.
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Generally vote FOR proposals requesting that companies report on the financial and legal impact of
their policies regarding prescription drug re-importation unless such information is already
publicly disclosed. Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting that companies adopt specific
policies to encourage or constrain prescription drug re-importation.
Genetically Modified Foods
Vote AGAINST proposals asking companies to voluntarily label genetically engineered (GE)
ingredients in their products or alternatively to provide interim labeling and eventually
eliminate GE ingredients due to the costs and feasibility of labeling and/or phasing out the use
of GE ingredients.
Tobacco
Most tobacco-related proposals (such as on second-hand smoke, advertising to youth and spin-offs
of tobacco-related business) should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Toxic Chemicals
Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that a company discloses its policies related to toxic
chemicals. Vote CASE-BY-CASE on resolutions requesting that companies evaluate and disclose the
potential financial and legal risks associated with utilizing certain chemicals. Generally vote
AGAINST resolutions requiring that a company reformulate its products within a certain timeframe
unless such actions are required by law in specific markets.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Generally vote AGAINST request for reports outlining potential environmental damage from drilling
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) unless:
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New legislation is adopted allowing development and drilling in the ANWR region;
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The company intends to pursue operations in the ANWR; and
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The company has not disclosed an environmental risk report for its ANWR operations.
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Concentrated Area Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
Vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies report to shareholders on the risks and liabilities
associated with CAFOs unless:
8-B
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The company has publicly disclosed guidelines for its corporate and contract
farming operations, including compliance monitoring; or
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The company does not directly source from CAFOs.
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Global Warming and Kyoto Protocol Compliance
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas emissions from company
operations and/or products unless this information is already publicly disclosed or such factors
are not integral to the companys line of business. Generally vote AGAINST proposals that call
for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by specified amounts or within a restrictive time frame
unless the company lags industry standards and has been the subject of recent, significant fines
or litigation resulting from greenhouse gas emissions.
Generally vote FOR resolutions requesting that companies outline their preparations to comply with
standards established by Kyoto Protocol signatory markets unless:
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The company does not maintain operations in Kyoto signatory markets;
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The company already evaluates and substantially discloses such information; or,
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Greenhouse gas emissions do not significantly impact the companys core businesses.
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Political Contributions
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to improve the disclosure of a companys political contributions
considering: any recent significant controversy or litigation related to the companys political
contributions or governmental affairs; and the public availability of a policy on political
contributions. Vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions.
Link Executive Compensation to Social Performance
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to review ways of linking executive compensation to social factors,
such as corporate downsizings, customer or employee satisfaction, community involvement, human
rights, environmental performance, predatory lending, and executive/employee pay disparities.
Outsourcing/Offshoring
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals calling for companies to report on the risks associated with
outsourcing, considering: the risks associated with certain international markets; the utility of
such a report; and the existence of a publicly available code of corporate conduct that applies to
international operations.
Human Rights Reports
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests for reports detailing the companys operations in a particular
country and on proposals to implement certain human rights standards at company facilities or
those of its suppliers and to commit to outside, independent monitoring.
9-B
Mutual Fund Proxies
Election of Directors
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors and trustees, following the same guidelines for
uncontested directors for public company shareholder meetings. However, mutual fund boards do not
usually have compensation committees, so do not withhold for the lack of this committee.
Converting Closed-end Fund to Open-end Fund
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on conversion proposals, considering the following factors:
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Past performance as a closed-end fund;
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Market in which the fund invests;
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Measures taken by the board to address the discount; and
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Past shareholder activism, board activity, and votes on related proposals.
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Establish Director Ownership Requirement
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a specific minimum amount of stock that
directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board.
Reimburse Shareholder for Expenses Incurred
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When
supporting the dissidents, vote FOR the reimbursement of the solicitation expenses.
Terminate the Investment Advisor
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to terminate the investment advisor, considering the following
factors:
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Performance of the funds net asset value;
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The funds history of shareholder relations;
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The performance of other funds under the advisors management.
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10-B
APPENDIX C
BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OF GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Goldman Sachs is noted for its Business Principles, which guide all of the firms activities and
serve as the basis for its distinguished reputation among investors worldwide.
Our clients interests always come first.
Our experience shows that if we serve our clients
well, our own success will follow.
Our assets are our people, capital and reputation.
If any of these is ever diminished, the
last is the most difficult to restore. We are dedicated to complying fully with the letter and
spirit of the laws, rules and ethical principles that govern us. Our continued success depends
upon unswerving adherence to this standard.
We take great pride in the professional quality of our work.
We have an uncompromising
determination to achieve excellence in everything we undertake. Though we may be involved in a
wide variety and heavy volume of activity, we would, if it came to a choice, rather be best than
biggest.
We stress creativity and imagination in everything we do.
While recognizing that the old way
may still be the best way, we constantly strive to find a better solution to a clients problems.
We pride ourselves on having pioneered many of the practices and techniques that have become
standard in the industry.
We make an unusual effort to identify and recruit the very best person for every job.
Although our activities are measured in billions of dollars, we select our people one by one. In a
service business, we know that without the best people, we cannot be the best firm.
We offer our people the opportunity to move ahead more rapidly than is possible at most other
places.
We have yet to find limits to the responsibility that our best people are able to assume.
Advancement depends solely on ability, performance and contribution to the Firms success, without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any
other impermissible criterion or circumstance.
We stress teamwork in everything we do.
While individual creativity is always encouraged, we
have found that team effort often produces the best results. We have no room for those who put
their personal interests ahead of the interests of the Firm and its clients.
The dedication of our people to the Firm and the intense effort they give their jobs are
greater than one finds in most other organizations.
We think that this is an important part of our
success.
Our profits are a key to our success.
They replenish our capital and attract and keep our
best people. It is our practice to share our profits generously with all who helped create them.
Profitability is crucial to our future.
1-C
We consider our size an asset that we try hard to preserve.
We want to be big enough to
undertake the largest project that any of our clients could contemplate, yet small enough to
maintain the loyalty, the intimacy and the esprit de corps that we all treasure and that contribute
greatly to our success.
We constantly strive to anticipate the rapidly changing needs of our clients and to develop
new services to meet those needs.
We know that the world of finance will not stand still and that
complacency can lead to extinction.
We regularly receive confidential information as part of our normal client relationships.
To
breach a confidence or to use confidential information improperly or carelessly would be
unthinkable.
Our business is highly competitive, and we aggressively seek to expand our client
relationships.
However, we must always be fair to competitors and must never denigrate other
firms.
Integrity and honesty are the heart of our business.
We expect our people to maintain high
ethical standards in everything they do, both in their work for the firm and in their personal
lives.
2-C
Goldman, Sachs & Co.s History of Excellence
1869
Is founded by Marcus Goldman
1882
Becomes a private partnership when Samuel Sachs joins the firm
1896
Joins New York Stock Exchange
1906
Takes Sears public
1925
Finances Warner Brothers to develop sound in movies
1933-69
Senior Partner Sidney J. Weinberg serves as adviser to five presidents: Roosevelt, Truman,
Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson
1956
Co-manages Fords initial public offering, the largest IPO to date
1985
Senior Partner John C. Whitehead named Deputy Secretary of State
1986
Takes Microsoft public
1988
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) is established, formalizing the asset management capability
that Goldman Sachs initiated in 1981 by managing money market funds for institutional clients; 50
employees
1995
Senior Partner Robert E. Rubin named Treasury Secretary
1996
GSAM acquires CIN Management ($23 B)
1997
Launches web site that delivers trading ideas, research reports, and analytical tools to clients
worldwide
GSAM acquires Commodities Corp. ($1.6 B in hedge fund assets); Acquires Liberty Investment
Management ($6B in growth assets)
1998
Takes ebay public
3-C
1999
Goldman, Sachs & Co. becomes a public company
2001
GSAM assets under management pass $300B mark
2002
Advises and services 45% of the Forbes 400
1
Growth Team is awarded the years single largest U.S. institutional mandate
2003
Acquires The Ayco Company, L.P.; Announces it will combine Australian operation with JBWere to form
Goldman Sachs JBWere
2006
May 2006 Goldman Sachs celebrates 25 years in the money fund industry
GSAM assets under management total approximately $575B; 1,100 professionals worldwide
1.
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Source: Forbes.com, October 2003. Reprinted by permission of Forbes Magazine© 2004 Forbes Inc.
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4-C
APPENDIX D
STATEMENT OF INTENTION
(applicable only to Class A Shares)
If a shareholder anticipates purchasing within a 13-month period Class A Shares of the Fund
alone or in combination with Class A Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund in the amount of $100,000
or more, the shareholder may obtain shares of the Fund at the same reduced sales charge as though
the total quantity were invested in one lump sum by checking and filing the Statement of Intention
in the Account Application. Income dividends and capital gain distributions taken in additional
shares, as well as any appreciation on shares previously purchased, will not apply toward the
completion of the Statement of Intention.
To ensure that the reduced price will be received on future purchases, the investor must
inform Goldman Sachs that the Statement of Intention is in effect each time shares are purchased.
Subject to the conditions mentioned below, each purchase will be made at the public offering price
applicable to a single transaction of the dollar amount specified on the Account Application. The
investor makes no commitment to purchase additional shares, but if the investors purchases within
13 months plus the value of shares credited toward completion do not total the sum specified, the
investor will pay the increased amount of the sales charge prescribed in the Escrow Agreement.
Escrow Agreement
Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary), 5% of the dollar amount
specified on the Account Application will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent in the form of
shares registered in the investors name. All income dividends and capital gains distributions on
escrowed shares will be paid to the investor or to his or her order. When the minimum investment
so specified is completed (either prior to or by the end of the 13th month), the investor will be
notified and the escrowed shares will be released.
If the intended investment is not completed, the investor will be asked to remit to Goldman
Sachs any difference between the sales charge on the amount specified and on the amount actually
attained. If the investor does not within 20 days after written request by Goldman Sachs pay such
difference in the sales charge, the Transfer Agent will redeem, pursuant to the authority given by
the investor in the Account Application, an appropriate number of the escrowed shares in order to
realize such difference. Shares remaining after any such redemption will be released by the
Transfer Agent.
1-D
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23.
Exhibits
The following exhibits relating to Goldman Sachs Trust are incorporated herein by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to Goldman Sachs Trusts Registration Statement on Form N-1A
(Accession No. 000950130-95-002856); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-96-004931); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-97-000573); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-97-000805); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
32 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-97-0001846); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 40 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-97-004495); to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to such Registration Statement (Accession No 0000950130-98-000676);
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to such Registration Statement (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000965); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950130-98-002160); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to such Registration Statement
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-003563); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-98-004845); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-98-005275); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
51 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-99-000178); to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 52 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-99-000742); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 53 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-99-001069); to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to such Registration Statement (Accession No.
0000950130-99-002212); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950109-99-002544); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to such Registration Statement
(Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-99-003474); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-99-004208); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-99-006810); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
60 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-99-004538) (no exhibits filed as part
of this Amendment); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950130-00-000099) (no exhibits filed as part of this Amendment); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 62 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585); to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to such Registration Statement (Accession No.
0000950109-00-001365); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950130-00-002072); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to such Registration Statement
(Accession No. 0000950130-00-002509); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-00-003033); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950130-00-003405); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-00-500123); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
69 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-00-500156); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 70 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950109-01-000419); to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to such Registration Statement (Accession No.
0000950109-01-500094); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950109-01-500540); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to such Registration Statement
(Accession No. 0000950123-01-509514); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-002026); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-003780); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-006143); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
77 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-006151); to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 78 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-007177); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 79 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711); to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 to such Registration Statement (Accession No.
0000950123-02-011988); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to such Registration Statement (Accession
No. 0000950123-03-001754); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 to such Registration Statement
(Accession No. 0000950123-03-004262); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to such Registration
Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to such
Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-03-009618); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to
such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727); to Post-Effective Amendment No.
86 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212); to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 87 to such Registration Statement (Accession No. 0000950123-04-003073); to the Registrants
Registration Statement on Form N-14 relating to the Registrants acquisition of the Golden Oak
®
Family of Funds (Acquisition) (Accession No. 0000950123-04-008643); to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 88 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Accession No. 0000950123-04-004668)
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-015178); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrants
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Accession No. 0000950123-05-007490); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 109 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (Accession No.
0000950123-05-011442); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrants Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to
the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-05-015341); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 118 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-001985);
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A
(0000950123-06-002378); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 to the Registrants Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-005419); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the
Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-007014); to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 129 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-008041);
to Post-Effective Amendment No. 135 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A
(0000950123-06-012408); to Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to the Registrants Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-012620); and to Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the
Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A (0000950123-06-015465).
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(a)(1).
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Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No.
0000950130-97-000573).
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2
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(a)(2).
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Amendment No. 1 dated April 24, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust January
28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-97-004495).
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(a)(3).
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Amendment No. 2 dated July 21, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-97-004495).
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(a)(4).
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Amendment No. 3 dated October 21, 1997 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000676).
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(a)(5).
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Amendment No. 4 dated January 28, 1998 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000676).
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(a)(6).
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Amendment No. 5 dated April 23, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-004845).
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(a)(7).
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Amendment No. 6 dated July 22, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-004845).
|
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(a)(8).
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Amendment No. 7 dated November 3, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
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(a)(9).
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Amendment No. 8 dated January 22, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-000742).
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(a)(10).
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Amendment No. 9 dated April 28, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-99-002544).
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(a)(11).
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Amendment No. 10 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294).
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(a)(12).
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Amendment No. 11 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294).
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3
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(a)(13).
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Amendment No. 12 dated October 26, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-004208).
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(a)(14).
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Amendment No. 13 dated February 3, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585).
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(a)(15).
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Amendment No. 14 dated April 26, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-00-002509).
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(a)(16).
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Amendment No. 15 dated August 1, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as
amended, dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-00-500123).
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(a)(17).
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Amendment No. 16 dated January 30, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500540).
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(a)(18).
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Amendment No. 17 dated April 25, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-01-509514).
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(a)(19).
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Amendment No. 18 dated July 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
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(a)(20).
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Amendment No. 19 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
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(a)(21).
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Amendment No. 20 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
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(a)(22).
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Amendment No. 21 dated January 29, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust,
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-001754).
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(a)(23).
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Amendment No. 22 dated July 31, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
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(a)(24).
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Amendment No. 23 dated October 30, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
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(a)(25).
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Amendment No. 24 dated May 6, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-008643).
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(a)(26).
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Amendment No. 25 dated April 21, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-015178).
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(a)(27).
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Amendment No. 26 dated November 4, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-015178).
|
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(a)(28).
|
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Amendment No. 27 dated February 10, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123- 05-007490).
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(a)(29).
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Amendment No. 28 dated May 12, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459).
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(a)(30).
|
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Amendment No. 29 dated June 16, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459).
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(a)(31).
|
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Amendment No. 30 dated August 4, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1977. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459)
|
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(a)(32).
|
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Amendment No. 32 dated December 31, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997 (Accession No. 0000950123-05-015341).
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(a)(33).
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Amendment No. 31 dated November 2, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-007014).
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(a)(34).
|
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Amendment No. 33 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-007014).
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(a)(35).
|
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Amendment No. 34 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-007014).
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(a)(36).
|
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Amendment No. 36 dated June 15, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-010686).
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5
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(a)(37).
|
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Amendment No. 35 dated May 11, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated
January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-008041).
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(a)(38).
|
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Amendment No. 37 dated August 10, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
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(a)(39).
|
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Amendment No. 38 dated November 9, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
dated January 28, 1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
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(b)(1).
|
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Amended and Restated By-laws of the Delaware business trust dated January 28, 1997.
(Accession No. 0000950130-97-000573).
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(b)(2).
|
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Amended and Restated By-laws of the Delaware business trust dated January 28, 1997
as amended and restated July 27, 1999. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294).
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(b)(3).
|
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Amended and Restated By-laws of the Delaware business trust dated January 28, 1997
as amended and restated October 30, 2002. (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
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(b)(4).
|
|
Amendment to Amended and Restated By-laws of the Delaware business trust dated
January 28, 1997 as amended and restated October 30, 2002. (Accession No.
0000950123-04-015178).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b)(5).
|
|
Amendment No. 1 dated November 4, 2004 to Amended and Restated By- Laws of the
Delaware business trust dated January 28, 1997 as amended and restated October 30, 2002.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-007490).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c).
|
|
Article II, Section 10, Article IV, Section 3, Article V, Article VI, Article
VII, Article IX, Section 8 and Section 9 of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration
of Trust incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit (a)(1) and Article III of the
Registrants Amended and Restated By-Laws incorporated by reference as Exhibit (b)(3).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(1).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Short Duration Government Fund, and Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P.
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-000676).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(2).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Adjustable Rate Government Fund, and Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P.
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-000676).
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(3).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Short Duration Tax-Free Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000676).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(4).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000676).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(5).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between the Registrant, on behalf of
Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-000676).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(6).
|
|
Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, Goldman Sachs Fund Management L.P. and Goldman, Sachs Asset Management
International. (Accession No. 0000950109-98-005275).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(7).
|
|
Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset
Allocation Portfolios and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000676).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(8).
|
|
Amended Annex A to Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 on behalf of the
Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios and Goldman Sachs Asset Management
(Conservative Strategy Portfolio) (Accession No. 0000950130-99-000742).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(9).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated April 28, 1999 to Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997.
(Accession No. 0000950109-99-002544).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(10).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated July 27, 1999 to Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997.
(Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(11).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated October 26, 1999 to Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950130-99-004208).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(12).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated February 3, 2000 to Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-00-001365).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(13).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated April 26, 2000 to Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997
(Accession No. 0000950130-00-002509).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(14).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated January 30, 2001 to Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500094).
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(15).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated April 25, 2001 to Management Agreement, dated April 30, 1997.
(Accession No. 0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(16).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated August 1, 2002 to Management Agreement, dated April 30, 1997.
(Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(17).
|
|
Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (With respect to the Goldman Sachs Short-Duration Tax-Free
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(18).
|
|
Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (With respect to the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds).
(Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(19).
|
|
Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (With respect to the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income, Equity,
Specialty and Money Market Funds). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(20).
|
|
Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (With respect to the Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(21).
|
|
Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman
Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (With respect to the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation
Funds). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-007054).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(22).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated July 31, 2003 to the Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-009618).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(23).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated October 30, 2003 to the Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(24).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated November 2, 2005 to the Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d)(25).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated November 12, 2005 to the Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-014459).
|
8
|
|
|
(d)(26).
|
|
Amended Annex A dated November 9, 2006 to the Management Agreement dated April 30,
1997. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(27).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated January 1, 2005 among Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Asset Management International and Goldman Sachs Trust
relating to the Capital Growth, CORE Large Cap Growth, CORE U.S. Equity and
International Growth Opportunities Funds. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-007490).
|
|
|
|
(d)(28).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 25, 2005 among Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Asset Management International and Goldman Sachs Trust
relating to the Government Income and Global Income and Funds. (Accession No.
0000950123-04-007490).
|
|
|
|
(d)(29).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the CORE Tax-Managed Equity Fund.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-007490).
|
|
|
|
(d)(30).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Aggressive Growth Strategy,
Balanced Strategy, Growth and Income Strategy and Growth Strategy Portfolios.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-007490).
|
|
|
|
(d)(31).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Short Duration Tax-Free Fund.
(Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(32).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Core Fixed Income Fund.
(Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(33).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Short Duration Government
Fund. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(34).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Ultra-Short Duration
Government Fund. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(35).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated February 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
Enhanced Income Fund, Global Income fund, Government Income Fund, Municipal
Income Fund, Investment Grade Credit Fund, U.S. Mortgages Fund, High Yield
Fund, High Yield Municipal Fund and Emerging Markets Debt Fund. (Accession
No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(d)(36).
|
|
Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 28, 2006 between Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Balanced Fund, CORE Large Cap
Value Fund, Growth and Income Fund, Real Estate Securities Fund, Asia Growth Fund, CORE
International Equity Fund, CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Large Cap Growth Fund, European
Equity Fund, International Equity Fund, Large Cap Value Fund, Strategic Growth Fund,
Research Select Fund, CORE Tax-Managed Equity Fund, Tollkeeper Fund, Concentrated
Growth Fund, Japanese Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Emerging Markets Equity
Fund, International Growth Opportunities Fund, Mid-Cap Value Fund, Small Cap Value Fund
and Growth Opportunities Fund. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(e)(1).
|
|
Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997, as amended October 30, 2003. (Accession
No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(e)(2).
|
|
Amended Exhibit A dated November 9, 2006 to the Distribution Agreement dated April
30, 1997, as amended October 30, 2003. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-015465).
|
|
|
|
(f).
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
|
(g)(1).
|
|
Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991, between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company. (Accession No. 0000950130-95-002856).
|
|
|
|
(g)(2).
|
|
Custodian Agreement dated December 27, 1978 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, filed as
Exhibit 8(a). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(3).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated December 27, 1978 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining
to the fees payable by Registrant pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, filed as Exhibit
8(b). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(4).
|
|
Amendment dated May 28, 1981 to the Custodian Agreement referred to above as Exhibit
(g)(2). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
10
|
|
|
(g)(5).
|
|
Fee schedule relating to the Custodian Agreement between Registrant on behalf of the
Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios and State Street Bank and Trust Company.
(Accession No. 0000950130-97-004495).
|
|
|
|
(g)(6).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated June 14, 1984 between Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to
a change in wire charges under the Custodian Agreement, filed as Exhibit 8(d).
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(7).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated March 29, 1983 between Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to
the latters designation of Bank of America, N.T. and S.A. as its subcustodian and
certain other matters, filed as Exhibit 8(f). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(8).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated March 21, 1985 between Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to
the creation of a joint repurchase agreement account, filed as Exhibit 8(g).
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(9).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated November 7, 1985, with attachments, between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid
Assets, authorizing State Street Bank and Trust Company to permit redemption of units
by check, filed as Exhibit 8(h). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(10).
|
|
Money Transfer Services Agreement dated November 14, 1985, including attachment,
between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs
- Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to transfers of funds on deposit with State
Street Bank and Trust Company, filed as Exhibit 8(i). (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(11).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated November 27, 1985 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, amending
the Custodian Agreement. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(12).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated July 22, 1986 between Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to
a change in wire charges. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(13).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated June 20, 1987 between Registrant and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman
Sachs Institutional
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Liquid Assets, amending the Custodian Agreement. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(14).
|
|
Letter Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, on
behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets, pertaining to the latters
designation of Security Pacific National Bank as its subcustodian and certain other
matters. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(15).
|
|
Amendment dated July 19, 1988 to the Custodian Agreement between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid
Assets. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(16).
|
|
Amendment dated December 19, 1988 to the Custodian Agreement between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid
Assets. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(g)(17).
|
|
Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company on behalf of Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(g)(18).
|
|
Sub-Custodian Agreement dated March 29, 1983 between State Street Bank and Trust
Company and Bank of America, National Trust and Savings Association on behalf of
Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(g)(19).
|
|
Fee schedule dated January 8, 1999 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6,
1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Conservative Strategy
Portfolio). (Accession No. 0000950130-99-000742).
|
|
|
|
(g)(20).
|
|
Fee schedule dated April 12, 1999 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6,
1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Strategic Growth and
Growth Opportunities Portfolios). (Accession No. 0000950109-99-002544).
|
|
|
|
(g)(21).
|
|
Fee schedule dated July 19, 1999 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6,
1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Internet Tollkeeper
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950130-99-005294).
|
|
|
|
(g)(22).
|
|
Fee schedule dated October 1, 1999 relating to the Custodian Agreement dated April
6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Company (Large Cap Value Fund). (Accession No. 0000950130-99-006810).
|
|
|
|
(g)(23).
|
|
Fee schedule dated January 12, 2000 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6,
1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (CORE Tax-Managed
Equity Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(24).
|
|
Fee schedule dated January 6, 2000 relating to Custodian Agreement dated July 15,
1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (High Yield Municipal
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(25).
|
|
Fee schedule dated April 14, 2000 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6,
1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Research Select
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950130-00-002509).
|
|
|
|
(g)(26).
|
|
Fee schedule dated April 14, 2000 relating to Custodian Agreement dated July 15,
1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Enhanced Income
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950130-00-002509).
|
|
|
|
(g)(27).
|
|
Additional Portfolio Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company. (Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(28).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company relating to Custodian Agreement dated December 27, 1978. (Accession
No. 0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(29).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990. (Accession No.
0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(30).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company relating to Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991. (Accession No.
0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(g)(31).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated January 29, 2001 relating to Custodian Agreement dated July
15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Global Consumer
Growth Fund, Global Financial Services Fund, Global Health Sciences Fund, Global
Infrastructure and Resources Fund and Global Technology Fund). (Accession No.
0000950109-01-500540).
|
13
|
|
|
(g)(32).
|
|
Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Agreement dated December 27, 1978
between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No.
0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(g)(33).
|
|
Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between
Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No.
0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(g)(34).
|
|
Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between
Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No.
0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(g)(35).
|
|
Form of amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated December 27, 1978 between
Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No.
0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(g)(36).
|
|
Amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No. 0000950123-02-003780).
|
|
|
|
(g)(37).
|
|
Amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and
State Street Bank and Trust Company (Accession No. 0000950123-02-003780).
|
|
|
|
(g)(38).
|
|
Letter Amendment dated May 15, 2002 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990
between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company. (Accession No.
0000950123-02-011711).
|
|
|
|
|
(g)(39).
|
|
Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase
Bank, N.A. is filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
|
(h)(1).
|
|
Wiring Agreement dated June 20, 1987 among Goldman, Sachs & Co., State Street Bank
and Trust Company and The Northern Trust Company. (Accession No.
0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(h)(2).
|
|
Letter Agreement dated June 20, 1987 regarding use of checking account between
Registrant and The Northern Trust Company. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-000965).
|
|
|
|
(h)(3).
|
|
Transfer Agency Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs
& Co. (Accession No. 0000950130-95-002856).
|
|
|
|
(h)(4).
|
|
Transfer Agency Agreement dated May 1, 1988 between Goldman Sachs Institutional
Liquid Assets and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
14
|
|
|
(h)(5).
|
|
Transfer Agency Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs
& Co. on behalf of the Financial Square Funds. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(h)(6).
|
|
Transfer Agency Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between GS-Capital Growth Fund, Inc.
and Goldman Sachs & Co. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(h)(7).
|
|
Form of Retail Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Class
A Shares of Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income
Funds, Goldman Sachs Domestic Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs International Equity
Funds. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(h)(8).
|
|
Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to
the Administrative Class, Service Class and Cash Management Class of Goldman Sachs -
Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(h)(9).
|
|
Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to
the FST Shares, FST Preferred Shares, FST Administration Shares and FST Service Shares
of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds. (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(h)(10).
|
|
Fee schedule relating to Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and Goldman,
Sachs & Co. on behalf of all Funds other than ILA and FST money market funds.
(Accession No. 0000950109-01-500540).
|
|
|
|
(h)(11).
|
|
Fee schedule relating to Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and Goldman,
Sachs & Co. on behalf of the ILA portfolios. (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500540).
|
|
|
|
(h)(12).
|
|
Form of Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Select
Class, the Preferred Class, the Administration Class, the Service Class and the Cash
Management Class, as applicable, of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds, Goldman Sachs
Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds, Goldman Sachs
Domestic Equity Funds, Goldman Sachs International Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs Asset
Allocation Portfolios. (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500540).
|
|
|
|
(h)(13).
|
|
Form of fee schedule relating to Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and
Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of the Cash Portfolio (Accession No.
0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(h)(14).
|
|
Form of Account Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to
Institutional Shares of Goldman Sachs U.S. Mortgages Fund
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
and Investment Grade Credit Fund. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(h)(15).
|
|
Form of Account Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to
Class A Shares of Goldman Sachs U.S. Mortgages Fund and Investment Grade Credit Fund.
(Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(h)(16).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Administration Class Administration Plan
amended and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(17).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Cash Management Shares Service Plan amended and restated as of
February 4, 2004 (Accession No. 0000950123-06-001985).
|
|
|
|
(h)(18).
|
|
Goldman Sachs FST Select Class Select Plan amended and restated as of February 4,
2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(19).
|
|
Goldman Sachs FST Administration Class Administration Plan amended and restated as
of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(20).
|
|
Goldman Sachs FST Preferred Class Preferred Administration Plan amended and
restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(21).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Administration Class Administration Plan amended and restated as of
February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(22).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Service Class Service Plan and
Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession
No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(23).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Service Class Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan
amended and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(24).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Cash Portfolio Administration Class Administration Plan amended and
restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(25).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Cash Portfolio Preferred Class Preferred Administration Plan amended
and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(26).
|
|
Goldman Sachs FST Capital Administration Class Capital Administration Plan amended
and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
16
|
|
|
(h)(27).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Account Service Plan for Institutional Shares amended and restated as
of February 4, 2004 (U.S. Mortgages Fund and Investment Grade Credit Fund). (Accession
No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(28).
|
|
Goldman Sachs Account Service Plan for Class A Shares amended and restated as of
February 4, 2004 (U.S. Mortgages Fund and Investment Grade Credit Fund). (Accession No.
0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(h)(29).
|
|
Goldman Sachs FST Service Class Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan
amended and restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
|
(h)(30)
|
|
Mutual Funds Service Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and J.P.
Morgan Investor Services Co. is filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
|
(i)(1).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. (With respect to the Asset Allocation
Portfolios). (Accession No. 0000950130-97-004495).
|
|
|
|
(i)(2).
|
|
Opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell. (Accession No. 0000950130-97-001846).
|
|
|
|
(i)(3).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. (With respect to Japanese Equity and
International Small Cap). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-003563).
|
|
|
|
(i)(4).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. (With respect to Cash Management Shares).
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-003563).
|
|
|
|
(i)(5).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. (With respect to the European Equity Fund).
(Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(i)(6).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. (With respect to the CORE Large Cap Value
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950130-98-006081).
|
|
|
|
(i)(7).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Conservative Strategy
Portfolio). (Accession No. 0000950130-99-001069).
|
|
|
|
(i)(8).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Strategic Growth and
Growth Opportunities Portfolios). (Accession No. 0000950109-99-002544).
|
|
|
|
(i)(9).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Internet Tollkeeper
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-99-004208).
|
17
|
|
|
(i)(10).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Large Cap Value Fund).
(Accession No. 0000950130-99-006810).
|
|
|
|
(i)(11).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to FST Select Shares).
(Accession No. 0000950109-00-000585).
|
|
|
|
(i)(12).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the High Yield Municipal
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-00-001365).
|
|
|
|
(i)(13).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the CORE Tax-Managed Equity
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-00-001365).
|
|
|
|
(i)(14).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Research Select Fund).
(Accession No. 0000950109-00-500123).
|
|
|
|
(i)(15).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Enhanced Income Fund).
(Accession No. 0000950109-00-500123).
|
|
|
|
(i)(16).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to Cash Management Shares of
certain ILA Portfolios). (Accession No. 0000950109-00-500123).
|
|
|
|
(i)(17).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to Global Consumer Growth Fund,
Global Financial Services Fund, Global Health Sciences Fund, Global Infrastructure and
Resources Fund and Global Technology Fund). (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500540).
|
|
|
|
(i)(18).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to all outstanding Funds and
share classes) (Accession No. 0000950123-01-509514).
|
|
|
|
(i)(19).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to Financial Square Funds).
(Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
|
|
|
|
(i)(20).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (With respect to the Concentrated Growth
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-02-011711).
|
|
|
|
(i)(21).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Emerging Markets Debt
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(i)(22).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the U.S. Mortgages Fund and
Investment Grade Credit Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(i)(23).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Small/Mid-Cap Growth
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-011442).
|
18
|
|
|
(i)(24).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the U.S. Equity Dividend and
Premium Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-03-011442).
|
|
|
|
(i)(25).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the California Intermediate
AMT-Free Municipal Fund and New York AMT-Free Municipal Fund). (Accession No.
0000950123-06-001985).
|
|
|
|
(i)(26).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Tennessee Municipal
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-06-008041).
|
|
|
|
(i)(27).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Structured U.S. Equity
Flex Fund and Structured International Equity Flex Fund). (Accession No.
0000950123-06-012408).
|
|
|
|
(i)(28).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the BRIC Fund). (Accession
No. 0000950123-06-012408).
|
|
|
|
(i)(29).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the International Real
Estate Securities Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-06-012408).
|
|
|
|
(i)(30).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Core Plus Fixed Income
Fund Class B Shares, Core Plus Fixed Income Fund Service Shares and Enhanced Income
Fund B Shares). (Accession No. 0000950123-06-012620).
|
|
|
|
(i)(31).
|
|
Opinion of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (with respect to the Commodity Exposure
Fund). (Accession No. 0000950123-06-014890).
|
|
|
|
(j).
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP is filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
(k).
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
|
(l).
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
|
(m)(1).
|
|
Class A Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of May 5, 2004.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-015178).
|
|
|
|
(m)(2).
|
|
Class B Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(m)(3).
|
|
Class C Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004.
(Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
|
|
|
(m)(4).
|
|
Cash Management Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 amended and
restated as of February 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-002212).
|
19
|
|
|
(n)(1).
|
|
Revised plan dated October 30, 2003 entered into by Registrant pursuant to Rule
18f-3. (Accession No. 0000950123-03-013727).
|
|
|
|
(p)(1).
|
|
Code of Ethics Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
dated April 23, 1997, as amended November 4, 2004. (Accession No.
0000950123-04-015178).
|
|
|
|
(p)(2).
|
|
Code of Ethics Goldman, Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. and
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, effective January 23, 1991, as revised
November 4, 2004. (Accession No. 0000950123-04-015178).
|
|
|
|
(q)(1).
|
|
Powers of Attorney of Messrs. Bakhru, Coblentz, Harker, Shuch and Strubel, and
Mmes. McPherson, Smelcer and Uniacke. (Accession No. 0000950123-05-015341).
|
|
|
|
(q)(2).
|
|
Power of Attorney of John M. Perlowski. (Accession No. 0000950123-06-002378).
|
|
|
|
Item 24.
|
|
Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant
.
|
Not Applicable.
Article IV of the Declaration of Trust of Goldman Sachs Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, provides
for indemnification of the Trustees, officers and agents of the Trust, subject to certain
limitations. The Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1).
The Management Agreement with each of the Funds (other than the ILA Portfolios) provides that the
applicable Investment Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for
any loss suffered by a Fund, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of the Investment Adviser or from reckless disregard by the Investment
Adviser of its obligations or duties under the Management Agreement. Section 7 of the Management
Agreement with respect to the ILA Portfolios provides that the ILA Portfolios will indemnify the
Adviser against certain liabilities; provided, however, that such indemnification does not apply to
any loss by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or the Advisers
reckless disregard of its obligation under the Management Agreement. The Management Agreements are
incorporated by reference to Exhibits (d)(1) through (d)(7).
Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman Sachs dated April 30,
1997, as amended October 30, 2003 and Section 7 of the Transfer Agency Agreements between the
Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. dated July 15, 1991, May 1, 1988, April 30,
20
1997 and April 6, 1990 each provide that the Registrant will indemnify Goldman, Sachs & Co. against
certain liabilities. A copy of the Distribution Agreement is included herewith as Exhibit (e)(1).
The Transfer Agency Agreements are incorporated by reference as Exhibits (h)(3), (h)(4), (h)(5) and
(h)(6), respectively, to the Registrants Registration Statement.
Mutual fund and Trustees and officers liability policies purchased jointly by the Registrant, Trust
for Credit Unions, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Commerce Funds insure such
persons and their respective trustees, partners, officers and employees, subject to the policies
coverage limits and exclusions and varying deductibles, against loss resulting from claims by
reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.
21
Item 26.
Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (GSAM LP) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
(GSAMI) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and serve as investment
advisers to the Registrant. Set forth below are the names, businesses and business addresses of
certain managing directors of GSAM LP and GSAMI who are engaged in any other business, profession,
vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Position with
|
|
Name and Address of
|
|
Connection with
|
the Investment Advisers
|
|
Other Company
|
|
Other Company
|
Robert J. Hurst
|
|
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
|
|
Vice Chairman and
|
Managing Director-
|
|
85 Broad Street
|
|
Director
|
GSAM LP
|
|
New York, New York 10004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
|
|
|
|
85 Broad Street
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
New York, New York 10004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lloyd C. Blankfein
|
|
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
|
|
Chairman, Chief
|
Managing Director-
|
|
85 Broad Street
|
|
Executive Officer and
|
GSAM LP
|
|
New York, New York 10004
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
85 Broad Street
|
|
|
|
|
New York, New York 10004
|
|
|
22
Item 27.
Principal Underwriters
.
(a) Goldman, Sachs & Co. or an affiliate or a division thereof currently serves as distributor of
the units of Trust for Credit Unions, for shares of Goldman Sachs Trust and for shares of Goldman
Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. Goldman, Sachs & Co., or a division thereof currently serves as
administrator and distributor of the units or shares of The Commerce Funds.
(b) Set forth below is certain information pertaining to the Managing Directors of Goldman, Sachs
& Co., the Registrants principal underwriter, who are members of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.s
Management Committee. None of the members of the management committee holds a position or office
with the Registrant.
GOLDMAN SACHS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
|
|
|
Name and Principal
|
|
|
Business Address
|
|
Position with Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
Lloyd C. Blankfein (1)
|
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
|
Alan M. Cohen (5)
|
|
Global Head of Compliance, Managing Director
|
Gary D. Cohn (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Christopher A. Cole (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
J. Michael Evans (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Edward C. Forst (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Richard A. Friedman (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Richard J. Gnodde (8)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Suzanne M. Nora Johnson (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Scott B. Kapnick (3)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Kevin W. Kennedy (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Peter S. Kraus (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Masanori Mochida (6)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Thomas K. Montag (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Gregory K. Palm (1)
|
|
General Counsel and Managing Director
|
John F.W. Rogers (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Eric S. Schwartz (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Michael S. Sherwood (7)
|
|
Managing Director
|
David M. Solomon (5)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Esta Stecher (5)
|
|
General Counsel and Managing Director
|
David A. Viniar (4)
|
|
Managing Director
|
John S. Weinberg (1)
|
|
Managing Director
|
Jon Winkelried (3)
|
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
|
|
(2)
|
|
32 Old Slip, New York, NY 10005
|
|
(3)
|
|
Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BB, England
|
|
(4)
|
|
10 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10005
|
23
|
|
|
(5)
|
|
One New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004
|
|
(6)
|
|
12-32, Akasaka I-chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-6006, Japan
|
|
(7)
|
|
River Court, 120 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2QQ, England
|
|
(8)
|
|
Cheung Kong Center, 68
th
Floor, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong, China
|
(c) Not Applicable.
Item 28.
Location of Accounts and Records
.
The Declaration of Trust, By-laws and minute books of the Registrant and certain investment adviser
records are in the physical possession of GSAM LP, 32 Old Slip, New York, New York 10005. All
other accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained under Section 31(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder are in the physical possession
of State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 1713, Boston, Massachusetts 02105 and JP Morgan
Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 except for certain transfer agency
records which are maintained by Goldman, Sachs & Co., 71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago,
Illinois 60606.
Item 29.
Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 30.
Undertakings
Not applicable.
24
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940,
the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly
caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City and State of New York on the 19th day of
January, 2007.
GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
(A Delaware statutory trust)
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Peter V. Bonanno
|
|
|
|
|
Peter V. Bonanno
|
|
|
|
|
Secretary
|
|
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to said
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
date indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Kaysie P. Uniacke
Kaysie P. Uniacke
|
|
President (Chief
Executive Officer)
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
John M. Perlowski
John M. Perlowski
|
|
Treasurer
(Principal
Accounting Officer
and Principal
Financial Officer)
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Mary Patterson McPherson
Mary Patterson McPherson
|
|
Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Ashok N. Bakhru
Ashok N. Bakhru
|
|
Chairman and Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Alan A. Shuch
Alan A. Shuch
|
|
Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Richard P. Strubel
Richard P. Strubel
|
|
Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Patrick T. Harker
Patrick T. Harker
|
|
Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
|
|
Trustee
|
|
January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Peter V. Bonanno
|
|
|
|
|
Peter V. Bonanno,
|
|
|
|
|
Attorney-In-Fact
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
|
Pursuant to a power of attorney previously filed.
|
26
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned Secretary for Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust) hereby certifies that the
Board of Trustees of the Trust duly adopted the following resolution at a meeting of the Board held
on June 15, 2006.
RESOLVED
, that the Trustees and Officers of the Trusts who may be required to execute any
amendments to the Trusts Registration Statement be, and each hereby is, authorized to execute a
power of attorney appointing Peter Bonanno, James A. Fitzpatrick, James McNamara and John W.
Perlowski, jointly and severally, their attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution, for
said Trustees and Officers in any and all capacities to sign the Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 of the Trusts and any and all
amendments to such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, the Trustees and Officers hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: January 19, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Peter V. Bonanno
|
|
|
Peter V. Bonanno,
|
|
|
Secretary
|
|
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
(g)(39).
|
|
Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A.
|
|
|
|
(h)(30)
|
|
Mutual Funds Service Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and J.P. Morgan
Investor Services Co.
|
|
|
|
(j)
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP.
|