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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2011
1933 Act Registration No. 33-17619
1940 Act Registration No. 811-05349
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 þ
Pre-Effective Amendment No . ________ o
Post-Effective Amendment No. 279 þ
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 þ
Amendment No. 280 þ
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (312) 655-4400
PETER V. BONANNO, ESQ.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
STEPHEN H. BIER, ESQ.
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the registration statement
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
þ   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
 
o   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
 
o   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
o   this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Title of Securities Being Registered:
Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Institutional Shares and Class IR Shares of the Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund and Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund.
 
 


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 Prospectus

 


April 29, 2011
GOLDMAN SACHS SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
[GRAPHIC]        
       
  n   Goldman Sachs
Brazil Equity Fund
n  Class A Shares: GZIAX
n  Class C Shares: GZICX
n  Institutional Shares: GZIIX
n  Class IR Shares: GIRZX

     
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.   (GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
 
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE FUND.
     


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Table of Contents
 
         
1
  Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund – Summary
     
7
  Investment Management Approach
     
13
  Risks of the Fund
     
19
  Service Providers
     
24
  Dividends
     
25
  Shareholder Guide
    25   How To Buy Shares
    39   How To Sell Shares
     
52   Taxation
     
55
  Appendix A
Additional Information on
Portfolio Risks, Securities
and Techniques
     
81
  Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
             
NOT FDIC-INSURED     May Lose Value     No Bank Guarantee
             


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GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund—Summary
 
Investment Objective
 
The Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
 
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares” beginning on page 33 of this Prospectus and “Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends” beginning on page B-84 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
                               
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
    5.5%       None       None       None  
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) 1
    None       1.0%       None       None  
                                 
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
                               
Management Fees
    1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
    0.25 %     1.00 %     None       None  
Other Expenses 2
    1.18 %     1.18 %     1.03 %     1.18 %
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
    2.53 %     3.28 %     2.13 %     2.28 %
Expense Limitation 3
    (0.63 )%     (0.63 )%     (0.63 )%     (0.63 )%
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Limitation 3
    1.90 %     2.65 %     1.50 %     1.65 %
                                 
 
1 A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
2 The Fund’s “Other Expenses” have been estimated to reflect expenses expected to be incurred during the first fiscal year.
3 The Investment Adviser has 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


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custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
 
Expense Example
 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
                 
    1 Year   3 Years
Class A Shares
  $ 732     $ 1,238  
                 
Class C Shares
               
– Assuming complete redemption at end of period
  $ 368     $ 951  
– Assuming no redemption
  $ 268     $ 951  
                 
Institutional Shares
  $ 153     $ 606  
                 
Class IR Shares
  $ 168     $ 652  
                 
 
Portfolio Turnover
 
The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments ( i.e. , “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but will be reflected in the Fund’s performance.
 
Principal Strategy
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of investment) (“Net Assets”) in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to Brazil or in issuers that participate in the markets of Brazil. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to Brazil if the investment is included in an index representative of Brazil, the investment returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of Brazil.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of Brazil if the issuer:
n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in Brazil;


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n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in Brazil;
n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in Brazil; or
n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in Brazil.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics, to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in investments in developed countries and emerging countries other than Brazil, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (“INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT”), AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
Principal Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. 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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Brazil Risk.  Investing in Brazil may involve a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to Brazil may subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were made in developed countries, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic, or environmental events and natural disasters which may occur in Brazil. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Brazil may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
 
Currency Risk.  Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk.  Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). In addition to the risks inherent in the underlying securities represented by the Depositary Receipts, in some situations there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. Also, a 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.
 
Derivatives Risk.  Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be illiquid, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
 
Emerging Countries Risk.  The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market capitalizations, have more or less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries.
 
Foreign Risk.  Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability in these countries. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody.


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Industry Concentration Risk.  The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
 
Liquidity Risk.  The Fund may make investments that may be illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
 
Market Risk.  The value of the instruments 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.
 
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk.  The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.
 
NAV Risk.  The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
 
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified and is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” mutual fund. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
 
Stock Risk.  Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
 
Performance
 
As the Fund had not yet commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus, there is no performance information quoted for the Fund.
 
Portfolio Management
 
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAMI”).


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Portfolio Managers:  Gabriella Antici, Managing Director, CIO and Head of GSAM Brazil, has managed the Fund since 2011; Andrea Cardia, Vice President, Senior Equity Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since 2011; and Marcia Zugaib, CFA, Vice President, Senior Equity Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since 2011.
 
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
 
The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $10,000,000 for individual investors and $1,000,000 alone or in combination with other assets under the management of GSAMI and its affiliates for certain other types of investors. There may be no minimum for initial purchases of Institutional Shares for certain retirement accounts or for initial purchases of Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional or Class IR shareholders.
 
You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions (“Authorized Institutions”).
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal.
 
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase the Fund through an Authorized Institution, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Authorized Institution for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Authorized Institution and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Authorized Institution website for more information.


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Investment Management Approach
 
     INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
 
The Brazil Equity Fund seeks long term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days notice.
 
     PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 
 
The Fund invests under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to Brazil or in issuers that participate in the markets of Brazil. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to Brazil if the investment is included in an index representative of Brazil, the investment returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of Brazil.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of Brazil if the issuer:
  n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in Brazil;
  n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in Brazil;
  n Derives 50% or more of its total Revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in Brazil; or
  n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in Brazil.
 
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 Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics, to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are


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well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in developed country investments and other emerging country investments, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
The Fund’s benchmark index is the MSCI Brazil 10/40 Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD). The MSCI Brazil 10/40 Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) offers a representation of the Brazilian market by targeting companies with a market capitalization within the top 99% of their investable equity universe, subject to a global minimum size requirement. The MSCI Brazil 10/40 Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) does not reflect any deductions of expenses associated with mutual funds such as management fees and other expenses.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (“INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT”), AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a certain percentage of its total assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or having a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements, non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

one year, cash, cash equivalents and certain ETFs. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
GSAMI’s Brazil Equity Investment Philosophy:
 
         
    Belief   How the Investment Adviser Acts on This Belief
n
  Excess returns can be generated by conducting thorough fundamental research and individual stock selection   Seeks to generate excess returns through an intensive research culture and a strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources around the world.
n
  A team-based approach enriches debate and enhances the quality of investment decisions   Conducts proprietary stock level research in a team-orientated regional structure with frequent, open communication and frontline decision-making.
n
  Focused and differentiated portfolios provide the greatest potential to generate excess returns   Builds portfolios that are reflective of the team’s best investment ideas so that the majority of excess returns are driven by stock selection.
 
GSAMI’s Brazil Equity team’s investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that we can achieve a competitive edge through selecting stocks with local expertise while being opportunistic investors. We seek to discover a broad range of investment ideas while being flexible, nimble, contrarian and avoiding complacency. We believe a company’s prospective ability to generate high returns on invested capital will strongly influence investment success. In our view, using a strong valuation discipline to purchase well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams is the best formula for long-term portfolio performance.
 
     
    The Investment Adviser attempts to manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. Proprietary, stock level research is the key driver of the investment process and the Investment Adviser seeks to generate the majority of excess returns through stock selection.
     
     
 
References in this Prospectus to the Fund’s benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted, are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.


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     OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES 
 
The tables on the following pages identify 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 the tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s 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 fifteen 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 Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

 
         
10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
   
10   Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)    
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  Brazil
       limited only by the objectives and strategies
  Equity
       of the Fund
  Fund
Investment Practices
       
         
Borrowings
    33 1 / 3  
         
Cross Hedging of Currencies
     
         
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
     
         
Direct Equity Investments *
    5  
         
Equity, Index and Currency Swaps and Options on Such Swaps *
     
         
Foreign Currency Transactions
     
         
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures)
     
         
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)
     
         
Investment Company Securities (including exchange-traded funds) **
    10  
         
Options on Foreign Currencies 1
     
         
Options on Securities and Securities Indices 2
     
         
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
     
         
Repurchase Agreements
     
         
Unseasoned Companies
     
         
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
     
         
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
** This percentage limitation does not apply to the Fund’s investments in investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the terms of an SEC exemptive order or SEC exemptive rule.
1 The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.
2 The Fund may sell covered call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices in which it may invest.


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10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  Brazil
       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 1
     
         
Bank Obligations 1,2
     
         
Convertible Securities
     
         
Corporate Debt Obligations 1
     
         
Emerging Country Securities
     
         
Equity Investments
     80+  
         
Fixed Income Securities 3,4
     20  
         
Foreign Government Securities 1
     
         
Foreign Securities
     
         
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities 1,3
     
         
Real Estate Investment Trusts
     
         
Structured Securities (which may include equity linked notes) *
     
         
Temporary Investments
    100  
         
U.S. Government Securities 1
     
         
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
1 Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.
2 Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
3 May be BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Ba or lower by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
4 The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (i) fixed income securities of private and government Brazil issuers; and (ii) equity and fixed income investments in non-Brazil issuers.


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Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of the Fund are discussed in the Summary section of this Prospectus. The following gives additional information on the 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.
 
     
    Brazil
ü       Principal Risk
  Equity
•      Additional Risk   Fund
     
Brazil
  ü
     
Credit/Default
 
     
Currency
  ü
     
Depositary Receipts
  ü
     
Derivatives
  ü
     
Emerging Countries
  ü
     
Foreign
  ü
     
Foreign Custody
 
     
Industry Concentration Risk
  ü
     
Interest Rate
 
     
Investment Style
 
     
IPO
 
     
Liquidity
  ü
     
Management
 
     
Market
  ü
     
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap
  ü
     
Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
  ü
     
Non-Diversification
  ü
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities
 
     
Participation Notes
 
     
Stock
  ü
     
 
n Brazil Risk —Investing in Brazil involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies


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or securities markets. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Brazil may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, political and social instability, environmental events and natural disasters, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S.

 
Investments in Brazil are subject to political risks including governmental restrictions on the outflow of profits to investors abroad, restrictions on the exchange or export of Brazilian currency, seizure of foreign investment and imposition of high taxes. Since the Brazilian securities markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than domestic markets, buying and selling investments may be more difficult and costly. Brazilian issuers generally differ from U.S. public issuers in the lack of comparable publicly available information; disclosure; regulatory, accounting, auditing and financial standards; government regulation; and legal remedies for investors. Brazil’s economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors. A significant economic vulnerability is the government’s large debt in relation to Brazil’s small (but growing) export base.
n Credit/Default Risk —An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities held by the Fund (which may have low credit ratings) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
 
The credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio securities may meet the Fund’s credit quality requirements at the time of purchase but then deteriorate thereafter, and such a deterioration can occur rapidly. In certain instances, the downgrading or default of a single holding or guarantor of the Fund’s holding may impair the Fund’s liquidity and have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration.
n Currency Risk —Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general economic conditions of a country, the actions of the U.S. and non-U.S. governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of U.S. dollars. If the Fund does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as a result. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be available.


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RISKS OF THE FUND

n Depositary Receipts Risk —Foreign securities may trade in the form of Depositary Receipts. To the extent the 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.
n Derivatives Risk —The risk that loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
n Emerging Countries Risk —The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market capitalizations, have more or less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements 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 Foreign Risk —When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may 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 or from problems in security registration or settlement and custody. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging countries.
n Foreign Custody Risk —The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund’s custodian (each a “Foreign Custodian”). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund’s


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ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investment in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often underdeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.

n Industry Concentration Risk —The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
n Interest Rate Risk —When interest rates increase, fixed income securities held by the Fund may 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 Investment Style Risk —Different investment styles ( e.g. , “growth,” “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund intends to employ a blend of growth and value investment styles depending on market conditions, either of which may fall out of favor from time to time. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.
n IPO Risk —The market value of IPO shares may 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.
n Liquidity Risk —The Fund may invest to a greater degree in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that may be less liquid than other investments. Also, the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not


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RISKS OF THE FUND

be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

 
Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other reasons. The Fund reserves the right to meet redemption requests through in-kind distributions. While the Fund may pay redemptions in-kind in the future, the Fund may instead choose to raise cash to meet redemption requests through sales of portfolio securities or permissible borrowings. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.
 
Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund’s liquidity risk and may impact the Fund’s NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, fund-of-funds, discretionary advisory clients, and other shareholders whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.
 
Because the Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities, small and mid-capitalization stocks, REITs and emerging country issuers, it will be especially subject to the risk that during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category, 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.
n Management Risk —A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
n Market Risk —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 Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.
n Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk —The securities of mid-capitalization and 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 the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies often have


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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 Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
n NAV Risk —The NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
n Non-Diversification Risk —The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that the Fund is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
n Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk —The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) that are considered speculative. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate or municipal developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.
n Participation Notes Risk —The Fund will use participation notes to gain exposure to certain markets it cannot invest directly in. Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
n Stock Risk —Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

 
More information about the Fund’s 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.


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Service Providers
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISER 
 
     
Investment Adviser   Fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
  Brazil Equity
     
 
GSAMI, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a registered investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”). As of December 31, 2010, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), including its investment advisory affiliates, one of which is GSAMI, had assets under management of $17.1 billion.
 
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s 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


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     MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSE INFORMATION 
 
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 Fund’s average daily net assets) listed below:
 
             
    Contractual
   
    Management Fee
  Average Daily
Fund   Annual Rate   Net Assets
Brazil Equity
    1.10 %   First $1 Billion
      0.99 %   Next $1 Billion
      0.94 %   Next $3 Billion
      0.92 %   Next $3 Billion
      0.90 %   Over $8 Billion
             
 
The Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.
 
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the period ended April 30, 2011.
 
The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. This expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so.
 
     FUND MANAGERS 
 
Brazil Equity Portfolio Management Team
 
  n Our investment philosophy is reflected in our intensive research culture and our strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources. Our research team comprises 5 investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, based on the ground in São Paulo.


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

  n We believe our on-the-ground research presence better positions our research analysts to generate strong and compelling investment ideas through a keener understanding of local customs, greater and more frequent access to corporate managements, and immediate access to local capital markets and news flow.
  n The Portfolio Managers are responsible for leading and working closely with the research analysts to foster discussion, debate and analysis of investment ideas. This first-hand intensive research effort is captured in our portfolios through a disciplined investment process which results in highly focused portfolios comprising our most compelling individual stock ideas.
  n For 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 SAI.

 
             
        Years
   
        Primarily
   
Name and Title   Fund Responsibility   Responsible   Five Year Employment History
Gabriella Antici
Managing Director,
CIO and Head of
GSAM Brazil
  Portfolio Manager—
Brazil Equity
  Since
2011
  Ms. Antici joined GSAM in March 1997 as Head of Latin America Equity. In 2001, Ms. Antici became Head of Global Emerging Markets and in 2008 CIO & Head of GSAM Brazil. She has been in the investment management industry since 1988.
 
 
Andrea Cardia
Vice President,
Senior Equity Portfolio Manager
  Portfolio Manager—
Brazil Equity
  Since
2011
  Ms. Cardia joined GSAM in March 2008 as Equity Portfolio Manager. Prior to that Ms. Cardia worked from 2004 to 2008 as Senior Equity Analyst for the emerging markets growth funds. She has been in the investment management industry since 1994.
 
 
Marcia Zugaib, CFA
Vice President,
Senior Equity Portfolio Manager
  Portfolio Manager—
Brazil Equity
  Since
2011
  Ms. Zugaib joined GSAM in January 2008 as Equity Portfolio Manager. Prior to that Ms. Zugaib was the Head of Research at Gavea Investimentos from 2004 to 2008. She has been in the investment management industry since 1981.
             
 
Gabriella Antici, Head and Chief Investment Officer of GSAM Brazil, is ultimately responsible for the Fund’s investment process. Marcia Zugaib and Andrea Cardia are senior portfolio managers for the Fund. Together with Ms. Antici, they perform stock selection and analysis, as well as parameters monitoring.


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     DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT 
 
Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the “Distributor”) of the Fund’s shares. Goldman Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
 
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 the Institutional Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C and Class IR Shares.
 
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for their own accounts.
 
     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 Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, advisor, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers, and has other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets and the securities and issuers in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. 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. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

Goldman Sachs Funds. The Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and Goldman Sachs would still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in 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 information regarding their 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 Fund’s 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 Goldman Sachs or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may 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, individually or in the aggregate, 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 Fund’s 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 effect 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 or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the SAI.
 
The Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund’s portfolio investment transactions, in accordance with applicable law.


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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 same Fund
  n Shares of the same class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.
 
You may indicate your election on your Account Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone in some instances to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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 Fund. If cash dividends are elected with respect to the Fund’s annual dividends from net investment income, then cost dividends must also be elected with respect to the short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund’s annual dividend.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
Distributions from net investment income and net capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund.
 
From time to time a portion of the Fund’s dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes, and/or may include amounts in excess of the Fund’s 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.


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Shareholder Guide
 
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying and selling the Fund’s shares.
 
     HOW TO BUY SHARES 
 
Shares Offering
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through the Distributor. In addition, certain Authorized Institutions (including certain banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Fund, purchase and exchange orders and redemption requests placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders.
 
The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase shares and reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part.
 
How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?
You may purchase shares of the Fund through certain Authorized Institutions. In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to your Authorized Institution the information in the Account Application.
 
Note: Authorized Institutions may receive different compensation for selling different class 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss which share class option is right for you.
 
To open an account, contact your Authorized Institution. For an investment in Institutional Shares only, you may also contact the Fund directly. See the back cover of this Prospectus for contact information.
 
Customers of certain Authorized Institutions will normally give their purchase instructions to the Authorized Institution, and the Authorized Institution will, in turn, place purchase orders with Goldman Sachs. Authorized Institutions will set times by which purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their customers.
 
For purchases by check, the Fund will not accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third party checks, temporary checks, or cash or cash equivalents; e.g. , cashier’s


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checks, official bank checks, money orders, travelers cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept cashier’s checks or official bank checks.
 
Class IR Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Class IR Shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (the “Retirement Plans”). Class IR Shares are also generally available only to Retirement Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund. Class IR Shares may also be sold to accounts established under fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is approved by Goldman Sachs (“Eligible Fee-Based Program”). Class IR Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and individual 403(b) plans; except that Class IR Shares are available to such accounts to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
Retirement Plans generally may open an account and purchase Class IR Shares through Authorized Institutions, financial planners, Retirement Plan administrators and other financial intermediaries. Class IR Shares may not be available through certain Authorized Institutions. Additional shares may be purchased through a Retirement Plan’s administrator or record-keeper.
 
What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
For each of your accounts investing in Class A or Class C Shares, the following investment minimums must be met:
 
                 
    Initial   Additional *
Regular Accounts
    $1,000       $50  
                 
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
    No Minimum       No Minimum  
                 
Uniform Gift/Transfer to Minors Accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
    $250       $50  
                 
Individual Retirement Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
    $250       $50  
                 
Automatic Investment Plan Accounts
    $250       $50  
                 
 
* 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). A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.


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SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

 
For Institutional Shares the following minimum investments apply:
 
     
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    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    Corporations with less than $100 million in assets or in outstanding publicly traded securities
   
     
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
  No minimum
     
 
No minimum amount is required for initial purchases in Class IR Shares or additional investments in Institutional or Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum investment requirement for Class A, Class C and Institutional Shares may be waived for current and former officers, partners, directors or employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; any Trustee or officer of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”); brokerage or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and accounts for which The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. acts in a fiduciary capacity ( i.e. , as agent or trustee); certain mutual fund “wrap” programs at the discretion of the Trust’s officers; and for other investors at the


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discretion of the Trust’s officers. No minimum amount is required for additional investments in such accounts.
 
What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized Institution?
If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account ( i.e. , accounts maintained and serviced by your Authorized Institution), all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by your Authorized Institution, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your Authorized Institution to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another Authorized Institution involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your Authorized Institution. If your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
Certain Authorized Institutions 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 financial 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 Institution or other financial intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after such acceptance.
  n Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within the time period agreed upon by them.
 
You should contact your Authorized Institution or another financial intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
 
Authorized Institutions that invest in shares on behalf of their customers may charge fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact your Authorized Institution for information regarding such charges, as such fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.


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The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) 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 Adviser’s, Distributor’s 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 the Fund’s inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs 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 payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Intermediaries for sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative and/or shareholder processing services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports and economic analysis, and portfolio analysis tools. In certain cases, the Intermediary may not pay for these services. Please refer to the “Payments to Intermediaries” section of the SAI for more information about these payments and services.
 
The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by an Intermediary may differ for different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments, receipt of these services 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 Institution or Intermediary for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.


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What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Refuse to open an account or require an Authorized Institution to 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 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 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 Fund’s Investment Adviser.
  n Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.
  n Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
  n Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.
 
Generally, non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may not open an account with the Fund.
 
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations and if approved by the Fund’s Investment Adviser.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.
 
Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law.
 
Customer Identification Program.  Federal law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which will be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, 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 information, for each investor who opens an account directly with the Fund. Applications without the required information may not be accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by


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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 investor’s shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor’s identity or obtain all required information. The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or any tax liability resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares pursuant to the customer identification program.
 
How Are Shares Priced?
The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted for any applicable sales charge) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charges ( e.g. , CDSCs) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. Each class calculates its NAV as follows:
 
     
NAV =
  (Value of Assets of the Class)
– (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
 
The Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments may be determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
 
“Fair value” prices are provided by an independent fair value service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of 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 price for a particular security, or if the price provided does not meet the established criteria for the Fund, the Fund will price that security at the most recent closing price for that security on its principal exchange.
 
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) 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


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determining the Fund’s 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 U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or market closings; equipment failures; natural or man made disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; 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, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; low trading volume; and trading limits or suspensions.
 
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.
 
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).
 
Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:
  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 times 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 The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a 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 the Fund’s NAV on the business day following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally does not, but may, result in a


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NAV that differs materially from the NAV 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 its regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange does not open for business, 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 this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of this Prospectus.
 
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO 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 Institutions for Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:
 
                         
        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 **     ***  
                         
 
* Dealer’s allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be allowed to Authorized Institutions. Authorized Institutions 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.


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*** The Distributor may pay a one-time commission to Authorized Institutions 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 Institution (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 Institutions 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, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Institutions will remit to the Distributor such payments received in connection with “wrap” accounts in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months.

 
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 this Prospectus due to rounding calculations.
 
As indicated in the preceding 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, your Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s 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 Authorized Institution or other 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 Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary; and
 
  (iii)  Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as members of the same family or household.
 
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 beginning of the month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC of 1% may be


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imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your Authorized Institution agrees 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 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 Institution 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;
  n Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans 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 These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Trust’s officers;
  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 Fund available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity contracts;


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  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 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 SAI.

 
You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your Account Application and notify your Authorized Institution and the Fund if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
 
The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your entitlement by your Authorized Institution. You may be charged a fee by your Authorized Institution.
 
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. If the Fund’s Transfer Agent is properly notified, the “Amount of Purchase” in the chart in the section “What Is The Offering Price of Class A Shares?” will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were held at the time of purchase by any of the following persons: (i) you, your spouse, your parents 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. For purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing client of


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  Goldman Sachs Private 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 Private 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 certain 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 Institution must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. If you do not notify your Authorized Institution at the time of your current purchase or a future purchase that you qualify for a quantity discount, you may not receive the benefit of a reduced sales charge that might otherwise apply. Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.

 
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 SAI. For purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase,” all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares currently held will be valued at their current market value.
  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. 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 if the Statement of Intention is not met. You must, however, inform the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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. The SAI has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.


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     A COMMON QUESTION APPLICABLE TO 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 Distributor’s 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 Institutions. A commission equal to 1% of the amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to Authorized Institutions.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A  
     AND C SHARES
 
 
What Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A 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 A or Class C Shares was made, all purchases 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.
  n Information about sales charges and sale charge waivers is available on the Fund’s website at www.goldmansachsfunds.com.


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In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?
The CDSC on Class A and Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced if the redemption relates to:
  n Mandatory retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
  n Hardship withdrawals by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
  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 an IRA in the same share class of a Goldman Sachs Fund;
  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 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 Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;
  n A systematic withdrawal plan. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares;
  n Redemptions or exchanges of Fund shares held through an Employee Benefit Plan using the Fund as part of a qualified default investment alternative or “QDIA;” or
  n Other redemptions, at the discretion of the Trust’s officers, relating to shares purchased through Employee Benefit Plans.
 
     HOW TO SELL SHARES 
 
How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares through your Authorized Institution. 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. Certain Authorized Institutions are authorized to accept redemption


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requests on behalf of the Fund as described under “HOW TO BUY SHARES—Shares Offering.” The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with your Authorized Institution. In the alternative, your Authorized Institution may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent). Redemptions may be requested by your Authorized Institution in writing, by telephone or through an electronic trading platform.
 
Generally, 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 to verify instructions.
 
When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if:
  n A request is made in writing to redeem Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares in an amount over $50,000 via check;
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not your bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.
 
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 or tax liability 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 owner’s registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Authorized Institutions may submit redemption requests by telephone. 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 Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“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


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be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
 
  n Telephone requests are recorded.
  n Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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 authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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. 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 without prior notice.
  n The Fund may redeem via check up to $50,000 in Class A, Class C, or Class IR Shares via telephone.
 
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.
 
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
By Wire:  You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with your Authorized Institution or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with your Authorized Institution. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
  n 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.
  n Although redemption proceeds will normally be paid as described above, under certain circumstances, redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as permitted under 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


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  securities owned by the Fund or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s 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 or purchased by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH 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 until the Federal Reserve Bank reopens.
  n To change the bank designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.
  n Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any other financial intermediary in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such financial intermediaries.

 
By Check:  A shareholder 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 you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or ACH, the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
 
What 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 Authorized Institutions 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 Authorized Institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. These Authorized Institutions may also require additional documentation from you.
 
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution with a relationship with Goldman Sachs or in the event that the Fund is no longer an option in your Retirement Plan or no longer available through your Eligible Fee-Based Program.


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  n Redeem your shares if your account balance is below the required Fund minimum. 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 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. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks.
  n Charge an additional fee in the event a redemption is made via wire transfer.

 
None of the Trust, Investment Adviser nor Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
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 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.
  n You should obtain and read the applicable prospectuses before investing in any other Goldman Sachs 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 of another Goldman Sachs Fund 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.
  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.


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  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 Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?
You may exchange shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC, if applicable, at the time of exchange for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) of certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses that are held for 30 (or in some cases 60) days or less may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as described in those prospectuses. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice. You should contact your Authorized Institution to arrange for exchanges of shares of the Fund for shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.
 
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. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.
  n Currently, the Fund does not impose any 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. 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.
  n Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information, contact your Authorized Institution.
  n All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. 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.


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  n It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of unusual 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 or certain share classes of 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. Exchanges within Retirement Plan accounts will not result in capital gains or loss for federal or state income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
 
     SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
 
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?
You may be able to make automatic investments in Class A and Class C Shares through your bank via ACH transfer or bank draft each month. The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the initial investment and $50 per month for additional investments. Forms for this option are available from Goldman Sachs online at www.goldmansachsfunds.com and from your Authorized Institution, or you may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
 
Can My Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs 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.
  n You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which dividends are invested.


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Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?
You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of Class A or Class C 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 You may elect to exchange into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.
  n Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Goldman Sachs 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 15 th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
  n Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
  n You cannot make automatic exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which automatic exchanges are made.
 
Can I Have Systematic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
You may redeem from your Class A or Class C Share 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 or Class C Shares because of the sales charges that are imposed on certain purchases of Class A Shares and because of the CDSCs that are imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares.
  n Checks are normally mailed within two business days after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the 15 th or 25 th of the month. ACH payments may take up to three business days to post to your account after your selected systematic withdrawal date between, and including, the 3 rd and 26 th of the month.
  n Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore may be a taxable transaction.
  n The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% each of the value of Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A shares.


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What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?
Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition, Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for providing to you any communication from the Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not described in this Prospectus to their customers for such services.
 
You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement if you invest in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares and a monthly account statement if you invest in Institutional Shares. If your account is held in “street name” ( i.e. , through your Authorized Institution), you will receive this information from your Authorized Institution.
 
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 at the appropriate phone number or address found on the back cover of this Prospectus. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation. If your account is held through an Authorized Institution, please contact the Authorized Institution to revoke your consent.
 
The types of reports Class IR Shareholders will receive depends on the related arrangements in effect with respect to such shareholders’ Retirement Plan or Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
     DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES 
 
What Are The Different Distribution And/or Service Fees Paid By The Fund’s Shares?
The Trust has adopted distribution and service plans (each a “Plan”) under which Class A and Class C Shares bear distribution and/or service fees paid to Goldman Sachs, some of which Goldman Sachs may pay to Authorized Institutions. These financial intermediaries seek distribution and/or servicing fee revenues to, among other things, offset the cost of servicing small and medium sized plan investors and providing information about the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from


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these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally receives and 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% and 0.75% respectively, of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class A and Class C Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s 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 Institutions, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales representatives;
  n Commissions paid to Authorized Institutions;
  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 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 Institutions after the shares have been held for one year. Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the annual 0.25% distribution fee for the Class A Shares as on ongoing commission to Authorized Institutions immediately. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution fee on a quarterly basis.
 
     CLASS C PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES 
 
Under the Class C Plan, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class C Shares. This fee is for personal and account maintenance services, and may be used to make payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Institutions 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


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fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement.
 
Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing service fee to Authorized Institutions 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 Trust’s (or Goldman Sachs’) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s 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 those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
 
To deter excessive shareholder trading, certain other Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses impose a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 days of purchase (60 days of purchase with respect to certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses) subject to certain exceptions. 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 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


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excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of “round trip” transactions in a shareholder’s account. A “round trip” includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.
 
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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs 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 ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these financial intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund’s market timing policies or any applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund’s ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder information requested as part of the Fund’s surveillance process. 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


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identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain of the financial intermediary’s customers. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by financial intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If a financial intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust’s excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.


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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 SAI. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund. Except as otherwise noted, the tax information provided assumes that you are a U.S. citizen or resident.
 
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.
 
     DISTRIBUTIONS 
 
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, the Fund’s distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income while any distributions of 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 Code, the maximum long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%. 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 of 15%, as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate shareholder must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund’s distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate.
 
A sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate will increase to 20% and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will end after 2012.
 
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


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TAXATION

are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate. It is not anticipated that any significant percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid will be eligible for 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. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income. Rather than deducting these foreign taxes, the Fund may make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would generally allow you either, subject to applicable limitations, (i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against your 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.”
 
     SALES AND EXCHANGES 
 
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 capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds one year, 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 long-term 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.
 
Exchanges within an IRA or other tax-advantaged account will not result in capital gain or loss for federal or state income tax purposes.


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     OTHER INFORMATION 
 
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% (currently scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012) 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. However, withholding is generally not required on properly reported distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains and, for distributions before November 1, 2012, of short-term capital gains and qualified interest income. Although this report will be made for short-term capital gain distributions, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income reports. 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 SAI.


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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
 
     A.  General Portfolio Risks 
 
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, American, European, and Global Depository Receipts, shares of ETFs and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as participation notes, swaps, options 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. To the extent the Fund’s net assets decrease or increase in the future due to price volatility or share redemption or purchase activity, the Fund’s expense ratio may correspondingly increase or decrease from the expense ratio disclosed in this Prospectus.
 
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/default 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/default 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


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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 investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.
 
The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of equivalent quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.
 
The Investment Adviser will not consider 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 Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less.
 
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 SAI, which is available upon request. Among other things, the SAI 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 Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.
 
     B.  Other Portfolio Risks 
 
Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.  The Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and 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. Mid- and small-


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APPENDIX A

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 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. Mid- and 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. Mid- and 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 managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
 
Risks of Foreign Investments.  The Fund will 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.
 
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


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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.
 
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. 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.
 
Concentration of the Fund’s assets in one or a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Fund’s assets were not geographically concentrated.
 
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 Fund’s NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
 
A sovereign debtor’s 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 debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
 
Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, GDRs, EDRs or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign


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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.
 
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 Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging 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.
 
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 issuer’s 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.
 
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,


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exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
 
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 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 occur in other countries.
 
The Fund’s investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.
 
Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve the Fund’s 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 Fund’s inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United


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States, Japan and most Western European countries). The Fund’s 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 value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.
 
The Fund’s use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by these techniques.
 
Risks Specific to Brazil.  In addition to the risks listed above, investing in Brazil presents additional risks. Inflationary, political, economic, legal and currency risks have contributed to a high level of price volatility in the Brazilian equity and currency markets and could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. Brazil is heavily dependent upon commodity prices and international trade and suffers from high inflation rates. Unanticipated political, economic or social developments, or environmental risks and natural disasters may result in sudden and significant investment losses.
 
The Brazilian government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through legislation and regulation, including regulation of prices and wages. Foreign investors in Brazil are affected by Brazilian laws that impose certain additional limitations and controls. Exchange control regulations may limit the Fund’s ability to make sufficient distributions, within applicable time periods, to qualify for the favorable U.S. tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies. Additional economic reforms or modifications by the Brazilian government to their existing monetary and fiscal policies may adversely affect the liquidity of the Brazilian capital markets in the future.
 
Additionally, the market for Brazilian securities is influenced by the flow of international capital, and economic and market conditions of certain countries. Adverse economic conditions or developments in other emerging market countries have at times significantly affected the availability of credit in the Brazilian economy and resulted in considerable outflows of funds and declines in the amount of foreign currency invested in Brazil.


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Brazil has historically experienced high rates of inflation and may continue to do so in the future. Increased prices for commodities, the depreciation of the Brazilian currency and future government measures seeking to maintain the value of Brazilian currency in relation to the U.S. dollar may trigger increases in inflation in Brazil and may slow the rate of growth of the Brazilian economy. Inflationary pressures also may limit the ability of certain Brazilian issuers to access foreign financial markets and may lead to further government intervention in the economy.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
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,


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the values of assets or economic factors, the Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial.
 
Risks of Derivative Investments.  The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options, interest rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Investments in derivative instruments may be for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from investments in derivative instruments 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. Losses may also arise if the Funds receive cash collateral under the transactions and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty’s cash collateral. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates, or currency prices. Investments in derivative instruments may be harder to value, subject to greater volatility and more likely subject to changes in tax treatment than other investments. For these reasons, the Investment Adviser’s attempts to hedge portfolio risks through the use of derivative instruments may not be successful, and the Investment Adviser may choose not to hedge certain portfolio risks. Investing for nonhedging purposes is considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
 
Risks of Participation Notes.  The Fund may invest in participation notes. Some countries, especially emerging markets countries, do not permit foreigners to participate directly in their securities markets or otherwise present difficulties for efficient foreign investment. The Fund may use participation notes to establish a position in such markets as a substitute for direct investment. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. When the participation note matures, the issuer of the participation note will pay to, or receive from, the Fund the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument’s value at maturity. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks as are associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. In addition,


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participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter and are subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and the Fund would be relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and would have no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying assets. In addition, participation notes may trade at a discount to the value of the underlying securities or markets that they seek to replicate.
 
Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.  Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.
 
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:
  n Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable
  n Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
  n Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
  n Certain over-the-counter options
  n Certain private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”)
  n Certain structured securities and swap transactions
  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”).
 
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s 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.
 
Securities purchased by the Fund, particularly debt securities and over-the-counter traded securities, that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, markets events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more


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and more complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.
 
If one or more instruments in the Fund’s portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed its 15% limitation in illiquid instruments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause the investments in illiquid instruments to exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.
 
In cases where no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s portfolio instruments is available, the portfolio instruments will be valued at their fair value according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These cases include, among others, situations where the secondary markets on which a security has previously been traded are no longer viable for lack of liquidity. For more information on fair valuation, please see “Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?”
 
Non-Diversification and Geographic Concentration Risks.  The Fund is classified as a “nondiversified” fund under the Investment Company Act and is, therefore, more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments. In addition, the Fund is expected to invest primarily in a portfolio of equity investments in Brazil or in issuers that participate in the markets of Brazil. Concentration of the investments of this Fund in issuers located in a particular country or region will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were less concentrated, to losses arising from adverse developments affecting those issuers or countries.
 
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 SAI.
 
Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s, Baa or higher by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO are considered “investment grade.” Securities rated BBB or Baa are considered medium-grade obligations


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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 the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
 
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 speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.
 
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 Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
 
Risks of IPOs.  The Fund may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company’s 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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


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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.
 
Temporary Investment Risks.  The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total assets in:
  n U.S. Government Securities
  n Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO
  n Certificates of deposit
  n Bankers’ acceptances
  n Repurchase agreements
  n Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year
  n Cash
  n Cash Equivalents
  n Certain ETFs
 
When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
     C.  Portfolio Securities and Techniques 
 
This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
 
The Fund may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Further information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request.
 
Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, 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 Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its


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total assets in securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs.
 
The use of ETFs is intended to help the Fund match the total return of the particular market segments or indices represented by those ETFs, although that may not be the result. Most ETFs are passively-managed investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund ( i.e. , one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or a discount to their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of an ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged.
 
Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may also invest in certain other investment companies and money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above. Some of those investment companies and money market funds may be funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
 
The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies (including ETFs), in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. 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.
 
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


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companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.
 
Direct Equity Investment.  The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in direct equity investments. The Fund may invest in direct equity investments that the Investment Adviser expects will become listed or otherwise publicly traded securities. Direct equity investments consist of (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise in the form of shares of common stock or equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from a principal investor in the enterprise. Direct equity investments are generally considered to be illiquid. To the degree that the Fund invests in direct equity investments that it considers to be illiquid, it will limit such investments so that they, together with the Fund’s other illiquid investments, comply with the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities.
 
In most cases, the Fund will, at the time of making a direct equity investment, enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise. The Investment Adviser anticipates that these agreements may, in appropriate circumstances, provide the Fund with the ability to appoint a representative to the board of directors or similar body of the enterprise, and eventually to dispose of the Fund’s investment in the enterprise through, for example, the listing of the securities or the sale of the securities to the issuer or another investor. In cases where the Fund appoints a representative, the representative would be expected to provide the Fund with the ability to monitor its investment and protect its rights in the investment and will not be appointed for the purpose of exercising management or control of the enterprise. In addition, the Fund intends to make its direct equity investments in such a manner as to avoid subjecting the Fund to unlimited liability with respect to the investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s direct equity investments will become listed, or that it will be able to sell any direct equity investment to the issuer or another investor. The extent to which the Fund may make direct equity investments may be limited by considerations relating to its status as a regulated investment company.
 
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.


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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.
 
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 Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s performance benchmark. The Fund may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which is considered a speculative practice.
 
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).
 
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund’s 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.
 
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


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currency hedge or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.
 
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 appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in forward currency contracts.
 
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 may issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations) as well as other non-U.S. dollar currencies. 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 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 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. U.S. Government Securities are deemed to include (a) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of


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credit issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (b) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are so guaranteed. Certain of these participations may be regarded as illiquid.
 
U.S. Government Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
 
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. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.
 
Privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities generally offer a higher yield than similar securities issued by a government entity because of the absence of any direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. However, timely payment of interest and principal on mortgage loans in these pools may be supported by various other forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, pool and hazard insurance, subordination and letters of credit. Such insurance and guarantees may be


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issued by private insurers, banks and mortgage poolers. There is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers, if any, will meet their obligations. Mortgage-backed securities without insurance or guarantees may also be purchased by the Fund if they have the required rating from an NRSRO. Some mortgage-backed securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable, may be more difficult to value accurately and may be more volatile than similar securities issued by a government entity.
 
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, the 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. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments


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are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Fund to the extent it invests in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.
 
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 may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. 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 Fund’s 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. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. 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 Fund’s 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. There is no guarantee that private guarantors, or insurers of an asset-backed security, if any, will meet their obligations. The value of some asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Asset-backed securities may also be subject to increased volatility and may become illiquid and more difficult to value even when there is no default or threat of default due to the market’s perception of the credit worthiness of the issuers and market conditions impacting asset-backed securities more generally.
 
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 net assets.


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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, securities, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. Investments in structured securities may provide exposure to certain securities or markets in situations where regulatory or other restrictions prevent direct investments in such issuers or markets.
 
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, effectively leveraging the Fund’s investment so that small changes in the value of the Reference may result in disproportionate gains or losses to the Fund. 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. Structured securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer of the structured securities may fail to perform its contractual obligations. Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.
 
Structured securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note’s term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for


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equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 anticipate 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 Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Fund’s transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Fund may be traded on either U.S. or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter.


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Foreign and over-the-counter options will present greater possibility of loss because of their greater illiquidity and credit risks. When writing an option, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the option contract.
 
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps 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 swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market; however, unlike a futures contract that is exchange-traded, a swap on a futures contract is an over-the-counter transaction. 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.
 
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, and enter into swaps 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 selections 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 Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund.
 
Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:
  n While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options and swaps 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, options transactions or swaps.
  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 the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.
  n The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options and entering into swaps 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 the Fund’s NAV.
  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 the Fund.
  n Futures contracts and options and swaps on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.
  n Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

 
The Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts and options and swaps on 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 Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations ( i.e.  the Fund’s 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.
 
Equity Swaps, Index Swaps and Currency Swaps.  The Fund may invest in equity swaps, index swaps and currency 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 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. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.
 
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 a swap (such as the dividends on a common stock of an equity swap) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the


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counterparty defaults. Because swaps are normally illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. When entering into swap contracts, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the swap contract.
 
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 and 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 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. When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis or entering into a forward commitment, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligations.
 
Repurchase Agreements.  Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s 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.
 
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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
 
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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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.
 
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights (or “rights”). Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s 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.


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Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.


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Brazil Equity Fund Prospectus
 
     FOR MORE INFORMATION 
 
Annual/Semi-annual Report
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.
 
Statement of Additional Information
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
 
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI 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 SAI at the Fund’s website: http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com/summaries.
 
From time to time, certain announcements and other information regarding the Fund may be found at http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/individuals for individual investors, http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/institutions for institutional investors or http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/advisors for advisors.
 
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
 
         
   
Institutional
 
Class A, C & IR
      n  By telephone:
  1-800-621-2550   1-800-526-7384
      n  By mail:
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 219711
Kansas City, MO 64121
      n  On the Internet:
  SEC EDGAR database – http://www.sec.gov
 
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents (including the SAI) by visiting the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 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) 551-8090.
 
The Fund’s investment company registration number is 811-5349.
GSAM ® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 
BRAZILPRO11
[GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]


Table of Contents

         
 Prospectus

 


April 29, 2011
GOLDMAN SACHS SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
(GRAPHIC)        
       
  n   Goldman Sachs
China Equity Fund
n  Class A Shares: GNIAX
n  Class C Shares: GNICX
n  Institutional Shares: GNIIX
n  Class IR Shares: GNIRX

     
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.   (GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
 
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE FUND.    
     


Table of Contents

 
Table of Contents
 
         
1
  Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund – Summary
     
8
  Investment Management Approach
     
14
  Risks of the Fund
     
21
  Service Providers
     
26
  Dividends
     
27   Shareholder Guide
    27   How To Buy Shares
    41   How To Sell Shares
     
54
  Taxation
     
57
  Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques
     
85
  Appendix B
Financial Highlights
     
86
  Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
 
 
             
NOT FDIC-INSURED     May Lose Value     No Bank Guarantee
             


Table of Contents

(GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund—Summary
 
Investment Objective
 
The Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
 
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares” beginning on page 38 of this Prospectus and “Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends” beginning on page B-84 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
                               
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
    5.5%       None       None       None  
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) 1
    None       1.0%       None       None  
                                 
                                 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
                               
Management Fees
    1.10%       1.10%       1.10%       1.10%  
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
    0.25%       1.00%       None       None  
Other Expenses 2
    0.96%       0.96%       0.81%       0.96%  
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
    2.31%       3.06%       1.91%       2.06%  
Expense Limitation
    (0.41)%       (0.41)%       (0.41)%       (0.41)%  
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Limitation
    1.90%       2.65%       1.50%       1.65%  
                                 
 
1 A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
2 The Fund’s “Other Expenses” have been estimated to reflect expenses expected to be incurred during the first fiscal year.
3 The Investment Adviser has 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


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custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
 
Expense Example
 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
                 
    1 Year   3 Years
Class A Shares
  $ 732     $ 1,195  
                 
Class C Shares
               
– Assuming complete redemption at end of period
  $ 368     $ 907  
– Assuming no redemption
  $ 268     $ 907  
                 
Institutional Shares
  $ 153     $ 560  
                 
Class IR Shares
  $ 168     $ 606  
                 
 
Portfolio Turnover
 
The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments ( i.e. , “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but will be reflected in the Fund’s performance.
 
Principal Strategy
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of investment) (“Net Assets”) in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to China or in issuers that participate in the markets of China. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to China if the investment is included in an index representative of China, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of China.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of China if the issuer:
n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in China;
n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in China;


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n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in China; or
n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in China.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Taiwanese Depositary Receipts (“TDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in investments in developed countries and emerging countries other than China, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (“INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT”), AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
Principal Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. 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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Currency Risk.  Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk.  Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs, EDRs and TDRs (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). In addition to the risks inherent in the underlying securities represented by the Depositary Receipts, in some situations there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. Also, a 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.
 
Derivatives Risk.  Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be illiquid, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
 
Emerging Countries Risk.  The securities markets of 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 as the securities markets of more developed countries.
 
Foreign Risk.  Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability in these countries. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody.
 
Greater China Risk.  Investing in Greater China (the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to Greater China may subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were made in developed countries, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic or environmental events or natural disasters which may occur in the China region. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Greater China may be adversely impacted by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, dependence on exports and international trade, increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies, political and social instability, regional and global


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conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
 
The securities markets of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan are emerging markets characterized by a relatively small number of equity issues and relatively low trading volume, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund. The government of the People’s Republic of China exercises significant control over the economy, and may alter laws or policies or discontinue economic reforms at any time. Taiwan and Hong Kong do not exercise the same level of control over their economies as does the People’s Republic of China, but changes to their political and economic relationships with the People’s Republic of China could adversely impact the Fund’s investments in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
 
Industry Concentration Risk.  The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
 
Liquidity Risk.  The Fund may make investments that may be illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
 
Market Risk.  The value of the instruments 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.
 
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk.  The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.
 
NAV Risk.  The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
 
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified and is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” mutual fund. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.


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Participation Notes Risk.  Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. The Portfolio has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
 
Stock Risk.  Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
 
Performance
 
As the Fund had not yet commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus, there is no performance information quoted for the Fund.
 
Portfolio Management
 
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAMI”).
 
Portfolio Managers:  Alina Chiew, CFA, Managing Director, Head of Greater China Equity, has managed the Fund since 2011; and Nathan Lin, Executive Director, Greater China Equity, has managed the Fund since 2011.
 
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
 
The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $10,000,000 for individual investors and $1,000,000 alone or in combination with other assets under the management of GSAMI and its affiliates for certain other types of investors. There may be no minimum for initial purchases of Institutional Shares for certain retirement accounts or for initial purchases of Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional or Class IR shareholders.
 
You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions (“Authorized Institutions”).
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal.


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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase the Fund through an Authorized Institution, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Authorized Institution for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Authorized Institution and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Authorized Institution’s website for more information.


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Investment Management Approach
 
     INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
 
The China Equity Fund seeks long term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days notice.
 
     PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to China or in issuers that participate in the markets of China. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to China if the investment is included in an index representative of China, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of China.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of China if the issuer:
  n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in China;
  n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in China;
  n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in China; or
  n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in China.
 
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 Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Taiwanese Depositary Receipts (“TDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics, to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in developed country investments and other emerging country investments, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
The Fund’s benchmark index is the MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD). The MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of China. The MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) offers an exhaustive representation of the Chinese market by targeting all companies with a market capitalization within the top 85% of the China investable equity universe, subject to a global minimum size requirement. The MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) is based on the Global Investable Market Indices methodology. As of the end of January 2011, it consisted of 141 constituents and its three largest sectors by component weighting were financials, energy and telecommunications services. The MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) does not reflect any deductions of expenses associated with mutual funds such as management fees and other expenses.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT, AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a certain percentage of its total assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), commercial paper rated at


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least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or having a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements, non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year, cash, cash equivalents and certain ETFs. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
GSAMI’s Greater China Equity Investment Philosophy:
 
         
    Belief   How the Investment Adviser Acts on This Belief
n
  Excess returns can be generated by conducting thorough fundamental research and individual stock selection   Seeks to generate excess returns through an intensive research culture and a strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources around the world.
n
  A team-based approach enriches debate and enhances the quality of investment decisions   Conducts proprietary stock level research in a team-orientated regional structure with frequent, open communication and frontline decision-making.
n
  Focused and differentiated portfolios provide the greatest potential to generate excess returns   Builds portfolios that are reflective of the team’s best investment ideas so that the majority of excess returns are driven by stock selection.
         
 
GSAMI’s Greater China Equity team’s investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that we can achieve a competitive edge through selecting stocks with local expertise while being opportunistic investors. We seek to discover a broad range of investment ideas while being flexible, nimble, contrarian and avoiding complacency. We believe a company’s prospective ability to generate high returns on invested capital will strongly influence investment success. In our view, using a strong valuation discipline to purchase well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams is the best formula for long-term portfolio performance.


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

     
    The Investment Adviser attempts to manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. Proprietary, stock level research is the key driver of the investment process and the Investment Adviser seeks to generate the majority of excess returns through stock selection.
     
     

 
References in this Prospectus to the Fund’s benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted, are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.
 
     OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES 
 
The tables on the following pages identify some of the investment techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objectives. Numbers in the tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s 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 fifteen 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 Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.

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10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  China
       limited only by the objectives and strategies
  Equity
       of the Fund
  Fund
Investment Practices
   
     
     
     
Borrowings
  33 1 / 3
     
Cross Hedging of Currencies
 
     
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
 
     
Direct Equity Investments *
  5
     
Equity, Index and Currency Swaps and Options on Such Swaps *
 
     
Foreign Currency Transactions (including forward contracts)
 
     
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures)
 
     
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)
 
     
Investment Company Securities (including exchange-traded funds) **
  10
     
Options on Foreign Currencies 1
 
     
Options on Securities and Securities Indices 2
 
     
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
 
     
Repurchase Agreements
 
     
Unseasoned Companies
 
     
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
 
     
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
** This percentage limitation does not apply to the Fund’s investments in investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the terms of an SEC exemptive order or SEC exemptive rule.
1 The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.
2 The Fund may sell covered call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices in which it may invest.


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

 
     
10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  China
       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 1
 
     
Bank Obligations 1,2
 
     
Convertible Securities
 
     
Corporate Debt Obligations 1
 
     
Emerging Country Securities
 
     
Equity Investments
   80+
     
Fixed Income Securities 4
   20
     
Foreign Government Securities 1
 
     
Foreign Securities
 
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities 1,3
 
     
Participation Notes
 
     
Real Estate Investment Trusts
 
     
Structured Securities (which may include equity linked notes) *
 
     
Temporary Investments
  100
     
U.S. Government Securities 1
 
     
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
1 Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.
2 Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
3 May be BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Ba or lower by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
4 The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (i) fixed income securities of private and government Chinese issuers; (ii) equity and fixed income investments in non-Chinese issuers.


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Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of the Fund are discussed in the Summary section of this Prospectus. The following gives additional information on the 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.
 
     
    China
ü   Principal Risk
  Equity
•      Additional Risk   Fund
Credit/Default
 
     
Currency
  ü
     
Depositary Receipts
  ü
     
Derivatives
  ü
     
Emerging Countries
  ü
     
Foreign
  ü
     
Foreign Custody
 
     
Greater China
  ü
     
Industry Concentration
  ü
     
Interest Rate
 
     
Investment Style
 
     
IPO
 
     
Liquidity
  ü
     
Management
 
     
Market
  ü
     
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap
  ü
     
Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
  ü
     
Non-Diversification
  ü
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities
 
     
Participation Notes
  ü
     
Stock
  ü
     
n Credit/Default Risk —An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities held by the Fund (which may have low credit ratings) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.


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RISKS OF THE FUND

 
The credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio securities may meet the Fund’s credit quality requirements at the time of purchase but then deteriorate thereafter, and such a deterioration can occur rapidly. In certain instances, the downgrading or default of a single holding or guarantor of the Fund’s holding may impair the Fund’s liquidity and have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration.
n Currency Risk —Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general economic conditions of a country, the actions of the U.S. and non-U.S. governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of U.S. dollars. If the Fund does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as a result. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be available.
n Depositary Receipts Risk —Foreign securities may trade in the form of Depositary Receipts. To the extent the 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.
n Derivatives Risk —Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
n Emerging Countries Risk —The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market


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capitalizations, have more or less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements 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 Foreign Risk —When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may 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 or from problems in security registration or settlement and custody. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging countries.
n Foreign Custody Risk —The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund’s custodian (each a “Foreign Custodian”). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business, or may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in China and other emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.
n Greater China Risk —Investing in Greater China (the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to Greater China may subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were made in developed countries, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic or environmental events and natural disasters which may occur in the China region. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Greater China may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, dependence on exports and international trade, increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies, political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S. In addition, currency fluctuations, currency convertibility, interest rate fluctuations and higher rates of inflation as a result of internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries have


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RISKS OF THE FUND

had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of Greater China.

 
The securities markets of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan are emerging markets characterized by a relatively small number of equity issues and relatively low trading volume, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund. The universe of share issues currently available to foreign investors in the People’s Republic of China may be limited as compared with the universe of equity securities available in other markets. The government of the People’s Republic of China exercises significant control over the economy, and may at any time alter or discontinue economic reforms. Investments in Greater China are subject to the risk of confiscatory taxation, nationalization or expropriation of assets, potentially frequent changes in the law, and imperfect information because companies in the China region may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. companies. The willingness and ability of the Chinese government to support Hong Kong and Chinese markets is uncertain. Taiwan and Hong Kong do not exercise the same level of control over their economies as does the People’s Republic of China, but changes to their political and economic relationships with the People’s Republic of China could adversely impact the Fund’s investments in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
n Industry Concentration Risk —The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
n Interest Rate Risk —When interest rates increase, fixed income securities held by the Fund may 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 Investment Style Risk —Different investment styles ( e.g. , “growth,” “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund intends to employ a blend of growth and value investment styles depending on market conditions, either of which may fall out of favor from time to time. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.


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n IPO Risk —The market value of IPO shares may 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.
n Liquidity Risk —The Fund may invest to a greater degree in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that may be less liquid than other investments. Also, the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

 
Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other reasons. The Fund reserves the right to meet redemption requests through in-kind distributions. While the Fund may pay redemptions in-kind in the future, the Fund may instead choose to raise cash to meet redemption requests through sales of portfolio securities or permissible borrowings. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.
 
Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund’s liquidity risk and may impact the Fund’s NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, fund-of-funds, discretionary advisory clients, and other shareholders whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.
 
Because the Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities, small and mid- capitalization stocks, REITs and emerging country issuers, it is especially subject to the risk that during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category, will shrink or


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RISKS OF THE FUND

disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
 
n Management Risk —A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
n Market Risk —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 Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.
n Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk —The securities of mid-capitalization and 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 the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization 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 Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
n NAV Risk —The NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
n Non-Diversification Risk —The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that the Fund is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
n Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk —The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) that are considered speculative. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate or municipal developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.
n Participation Notes Risk —The Fund will use participation notes to gain exposure to certain markets it cannot invest directly in. Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency, or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency, or market that they seek to replicate.


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The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
n Stock Risk —Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

 
More information about the Fund’s 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.


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Service Providers
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISER 
 
     
Investment Adviser   Fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
  China Equity
     
 
GSAMI, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a registered investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”). As of December 31, 2010, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), including its investment advisory affiliates, one of which is GSAMI, had assets under management of $717.1 billion.
 
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s 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


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     MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSE INFORMATION 
 
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 Fund’s average daily net assets) listed below:
 
             
    Contractual
   
    Management Fee
  Average Daily
Fund   Annual Rate   Net Assets
China Equity
    1.10 %   First $1 Billion
      0.99 %   Next $1 Billion
      0.94 %   Next $3 Billion
      0.92 %   Next $3 Billion
      0.90 %   Over $8 Billion
             
 
The Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.
 
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the period ended April 30, 2011.
 
The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. This expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so.
 
     FUND MANAGERS 
 
Greater China Equity Portfolio Management Team
 
  n Our investment philosophy is reflected in our intensive research culture and our strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources. Our research team comprises 7 investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, organized into regional teams and based on the ground in Hong Kong and Shanghai. These professionals provide research, monitor portfolio positions,


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

  and give portfolio construction advice. However, GSAMI is ultimately responsible for the investment decisions in the portfolio.

  n We believe our on-the-ground research presence better positions our research analysts to generate strong and compelling investment ideas through a keener understanding of local customs, greater and more frequent access to corporate managements, and immediate access to local capital markets and news flow.
  n The Portfolio Manager is responsible for leading and working closely with the research analysts to foster discussion, debate and analysis of investment ideas. This first-hand intensive research effort is captured in our portfolios through a disciplined investment process which results in highly focused portfolios comprising our most compelling individual stock ideas.
  n For 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 SAI.
 
             
        Years
   
        Primarily
   
Name and Title   Fund Responsibility   Responsible   Five Year Employment History
Alina Chiew, CFA
Managing Director; Head of Greater China Equity
  Portfolio Manager—
China Equity
  Since
2011
  Ms. Chiew is responsible for GSAM’s Greater China Equity strategies. She joined the GSAM Greater China Equity team as a Research Analyst in April 2006 and became the Head of Greater China Equity in 2010. Prior to joining GSAM, Ms. Chiew was Head of Research with CITIC Frontier China Research in Shanghai beginning March 2004.
             
Nathan Lin,
Executive Director; Greater China Equity
  Portfolio Manager—
China Equity
  Since
2011
  Mr. Lin joined the GSAM Greater China Equity Research Team as a Research Analyst in April 2008. Before joining GSAM, Mr. Lin was an analyst at RCM Asset Management (Hong Kong) responsible for technology stocks within the Asian region beginning August 2006. Prior to that he was a portfolio manager covering the technology sector at Alliance Global Investors (Taiwan) beginning in 2004.
             
 
Alina Chiew, CFA, Head of the Greater China Equity team, is ultimately responsible for the Fund’s investment process. Nathan Lin, member of the Greater China Equity team, is responsible for the Fund’s Technology and Telecom sector.


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     DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT 
 
Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the “Distributor”) of the Fund’s shares. Goldman Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
 
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 the Institutional Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C and Class IR Shares.
 
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for their own accounts.
 
     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 Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, advisor, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers and has other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets and the securities and issuers in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. 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. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds. The Investment Adviser and


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and Goldman Sachs would still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in 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 information regarding their 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 Fund’s 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 Goldman Sachs or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may 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, individually or in the aggregate, 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 Fund’s 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 effect 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 or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the SAI.
 
The Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund’s portfolio investment transactions, in accordance with applicable law.


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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 same Fund
  n Shares of the same class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.
 
You may indicate your election on your Account Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone in some instances to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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 Fund. If cash dividends are elected with respect to the Fund’s annual dividends from net investment income, then cash dividends must also be elected with respect to the short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund’s annual dividend.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
Distributions from net investment income and net capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund.
 
From time to time a portion of the Fund’s dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes, and/or may include amounts in excess of the Fund’s 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.


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Shareholder Guide
 
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying and selling the Fund’s shares.
 
     HOW TO BUY SHARES 
 
Shares Offering
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through the Distributor. In addition, certain Authorized Institutions (including certain banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Fund, purchase and exchange orders and redemption requests placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders.
 
The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase shares and reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part.
 
How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?
You may purchase shares of the Fund through certain Authorized Institutions. In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to your Authorized Institution the information in the Account Application.
 
Note: Authorized Institutions may receive different compensation for selling different class 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss which share class option is right for you.
 
To open an account, contact your Authorized Institution. For an investment in Institutional Shares only, you may also contact the Fund directly. See the back cover of this Prospectus for contact information.
 
Customers of certain Authorized Institutions will normally give their purchase instructions to the Authorized Institution, and the Authorized Institution will, in turn, place purchase orders with Goldman Sachs. Authorized Institutions will set times by which purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their customers.
 
For purchases by check, the Fund will not accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third party checks, temporary checks, or cash or cash equivalents; e.g. , cashier’s


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checks, official bank checks, money orders, travelers cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept cashier’s checks or official bank checks.
 
Class IR Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Class IR Shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (the “Retirement Plans”). Class IR Shares are also generally available only to Retirement Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund. Class IR Shares may also be sold to accounts established under fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is approved by Goldman Sachs (“Eligible Fee-Based Program”). Class IR Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and individual 403(b) plans; except that Class IR Shares are available to such accounts to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
Retirement Plans generally may open an account and purchase Class IR Shares through Authorized Institutions, financial planners, Retirement Plan administrators and other financial intermediaries. Class IR Shares may not be available through certain Authorized Institutions. Additional shares may be purchased through a Retirement Plan’s administrator or record-keeper.
 
What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
For each of your accounts investing in Class A or Class C Shares, the following investment minimums must be met:
 
                 
    Initial   Additional *
Regular Accounts
    $1,000       $50  
                 
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
    No Minimum       No Minimum  
                 
Uniform Gift/Transfer to Minors Accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
    $250       $50  
                 
Individual Retirement Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
    $250       $50  
                 
Automatic Investment Plan Accounts
    $250       $50  
                 
 
* 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). A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.


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SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

 
For Institutional Shares the following minimum investments apply:
 
     
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    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    Corporations with less than $100 million in assets or in outstanding publicly traded securities
   
     
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
  No minimum
     
 
No minimum amount is required for initial purchases in Class IR Shares or additional investments in Institutional or Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum investment requirement for Class A, Class C and Institutional Shares may be waived for current and former officers, partners, directors or employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; any Trustee or officer of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”); brokerage or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and accounts for which The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. acts in a fiduciary capacity ( i.e. , as agent or trustee); certain mutual fund “wrap” programs at the discretion of the Trust’s officers; and for other investors at the


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discretion of the Trust’s officers. No minimum amount is required for additional investments in such accounts.
 
What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized Institution?
If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account ( i.e. , accounts maintained and serviced by your Authorized Institution), all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by your Authorized Institution, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your Authorized Institution to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another Authorized Institution involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your Authorized Institution. If your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
Certain Authorized Institutions 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 financial 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 Institution or other financial intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after such acceptance.
  n Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within the time period agreed upon by them.
 
You should contact your Authorized Institution or another financial intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
 
Authorized Institutions that invest in shares on behalf of their customers may charge fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact your Authorized Institution for information regarding such charges, as such fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.


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SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

 
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) 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 Adviser’s, Distributor’s 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 the Fund’s inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs 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 payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Intermediaries for sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative and/or shareholder processing services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports and economic analysis, and portfolio analysis tools. In certain cases, the Intermediary may not pay for these services. Please refer to the “Payments to Intermediaries” section of the SAI for more information about these payments and services.
 
The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by an Intermediary may differ for different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments, receipt of these services 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 Institution or Intermediary for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.


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What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Refuse to open an account or require an Authorized Institution to 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 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 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 Fund’s Investment Adviser.
  n Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.
  n Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
  n Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.
 
Generally, non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may not open an account with the Fund.
 
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations and if approved by the Fund’s Investment Adviser.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.
 
Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law.
 
Customer Identification Program.  Federal law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which will be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, 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 information, for each investor who opens an account directly with the Fund. Applications without the required information may not be accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by


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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 investor’s shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor’s identity or obtain all required information. The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or any tax liability resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares pursuant to the customer identification program.
 
How Are Shares Priced?
The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted for any applicable sales charge) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charges ( e.g. , CDSCs) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. Each class calculates its NAV as follows:
 
     
NAV =
  (Value of Assets of the Class)
– (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
 
The Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments may be determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
 
“Fair value” prices are provided by an independent fair value service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of 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 price for a particular security, or if the price provided does not meet the established criteria for the Fund, the Fund will price that security at the most recent closing price for that security on its principal exchange.
 
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) 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


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determining the Fund’s 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 U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or market closings; equipment failures; natural or man made disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; 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, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; low trading volume; and trading limits or suspensions.
 
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.
 
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).
 
Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:
  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 times 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 The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a 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 the Fund’s NAV on the business day following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally does not, but may, result in a


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NAV that differs materially from the NAV 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 its regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange does not open for business, 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 this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of this Prospectus.
 
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO 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 Institutions for Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:
 
                         
        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 **     ***  
                         
 
* Dealer’s allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be allowed to Authorized Institutions. Authorized Institutions 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.


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*** The Distributor may pay a one-time commission to Authorized Institutions 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 Institution (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 Institutions 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, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Institutions will remit to the Distributor such payments received in connection with “wrap” accounts in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months.

 
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 this Prospectus due to rounding calculations.
 
As indicated in the preceding 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, your Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s 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 Authorized Institution or other 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 Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary; and
 
  (iii)  Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as members of the same family or household.
 
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 beginning of the month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC of 1% may be


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imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your Authorized Institution agrees 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 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 Institution 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;
  n Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans 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 These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Trust’s officers;
  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 Fund available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity contracts;


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  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 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 SAI.

 
You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your Account Application and notify your Authorized Institution and the Fund if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
 
The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your entitlement by your Authorized Institution. You may be charged a fee by your Authorized Institution.
 
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. If the Fund’s Transfer Agent is properly notified, the “Amount of Purchase” in the chart in the section “What Is The Offering Price of Class A Shares?” will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were held at the time of purchase by any of the following persons: (i) you, your spouse, your parents 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. For purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing client of


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  Goldman Sachs Private 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 Private 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 certain 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 Institution must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. If you do not notify your Authorized Institution at the time of your current purchase or a future purchase that you qualify for a quantity discount, you may not receive the benefit of a reduced sales charge that might otherwise apply. Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.

 
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 SAI. For purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase,” all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares currently held will be valued at their current market value.
  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. 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 if the Statement of Intention is not met. You must, however, inform the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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. The SAI has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.


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     A COMMON QUESTION APPLICABLE TO 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 Distributor’s 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 Institutions. A commission equal to 1% of the amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to Authorized Institutions.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A  
     AND C SHARES
 
 
What Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A 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 A or Class C Shares was made, all purchases 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.
  n Information about sales charges and sale charge waivers is available on the Fund’s website at www.goldmansachsfunds.com.


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In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?
The CDSC on Class A and Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced if the redemption relates to:
  n Mandatory retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
  n Hardship withdrawals by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
  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 an IRA in the same share class of a Goldman Sachs Fund;
  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 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 Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;
  n A systematic withdrawal plan. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares;
  n Redemptions or exchanges of Fund shares held through an Employee Benefit Plan using the Fund as part of a qualified default investment alternative or “QDIA;” or
  n Other redemptions, at the discretion of the Trust’s officers, relating to shares purchased through Employee Benefit Plans.
 
     HOW TO SELL SHARES 
 
How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares through your Authorized Institution. 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. Certain Authorized Institutions are authorized to accept redemption


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requests on behalf of the Fund as described under “HOW TO BUY SHARES—Shares Offering.” The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with your Authorized Institution. In the alternative, your Authorized Institution may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent). Redemptions may be requested by your Authorized Institution in writing, by telephone or through an electronic trading platform.
 
Generally, 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 to verify instructions.
 
When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if:
  n A request is made in writing to redeem Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares in an amount over $50,000 via check;
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not your bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.
 
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 or tax liability 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 owner’s registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Authorized Institutions may submit redemption requests by telephone. 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 Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“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


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be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
 
  n Telephone requests are recorded.
  n Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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 authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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. 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 without prior notice.
  n The Fund may redeem via check up to $50,000 in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares via telephone.
 
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.
 
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
By Wire:  You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with your Authorized Institution or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with your Authorized Institution. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
  n 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.
  n Although redemption proceeds will normally be paid as described above, under certain circumstances, redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as permitted under 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


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  securities owned by the Fund or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s 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 or purchased by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH 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 until the Federal Reserve Bank reopens.
  n To change the bank designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.
  n Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any other financial intermediary in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such financial intermediaries.

 
By Check:  A shareholder 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 you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or ACH, the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
 
What 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 Authorized Institutions 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 Authorized Institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. These Authorized Institutions may also require additional documentation from you.
 
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution with a relationship with Goldman Sachs or in the event that the Fund is no longer an option in your Retirement Plan or no longer available through your Eligible Fee-Based Program.


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  n Redeem your shares if your account balance is below the required Fund minimum. 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 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. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks.
  n Charge an additional fee in the event a redemption is made via wire transfer.

 
None of the Trust, Investment Adviser nor Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
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 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.
  n You should obtain and read the applicable prospectuses before investing in any other Goldman Sachs 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 of another Goldman Sachs Fund 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.
  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.


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  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 Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?
You may exchange shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC, if applicable, at the time of exchange for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) of certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses that are held for 30 (or in some cases 60) days or less may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as described in those prospectuses. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice. You should contact your Authorized Institution to arrange for exchanges of shares of the Fund for shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.
 
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. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.
  n Currently, the Fund does not impose any 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. 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.
  n Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information, contact your Authorized Institution.
  n All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. 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.


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  n It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of unusual 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 or certain share classes of 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. Exchanges within Retirement Plan accounts will not result in capital gains or loss for federal or state income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
 
     SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
 
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?
You may be able to make automatic investments in Class A and Class C Shares through your bank via ACH transfer or bank draft each month. The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the initial investment and $50 per month for additional investments. Forms for this option are available from Goldman Sachs online at www.goldmansachsfunds.com and from your Authorized Institution, or you may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
 
Can My Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs 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.
  n You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which dividends are invested.


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Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?
You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of Class A or Class C 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 You may elect to exchange into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.
  n Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Goldman Sachs 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 15 th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
  n Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
  n You cannot make automatic exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which automatic exchanges are made.
 
Can I Have Systematic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
You may redeem from your Class A or Class C Share 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 or Class C Shares because of the sales charges that are imposed on certain purchases of Class A Shares and because of the CDSCs that are imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares.
  n Checks are normally mailed within two business days after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the 15 th or 25 th of the month. ACH payments may take up to three business days to post to your account after your selected systematic withdrawal date between, and including, the 3 rd and 26 th of the month.
  n Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore may be a taxable transaction.
  n The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% each of the value of Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A shares.


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What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?
Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition, Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for providing to you any communication from the Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not described in this Prospectus to their customers for such services.
 
You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement if you invest in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares and a monthly account statement if you invest in Institutional Shares. If your account is held in “street name” ( i.e. , through your Authorized Institution), you will receive this information from your Authorized Institution.
 
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 at the appropriate phone number or address found on the back cover of this Prospectus. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation. If your account is held through an Authorized Institution, please contact the Authorized Institution to revoke your consent.
 
The types of reports Class IR Shareholders will receive depends on the related arrangements in effect with respect to such shareholders’ Retirement Plan or Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
     DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES 
 
What Are The Different Distribution And/or Service Fees Paid By The Fund’s Shares?
The Trust has adopted distribution and service plans (each a “Plan”) under which Class A and Class C Shares bear distribution and/or service fees paid to Goldman Sachs, some of which Goldman Sachs may pay to Authorized Institutions. These financial intermediaries seek distribution and/or servicing fee revenues to, among other things, offset the cost of servicing small and medium sized plan investors and providing information about the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from


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these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally receives and 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% and 0.75% respectively, of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class A and Class C Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s 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 Institutions, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales representatives;
  n Commissions paid to Authorized Institutions;
  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 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 Institutions after the shares have been held for one year. Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the annual 0.25% distribution fee for the Class A Shares as on ongoing commission to Authorized Institutions immediately. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution fee on a quarterly basis.
 
     CLASS C PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES 
 
Under the Class C Plan, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class C Shares. This fee is for personal and account maintenance services, and may be used to make payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Institutions 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


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fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement.
 
Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing service fee to Authorized Institutions 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 Trust’s (or Goldman Sachs’) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s 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 those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
 
To deter excessive shareholder trading, certain other Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses impose a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 days of purchase (60 days of purchase with respect to certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses) subject to certain exceptions. 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 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


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excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of “round trip” transactions in a shareholder’s account. A “round trip” includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.
 
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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs 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 ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these financial intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund’s market timing policies or any applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund’s ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder information requested as part of the Fund’s surveillance process. 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


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identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain of the financial intermediary’s customers. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by financial intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If a financial intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust’s excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.


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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 SAI. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund. Except as otherwise noted, the tax information provided assumes that you are a U.S. citizen or resident.
 
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.
 
     DISTRIBUTIONS 
 
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, the Fund’s distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income while any distributions of 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 Code, the maximum long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%. 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 of 15%, as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate shareholder must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund’s distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate.
 
A sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate will increase to 20% and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will end after 2012.
 
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


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are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate. It is not anticipated that any significant percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid will be eligible for 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. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income. Rather than deducting these foreign taxes, the Fund may make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would generally allow you either, subject to applicable limitations, (i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against your U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit, subject to applicable limitations, 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.”
 
     SALES AND EXCHANGES 
 
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 capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds one year, 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 long-term 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.
 
Exchanges within an IRA or other tax-advantaged account will not result in capital gain or loss for federal or state income tax purposes.


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     OTHER INFORMATION 
 
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% (currently scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012) 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. However, withholding is generally not required on properly reported distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains and, for distributions before November 1, 2012, of short-term capital gains and qualified interest income. Although this report will be made for short-term capital gain distributions, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income reports. 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 SAI.


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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
 
     A.  General Portfolio Risks 
 
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, American, European and Global Depository Receipts, shares of ETFs and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as participation notes, swaps, options 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. To the extent the Fund’s net assets decrease or increase in the future due to price volatility or share redemption or purchase activity, the Fund’s expense ratio may correspondingly increase or decrease from the expense ratio disclosed in this Prospectus.
 
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/default 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/default 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


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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 investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.
 
The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of equivalent quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.
 
The Investment Adviser will not consider 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 Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less.
 
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 SAI, which is available upon request. Among other things, the SAI 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 Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.
 
     B.  Other Portfolio Risks 
 
Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.  The Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and 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. Mid- and small-


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APPENDIX A

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 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. Mid- and 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. Mid- and 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 managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
 
Risks of Foreign Investments.  The Fund will 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.
 
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


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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.
 
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. 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.
 
Concentration of the Fund’s assets in one or a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Fund’s assets were not geographically concentrated.
 
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 Fund’s NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
 
A sovereign debtor’s 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 debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
 
Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, GDRs, EDRs, TDRs or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs, EDRs and TDRs represent the right to receive


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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 and TDRs are traded primarily outside the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in U.S. dollars. EDRs, GDRs and TDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.
 
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 Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging 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.
 
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 issuer’s 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.
 
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,


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exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
 
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 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 occur in other countries.
 
The Fund’s investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.
 
Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve the Fund’s 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 Fund’s inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United


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States, Japan and most Western European countries). The Fund’s 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 value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.
 
The Fund’s use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by these techniques.
 
Risks Specific to Greater China.  In addition to the risks listed above, investing in Greater China presents additional legal, regulatory, monetary economic and environmental risks.
 
The People’s Republic of China is dominated by the one-party rule of the Communist Party. Investments in the People’s Republic of China involve the risk of greater control over the economy, political and legal uncertainties and currency fluctuations or blockage. The government of the People’s Republic of China exercises significant control over economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. For over three decades, the government of the People’s Republic of China has been reforming economic and market practices and providing a larger sphere for private ownership of property. While currently contributing to growth and prosperity, the government may decide not to continue to support these economic reform programs and could possibly return to the completely centrally planned economy that existed prior to 1978.
 
The Chinese government has yet to develop comprehensive securities, corporate, or commercial laws, and the Chinese markets are relatively new and undeveloped. Because the legal system is still developing, it may be more difficult to obtain or enforce judgments. Chinese companies may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. companies. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about Chinese companies than about most U.S. companies. Government supervision and regulation of Chinese stock exchanges, currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be more or less rigorous than that present in the U.S. The procedures and rules governing transactions and custody in Greater China also may involve delays in


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payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. The legal and regulatory regime in Greater China, especially as it relates to the securities markets, is constantly evolving, and any changes may either positively or negatively affect the performance of the Fund.
 
Foreign investments in the People’s Republic of China are somewhat restricted. Securities listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges are divided into two classes of shares: A shares, ownership of which is restricted to Chinese investors and Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (“QFIIs”) who have obtained QFII quota, and B shares, which may be owned by Chinese and foreign investors. The Fund may obtain exposure to the A share market in the People’s Republic of China by investing in participatory notes issued by banks, broker-dealers and other financial institutions, or other structured or derivative instruments that are designed to replicate, or otherwise provide exposure to, the performance of A shares of Chinese companies. The Fund may also invest directly in B shares on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges.
 
The economies of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in terms of the rate of growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position, among other measures.
 
Rapid industrialization in Greater China has led to widespread environmental degradation. Greater China is also at risk of certain environmental events and natural disasters including earthquakes, droughts, floods, and tsunamis and may demonstrate economic sensitivity to such events.
 
Hong Kong.  Since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, it has been governed by the Basic Law, a “quasi-constitution.” The Basic Law guarantees a high degree of autonomy in certain matters, including economic, until 2047. Attempts by the government of the People’s Republic of China to exert control over Hong Kong’s economic, political or legal structures or its existing social policy, could negatively affect investor confidence in Hong Kong, which in turn could negatively affect markets and business performance. The economy of Hong Kong may be significantly and adversely affected by increasing competition from the emerging economies of Asia, including that of the People’s Republic of China itself. In addition, the Hong Kong dollar trades within a fixed trading band rate to (or is “pegged” to) the U.S. dollar. This fixed exchange rate has contributed to the growth and stability of the economy, but could be discontinued. It is uncertain what affect any discontinuance of the currency peg and the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system would have on the Hong Kong economy.


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Taiwan.  The political reunification of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan is a highly problematic issue and is unlikely to be settled in the near future. This situation, and the continuing hostility between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, poses a threat to Taiwan’s economy and may have an adverse impact on the value of the Fund’s investments in both the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Any escalation of hostility between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan would likely distort Taiwan’s capital accounts, as well as have a significant adverse impact on the value of investments in both countries and in the region.
 
Taxation.  As a result of investing in the People’s Republic of China, the Fund may be subject to withholding and various other taxes imposed by the People’s Republic of China. To date, a 10% withholding tax has been levied on cash dividends, distributions and interest payments from companies listed in the People’s Republic of China to foreign investors.
 
However, tax authorities in the People’s Republic of China have not clarified certain aspects of the tax treatment of capital gains arising from securities trading. It is therefore possible that the relevant tax authorities may in the future clarify the tax position and impose an income tax or withholding tax on realized gains from dealing in People’s Republic of China equities. In light of this uncertainty and in order to meet this potential tax liability for capital gains, the Investment Adviser reserves the right to provide for the withholding tax on such gains or income and withhold the tax for the account of the Fund.
 
The tax law and regulations of the People’s Republic of China are constantly changing, and they may be changed with retrospective effect to the advantage or disadvantage of shareholders. The interpretation and applicability of the tax law and regulations by tax authorities may not be as consistent and transparent as those of more developed nations, and may vary from region to region. It should also be noted that any provision for taxation made by the Investment Adviser may be excessive or inadequate to meet final tax liabilities. Consequently, shareholders may be advantaged or disadvantaged depending upon the final tax liabilities, the level of provision and when they subscribed and/or redeemed their shares of the Fund.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
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.
 
Risks of Derivative Investments.  The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options, interest rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Investments in derivative instruments may be for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from investments in derivative instruments 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. Losses may also arise if the Funds receive cash collateral under the transactions and some


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or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty’s cash collateral. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency prices. Investments in derivative instruments may be harder to value, subject to greater volatility and more likely subject to changes in tax treatment than other investments. For these reasons, the Investment Adviser’s attempts to hedge portfolio risks through the use of derivative instruments may not be successful, and the Investment Adviser may choose not to hedge certain portfolio risks. Investing for nonhedging purposes is considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
 
Risks of Participation Notes.  The Fund may invest in participation notes. Some countries, especially emerging markets countries, do not permit foreigners to participate directly in their securities markets or otherwise present difficulties for efficient foreign investment. The Fund may use participation notes to establish a position in such markets as a substitute for direct investment. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. When the participation note matures, the issuer of the participation note will pay to, or receive from, the Fund the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument’s value at maturity. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks as are associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. In addition, participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter and are subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and the Fund would be relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and would have no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying assets. In addition, participation notes may trade at a discount to the value of the underlying securities or markets that they seek to replicate.
 
Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.  Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.


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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:
  n Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable, including A shares listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges
  n Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
  n Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
  n Certain over-the-counter options
  n Certain private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”)
  n Certain structured securities and swap transactions
  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”).
 
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s 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.
 
Securities purchased by the Fund, particularly debt securities and over-the-counter traded securities, that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, markets events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more and more complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.
 
If one or more instruments in the Fund’s portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed its 15% limitation in illiquid instruments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause the investments in illiquid instruments to exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to


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liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.
 
In cases where no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s portfolio instruments is available, the portfolio instruments will be valued at their fair value according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These cases include, among others, situations where the secondary markets on which a security has previously been traded are no longer viable for lack of liquidity. For more information on fair valuation, please see “Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?”
 
Non-Diversification and Geographic Concentration Risks.  The Fund is classified as a “nondiversified” fund under the Investment Company Act and is, therefore, more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments. In addition, the Fund is expected to invest primarily in a portfolio of equity investments in China or in issuers that participate in the markets of China. Concentration of the investments of the Fund in issuers located in a particular country or region will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were less concentrated, to losses arising from adverse developments affecting those issuers or countries.
 
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 SAI.
 
Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s, Baa or higher by Moody’s 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 the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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


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Adviser will consider which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
 
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 speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.
 
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 Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
 
Risks of IPOs.  The Fund may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company’s 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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.
 
Temporary Investment Risks.  The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total assets in:
  n U.S. Government Securities


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  n Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO
  n Certificates of deposit
  n Bankers’ acceptances
  n Repurchase agreements
  n Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year
  n Cash
  n Cash Equivalents
  n Certain ETFs

 
When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
     C.  Portfolio Securities and Techniques 
 
This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
 
The Fund may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Further information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request.
 
Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, 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 Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs.
 
The use of ETFs is intended to help the Fund match the total return of the particular market segments or indices represented by those ETFs, although that may not be the result. Most ETFs are passively-managed investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional


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fund ( i.e. , one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or a discount to their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of an ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged.
 
Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may also invest in certain other investment companies and money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above. Some of those investment companies and money market funds may be funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
 
The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies (including ETFs), in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. 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.
 
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.
 
Direct Equity Investment.  The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in direct equity investments. The Fund may invest in direct equity investments that the Investment Adviser expects will become listed or otherwise publicly traded securities. Direct equity investments consist of (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise in the form of shares of common stock or equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from a principal investor in the enterprise. Direct equity investments are generally considered to be illiquid. To the degree that the Fund invests in direct equity investments that it considers to be illiquid, it will limit such investments so that they, together with the Fund’s other


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illiquid investments, comply with the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities.
 
In most cases, the Fund will, at the time of making a direct equity investment, enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise. The Investment Adviser anticipates that these agreements may, in appropriate circumstances, provide the Fund with the ability to appoint a representative to the board of directors or similar body of the enterprise, and eventually to dispose of the Fund’s investment in the enterprise through, for example, the listing of the securities or the sale of the securities to the issuer or another investor. In cases where the Fund appoints a representative, the representative would be expected to provide the Fund with the ability to monitor its investment and protect its rights in the investment and will not be appointed for the purpose of exercising management or control of the enterprise. In addition, the Fund intends to make its direct equity investments in such a manner as to avoid subjecting the Fund to unlimited liability with respect to the investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s direct equity investments will become listed, or that it will be able to sell any direct equity investment to the issuer or another investor. The extent to which the Fund may make direct equity investments may be limited by considerations relating to its status as a regulated investment company.
 
Direct equity investments in Chinese companies may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. Because of the absence of a public trading market for these investments, the Fund may take longer to liquidate these positions than would be the case for publicly traded securities and the prices on these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Further, issuers whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to disclosure and other investor protection requirements applicable to publicly traded securities. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration. Certain of the Fund’s direct equity investments, particularly in China, may include investments in smaller, less-seasoned companies, which may involve greater risks. These companies may have limited product lines, markets of financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group.
 
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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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.
 
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 Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s performance benchmark. The Fund may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which is considered a speculative practice.
 
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).
 
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund’s 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.
 
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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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.
 
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 appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in forward currency contracts.
 
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 may issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations) as well as other non-U.S. dollar currencies. 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 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 are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may also include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the


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rate of inflation. U.S. Government Securities are deemed to include (a) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (b) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are so guaranteed. Certain of these participations may be regarded as illiquid.
 
U.S. Government Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
 
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. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.
 
Privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities generally offer a higher yield than similar securities issued by a government entity because of the absence of any direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. However, timely payment of interest and principal on mortgage loans in these pools may be supported by various


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APPENDIX A

other forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, pool and hazard insurance, subordination and letters of credit. Such insurance and guarantees may be issued by private insurers, banks and mortgage poolers. There is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers, if any, will meet their obligations. Mortgage-backed securities without insurance or guarantees may also be purchased by the Fund if they have the required rating from an NRSRO. Some mortgage-backed securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable, may be more difficult to value accurately and may be more volatile than similar securities issued by a government entity.
 
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, the 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. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing


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substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Fund to the extent it invests in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.
 
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 may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. 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 Fund’s 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. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. 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 Fund’s 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. There is no guarantee that private guarantors, or insurers of an asset-backed security, if any, will meet their obligations. The value of some asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Asset-backed securities may also be subject to increased volatility and may become illiquid and more difficult to value even when there is no default or threat of default due to the market’s perception of the credit worthiness of the issuers and market conditions impacting asset-backed securities more generally.
 
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


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emergency purposes. The Fund may not make additional investments if borrowings exceed 5% of its net assets.
 
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, securities, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. Investments in structured securities may provide exposure to certain securities or markets in situations where regulatory or other restrictions prevent direct investments in such issuers or markets.
 
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, effectively leveraging the Fund’s investment so that small changes in the value of the Reference may result in disproportionate gains or losses to the Fund. 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. Structured securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer of the structured securities may fail to perform its contractual obligations. Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.
 
Structured Securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note’s term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but


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may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 anticipate 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 Fund’s investment


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portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Fund’s 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. When writing an option, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the option contract.
 
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps 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 swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market; however, unlike a futures contract that is exchange-traded, a swap on a futures contract is an over-the-counter transaction. 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.
 
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, and enter into swaps 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 selections 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 Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund.
 
Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:
  n While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options and swaps 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, options transactions or swaps.
  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 the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.


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  n The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options and entering into swaps on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.
  n Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV.
  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 the Fund.
  n Futures contracts and options and swaps on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.
  n Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

 
The Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts and options and swaps on 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 Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations ( i.e.  the Fund’s 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.
 
Equity Swaps, Index Swaps and Currency Swaps.  The Fund may invest in equity swaps, index swaps and currency 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 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. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.


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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 a swap (such as the dividends on a common stock of an equity swap) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty defaults. Because swaps are normally illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. When entering into swap contracts, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the swap contract.
 
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 and 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 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. When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis or entering into a forward commitment, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligations.
 
Repurchase Agreements.  Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s 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.
 
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 Fund’s costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of


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bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Fund’s interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights or (“rights”). Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s 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.


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Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.


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Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised
Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
China Equity Fund
 
The Investment Adviser has other advisory accounts that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The following tables set forth the historical performance data of all accounts managed by the Investment Adviser with investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund (the “Composite Account”). The information is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Investment Adviser in managing the Composite Account as measured against the MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD), and does not represent the performance of the Fund, which has not commenced operations. Investors should not consider this performance data a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this data an indication of the future performance of Fund or of the Investment Adviser. The MSCI ® China Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) is unmanaged, and investors cannot invest directly in the index.
 
                                                                 
        Composite
      Composite
           
    Composite
  Account
  Composite
  Account
           
    Account
  Performance
  Account
  Performance
  Composite
  Composite
  MSCI ®
    Performance
  (applying
  Performance
  (applying
  Account
  Account
  China
    (applying
  Class A
  (applying
  Class C
  Performance
  Performance
  Index
    Class A
  expenses
  Class C
  expenses
  (applying
  (applying
  (net, total
    expenses
  and excluding
  expenses
  and excluding
  Institutional
  Class IR
  return,
    and sales
  sales
  and sales
  sales
  Shares
  Shares
  unhedged,
Calendar Years   charge)   charge)   charge)   charge)   expenses)   expenses)   USD)
2009
    50 .31%     59.06%     56 .91%       57 .91%       59 .67%       59 .44%       62 .29%  
                                                                 
2010
    0 .00%     5.82%     4 .03%       5 .03%       6 .24%       6 .08%       4 .63%  
                                                                 
 


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APPENDIX C

                     
    Average Annual Total Returns
    for the Periods Ended 12/31/10
        Since
   
        Inception
   
    1 Year   03/01/08 *    
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and sales charge)     0.00 %     -0.92 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and excluding sales charge)     5.82 %     1.07 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and sales charge)     4.03 %     0.31 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and excluding sales charge)     5.03 %     0.31 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Institutional Shares expenses)     6.24 %     1.48 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class IR Shares expenses)     6.08 %     1.32 %    
 
 
Index     4.63 %     -1.40 %    
 
 

 
* This table shows the performance of the Composite Account since its inception on March 1, 2008. However, the Investment Adviser also managed accounts with investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund from September 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. During this four-month period, the performance of this composite, net of the Fund’s Class A total annual operating expenses was 6.42% applying the Class A sales load and 12.62% (excluding the Class A sales load); the performance of this composite, net of the Fund’s Class C total annual operating expenses and sales charge, was 11.34% (applying the Class C sales load) and 12.34% (excluding the Class C sales load); the performance of this composite, net of the Fund’s Institutional total annual operating expenses was 12.77%; the performance of this composite, net of the Fund’s Class IR total annual operating expenses was 12.71%; and the performance of the Index was 15.56%.
 
All returns presented are time-weighted based on monthly valuations and include the reinvestment of earnings. The performance information with respect to the Composite Account is in each instance net of applicable estimated total annual operating expenses of the Fund’s Class A. Class C, Institutional or Class IR Shares (rather than the actual expenses of the accounts comprising the Composite Account), without provision for federal and state taxes, if any. Where indicated, performance reflects the deduction of the maximum 5.5% front-end sales charge with respect to Class A Shares and the maximum 1% CDSC with respect to Class C Shares (the Fund’s Institutional and Class IR Shares impose no sales charges). Since fees, commissions, and taxes will differ for the Composite Account and the Fund, performance data for identical periods may differ going forward.
 
The Composite Account is not subject to the same diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on Fund by the Investment Company Act and Subchapter M of the Code. Consequently, the performance results of the Investment Adviser’s Composite Account could have

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been adversely affected if the Composite Account had been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the Composite Account for the periods shown above. Accordingly, the future performance of the Fund will differ from the performance of the Composite Account.


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China Equity Fund Prospectus
 
     FOR MORE INFORMATION 
 
Annual/Semi-annual Report
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.
 
Statement of Additional Information
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
 
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI 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 SAI at the Fund’s website: http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com/summaries.
 
From time to time, certain announcements and other information regarding the Fund may be found at http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/individuals for individual investors, http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/institutions for institutional investors or http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/advisors for advisors.
 
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
 
         
   
Institutional
 
Class A, C & IR
      n  By telephone:
  1-800-621-2550   1-800-526-7384
      n  By mail:
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 219711
Kansas City, MO 64121
      n  On the Internet:
  SEC EDGAR database – http://www.sec.gov
 
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents (including the SAI) by visiting the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 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) 551-8090.
 
The Fund’s investment company registration number is 811-5349.
GSAM ® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     
CHINAPRO11
  (GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)


Table of Contents

         
 Prospectus

 


April 29, 2011
GOLDMAN SACHS SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
(GRAPHIC)        
       
  n   Goldman Sachs
India Equity Fund
n  Class A Shares: GIAAX
n  Class C Shares: GIACX
n  Institutional Shares: GNAIX
n  Class IR Shares: GAIRX

     
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.   (GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
 
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE FUND.
     


Table of Contents

 
Table of Contents
 
         
1
  Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund – Summary
     
9
  Investment Management Approach
     
15
  Risks of the Fund
     
23
  Service Providers
     
28
  Dividends
     
29   Shareholder Guide
    29   How To Buy Shares
    43   How To Sell Shares
     
56
  Taxation
     
59
  Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques
     
85
  Appendix B
Financial Highlights
     
86
  Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
 
 
             
NOT FDIC-INSURED     May Lose Value     No Bank Guarantee
             


Table of Contents

(GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund—Summary
 
Investment Objective
 
The Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
 
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares” beginning on page 36 of this Prospectus and “Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends” beginning on page B-83 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
                               
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
    5.5 %     No ne     No ne     No ne
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) 1
    No ne     1.0 %     No ne     No ne
                                 
                                 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
                               
Management Fees
    1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
    0.25 %     1.00 %     No ne     No ne
Other Expenses 2
    0.87 %     0.87 %     0.72 %     0.87 %
Acquired Fund (Subsidiary) Fees and Expenses 3
    1.00 %     1.00 %     1.00 %     1.00 %
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
    3.22 %     3.97 %     2.82 %     2.97 %
Expense Limitation 4
    (1.32 )%     (1.32 )%     (1.32 )%     (1.32 )%
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Limitation 4
    1.90 %     2.65 %     1.50 %     1.65 %
                                 
 
1 A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
2 The Fund’s “Other Expenses” have been estimated to reflect expenses expected to be incurred during the first fiscal year.
3 Acquired Fund (Subsidiary) Fees and Expenses reflect the expenses borne by the Fund as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary (as defined below). The Subsidiary pays certain other expenses,


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including service and custody fees. The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit the Subsidiary’s expenses to 0.004% of the Subsidiary’s average daily net assets.
4 The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
 
Expense Example
 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
                 
    1 Year   3 Years
Class A Shares
  $ 732     $ 1,371  
                 
Class C Shares
               
– Assuming complete redemption at end of period
  $ 368     $ 1,090  
– Assuming no redemption
  $ 268     $ 1,090  
                 
Institutional Shares
  $ 153     $ 749  
                 
Class IR Shares
  $ 168     $ 795  
                 
 
Portfolio Turnover
 
The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments ( i.e. , “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but will be reflected in the Fund’s performance.
 
Principal Strategy
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of investment) (“Net Assets”) in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to India or in issuers that participate in the markets of India. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to India if the investment is included in an


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index representative of India, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of India.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of India if the issuer:
n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in India;
n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in, India;
n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in India; or
n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in India.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund will gain exposure to the investments described above primarily through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized as a company under the laws of the Republic of Mauritius (the “Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary is advised by the Investment Adviser, and has the same investment objective and strategies as the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics, to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in investments in developed countries and emerging countries other than India, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.


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THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (“INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT”), AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
Principal Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. 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.
 
Currency Risk.  Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk.  Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). In addition to the risks inherent in the underlying securities represented by the Depositary Receipts, in some situations there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. Also, a 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.
 
Derivatives Risk.  Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be illiquid, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
 
Emerging Countries Risk.  The securities markets of 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 as the securities markets of more developed countries.
 
Foreign Risk.  Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability in these countries. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody.


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India Risk.  Investing in India may involve a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to India may subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were not made in India, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic or environmental events and natural disasters which may occur in India. Securities laws in India are relatively new and unsettled and, consequently, there is a risk of rapid and unpredictable change in laws regarding foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and shareholder rights. Global factors and foreign actions may inhibit the flow of foreign capital on which India is dependent to sustain its growth. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of India may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, dependence on exports and international trade, competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies, political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
 
India’s economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for half of India’s output with less than one quarter of its labor force. About two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others express concern about the combined state and federal budget deficit.
 
Industry Concentration Risk.  The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
 
Liquidity Risk.  The Fund may make investments that may be illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
 
Market Risk.  The value of the instruments 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.
 
Mid-Cap and Small Cap Risk.  The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic


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price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.
 
NAV Risk.  The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
 
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified and is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” mutual fund. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
 
Participation Notes Risk.  Participation notes are designed to replicate the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market they seek to replicate. The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must instead rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
 
Stock Risk.  Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
 
Subsidiary Risk.  By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The Subsidiary will invest only in instruments in which the Fund is permitted to invest directly and will be subject to the risks that are described in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the Subsidiary’s investment objective will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”), and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the Investment Company Act. Changes in the laws or policies of the United States, India and/or the Republic of Mauritius could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary are not protected by any statutory compensation arrangements in the Republic of Mauritius in the event of the Subsidiary’s failure. The Mauritius Financial Services Commission does not vouch for the financial soundness of the Subsidiary or for the correctness of any statements made or opinions expressed with regard to it.
 
Tax Risk.  The Fund may invest in the Subsidiary and will seek to obtain benefits from favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to a tax treaty between India and the Republic of Mauritius. The Supreme Court of India has upheld the validity of a tax treaty with respect to entities such as the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that any future challenge will result in a favorable outcome, or that the terms of a treaty will not be subject to re-negotiation or a different interpretation, or that the Subsidiary’s favorable tax treatment will continue. Any change in the provisions of a tax treaty or in its applicability to the Subsidiary could result in the imposition of


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withholding and other taxes on the Subsidiary by India, which would reduce the return to the Fund on its investments. Certain shareholders, including some non-U.S. shareholders, are not entitled to the benefit of a deduction or credit with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund, which the Fund intends to elect to pass through to its shareholders.
 
Performance
 
As the Fund had not yet commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus, there is no performance information quoted for the Fund.
 
Portfolio Management
 
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAMI”).
 
Portfolio Managers:  Rick Loo, CFA Executive Director, Portfolio Manager—Singapore, has managed the Fund since 2011.
 
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
 
The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $10,000,000 for individual investors and $1,000,000 alone or in combination with other assets under the management of GSAMI and its affiliates for certain other types of investors. There may be no minimum for initial purchases of Institutional Shares for certain retirement accounts or for initial purchases of Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional or Class IR shareholders.
 
You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions (“Authorized Institutions”).
 
Please note that you cannot invest in the Fund if you are resident in India under the provisions of The Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal.


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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase the Fund through an Authorized Institution, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Authorized Institution for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Authorized Institution and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Authorized Institution website for more information.


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Investment Management Approach
 
     INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
 
The Fund seeks long term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days notice.
 
     PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 
 
The Fund invests under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to Indian issuers or in issuers that participate in the markets of India. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to India if the investment is included in an index representative of India, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of India.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of India if the issuer:
  n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in India;
  n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in, India;
  n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made, or services provided in India; or
  n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in India.
 
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 Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund will gain exposure to the investments described above primarily through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund organized as a company under the laws of the


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Republic of Mauritius (the “Subsidiary”). The Subsidiary is advised by the Investment Adviser, and has the same investment objective and strategies as the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics, to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in developed country investments and other emerging country investments, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
The Fund’s benchmark index is the MSCI ® India IMI Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD). The MSCI © India IMI Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) offers a representation of the India market by targeting all companies with a market capitalization within the top 99% of their investable equity universe, subject to a global minimum size requirement. The MSCI ® India IMI Index (net, total return, unhedged, USD) does not reflect any deductions of expenses associated with mutual funds such as management fees and other expenses.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT, AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a certain percentage of its total assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), commercial paper rated at


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or having a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements, non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year, cash, cash equivalents and certain ETFs. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
GSAMI’s India Equity Investment Philosophy:
 
         
    Belief   How the Investment Adviser Acts on This Belief
n
  Excess returns can be generated by conducting thorough fundamental research and individual stock selection   Seeks to generate excess returns through an intensive research culture and a strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources around the world.
n
  A team-based approach enriches debate and enhances the quality of investment decisions   Conducts proprietary stock level research in a team-orientated regional structure with frequent, open communication and frontline decision-making.
n
  Focused and differentiated portfolios provide the greatest potential to generate excess returns   Builds portfolios that are reflective of the team’s best investment ideas so that the majority of excess returns are driven by stock selection.
         
 
GSAMI India Equity team’s investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that we can achieve a competitive edge through selecting stocks with local expertise while being opportunistic investors. We seek to discover a broad range of investment ideas while being flexible, nimble, contrarian and avoiding complacency. We believe a company’s prospective ability to generate high returns on invested capital will strongly influence investment success. In our view, using a strong valuation discipline to purchase well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams is the best formula for long-term portfolio performance.


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    The Investment Adviser attempts to manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. Proprietary, stock level research is the key driver of the investment process and the Investment Adviser seeks to generate the majority of excess returns through stock selection.
     
     

 
References in this Prospectus to the Fund’s benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted, are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.
 
     OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES 
 
The tables on the following pages identify 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 the tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s 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 fifteen 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 Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

 
     
10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  India
       limited only by the objectives and strategies
  Equity
       of the Fund
  Fund
Investment Practices
   
     
Borrowings
  33 1 / 3
     
Cross Hedging of Currencies
 
     
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
 
     
Direct Equity Investments *
  5
     
Equity, Index and Currency Swaps and Options on Such Swaps *
 
     
Foreign Currency Transactions
 
     
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures)
 
     
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)
 
     
Investment Company Securities (including exchange-traded funds) **
  10
     
Options on Foreign Currencies 1
 
     
Options on Securities and Securities Indices 2
 
     
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
 
     
Repurchase Agreements
 
     
Unseasoned Companies
 
     
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
 
     
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
** This percentage limitation does not apply to the Fund’s investments in investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the terms of an SEC exemptive order or SEC exemptive rule.
1 The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.
2 The Fund may sell covered call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices in which it may invest.


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10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  India
       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 1
 
     
Bank Obligations 1,2
 
     
Convertible Securities
 
     
Corporate Debt Obligations 1
 
     
Emerging Country Securities
 
     
Equity Investments
   80+
     
Fixed Income Securities 4
  20
     
Foreign Government Securities 1
 
     
Foreign Securities
 
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities 1,3
 
     
Participation Notes
 
     
Real Estate Investment Trusts
 
     
Structured Securities (which may include equity linked notes) *
 
     
Subsidiary Shares
 
     
Temporary Investments
  100
     
U.S. Government Securities 1
 
     
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
1 Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.
2 Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
3 May be BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Ba or lower by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
4 The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (i) fixed income securities of private and government Indian issuers; and (ii) equity and fixed income investments in non-Indian issuers.


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Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of the Fund are discussed in the Summary section of this Prospectus. The following gives additional information on the 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.
 
     
    India
ü   Principal risk
  Equity
•      Additional risk   Fund
Credit/Default
 
     
Currency
  ü
     
Depositary Receipts
  ü
     
Derivatives
  ü
     
Emerging Countries
  ü
     
Foreign
  ü
     
Foreign Custody
 
     
India
  ü
     
Industry Concentration
  ü
     
Interest Rate
 
     
Investment Style
 
     
IPO
 
     
Liquidity
  ü
     
Management
 
     
Market
  ü
     
Mid Cap and Small Cap
  ü
     
Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
  ü
     
Non-Diversification
  ü
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities
 
     
Participation Notes
  ü
     
Stock
  ü
     
Subsidiary
  ü
     
Tax
  ü
     


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n Credit/Default Risk —An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities held by the Fund (which may have low credit ratings) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
 
The credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio securities may meet the Fund’s credit quality requirements at the time of purchase but then deteriorate thereafter, and such a deterioration can occur rapidly. In certain instances, the downgrading or default of a single holding or guarantor of the Fund’s holding may impair the Fund’s liquidity and have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration.
n Currency Risk —Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general economic conditions of a country, the actions of the U.S. and non-U.S. governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of U.S. dollars. If the Fund does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as a result. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be available.
n Depositary Receipts Risk —Foreign securities may trade in the form of Depositary Receipts. To the extent the 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.
n Derivatives Risk —Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also


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subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
n Emerging Countries Risk —The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market capitalizations, have more or less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements 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 Foreign Risk —When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may 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 or from problems in security registration or settlement and custody. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging countries.
n Foreign Custody Risk —The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund’s custodian (each a “Foreign Custodian”). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business, or may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in India and other emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.
n India Risk —Investing in India involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or securities markets. Concentration of the investments of the Fund in issuers located in India 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, economic or environmental events and natural disasters which may occur in India. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of India may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, dependence on exports and international trade, competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economics political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that


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are contrary to the interests of the U.S. Securities laws in India are relatively new and unsettled and, consequently, there is a risk of rapid and unpredictable change in laws regarding foreign investment, securities regulation, title to securities and shareholder rights. Global factors and foreign actions may inhibit the flow of foreign capital on which India is dependent to sustain its growth.

 
Investments in India are subject to risks of: greater political, economic and social uncertainty; greater price volatility and less liquidity; less publicly available company disclosure; difficulty in enforcing judgments; restrictions on foreign investment and expropriation of capital; exchange control regulations; currency exchange rate fluctuations; and higher rates of inflation. Regulations in India prescribe rules for the transfer of Indian securities between foreign, domestic, Indian and non-Indian security holders. Such transfers may require the approval of either the Indian government or the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”). Foreign institutional investors (“FII”) are required to register with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”) is a registered FII and the inclusion of the Fund in GSAM’s registration was approved by SEBI. FIIs are required to observe certain investment restrictions, including an account ownership ceiling of 5% of the total issued share capital of any one company. The shareholdings of all registered FIIs, together with the shareholdings of non-resident Indian individuals and foreign corporate bodies substantially owned by non-resident Indians, may not exceed a specified percentage of the issued share capital of any one company (subject to that company’s approval).
 
Only registered FIIs and non-Indian mutual funds that comply with certain statutory conditions may make direct portfolio investments in exchange-traded Indian securities. Income, gains and initial capital with respect to such investments are freely repatriable, subject to payment of applicable Indian taxes. A tax is currently imposed on gains from sales of equities held not more than one year and sold on a recognized stock exchange in India. Gains from sales of equity securities in other cases may also be taxed. Securities transaction tax applies for specified transactions at specified rates. India imposes a tax on interest and on dividends. India’s economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for half of India’s output with less than one quarter of its labor force. About two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others express concern about the combined state and federal budget deficit.
n Industry Concentration Risk —The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of


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RISKS OF THE FUND

investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.

n Interest Rate Risk —When interest rates increase, fixed income securities held by the Fund may 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 Investment Style Risk —Different investment styles ( e.g. , “growth,” “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund intends to employ a blend of growth and value investment styles depending on market conditions, either of which may fall out of favor from time to time. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.
n IPO Risk —The market value of IPO shares may 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.
n Liquidity Risk —The Fund may invest to a greater degree in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that may be less liquid than other investments. Also, the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.
 
Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other reasons. The Fund reserves the right to meet redemption requests through in-kind distributions. While the Fund may pay redemptions in-kind in the future, the Fund may instead choose to raise cash to meet redemption requests through sales of portfolio


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securities or permissible borrowings. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.
 
Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund’s liquidity risk and may impact the Fund’s NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, fund-of-funds, discretionary advisory clients, and other shareholders whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.
 
Because the Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities, small and mid- capitalization stocks, REITs and emerging country issuers, it will be especially subject to the risk that during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category, 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.
n Management Risk —A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
n Market Risk —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 Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.
n Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk —The securities of mid-capitalization and 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 the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization 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 Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
n NAV Risk —The NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
n Non-Diversification Risk —The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that the Fund is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting


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any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
n Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk —The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) that are considered speculative. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate or municipal developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.
n Participation Notes Risk— The Fund will use Participation notes to gain exposure to certain markets it cannot invest directly in. Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency, or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency, or market that they seek to replicate. The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
n Stock Risk —Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
n Subsidiary Risk —By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The Subsidiary will invest only in instruments in which the Fund is permitted to invest directly and will be subject to the risks that are described in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the Investment Company Act. Changes in the laws or policies of the United States, India and/or the Republic of Mauritius could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this Prospectus and the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund.

 
The Fund’s investments in the Subsidiary are not protected by any statutory compensation arrangements in the Republic of Mauritius in the event of the Subsidiary’s failure. The Mauritius Financial Services Commission does not vouch for the financial soundness of the Subsidiary or for the correctness of any statements made or opinions expressed with regard to it.
n Tax Risk —The Fund may invest in the Subsidiary and will seek to obtain benefits from favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to a treaty between India and the Republic of Mauritius. The Supreme Court of India has upheld the


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validity of a treaty in response to a challenge in a lower court contesting its applicability to entities such as the Fund; however, there can be no assurance that any future challenge will result in a favorable outcome. There can be no assurance that the terms of a treaty will not be subject to re-negotiation in the future or subject to a different interpretation or that the Subsidiary will continue to be eligible for favorable tax treatment. Moreover, tax rates currently applicable to entities in the Republic of Mauritius may be modified in the future and benefits from a tax treaty between the Republic of Mauritius and India may not be available. Any change in the provisions of a treaty or in its applicability to the Subsidiary could result in the imposition of withholding and other taxes on the Subsidiary by India, which would reduce the return to the Fund on its investments. The Fund intends to elect to “pass-through” to the Fund’s shareholders as a deduction or credit the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The taxes passed through to shareholders are included in each shareholder’s income. Certain shareholders, including some non-U.S. shareholders, are not entitled to the benefit of a deduction or credit with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Other foreign taxes, such as transfer taxes, may be imposed on the Fund, but would not give rise to a credit, or be eligible to be passed through to shareholders.

 
More information about the Fund’s 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.


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Service Providers
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISER 
 
     
Investment Adviser   Fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
  India Equity
     
 
GSAMI, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a registered investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”). As of December 31, 2010, GSAM, including its investment advisory affiliates, one of which is GSAMI, had assets under management of $717.1 billion.
 
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s 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


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     MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSE INFORMATION 
 
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 Fund’s average daily net assets) listed below:
 
                   
    Contractual
   
    Management Fee
  Average Daily
Fund   Annual Rate   Net Assets
India Equity
    1 .10%       First $1 Billion  
      0 .99%       Next $1 Billion  
      0 .94%       Next $3 Billion  
      0 .92%       Next $3 Billion  
      0 .90%       Over $8 Billion  
                   
 
The Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.
 
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreement for the Funds will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the period ended April 30, 2011.
 
The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. This expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so.
 
     FUND MANAGERS 
 
India Equity Portfolio Management Team
 
  n Our investment philosophy is reflected in our intensive research culture and our strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources. Our research team comprises 7 investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, organized into regional teams and based on the ground in Singapore and Mumbai. These professionals provide research, monitor portfolio positions,


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

  and give portfolio construction advice. However, GSAMI is ultimately responsible for the investment decisions in the portfolio.
  n We believe our on-the-ground research presence better positions our research analysts to generate strong and compelling investment ideas through a keener understanding of local customs, greater and more frequent access to corporate managements, and immediate access to local capital markets and news flow.
  n The Portfolio Manager is responsible for leading and working closely with the research analysts to foster discussion, debate and analysis of investment ideas. This first-hand intensive research effort is captured in our portfolios through a disciplined investment process which results in highly focused portfolios comprising our most compelling individual stock ideas.
  n For information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund, see the SAI.

 
             
        Years
   
        Primarily
   
Name and Title   Fund Responsibility   Responsible   Five Year Employment History
Rick Loo—
Executive Director, Portfolio Manager—Singapore
  Portfolio Manager—India Equity   Since
2011
  Mr. Loo is a Portfolio Manager for GSAM’s Asia ex Japan strategy and is based in Singapore. Mr. Loo has primary research responsibility for the ASEAN markets. Mr. Loo joined GSAM in February 2009 from Goldman Sachs’ Global Investment Research Division where he had been Director of Research for ASEAN markets since 2004.
             
 
     DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT 
 
Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the “Distributor”) of the Fund’s shares. Goldman Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
 
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 the Institutional Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C and Class IR Shares.
 
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for their own accounts.


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     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 Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, advisor, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments for its own account or for the accounts of its customers and has other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets and the securities and issuers in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. 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. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds. The Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and Goldman Sachs would still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in 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 information regarding their 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 Fund’s 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 Goldman Sachs or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

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, individually or in the aggregate, 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 Fund’s 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 effect 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 or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the SAI.
 
The Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund’s portfolio investment transactions, in accordance with applicable law.


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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 same Fund
  n Shares of the same class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.
 
You may indicate your election on your Account Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone in some instances to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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 Fund. If cash dividends are elected with respect to the Fund’s annual dividends from net investment income, then cash dividends must also be elected with respect to the short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund’s annual dividend.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
Distributions from net investment income and net capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund.
 
From time to time a portion of the Fund’s dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes, and/or may include amounts in excess of the Fund’s 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.


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Shareholder Guide
 
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying and selling the Fund’s shares.
 
     HOW TO BUY SHARES 
 
Shares Offering
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through the Distributor. In addition, certain Authorized Institutions (including certain banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Fund, purchase and exchange orders and redemption requests placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders. Please note that you cannot invest in the Fund if you are resident in India under the provisions of The Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
 
The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase shares and reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part.
 
How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?
You may purchase shares of the Fund through certain Authorized Institutions. In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to your Authorized Institution the information in the Account Application.
 
Note: Authorized Institutions may receive different compensation for selling different class 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss which share class option is right for you.
 
To open an account, contact your Authorized Institution. For an investment in Institutional Shares only, you may also contact the Fund directly. See the back cover of this Prospectus for contact information.
 
Customers of certain Authorized Institutions will normally give their purchase instructions to the Authorized Institution, and the Authorized Institution will, in turn, place purchase orders with Goldman Sachs. Authorized Institutions will set times by which purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their customers.


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For purchases by check, the Fund will not accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third party checks, temporary checks, or cash or cash equivalents; e.g. , cashier’s checks, official bank checks, money orders, travelers cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept cashier’s checks or official bank checks.
 
Class IR Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Class IR Shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (the “Retirement Plans”). Class IR Shares are also generally available only to Retirement Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund. Class IR Shares may also be sold to accounts established under fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is approved by Goldman Sachs (“Eligible Fee-Based Program”). Class IR Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and individual 403(b) plans; except that Class IR Shares are available to such accounts to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
Retirement Plans generally may open an account and purchase Class IR Shares through Authorized Institutions, financial planners, Retirement Plan administrators and other financial intermediaries. Class IR Shares may not be available through certain Authorized Institutions. Additional shares may be purchased through a Retirement Plan’s administrator or record-keeper.
 
What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
For each of your accounts investing in Class A or Class C Shares, the following investment minimums must be met:
 
                 
    Initial   Additional *
Regular Accounts
    $1,000       $50  
                 
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
    No Minimum       No Minimum  
                 
Uniform Gift/Transfer to Minors Accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
    $250       $50  
                 
Individual Retirement Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
    $250       $50  
                 
Automatic Investment Plan Accounts
    $250       $50  
                 
 
* 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). A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.


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For Institutional Shares the following minimum investments apply:
 
     
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    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    Corporations with less than $100 million in assets or in outstanding publicly traded securities
   
     
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
  No minimum
     
 
No minimum amount is required for initial purchases in Class IR Shares or additional investments in Institutional or Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum investment requirement for Class A, Class C and Institutional Shares may be waived for current and former officers, partners, directors or employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; any Trustee or officer of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”); brokerage or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and accounts for which The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. acts in a fiduciary capacity ( i.e. , as agent or trustee); certain mutual fund “wrap” programs at the discretion of the Trust’s officers; and for other investors at the


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discretion of the Trust’s officers. No minimum amount is required for additional investments in such accounts.
 
What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized Institution?
If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account ( i.e. , accounts maintained and serviced by your Authorized Institution), all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by your Authorized Institution, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your Authorized Institution to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another Authorized Institution involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your Authorized Institution. If your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
Certain Authorized Institutions 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 financial 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 Institution or other financial intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after such acceptance.
  n Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within the time period agreed upon by them.
 
You should contact your Authorized Institution or another financial intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
 
Authorized Institutions that invest in shares on behalf of their customers may charge fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact your Authorized Institution for information regarding such charges, as such fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.


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The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) 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 Adviser’s, Distributor’s 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 the Fund’s inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs 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 payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Intermediaries for sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative and/or shareholder processing services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports and economic analysis, and portfolio analysis tools. In certain cases, the Intermediary may not pay for these services. Please refer to the “Payments to Intermediaries” section of the SAI for more information about these payments and services.
 
The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by an Intermediary may differ for different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments, receipt of these services 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 Institution or Intermediary for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.


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What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Refuse to open an account or require an Authorized Institution to 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 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 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 Fund’s Investment Adviser.
  n Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.
  n Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
  n Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.
 
Generally, non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may not open an account with the Fund.
 
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations and if approved by the Fund’s Investment Adviser.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.
 
Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law.
 
Customer Identification Program.  Federal law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which will be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, 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 information, for each investor who opens an account directly with the Fund. Applications without the required information may not be accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by


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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 investor’s shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor’s identity or obtain all required information. The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or any tax liability resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares pursuant to the customer identification program.
 
How Are Shares Priced?
The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted for any applicable sales charge) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charges ( e.g. , CDSCs) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. Each class calculates its NAV as follows:
 
     
NAV =
  (Value of Assets of the Class)
– (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
 
The Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments may be determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. These procedures also apply to the Subsidiary.
 
“Fair value” prices are provided by an independent fair value service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of 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 price for a particular security, or if the price provided does not meet the established criteria for the Fund, the Fund will price that security at the most recent closing price for that security on its principal exchange.
 
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) 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


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determining the Fund’s 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 U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or market closings; equipment failures; natural or man made disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; 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, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; low trading volume; and trading limits or suspensions.
 
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.
 
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).
 
Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:
  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 times 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 The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a 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 the Fund’s NAV on the business day following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally does not, but may, result in a


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NAV that differs materially from the NAV 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 its regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange does not open for business, 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 this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of this Prospectus.
 
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO 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 Institutions for Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:
 
                         
        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 **     ***  
                         
 
* Dealer’s allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be allowed to Authorized Institutions. Authorized Institutions 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.


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*** The Distributor may pay a one-time commission to Authorized Institutions 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 Institution (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 Institutions 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, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Institutions will remit to the Distributor such payments received in connection with “wrap” accounts in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months.

 
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 this Prospectus due to rounding calculations.
 
As indicated in the preceding 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, your Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s 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 Authorized Institution or other 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 Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary; and
 
  (iii)  Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as members of the same family or household.
 
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 beginning of the month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC of 1% may be


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imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your Authorized Institution agrees 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 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 Institution 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;
  n Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans 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 These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Trust’s officers;
  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 Fund available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity contracts;


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  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 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 SAI.

 
You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your Account Application and notify your Authorized Institution and the Fund if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
 
The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your entitlement by your Authorized Institution. You may be charged a fee by your Authorized Institution.
 
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. If the Fund’s Transfer Agent is properly notified, the “Amount of Purchase” in the chart in the section “What Is The Offering Price of Class A Shares?” will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were held at the time of purchase by any of the following persons: (i) you, your spouse, your parents 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. For purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing client of


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  Goldman Sachs Private 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 Private 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 certain 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 Institution must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. If you do not notify your Authorized Institution at the time of your current purchase or a future purchase that you qualify for a quantity discount, you may not receive the benefit of a reduced sales charge that might otherwise apply. Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.

 
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 SAI. For purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase,” all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares currently held will be valued at their current market value.
  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. 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 if the Statement of Intention is not met. You must, however, inform the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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. The SAI has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.


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     A COMMON QUESTION APPLICABLE TO 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 Distributor’s 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 Institutions. A commission equal to 1% of the amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to Authorized Institutions.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A  
     AND C SHARES
 
 
What Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A 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 A or Class C Shares was made, all purchases 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.
  n Information about sales charges and sale charge waivers is available on the Fund’s website at www.goldmansachsfunds.com.


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In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?
The CDSC on Class A and Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced if the redemption relates to:
  n Mandatory retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
  n Hardship withdrawals by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
  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 an IRA in the same share class of a Goldman Sachs Fund;
  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 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 Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;
  n A systematic withdrawal plan. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares;
  n Redemptions or exchanges of Fund shares held through an Employee Benefit Plan using the Fund as part of a qualified default investment alternative or “QDIA;” or
  n Other redemptions, at the discretion of the Trust’s officers, relating to shares purchased through Employee Benefit Plans.
 
     HOW TO SELL SHARES 
 
How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares through your Authorized Institution. 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. Certain Authorized Institutions are authorized to accept redemption


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requests on behalf of the Fund as described under “HOW TO BUY SHARES—Shares Offering.” The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with your Authorized Institution. In the alternative, your Authorized Institution may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent). Redemptions may be requested by your Authorized Institution in writing, by telephone or through an electronic trading platform.
 
Generally, 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 to verify instructions.
 
When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if:
  n A request is made in writing to redeem Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares in an amount over $50,000 via check;
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not your bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.
 
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 or tax liability 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 owner’s registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Authorized Institutions may submit redemption requests by telephone. 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 Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“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


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be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
  n Telephone requests are recorded.
  n Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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 authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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. 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 without prior notice.
  n The Fund may redeem via check up to $50,000 in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares via telephone.
 
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.
 
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
By Wire:  You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with your Authorized Institution or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with your Authorized Institution. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
  n 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.
  n Although redemption proceeds will normally be paid as described above, under certain circumstances, redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as permitted under 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 Fund’s


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  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 or purchased by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH 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 until the Federal Reserve Bank reopens.
  n To change the bank designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.
  n Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any other financial intermediary in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such financial intermediaries.

 
By Check:  A shareholder 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 you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or ACH, the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
 
What 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 Authorized Institutions 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 Authorized Institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. These Authorized Institutions may also require additional documentation from you.
 
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution with a relationship with Goldman Sachs or in the event that the Fund is no longer an option in your Retirement Plan or no longer available through your Eligible Fee-Based Program.
  n Redeem your shares if your account balance is below the required Fund minimum. The Fund will not redeem your shares on this basis if the value of


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  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 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. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks.
  n Charge an additional fee in the event a redemption is made via wire transfer.

 
None of the Trust, Investment Adviser nor Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
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 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.
  n You should obtain and read the applicable prospectuses before investing in any other Goldman Sachs 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 of another Goldman Sachs Fund 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.
  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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Can I Exchange My Investment From One Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?
You may exchange shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC, if applicable, at the time of exchange for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) of certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses that are held for 30 (or in some cases 60) days or less may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as described in those prospectuses. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice. You should contact your Authorized Institution to arrange for exchanges of shares of the Fund for shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.
 
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. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.
  n Currently, the Fund does not impose any 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. 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.
  n Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information, contact your Authorized Institution.
  n All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. 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 unusual economic or market conditions.


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  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 or certain share classes of 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. Exchanges within Retirement Plan accounts will not result in capital gains or loss for federal or state income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
 
     SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
 
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?
You may be able to make automatic investments in Class A and Class C Shares through your bank via ACH transfer or bank draft each month. The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the initial investment and $50 per month for additional investments. Forms for this option are available from Goldman Sachs online at www.goldmansachsfunds.com and from your Authorized Institution, or you may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
 
Can My Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs 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.
  n You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which dividends are invested.


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Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?
You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of Class A or Class C 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 You may elect to exchange into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.
  n Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Goldman Sachs 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 15 th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
  n Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
  n You cannot make automatic exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which automatic exchanges are made.
 
Can I Have Systematic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
You may redeem from your Class A or Class C Share 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 or Class C Shares because of the sales changes that are imposed on certain purchases of Class A Shares and because of the CDSCs that are imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares.
  n Checks are normally mailed within two business days after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the 15 th or 25 th of the month. ACH payments may take up to three business days to post to your account after your selected systematic withdrawal date between, and including, the 3 rd and 26 th of the month.
  n Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore may be a taxable transaction.
  n The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% each of the value of Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A shares.


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What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?
Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition, Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for providing to you any communication from the Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not described in this Prospectus to their customers for such services.
 
You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement if you invest in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares and a monthly account statement if you invest in Institutional. If your account is held in “street name” ( i.e. , through your Authorized Institution), you will receive this information from your Authorized Institution.
 
You will also receive an annual shareholder report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual shareholder report. The Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included with those of the Fund on a consolidated basis. 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 at the appropriate phone number or address found on the back cover of this Prospectus. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation. If your account is held through an Authorized Institution, please contact the Authorized Institution to revoke your consent.
 
The types of reports Class IR Shareholders will receive depends on the related arrangements in effect with respect to such shareholders’ Retirement Plan or Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
     DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES 
 
What Are The Different Distribution And/or Service Fees Paid By The Fund’s Shares?
The Trust has adopted distribution and service plans (each a “Plan”) under which Class A and Class C Shares bear distribution and/or service fees paid to Goldman Sachs, some of which Goldman Sachs may pay to Authorized Institutions. These financial intermediaries seek distribution and/or servicing fee revenues to, among other things, offset the cost of servicing small and medium sized plan investors and providing information about the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from


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these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally receives and 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% and 0.75% respectively, of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class A and Class C Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s 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 Institutions, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales representatives;
  n Commissions paid to Authorized Institutions;
  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 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 Institutions after the shares have been held for one year. Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the annual 0.25% distribution fee for the Class A Shares as on ongoing commission to Authorized Institutions immediately. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution fee on a quarterly basis.
 
     CLASS C PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES 
 
Under the Class C Plan, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class C Shares. This fee is for personal and account maintenance services, and may be used to make payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Institutions 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


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fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement.
 
Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing service fee to Authorized Institutions 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 Trust’s (or Goldman Sachs’) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s 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 those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
 
To deter excessive shareholder trading, certain other Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses impose a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 days of purchase (60 days of purchase with respect to certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses) subject to certain exceptions. 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 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


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excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of “round trip” transactions in a shareholder’s account. A “round trip” includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.
 
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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs 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 ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these financial intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund’s market timing policies or any applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund’s ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder information requested as part of the Fund’s surveillance process. 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


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identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain of the financial intermediary’s customers. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by financial intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If a financial intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust’s excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.


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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 SAI. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund. Except as otherwise noted, the tax information provided assumes that you are a U.S. citizen or resident.
 
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.
 
     DISTRIBUTIONS 
 
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, the Fund’s distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income, while any distributions of 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 Code, the maximum long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%. 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 of 15%, as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate shareholder must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund’s distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate.
 
A sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate will increase to 20% and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will end after 2012.
 
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


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are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate. It is not anticipated that any significant percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid will be eligible for 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. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income. Rather than deducting these foreign taxes, the Fund may make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would generally allow you either, subject to applicable limitations, (i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against your 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.”
 
     SALES AND EXCHANGES 
 
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 capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds one year, 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 long-term 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. Exchanges within an IRA or other tax-advantaged account will not result in capital gain or loss for federal or state income tax purposes.


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     OTHER INFORMATION 
 
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% (currently scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012) 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. However, withholding is generally not required on properly reported distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains and, for distributions before November 1, 2012, of short-term capital gains and qualified interest income. Although this report will be made for short-term capital gain distributions, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income reports. 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 SAI.


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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
 
     A.  General Portfolio Risks 
 
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 American, European, and Global Depositary Receipts, shares of ETFs and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as participation notes, swaps, options 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. To the extent the Fund’s net assets decrease or increase in the future due to price volatility or share redemption or purchase activity, the Fund’s expense ratio may correspondingly increase or decrease from the expense ratio disclosed in this Prospectus.
 
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/default 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/default 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


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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 investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.
 
The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of equivalent quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.
 
The Investment Adviser will not consider 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 Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less.
 
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 SAI, which is available upon request. Among other things, the SAI 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 Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.
 
     B.  Other Portfolio Risks 
 
Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.  The Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid and 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. Mid- and small-


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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 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. Mid and 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. Mid- and 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 managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
 
Risks of Foreign Investments.  The Fund will 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.
 
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


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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.
 
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. 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.
 
Concentration of the Fund’s assets in one or a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Fund’s assets were not geographically concentrated.
 
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 Fund’s NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
 
A sovereign debtor’s 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 debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
 
Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, GDRs, EDRs or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign


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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.
 
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 Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging 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.
 
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 issuer’s 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.
 
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,


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exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
 
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 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 occur in other countries.
 
The Fund’s investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.
 
Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve the Fund’s 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 Fund’s inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United


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States, Japan and most Western European countries). The Fund’s 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 value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.
 
The Fund’s use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by these techniques.
 
Risks Specific to India.  In addition to the risks listed above, investing in India presents additional risks. India is an emerging market and as such investments in India have significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to more developed markets. India, like other emerging markets, tends to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Political and legal uncertainty may offer higher potential for losses.
 
Foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended securities laws and regulations. In addition, the stock markets in the region are undergoing a period of growth and change, which may result in trading or price volatility and difficulties in the settlement and recording of transactions, and in interpreting and applying the relevant laws and regulations. Transaction settlement practices in India involve greater risks than those in developed markets, which arises from such factors as the capitalization of brokers and counterparties and the reliability of custody and registration of assets.
 
The RBI has imposed limits on foreign ownership which may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio and result in extreme volatility in the prices of Indian securities. Additionally, investment in India may be subject to a greater degree of risk associated with governmental approval in connection with the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. Moreover, there is the risk that if India’s balance of payments declines, the government may impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. Consequently, the Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments.


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The high concentration of ownership in the shares of many Indian issuers may limit the number of shares available for investment by the Fund. Sales of securities by an issuer’s major shareholders, or the perception that such sales may occur, may also significantly and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investment. A limited number of issuers represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading value. For example, companies in the technology sector and related software sectors represent a significant portion of the total capitalization of the Indian securities markets. The value of these companies will generally fluctuate in response to technological and regulatory developments.
 
The Indian government has exercised and continues to exercise significant influence over many aspects of the economy, and the number of public sector enterprises in India is substantial. Accordingly, Indian government actions in the future could have a significant effect on the Indian economy, which could affect private sector companies and the Fund, market conditions, and prices and yields of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Agriculture occupies a more prominent position in the Indian economy than in the United States, and the Indian economy therefore is more susceptible to adverse changes in weather. Furthermore, monsoons and other natural disasters in India and surrounding regions also can affect the value of Fund investments.
 
India has experienced religious, cultural and military disputes with neighboring countries, such as Pakistan, as well as with sectarian groups within each country. Escalating tensions between India and Pakistan could impact the broader region. In particular, India and Pakistan have tested nuclear arms, and the threat of deployment of such weapons could hinder development of the Indian economy.
 
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.
 
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


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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.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
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.
 
Risks of Derivative Investments.  The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options, interest rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Investments in derivative instruments may be for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from investments in derivative instruments 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. Losses may also arise if the Fund receives cash collateral under the transactions and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty’s cash collateral. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency prices. Investments in derivative instruments may be harder to value, subject to


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greater volatility and more likely subject to changes in tax treatment than other investments. For these reasons, the Investment Adviser’s attempts to hedge portfolio risks through the use of derivative instruments may not be successful, and the Investment Adviser may choose not to hedge certain portfolio risks. Investing for nonhedging purposes is considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
 
Risks of Participation Notes.  The Fund may invest in participation notes. Some countries, especially emerging markets countries, do not permit foreigners to participate directly in their securities markets or otherwise present difficulties for efficient foreign investment. The Fund may use participation notes to establish a position in such markets as a substitute for direct investment. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. When the participation note matures, the issuer of the participation note will pay to, or receive from, the Fund the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument’s value at maturity. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks as are associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. In addition, participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter and are subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and the Fund would be relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and would have no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying assets. In addition, participation notes may trade at a discount to the value of the underlying securities or markets that they seek to replicate.
 
Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.  Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.
 
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:
  n Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable
  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
  n Certain over-the-counter options
  n Certain private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”)
  n Certain structured securities and swap transactions
  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”).

 
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s 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.
 
Securities purchased by the Fund, particularly debt securities and over-the-counter traded securities, that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, markets events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more and more complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.
 
If one or more instruments in the Fund’s portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed its 15% limitation in illiquid instruments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause the investments in illiquid instruments to exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.
 
In cases where no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s portfolio instruments is available, the portfolio instruments will be valued at their fair value according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These cases include, among others, situations where the secondary markets on which a security has


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previously been traded are no longer viable for lack of liquidity. For more information on fair valuation, please see “Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?”
 
Non-Diversification and Geographic Concentration Risks.  The Fund is classified as a “nondiversified” fund under the Investment Company Act and is, therefore, more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments. In addition, the Fund is expected to invest primarily in a portfolio of equity investments in India or in issuers that participate in the markets of India. Concentration of the investments of the Fund in issuers located in a particular country or region will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were less concentrated, to losses arising from adverse developments affecting those issuers or countries.
 
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 SAI.
 
Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s, Baa or higher by Moody’s 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 the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
 
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 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 Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
 
Risks of IPOs.  The Fund may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company’s 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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.
 
Temporary Investment Risks.  The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total assets in:
  n U.S. Government Securities
  n Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO
  n Certificates of deposit
  n Bankers’ acceptances
  n Repurchase agreements
  n Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year
  n Cash


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  n Cash Equivalents
  n Certain ETFs

 
When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
     C.  Portfolio Securities and Techniques 
 
This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
 
The Fund may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Further information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request.
 
Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, 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 Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs.
 
The use of ETFs is intended to help the Fund match the total return of the particular market segments or indices represented by those ETFs, although that may not be the result. Most ETFs are passively-managed investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund ( i.e. , one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or a discount to their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange


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necessary to maintain the listing of an ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged.
 
Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may also invest in certain other investment companies and money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above. Some of those investment companies and money market funds may be funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
 
The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies (including ETFs), in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. 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.
 
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.
 
Direct Equity Investment.  The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in direct equity investments. The Fund may invest in direct equity investments that the Investment Adviser expects will become listed or otherwise publicly traded securities. Direct equity investments consist of (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise in the form of shares of common stock or equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from a principal investor in the enterprise. Direct equity investments are generally considered to be illiquid. To the degree that the Fund invests in direct equity investments that it considers to be illiquid, it will limit such investments so that they, together with the Fund’s other illiquid investments, comply with the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities.
 
In most cases, the Fund will, at the time of making a direct equity investment, enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise. The Investment Adviser anticipates that these agreements may, in appropriate circumstances, provide the Fund with the ability to appoint a representative to the board of directors or similar body of the


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enterprise, and eventually to dispose of the Fund’s investment in the enterprise through, for example, the listing of the securities or the sale of the securities to the issuer or another investor. In cases where the Fund appoints a representative, the representative would be expected to provide the Fund with the ability to monitor its investment and protect its rights in the investment and will not be appointed for the purpose of exercising management or control of the enterprise. In addition, the Fund intends to make its direct equity investments in such a manner as to avoid subjecting the Fund to unlimited liability with respect to the investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s direct equity investments will become listed, or that it will be able to sell any direct equity investment to the issuer or another investor. The extent to which the Fund may make direct equity investments may be limited by considerations relating to its status as a regulated investment company.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s 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).
 
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund’s 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.
 
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.
 
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 appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in forward currency contracts.
 
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 may issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations) as well as other non-U.S. dollar currencies. 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


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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.
 
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 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. U.S. Government Securities are deemed to include (a) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (b) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are so guaranteed. Certain of these participations may be regarded as illiquid.
 
U.S. Government Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
 
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


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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. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.
 
Privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities generally offer a higher yield than similar securities issued by a government entity because of the absence of any direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. However, timely payment of interest and principal on mortgage loans in these pools may be supported by various other forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, pool and hazard insurance, subordination and letters of credit. Such insurance and guarantees may be issued by private insurers, banks and mortgage poolers. There is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers, if any, will meet their obligations. Mortgage-backed securities without insurance or guarantees may also be purchased by the Fund if they have the required rating from an NRSRO. Some mortgage-backed securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable, may be more difficult to value accurately and may be more volatile than similar securities issued by a government entity.
 
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


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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, the 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. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Fund to the extent it invests in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.
 
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 may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. 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 Fund’s ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from


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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. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. 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 Fund’s 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. There is no guarantee that private guarantors, or insurers of an asset-backed security, if any, will meet their obligations. The value of some asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Asset-backed securities may also be subject to increased volatility and may become illiquid and more difficult to value even when there is no default or threat of default due to the market’s perception of the credit worthiness of the issuers and market conditions impacting asset-backed securities more generally.
 
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 net assets.
 
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, securities, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. Investments in structured securities may provide exposure to certain securities or markets in situations where regulatory or other restrictions prevent direct investments in such issuers or markets.
 
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, effectively leveraging the Fund’s investment so that small changes in the value of the Reference may result in disproportionate gains or losses to the Fund. 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


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accurately than less complex securities. Structured securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer of the structured securities may fail to perform its contractual obligations. Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.
 
Structured securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note’s term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
 
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, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on foreign currencies.
 
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 anticipate 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 Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Fund’s 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. When writing an option, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the option contract.
 
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps 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 swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market; however, unlike a futures contract that is exchange-traded, a swap on a futures contract is an over-the-counter transaction. 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.
 
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, and enter into swaps on futures contracts in order


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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 selections 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 Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund.
 
Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:
  n While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options and swaps 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, options transactions or swaps.
  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 the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.
  n The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options and entering into swaps on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.
  n Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV.
  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 the Fund.
  n Futures contracts and options and swaps on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.
  n Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.
 
The Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts and options and swaps on 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 Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations ( i.e.  the Fund’s 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


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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.
 
Equity Swaps, Index Swaps and Currency Swaps.  The Fund may invest in equity swaps, index swaps and currency 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 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. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.
 
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 a swap (such as the dividends on a common stock of an equity swap) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty defaults. Because swaps are normally illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. When entering into swap contracts, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the swap contract.
 
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 and 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 the Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities


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for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate. When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis or entering into a forward commitment, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligations.
 
Repurchase Agreements.  Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s 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.
 
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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights (or “rights”). Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s 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.


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Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.


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Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised
Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
India Equity Fund
 
The Investment Adviser has other advisory accounts that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The following tables set forth the historical performance data of all accounts managed by the Investment Adviser with investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund (the “Composite Account”). The information is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Investment Adviser in managing the Composite Account as measured against the MSCI India IMI Index (net), and does not represent the performance of the Fund, which has not commenced operations. Investors should not consider this performance data a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this data an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Investment Adviser. The MSCI India IMI Index (net) is unmanaged, and investors cannot invest directly in the index.
 
                                                                 
        Composite
      Composite
           
    Composite
  Account
  Composite
  Account
           
    Account
  Performance
  Account
  Performance
  Composite
       
    Performance
  (applying
  Performance
  (applying
  Account
  Composite
   
    (applying
  Class A
  (applying
  Class C
  Performance
  Account
   
    Class A
  expenses
  Class C
  expenses
  (applying
  Performance
   
    expenses
  and excluding
  expenses
  and excluding
  Institutional
  (applying
  MSCI India
Calendar
  and sales
  sales
  and sales
  sales
  Shares
  Class IR
  IMI Index
Years   charge)   charge)   charge)   charge)   expenses)   expenses)   (net)
2008
    −68 .78%     −66.96%     −67 .56%       −67 .24%       −66 .82%       −66 .87%       −66 .16%  
                                                                 
2009
    105 .51%     117.48%     114 .94%       115 .94%       118 .30%       117 .99%       106 .69%  
                                                                 
2010
    12 .63%     19.19%     17 .31%       18 .31%       19 .66%       19 .48%       20 .91%  
                                                                 
 


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APPENDIX C

                             
    Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended 12/31/10
            Since Inception
   
    1 Year   3 Years   04/01/07    
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and sales charge)     12.63 %     −6.80 %     16.08 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and excluding sales charge)     19.19 %     −5.03 %     17.84 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and sales charge)     17.31 %     −5.75 %     16.97 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and excluding sales charge)     18.31 %     −5.75 %     16.97 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Institutional Shares expenses)     19.66 %     −4.65 %     18.31 %    
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class IR expenses)     19.48 %     −4.79 %     18.13 %    
 
 
MSCI India IMI Index (net)     20.91 %     −5.43 %     12.62 %    
 
 

 
All returns presented are time-weighted based on monthly valuations and include the reinvestment of earnings. The performance information with respect to the Composite Account in each instance is net of applicable estimated total annual operating expenses of the Fund’s Class A, Class C Institutional or Class IR Shares (rather than the actual expenses of the accounts comprising the Composite Account), without provision for federal and state taxes, if any. Where indicated, performance reflects the deduction of the maximum 5.5% front-end sales charge with respect to Class A Shares and the maximum 1% CDSC with respect to Class C Shares (the Fund’s Institutional and Class IR Shares impose no sales charges). Since fees, commissions, and taxes will differ for the Composite Account and the Fund, performance data for identical periods may differ going forward.
 
The composite account is not subject to the same diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act and Subchapter M of the Code. Consequently, the performance results of the Investment Adviser’s Composite Account could have been adversely affected if the Composite Account had been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the Composite Account for the periods shown above. Accordingly, the future performance of the Fund will differ from the performance of the Composite Account.

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India Equity Fund Prospectus
 
     FOR MORE INFORMATION 
 
Annual/Semi-annual Report
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.
 
Statement of Additional Information
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
 
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI 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 SAI at the Fund’s website: http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com/summaries.
 
From time to time, certain announcements and other information regarding the Fund may be found at http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/individuals for individual investors, http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/institutions for institutional investors or http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/advisors for advisors.
 
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
 
         
   
Institutional
 
Class A, C and IR
      n  By telephone:
  1-800-621-2550   1-800-526-7384
      n  By mail:
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 219711
Kansas City, MO 64121
      n  On the Internet:
  SEC EDGAR database – http://www.sec.gov
 
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents (including the SAI) by visiting the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 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) 551-8090.
 
The Fund’s investment company registration number is 811-5349.
GSAM ® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 
INDIAPRO11
[GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]


Table of Contents

         
 Prospectus

 


April 29, 2011
GOLDMAN SACHS SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
[GRAPHIC]        
       
  n   Goldman Sachs
Korea Equity Fund
n  Class A Shares: GWIAX
n  Class C Shares: GWICX
n  Institutional Shares: GWIIX
n  Class IR Shares: GWIRX

     
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.   (GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO)
 
 
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE FUND.
     


Table of Contents

 
Table of Contents
 
         
1
  Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund – Summary
     
8
  Investment Management Approach
     
14
  Risks of the Fund
     
20
  Service Providers
     
25
  Dividends
     
26
  Shareholder Guide
    26   How To Buy Shares
    40   How To Sell Shares
     
53   Taxation
     
56
  Appendix A
Additional Information on
Portfolio Risks, Securities
and Techniques
     
82
  Appendix B
Financial Highlights
     
83
  Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
             
NOT FDIC-INSURED     May Lose Value     No Bank Guarantee
             


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GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT LOGO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund—Summary
 
Investment Objective
 
The Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.
 
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares” beginning on page 33 of this Prospectus and “Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends” beginning on page B-84 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
                               
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
    5.5 %     No ne     No ne     No ne
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds) 1
    No ne     1.0 %     No ne     No ne
                                 
 
                                 
    Class A   Class C   Institutional   Class IR
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
                               
Management Fees
    1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %     1.10 %
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
    0.25 %     1.00 %     No ne     No ne
Other Expenses 2
    1.55 %     1.55 %     1.40 %     1.55 %
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
    2.90 %     3.65 %     2.50 %     2.65 %
Expense Limitation 3
    (1.00 )%     (1.00 )%     (1.00 )%     (1.00 )%
                                 
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Limitation 3
    1.90 %     2.65 %     1.50 %     1.65 %
                                 
 
1
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
 
2
The Fund’s “Other Expenses” have been estimated to reflect expenses expected to be incurred during the first fiscal year.
 
  3
The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets


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through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.
 
Expense Example
 
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
 
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional, and/or Class IR Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional and/or Class IR Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates expense limitation arrangement for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
                 
    1 Year   3 Years
Class A Shares
  $ 732     $ 1,309  
                 
Class C Shares
               
– Assuming complete redemption at end of period
  $ 368     $ 1,025  
– Assuming no redemption
  $ 268     $ 1,025  
                 
Institutional Shares
  $ 153     $ 683  
                 
Class IR Shares
  $ 168     $ 728  
                 
 
Portfolio Turnover
 
The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (i.e. , “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but will be reflected in the Fund’s performance.
 
Principal Strategy
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of investment) (“Net Assets”) in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to Korea or in issuers that participate in the markets of Republic of Korea (referred to in this prospectus as “Korea”, or “South Korea”). The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to Korea if the investment is included in an index representative of Korea, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of Korea.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of Korea if the issuer:
n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in Korea;
n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in Korea;


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n   Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in Korea; or
n   Maintains 50% or more of its assets in Korea.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in investments in developed countries and emerging countries other than Korea, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (“INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT”), AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
Principal Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. 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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Currency Risk.  Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards, and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk.  Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively, “Depositary Receipts”). In addition to the risks inherent in the underlying securities represented by the Depositary Receipts, in some situations there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. Also, a 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.
 
Derivatives Risk.  Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be illiquid, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
 
Emerging Countries Risk.  The securities markets of 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 as the securities markets of more developed countries.
 
Foreign Risk.  Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability in these countries. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody.
 
Industry Concentration Risk.  The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
 
Korea Risk.  Investing in Korea may involve a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or


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securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to Korea may subject the Fund, to a greater extent, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic, or environmental events and natural disasters which may occur in Korea. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Korea may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S. In particular, South Korea’s relations with North Korea remain tense and volatile, particularly as North Korea appears to continue to develop nuclear and other military capabilities. Military action or the risk of military action, or strains on the economy of North Korea, could have an adverse effect on South Korea and the Fund. The market capitalization and trading volume of issuers in South Korean securities markets are concentrated in a relatively small number of issuers, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund. The economy of South Korea is heavily reliant on international trade, and it is sensitive to the economic health of its trading partners and the world economy. Downturns in worldwide economic activity have at times led to capital outflows from South Korea, resulting in deterioration of the currency and financial and credit markets. South Korea’s aging population and rigid labor relations are also risks to the country’s long-term economic viability. South Korea is dependent on foreign sources for its energy needs, and a significant increase in energy prices could have an adverse impact on its economy.
 
Liquidity Risk.  The Fund may make investments that may be illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
 
Market Risk.  The value of the instruments 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.
 
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk.  The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.
 
NAV Risk.  The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
 
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Fund is non-diversified and is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” mutual fund. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.


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Participation Notes Risk.  Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
 
Stock Risk.  Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.
 
Performance
 
As the Fund had not yet commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus, there is no performance information quoted for the Fund.
 
Portfolio Management
 
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAMI”).
 
Portfolio Managers:  Rick Loo, CFA, Executive Director, Portfolio Manager—Singapore, has managed the Fund since 2011.
 
Buying and Selling Fund Shares
 
The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $10,000,000 for individual investors and $1,000,000 alone or in combination with other assets under the management of GSAMI and its affiliates for certain other types of investors. There may be no minimum for initial purchases of Institutional Shares for certain retirement accounts or for initial purchases of Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional or Class IR shareholders.
 
You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions (“Authorized Institutions”).
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal.


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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
 
If you purchase the Fund through an Authorized Institution, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Authorized Institution for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Authorized Institution and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Authorized Institution website for more information.


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Investment Management Approach
 
     INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
 
The Fund seeks long term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days notice.
 
     PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a portfolio of equity investments that are tied economically to Korea or in issuers that participate in the markets of Korea. The Investment Adviser considers an equity investment to be tied economically to Korea if the investment is included in an index representative of Korea, the investment’s returns are linked to the performance of such an index, or the investment is exposed to the economic risks and returns of Korea.
 
An issuer participates in the markets of Korea if the issuer:
 
  n Has a class of its securities whose principal securities market is in Korea;
  n Is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in Korea;
  n Derives 50% or more of its total revenue from goods produced, sales made or services provided in Korea; or
  n Maintains 50% or more of its assets in Korea.
 
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 Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
The Fund expects to invest primarily in equity securities, including common or ordinary stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), preferred stock, convertible securities, investment companies (including other mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), and rights and warrants. The Fund’s equity investments may also include equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and other derivatives and structured securities to gain broad access to markets that may be difficult to access via direct investment in equity securities. Only securities open to U.S. investors are eligible for investment by the Fund.
 
The Fund’s investments are selected using a strong valuation discipline based on industry specific metrics to purchase what the Investment Adviser believes are well-


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams. From a valuation perspective, the Investment Adviser generally looks for companies where its proprietary estimate of their earnings, asset value or cash flow is meaningfully different from consensus; or where the Investment Adviser believes growth in intrinsic value is not reflected in the share price. Allocation of the Fund’s investments is determined by the Investment Adviser’s assessment of a company’s upside potential and downside risk, how attractive it appears relative to other holdings, and how the addition will impact sector and industry weightings. The largest overweights are given to companies the Investment Adviser believes have the most upside return potential relative to their contribution to overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s investments may include companies of all capitalization sizes.
 
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in developed country investments and other emerging country investments, including non-investment grade fixed income securities.
 
The Fund’s benchmark index is the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (USD) (the “KOSPI”). The KOSPI is a capitalization-weighted index of all common shares on the Korean Stock Exchanges. The KOSPI is a price-only index ( i.e. , its return does not take into account the dividends paid by its constituents). The KOSPI does not reflect any deductions of expenses associated with mutual funds such as management fees and other expenses.
 
THE FUND IS “NON-DIVERSIFIED” UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT, AND MAY INVEST MORE OF ITS ASSETS IN FEWER ISSUERS THAN “DIVERSIFIED” MUTUAL FUNDS.
 
The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a certain percentage of its total assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or having a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements, non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year, cash, cash equivalents and certain ETFs. When the Fund’s assets are


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invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
GSAMI’s Korean Equity Investment Philosophy:
 
         
    Belief   How the Investment Adviser Acts on This Belief
n
  Excess returns can be generated by conducting thorough fundamental research and individual stock selection   Seeks to generate excess returns through an intensive research culture and a strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources around the world.
n
  A team-based approach enriches debate and enhances the quality of investment decisions   Conducts proprietary stock level research in a team-orientated regional structure with frequent, open communication and frontline decision-making.
n
  Focused and differentiated portfolios provide the greatest potential to generate excess returns   Builds portfolios that are reflective of the team’s best investment ideas so that the majority of excess returns are driven by stock selection.
 
GSAMI’s Korea Equity team’s investment philosophy is grounded in the belief that we can achieve a competitive edge through selecting stocks with local expertise while being opportunistic investors. We seek to discover a broad range of investment ideas while being flexible, nimble, contrarian and avoiding complacency. We believe a company’s prospective ability to generate high returns on invested capital will strongly influence investment success. In our view, using a strong valuation discipline to purchase well-positioned, cash-generating businesses run by shareholder-oriented management teams is the best formula for long-term portfolio performance.
 
 
 
The Investment Adviser attempts to manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. Proprietary, stock level research is the key driver of the investment process and the Investment Adviser seeks to generate the majority of excess returns through stock selection.
 
 
References in this Prospectus to the Fund’s benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted, are not an indication of how the Fund is managed.


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

 
     OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES 
 
The tables on the following pages identify 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 the tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s 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 fifteen 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 Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.


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10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
   
10   Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)    
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  Korea
       limited only by the objectives and strategies
  Equity
       of the Fund
  Fund
Investment Practices
       
         
Borrowings
    33 1 / 3  
         
Cross Hedging of Currencies
     
         
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
     
         
Direct Equity Investments *
    5  
         
Equity, Index and Currency Swaps and Options on such Swaps *
     
         
Foreign Currency Transactions
     
         
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures)
     
         
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)
     
         
Investment Company Securities (including exchange-traded funds) **
    10  
         
Options on Foreign Currencies 1
     
         
Options on Securities and Securities Indices 2
     
         
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
     
         
Repurchase Agreements
     
         
Unseasoned Companies
     
         
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
     
         
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
** This percentage limitation does not apply to the Fund’s investments in investment companies (including exchange-traded funds) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the terms of an SEC exemptive order or SEC exemptive rule.
1 The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.
2 The Fund may sell covered call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices in which it may invest.


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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

 
         
10   Percent of total assets ( italic type )
10   Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•      No specific percentage limitation on usage;
  Korea
       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 1
     
         
Bank Obligations 1,2
     
         
Convertible Securities
     
         
Corporate Debt Obligations 1
     
         
Emerging Country Securities
     
         
Equity Investments
     80+  
         
Fixed Income Securities 4
     20  
         
Foreign Government Securities 1
     
         
Foreign Securities
     
         
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities 1,3
     
         
Participation Notes
     
         
Real Estate Investment Trusts
     
         
Structured Securities (which may include equity linked notes) *
     
         
Temporary Investments
    100  
         
U.S. Government Securities 1
     
         
 
* Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all investments that are not deemed liquid.
1 Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.
2 Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
3 May be BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Ba or lower by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
4 The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (i) fixed income securities of private and government Korean issuers; and (ii) equity and fixed income investments in non-Korean issuers.


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Risks of the Fund
 
Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of the Fund are discussed in the Summary section of this Prospectus. The following gives additional information on the 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.
 
     
    Korea
ü       Principal Risk
  Equity
•      Additional Risk   Fund
     
Credit/Default
 
     
Currency
  ü
     
Depositary Receipts
  ü
     
Derivatives
  ü
     
Emerging Countries
  ü
     
Foreign
  ü
     
Foreign Custody
 
     
Industry Concentration
  ü
     
Interest Rate
 
     
Investment Style
 
     
IPO
 
     
Korea
  ü
     
Liquidity
  ü
     
Management
 
     
Market
  ü
     
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap
  ü
     
Net Asset Value (“NAV”)
  ü
     
Non-Diversification
  ü
     
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities
 
     
Participation Notes
  ü
     
Stock
  ü
     


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RISKS OF THE FUND

 
n Credit/Default Risk —An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities held by the Fund (which may have low credit ratings) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
 
The credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio securities may meet the Fund’s credit quality requirements at the time of purchase but then deteriorate thereafter, and such a deterioration can occur rapidly. In certain instances, the downgrading or default of a single holding or guarantor of the Fund’s holding may impair the Fund’s liquidity and have the potential to cause significant NAV deterioration.
n Currency Risk— Changes in currency exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s securities denominated in foreign currencies. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and affected by, among other factors, the general economic conditions of a country, the actions of the U.S. and non-U.S. governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. A security may be denominated in a currency that is different from the currency of the country where the issuer is domiciled. If a foreign currency grows weaker relative to the U.S. dollar, the value of securities denominated in that foreign currency generally decreases in terms of U.S. dollars. If the Fund does not correctly anticipate changes in exchange rates, its share price could decline as a result. The Fund may from time to time attempt to hedge all or a portion of its currency risk using a variety of techniques, including currency futures, forwards and options. However, these instruments may not always work as intended, and in certain cases the Fund may be worse off than if it had not used a hedging instrument. For most emerging market currencies, suitable hedging instruments may not be available.
n Depositary Receipts Risk— Foreign securities may trade in the form of Depositary Receipts. To the extent the 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.
n Derivatives Risk —Loss may result from the Fund’s investments in equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options and structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Derivatives are also


15


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subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation.
n Emerging Countries Risk —The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market capitalizations, have more or less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements 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 Foreign Risk —When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may 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 or from problems in security registration or settlement and custody. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging countries.
n Foreign Custody Risk —The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund’s custodian (each a “Foreign Custodian”). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business, or may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in China and other emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.
n Interest Rate Risk —When interest rates increase, fixed income securities held by the Fund may 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 Investment Style Risk —Different investment styles (e.g., “growth,” “value” or “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund intends to employ a blend of growth and value investment styles depending on market conditions, either of which may fall out of favor from time to time. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.


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RISKS OF THE FUND

n IPO Risk —The market value of IPO shares may 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.

n Industry Concentration Risk —The Fund will not invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, except that, to the extent that an industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index at the time of investment, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in that industry. Concentrating Fund investments in a limited number of issuers conducting business in the same industry will subject the Fund to a greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry than if its investments were not so concentrated.
n Korea Risk —Investing in Korea involves a higher degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or securities markets. The Fund’s investment exposure to Korea may subject the Fund, to a greater extent, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory, economic, or environmental events and natural disasters. The economy, industries, and securities and currency markets of Korea may be adversely affected by protectionist trade policies, slow economic activity worldwide, political and social instability, regional and global conflicts, terrorism and war, including actions that are contrary to the interests of the U.S.
 
In particular, South Korea’s relations with North Korea remain tense and volatile, particularly as North Korea appears to continue to develop nuclear and other military capabilities. Military action or the risk of military action, or strains on the economy of North Korea, could have an adverse effect on South Korea and the Fund. The market capitalization and trading volume of issuers in South Korean securities markets are concentrated in a relatively small number of issuers, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund. The economy of South Korea is heavily reliant on international trade, and it is sensitive to the economic health of its trading partners and the world economy. Downturns in worldwide economic activity have at times led to capital outflows from South Korea, resulting in deterioration of the currency and financial and credit markets. South Korea’s aging population and rigid labor relations are also risks to the country’s long-term economic viability. South


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Korea is dependent on foreign sources for its energy needs, and a significant increase in energy prices could have an adverse impact on its economy.
n Liquidity Risk —The Fund may invest to a greater degree in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that may be less liquid than other investments. Also, the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.
 
Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other reasons. The Fund reserves the right to meet redemption requests through in-kind distributions. While the Fund may pay redemptions in-kind in the future, the Fund may instead choose to raise cash to meet redemption requests through sales of portfolio securities or permissible borrowings. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.
 
Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund’s liquidity risk and may impact the Fund’s NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, fund-of-funds, discretionary advisory clients, and other shareholders whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.
 
Because the Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities, small- and mid-capitalization stocks, REITs and emerging country issuers, it will be especially subject to the risk that during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category, 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.
n Management Risk —A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
n Market Risk —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 Fund’s investments may be overweighted


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RISKS OF THE FUND

from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.
n Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk —The securities of mid-capitalization and 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 the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization 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 Fund’s portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks.
n NAV Risk —The NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment may fluctuate.
n Non-Diversification Risk —The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that the Fund is permitted to invest more of its assets in fewer issuers than “diversified” mutual funds. Thus, the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
n Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk —The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) that are considered speculative. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate or municipal developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.
n Participation Notes Risk —The Fund will use participation notes to gain exposure to certain markets it cannot invest directly in. Participation notes are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency, or market. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency, or market that they seek to replicate. The Fund has no rights under participation notes against the issuer of the underlying security and must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty to the transaction.
n Stock Risk —Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

 
More information about the Fund’s 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.


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Service Providers
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISER 
 
     
Investment Adviser   Fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A 7HD
  Korea Equity
     
 
GSAMI, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a registered investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”). As of December 31, 2010, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), including its investment advisory affiliates, one of which is GSAMI, had assets under management of $717.1 billion.
 
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s 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


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

 
     MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSE INFORMATION 
 
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 Fund’s average daily net assets) listed below:
 
                 
    Contractual
   
    Management Fee
  Average Daily
Fund   Annual Rate   Net Assets
Korea Equity
    1.10 %     First $1 Billion  
      0.99 %     Next $1 Billion  
      0.94 %     Next $3 Billion  
      0.92 %     Next $3 Billion  
      0.90 %     Over $8 Billion  
                 
 
 
The Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.
 
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the period ended April 30, 2011.
 
The Investment Adviser has 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 custody and transfer agent fee credit reductions) to 0.364% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2012, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. This expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so.
 
     FUND MANAGERS 
 
Korea Equity Portfolio Management Team
  n Our investment philosophy is reflected in our intensive research culture and our strong commitment to on-the-ground research resources. Our research team comprises 7 investment professionals, including portfolio managers and research analysts, organized into regional teams and based on the ground in Singapore and Seoul. These professionals provide research, monitor portfolio positions, and


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  give portfolio construction advice. However, GSAMI is ultimately responsible for the investment decisions in the portfolio.
  n We believe our on-the-ground research presence better positions our research analysts to generate strong and compelling investment ideas through a keener understanding of local customs, greater and more frequent access to corporate managements, and immediate access to local capital markets and news flow.
  n The Portfolio Manager is responsible for leading and working closely with the research analysts to foster discussion, debate and analysis of investment ideas. This first-hand intensive research effort is captured in our portfolios through a disciplined investment process which results in highly focused portfolios comprising our most compelling individual stock ideas.
  n For information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund, see the SAI.

 
             
        Years
   
        Primarily
   
Name and Title   Fund Responsibility   Responsible   Five Year Employment History
Rick Loo, CFA, Executive Director, Portfolio Manager—
Singapore
  Portfolio Manager—
Korea Equity
  Since
2011
  Mr. Loo is a Portfolio Manager for GSAM’s Asia ex-Japan strategy and is based in Singapore. Mr. Loo has primary research responsibility for the ASEAN markets. Mr. Loo joined GSAM in February 2009 from Goldman Sachs’ Global Investment Research Division where he had been Director of Research for ASEAN markets since 2004.
             
 
 
     DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT 
 
Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the “Distributor”) of the Fund’s shares. Goldman Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
 
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 the Institutional Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C and Class IR Shares.
 
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for their own accounts.


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SERVICE PROVIDERS

 
     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 Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, advisor, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers and has other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets and the securities and issuers in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. 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. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds. The Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and Goldman Sachs would still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in 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 information regarding their 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 Fund’s 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 Goldman Sachs or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs


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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, individually or in the aggregate, 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 Fund’s 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 effect 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 or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the SAI.
 
The Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund’s portfolio investment transactions, in accordance with applicable law.


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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 same Fund
  n Shares of the same class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.
 
You may indicate your election on your Account Application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone in some instances to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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 Fund. If cash dividends are elected with respect to the Fund’s annual dividends from net investment income, then cash dividends must also be elected with respect to the short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund’s annual dividend.
 
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 Fund’s 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.
 
Distributions from net investment income and net capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund.
 
From time to time a portion of the Fund’s dividends may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes, and/or may include amounts in excess of the Fund’s 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.


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Shareholder Guide
 
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying and selling the Fund’s shares.
 
     HOW TO BUY SHARES 
 
Shares Offering
Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through the Distributor. In addition, certain Authorized Institutions (including certain banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Fund, purchase and exchange orders and redemption requests placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders.
 
The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase shares and reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part.
 
How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?
You may purchase shares of the Fund through certain Authorized Institutions. In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to your Authorized Institution the information in the Account Application.
 
Note: Authorized Institutions may receive different compensation for selling different class 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss which share class option is right for you.
 
To open an account, contact your Authorized Institution. For an investment in Institutional Shares only, you may also contact the Fund directly. See the back cover of this Prospectus for contact information.
 
Customers of certain Authorized Institutions will normally give their purchase instructions to the Authorized Institution, and the Authorized Institution will, in turn, place purchase orders with Goldman Sachs. Authorized Institutions will set times by which purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their customers.
 
For purchases by check, the Fund will not accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third party checks, temporary checks, or cash or cash equivalents; e.g. , cashier’s


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SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

checks, official bank checks, money orders, travelers cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept cashier’s checks or official bank checks.
 
Class IR Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Class IR Shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (the “Retirement Plans”). Class IR Shares are also generally available only to Retirement Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Fund. Class IR Shares may also be sold to accounts established under fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is approved by Goldman Sachs (“Eligible Fee-Based Program”). Class IR Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and individual 403(b) plans; except that Class IR Shares are available to such accounts to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
Retirement Plans generally may open an account and purchase Class IR Shares through Authorized Institutions, financial planners, Retirement Plan administrators and other financial intermediaries. Class IR Shares may not be available through certain Authorized Institutions. Additional shares may be purchased through a Retirement Plan’s administrator or record-keeper.
 
What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
For each of your accounts investing in Class A or Class C Shares, the following investment minimums must be met:
 
                 
    Initial   Additional *
Regular Accounts
    $1,000       $50  
                 
Employer Sponsored Benefit Plans
    No Minimum       No Minimum  
                 
Uniform Gift/Transfer to Minors Accounts (UGMA/UTMA)
    $250       $50  
                 
Individual Retirement Accounts and Coverdell ESAs
    $250       $50  
                 
Automatic Investment Plan Accounts
    $250       $50  
                 
 
* 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). A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds.


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For Institutional Shares the following minimum investments apply:
 
     
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    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    Corporations with less than $100 million in assets or in outstanding publicly traded securities
   
     
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
  No minimum
     
 
No minimum amount is required for initial purchases in Class IR Shares or additional investments in Institutional or Class IR Shares.
 
The minimum investment requirement for Class A, Class C and Institutional Shares may be waived for current and former officers, partners, directors or employees of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates; any Trustee or officer of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”); brokerage or advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and accounts for which The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. acts in a fiduciary capacity ( i.e. , as agent or trustee); certain mutual fund “wrap” programs at the discretion of the Trust’s officers; and for other investors at the


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discretion of the Trust’s officers. No minimum amount is required for additional investments in such accounts.
 
What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized Institution?
If shares of the Fund are held in a “street name” account ( i.e. , accounts maintained and serviced by your Authorized Institution), all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by your Authorized Institution, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your Authorized Institution to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another Authorized Institution involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your Authorized Institution. If your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
Certain Authorized Institutions 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 financial 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 Institution or other financial intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after such acceptance.
  n Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within the time period agreed upon by them.
 
You should contact your Authorized Institution or another financial intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
 
Authorized Institutions that invest in shares on behalf of their customers may charge fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact your Authorized Institution for information regarding such charges, as such fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.


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The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) 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 Adviser’s, Distributor’s 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 the Fund’s inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs 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 payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Intermediaries for sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative and/or shareholder processing services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports and economic analysis, and portfolio analysis tools. In certain cases, the Intermediary may not pay for these services. Please refer to the “Payments to Intermediaries” section of the SAI for more information about these payments and services.
 
The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by an Intermediary may differ for different Intermediaries. The presence of these payments, receipt of these services 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 Institution or Intermediaries for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.


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What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Refuse to open an account or require an Authorized Institution to 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 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 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 Fund’s Investment Adviser.
  n Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.
  n Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
  n Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.
 
Generally, non-U.S. citizens and certain U.S. citizens residing outside the United States may not open an account with the Fund.
 
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations and if approved by the Fund’s Investment Adviser.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.
 
Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law.
 
Customer Identification Program.  Federal law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which will be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, 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 information, for each investor who opens an account directly with the Fund. Applications without the required information may not be accepted by the Fund. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by


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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 investor’s shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor’s identity or obtain all required information. The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or any tax liability resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares pursuant to the customer identification program.
 
How Are Shares Priced?
The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class (as adjusted for any applicable sales charge) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund’s next determined NAV for a share class with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charges ( e.g. , CDSCs) after the Fund receives your order in proper form. Each class calculates its NAV as follows:
 
     
NAV =
  (Value of Assets of the Class)
– (Liabilities of the Class)
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class
 
The Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments may be determined in good faith under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
 
“Fair value” prices are provided by an independent fair value service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of 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 price for a particular security, or if the price provided does not meet the established criteria for the Fund, the Fund will price that security at the most recent closing price for that security on its principal exchange.
 
In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) 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


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determining the Fund’s 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 U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or market closings; equipment failures; natural or man made disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; 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, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; low trading volume; and trading limits or suspensions.
 
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.
 
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).
 
Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:
  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 times 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 The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a 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 the Fund’s NAV on the business day following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally does not, but may, result in a


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NAV that differs materially from the NAV 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 its regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange does not open for business, 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 this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of this Prospectus.
 
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, the Fund’s NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO 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 Institutions for Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:
 
                         
        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 **     ***  
                         
 
* Dealer’s allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be allowed to Authorized Institutions. Authorized Institutions 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.


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*** The Distributor may pay a one-time commission to Authorized Institutions 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 Institution (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 Institutions 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, a CDSC of 1% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition, Authorized Institutions will remit to the Distributor such payments received in connection with “wrap” accounts in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months.

 
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 this Prospectus due to rounding calculations.
 
As indicated in the preceding 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, your Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary must notify the Fund’s 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 Authorized Institution or other 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 Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary; and
 
  (iii)  Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any Authorized Institution or other financial intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as members of the same family or household.
 
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 beginning of the month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC of 1% may be


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imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your Authorized Institution agrees 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 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 Institution 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;
  n Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans 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 These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Trust’s officers;
  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 Fund available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity contracts;


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  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 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 SAI.

 
You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your Account Application and notify your Authorized Institution and the Fund if you no longer are eligible for the exemption.
 
The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your entitlement by your Authorized Institution. You may be charged a fee by your Authorized Institution.
 
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. If the Fund’s Transfer Agent is properly notified, the “Amount of Purchase” in the chart in the section “What Is The Offering Price of Class A Shares?” will be deemed to include all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were held at the time of purchase by any of the following persons: (i) you, your spouse, your parents 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. For purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing client of


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  Goldman Sachs Private 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 Private 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 certain 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 Institution must notify the Fund’s Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. If you do not notify your Authorized Institution at the time of your current purchase or a future purchase that you qualify for a quantity discount, you may not receive the benefit of a reduced sales charge that might otherwise apply. Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.

 
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 SAI. For purposes of determining the “Amount of Purchase,” all Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares currently held will be valued at their current market value.
  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. 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 if the Statement of Intention is not met. You must, however, inform the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Authorized Institution) 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. The SAI has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.


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     A COMMON QUESTION APPLICABLE TO 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 Distributor’s 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 Institutions. A commission equal to 1% of the amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to Authorized Institutions.
 
     COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A  
     AND C SHARES
 
 
What Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A 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 A or Class C Shares was made, all purchases 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.
  n Information about sales charges and sale charge waivers is available on the Fund’s website at www.goldmansachsfunds.com.


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In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?
The CDSC on Class A and Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced if the redemption relates to:
  n Mandatory retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;
  n Hardship withdrawals by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;
  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 an IRA in the same share class of a Goldman Sachs Fund;
  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 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 Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;
  n A systematic withdrawal plan. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares;
  n Redemptions or exchanges of Fund shares held through an Employee Benefit Plan using the Fund as part of a qualified default investment alternative or “QDIA;” or
  n Other redemptions, at the discretion of the Trust’s officers, relating to shares purchased through Employee Benefit Plans.
 
     HOW TO SELL SHARES 
 
How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares through your Authorized Institution. 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. You should contact your Authorized Institution to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. Certain Authorized Institutions are authorized to accept redemption


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requests on behalf of the Fund as described under “HOW TO BUY SHARES—Shares Offering.” The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with your Authorized Institution. In the alternative, your Authorized Institution may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent). Redemptions may be requested by your Authorized Institution in writing, by telephone or through an electronic trading platform.
 
Generally, 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 to verify instructions.
 
When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?
A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if:
  n A request is made in writing to redeem Class A, Class C, or Class IR Shares in an amount over $50,000 via check;
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or
  n You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not your bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.
 
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 or tax liability 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 owner’s registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Authorized Institutions may submit redemption requests by telephone. 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 Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“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


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be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
 
  n Telephone requests are recorded.
  n Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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 authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (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. 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 without prior notice.
  n The Fund may redeem via check up to $50,000 in Class A, Class C, or Class IR Shares via telephone.
 
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.
 
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
By Wire:  You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with your Authorized Institution or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with your Authorized Institution. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
  n 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.
  n Although redemption proceeds will normally be paid as described above, under certain circumstances, redemption requests or payments may be postponed or suspended as permitted under 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


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  securities owned by the Fund or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s 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 or purchased by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH 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 until the Federal Reserve Bank reopens.
  n To change the bank designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.
  n Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any other financial intermediary in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such financial intermediaries.

 
By Check:  A shareholder 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 you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or ACH, the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
 
What 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 Authorized Institutions 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 Authorized Institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. These Authorized Institutions may also require additional documentation from you.
 
The Trust reserves the right to:
  n Redeem your shares in the event your Authorized Institution’s relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Authorized Institution with a relationship with Goldman Sachs or in the event that the Fund is no longer an option in your Retirement Plan or no longer available through your Eligible Fee-Based Program.


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  n Redeem your shares if your account balance is below the required Fund minimum. 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 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. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if your checks remain uncashed. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks.
  n Charge an additional fee in the event a redemption is made via wire transfer.

 
None of the Trust, Investment Adviser nor Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.
 
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 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.
  n You should obtain and read the applicable prospectuses before investing in any other Goldman Sachs 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 of another Goldman Sachs Fund 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.
  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.


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  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 Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?
You may exchange shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC, if applicable, at the time of exchange for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Redemption of shares (including by exchange) of certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses that are held for 30 (or in some cases 60) days or less may, however, be subject to a redemption fee as described in those prospectuses. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice. You should contact your Authorized Institution to arrange for exchanges of shares of the Fund for shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.
 
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. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.
  n Currently, the Fund does not impose any 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. 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.
  n Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information, contact your Authorized Institution.
  n All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. 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.


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  n It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of unusual 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 or certain share classes of 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. Exchanges within Retirement Plan accounts will not result in capital gains or loss for federal or state income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
 
     SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
 
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?
You may be able to make automatic investments in Class A and Class C Shares through your bank via ACH transfer or bank draft each month. The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the initial investment and $50 per month for additional investments. Forms for this option are available from Goldman Sachs online at www.goldmansachsfunds.com and from your Authorized Institution, or you may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
 
Can My Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gains distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs 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.
  n You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which dividends are invested.


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Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?
You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of Class A or Class C 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 You may elect to exchange into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.
  n Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Goldman Sachs 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 15 th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
  n Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
  n You cannot make automatic exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund’s minimum initial investment requirement is met.
  n You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which automatic exchanges are made.
 
Can I Have Systematic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
You may redeem from your Class A or Class C Share 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 or Class C Shares because of the sales charges that are imposed on certain purchases of Class A Shares and because of the CDSCs that are imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares.
  n Checks are normally mailed within two business days after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the 15 th or 25 th of the month. ACH payments may take up to three business days to post to your account after your selected systematic withdrawal date between, and including, the 3 rd and 26 th of the month.
  n Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore may be a taxable transaction.
  n The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% each of the value of Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A shares.


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What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?
Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem Fund shares. In addition, Authorized Institutions and other financial intermediaries are responsible for providing to you any communication from the Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not described in this Prospectus to their customers for such services.
 
You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement if you invest in Class A, Class C or Class IR Shares and a monthly account statement if you invest in Institutional Shares. If your account is held in “street name” ( i.e. , through your Authorized Institution), you will receive this information from your Authorized Institution.
 
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 at the appropriate phone number or address found on the back cover of this Prospectus. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation. If your account is held through an Authorized Institution, please contact the Authorized Institution to revoke your consent.
 
The types of reports Class IR Shareholders will receive depends on the related arrangements in effect with respect to such shareholders’ Retirement Plan or Eligible Fee-Based Program.
 
     DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES 
 
What Are The Different Distribution And/or Service Fees Paid By The Fund’s Shares?
The Trust has adopted distribution and service plans (each a “Plan”) under which Class A and Class C Shares bear distribution and/or service fees paid to Goldman Sachs, some of which Goldman Sachs may pay to Authorized Institutions. These financial intermediaries seek distribution and/or servicing fee revenues to, among other things, offset the cost of servicing small and medium sized plan investors and providing information about the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from


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these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally receives and 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% and 0.75% respectively, of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class A and Class C Shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s 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 Institutions, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales representatives;
  n Commissions paid to Authorized Institutions;
  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 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 Institutions after the shares have been held for one year. Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the annual 0.25% distribution fee for the Class A Shares as on ongoing commission to Authorized Institutions immediately. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution fee on a quarterly basis.
 
     CLASS C PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND FEES 
 
Under the Class C Plan, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Class C Shares. This fee is for personal and account maintenance services, and may be used to make payments to Goldman Sachs, Authorized Institutions 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


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fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement.
 
Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing service fee to Authorized Institutions 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 Trust’s (or Goldman Sachs’) judgment, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s 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 those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
 
To deter excessive shareholder trading, certain other Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses impose a redemption fee on redemptions made within 30 days of purchase (60 days of purchase with respect to certain Goldman Sachs Funds offered in other prospectuses) subject to certain exceptions. 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 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


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excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of “round trip” transactions in a shareholder’s account. A “round trip” includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.
 
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 financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus 401(k) plans, Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs 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 ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these financial intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund’s market timing policies or any applicable redemption fee. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund’s ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders or apply any applicable redemption fee in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder information requested as part of the Fund’s surveillance process. 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


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identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by a financial intermediary or by certain of the financial intermediary’s customers. Financial intermediaries may also monitor their customers’ trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by financial intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If a financial intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust’s excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.


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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 SAI. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund. Except as otherwise noted, the tax information provided assumes that you are a U.S. citizen or resident.
 
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.
 
     DISTRIBUTIONS 
 
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, the Fund’s distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income, while any distributions of 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 Code, the maximum long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to individuals, estates, and trusts is 15%. 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 of 15% as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate shareholder must own the relevant Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund’s distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of the Fund’s high portfolio turnover rate.
 
A sunset provision provides that the 15% long-term capital gain rate will increase to 20% and the taxation of dividends at the long-term capital gain rate will end after 2012.
 
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


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are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividend-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a high portfolio turnover rate. It is not anticipated that any significant percentage of the Fund’s dividends paid will be eligible for 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. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income. Rather than deducting these foreign taxes, the Fund may make an election to treat a proportionate amount of those taxes as constituting a distribution to each shareholder, which would generally allow you either, subject to applicable limitations, (i) to credit that proportionate amount of taxes against your 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.”
 
     SALES AND EXCHANGES 
 
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 capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds one year, 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 long-term 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.
 
Exchanges within an IRA or other tax-advantaged account will not result in capital gain or loss for federal or state income tax purposes.


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TAXATION

 
     OTHER INFORMATION 
 
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% (currently scheduled to increase to 31% after 2012) 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. However, withholding is generally not required on properly reported distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains and, for distributions before November 1, 2012, of short-term capital gains and qualified interest income. Although this report will be made for short-term capital gain distributions, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income reports. 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 SAI.


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Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques
 
     A.  General Portfolio Risks 
 
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, American, European, and Global Depositary Receipts, shares of exchange traded funds and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as participation notes, swaps, options 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. To the extent the Fund’s net assets decrease or increase in the future due to price volatility or share redemption or purchase activity, the Fund’s expense ratio may correspondingly increase or decrease from the expense ratio disclosed in this Prospectus.
 
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/default 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/default 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


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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 investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.
 
The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of equivalent quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.
 
The Investment Adviser will not consider 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 Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less.
 
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 SAI, which is available upon request. Among other things, the SAI 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 Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.
 
     B.  Other Portfolio Risks 
 
Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.  The Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and 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. Mid- and small-


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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 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. Mid- and 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. Mid- and 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 managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
 
Risks of Foreign Investments.  The Fund will 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.
 
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


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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.
 
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. 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.
 
Concentration of the Fund’s assets in one or a few countries and currencies will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Fund’s assets were not geographically concentrated.
 
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 Fund’s NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
 
A sovereign debtor’s 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 debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
 
Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, GDRs, EDRs or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign


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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.
 
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 Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging 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.
 
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 issuer’s 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.
 
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,


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exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
 
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 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 occur in other countries.
 
The Fund’s investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.
 
Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve the Fund’s 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 Fund’s inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United


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States, Japan and most Western European countries). The Fund’s 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 value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.
 
The Fund’s use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund’s currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by these techniques.
 
Risks Specific to Korea.  In addition to the risks listed above, investing in South Korea presents certain unique risks, including political, economic and social instability, environmental risks and natural disasters that may occur in South Korea, and the potential for increasing militarization in North Korea. South Korea’s relations with North Korea remain tense and volatile, particularly as North Korea appears to continue to develop nuclear and other military capabilities. Negotiations to ease tensions and resolve the political division of the Korean peninsula have been carried on from time to time, producing sporadic and inconsistent results. There can be no assurance that negotiations or efforts to improve relations between the countries will continue or will ease tensions in the region. Military action or the risk of military action, or strains on the economy of North Korea, could have an adverse effect on South Korea and the Fund.
 
The market capitalization and trading volume of issuers in South Korean securities markets are concentrated in a relatively small number of issuers, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund. South Korea’s financial sector has shown certain signs of systemic weakness and illiquidity, which, if exacerbated, could increase the risk of investing in South Korea.
 
There are also a number of risks associated with the South Korean government, which has historically exercised (and continues to exercise) substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. The South Korean government from time to time has informally influenced the prices of certain products, encouraged companies to invest or to concentrate in particular industries and induced mergers between companies in industries experiencing excess capacity. The South Korean government has sought to minimize excessive price volatility on the South Korean Stock Exchange through various steps, including the imposition of limitations on daily


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price movements of securities, although there is no assurance that this would prevent the value of an investment from declining over time.
 
The economy of South Korea is heavily reliant on international trade, and it is sensitive to the economic health of its trading partners and the world economy. Downturns in worldwide economic activity have at times led to capital outflows from South Korea, resulting in deterioration of the currency and financial and credit markets. South Korea’s aging population and rigid labor relations are also risks to the country’s long-term economic viability. South Korea is dependent on foreign sources for its energy needs, and a significant increase in energy prices could have an adverse impact on its economy.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 Fund’s accrued obligations under the swap. Equity swaps will be made in the over-the-counter market and will be entered into


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with a counterparty that typically will be an investment banking firm, broker-dealer or bank.
 
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.
 
Risks of Derivative Investments.  The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, equity swaps, equity index swaps, futures, participation notes, options, interest rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Investments in derivative instruments may be for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from investments in derivative instruments 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. Losses may also arise if the Funds receive cash collateral under the transactions and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty’s cash collateral. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency prices. Investments in derivative instruments may be harder to value, subject to greater volatility and more likely subject to changes in tax treatment than other investments. For these reasons, the Investment Adviser’s attempts to hedge portfolio risks through the use of derivative instruments may not be successful, and the Investment Adviser may choose not to hedge certain portfolio risks. Investing for nonhedging purposes is considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
 
Risks of Participation Notes.  The Fund may invest in participation notes. Some countries, especially emerging markets countries, do not permit foreigners to participate directly in their securities markets or otherwise present difficulties for efficient foreign investment. The Fund may use participation notes to establish a position in such markets as a substitute for direct investment. Participation notes are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to track the return of a particular underlying equity or debt security, currency or market. When the participation note


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matures, the issuer of the participation note will pay to, or receive from, the Fund the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument’s value at maturity. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks as are associated with a direct investment in the underlying security, currency or market that they seek to replicate. In addition, participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter and are subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and the Fund would be relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and would have no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying assets. In addition, participation notes may trade at a discount to the value of the underlying securities or markets that they seek to replicate.
 
Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.  Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in the Fund may impact the Fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force the Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund’s brokerage and tax costs.
 
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:
  n Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable
  n Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
  n Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
  n Certain over-the-counter options
  n Certain private investments in public equity (“PIPEs”)
  n Certain structured securities and swap transactions
  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”).
 
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s 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


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and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists.
 
Securities purchased by the Fund, particularly debt securities and over-the-counter traded securities, that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, markets events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more and more complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.
 
If one or more instruments in the Fund’s portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed its 15% limitation in illiquid instruments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause the investments in illiquid instruments to exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.
 
In cases where no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s portfolio instruments is available, the portfolio instruments will be valued at their fair value according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These cases include, among others, situations where the secondary markets on which a security has previously been traded are no longer viable for lack of liquidity. For more information on fair valuation, please see “Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?”
 
Non-Diversification and Geographic Concentration Risks.  The Fund is classified as a “nondiversified” fund under the Investment Company Act and is, therefore, more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments. In addition, the Fund is expected to invest primarily in a portfolio of equity investments in Korea or in issuers that participate in the markets of Korea. Concentration of the investments of this Fund in issuers located in a particular country or region will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were less concentrated, to losses arising from adverse developments affecting those issuers or countries.
 
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,


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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 SAI.
 
Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s, Baa or higher by Moody’s 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 the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
 
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 speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.
 
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 Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
 
Risks of IPOs.  The Fund may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company’s 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 Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s


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investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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.
 
Temporary Investment Risks.  The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total assets in:
  n U.S. Government Securities
  n Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO
  n Certificates of deposit
  n Bankers’ acceptances
  n Repurchase agreements
  n Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year
  n Cash
  n Cash Equivalents
  n Certain ETFs
 
When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
 
     C.  Portfolio Securities and Techniques 
 
This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.
 
The Fund may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Further information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request.


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Other Investment Companies.  The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, 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 Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs.
 
The use of ETFs is intended to help the Fund match the total return of the particular market segments or indices represented by those ETFs, although that may not be the result. Most ETFs are passively-managed investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund ( i.e. , one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or a discount to their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of an ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged.
 
Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may also invest in certain other investment companies and money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above. Some of those investment companies and money market funds may be funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
 
The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies (including ETFs), in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. 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


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thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund.
 
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.
 
Direct Equity Investment.  The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in direct equity investments. The Fund may invest in direct equity investments that the Investment Adviser expects will become listed or otherwise publicly traded securities. Direct equity investments consist of (i) the private purchase from an enterprise of an equity interest in the enterprise in the form of shares of common stock or equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures or similar enterprises, and (ii) the purchase of such an equity interest in an enterprise from a principal investor in the enterprise. Direct equity investments are generally considered to be illiquid. To the degree that the Fund invests in direct equity investments that it considers to be illiquid, it will limit such investments so that they, together with the Fund’s other illiquid investments, comply with the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities.
 
In most cases, the Fund will, at the time of making a direct equity investment, enter into a shareholder or similar agreement with the enterprise and one or more other holders of equity interests in the enterprise. The Investment Adviser anticipates that these agreements may, in appropriate circumstances, provide the Fund with the ability to appoint a representative to the board of directors or similar body of the enterprise, and eventually to dispose of the Fund’s investment in the enterprise through, for example, the listing of the securities or the sale of the securities to the issuer or another investor. In cases where the Fund appoints a representative, the representative would be expected to provide the Fund with the ability to monitor its investment and protect its rights in the investment and will not be appointed for the purpose of exercising management or control of the enterprise. In addition, the Fund intends to make its direct equity investments in such a manner as to avoid subjecting the Fund to unlimited liability with respect to the investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s direct equity investments will become listed, or that it will be able to sell any direct equity investment to the issuer or another investor. The extent to which the Fund may make direct equity investments may be limited by considerations relating to its status as a regulated investment company.
 
Convertible Securities.  The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common


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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.
 
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 Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s performance benchmark. The Fund may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which is considered a speculative practice.
 
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).
 
Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund’s 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.
 
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 appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in forward currency contracts.
 
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 may issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations) as well as other non-U.S. dollar currencies. 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 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


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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 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. U.S. Government Securities are deemed to include (a) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (b) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are so guaranteed. Certain of these participations may be regarded as illiquid.
 
U.S. Government Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
 
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. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities


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may expose the Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.
 
Privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities generally offer a higher yield than similar securities issued by a government entity because of the absence of any direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. However, timely payment of interest and principal on mortgage loans in these pools may be supported by various other forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, pool and hazard insurance, subordination and letters of credit. Such insurance and guarantees may be issued by private insurers, banks and mortgage poolers. There is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers, if any, will meet their obligations. Mortgage-backed securities without insurance or guarantees may also be purchased by the Fund if they have the required rating from an NRSRO. Some mortgage-backed securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable, may be more difficult to value accurately and may be more volatile than similar securities issued by a government entity.
 
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, the 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


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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. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Fund to the extent it invests in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.
 
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 may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. 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 Fund’s 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. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. 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 Fund’s 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. There is no guarantee that private guarantors, or insurers of an asset-backed security, if any, will meet their obligations. The value of some asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Asset-backed securities may also be subject to increased volatility and may become


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illiquid and more difficult to value even when there is no default or threat of default due to the market’s perception of the credit worthiness of the issuers and market conditions impacting asset-backed securities more generally.
 
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 net assets.
 
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, securities, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. Investments in structured securities may provide exposure to certain securities or markets in situations where regulatory or other restrictions prevent direct investments in such issuers or markets.
 
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, effectively leveraging the Fund’s investment so that small changes in the value of the Reference may result in disproportionate gains or losses to the Fund. 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. Structured securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer of the structured securities may fail to perform its contractual obligations. Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.
 
Structured securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a “cap” or “floor” on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For


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example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note’s term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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


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Investment Adviser to anticipate 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 Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Fund’s 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. When writing an option, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the option contract.
 
Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps 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 swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market; however, unlike a futures contract that is exchange-traded, a swap on a futures contract is an over-the-counter transaction. 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.
 
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, and enter into swaps 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 selections 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 Investment Company Act with respect to the Fund.
 
Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:
  n While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options and swaps on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency


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  exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures contracts, options transactions or swaps.
  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 the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.
  n The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options and entering into swaps on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.
  n Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV.
  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 the Fund.
  n Futures contracts and options and swaps on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.
  n Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

 
The Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in futures contracts and options and swaps on 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 Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations ( i.e.  the Fund’s 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.
 
Equity Swaps, Index Swaps and Currency Swaps.  The Fund may invest in equity swaps, index swaps and currency 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 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. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more


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payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.
 
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 a swap (such as the dividends on a common stock of an equity swap) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, the Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty defaults. Because swaps are normally illiquid, the Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired. When entering into swap contracts, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligation under the swap contract.
 
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 and 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 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. When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis or entering into a forward commitment, the Fund must “set aside” liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligations.
 
Repurchase Agreements.  Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.  The Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights (or “rights”). Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s 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.


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Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.


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Appendix C
Prior Performance of Similarly Advised
Accounts of the Investment Adviser
 
Korea Equity Fund
 
The Investment Adviser has other advisory accounts that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The following tables set forth the historical performance data of all accounts managed by the Investment Adviser with investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund (the “Composite Account”). The information is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Investment Adviser in managing the Composite Account as measured against the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (USD) (the “KOSPI”), and does not represent the performance of the Fund, which has not commenced operations. Investors should not consider this performance data a substitute for the performance of the Fund, nor should investors consider this data an indication of the future performance of the Fund or of the Investment Adviser. The KOSPI is unmanaged, and investors cannot invest directly in the index.
 
                                                                           
        Composite
                       
    Composite
  Account
  Composite
  Composite
  Composite
  Composite
       
    Account
  Performance
  Account
  Account
  Account
  Account
       
    Performance
  (applying
  Performance
  Performance
  Performance
  Performance
       
    (applying
  Class A
  (applying
  (applying Class C
  (applying
  (applying
       
    Class A
  expenses and
  Class C
  expenses and
  Institutional
  Class IR
       
Calendar
  expenses and
  excluding
  expenses and
  excluding
  Shares
  Shares
       
Years   sales charge)   sales charge)   sales charge)   sales charge)   expenses)   expenses)   KOSPI    
2003
    32 .82 %     40 .55 %     38 .52 %     39 .52 %     41 .09 %     40 .89 %     16 .09 %    
                                                                           
2004
    15 .99 %     22 .74 %     20 .83 %     21 .83 %     23 .22 %     23 .04 %     24 .09 %    
                                                                           
2005
    61 .74 %     71 .16 %     68 .93 %     69 .93 %     71 .81 %     71 .57 %     45 .34 %    
                                                                           
2006
    1 .52 %     7 .42 %     5 .62 %     6 .62 %     7 .85 %     7 .69 %     13 .24 %    
                                                                           
2007
    27 .59 %     35 .02 %     33 .03 %     34 .03 %     35 .54 %     35 .35 %     27 .63 %    
                                                                           
2008
    (57 .95 )%     (55 .50 )%     (56 .30 )%     (55 .86 )%     (55 .31 )%     (55 .38 )%     (55 .42 )%    
                                                                           
2009
    47 .75 %     56 .35 %     54 .21 %     55 .21 %     56 .96 %     56 .73 %     61 .87 %    
                                                                           
2010
    26 .81 %     34 .19 %     32 .21 %     33 .21 %     34 .72 %     34 .52 %     25 .06 %    
                                                                           


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    Average Annual Total Returns
    for the Periods Ended 12/31/10
                Since Inception
    1 Year   3 Years   5 Years   (5/1/02)
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and sales charge)     26.81 %     (4.08 )%     5.05 %     13.62 %
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class A expenses and excluding sales charge)     34.19 %     (2.26 )%     6.25 %     14.36 %
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and sales charge)     32.21 %     (3.00 )%     5.45 %     13.51 %
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class C expenses and excluding sales charge)     33.21 %     (3.00 )%     5.45 %     13.51 %
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Institutional Shares expenses)     34.72 %     (1.86 )%     6.67 %     14.82 %
 
 
Composite Account Performance (applying Class IR Shares expenses)     34.52 %     (2.01 )%     6.51 %     14.65 %
 
 
KOSPI     25.06 %     (3.36 )%     5.45 %     9.71 %
 
 
 
All returns presented are time-weighted based on monthly valuations and include the reinvestment of earnings. The performance information with respect to the Composite Account is in each instance net of applicable estimated total annual operating expenses of the Fund’s Class A, Class C, Institutional or Class IR Shares (rather than the actual expenses of the accounts comprising the Composite Account), without provision for federal and state taxes, if any. Where indicated, performance reflects the deduction of the maximum 5.5% front-end sales charge with respect to Class A Shares and the maximum 1% CDSC with respect to Class C Shares (the Fund’s Institutional and Class IR Shares impose no sales charges). Since fees, commissions, and taxes will differ for the Composite Account and the Fund, performance data for identical periods may differ going forward.
 
The Composite Account is not subject to the same diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act and Subchapter M of the Code. Consequently, the performance results of the Investment Adviser’s Composite Account could have


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APPENDIX C

been adversely affected if the Composite Account had been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws. In addition, the securities held by the Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the Composite Account for the periods shown above. Accordingly, the future performance of the Fund will differ from the performance of the Composite Account.


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Korea Equity Fund Prospectus
 
     FOR MORE INFORMATION 
 
Annual/Semi-annual Report
Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.
 
Statement of Additional Information
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (and is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
 
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI 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 SAI at the Fund’s website: http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com/summaries.
 
From time to time, certain announcements and other information regarding the Fund may be found at http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/individuals for individual investors, http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/institutions for institutional investors or http://www.gs.com/gsam/redirect/announcements/advisors for advisors.
 
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
 
         
   
Institutional
 
Class A, C & IR
      n  By telephone:
  1-800-621-2550   1-800-526-7384
      n  By mail:
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 06050
Chicago, IL 60606
  Goldman Sachs Funds
P.O. Box 219711
Kansas City, MO 64121
      n  On the Internet:
  SEC EDGAR database – http://www.sec.gov
 
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents (including the SAI) by visiting the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520 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) 551-8090.
 
The Fund’s investment company registration number is 811-5349.
GSAM ® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 
KOREAPRO11
[GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]


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PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED APRIL 29, 2011
                 
                INSTITUTIONAL
FUND   CLASS A SHARES   CLASS C SHARES   CLASS IR SHARES   SHARES
GOLDMAN SACHS BRAZIL EQUITY FUND
  GZIAX   GZICX   GIRZX   GZIIX
GOLDMAN SACHS INDIA EQUITY FUND
  GIAAX   GIACX   GAIRX   GNAIX
GOLDMAN SACHS CHINA EQUITY FUND
  GNIAX   GNICX   GNIRX   GNIIX
GOLDMAN SACHS KOREA EQUITY FUND
  GWIAX   GWICX   GWIRX   GWIIX
(Single Country Funds of Goldman Sachs Trust)
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
     This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a Prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectuses for the appropriate share classes of the Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund, and Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund dated April 29, 2011 (the “Prospectuses”), as they may be further amended and/or supplemented from time to time, and which may be obtained without charge from Goldman, Sachs & Co. by calling the applicable telephone number, or writing to one of the addresses, listed below or from institutions (“Authorized Institutions”) acting on behalf of their customers.
     The Fund’s Annual Report (when available) may be obtained upon request and without charge by calling Goldman, Sachs & Co. toll free at 1-800-526-7384 (for Class A, Class C and Class IR Shareholders) or 1-800-621-2550 (for Institutional Shareholders).
     GSAM ® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 


 

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The date of this SAI is April __, 2011.

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GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET
MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL

Investment Adviser
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England EC1A7HD
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Distributor
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Transfer Agent
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Toll free (in U.S.) 800-621-2550 (for Institutional Shareholders) or 800-526-7384 (for Class A, Class C and Class IR Shareholders)

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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 SAI: Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund (“Brazil Equity Fund”), Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund (“India Equity Fund”), Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund (“China Equity Fund”) and Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund (“Korea 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, and have created the Funds and other series pursuant thereto. Additional series may be added in the future from time to time. The Funds currently offer four classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class IR, and Institutional Shares. See “SHARES OF THE TRUST.”
     Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, serves as the Investment Adviser to the Funds. GSAMI is referred to herein as the “Investment Adviser.” In addition, Goldman Sachs serves as each Fund’s distributor and transfer agent. The Fund’s custodian is State Street Bank and Trust Company.
     The following information relates to and supplements the description of each Fund’s 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.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
     Each Fund has a distinct investment objective and policies. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be achieved. Each Fund is a non-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 each Fund, 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 the Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) 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 Fund’s share price will fluctuate with market, economic and 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, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s portfolio will

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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.
      Actively Managed International Funds. The Funds are managed using an active international approach, which utilizes a consistent process of stock selection undertaken by regional portfolio management teams. 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 these Funds are evaluated based on three key factors—business, management and valuation. The Investment Adviser ordinarily seeks securities that have, in the Investment Adviser’s 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. Additionally, although the focus is bottom-up, the Investment Adviser still considers the macro factors affecting various countries from the view of the individual investor.
DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES
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. Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s 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.
     The Funds may invest in bonds rated BB or below by Standard & Poor’s or Ba or below by Moody’s (or comparable rated and unrated securities). These bonds are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative. 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 Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) 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 an adverse effect on the ability of the Funds to dispose of a particular security when necessary to meet their 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 Fund’s net asset value.
     Because investors generally perceive that there are greater risks associated with the medium to lower rated securities of the type in which the Funds 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 Fund’s net asset value.
     Corporate debt obligations 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. 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. The price of corporate debt obligations will generally fluctuate in response to fluctuations in supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the price of corporate debt obligations will generally fluctuate in response to interest rate levels.

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Fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities subsequent to their acquisition will not affect cash income from such securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. Because 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 an issuer’s existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the current earnings trend. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in a Fund’s portfolio and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed. If after its purchase, a portfolio security is assigned a lower rating or ceases to be rated, the Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
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.
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.

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     Certificates of deposit are certificates evidencing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time at a specified rate. Certificates of deposit are negotiable instruments and are similar to saving deposits but have a definite maturity and are evidenced by a certificate instead of a passbook entry. Banks are required to keep reserves against all certificates of deposit. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Funds may invest in deposits in U.S. and European banks satisfying the standards set forth above.
Zero Coupon Bonds
     Each Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 typically be 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 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 issuer’s 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

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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 (“IRS”) 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 Loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities
     Each Fund may invest in mortgage loans and mortgage pass-through securities and other securities representing an interest in or collateralized by adjustable and fixed rate mortgage loans (“Mortgage-Backed Securities”).
     Mortgage-Backed Securities are subject to both call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, these securities can have significantly greater price and yield volatility than traditional fixed income securities.
General Characteristics of Mortgage Backed Securities .
     In general, 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, multi-family (i.e., five-units or more) properties, agricultural properties, commercial properties and mixed use properties (the “Mortgaged Properties”). The Mortgaged Properties may consist of detached individual dwelling units, multi-family dwelling units, individual condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, row houses, individual units in planned unit developments, other attached dwelling units (“Residential Mortgaged Properties”) or commercial properties, such as office properties, retail properties, hospitality properties, industrial properties, healthcare related properties or other types of income producing real property (“Commercial Mortgaged Properties”). Residential Mortgaged Properties may also include residential investment properties and second homes. In addition, the Mortgage-Backed Securities which are residential mortgage-backed securities may also consist of mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured entirely or in part by second priority mortgage liens on Residential Mortgaged Properties.
     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 a 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, increasing yield to maturity and market value. Conversely, if a 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 value. To the extent that a Fund invests in Mortgage-Backed Securities, the Investment Adviser may seek to manage these potential risks by investing in a variety of Mortgage-Backed Securities and by using certain hedging techniques.
     Prepayments on a pool of mortgage loans are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors (such as changes in mortgagor housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagor equity in the mortgage properties and servicing decisions). The timing and level of prepayments cannot be predicted. A predominant factor affecting the prepayment rate on a pool of mortgage loans is the difference between the interest rates on outstanding mortgage loans and prevailing mortgage loan interest rates (giving consideration to the cost of any refinancing). Generally, prepayments on mortgage loans will increase during a period of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during a period of rising mortgage interest rates. Accordingly, the amounts of prepayments available for reinvestment by a Fund are likely to be greater during a period of declining mortgage interest rates. If general interest rates decline, such prepayments are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than a Fund was earning on the mortgage-backed securities that were prepaid. Due to these factors, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than U.S. Treasury and other types of debt securities of similar maturity at maintaining yields during periods of declining interest rates. Because a Fund’s investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities are interest-rate sensitive, a Fund’s performance will depend in part upon the ability of the Fund to anticipate and respond to fluctuations in market interest rates and to utilize appropriate strategies to maximize returns to the Fund, while attempting to minimize the associated risks to its investment capital. Prepayments may have a disproportionate effect on certain mortgage-backed securities and other multiple class pass-through securities, which are discussed below.

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     The rate of interest paid on mortgage-backed securities is normally lower than the rate of interest paid on the mortgages included in the underlying pool due to (among other things) the fees paid to any servicer, special servicer and trustee for the trust fund which holds the mortgage pool, other costs and expenses of such trust fund, fees paid to any guarantor, such as Ginnie Mae (as defined below) or to any credit enhancers, mortgage pool insurers, bond insurers and/or hedge providers, and due to any yield retained by the issuer. Actual yield to the holder may vary from the coupon rate, even if adjustable, if the mortgage-backed securities are purchased or traded in the secondary market at a premium or discount. In addition, there is normally some delay between the time the issuer receives mortgage payments from the servicer and the time the issuer (or the trustee of the trust fund which holds the mortgage pool) makes the payments on the mortgage-backed securities, and this delay reduces the effective yield to the holder of such securities.
     The issuers of certain mortgage-backed obligations may elect to have the pool of mortgage loans (or indirect interests in mortgage loans) underlying the securities treated as a REMIC, which is subject to special federal income tax rules. A description of the types of mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in which certain of the Funds may invest is provided below. The descriptions are general and summary in nature, and do not detail every possible variation of the types of securities that are permissible investments for a Fund.
Certain General Characteristics of Mortgage Loans
      Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans (“ARMs”) . The Funds may invest in ARMs. ARMs generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest rate for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the interest rates (the “Mortgage Interest Rates”) may be subject to periodic adjustment based on changes in the applicable index rate (the “Index Rate”). The adjusted rate would be equal to the Index Rate plus a fixed percentage spread over the Index Rate established for each ARM at the time of its origination. ARMs allow a Fund to participate in increases in interest rates through periodic increases in the securities coupon rates. During periods of declining interest rates, coupon rates may readjust downward resulting in lower yields to a Fund.
     Adjustable interest rates can cause payment increases that some mortgagors may find difficult to make. However, certain ARMs may provide that the Mortgage Interest Rate may not be adjusted to a rate above an applicable lifetime maximum rate or below an applicable lifetime minimum rate for such ARM. Certain ARMs may also be subject to limitations on the maximum amount by which the Mortgage Interest Rate may adjust for any single adjustment period (the “Maximum Adjustment”). Other ARMs (“Negatively Amortizing ARMs”) may provide instead or as well for limitations on changes in the monthly payment on such ARMs. Limitations on monthly payments can result in monthly payments which are greater or less than the amount necessary to amortize a Negatively Amortizing ARM by its maturity at the Mortgage Interest Rate in effect in any particular month. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on a Negatively Amortizing ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the loan, causing negative amortization, and will be repaid through future monthly payments. It may take borrowers under Negatively Amortizing ARMs longer periods of time to build up equity and may increase the likelihood of default by such borrowers. In the event that a monthly payment exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate and the principal payment which would have been necessary to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess (or “accelerated amortization”) further reduces the principal balance of the ARM. Negatively Amortizing ARMs do not provide for the extension of their original maturity to accommodate changes in their Mortgage Interest Rate. As a result, unless there is a periodic recalculation of the payment amount (which there generally is), the final payment may be substantially larger than the other payments. After the expiration of the initial fixed rate period and upon the periodic recalculation of the payment to cause timely amortization of the related mortgage loan, the monthly payment on such mortgage loan may increase substantially which may, in turn, increase the risk of the borrower defaulting in respect of such mortgage loan. These limitations on periodic increases in interest rates and on changes in monthly payments protect borrowers from unlimited interest rate and payment increases, but may result in increased credit exposure and prepayment risks for lenders. When interest due on a mortgage loan is added to the principal balance of such mortgage loan, the related mortgaged property provides proportionately less security for the repayment of such mortgage loan. Therefore, if the related borrower defaults on such mortgage loan, there is a greater likelihood that a loss will be incurred upon any liquidation of the mortgaged property which secures such mortgage loan.
     ARMs also have the risk of prepayment. The rate of principal prepayments with respect to ARMs has fluctuated in recent years. The value of Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by ARMs is less likely to rise during periods of declining interest rates than the value of fixed-rate securities during such periods. Accordingly, ARMs may be subject to a greater rate of principal repayments in a declining interest rate environment resulting in lower yields to a Fund. For example, if prevailing interest rates fall significantly, ARMs could be subject to higher prepayment rates (than if prevailing interest rates remain constant or increase) because the availability of low fixed-rate mortgages may encourage mortgagors to refinance their ARMs to “lock-in” a fixed-rate mortgage. On the other hand, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of ARMs will lag behind changes in the market rate. ARMs are also typically subject to maximum increases and decreases in the interest rate adjustment which can be made on any one adjustment date,

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in any one year, or during the life of the security. In the event of dramatic increases or decreases in prevailing market interest rates, the value of a Fund’s investment in ARMs may fluctuate more substantially because these limits may prevent the security from fully adjusting its interest rate to the prevailing market rates. As with fixed-rate mortgages, ARM prepayment rates vary in both stable and changing interest rate environments.
     There are two main categories of indices which provide the basis for rate adjustments on ARMs: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Indices commonly used for this purpose include the one-year, three-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury rates, the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year London Interbank Offered Rate, the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others, such as the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds index, tend to lag behind changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile. The degree of volatility in the market value of ARMs in a Fund’s portfolio and, therefore, in the net asset value of the Fund’s shares, will be a function of the length of the interest rate reset periods and the degree of volatility in the applicable indices.
      Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans . Generally, fixed-rate mortgage loans included in mortgage pools (the “Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans”) will bear simple interest at fixed annual rates and have original terms to maturity ranging from 5 to 40 years. Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans generally provide for monthly payments of principal and interest in substantially equal installments for the term of the mortgage note in sufficient amounts to fully amortize principal by maturity, although certain Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans provide for a large final “balloon” payment upon maturity.
      Certain Legal Considerations of Mortgage Loans . The following is a discussion of certain legal and regulatory aspects of the mortgage loans in which the Funds may invest. This discussion is not exhaustive, and does not address all of the legal or regulatory aspects affecting mortgage loans. These regulations may impair the ability of a mortgage lender to enforce its rights under the mortgage documents. These regulations may also adversely affect a Fund’s investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities (including those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) by delaying the Fund’s receipt of payments derived from principal or interest on mortgage loans affected by such regulations.
1.   Foreclosure . A foreclosure of a defaulted mortgage loan may be delayed due to compliance with statutory notice or service of process provisions, difficulties in locating necessary parties or legal challenges to the mortgagee’s right to foreclose. Depending upon market conditions, the ultimate proceeds of the sale of foreclosed property may not equal the amounts owed on the Mortgage-Backed Securities. Furthermore, courts in some cases have imposed general equitable principles upon foreclosure generally designed to relieve the borrower from the legal effect of default and have required lenders to undertake affirmative and expensive actions to determine the causes for the default and the likelihood of loan reinstatement.
 
2.   Rights of Redemption . In some states, after foreclosure of a mortgage loan, the borrower and foreclosed junior lienors are given a statutory period in which to redeem the property, which right may diminish the mortgagee’s ability to sell the property.
 
3.   Legislative Limitations . In addition to anti-deficiency and related legislation, numerous other federal and state statutory provisions, including the federal bankruptcy laws and state laws affording relief to debtors, may interfere with or affect the ability of a secured mortgage lender to enforce its security interest. For example, a bankruptcy court may grant the debtor a reasonable time to cure a default on a mortgage loan, including a payment default. The court in certain instances may also reduce the monthly payments due under such mortgage loan, change the rate of interest, reduce the principal balance of the loan to the then-current appraised value of the related mortgaged property, alter the mortgage loan repayment schedule and grant priority of certain liens over the lien of the mortgage loan. If a court relieves a borrower’s obligation to repay amounts otherwise due on a mortgage loan, the mortgage loan servicer will not be required to advance such amounts, and any loss may be borne by the holders of securities backed by such loans. In addition, numerous federal and state consumer protection laws impose penalties for failure to comply with specific requirements in connection with origination and servicing of mortgage loans.
 
4.   “Due-on-Sale” Provisions . Fixed-rate mortgage loans may contain a so-called “due-on-sale” clause permitting acceleration of the maturity of the mortgage loan if the borrower transfers the property. The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 sets forth nine specific instances in which no mortgage lender covered by that Act may exercise a “due-on-sale” clause upon a transfer of property. The inability to enforce a “due-on-sale” clause or the lack of such a clause in mortgage loan

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    documents may result in a mortgage loan being assumed by a purchaser of the property that bears an interest rate below the current market rate.
 
5.   Usury Laws . Some states prohibit charging interest on mortgage loans in excess of statutory limits. If such limits are exceeded, substantial penalties may be incurred and, in some cases, enforceability of the obligation to pay principal and interest may be affected.
 
6.   Recent Governmental Action, Legislation and Regulation . The rise in the rate of foreclosures of properties in certain states or localities has resulted in legislative, regulatory and enforcement action in such states or localities seeking to prevent or restrict foreclosures, particularly in respect of residential mortgage loans. Actions have also been brought against issuers and underwriters of residential mortgage-backed securities collateralized by such residential mortgage loans and investors in such residential mortgage-backed securities. Legislative or regulatory initiatives by federal, state or local legislative bodies or administrative agencies, if enacted or adopted, could delay foreclosure or the exercise of other remedies, provide new defenses to foreclosure, or otherwise impair the ability of the loan servicer to foreclose or realize on a defaulted residential mortgage loan included in a pool of residential mortgage loans backing such residential mortgage-backed securities. While the nature or extent of limitations on foreclosure or exercise of other remedies that may be enacted cannot be predicted, any such governmental actions that interfere with the foreclosure process could increase the costs of such foreclosures or exercise of other remedies in respect of residential mortgage loans which collateralize Mortgage-Backed Securities held by a Fund, delay the timing or reduce the amount of recoveries on defaulted residential mortgage loans which collateralize Mortgage-Backed Securities held by a Fund, and consequently, could adversely impact the yields and distributions a Fund may receive in respect of its ownership of Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by residential mortgage loans. For example, the recently-enacted Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 authorizes bankruptcy courts to assist bankrupt borrowers by restructuring residential mortgage loans secured by a lien on the borrower’s primary residence. Bankruptcy judges are permitted to reduce the interest rate of the bankrupt borrower’s residential mortgage loan, extend its term to maturity to up to 40 years or take other actions to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment. As a result, the value of, and the cash flows in respect of, the Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by these residential mortgage loans may be adversely impacted, and, as a consequence, a Fund’s investment in such Mortgage-Backed Securities could be adversely impacted. Other federal legislation, including the Home Affordability Modification Program (“ HAMP ”), encourages servicers to modify residential mortgage loans that are either already in default or are at risk of imminent default. Furthermore, HAMP provides incentives for servicers to modify residential mortgage loans that are contractually current. This program, as well other legislation and/or governmental intervention designed to protect consumers, may have an adverse impact on servicers of residential mortgage loans by increasing costs and expenses of these servicers while at the same time decreasing servicing cash flows. Such increased financial pressures may have a negative effect on the ability of servicers to pursue collection on residential mortgage loans that are experiencing increased delinquencies and defaults and to maximize recoveries on the sale of underlying residential mortgaged properties following foreclosure. Other legislative or regulatory actions include insulation of servicers from liability for modification of residential mortgage loans without regard to the terms of the applicable servicing agreements. The foregoing legislation and current and future governmental regulation activities may have the effect of reducing returns to a Fund to the extent it has invested in Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by these residential mortgage loans.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities
     To the extent consistent with their investment policies, the Funds may invest in both government guaranteed and privately issued mortgage pass-through securities (“Mortgage Pass-Throughs”) that are 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 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 generally 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 certain aspects of only a few of the wide variety of structures of Mortgage Pass-Throughs that are available or may be issued.

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      General 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. Because 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.
      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. Each of the Funds 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.
     A Fund’s 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”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and 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 liquidity and value of a Fund’s portfolio.
     There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Fund may purchase U.S. Government Securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, 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 a Fund may greatly exceed such issuers’ current resources, including such issuers’ 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.
     Below is a general discussion of certain types of guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Funds may invest.
  o   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”), or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (“VA”), 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 provides that the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government is pledged to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae of amounts due on Ginnie Mae certificates.

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  o   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. A Pool consists of residential 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 FHA or guaranteed by the VA. However, the mortgage loans in Fannie Mae Pools are primarily 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 Mae’s 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. See “Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae” below.
 
  o   Freddie Mac Certificates . Freddie Mac is a publicly held U.S. Government sponsored enterprise. A principal activity of Freddie Mac currently is the purchase of first lien, conventional, residential and multifamily 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 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. See “Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae” below.
     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. These mortgage loans are usually 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.
      Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae . The extreme and unprecedented volatility and disruption that impacted the capital and credit markets during late 2008 and into 2009 have led to increased market concerns about Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s ability to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the federal government. On September 6, 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”). Under the plan of conservatorship, the FHFA has assumed control of, and generally has the power to direct, the operations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and is empowered to exercise all powers collectively held by their respective shareholders, directors and officers, including the power to (1) take over the assets of and operate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors, and the officers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and conduct all business of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (2) collect all obligations and money due to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (3) perform all functions of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which are consistent with the conservator’s appointment; (4) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; and (5) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator. In addition, in connection with the actions taken by the FHFA, the U.S. Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) has entered into certain preferred stock purchase agreements with each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which establish the Treasury as the holder of a new class of senior preferred stock in each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which stock was issued in connection with financial contributions from the Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The conditions attached to the financial contribution made by the Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the issuance of

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this senior preferred stock place significant restrictions on the activities of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae must obtain the consent of the Treasury to, among other things, (i) make any payment to purchase or redeem its capital stock or pay any dividend other than in respect of the senior preferred stock, (ii) issue capital stock of any kind, (iii) terminate the conservatorship of the FHFA except in connection with a receivership, or (iv) increase its debt beyond certain specified levels. In addition, significant restrictions are placed on the maximum size of each of Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s respective portfolios of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities portfolios, and the purchase agreements entered into by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae provide that the maximum size of their portfolios of these assets must decrease by a specified percentage each year. The future status and role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could be impacted by (among other things) the actions taken and restrictions placed on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae by the FHFA in is role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Freddie Mac’s and Fannie Mae’s operations and activities as a result of the senior preferred stock investment made by the Treasury, market responses to developments at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership, structure and/or mission of these institutions, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any Mortgage-Backed Securities guaranteed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, including any such Mortgage-Backed Securities held by a Fund.
      Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities . The Funds may invest in privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities. Privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make representations and warranties to 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 generally will 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.
      Ratings . The ratings assigned by a rating organization to Mortgage Pass-Throughs generally address the likelihood of the receipt of distributions on the underlying mortgage loans by the related certificate-holders under the agreements pursuant to which such certificates are issued. A rating organization’s 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 organization’s 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 rating organization to a certificate may not address the 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. A rating organization may downgrade or withdraw a rating assigned by it to any Mortgage Pass-Through at any time, and no assurance can be made that any ratings on any Mortgage Pass-Throughs included in a Fund will be maintained, or that if such ratings are assigned, they will not be downgraded or withdrawn by the assigning rating organization.
     Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-backed securities (which may include certain of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which certain of the Funds may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future. In the event that any Mortgage-Backed Security held by a Fund is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such Mortgage-Backed Security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such Mortgage-Backed Security.
      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

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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 to 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 that 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 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 through bond insurers, or at the mortgage loan-level through mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, or through 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 bond insurers, guarantees or letters of credit, the security is subject to credit risk because of its exposure to the credit risk of 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 may agree 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 at any time 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 . Each 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 or 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.

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     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 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. See “Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.”
     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.
      Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities . Commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”). are a type of Mortgage Pass-Through that are primarily backed by a pool of commercial mortgage loans. The commercial mortgage loans are, in turn, generally secured by commercial mortgaged properties (such as office properties, retail properties, hospitality properties, industrial properties, healthcare related properties or other types of income producing real property). CMBS generally entitle the holders thereof to receive payments that depend primarily on the cash flow from a specified pool of commercial or multifamily mortgage loans. CMBS will be affected by payments, defaults, delinquencies and losses on the underlying mortgage loans. The underlying mortgage loans generally are secured by income producing properties such as office properties, retail properties, multifamily properties, manufactured housing, hospitality properties, industrial properties and self storage properties. Because issuers of CMBS have no significant assets other than the underlying commercial real estate loans and because of the significant credit risks inherent in the underlying collateral, credit risk

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is a correspondingly important consideration with respect to the related CMBS Securities. Certain of the mortgage loans underlying CMBS Securities constituting part of the collateral interests may be delinquent, in default or in foreclosure.
     Commercial real estate lending may expose a lender (and the related Mortgage-Backed Security) to a greater risk of loss than certain other forms of lending because it typically involves making larger loans to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. In addition, in the case of certain commercial mortgage loans, repayment of loans secured by commercial and multifamily properties depends upon the ability of the related real estate project to generate income sufficient to pay debt service, operating expenses and leasing commissions and to make necessary repairs, tenant improvements and capital improvements, and in the case of loans that do not fully amortize over their terms, to retain sufficient value to permit the borrower to pay off the loan at maturity through a sale or refinancing of the mortgaged property. The net operating income from and value of any commercial property is subject to various risks, including changes in general or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments; declines in real estate values; declines in rental or occupancy rates; increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses; changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies; acts of God; terrorist threats and attacks and social unrest and civil disturbances. In addition, certain of the mortgaged properties securing the pools of commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have a higher degree of geographic concentration in a few states or regions. Any deterioration in the real estate market or economy or adverse events in such states or regions, may increase the rate of delinquency and default experience (and as a consequence, losses) with respect to mortgage loans related to properties in such state or region. Pools of mortgaged properties securing the commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may also have a higher degree of concentration in certain types of commercial properties. Accordingly, such pools of mortgage loans represent higher exposure to risks particular to those types of commercial properties. Certain pools of commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS consist of a fewer number of mortgage loans with outstanding balances that are larger than average. If a mortgage pool includes mortgage loans with larger than average balances, any realized losses on such mortgage loans could be more severe, relative to the size of the pool, than would be the case if the aggregate balance of the pool were distributed among a larger number of mortgage loans. Certain borrowers or affiliates thereof relating to certain of the commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have had a history of bankruptcy. Certain mortgaged properties securing the commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have been exposed to environmental conditions or circumstances. The ratings in respect of certain of the CMBS comprising the Mortgage-Backed Securities may have been withdrawn, reduced or placed on credit watch since issuance. In addition, losses and/or appraisal reductions may be allocated to certain of such CMBS and certain of the collateral or the assets underlying such collateral may be delinquent and/or may default from time to time.
     CMBS held by a Fund may be subordinated to one or more other classes of securities of the same series for purposes of, among other things, establishing payment priorities and offsetting losses and other shortfalls with respect to the related underlying mortgage loans. Realized losses in respect of the mortgage loans included in the CMBS pool and trust expenses generally will be allocated to the most subordinated class of securities of the related series. Accordingly, to the extent any CMBS is or becomes the most subordinated class of securities of the related series, any delinquency or default on any underlying mortgage loan may result in shortfalls, realized loss allocations or extensions of its weighted average life and will have a more immediate and disproportionate effect on the related CMBS than on a related more senior class of CMBS of the same series. Further, even if a class is not the most subordinate class of securities, there can be no assurance that the subordination offered to such class will be sufficient on any date to offset all losses or expenses incurred by the underlying trust. CMBS are typically not guaranteed or insured, and distributions on such CMBS generally will depend solely upon the amount and timing of payments and other collections on the related underlying commercial mortgage loans.
      Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities . The Funds may invest in stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBS”), which are derivative multiclass mortgage securities, issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or non-governmental originators. SMBS are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all of the interest payments (the interest-only, or “IO” and/or the high coupon rate with relatively low principal amount, or “IOette”), and the other that receives substantially all of the principal payments (the principal-only, or “PO”), from a pool of mortgage loans.
     Certain SMBS may not be readily marketable and will be considered illiquid for purposes of a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. The Investment Adviser may determine that SMBS which are U.S. Government Securities are liquid for purposes of a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. The market value of POs generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on IOs and IOettes 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. A Fund’s investment in SMBS may require the Fund to sell certain of its portfolio securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

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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.
     Each Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. 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 Fund’s 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 the Fund’s 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, a Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral or the Fund’s recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities.
Recent Events Relating to the Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Markets and the Overall Economy
     The recent and unprecedented disruption in the residential mortgage-backed securities market (and in particular, the “subprime” residential mortgage market), the broader mortgage-backed securities market and the asset-backed securities market have resulted (and continue to result) in downward price pressures and increasing foreclosures and defaults in residential and commercial real estate. Concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the mortgage market and a declining real estate market have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets going forward, and have contributed to dramatic declines in the housing market, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, and significant asset write-downs by financial institutions. These conditions have prompted a number of financial institutions to seek additional capital, to merge with other institutions and, in some cases, to fail or seek bankruptcy protection. Since 2008, the market for Mortgage-Backed Securities (as well as other asset-backed securities) has been particularly adversely impacted by, among other factors, the failure and subsequent sale of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to J.P. Morgan Chase, the merger of Bank of America Corporation and Merrill Lynch & Co., the insolvency of Washington Mutual Inc., the failure and subsequent bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., the extension of approximately $152 billion in emergency credit by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to American International Group Inc., and, as described above, the conservatorship and the control by the U.S. government of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Furthermore, the global markets have seen an increase in volatility due to uncertainty surrounding the level and sustainability of sovereign debt of certain countries that are part of the European Union, including Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy, as well as the sustainability of the European Union itself. No assurance can be made that this uncertainty will not lead to further disruption of the credit markets in the United States or around the globe. These events, coupled with the general global economic downturn, have resulted in a substantial level of uncertainty in the financial markets, particularly with respect to mortgage-related investments.
     The continuation or worsening of this general economic downturn may lead to further declines in income from, or the value of, real estate, including the real estate which secures the Mortgage-Backed Securities held by certain of the Funds. Additionally, a lack of credit liquidity, higher mortgage rates and decreases in the value of real property have occurred and may continue to occur or worsen, and potentially prevent borrowers from refinancing their mortgages, which may increase the likelihood of default on their

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mortgage loans. These economic conditions may also adversely affect the amount of proceeds the holder of a mortgage loan or mortgage-backed securities (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities in which the Funds may invest) would realize in the event of a foreclosure or other exercise of remedies. Moreover, even if such Mortgage-Backed Securities are performing as anticipated, the value of such securities in the secondary market may nevertheless fall or continue to fall as a result of deterioration in general market conditions for such Mortgage-Backed Securities or other asset-backed or structured products. Trading activity associated with market indices may also drive spreads on those indices wider than spreads on Mortgage-Backed Securities, thereby resulting in a decrease in value of such Mortgage-Backed Securities, including the Mortgage-Backed Securities owned by a Fund.
     The U.S. Government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other governmental and regulatory bodies have recently taken or are considering taking actions to address the financial crisis. These actions include, but are not limited to, the enactment by the United States Congress of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act”, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010 and imposes a new regulatory framework over the U.S. financial services industry and the consumer credit markets in general, and proposed regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which, if enacted, would significantly alter the manner in which asset-backed securities, including Mortgage-Backed Securities, are issued. Given the broad scope, sweeping nature, and relatively recent enactment of some of these regulatory measures, the potential impact they could have on any of the asset-backed or Mortgage-Backed Securities held by the Funds is unknown. There can be no assurance that these measures will not have an adverse effect on the value or marketability of any asset-backed or Mortgage-Backed Securities held by the Funds. Furthermore, no assurance can be made that the U.S. Government or any U.S. regulatory body (or other authority or regulatory body) will not continue to take further legislative or regulatory action in response to the economic crisis or otherwise, and the effect of such actions, if taken, cannot be known.
     Recently, delinquencies, defaults and losses on residential mortgage loans have increased substantially and may continue to increase, which may affect the performance of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Funds may invest. Mortgage loans backing non-agency Mortgage-Backed Securities are more sensitive to economic factors that could affect the ability of borrowers to pay their obligations under the mortgage loans backing these securities. In addition, in recent months housing prices and appraisal values in many states and localities have declined or stopped appreciating. A continued decline or an extended flattening of those values may result in additional increases in delinquencies and losses on Mortgage-Backed Securities generally (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities that the Funds may invest in as described above).
     The foregoing adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate may reduce the cash flow which the Funds, to the extent they invest in Mortgage-Backed Securities or other asset-backed securities, receives from such securities, and increase the incidence and severity of credit events and losses in respect of such securities. In addition, interest rate spreads for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities have widened and are more volatile when compared to the recent past due to these adverse changes in market conditions. In the event that interest rate spreads for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities continue to widen following the purchase of such assets by a Fund, the market value of such securities is likely to decline and, in the case of a substantial spread widening, could decline by a substantial amount. Furthermore, these adverse changes in market conditions have resulted in a severe liquidity crisis in the market for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities in which the Funds may invest) and increasing unwillingness by banks, financial institutions and investors to extend credit to servicers, originators and other participants in the market for Mortgage-Backed and other asset-backed securities. As a result, the liquidity and/or the market value of any Mortgage-Backed or asset-backed securities that are owned by the Funds may experience further declines after they are purchased by the Funds.
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 Funds 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 currency exchange rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and 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

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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 Fund’s 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 CFTC’s 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, each 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, each 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, the Funds may enter into futures transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Fund’s performance benchmark.
     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 foreign currency rates that would adversely affect the dollar value of such Fund’s portfolio securities. Similarly, each 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 Investment Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Fund’s 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 Fund’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Investment Adviser 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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.

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      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 Fund’s 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 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s futures positions and portfolio positions may be impossible to achieve, particularly where futures contracts based on individual equity or corporate fixed income securities are currently not available. 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.
     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 Fund’s trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Adviser 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. The Funds may also write (sell) put and call options on foreign currencies. A call option written by a Fund obligates that 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 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 Fund’s 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.

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     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.
     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, any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest, or 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 Fund’s 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.

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     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 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 a 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 Adviser. 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 Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The writing of options could increase a Fund’s 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 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

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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. Warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Foreign Securities
     The Funds will invest primarily in foreign securities under normal circumstances. 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 Investment Adviser, to offer the potential for better long term growth of capital and income than investments in U.S. securities, the opportunity to invest in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the United States and the opportunity to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign securities markets that do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers also involves, however, 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 securities or quoted securities of U.S. issuers.
     With any investment in foreign securities, there exists certain economic, political and social risks, including the risk of adverse political developments, nationalization, confiscation without fair compensation or war. 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. Investments in foreign securities usually involve currencies of foreign countries. Accordingly, the Funds 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 Funds may be subject to currency exposure independent of their securities positions. To the extent that a Fund is fully invested in foreign securities while also maintaining net 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.
     Because 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.

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     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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments in those countries.
     Each Fund may invest in Depositary Receipts, including ADRs, GDRs, EDRs. The China Equity Fund may also invest in Taiwan Depositary Receipts (“TDRs”). 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, GDRs and TDRs are receipts evidencing an arrangement with a non-U.S. bank similar to that for ADRs and are designed for use in the non-U.S. securities markets. EDRs, GDRs and TDRs 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, each 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 Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea,” below.
      Foreign Government Obligations. Foreign government obligations include securities, instruments and obligations issued or guaranteed by a foreign government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. Investment in foreign government obligations can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of foreign government obligations may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign 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 governmental entity’s policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to services its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their debt. Holders of foreign government obligations (including the Funds) may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental agencies.
      Investing in Emerging Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea . The Funds are 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.

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     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 generally 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 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 a Fund’s 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 Funds. 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 shareholder’s 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.
     Custodial and/or settlement systems in emerging countries may not be fully developed. To the extent a Fund invests in emerging markets, Fund assets that are traded in such markets and which have been entrusted to such sub-custodians in those markets may be exposed to risks for which the sub-custodian will have no liability.
     Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Fund’s 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 issuer’s 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 Funds may invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds’ assets. A Fund’s investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

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     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, particularly exports, 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.
     A Fund’s 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.”
      Investing in Brazil. The Brazil Equity Fund expects to invest primarily in equity investments in Brazilian issuers and issuers that participate in the markets of Brazil. In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign Securities” and “Investing in Emerging Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea,” investing in Brazil presents additional risks.
     Under current Brazilian law, the Fund may repatriate income received from dividends and interest earned on its investments in Brazilian securities. The Fund may also repatriate net realized capital gains from its investments in Brazilian securities. Additionally, whenever there occurs a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or serious reasons to foresee the imminence of such an imbalance, under current Brazilian law the Monetary Council may, for a limited period, impose restrictions on foreign capital remittances abroad. Exchange control regulations may restrict repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales by foreign investors.
     Brazil suffers from chronic structural public sector deficits. In addition, disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization and capital market development, and ethnic and racial hostilities have led to social and labor unrest and violence in the past, and may do so again in the future.
     Additionally, the Brazilian securities markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than domestic markets. The market for Brazilian securities is influenced by economic and market conditions of certain countries, especially emerging market countries in Central and South America. Brazil has historically experienced high rates of inflation and may continue to do so in the future. Appreciation of the Brazilian currency (the real ) relative to the U.S. dollar may lead to a deterioration of Brazil’s current account and balance of payments as well as limit the growth of exports. Inflationary pressures may lead to further government intervention in the economy, including the introduction of government policies that may adversely affect the overall performance of the Brazilian economy, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.
      Investing in India. The India Equity Fund expects to invest primarily in equity investments in Indian issuers and issuers that participate in the markets of India. In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign Securities” and “Investing in Emerging Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea,” investing in India presents additional risks.
     The value of the Fund’s investments in Indian securities may be affected by political and economic developments, changes in government regulation and government intervention, high rates of inflation or interest rates and withholding tax affecting India. The risk of loss may also be increased because there may be less information available about Indian issuers because they are not subject to the extensive accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices which are applicable in the U.S. and other developed countries. There is also a lower level of regulation and monitoring of the Indian securities market and its participants than in other more developed markets.
     The laws in India relating to limited liability of corporate shareholders, fiduciary duties of officers and directors, and the bankruptcy of state enterprises are generally less well developed than or different from such laws in the United States. It may be more difficult to obtain or enforce a judgment in the courts in India than it is in the United States. India also has less developed clearance and settlement procedures, and there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities and have been significantly delayed. The Indian stock exchanges have in the past been subject to repeated closure and there can be no certainty that this will not recur. In addition, significant delays are common in registering transfers of securities and the Fund may be unable to sell securities until the registration process is completed and may experience delays in receipt of dividends and other entitlements.

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     Foreign investment in the securities of issuers in India is usually restricted or controlled to some degree. In India, “Foreign Institutional Investors” (“FIIs”) may predominately invest in exchange-traded securities (and securities to be listed, or those approved on the over-the-counter exchange of India) subject to the conditions specified in certain guidelines for direct foreign investment. FIIs have to apply for registration to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”) and to the Reserve Bank of India for permission to trade in Indian securities. GSAM is a registered FII and the inclusion of the Fund in GSAM’s registration was approved by SEBI. FIIs are required to observe certain investment restrictions, including an account ownership ceiling of 5% of the total issued share capital of any one company. In addition, the shareholdings of all registered FIIs, together with the shareholdings of non-resident Indian individuals and foreign bodies corporate substantially owned by non-resident Indians, may not exceed 40% of the issued share capital of any one company (subject to that company’s approval). Only registered FIIs and non-Indian mutual funds that comply with certain statutory conditions may make direct portfolio investments in exchange-traded Indian securities. Under the current guidelines, income, gains and initial capital with respect to such investments are freely repatriable, subject to payment of applicable Indian taxes. However, the guidelines covering foreign investment are relatively new and evolving and there can be no assurance that these investment control regimes will not change in a way that makes it more difficult or impossible for the Fund to implement its investment objective or repatriate its income, gains and initial capital from India.
     A tax of 10% plus surcharges is currently imposed on gains from sales of equities held not more than one year and sold on a recognized stock exchange in India. There is no tax on gains from sales of equities held for more than one year and sold on a recognized stock exchange in India. Gains from sales of equity securities in other cases are taxed at a rate of 30% plus surcharges (for securities held not more than one year) and 10% (for securities held for more than one year). Securities transaction tax applies for specified transactions at specified rates. India imposes a tax on interest on securities at a rate of 20% plus surcharges. This tax is imposed on the investor. India imposes a tax on dividends paid by an Indian company at a rate of 12.5% plus surcharges. This tax is imposed on the company that pays the dividends. The Investment Adviser will take into account the effects of local taxation on investment returns. In the past, these taxes have sometimes been substantial.
     The Indian population is composed of diverse religious, linguistic and ethnic groups. Religious and border disputes continue to pose problems for India. From time to time, India has experienced internal disputes between religious groups within the country. In addition, India has faced, and continues to face, military hostilities with neighboring countries and regional countries. These events could adversely influence the Indian economy and, as a result, negatively affect a Fund’s investments.
      Investing in Greater China. The China Equity Fund expects to invest primarily in equity investments in Chinese issuers and issuers that participate in the markets of Greater China (the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign Securities” and “Investing in Emerging Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea,” investing in Greater China presents additional risks.
     Investing in Greater China involves risks and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. Such risks may include: (a) greater social, economic and political uncertainty (including the risk of war); (b) nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (c) dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (d) increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies; (e) greater price volatility and significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets; (f) substantially less liquidity, particularly of certain share classes of Chinese securities; (g) currency exchange rate fluctuations and the lack of available currency hedging instruments; (h) higher rates of inflation; (i) controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the Fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (j) greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (k) uncertainty regarding the People’s Republic of China’s commitment to economic reforms; (l) the fact that Chinese companies, particularly those located in the China region, may be smaller, less seasoned and newly-organized companies; (m) the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; (n) the fact that statistical information regarding the economy of Greater China may be inaccurate or not comparable to statistical information regarding the U.S. or other economies; (o) the less extensive, and still developing, regulation of the securities markets, business entities and commercial transactions; (p) the fact that the settlement period of securities transactions in foreign markets may be longer; (q) the fact that it may be more difficult, or impossible, to obtain and/or enforce a judgment than in other countries; and (r) the rapid and erratic nature of growth, particularly in the People’s Republic of China, resulting in inefficiencies and dislocations (s) economic sensitivity to environmental events, including natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts, floods and tsunamis.
     Although the government of the People’s Republic of China has 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, governmental involvement in the economy remains significant. Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies that may be connected to governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Also, because China had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time,

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business entities in Greater China do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to move toward a more market-oriented economy is currently unclear. Any change in leadership or policies may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.
     Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China by the Communist Party in 1949, the Chinese government renounced various debt obligations incurred by the People’s Republic of China’s predecessor governments, which obligations remain in default, and expropriated assets without compensation. There can be no assurance that the government will not take similar action in the future.
     Greater China’s economy, particularly its export-oriented industries, may be adversely impacted by trade or political disputes with major trading partners, including the U.S. In particular, the growing trade surplus with the U.S. has increased the risk of trade disputes, which could potentially have adverse effects on the country’s management of its currency, as well as on some export dependent sectors. Greater China’s aging infrastructure, growing income inequality and worsening environmental conditions also are factors that may affect the Chinese economy. Social cohesion in Greater China is being tested by growing income inequality and larger scale environmental degradation. Social instability could threaten Greater China’s political systems and economic growth, which could decrease the value of the Fund’s investments.
     Additionally, internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries, including military conflicts in response to such events, could disrupt economic development in Greater China. A state of hostility continues to exist between the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, and territorial border disputes persist with certain neighboring countries. Chinese economic development is also vulnerable to developments on the Korean peninsula, including political tension or military actions.
      Investing in Korea. The Korea Equity Fund expects to invest primarily in equity investments in Korean issuers and issuers that participate in the markets of the Republic of Korea (referred to herein as “Korea” or “South Korea”). In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign Securities” and “Investing in Emerging Countries, including Brazil, India, China and Korea,” investing in Korea presents additional risks.
     The division of the Korean Peninsula in 1945 left South Korea without most of the peninsula’s natural resources. Since then, this highly industrialized nation has been heavily dependent upon imports of essential products such as oil, forest products, and industrial metals. Accordingly, South Korea’s industrial sector and domestic economy are highly sensitive to fluctuations in international commodity prices, currency exchange rates and government regulation. Many of these commodities are traded in U.S. dollars and any change in the exchange rate between the won and the dollar can have either a positive or negative effect upon corporate profits.
     Certain structural weaknesses have made Korea vulnerable to the financial turbulence of the kind that swept through Asia in 1997-1998. First, the corporate sector has been characterized by low levels of profitability and high levels of debt, reflecting the tendency of the nation’s business conglomerates to diversify into capital-intensive businesses. Second, Korea has experienced a poorly functioning financial system that has been further weakened by a series of major corporate bankruptcies. Following the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, corporate and financial sector restructuring was initiated by the Korean government, in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund.
     The Korean government has historically imposed significant restrictions and controls on foreign investors. As a result, the Fund may be limited in its investments or precluded from investing in certain Korean companies, which may adversely affect the performance of the Fund. In addition, there is the possibility of the imposition of currency-exchange controls, foreign withholding tax on the interest income payable on such instruments, foreign controls, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits or assets, or the adoption of other foreign government restrictions that might adversely affect the Korean securities held by the Fund. In addition, the market capitalization and trading volume of issuers in Korean securities markets are concentrated in a relatively small number of issuers, resulting in substantially less liquidity and greater price volatility and potentially fewer investment opportunities for the Fund.
     South Korea’s location next to the heavily armed and unpredictable North Korea has been a constant cause of concern. Military incidents, including North Korea’s nuclear arms race, have continued to escalate the tensions that have existed between the two countries since the signing of the 1953 Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War. Military action or the risk of military action or the economic collapse of North Korea could have a material adverse effect on South Korea. South Korea’s relations with North Korea remain tense and volatile, and the possibility of military action between the two countries still exists. North Korea appears to continue to develop nuclear and other military capabilities.

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      Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts . The Funds 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.
     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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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, the Funds may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Fund’s performance benchmark.
     The 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 a Fund will be segregated in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s 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 a Fund’s 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 had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between a Fund’s 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. Because 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

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investment grade by the Investment Adviser. To the extent that a portion of a Fund’s total assets, adjusted to reflect the Fund’s 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 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 currency’s market value or be required to purchase currency subject to a put at a price that exceeds the currency’s market value. Written put and call options on foreign currencies may be covered in a manner similar to written put and call options on securities and securities indices described under “Options on Securities and Securities Indices—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 Fund’s 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 currency’s 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

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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 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, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps, Index Swaps and Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars
     The Funds may enter into currency, mortgage, credit, total return, index and interest rate swaps and other interest rate swap arrangements such as rate caps, floors and collars, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The Funds may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions. Currency swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Index swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of the respective amounts payable with respect to a notional principal amount at interest rates equal to two specified indices. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security, or pool of securities. Credit swaps give one party to a transaction the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive from or make a payment to the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for the payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index or an index component. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.
     A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally a Fund will enter into interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and index 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. Interest rate, total return, credit, index and mortgage swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate, total return, credit, index and mortgage swaps is normally limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate, total return, credit, index or mortgage swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. In contrast, 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 Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap, a swaption or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets or otherwise, the Funds and the Investment Adviser believe that swaps do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s borrowing restrictions.

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     A Fund will not enter into transactions involving swaps, caps, floors or collars 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, swaptions and interest rate caps, floors and collars 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 Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Funds’ transactions in swaps, swaptions, caps, floors and collars.
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 security’s 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 security’s 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 security’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 stockholders will be entitled to gain representation on the issuer’s 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

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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 Fund’s 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 Adviser believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s 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 Fund’s ability to enter into certain swap transactions may be limited by tax considerations.
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 settlement date. A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions. For purposes of determining a Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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
     Each Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs. 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. A Fund’s investments in other investment companies are subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Act, including in certain circumstances a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more that 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment

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company or more than 10% of its total assets in the securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds (such as the Funds) to invest in their shares beyond these statutory limits, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to contractual arrangements between the ETFs and the investing funds. A Fund may rely on these exemptive orders in investing in ETFs. Moreover, pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Funds may invest in investment companies and money market funds for which the Investment Adviser, or any of its affiliates, serves as investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. However, to the extent that a Fund invests in a money market fund for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates acts as investment adviser, the management fees payable by the Fund to the Investment Adviser will, to the extent required by the SEC, be reduced by an amount equal to the Fund’s 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. Additionally, to the extent that any Fund serves as an “Underlying Fund” to another Goldman Sachs Fund, that Fund intends to comply with the requirements of Section 12(d)(1)(G)(i)(IV) of the Act.
     Each Fund may 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.
     ETFs are shares of unaffiliated investment companies issuing shares which are traded like traditional equity securities on a national stock exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities, which is often designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF, like one in any investment company, carries the same risks as those of its underlying securities. An ETF may fail to accurately track the returns of the market segment or index that it is designed to track, and the price of an ETF’s shares may fluctuate or lose money. In addition, because they, unlike other investment companies, are traded on an exchange, ETFs are subject to the following risks: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to the ETF’s net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting ETFs should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of a Fund’s shares could also be substantially and adversely affected.
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 Funds 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 for the duration of the agreement. Custody of the securities is maintained by a Fund’s 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 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 seller’s 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.

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     The Funds, together with other registered investment companies having advisory agreements with the Investment Adviser or 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.
Short Sales Against-the-Box
     The Funds 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 a Fund, for example, to lock in a sales price for a security the Fund does not wish to sell immediately. If a 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund may effect short sales.
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
     A Fund may enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar, but not identical securities on a specified future date. When a Fund enters into a mortgage dollar roll, it will segregate cash or liquid assets in an amount equal to the forward purchase price until the settlement date.
Non-Diversified Status
     Because the Funds are “non-diversified” under the Act, they are subject only to certain federal tax diversification requirements. Under federal tax laws, the Fund may, with respect to 50% of its total assets, invest up to 25% of its total assets in the securities of any issuer. With respect to the remaining 50% of the Fund’s total assets, (i) the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer, and (ii) the Fund may not acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. These tests apply at the end of each quarter of the taxable year and are subject to certain conditions and limitations under the Code. These tests do not apply to United States Government Securities and regulated investment companies.
Temporary Investments
     Each Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total assets in: U.S. Government Securities; commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO; certificates of deposit; bankers’ acceptances; repurchase agreements; non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year; cash; cash equivalents; and certain exchange-traded funds. When a Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
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. As a result of active management, 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.

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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 of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) 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 number (3) below, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.
     As a matter of fundamental policy, a Fund may not:
(1)   Invest more than 25% 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), except that a Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry if, at the time of investment, that industry represents 20% or more of the Fund’s benchmark index.
 
(2)   Borrow money, except (a) the Funds, to the extent permitted by applicable law, may 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.
The following interpretation applies to, but is not part of, this fundamental policy: In determining whether a particular investment in portfolio instruments or participation in portfolio transactions is subject to this borrowing policy, the accounting treatment of such instrument or participation shall be considered, but shall not by itself be determinative. Whether a particular instrument or transaction constitutes a borrowing shall be determined by the Board, after consideration of all of the relevant circumstances.
(3)   Make loans, except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with the Fund’s 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.
 
(4)   Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the sale of portfolio securities by a Fund may be deemed to be an underwriting.
 
(5)   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.
 
(6)   Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that a Fund may invest in currency and financial instruments and contracts that are commodities or commodity contracts.
 
(7)   Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would not violate applicable law.
     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.

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     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 a Fund.
     A Fund may not:
  (a)   Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.
 
  (b)   Invest more than 15% of the Fund’s 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”).
 
  (c)   Purchase additional securities if the Fund’s borrowings, as permitted by the Fund’s borrowing policy, exceed 5% of its net assets. (Mortgage dollar rolls are not subject to this limitation.)
 
  (d)   Make short sales of securities, except short sales against the box.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
     The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Trustees are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and reviewing the actions of the Trust’s service providers. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise each Fund’s daily business operations. 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.” The Board is currently composed of seven Independent Trustees and two Interested Trustees. The Board has selected an Independent Trustee to act as Chairman, whose duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and acting as a focal point to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of the Chairman’s duties, the Chairman will consult with the other Independent Trustees and the Funds’ officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.
     The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least six times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet at least annually to review, among other things, investment management agreements, distribution (Rule 12b-1) and/or service plans and related agreements, transfer agency agreements and certain other agreements providing for the compensation of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates by the Funds, and to consider such other matters as they deem appropriate.
     The Board has established six standing committees — Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance, Valuation, Dividend and Contract Review Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Trustees to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “STANDING BOARD COMMITTEES,” below.
     The Trustees have determined that the Trust’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Trustees to effectively perform their oversight responsibilities.
Trustees of the Trust
     Information pertaining to the Trustees of the Trust as of April 29, 2011 is set forth below.

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Independent Trustees
                         
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex   Other
Name,
  Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Directorships
Address and Age 1   the Trust   Served 2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee 3   Held by Trustee 4
 
                       
Ashok N. Bakhru
Age: 69
  Chairman of the Board of Trustees   Since 1996
(Trustee
since 1991)
  President, ABN Associates (1994—1996 and 1998—Present); Director, Apollo Investment Corporation (a business development company) (2008-Present); Member of Cornell University Council (1992—2004 and 2006—Present); Trustee, Scholarship America (1998—2005); Trustee, Institute for Higher Education Policy (2003—2008); Director, Private Equity Investors—III and IV (1998—2007), and Equity-Linked Investors II (April 2002—2007).     96     Apollo Investment
Corporation (a business
 
                       
 
          Chairman of the Board of Trustees—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.           development company)
 
Donald C. Burke
Age: 50
  Trustee   Since 2010   Mr. Burke is retired (since 2010). Formerly, he was Director, BlackRock Luxembourg and Cayman Funds (2006—2010); President and Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock U.S. Funds (2007—2009); Managing Director, BlackRock, Inc. (2006—2009); Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”) (2006); First Vice President, MLIM (1997—2005); Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, MLIM U.S. Funds (1999—2006).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            
 
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
Age: 70
  Trustee   Since 2003   Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1975—2003); Director, Emerging Markets Group, Ltd. (2004—2006); and Director, Elderhostel, Inc. (2006—Present).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            
 
Diana M. Daniels
Age: 61
  Trustee   Since 2007   Ms. Daniels is retired (since 2007). Formerly, she was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, The Washington Post Company (1991—2006). Ms. Daniels is a Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Cornell University (2009—Present); Member, Advisory Board, Psychology Without Borders (international humanitarian aid organization) (since 2007), and former Member of the Legal Advisory Board, New York Stock Exchange (2003—2006) and of the Corporate Advisory Board, Standish Mellon Management Advisors (2006—2007).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            

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Independent Trustees
                         
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex   Other
Name,
  Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Directorships
Address and Age 1   the Trust   Served 2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee 3   Held by Trustee 4
 
                       
Joseph P. LoRusso
Age: 53
  Trustee   Since 2010   Mr. LoRusso is retired (since 2008). Formerly, he was President, Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Co. (“FIIS”) (2002—2008); Director, FIIS (2002—2008); Director, Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company (2003—2007); Executive Officer, Fidelity Distributors Corporation (2007—2008).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            
Jessica Palmer
Age: 62
  Trustee   Since 2007   Ms. Palmer is retired (since 2006). Formerly, she was Consultant, Citigroup Human Resources Department (2007-2008); Managing Director, Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking (previously, Salomon Smith Barney/Salomon Brothers) (1984—2006). Ms. Palmer was a Member of the Board of Trustees of Indian Mountain School (private elementary and secondary school) (2004—2009).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            
Richard P. Strubel
Age: 71
  Trustee   Since 1987   Director, Cardean Learning Group (provider of educational services via the internet) (2003—2008); Trustee Emeritus, The University of Chicago (1987—Present).     96     The Northern Trust Mutual Fund Complex (58 Portfolios) (Chairman of the Board of Trustees); Gildan Activewear Inc. (a clothing marketing and manufacturing company)
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            

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Interested Trustees
                         
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex   Other
Name,
  Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Directorships
Address and Age 1   the Trust   Served 2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee 3   Held by Trustee 4
 
                       
James A. McNamara*
Age: 48
  President and Trustee   Since 2007   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 1998—Present); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998—December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993—April 1998).     96     None
 
                       
 
          President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (November 2007—Present); Senior Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (May 2007—November 2007); and Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (2001—2007).            
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (since November 2007 and December 2002—May 2004).            
 
                       
Alan A. Shuch*
Age: 61
  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).     96     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.            
 
*   These persons are considered to be “Interested Trustees” because they hold positions with Goldman Sachs and own securities issued by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Each Interested Trustee 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, 200 West Street, New York, New York, 10282, Attn: Peter V. Bonanno.
 
2   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 Trust’s Declaration of Trust; (c) the conclusion of the first Board meeting held subsequent to the day the Trustee attains the age of 74 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.
 
3   The Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund, Goldman Sachs Credit Strategies Fund and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. As of April 29, 2011, the Trust consisted of 83 portfolios (81 of which are currently offered to the public), Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 11 portfolios, and the Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund did not offer shares to the public.
 
4   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.
     The significance or relevance of a Trustee’s particular experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills is considered by the Board on an individual basis. Experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills common to all Trustees include the ability to critically review, evaluate and discuss information provided to them and to interact effectively with the other Trustees and with representatives of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, other service providers, legal counsel and the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, the capacity to address financial and legal issues and exercise reasonable business judgment, and a commitment to the representation of the interests of the Funds and their shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee’s charter contains certain other factors that are considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees to serve as Independent Trustees. Based on each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills, considered individually and with respect to the experience, qualifications attributes and/or skills of other Trustees, the Board has concluded that

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each Trustee should serve as a Trustee. Below is a brief discussion of the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of each individual Trustee as of April 29, 2011 that led the Board to conclude that such individual should serve as a Trustee.
      Ashok N. Bakhru . Mr. Bakhru has served as a Trustee since 1991 and Chairman of the Board since 1996. Mr. Bakhru serves as President of ABN Associates, a management and financial consulting firm, and is a Director of Apollo Investment Corporation, a business development company. Previously, Mr. Bakhru was the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Coty Inc., a multinational cosmetics, fragrance and personal care company. Previously, Mr. Bakhru held several senior management positions at Scott Paper Company, a major manufacturer of paper products, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bakhru also serves on the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council and the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute. He also serves on the Advisory Board of BoardIQ, an investment publication. In addition, Mr. Bakhru has served as Director of Equity-Linked Investments II and Private Equity Investors III and IV, which are private equity partnerships based in New York City. Mr. Bakhru was also a Director of Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Bakhru is experienced with financial and investment matters.
      Donald C. Burke . Mr. Burke has served as Trustee since 2010. Mr. Burke was a Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc., where he was President and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock’s U.S. funds and a director and chairman of several offshore funds advised by BlackRock. As President and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock’s U.S. funds, he was responsible for all accounting, tax and regulatory reporting requirements for over 300 open-end and closed-end BlackRock funds. Previously, he was a Managing Director, First Vice President and Vice President of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”), where he worked for 16 years prior to MLIM’s merger with BlackRock, and was instrumental in the integration of BlackRock’s and MLIM’s operating infrastructure following the merger. While at MLIM, he was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of MLIM’s U.S. funds and Head of Global Operations and Client Services, where he was responsible for the development and maintenance of MLIM’s operating infrastructure across the Americas, Europe and the Pacific Rim. He also developed controls for the MLIM U.S. funds’ financial statement certification process to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, worked with fund auditors in connection with the funds’ annual audits and established the department responsible for all tax issues impacting the MLIM U.S. funds. Previously, Mr. Burke was Tax Manager at Deloitte & Touche, where he was designated as one of the firm’s lead specialists in the investment company industry, and advised multinational corporations, partnerships, universities and high net worth individuals in tax matters. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Burke is experienced with accounting, financial and investment matters.
      John P. Coblentz, Jr . Mr. Coblentz has served as Trustee since 2003. Mr. Coblentz has been designated as the Board’s “audit committee financial expert” given his extensive accounting and finance experience. Mr. Coblentz was a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP for 28 years. While at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Mr. Coblentz was lead partner responsible for all auditing and accounting services to a variety of large, global companies, a significant portion of which operated in the financial services industry. Mr. Coblentz was also the national managing partner for the firm’s risk management function, a member of the firm’s Management Committee and the first managing partner of the firm’s Financial Advisory Services practice, which brought together the firm’s mergers and acquisition services, forensic and dispute services, corporate finance, asset valuation and reorganization businesses under one management structure. He served as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Coblentz also currently serves as a Director and chairman of the finance committee of Elderhostel, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Coblentz is experienced with accounting, financial and investment matters.
      Diana M. Daniels . Ms. Daniels has served as Trustee since 2007. Ms. Daniels also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University. Ms. Daniels held several senior management positions at The Washington Post Company and its subsidiaries, where she worked for 29 years. While at The Washington Post Company, Ms. Daniels served as Vice Present, General Counsel, Secretary to the Board of Directors and Secretary to the Audit Committee. Previously, Ms. Daniels served as Vice President and General Counsel of Newsweek, Inc. Ms. Daniels has also served as a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of Standish Mellon Management Advisors and of the Legal Advisory Board of New York Stock Exchange. Ms. Daniels is also a member of the American Law Institute and of the Advisory Council of the Inter-American Press Association. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Daniels is experienced with legal, financial and investment matters.
      Joseph P. LoRusso . Mr. LoRusso has served as Trustee since 2010. Mr. LoRusso held a number of senior management positions at Fidelity Investments for over 15 years, where he was most recently President of Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Co. (“FIIS”). As President of FIIS, Mr. LoRusso oversaw the development, distribution and servicing of Fidelity’s investment and retirement products through various financial intermediaries. Previously, he served as President, Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Institutional Retirement Services Co., where he helped establish Fidelity’s 401(k) business and built it into the largest in the U.S. In these positions, he oversaw sales, marketing, implementation, client services, operations and technology. Mr. LoRusso also served on Fidelity’s Executive Management Committee. Prior to his experience with Fidelity, he was Second Vice

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President in the Investment and Pension Group of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance, where he had responsibility for developing and running the company’s 401(k) business. Previously, he worked at The Equitable (now a subsidiary of AXA Financial), where he was Product Manager of the company’s then-nascent 401(k) business, and at Arthur Andersen & Co. (now Accenture), as a Senior Consultant within the firm’s consulting practice. Based on the foregoing, Mr. LoRusso is experienced with financial and investment matters.
      Jessica Palmer . Ms. Palmer has served as Trustee since 2007. Ms. Palmer worked at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking (previously, Salomon Smith Barney/Salomon Brothers) for over 20 years, where she was a Managing Director. While at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking, Ms. Palmer was Head of Global Risk Management, Chair of the Global Commitment Committee, Co-Chair of International Investment Banking (New York) and Head of Fixed Income Capital Markets. Ms. Palmer was also a member of the Management Committee and Risk Management Operating Committee of Citigroup, Inc. Prior to that, Ms. Palmer was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in its international corporate finance department. Ms. Palmer was also Assistant Vice President of the International Division at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Ms. Palmer was also a member of the Board of Trustees of a private elementary and secondary school. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Palmer is experienced with financial and investment matters.
      Richard P. Strubel . Mr. Strubel has served as Trustee since 1987. Mr. Strubel also serves as Chairman of the Northern Funds, a family of retail and institutional mutual funds managed by The Northern Trust Company. He also serves on the board of Gildan Activewear Inc., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Mr. Strubel was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Cardean Learning Group (formerly known as Unext), and previously served as Unext’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Strubel was Managing Director of Tandem Partners, Inc., a privately-held management services firm, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Microdot, Inc. Previously, Mr. Strubel served as President of Northwest Industries, then a NYSE-listed company, a conglomerate with various operating entities located around the country. Before joining Northwest, Mr. Strubel was an associate and later managing principal of Fry Consultants, a management consulting firm based in Chicago. Mr. Strubel is also a Trustee Emeritus of the University of Chicago and is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Strubel is experienced with financial and investment matters.
      James A. McNamara . Mr. McNamara has served as Trustee and President of the Trust since 2007 and has served as an officer of the Trust since 2001. Mr. McNamara is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. Mr. McNamara is currently head of Global Third Party Distribution at GSAM, where he was previously head of U.S. Third Party Distribution. Prior to that role, Mr. McNamara served as Director of Institutional Fund Sales. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. McNamara was Vice President and Manager at Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation. Based on the foregoing, Mr. McNamara is experienced with financial and investment matters.
      Alan A. Shuch . Mr. Shuch has served as a Trustee since 1990. Mr. Shuch is an Advisory Director to Goldman Sachs. Mr. Shuch serves on the Board of Trustees of a number of offshore funds managed by GSAM. He serves on GSAM’s Valuation and Brokerage Allocation Committees. Prior to retiring as a general partner of Goldman Sachs in 1994, Mr. Shuch was president and chief operating officer of GSAM which he founded in 1988. Mr. Shuch joined the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Division in 1976. He was instrumental in building Goldman Sachs’ Corporate Bond Department and served as co-head of the Global Fixed Income Sales and the High Yield Bond and Preferred Stock Departments. He headed the Portfolio Restructuring and Fixed Income Quantitative and Credit Research Departments. Mr. Shuch also served on a variety of firm-wide committees including the International Executive, New Product and Strategic Planning Committees and was a member of the Stone Street/Bridge Street Private Equity Board. Mr. Shuch serves on Wharton’s Graduate Executive Board. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Shuch is experienced with financial and investment matters.

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Officers of the Trust
Information pertaining to the officers of the Trust as of April 29, 2011 is set forth below:
Officers of the Trust
             
        Term of Office    
    Position(s) Held   and Length of    
Name, Age And Address   With the Trust   Time Served 1   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
           
James A. McNamara
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 48
  Trustee and President   Since 2007   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 1998—Present); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998—December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993—April 1998).
 
           
 
          President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (November 2007—Present); Senior Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (May 2007—November 2007); and Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (2001—2007).
 
           
 
          Trustee—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (since November 2007—Present and December 2002—May 2004).
 
Scott McHugh
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 39
  Treasurer and Senior Vice President   Since 2009   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (February 2007—Present); Assistant Treasurer of certain mutual funds administered by DWS Scudder (2005—2007); and Director (2005-2007), Vice President (2000-2005), Assistant Vice President (1998-2000), Deutsche Asset Management or its predecessor (1998—2007).
 
           
 
          Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (October 2009-Present); Senior Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (November 2009-Present); and Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (May 2007-October 2009).
 
           
George F. Travers
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 43
  Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer   Since 2009   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2007-present); Managing Director, UBS Ag (2005-2007); and Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1990-2005, partner from 2000-2005)
 
           
 
          Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Philip V. Giuca, Jr.
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 49
  Assistant Treasurer   Since 1997   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992—Present).
 
           
 
          Assistant Treasurer — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Peter Fortner
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 53
  Assistant Treasurer   Since 2000   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2000—Present); Principal Financial Officer, Commerce Bank Mutual Fund Complex (2008-Present); Associate, Prudential Insurance Company of America (November 1985—June 2000); and Assistant Treasurer, certain closed-end funds administered by Prudential (1999—2000).
 
           
 
          Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.

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Officers of the Trust
             
        Term of Office    
    Position(s) Held   and Length of    
Name, Age And Address   With the Trust   Time Served 1   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
           
Kenneth G. Curran
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 47
  Assistant Treasurer   Since 2001   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (November 1998—Present); and Senior Tax Manager, KPMG Peat Marwick (accountants) (August 1995—October 1998).
 
           
 
          Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
James A. Fitzpatrick
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 51
  Vice President   Since 1997   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (October 1999—Present); and Vice President of GSAM (April 1997—December 1999).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Jesse Cole
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 47
  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 1996—June 1998).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Kerry K. Daniels
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 48
  Vice President   Since 2000   Manager, Financial Control — Shareholder Services, Goldman Sachs (1986—Present).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Mark Hancock
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 43
  Vice President   Since 2007   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2005—Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2000—November 2005); Senior Vice President—Dreyfus Service Corp (1999—2000); and Vice President—Dreyfus Service Corp (1996—1999).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Jeffrey D. Matthes
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 41
  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (December 2004—Present); and Associate, Goldman Sachs (December 2002—December 2004).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Carlos W. Samuels
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 36
  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (December 2007—Present); Associate, Goldman Sachs (December 2005—December 2007); Analyst, Goldman Sachs (January 2004—December 2005).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           

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Officers of the Trust
             
        Term of Office    
    Position(s) Held   and Length of    
Name, Age And Address   With the Trust   Time Served 1   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
           
Miriam Cytryn
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 52
  Vice President   Since 2008   Vice President, GSAM (2008-Present); Vice President of Divisional Management, Investment Management Division (2007-2008); Vice President and Chief of Staff, GSAM US Distribution (2003-2007); and Vice President of Employee Relations, Goldman Sachs (1996-2003).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Glen Casey
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 46
  Vice President   Since 2008   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2007-Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1997-2007).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Mark Heaney
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, EC1A 7HD, UK
Age: 43
  Vice President   Since 2010   Executive Director, GSAM (May 2005 — Present); Director of Operations (UK and Ireland), Invesco Asset Management (May 2004 — March 2005); Global Head of Investment Administration, Invesco Asset Management (September 2001 — May 2004); Managing Director (Ireland), Invesco Asset Management (March 2000 — September 2001); Director of Investment Administration, Invesco Asset Management (December 1998 — March 2000).
 
           
 
          Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Peter V. Bonanno
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 43
  Secretary   Since 2003   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2006—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2002—Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1999—2006); and Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (1999-2002).
 
           
 
          Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (2006—Present); and Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (2003—2006).
 
           
Dave Fishman
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 46
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2001   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2001—Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1997—December 2001).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Danny Burke
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 48
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2001   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1987—Present).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
George Djurasovic
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 40
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2005—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2006—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2005—2006); Senior Counsel, TIAA — CREF (2004—2005); and Counsel, TIAA — CREF (2000—2004).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.

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Officers of the Trust
             
        Term of Office    
    Position(s) Held   and Length of    
Name, Age And Address   With the Trust   Time Served 1   Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
 
           
Patricia Meyer
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 37
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (September 2006—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2009-Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (September 2006 — December 2008); and Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (2000—2006).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Mark T. Robertson 200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 34
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (April 2007—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (April 2007—Present); Associate, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (2004—2007); and Solicitor, Corrs Chambers Westgarth (2002—2003).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Deborah Farrell
30 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Age: 39
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2007   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2005—Present); Associate, Goldman Sachs (2001—2005); and Analyst, Goldman Sachs (1994—2005).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Patrick T. O’Callaghan
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 39
  Assistant
Secretary
  Since 2009   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2000-Present); Associate, Goldman Sachs (1998-2000); Analyst, Goldman Sachs (1995-1998).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
James A. McCarthy
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 46
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2009   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2003-Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1996-2003); Portfolio Manager, Goldman Sachs (1995-1996).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
           
Andrew Murphy
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Age: 38
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2010   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (April 2009-Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (April 2009-Present); Attorney, Axiom Legal (2007-2009); Vice President and Counsel, AllianceBernstein, L.P. (2001-2007).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
 
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 six standing committees in connection with their governance of the Funds — Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance, Valuation, Dividend 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

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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 October 31, 2010.
     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 October 31, 2010. 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 three times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. 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 Trust’s Valuation Procedures. Messrs. McNamara and Shuch serve on the Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee met twelve times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.
     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 Fund’s Prospectus. Messrs. McNamara and McHugh serve on the Dividend Committee. The Dividend Committee met twelve times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.
     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’s processes for approving and reviewing the operation of the Funds’ distribution, service, shareholder 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 Board’s 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 October 31, 2010. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee.
Risk Oversight
     The Board is responsible for the oversight of the activities of the Funds, including oversight of risk management. Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Funds is the responsibility of GSAM or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), subject to supervision by GSAM. The risks of the Funds include, but are not limited to, investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk. Each of GSAM and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management may differ from the Funds and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result, the Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Funds or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects, and that some risks are simply beyond the control of the Funds or GSAM, its affiliates or other service providers.
     The Board effectuates its oversight role primarily through regular and special meetings of the Board and Board committees. In certain cases, risk management issues are specifically addressed in presentations and discussions. For example, GSAM has an independent dedicated Market Risk Group that assists GSAM in managing investment risk. Representatives from the Market Risk Group regularly meet with the Board to discuss their analysis and methodologies. In addition, investment risk is discussed in the context of regular presentations to the Board on Fund strategy and performance. Other types of risk are addressed as part of

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presentations on related topics (e.g. compliance policies) or in the context of presentations focused specifically on one or more risks. The Board also receives reports from GSAM management on operational risks, reputational risks and counterparty risks relating to the Funds.
     Board oversight of risk management is also performed by various Board committees. For example, the Audit Committee meets with both the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm and the GSAM’s internal audit group to review risk controls in place that support the Funds as well as test results, and the Compliance Committee meets with the CCO and representatives of GSAM’s compliance group to review testing results of the Funds’ compliance policies and procedures and other compliance issues. Board oversight of risk is also performed as needed between meetings through communications between the GSAM and the Board. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight. The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Fund’s investments or activities.
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 as of December 31, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
             
        Aggregate Dollar  
        Range of Equity  
        Securities in All  
    Dollar Range of   Portfolios in Fund  
    Equity Securities in   Complex Overseen By  
     Name of Trustee   the Funds (1)   Trustee (2)  
Ashok N. Bakhru
    Over $100,000
Donald C. Burke
    Over $100,000
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
    Over $100,000
Diana M. Daniels
    Over $100,000
Joseph P. LoRusso
    Over $100,000
James A. McNamara
    Over $100,000
Jessica Palmer
    Over $100,000
Alan A. Shuch
    $50,000 - $100,000
Richard P. Strubel
    Over $100,000
 
1   Includes the value of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in each Fund described in this SAI.
 
2   As of December 31, 2010, the Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund, and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. The Trust consisted of 77 portfolios, the Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 11 portfolios, and the Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund did not offer shares to the public.
     As of April 29, 2011, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of each Fund.
Board Compensation
     Each Independent Trustee will be compensated with a unitary annual fee for his or her services as a Trustee of the Trust and as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee, Contract Review Committee, and Audit Committee. The Chairman and “audit committee financial expert” will receive additional compensation for their services. 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 tables set forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

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Trustee Compensation
                                 
    Fund  
Name of Trustee   Brazil Equity     India Equity     China Equity     Korea Equity  
Ashok N. Bakhru 1
                       
Donald C. Burke
                       
John P. Coblentz, Jr. 2
                       
Diana M. Daniels
                       
Patrick T. Harker
                       
Joseph P. LoRusso
                       
James A. McNamara 3
                       
Jessica Palmer
                       
Alan A. Shuch 3
                       
Richard P. Strubel
                       
                         
    Aggregate     Pension or Retirement        
    Compensation     Benefits Accrued as Part     Total Compensation  
Name of Trustee   from the Funds*     Of the Trust’s Expenses     From Fund Complex **  
Ashok N. Bakhru 1
        $ 0     $ 372,416.67  
Donald C. Burke
          0       56,366.85  
John P. Coblentz, Jr .2
          0       282,000.00  
Diana M. Daniels
          0       239,833.33  
Patrick T. Harker
                       
Joseph P. LoRusso
          0       220,583.33  
James A. McNamara 3
                56,366.85  
Jessica Palmer
          0       0  
Alan A. Shuch 3
                   
Richard P. Strubel
          0        
 
*   The Funds were not in operation prior to the date of this SAI. Therefore the Trustees received no compensation from the Funds during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.
 
**   Represents fees paid to each Trustee during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 from the Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex. As of October 31, 2010, the Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex consisted of the Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs Credit Strategies Fund and Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund. As of October 31, 2010, the Trust consisted of 77 portfolios, the Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 11 portfolios, and the Goldman Sachs Municipal Opportunity Fund did not offer shares to the public.
 
  Effective September 30, 2010, Mr. Harker resigned from the Board of Trustees.
 
1   Includes compensation as Board Chairman.
 
2   Includes compensation as “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
 
3   Messrs. McNamara and Shuch are Interested Trustees, and as such, receive no compensation from the Fund or the Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex.
Miscellaneous
     Class A Shares of the Funds may be sold at NAV 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.
     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.

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MANAGEMENT SERVICES
     As stated in the Funds’ Prospectuses, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), Christchurch Court, 10-15 Newgate Street, London, England EC1A7HD, serves as Investment Adviser to the Funds. GSAMI is an affiliate of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Goldman Sachs. See “Service Providers” in the Funds’ Prospectuses for a description of the Investment Adviser’s duties to the Funds.
     Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a bank holding company and a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. 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, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Seoul, Sao Paulo and other major financial centers around the world. The active participation of Goldman Sachs in the world’s 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 Fund’s name for as long as each Fund’s Management Agreement is in effect.
     The Investment Adviser is 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 3,000 equity securities, 350 fixed income securities and 25 stock markets in more than 50 economies and regions. The in depth information and analyses generated by Goldman Sachs’ research analysts are available to the Investment Adviser subject to Chinese Wall restrictions.
     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 security’s term, coupon and call option, providing an overall analysis of the security’s value relative to its interest risk.
     In managing the Funds, the Investment Adviser has 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 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 firm’s economists, strategists and equity analysts.
     In allocating assets among foreign countries and currencies for the Funds, the Investment Adviser will have access to the Global Asset Allocation Model. The model is based on the observation that the prices of all financial assets, including foreign currencies, will adjust until investors globally are comfortable holding the pool of outstanding assets. Using the model, the Investment Adviser will estimate the total returns from each currency sector which are consistent with the average investor holding a portfolio equal to the market capitalization of the financial assets among those currency sectors. These estimated equilibrium returns are then combined with the expectations of Goldman Sachs’ research professionals to produce an optimal currency and asset allocation for the level of risk suitable for the Funds given its investment objectives and criteria.
     The Management Agreement provides that GSAMI, in its capacity as Investment Adviser, may render similar services to others so long as the services under the Management Agreement are not impaired thereby. The Funds’ Management Agreement was 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 17, 2010. A discussion regarding the Trustees’ basis for approving the Management Agreement for the Fund will be available in the Trust’s semi-annual report for the period ending on April 30, 2011.
     These management arrangements were last approved by the shareholders of the Funds then in existence on April 21, 1997. The management arrangements for those Funds that commenced investment operations after April 21, 1997 were last approved by the initial sole shareholder of each such Fund, prior to the Fund’s commencement of operations.

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     The Management Agreements will remain in effect until June 30, 2011 and will continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of such Fund’s 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.
     The Management Agreements will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Act). The Management Agreements are is 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 Adviser is entitled to receive the fees set forth below, payable monthly based on each Fund’s average daily net assets.
         
        Actual Rate for the Fiscal
        Year Ended
Fund   Management Fee Annual Rate   October 31, 2010*
Brazil Equity Fund
  1.10% on the first $1 billion  
 
  0.99% over $1 billion up to $2 billion    
 
  0.94% over $2 billion up to $5 billion    
 
  0.92% over $5 billion up to $8 billion    
 
  0.90% over $8 billion    
India Equity Fund
  1.10% on the first $1 billion  
 
  0.99% over $1 billion up to $2 billion    
 
  0.94% over $2 billion up to $5 billion    
 
  0.92% over $5 billion up to $8 billion    
 
  0.90% over $8 billion    
China Equity Fund
  1.10% on the first $1 billion  
 
  0.99% over $1 billion up to $2 billion    
 
  0.94% over $2 billion up to $5 billion    
 
  0.92% over $5 billion up to $8 billion    
 
  0.90% over $8 billion    
Korea Equity Fund
  1.10% on the first $1 billion  
 
  0.99% over $1 billion up to $2 billion    
 
  0.94% over $2 billion up to $5 billion    
 
  0.92% over $5 billion up to $8 billion    
 
  0.90% over $8 billion    
 
*   The Fund was not in operation prior to the date of this SAI. Therefore the Investment Advisor received no fees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.
     In addition to providing advisory services, under the Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser also: (i) supervises all non-advisory operations of the Funds; (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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s records; and (v) provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services.
Portfolio Managers — 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, as of December 31, 2010.

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    Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by     Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is  
    Account Type     Performance Based  
    Registered                                     Registered              
    Investment     Other Pooled     Other     Investment     Other Pooled     Other  
    Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts     Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts  
    Number             Number             Number             Number             Number             Number        
Name of   of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets  
Portfolio Manager   Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed  
Brazil Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Gabriella Antici
    11     $ 3,422M                                                              
Andrea Cardia
    4     $ 54M                                                              
Marcia Zugaib
    4     $ 54M                                                              
India Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Rick K.B. Loo
    2     $ 152M                         2     $ 600M                                
China Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Alina Chiew
    9     $ 4,224M                         5     $ 865M                                
Nathan Lin
    2     $ 440M                         3     $ 264M                                
Korea Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Rick K.B. Loo
    2     $ 152M                         2     $ 600M                                

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      Conflicts of Interest . The Investment Adviser’s 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 Adviser has 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 Adviser has 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 Adviser 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 Adviser conducts periodic reviews of trades for consistency with these policies. For more information about conflicts of interests that may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s 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 Adviser’s Proprietary Activities and Activities on Behalf of Other Accounts.”
Portfolio Managers — Compensation
     Compensation for portfolio managers of the Investment Adviser is comprised of a base salary and discretionary variable compensation. The base salary is fixed from year to year. Year-end discretionary variable compensation is primarily a function of each portfolio manager’s individual performance and his or her contribution to overall team performance; the performance of the Investment Advisers and Goldman Sachs; the team’s net revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees, and for certain accounts, performance-based fees; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers are rewarded, in part, for their delivery of investment performance, measured on a pre-tax basis, which is reasonably expected to meet or exceed the expectations of clients and fund shareholders in terms of: excess return over an applicable benchmark, peer group ranking, risk management and factors specific to certain funds such as yield or regional focus. Performance is judged over 1-3- and 5-year time horizons.
The benchmarks for these Funds are:
Brazil Equity Fund: MSCI ® Brazil 10/40 Index (Net TR)
India Equity Fund: MSCI ® India Investable Markets Index (Net)
China Equity Fund: MSCI ® China Index (Net, Unhedged, USD)
Korea Equity Fund: Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)
     The discretionary variable compensation for portfolio managers is also significantly influenced by: (1) effective participation in team research discussions and process; and (2) management of risk in alignment with the targeted risk parameter and investment objective of the fund. Other factors may also be considered including: (1) general client/shareholder orientation and (2) teamwork and leadership. Portfolio managers may receive equity-based awards as part of their discretionary variable compensation.
     Other Compensation—In addition to base salary and discretionary variable compensation, the Investment Adviser has a number of additional benefits in place including (1) a 401k program that enables employees to direct a percentage of their pretax salary and bonus income into a tax-qualified retirement plan; and (2) investment opportunity programs in which certain professionals may participate subject to certain eligibility requirements.
Portfolio Managers — Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Securities in the Funds They Manage
     The Funds were not in operation prior to the date of this SAI. Consequently, the portfolio managers own no securities issued by the Funds.
Distributor and Transfer Agent
     Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, 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

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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 C, and Class IR 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 C Shares (and in certain cases, Class A Shares), of such Fund shares.
      Dealer Reallowances. Class A Shares of the Funds are sold subject to a front-end sales charge, as described in the Prospectuses and in this SAI in the section “SHARES OF THE TRUST.” Goldman Sachs pays commissions to Authorized Dealers who sell Class A shares of the Funds in the form of a “reallowance” of all or a portion of the sales charge paid on the purchase of those shares. Goldman Sachs reallows the following amounts, expressed as a percentage of each Fund’s offering price with respect to purchases under $50,000:
         
Fund        
Brazil Equity Fund
    5.00 %
India Equity Fund
    5.00 %
China Equity Fund
    5.00 %
Korea Equity Fund
    5.00 %
     Dealer allowances may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be reallowed to Authorized Dealers. Authorized Dealers to whom substantially the entire sales charge is reallowed may be deemed to be “underwriters” under the Securities Act of 1933.
Goldman Sachs, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 serves as the Trust’s transfer and dividend disbursing 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 Trust’s 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 Fund’s Institutional Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to each Fund’s Class A, Class C, and Class IR Shares. Goldman Sachs may pay to certain intermediaries who perform transfer agent services to shareholders a networking or sub-transfer agent fee. These payments will be made from the transfer agency fees noted above and in the Funds’ Prospectuses.
     The Trust’s 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.
Expenses
     The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is responsible for the payment of each Fund’s respective expenses. The expenses include, without limitation, the fees payable to the Investment Adviser, the fees and expenses of the Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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, SAIs, proxy material, reports and notices and the printing and distributing of the same to the Trust’s 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 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.

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     The imposition of the Investment Adviser’s 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 lowering that Fund’s 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 April 29, 2010, the Investment Adviser has 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 Fund’s average daily net assets through at least April 29, 2010:
         
    Other
Fund   Expenses
Brazil Equity Fund
    0.364 %
India Equity Fund
    0.364 %
China Equity Fund
    0.365 %
Korea Equity Fund
    0.364 %
     Such reductions or limits, if any, are calculated monthly on a cumulative basis during each Fund’s fiscal year and may be discontinued or modified by the 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 Adviser’s costs of performing certain accounting services not being provided by a Fund’s custodian.
Custodian and Sub-Custodians
     State Street Bank and Trust Company 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110 is the custodian of the Funds’ portfolio securities and cash. State Street Bank and Trust Company also maintains each Fund’s accounting records. State Street Bank and Trust Company 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.
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 that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, investment adviser, financier, advisor, market maker, proprietary trader, prime broker, lender, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., the investment management division of Goldman Sachs, the Investment Advisers (collectively for purposes of this section, the “Investment Adviser”), and their affiliates, directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees (collectively for purposes of this “POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST” section, “Goldman Sachs”) purchase, sell and hold a broad array of investments, actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for their own accounts or for the accounts of their customers and will have other direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equity, bank loan and other markets in which the Funds directly and indirectly invest.

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     As described in the preceding paragraph, Goldman Sachs, including those personnel who may be involved in the management, sales, investment activities, business operations or distribution of the Funds, is engaged in businesses and has 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 or their service providers. These are considerations of which shareholders should be aware, and which may cause conflicts that could disadvantage the Funds. The following is a brief summary description of certain of these potential conflicts of interest:
    While the Investment Adviser will make decisions for the Funds in accordance with its obligation 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 Adviser 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.
 
    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.
 
    Goldman Sachs may make payments to Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries from time to time to promote the Funds, other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs 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 as separately identified charges to the Funds.
 
    While the allocation of investment opportunities among Goldman Sachs, the Funds and other funds and accounts managed by the Investment Adviser may raise potential conflicts because of financial, investment or other interests of Goldman Sachs or its personnel, the Investment Adviser will make allocation decisions consistent with the interests of the Funds and the other funds and accounts and not solely based on such other interests.
 
    The Investment Adviser will give advice to and make investment decisions for the Funds as it believes 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 Adviser 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 (including the Funds).
 
    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, 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.

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    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 Adviser or its 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 Adviser will make proxy voting decisions as it believes appropriate and in accordance with the Investment Adviser’s policies designed to help avoid conflicts of interest, proxy voting decisions made by the Investment Adviser with respect to a Fund’s portfolio securities may also have the effect of favoring 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 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 Adviser is 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 Adviser. A copy of Part 1 of the Investment Adviser’s Form ADV is available on the SEC’s website ( www.adviserinfo.sec.gov ).
Potential Conflicts Relating to Other Activities of Goldman Sachs, Ancillary Benefits, 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 Adviser makes decisions for the Funds in accordance with its obligations as the Investment Adviser of the Funds. However, Goldman Sachs’ other activities, individually or in the aggregate, 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. As a result, Goldman Sachs may take positions that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the investment objectives of 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. As a result of the activities described in this paragraph and the access and knowledge

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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 a Fund or acquire certain positions on behalf of the Fund. Goldman Sachs will be under no duty to make any such information available to the Investment Adviser or in particular the personnel of the Investment Adviser making investment decisions on behalf of the Funds.
Goldman Sachs May Derive Ancillary Benefits From Its Relationship With the Funds
     Goldman Sachs may derive ancillary benefits from providing investment advisory, distribution, transfer agency, administrative and other services to the Funds, and providing such services to the Funds may enhance Goldman Sachs’ relationships with various parties, facilitate additional business development, and enable Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and generate additional revenue.
     In addition, Goldman Sachs may derive ancillary benefits from certain decisions made by the Investment Adviser. While the Investment Adviser will make decisions for the Funds in accordance with its 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 Adviser for the Funds than they would have been had other decisions been made which also might have been appropriate for the Funds. For example, the Investment Adviser may recommend to the Board that Goldman Sachs or an affiliate thereof provide administrative or other services to a Fund instead of hiring an unaffiliated administrator or other service provider, provided that such engagement is on market terms, as determined by such Fund or the Fund’s Board in its discretion.
Goldman Sachs’ Financial and Other Interests 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 shares of the Funds. With respect to both Goldman Sachs and its personnel, the remuneration and profitability relating to services to and sales of shares 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. Certain compensation earned by the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs, for example, may be based on Fund assets under management. These fees will be paid out of Fund assets before they are applied to make payments to Fund shareholders. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, they are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and Goldman Sachs would still receive significant compensation even if shareholders lose money.
     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.
     In addition, one or more divisions of Goldman Sachs may refer certain investment opportunities to the Investment Adviser or otherwise provide services to, or enter into arrangements with, the Investment Adviser. In connection with such referrals, services or other arrangements involving one or more divisions of Goldman Sachs, such divisions may engage in sharing of fees or other compensation received by the Investment Adviser from the Funds.
Sales Incentives and Related Conflicts Arising from Goldman Sachs’ Financial and Other Relationships with Intermediaries
     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

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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 consultant’s points of view on the investment management process. Consultants and other parties that provide consulting or other services or provide service platforms for employee benefit plans 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 Adviser. Goldman Sachs may also pay a fee for membership in industry-wide or state and municipal organizations, and in connection with clients, consultants or otherwise, may participate in sponsoring 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 and sponsorships 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, and to educate participants about industry issues.
     In addition, Goldman Sachs’ personnel, including employees 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 or distribute the Funds. In addition, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, may make charitable contributions to institutions, including those that have relationships with clients or personnel of clients. Personnel of Goldman Sachs may have board relationships with such charitable institutions. Personnel of Goldman Sachs 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 or the Funds may make payments to Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) from time to time to promote current or future accounts or funds managed or advised by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or its personnel have interests (collectively, the “Client/GS Accounts”), the Funds and other products. In addition to placement fees, sales loads or similar distribution charges, 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 (which may consist of payments resulting in or relating to the inclusion of the Funds, Client/GS Accounts and other products 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; fees for directing investors to the Funds, Client/GS Accounts and other products; “finders fees” or “referral fees” or other fees for providing assistance in promoting the Funds, Client/GS Accounts and other products (which may include promotion 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, Client/GS Accounts and other products. Such payments 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 interests sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be calculated on another basis. 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. Furthermore, subject to applicable law, such payments 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. The additional payments by Goldman Sachs may also compensate Intermediaries for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing or other investor services that are in addition to the fees paid for these services by such products.
     The payments made by Goldman Sachs or the Funds may be different for different Intermediaries. The payments may be negotiated based on a range of factors, including but not limited to, ability to attract and retain assets, target markets, customer relationships, quality of service and industry reputation. 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 payments and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered

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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. For example, the Funds may be competing for investment opportunities with Client/GS Accounts. The Client/GS Accounts may provide greater fees or other compensation (including performance based fees), equity or other interests to Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser).
     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, sectors or strategies in which the Funds may invest. This may create potential conflicts where there is limited availability or limited liquidity for those investments. For example, limited availability may exist, without limitation, in local and emerging markets, high yield securities, fixed income securities, regulated industries, small capitalization, and IPO/new issues. Transactions in investments by multiple Client/GS Accounts (including accounts in which Goldman Sachs and its personnel have an interest), other clients of Goldman Sachs or Goldman Sachs itself may have the effect of diluting or otherwise negatively affecting the values, prices or investment strategies associated with securities held by Client/GS Accounts, or the Funds, particularly, but not limited to, in small capitalization, emerging market or less liquid strategies. The Investment Adviser has developed policies and procedures that provide that it will allocate investment opportunities and make purchase and sale decisions among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts in a manner that it considers, in its sole discretion and consistent with its fiduciary obligation to each Fund and Client/GS Account, to be reasonable.
     In many cases, these policies result in the pro rata allocation of limited opportunities across the Funds and Client/GS Accounts, but in many other cases the allocations reflect numerous other factors based upon the Investment Adviser’s good faith assessment of the best use of such limited opportunities relative to the objectives, limitation and requirements of each Fund and Client/GS Accounts and applying a variety of factors including those described below. The Investment Adviser seeks to treat all clients reasonably in light of all factors relevant to managing an account, and in some cases it is possible that the application of the factors described below may result in allocations in which certain accounts may receive an allocation when other accounts do not. Non-proportional allocation may occur more frequently in the fixed income portfolio management area than many active equity accounts, in many instances because multiple appropriate or substantially similar investments are available in fixed income strategies, as well as due to differences in benchmark factors, hedging strategies, or other reasons, but non-proportional allocations could also occur in other areas. The application of these factors as described below may result in allocations in which Goldman Sachs and Goldman Sachs employees may receive an allocation or an opportunity not allocated to other Client/GS Accounts or the Funds. Allocations may be based on numerous factors and may not always be pro rata based on assets managed.
     The Investment Adviser will make allocation related decisions with reference to numerous factors. These factors may include, without limitation, (i) account investment horizons, investment objectives and guidelines; (ii) different levels of investment for different strategies including sector oriented, concentrated new opportunities or other strategies; (iii) client-specific investment guidelines and restrictions including the ability to hedge through short sales or other techniques; (iv) the expected future capacity of applicable Funds or Client/GS Accounts; (v) fully directed brokerage accounts; (vi) tax sensitivity of accounts; (vii) suitability requirements and the nature of investment opportunity; (viii) account turnover guidelines; (ix) cash and liquidity considerations, including without limitation, availability of cash for investment; (x) relative sizes and expected future sizes of applicable accounts; (xi) availability of other appropriate investment opportunities; and/or (xii) minimum denomination, minimum increments, de minim i s threshold and round lot considerations. 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 and benchmark sensitivity of an account; (iv) an account’s risk tolerance, risk parameters and strategy allocations; (v) use of the opportunity as a replacement for a security Goldman Sachs believes to be attractive for an account; (vi) considerations relating to hedging a position in a pair trade; and/or (vii) considerations related to giving a subset of accounts exposure to an industry. In addition, the fact that certain Goldman Sachs personnel are dedicated to one or more funds, accounts or clients, including the Funds, may be a factor in determining the allocation of opportunities sourced by such personnel.

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Reputational matters and other such considerations may also be considered. The application of these principles may cause performance dispersion over time. Funds that do not receive allocations that perform well will experience lower performance.
     During periods of unusual market conditions, the Investment Adviser may deviate from its normal trade allocation practices. For example, this may occur with respect to the management of unlevered and/or long-only funds or accounts that are typically managed on a side-by-side basis with levered and/or long-short funds or accounts. During such periods, the Investment Adviser will seek to exercise a disciplined process for determining its actions to appropriately balance the interests of all accounts, including the Funds, as it determines in its sole discretion.
     In addition to allocations of limited availability investments, Goldman Sachs may, from time to time, develop and implement new investment opportunities and/or trading strategies, and these strategies may not be employed in all accounts (including the Fund) or pro rata among the accounts where they are employed, even if the strategy is consistent with the objectives of all accounts. Goldman Sachs may make decisions based on such factors as strategic fit and other portfolio management considerations, including, without limitation, an account’s capacity for such strategy, the liquidity of the strategy and its underlying instruments, the account’s liquidity, the business risk of the strategy relative to the account’s overall portfolio make-up, and the lack of efficacy of, or return expectations from, the strategy for the account, and such other factors as Goldman Sachs deems relevant in its 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.
     Allocation decisions among accounts may be more or less advantageous to any one account or group of accounts. As a result of these allocation issues, the amount, timing, structuring or terms of an investment by the Funds may differ from, and performance may be lower than, investments and performance of other Client/GS Accounts.
     Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, the Funds may or may not receive, but in any event will have no rights with respect to, opportunities sourced by Goldman Sachs businesses and affiliates. Such opportunities or any portion thereof may be offered to GS/Client Accounts, Goldman Sachs or affiliates thereof, all or certain investors of the Funds, or such other persons or entities as determined by Goldman Sachs in its sole discretion. The Funds will have no rights and will not receive any compensation related to such opportunities.
     The Investment Adviser and/or its 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 Adviser 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 Adviser (in the case of the Funds) nor its 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 Adviser
Potential Restrictions and Issues Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs
     As a result of informational barriers constructed between different divisions of Goldman Sachs, the Investment Adviser will generally not have access to information and may not consult with personnel in other areas of Goldman Sachs. Therefore, the Investment Adviser will generally not be able to manage the Funds with the benefit of information held by many other divisions of Goldman Sachs. From time to time and subject to the Investment Adviser’s policies and procedures regarding information barriers, the Investment Adviser 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. In certain circumstances, personnel of affiliates of the Investment Adviser may have input into, or make determinations regarding, portfolio management transactions for the Funds. The performance by such persons of obligations related to their consultation

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with personnel of the Investment Adviser could conflict with their areas of primary responsibility within Goldman Sachs or elsewhere. In connection with their activities with the Investment Adviser, such persons may receive information regarding the Investment Adviser’s 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 Adviser makes decisions for the Funds based on the Funds’ investment programs. The Investment Adviser 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 Adviser’s 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. A Fund or GS/Client Account 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.
     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. The investment flexibility of the Funds may be constrained as a consequence. The Investment Adviser generally is not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information in effecting purchases and sales in public securities transactions for the Funds.
Issues Relating to the Valuation of Assets by Multiple Divisions or Units Within Goldman Sachs
     Certain securities and other assets in which the Funds may invest may not have a readily ascertainable market value and will be valued by the Investment Adviser in accordance with the valuation guidelines described herein. Such securities and other assets may constitute a substantial portion of the Funds’ investments.
     The Investment Adviser may face a conflict of interest in valuing the securities or assets in the Funds’ portfolio that lack a readily ascertainable market value. Such valuations will affect the Investment Adviser’s compensation. The Investment Adviser will value such securities and other assets in accordance with the valuation policies described herein, however, the manner in which the Investment Adviser exercises its discretion with respect to valuation decisions will impact the valuation of Fund securities and, as a result, may adversely affect certain investors in the Funds and, conversely, may positively affect the Investment Adviser or its affiliates. In addition, the Investment Adviser may utilize third-party vendors to perform certain functions, and these vendors may have interests and incentives that differ from those of investors in the Fund.
     Various divisions and units within Goldman Sachs are required to value assets, including in connection with managing or advising Client/GS Accounts and in their capacity as a broker-dealer. These various divisions and units may share information regarding valuation techniques and models or other information relevant to the calculation of a specific asset or category of assets. Goldman Sachs does not, however, have any obligation to engage in such information sharing. Therefore, a division or unit of Goldman Sachs may value an identical asset differently than another division or unit of Goldman Sachs. This is particularly the case when an asset does not have a readily ascertainable market price and/or where one division or unit of Goldman Sachs has more recent and/or accurate information about the asset being valued.
Potential Conflicts Relating to Goldman Sachs’ and the Investment Adviser’s 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 Adviser will manage the Funds and the other Client/GS Accounts it manages 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

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Client/GS Accounts that may compete or conflict with the advice the Investment Adviser may give to the Funds, including with respect to the return of the investment, the timing or nature of action relating to the investment or method of exiting the investment.
     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 or in similar securities. 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 Fund’s detriment. In addition, the Investment Adviser and other Goldman Sachs affiliates may manage funds or accounts, and Goldman Sachs may be invested in funds or accounts, that have similar investment objectives or portfolios to those of the Funds, and events occurring with respect to such funds or accounts could affect the performance of the Funds. For example, in the event that withdrawals of capital or performance losses results in such a fund or account de-leveraging its portfolio by selling securities, this could result in securities of the same issuer, strategy or type held by the Funds falling in value, which could have a material adverse effect on the Funds. 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. For example, 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.
     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 Goldman Sachs and Goldman Sachs 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 may sequence and rotate trades among different client accounts in accordance with its policies and procedures as they are amended and updated from time to time. For example, the Investment Adviser may utilize an asset-based trade sequencing and rotation policy for determining the order in which trades for institutional and wrap accounts are placed. Under this policy, institutional and other accounts (including the Funds) may trade ahead or behind wrap accounts based generally on relative assets. Other rotation policies or practices that the Investment Adviser may use can result in the Funds trading ahead of or behind other types of client accounts with varying frequency. In addition, a portfolio management team may provide instructions simultaneously regarding

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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 Adviser, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser). 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s portfolio transactions. Each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs, as each Fund’s 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 Adviser which the Investment Adviser deems to involve potential conflicts involving such personnel, Client/GS Accounts managed by the Investment Adviser and the Funds. The Codes of Ethics require that personnel of the Investment Adviser comply with all applicable federal securities laws and with the fiduciary duties and anti-fraud rules to which the Investment Adviser is subject. The Codes of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s 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 SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov . Copies may also be obtained after paying a duplicating fee by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov .
     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 Adviser’s transactions or views which may affect such clients’ transactions outside of accounts controlled by personnel of the Investment Adviser, 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 Adviser’s 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 (or funds or accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and/or in which Goldman Sachs has an interest) 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, Goldman Sachs and/or 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 Goldman Sachs and/or 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 operational challenges, Goldman Sachs and/or 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. In addition, the Investment Adviser may also, in certain circumstances, pursue or enforce rights with respect to a particular issuer jointly on behalf of Goldman Sachs and/or one or more Client/GS Accounts, the Funds, or Goldman Sachs employees may work together to pursue or enforce such rights. 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.

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     Goldman Sachs (including its personnel or Client/GS Accounts) may purchase or sell Fund shares or securities held in the Fund’s portfolio at any time and without notice to Fund shareholders. If Goldman Sachs or a Client/GS Account becomes a holder of securities in an issuer in which a Fund has invested or of Fund shares, any actions that it takes in its capacity as securityholder, including voting and provision of consents, will not necessarily be aligned with the interests of the Fund or of other shareholders of the Fund.
     To the extent permitted by applicable law Goldman Sachs (including its personnel or Client/GS Accounts) 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 or seek to replicate or hedge the performance of the Funds (collectively referred to as “Structured Investment Products”). The values of Structured Investment Products may be linked to the net asset value of a Fund or Funds and/or the values of a Fund’s investments. In connection with the Structured Investment Products and for hedging, re-balancing, investment and other purposes, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds and/or Goldman Sachs (including its personnel or Client/GS Accounts) may (i) purchase or sell investments held by the Funds and/or Client/GS Accounts, (ii) purchase or sell shares in the Funds, or (iii) hold synthetic positions that seek to replicate or hedge the performance of a Fund or Funds, a Fund’s investments, a Client/GS Account or a Client/GS Account’s investments. Such positions may be significant and may differ from and/or be contra to a Fund’s or a Client/GS Account’s positions. These derivative-related activities, as well as such investment and redemption activities, including any activities taken in respect of the maintenance, adjustment or unwinding of any derivative-related positions in the future, may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on the investment management of the Funds and the Funds’ positions (particularly in illiquid markets), flexibility, diversification strategies and on the amount of fees, expenses and other costs incurred directly or indirectly through the Funds by investors. Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts will have no obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these activities based on the potential effect on a Fund, and may receive substantial returns on hedging or other activities while the value of a Fund’s investment declines.
     The structure or other characteristics of the derivative instruments (including the Structured Investment Products) 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.
     Derivatives and investment related activities may be undertaken to achieve a variety of objectives, including: facilitating transactions for other Client/GS Accounts or counterparties with interests, objectives or directional views that are contrary to those of Fund shareholders; hedging the exposure of Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts to securities held in or related to the Fund’s portfolio or to Fund shares themselves; and enabling Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts to manage firmwide, business unit, product or other risks.
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 of a money market fund in which it invests which may result in a Fund bearing some additional expenses. All advisory, administrative, or Rule 12b- 1 fees applicable to the investment and the fees or allocations from the Funds will not be reduced thereby ( i.e. , there could be “double fees” involved in making any such investment, which would not arise in connection with an investor’s direct purchase of the underlying investments, because Goldman Sachs could receive fees with respect to both the management of the Funds and such money market fund). In such circumstances, as well as in all other circumstances in which Goldman Sachs receives any fees or other compensation in any form relating to the provision of services, no accounting or repayment to the Funds will be required.
Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
     Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, 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

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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
Potential Conflicts Relating to Principal and Cross Transactions
     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. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may also enter into “cross transactions” ( i.e. , where the Investment Adviser causes a Fund to buy securities from, or sell a security to, another client of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates) and “agency cross transactions” ( i.e. , where Goldman Sachs acts as a broker for, and receives a commission from, both a Fund on one side of the transaction and another account on the other side of the transaction in connection with the purchase or sale of securities). Goldman Sachs may have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to both parties to a cross transaction or agency cross transaction. For example, in a cross transaction, the Investment Adviser or an affiliate will represent both a Fund on one side of a transaction and another account, including a Fund, on the other side of the transaction (including an account in which Goldman Sachs or its affiliates have a proprietary interest) in connection with the purchase of a security by such Fund. In addition, in an agency cross transaction, Goldman Sachs will act as broker and receive compensation or other payments from either or both parties, which could influence the decision of Goldman Sachs to cause a Fund to purchase such security. The Investment Adviser will ensure that any such cross transaction or agency cross transactions are effected on commercially reasonable market terms and in accordance with the Investment Adviser’s fiduciary duties to such entities.
Potential Conflicts That May Arise When Goldman Sachs Acts in a Capacity Other Than as Investment Adviser to the Funds
     To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender, borrower or advisor or in other commercial capacities for the Funds or issuers of securities held by 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 Adviser, 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.
     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.
     As a result of Goldman Sachs’ various financial market activities, including acting as a research provider, investment advisor, market maker or principal investor, personnel in various businesses throughout Goldman Sachs may have and express research or investment views and make recommendations that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the objectives of investors in Fund shares.
     The Funds will be required to establish business relationships with their counterparties based on their own credit standing. Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, 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.

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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 Adviser and its 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, or required with respect to involving client directed accounts.
     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. Without limitation, 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 Adviser may select brokers (including, without limitation, affiliates of the Investment Adviser) that furnish the Investment Adviser, the Funds, other Client/GS Accounts or their affiliates or personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with proprietary research or other appropriate services which provide, in the Investment Adviser’s view, appropriate assistance to the Investment Adviser 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. To the extent permitted by applicable law, 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 client’s commissions may not be used in managing that client’s 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 Adviser uses soft dollars, it will not have to pay for those products and services itself. The Investment Adviser may receive research that is bundled with the trade execution, clearing, and/or settlement services provided by a particular broker-dealer. To the extent that the Investment Adviser receives 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 Adviser.
     The Investment Adviser 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 Adviser believes are useful in its investment decision-making process. The Investment Adviser may from time to time choose not to engage in the above described arrangements to varying degrees.
     The Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that it makes on behalf of advisory clients, including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with the Investment Adviser’s fiduciary obligations to its clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of the Investment Adviser 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 Adviser believes such voting decisions to be in accordance with its fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see the section of this SAI 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 or other requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such

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requirements. A client not advised by Goldman Sachs would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when the Investment Adviser may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit its 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. In addition, there may be certain investment opportunities, investment strategies or actions that Goldman Sachs will not undertake on behalf of the Funds in view of Goldman Sachs’ client or firm activities. For example, Goldman Sachs may determine that a Fund may be precluded from exercising certain rights that it may have as a creditor to a particular borrower. Certain activities and actions may be considered to result in reputational risk or disadvantage for the management of the Funds as well as for Goldman Sachs. A Fund may also be prohibited from participating in an auction or from otherwise investing in or purchasing certain assets, or from providing financing to a purchaser or potential purchaser if Goldman Sachs is representing the seller. Similar situations could arise if Goldman Sachs personnel serve as directors of companies the securities of which the Funds wish to purchase or sell or if Goldman Sachs is representing or providing financing to another potential purchaser. The larger the Investment Adviser’s 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 Adviser on 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. In addition, certain investments may be considered to result in reputational risk or disadvantage. As a result, the Investment Adviser 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 Adviser, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
     The Investment Adviser is 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 underwriter’s 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 Adviser is generally required to give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable execution and net price available. This means that the 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 Adviser generally seeks 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 Adviser will consider research and investment

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services provided by brokers or dealers who effect or are parties to portfolio transactions of a Fund, the Investment Adviser and its 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 Adviser in the performance of its decision-making responsibilities.
     Such services are used by the Investment Adviser in connection with all of its 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 Fund’s, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by the Investment Adviser in providing management services for the Trust. The Investment Adviser may also participate in so-called “commission sharing arrangements” and “client commission arrangements” under which the Investment Adviser may execute transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser excludes from use under these arrangements those products and services that are not fully eligible under applicable law and regulatory interpretations— even as to the portion that would be eligible if accounted for separately.
     The research services received as part of commission sharing and client commission arrangements will comply with Section 28(e) and may be subject to different legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which the Investment Adviser does business. Participating in commission sharing and client commission arrangements may enable the Investment Adviser to consolidate payments for research through one or more channels using accumulated client commissions or credits from transactions executed through a particular broker-dealer to obtain research provided by other firms. Such arrangements also help to ensure the continued receipt of research services while facilitating best execution in the trading process. The Investment Adviser believes such research services are useful in its investment decision-making process by, among other things, ensuring access to a variety of high quality research, access to individual analysts and availability of resources that the Investment Adviser might not be provided access to absent such arrangements.
     On occasions when the 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 the 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.
     Certain 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 Adviser 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.

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     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 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.
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 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 Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s 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 Fund’s 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 readily 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 Fund’s 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 the exception of short term securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, will be valued using evaluated prices provided by a recognized pricing service ( e.g. , Interactive Data Corp., Reuters, etc.) or dealer-supplied bid quotations; (v) fixed income securities for which accurate market quotations are not readily available are valued by the Investment Adviser based on valuation models that take into account various factors such as spread and daily yield changes on government or other securities in the appropriate market ( i.e. matrix pricing); (vi) short term fixed income securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued 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 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), in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Trustees, and are intended to reflect more accurately the value of those securities at the time the Fund’s 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

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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 Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and 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 Fund’s 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 U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or market closings; equipment failures; natural or man-made disasters or act of God; armed conflicts; 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, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; low trading volume; trading limits; or suspensions.
     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.
Errors and Corrective Actions
     The Investment Adviser will report to the Board of Trustees any material breaches of investment objective, policies or restrictions and any material errors in the calculation of the NAV of a Fund or the processing of purchases and redemptions. Depending on the nature and size of an error, corrective action may or may not be required. Corrective action may involve a prospective correction of the NAV only, correction of any erroneous NAV and compensation to a Fund, or correction of any erroneous NAV, compensation to a Fund and reprocessing of individual shareholder transactions. The Trust’s policies on errors and corrective action limit or restrict when corrective action will be taken or when compensation to a Fund or its shareholders will be paid, and not all mistakes will result in compensable errors. As a result, neither a Fund nor its shareholders who purchase or redeem shares during periods in which errors accrue or occur may be compensated in connection with the resolution of an error. Shareholders will generally not be notified of the occurrence of a compensable error or the resolution thereof absent unusual circumstances.
     As discussed in more detail under “NET ASSET VALUE,” a Fund’s portfolio securities may be priced based on quotations for those securities provided by pricing services. There can be no guarantee that a quotation provided by a pricing service will be accurate.
SHARES OF THE TRUST
     The fiscal year end for each Fund is October 31. The Trustees have authority under the Trust’s 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 April 29, 2011, the Trustees have classified the shares of the Funds into four classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Institutional, and Class IR Shares. Additional series and classes may be added in the future.
     Each Class A Share, Class C Share, Institutional Share, and Class IR 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 Distribution and Service Plans (the “Plans”) are borne exclusively by Class A 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 IRS. 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 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.

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     Class A Shares are sold, with an initial sales charge of up to 5.5%, through brokers and dealers who are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) 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 Service 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 FINRA.
     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 FINRA 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.
     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 the Fund under a Plan for services provided to the institution’s customers.
     Class Class IR Shares are sold at net asset value without a sales charge. As noted in the Prospectuses, Class IR Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Class IR Shares generally are available only to 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans (the “Retirement Plans”). Class IR Shares are also generally available only to Retirement Plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the Funds. Class IR Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and individual 403(b) plans. Participant in a Retirement Plan should contact their Retirement Plan service provider for information regarding purchases, sales and exchanges of Class IR Shares. Class IR Shares may also be sold to accounts established under a fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by a registered broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is approved by Goldman Sachs (“Eligible Fee-Based Program”).
     It is possible that an institution or its affiliate may offer different classes of shares ( i.e. , Institutional, Class IR, Class A 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.
     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”).

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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 person’s office or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such person’s 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 shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholder’s 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 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 Trust’s 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 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.

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     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 are certain additional U.S. federal income, and state and local, tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of the Funds that are not described in the Prospectuses. The discussions below and in the Prospectuses are only summaries and are not intended as substitutes for careful tax planning. They do 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 or her 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 April 29, 2011, which are subject to change.
Fund Taxation
     Each Fund is treated as a separate taxable entity and 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 for each taxable year from dividends, interest, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or securities or foreign currencies, net income from qualified publicly traded partnerships or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, and forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stocks, securities or currencies (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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 or as qualified publicly traded partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes ( e.g. , partnerships or trusts) 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Code’s timing and other requirements, an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable accrued original issue discount and market discount income, 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), plus 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income

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(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.
     Each Fund generally 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 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 and may therefore make it more difficult for the Funds to satisfy the distribution requirements described above, as well as the excise tax distribution requirements described below. Each 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, without any deduction for dividends paid, and its distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits.
     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 shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of net capital gain.
     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 98.2% 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 taxable year to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the taxable years following the year of the loss. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. The Funds do not have capital losses to carry forward because they have not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
     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 tax purposes — that is, treated as having been sold at their fair market value on the last day of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s distributions to shareholders. The application of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the application of certain other tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with certain investment practices such as dollar rolls, or investments in certain derivatives, including interest rate swaps, floors, caps and collars, currency swaps, total return swaps, mortgage swaps, index swaps, forward contracts and structured notes. As a result, a Fund may therefore be required to limit its investments in such transactions and it is also possible that the IRS may not agree with a Fund’s tax treatment of such

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transactions. In addition, the tax treatment of derivatives, and certain other investments, may be affected by future legislation, Treasury Regulations and guidance issued by the IRS that could affect the timing, character and amount of a Fund’s income and gains and distributions to shareholders. Certain tax elections may be available to a Fund to mitigate some of the unfavorable consequences described in this paragraph.
     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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s dividends being treated as a return of capital for tax purposes, nontaxable to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his shares and, once such basis is exhausted, generally giving rise to capital gains.
     A Fund’s 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 the Fund 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, maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and 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 those kinds of securities. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when an investor in such securities 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, in the event it invests in such securities, in order 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, 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 (“passive foreign investment companies”), 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.
     If a Fund invests in certain REITs or in REMIC residual interests, a portion of the Fund’s income may be classified as “excess inclusion income.” A shareholder that is otherwise not subject to tax may be taxable on their share of any such excess inclusion income as “unrelated business taxable income.” In addition, tax may be imposed on a Fund on the portion of any excess inclusion income allocable to any shareholders that are classified as disqualified organizations.
     For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
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

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some cases. If more than 50% of a Fund’s 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 IRS 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 Funds, 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 shareholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the shareholder’s 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 a 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 shareholder’s particular tax situation, certain shareholders of the Funds 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 Funds file the election described above, shareholders will be notified of the amount of (1) each shareholder’s pro rata share of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund and (2) the portion of Fund dividends that represents income from foreign sources. 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.
Country-Specific Taxes
Brazil
     The government of Brazil imposes a tax on foreign investment in Brazilian stocks and bonds, which may affect the value of a fund’s investments in the securities of Brazilian issuers.
India
     A tax of 10% plus surcharges is currently imposed on gains from sales of equities held not more than one year and sold on a recognized stock exchange in India. There is no tax on gains from sales of equities held for more than one year and sold on a recognized stock exchange in India. Gains from sales of equity securities in other cases are taxed at a rate of 30% plus surcharges (for securities held not more than one year) and 10% (for securities held for more than one year). Securities transaction tax applies for specified transactions at specified rates. India imposes a tax on interest on securities at a rate of 20% plus surcharges. This tax is imposed on the investor. India imposes a tax on dividends paid by an Indian company at a rate of 12.5% plus surcharges. This tax is imposed on the company that pays the dividends. The Investment Adviser will take into account the effects of local taxation on investment returns. In the past, these taxes have sometimes been substantial.
     The Fund may invest in the Subsidiary and will seek to obtain benefits from favorable tax treatment by the Indian government pursuant to a tax treaty between India and the Republic of Mauritius. The Supreme Court of India has upheld the validity of a
tax treaty with respect to entities such as the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that any future challenge will result in a favorable outcome, or that the terms of a treaty will not be subject to re-negotiation or a different interpretation, or that the
Subsidiary’s favorable tax treatment will continue. Any change in the provisions of a tax treaty or in its applicability to the Subsidiary could result in the imposition of withholding and other taxes on the Subsidiary by India, which would reduce the return to the Fund on its investments. Certain shareholders, including some non-U.S. shareholders, are not entitled to the benefit of a deduction or credit with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund, which the Fund intends to elect to pass through to its shareholders.
China

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     China has recently adopted certain revisions to its tax laws and regulations that may result in holdings of the Fund in companies headquartered in China (whether A shares, B shares, H shares or shares traded in depositary receipt form) being subject to withholding taxes and taxes on capital gains. While the application of these changes to the Fund remains subject to clarification, to the extent that such taxes are imposed on holdings of the Fund in companies headquartered in China, or withholding is imposed, the Fund’s returns would be adversely impacted.
Korea
     Under the U.S.-South Korea income tax treaty, as presently in effect, the government of South Korea imposes a non-recoverable withholding tax and resident tax aggregating 16.5% on dividends and 13.2% on interest paid by South Korean issuers. Under a U.S.-South Korea income tax treaty, there is no South Korean withholding tax on realized capital gains.
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.
     Except as discussed below, distributions to 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 (the excess of any net long-term capital gains over any net short-term capital losses) including amounts retained by a Fund which are reported 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 shareholder’s 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 Funds 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 a temporary position, which is in effect for taxable years of a Fund beginning before January 1, 2012, non-U.S. shareholders generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding on certain distributions of U.S. source interest income and/or short-term capital gains that are reported by a Fund. It is expected that the Funds will generally report short-term gains, to the extent permitted, but the Funds do not intend to report any distributions attributable to interest income. As a result, U.S. tax withholding would apply to distributions attributable to interest income, dividends and other investment income earned by a Fund.
     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 shareholder’s 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.
     Effective January 1, 2013, the Funds will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends and redemption proceeds made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Funds to enable the Funds to determine whether withholding is required.
     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.

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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 that are different from those of a direct investment in such Fund’s portfolio securities. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers concerning state and local tax matters.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
     A copy of the Funds’ 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 the each Fund’s Prospectus. The Annual Report for the fiscal period ending October 31, 2011 will become available to investors in December 2011.
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 Adviser’s guiding principles in performing proxy voting are to make decisions that: (i) favor proposals that in the Investment Adviser’s view tend to maximize a company’s shareholder value; and (ii) are not influenced by conflicts of interest. These principles reflect the Investment Adviser’s 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. The Investment Adviser periodically reviews the Policy to ensure that it continues to be consistent with the Investment Adviser’s guiding principles.
      Public Equity Investments . To implement these guiding principles for investments in publicly-traded equities, the Investment Adviser has developed customized proxy voting guidelines (the “Guidelines”). 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 other matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, issues of corporate social responsibility and various shareholder proposals. Attached as Appendix B is a summary of the Guidelines.
     The Investment Adviser has retained a third-party proxy voting service (“Proxy Service”) to assist in the implementation of certain proxy voting-related functions. Among its responsibilities, the Proxy Service prepares a written analysis and recommendation (a “Recommendation”) of each proxy vote that reflects the Proxy Service’s application of the Guidelines to the particular proxy issues. While it is the Investment Adviser’s policy generally to follow the Guidelines and recommendations, the Investment Adviser’s portfolio management teams (“Portfolio Management Teams”) may on certain proxy votes seek approval to diverge from the Guidelines or a recommendation by following an “override” process. Such decisions are 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.
     The Proxy Service assists in the implementation and administration of the proxy voting function. The Proxy Service assists the Investment Adviser in the proxy voting process by providing operational, recordkeeping and reporting services. In addition, the Proxy Service produces Recommendations as previously discussed and provides assistance in the development and maintenance of the Guidelines.
     The Investment Adviser conducts periodic due diligence meetings with the Proxy Service which include, but are not limited to, a review of the Proxy Service’s general organizational structure, new developments with respect to research and technology, work flow improvements and internal due diligence with respect to conflicts of interest. The Investment Adviser may hire other service providers

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to replace or supplement the Proxy Service with respect to any of the services the Investment Adviser currently receives from the Proxy Service.
     The Investment Adviser has implemented procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing its proxy voting decisions. These procedures include the Investment Adviser’s use of the Guidelines and recommendations and the override process, 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 Fund’s 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 www.goldmansachsfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov .
PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES
     The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments to Authorized Institutions 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 Adviser’s, Distributor’s 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 this SAI, 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. These payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor, and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. 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 FINRA 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. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain research and investment services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates. Such research and investment services (“Additional Services”) may include research reports, economic analysis, portfolio analysis tools, business planning services, certain marketing and investor education materials and strategic asset allocation modeling. In certain cases, the Intermediary may not pay for these products or services.
     The Additional Payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, or the Additional Services received by an Intermediary, 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

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or Additional Services, 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 level of compensation paid.
     For the fiscal year ended October 31,2010, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates made Additional Payments out of their own assets to approximately 129 Intermediaries. During the fiscal year ended October 31,2010, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates paid to Intermediaries approximately $93.7 million in Additional Payments (excluding payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) with respect to all funds of the Trust and an affiliated investment company, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.
     Shareholders should contact their Authorized Institution or other Intermediary for more information about the Additional Payments or Additional Services they receive and any potential conflicts of interest. 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 Fund’s portfolio holdings information to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, “portfolio holdings information” means the Fund’s 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 Fund’s public filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Funds’ publicly accessible website. Information posted on the Fund’s 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 Adviser’s 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 Funds,) only upon approval by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, who must first determine that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. 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 Adviser and its affiliates, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, the Funds’ custodian, the Funds’ legal counsel- Dechert LLP, the Funds’ financial printer- Bowne, and the Funds’ proxy voting service- ISS. KPMG LLP, an investor in the Funds, also receives certain non-public holdings information on an ongoing basis in order to facilitate compliance with the auditor independence requirements to which it is subject. In addition, certain fixed income funds of the Trust provide non-public portfolio holdings information to Standard & Poor’s Rating Services to allow such Funds to be rated by it and certain equity funds provide non-public portfolio holdings information to FactSet, a provider of global financial and economic information. These entities are obligated to keep such information confidential. Third party providers of custodial or accounting services to the 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 Trust’s principal underwriter are reviewed by Goldman Sachs’ Compliance department for consistency with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy.
     The Funds currently intend to publish on the Trust’s website (http://www.goldmansachsfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings for each Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a fifteen calendar day lag between the date of the information and the

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date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Funds intend to publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a fifteen 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 April 29, 2011, 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
     A 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, in its sole discretion, to pay redemptions by a distribution in kind of securities (instead of cash) if (i) the redemption exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund at the time of redemption; or (ii) with respect to lesser redemption amounts, the redeeming shareholder requests in writing a distribution in-kind of securities instead of cash. The securities distributed in kind would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating each Fund’s 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.
     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 Authorized Institutions and Authorized Dealers that provide recordkeeping, reporting and processing services to their customers to accept on the Trust’s 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 Authorized Institutions or Authorized Dealers 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 shareholder’s 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 SAI 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 SAI 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 SAI 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 SAI form a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.
Line of Credit
     The Funds will participate in a $580,000,000 committed, unsecured revolving line of credit facility together with other funds of the Trust and registered investment companies having management or investment advisory agreements with GSAM or its affiliates.

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Pursuant to the terms of this facility, the Funds and other borrowers may increase the credit amount by an additional $340,000,000, for a total of up to $920,000,000. This facility is to be used for temporary emergency purposes or to allow for an orderly liquidation of securities to meet redemption requests. The interest rate on borrowings is based on the federal funds rate. The facility also requires a fee to be paid by the Funds based on the amount of the commitment that has not been utilized.
Large Trade Notifications
     The Transfer Agent may from time to time receive notice that an Authorized Dealer or other financial intermediary has received an order for a large trade in a Fund’s shares. The Funds may determine to enter into portfolio transactions in anticipation of that order, even though the order will not be processed until the following business day. This practice provides for a closer correlation between the time shareholders place trade orders and the time a Fund enters into portfolio transactions based on those orders, and permits the Fund to be more fully invested in investment securities, in the case of purchase orders, and to more orderly liquidate their investment positions, in the case of redemption orders. On the other hand, the Authorized Dealer or other financial intermediary may not ultimately process the order. In this case, a Fund may be required to borrow assets to settle the portfolio transactions entered into in anticipation of that order, and would therefore incur borrowing costs. The Funds may also suffer investment losses on those portfolio transactions. Conversely, the Funds would benefit from any earnings and investment gains resulting from such portfolio transactions.
Corporate Actions
     From time to time, the issuer of a security held in a Fund’s portfolio may initiate a corporate action relating to that security. Corporate actions relating to equity securities may include, among others, an offer to purchase new shares, or to tender existing shares, of that security at a certain price. Corporate actions relating to debt securities may include, among others, an offer for early redemption of the debt security, or an offer to convert the debt security into stock. Certain corporate actions are voluntary, meaning that a Fund may only participate in the corporate action if it elects to do so in a timely fashion. Participation in certain corporate actions may enhance the value of a Fund’s investment portfolio.
     In cases where a Fund or the Investment Adviser receives sufficient advance notice of a voluntary corporate action, the Investment Adviser will exercise its discretion, in good faith, to determine whether the Fund will participate in that corporate action. If a Fund or the Investment Adviser does not receive sufficient advance notice of a voluntary corporate action, the Fund may not be able to timely elect to participate in that corporate action. Participation or lack of participation in a voluntary corporate action may result in a negative impact on the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS
(Class A Shares and Class C Shares)
      Distribution and Service Plans . As described in the Prospectuses, the Trust has adopted, on behalf of Class A and Class C Shares of each Fund, Distribution and Service Plans (each a “Plan”). See “Shareholder Guide — Distribution and Service Fees” in the Prospectuses. 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 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.
     The Plans for Class A and C Shares of each applicable 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 17, 2010.
     The compensation for distribution services payable under a Plan to Goldman Sachs may not exceed 0.25% and 0.75% per annum of a Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class A and Class C Shares, respectively, of such Fund. Under the Plan for 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 Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to 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 FINRA.
     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

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arrangements. The distribution fees received by Goldman Sachs under the Plans (and, as applicable, CDSC) on Class A 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 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 and Class C Shares.
     Under each Plan, Goldman Sachs, as distributor of each Fund’s Class A 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, 2011 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 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 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 and Class C Shareholders.
OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES,
REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS
(Class A Shares and Class C Shares Only)
     The following information supplements the information in the Prospectuses under the captions “Shareholder Guide” and “Dividends.” Please see the Prospectuses 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 Fund’s Class A Shares would be as follows:
                         
            Maximum   Offering
    Net Asset   Sales   Price to
    Value   Charge   Public
Brazil Equity Fund
  $ 10.00       5.5 %   $ 10.58  
India Equity Fund
    10.00       5.5 %     10.58  
China Equity Fund
    10.00       5.5 %     10.58  
Korea 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 Fund’s 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.

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Other Purchase Information/Sales Charge Waivers
     Class A Shares of the Funds may be sold at NAV without payment of any sales charge to state-sponsored 529 college savings plans. 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 owner’s account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Because the Funds will have no record of the beneficial owner’s 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.
     At the discretion of the Trust’s officers and in addition to the NAV purchases permitted in a Fund’s Prospectus, Class A Shares of the Funds may also be sold at NAV without payment of any sales charge for shares purchased through certain Section 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, or other employee benefit (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans that are sponsored by one or more employers (including governmental or church employers) or employee organizations investing in the Funds.
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 shareholder’s current holdings of existing Class A 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 and/or Class C Shares of the Funds and Class A, Class B and/or Class C Shares any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased (i) by an individual, his spouse, his parents 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 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 organization’s, group’s or firm’s agreement to cooperate in the offering of the Fund’s 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

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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.
     The provisions applicable to the Statement, and the terms of the related escrow agreement, are set forth in Appendix C to this SAI.
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 C Shares of the Prime Obligations Portfolio, if they hold 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 Dealer’s 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.
Exchanges from Collective Investment Trusts to Goldman Sachs Funds
     The Investment Advisers manage a number of collective investment trusts that hold assets of 401(k) plans and other retirement plans (each, a “Collective Investment Trust”). An investor in a Collective Investment Trust (or an Intermediary acting on behalf of the investor) may elect to exchange some or all of the interests it holds in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of one or more of the Goldman Sachs Funds. Generally speaking, Rule 22c-1 of the Act requires a purchase order for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund to be priced based on the current NAV of the Goldman Sachs Fund that is next calculated after receipt of the purchase order. A Goldman Sachs Fund will treat a purchase order component of an exchange from an investor in a Collective Investment Trust as being received in good order at the time it is communicated to an Intermediary or the Transfer Agent, if the amount of shares to be purchased is expressed as a percentage of the value of the investor’s interest in a designated Collective Investment Trust that it is contemporaneously redeeming ( e.g. , if the investor communicates a desire to exchange 100% of its interest in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund). The investor’s purchase price and the number of Goldman Sachs Fund shares it will acquire will therefore be calculated as of the pricing of the Collective Investment Trust on the day of the purchase order. Such an order will be deemed to be irrevocable as of the time the Goldman Sachs Fund’s NAV is next calculated after receipt of the purchase order. An investor should obtain and read the prospectus relating to any Goldman Sachs Fund and its shares and consider its investment objective, policies and applicable fees and expenses before electing an exchange into that Goldman Sachs Fund. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of interests in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund may be subject to tax, and you should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.

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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.
     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 shareholder’s original investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. The maintenance of a withdrawal plan concurrently with purchases of additional Class A 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 or Class C Shares. The CDSC applicable to Class A 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.

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APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
Short-Term Credit Ratings
     A Standard & Poor’s 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 & Poor’s for short-term issues:
     “A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s 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 obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
     “A-2” — A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
     “A-3” — A short-term obligation rated “A-3” 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.
     “B” — A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of “B-1”, “B-2”, and “B-3” may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the “B” category. 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 obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
     “B-1” — A short-term obligation rated “B-1” is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
     “B-2” — A short-term obligation rated “B-2” is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
     “B-3” — A short-term obligation rated “B-3” is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
     “C” — A short-term obligation rated “C” 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.
     “D” — A short-term 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 & Poor’s 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 & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s 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 distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

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     Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) 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.
     Moody’s 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.
     “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.

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     “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.
     “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 issuer’s 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 issuer’s 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 discontinued or reinstated by DBRS.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
     The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:
     “AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s 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 obligor’s 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 obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

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     “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 obligor’s 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 obligor’s 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 “C” rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.
     “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 & Poor’s 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 & Poor’s 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 & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s 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 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 Moody’s 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.

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     “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: Moody’s 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 payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
     “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. For issuers and performing obligations, “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. For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for extremely high recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of “RR1” (outstanding).
     “CCC” — For issuers and performing obligations, default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions. For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for average to superior levels of recovery. Differences in credit quality may be denoted by plus/minus distinctions. Such obligations typically would possess a Recovery Rating of “RR2” (superior), or “RR3” (good) or “RR4” (average).
     “CC” — For issuers and performing obligations, default of some kind appears probable. For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with a Recovery Rating of “RR4” (average) or “RR5” (below average).
     “C” — For issuers and performing obligations, default is imminent. For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for below-average to poor recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of “RR6” (poor).

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     “RD” — Indicates an entity that 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” — Denotes that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issue or issuer.
     “WD” — Indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.
     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 that would detract from the performance of the entity. The strength of liquidity and coverage ratios is unquestioned and the entity has established a credible track record of superior performance. Given the extremely high standard that 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 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 considered 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 discontinued or reinstated by DBRS.

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     (“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 & Poor’s 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:
    Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
 
    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.
     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.
     Moody’s 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 Moody’s 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 Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s 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”.
     VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s 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.

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     “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 & Poor’s 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.
Moody’s 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.
Fitch’s 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. Fitch’s 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.

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Effective: March 2011
APPENDIX B
GSAM Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary
The following is a summary of the material GSAM Proxy Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), which form the substantive basis of GSAM’s Policy on Proxy Voting for Client Accounts (“Policy”). As described in the main body of the Policy, one or more GSAM portfolio management teams may diverge from the Guidelines and a related Recommendation on any particular proxy vote or in connection with any individual investment decision in accordance with the override process described in the Policy.
         
US proxy items
 
       
1.
  Operational Items   page 1-B
2.
  Board of Directors   page 2-B
3.
  Executive and Director Compensation   page 4-B
4.
  Proxy Contests   page 7-B
5.
  Shareholder Rights and Defenses   page 8-B
6.
  Mergers and Corporate Restructurings   page 9-B
7.
  State of Incorporation   page 9-B
8.
  Capital Structure   page 9-B
9.
  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues   page 10-B
 
       
International proxy items
 
       
1.
  Operational Items   page 11-B
2.
  Board of Directors   page 12-B
3.
  Compensation   page 14-B
4.
  Board Structure   page 15-B
5.
  Capital Structure   page 15-B
6.
  Other   page 17-B
7.
  Environmental, Climate Change and Social Issues   page 17-B
The following section is a summary of the Guidelines, which form the substantive basis of the Policy with respect to U.S. public equity investments.
1. Operational Items
Auditor Ratification
Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply within the last year:
    An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;
 
    There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;
 
    Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; or material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or
 
    Fees for non-audit services are excessive.
Non-audit fees are excessive if:
    Non-audit fees exceed audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit their auditors from engaging in non-audit services taking into account issues that are consistent with SEC rules adopted to fulfill the mandate of Sarbanes Oxley such as an audit

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firm providing services that would impair its independence or the overall scope and disclosure of fees for all services done by the audit firm.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking for audit firm rotation, taking into account:
    The tenure of the audit firm;
 
    The length of rotation specified in the proposal;
 
    Any significant audit-related issues at the company;
 
    The number of Audit Committee meetings held each year;
 
    The number of financial experts serving on the committee;
 
    Whether the company has a periodic renewal process where the auditor is evaluated for both audit quality and competitive price; and
 
    Whether the auditors are being changed without explanation.
2. Board of Directors
Classification of Directors
Where applicable, the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Listing Standards definition is to be used to classify directors as insiders or affiliated outsiders. General definitions are as follows:
    Inside Director
    Employee of the company or one of its affiliates
 
    Among the five most highly paid individuals (excluding interim CEO)
 
    Listed as an officer as defined under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
 
    Current interim CEO
 
    Beneficial owner of more than 50 percent of the company’s voting power (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group)
    Affiliated Outside Director
    Board attestation that an outside director is not independent
 
    Former CEO or other executive of the company within the last 3 years
 
    Former CEO or other executive of an acquired company within the past three years
    Independent Outside Director
    No material connection to the company other than a board seat
Additionally, GSAM will consider compensation committee interlocking directors to be affiliated (defined as CEOs who sit on each other’s compensation committees).
Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:
    Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse for each of the last two years;
 
    Sit on more than six public company boards;
 
    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.
Other items considered for an AGAINST vote include specific concerns about the individual or the company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities, sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues related to improper business practice.

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In limited circumstances, we may vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from all nominees of the board of directors (except from new nominees who should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and except as discussed below) if:
    The company’s poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature for two or more years. Vote against/withhold every year until this feature is removed; however, vote against the poison pill if there is one on the ballot with this feature rather than the director;
 
    The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval, does not commit to putting it to shareholder vote within 12 months of adoption (or in the case of an newly public company, does not commit to put the pill to a shareholder vote within 12 months following the IPO), or reneges on a commitment to put the pill to a vote, and has not yet received a withhold/against recommendation for this issue;
 
    The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;
 
    If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Classification of Directors above) when:
    The inside or affiliated outside director serves on the audit, compensation, or nominating (vote against affiliated directors only for nominating) committees;
 
    The company lacks an audit compensation, or nominating (vote against affiliated directors only for nominating) committee so that the full board functions as that committee and insiders are participating in voting on matters that independent committees should be voting on;
 
    The full board is less than majority independent (in this case withhold from affiliated outside directors); At controlled companies, GSAM will vote against the election of affiliated outsiders and nominees affiliated with the parent and will not vote against the executives of the issuer.
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from members of the appropriate committee for the following reasons (or independent Chairman or lead director in cases of a classified board and members of appropriate committee are not up for reelection). Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.
    At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the underlying issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote (members of the Nominating or Governance Committees);
 
    The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast for the previous two consecutive years (a management proposal with other than a FOR recommendation by management will not be considered as sufficient action taken); an adopted proposal that is substantially similar to the original shareholder proposal will be deemed sufficient; (members of the committee of the board that is responsible for the issue under consideration).
Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:
    The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive;
 
    The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
 
    There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if poor accounting practices, which rise to a level of serious concern are identified, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures.
Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions in determining whether negative vote recommendations are warranted against the members of the Audit Committee who are responsible for the poor accounting practices, or the entire board.
See section 3 on executive and director compensation for reasons to withhold from members of the Compensation Committee.
Shareholder proposal regarding Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

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Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
GSAM will generally recommend a vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, if the company satisfies 3 of the 4 following criteria:
    Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;
 
    Two-thirds independent board;
 
    All independent key committees; or
 
    Established, disclosed governance guidelines.
Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals
GSAM will vote FOR proposals requesting that the board adopt majority voting in the election of directors provided it does not conflict with the state law where the company is incorporated.
GSAM also looks for companies to adopt a post-election policy outlining how the company will address the situation of a holdover director.
Cumulative Vote Shareholder Proposals
GSAM will generally support shareholder proposals to restore or provide cumulative voting unless:
    The company has adopted majority vote standard with a carve-out for plurality voting in situations where there are more nominees than seats, and a director resignation policy to address failed elections.
3. Executive and Director Compensation
Pay Practices
Good pay practices should align management’s interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of compensation criteria is required; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident. Compensation practices should allow a company to attract and retain proven talent. Some examples of poor pay practices include: abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure, egregious employment contracts, excessive severance and/or change in control provisions, repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval, and excessive perquisites.
    If the company maintains problematic or poor pay practices, generally vote first:
    AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals or;
 
    AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment, then;
 
    If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO) in egregious situations.
Equity Compensation Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Reasons to vote AGAINST the equity plan could include any of the following factors:
    The plan is a vehicle for poor pay practices;
 
    The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciation rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval OR does not expressly prohibit the repricing without shareholder approval;

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    The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards;
    The company’s three year burn rate and Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) calculations both materially exceed industry group metrics; or
 
    There is a long-term disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s total shareholder return in conjunction with the qualitative overlay as outlined in the policy guidelines OR the company has a poor record of compensation practices, which is highlighted either in analysis of the compensation plan or the evaluation of the election of directors.
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay, MSOP) Management Proposals
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for an advisory vote on executive compensation. For U.S. companies, consider the following factors in the context of each company’s specific circumstances and the board’s disclosed rationale for its practices. In general two or more of the following in conjunction with a long-term pay-for-performance disconnect will warrant an AGAINST vote. If there is not a long-term pay for performance disconnect GSAM will look for multiple problematic factors to be present to warrant a vote against.
Relative Considerations:
    Assessment of performance metrics relative to business strategy, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) section of a company’s proxy;
 
    Evaluation of peer groups used to set target pay or award opportunities;
 
    Alignment of long-term company performance and executive pay trends over time;
 
    Assessment of disparity between total pay of the CEO and other Named Executive Officers (NEOs).
Design Considerations:
    Balance of fixed versus performance-driven pay;
 
    Assessment of excessive practices with respect to perks, severance packages, supplemental executive pension plans, and burn rates.
Communication Considerations:
    Evaluation of information and board rationale provided in CD&A about how compensation is determined (e.g., why certain elements and pay targets are used, and specific incentive plan goals, especially retrospective goals); Assessment of board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues (e.g., in responding to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics).
Other considerations include:
    Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure:
    Includes performance metrics that are changed, canceled, or replaced during the performance period without adequate explanation of the action and the link to performance
    Egregious employment contracts:
    Contracts containing multi-year guarantees for salary increases, non-performance based bonuses, and equity compensation.
    Excessive severance and/or change in control provisions:
    Change in control cash payments exceeding 3 times base salary plus target/average/last paid bonus;
 
    New or materially amended arrangements that provide for change-in-control payments without loss of job or substantial diminution of job duties (single-triggered),
 
    Excessive payments upon an executive’s termination in connection with performance failure;
 
    Liberal change in control definition in individual contracts or equity plans which could result in payments to executives without an actual change in control occurring
    Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts, option exchanges, and certain voluntary surrender of underwater options where shares surrendered may subsequently be re-granted).
 
    Excessive Perquisites:
    Perquisites for former and/or retired executives, such as lifetime benefits, car allowances, personal use of corporate aircraft, or other inappropriate arrangements
 
    Extraordinary relocation benefits (including home buyouts)

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    Excessive amounts of perquisites compensation
The following reasons could warrant a vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Compensation Committee:
    Company has failed to address issues that led to an against vote in an MSOP;
 
    The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
 
    The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment they made to shareholders; or
 
    The company has backdated options.
Golden Parachutes
In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation MSOP), GSAM will incorporate the evaluation and could vote against the MSOP if we find problematic aspects to the Golden Parachutes. In general, the presence of two or more of the following factors could warrant a vote against:
    Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);
 
    Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);
 
    Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;
 
    Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);
 
    Potentially excessive severance payments;
 
    Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;
 
    In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or
 
    The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote.
Other Compensation Proposals and Policies
Employee Stock Purchase Plans — Non-Qualified Plans
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans. Vote FOR nonqualified employee stock purchase plans with all the following features:
    Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees of the company with the exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial ownership of the company);
 
    Limits on employee contribution, which may be a fixed dollar amount or expressed as a percent of base salary;
 
    Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employee’s contribution, which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from market value; and
 
    No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a company matching contribution.
Vote AGAINST nonqualified employee stock purchase plans when any of the plan features do not meet the above criteria. If the company matching contribution exceeds 25 percent of employee’s contribution, evaluate the cost of the plan against its allowable cap.
Option Exchange Programs/Repricing Options
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options, taking into consideration:
    Historic trading patterns—the stock price should not be so volatile that the options are likely to be back “in-the-money” over the near term;
 
    Rationale for the re-pricing—was the stock price decline beyond management’s control?
 
    Is this a value-for-value exchange?

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    Are surrendered stock options added back to the plan reserve?
 
    Option vesting—does the new option vest immediately or is there a black-out period?
 
    Term of the option—the term should remain the same as that of the replaced option;
 
    Exercise price—should be set at fair market or a premium to market;
 
    Participants—executive officers and directors should be excluded.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.
Other Shareholder Proposals on Compensation
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Frequency on Pay)
Vote for annual frequency if no management recommendation; otherwise, support two or three year frequency if a company has an independent compensation committee and no long-term pay for performance disconnect identified.
Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits
Generally vote FOR proposals calling on companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals for which the broad-based employee population is eligible.
Stock retention holding period
Vote FOR Shareholder proposals asking for a policy requiring that senior executives retain a significant percentage of shares acquired through equity compensation programs if the policy allows retention for two years or less following the termination of their employment (through retirement or otherwise) and a holding threshold percentage of 50% or less.
Other factors to consider include:
    Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place.
Elimination of accelerated vesting in the event of a change in control
Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking a policy eliminating the accelerated vesting of time-based equity awards in the event of a change in control.
Tax Gross-Up Proposals
Generally vote FOR proposals asking companies to adopt a policy of not providing tax gross-up payments to executives, except where gross-ups are provided pursuant to a plan, policy, or arrangement applicable to management employees of the company, such as a relocation or expatriate tax equalization policy.
4. 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:
    Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
 
    Management’s track record;
 
    Background to the proxy contest;
 
    Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
 
    Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;
 
    Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

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    Stock ownership positions.
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.
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for the reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred in connection with nominating one or more candidates in a contested election where the following apply:
    The election of fewer than 50% of the directors to be elected is contested in the election;
 
    One or more of the dissident’s candidates is elected;
 
    Shareholders are not permitted to cumulate their votes for directors; and
 
    The election occurred, and the expenses were incurred, after the adoption of this bylaw.
5. Shareholders Rights & Defenses
Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, unless:
    The company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower; and
 
    The company has a history of strong governance practices.
Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings
Generally vote FOR management proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings.
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower if the company currently does not give shareholders the right to call special meetings. However, if a company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of at least 25%, do not support shareholder proposals to further reduce the threshold .
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on advance notice proposals, giving support to proposals that allow shareholders to submit proposals/nominations reasonably close to the meeting date and within the broadest window possible, recognizing the need to allow sufficient notice for company, regulatory and shareholder review.
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:
    Shareholders have approved the adoption of the plan; or
 
    The board, in exercising its fiduciary responsibilities, determines that it is in the best interest of shareholders under the circumstances to adopt a pill without the delay 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 12 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.
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.

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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:
    No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;
 
    A term of no more than three years;
 
    No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;
 
    Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 25 percent or less of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.
In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.
For management proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of preserving a company’s net operating losses (“NOL pills”), the following factors should be considered:
    the trigger (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5%);
 
    the value of the NOLs;
 
    the term;
 
    shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, causing expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs); and
 
    other factors that may be applicable.
6. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:
    Valuation;
 
    Market reaction;
 
    Strategic rationale;
 
    Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;
 
    Presence of conflicts of interest; and
 
    Governance profile of the combined company.
7. State of Incorporation
Reincorporation Proposals
Evaluate management or shareholder proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to both financial and corporate governance concerns including the following:
    Reasons for reincorporation;
 
    Comparison of company’s governance practices and provisions prior to and following the reincorporation; and
 
    Comparison of corporation laws of original state and destination state.
Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or negative governance changes.
8. Capital Structure
Common Stock Authorization
Votes on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. We consider company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:
    Past Board performance;
 
    The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years;
 
    One- and three-year total shareholder return;

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    The board’s governance structure and practices;
    The current request;
 
    Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific reasons for the proposed increase;
 
    The dilutive impact of the request as determined through an allowable increase, which examines the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
 
    Risks to shareholders of not approving the request.
9. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues
Overall Approach
When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, the following factors should be considered:
    Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;
 
    Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company’s business as measured by sales, assets, and earnings;
 
    The degree to which the company’s stated position on the issues raised in the proposal could affect its reputation or sales, or leave it vulnerable to a boycott or selective purchasing;
 
    Whether the issues presented are more appropriately/effectively dealt with through governmental or company-specific action;
 
    Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;
 
    Whether the company’s analysis and voting recommendation to shareholders are persuasive;
 
    What other companies have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;
 
    Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;
 
    Whether implementation of the proposal’s request would achieve the proposal’s objectives;
 
    Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;
 
    Whether the requested information is available to shareholders either from the company or from a publicly available source; and
 
    Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.
Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
A company should have a clear, public Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement outlining various factors that are not discriminated against. Generally vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company’s EEO statement or diversity policies to additionally prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Lobbying Expenditures/Initiatives
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting information on a company’s lobbying initiatives, considering:
    Significant controversies, fines, or litigation surrounding a company’s public policy activities;
 
    The company’s current level of disclosure on lobbying strategy; and
 
    The impact that the policy issue may have on the company’s business operations.
Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending
Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:
    There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending; and
 
    The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to improve the disclosure of a company’s political contributions and trade association spending, considering:

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    Recent significant controversy or litigation related to the company’s political contributions or governmental affairs;
 
    The public availability of a company policy on political contributions and trade association spending including information on the types of organizations supported, the business rationale for supporting these organizations, and the oversight and compliance procedures related to such expenditures of corporate assets; and
GSAM will not necessarily vote for the proposal merely to encourage further disclosure of trade association spending.
Vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions. Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state, and local level and barring political contributions can put the company at a competitive disadvantage.
Labor and Human Rights Standards
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies unless such information is already publicly disclosed.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies, considering:
    The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;
 
    Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;
 
    Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;
 
    Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;
 
    Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;
 
    Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;
 
    The scope of the request; and
 
    Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.
Sustainability and climate change reporting
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives, and oversight mechanisms related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability, or how the company may be impacted by climate change. The following factors will be considered:
    The company’s current level of publicly-available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies such as an Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) report; a comprehensive Code of Corporate Conduct; and/or a Diversity Report or other similar report;
 
    If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame;
 
    If the company’s current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and
 
    If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance.
The following section is a broad summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to non-U.S. public equity investments. Applying these guidelines is subject to certain regional and country-specific exceptions and modifications and is not inclusive of all considerations in each market.
1. Operational Items
Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports
Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:
    There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or
 
    The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.
Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

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Vote FOR the reelection of auditors and proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:
    There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;
 
    The auditors are being changed without explanation; non-audit-related fees are substantial or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees; or the appointment of external auditors if they have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.
Appointment of Statutory Auditors
Vote FOR the appointment or reelection of statutory auditors, unless:
    There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;
 
    Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or
 
    The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.
Allocation of Income
Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:
    The dividend payout ratio has been consistently low without adequate explanation; or
 
    The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.
Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternative
Vote FOR most stock (scrip) dividend proposals.
Vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.
Amendments to Articles of Association
Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Change in Company Fiscal Term
Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.
Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership
Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.
Amend Quorum Requirements
Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Transact Other Business
Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.
2. Board of Directors
Director Elections
Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:
    Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

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    There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or
    There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or
 
    There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or
 
    The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards. or
 
    There are reservations about:
    Director terms
 
    Bundling of proposals to elect directors
 
    Board independence
 
    Disclosure of named nominees
 
    Combined Chairman/CEO
 
    Election of former CEO as Chairman of the Board
 
    Overboarded directors
 
    Composition of committees
 
    Director independence
    Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or
 
    Unless there are other considerations which may include sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues related to improper business practice, failure to replace management, or egregious actions related to service on other boards.
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis in contested elections of directors, e.g., the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.
Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.
Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.
Classification of directors
Executive Director
    Employee or executive of the company;
 
    Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.
Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)
    Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;
 
    Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;
 
    Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;
 
    Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);
 
    Government representative;
 
    Currently provides (or a relative provides) professional services to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;
 
    Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);
 
    Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;
 
    Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;
 
    Relative of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

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    A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);
    Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;
 
    Former executive (5 year cooling off period);
 
    Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered;
 
    Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.
Independent NED
    No material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.
Employee Representative
    Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).
Discharge of Directors
Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:
    A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or
 
    Any legal issues (e.g., civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or
 
    Other egregious governance issues where shareholders may bring legal action against the company or its directors; or
 
    Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis where a vote against other agenda items are deemed inappropriate.
3. Compensation
Good pay practices should align management’s interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of compensation criteria is required; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident. Compensation practices should allow a company to attract and retain proven talent. Some examples of poor pay practices include: abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure, egregious employment contracts, excessive severance and/or change in control provisions, repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval, and excessive perquisites.
Director Compensation
Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.
Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a singleresolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.
Compensation Plans
Vote compensation plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

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Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions
Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.
4. Board Structure
Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.
Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.
Chairman CEO combined role (for applicable markets)
GSAM will generally recommend a vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, if the company satisfies 3 of the 4 following criteria:
    2/3 independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;
 
    A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;
 
    Fully independent key committees; and/or
 
    Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.
5. Capital Structure
Share Issuance Requests
General Issuances:
Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.
Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.
Increases in Authorized Capital
Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.
Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:
    The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or
 
    The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.
Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.
Reduction of Capital
Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.
Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Capital Structures
Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

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Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional supervoting shares.
Preferred Stock
Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.
Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.
Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.
Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Debt Issuance Requests
Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.
Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.
Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.
Pledging of Assets for Debt
Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Increase in Borrowing Powers
Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Share Repurchase Plans
GSAM will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs if the terms comply with the following criteria:
    A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital;
 
    A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and
 
    Duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation, or code of governance best practice.
In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, the proposal will be evaluated based on the company’s historical practice. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:
    A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and
 
    Duration of no more than 5 years.
In addition, vote AGAINST any proposal where:
    There is clear evidence of abuse;
 
    There is no safeguard against selective buybacks;
 
    Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

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Reissuance of Repurchased Shares
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.
Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value
Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.
6. Other
Reorganizations/Restructurings
Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:
    Valuation;
 
    Market reaction;
 
    Strategic rationale;
 
    Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;
 
    Presence of conflicts of interest; and
 
    Governance profile of the combined company.
Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers
Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Antitakeover Mechanisms
Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.
Reincorporation Proposals
Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Expansion of Business Activities
Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into inappropriately risky areas.
Related-Party Transactions
Vote related-party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
7. Environmental, climate change and social issues
Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.
Labor and Human Rights Standards

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Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies unless such information is already publicly disclosed.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to implement company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies, considering:
    The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;
 
    Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;
 
    Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;
 
    Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;
 
    Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;
 
    Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;
 
    The scope of the request; and
 
    Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.
Sustainability and climate change reporting
Generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives, and oversight mechanisms related to social, economic, and environmental sustainability, or how the company may be impacted by climate change. The following factors will be considered:
    The company’s current level of publicly-available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies such as an Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) report; a comprehensive Code of Corporate Conduct; and/or a Diversity Report or other similar report;
 
    If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame;
 
    If the company’s current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and
 
    If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance.

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APPENDIX C
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 $50,000 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 investor’s 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 investor’s 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.

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a) (1)   Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 1 /
 
  (2)   Amendment No. 1 dated April 24, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust January 28, 1997 2 /
 
  (3)   Amendment No. 2 dated July 21, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 2 /
 
  (4)   Amendment No. 3 dated October 21, 1997 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 3 /
 
  (5)   Amendment No. 4 dated January 28, 1998 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 3 /
 
  (6)   Amendment No. 5 dated January 28, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 4 /
 
  (7)   Amendment No. 6 dated July 22, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 4 /
 
  (8)   Amendment No. 7 dated November 3, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 5 /
 
  (9)   Amendment No. 8 dated March 1, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 6 /
 
  (10)   Amendment No. 9 dated April 28, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 7 /
 
  (11)   Amendment No. 10 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 8 /
 
  (12)   Amendment No. 11 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 8 /
 
  (13)   Amendment No. 12 dated October 26, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 9 /
 
  (14)   Amendment No. 13 dated February 3, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 10 /
 
  (15)   Amendment No. 14 dated April 26, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 11 /
 
  (16)   Amendment No. 15 dated August 1, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 12 /
 
  (17)   Amendment No. 16 dated January 30, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 13 /
 
  (18)   Amendment No. 17 dated April 25, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 14 /

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  (19)   Amendment No. 18 dated July 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 15 /
 
  (20)   Amendment No. 19 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 15 /
 
  (21)   Amendment No. 20 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 15 /
 
  (22)   Amendment No. 21 dated January 29, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 16 /
 
  (23)   Amendment No. 22 dated July 31, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 17 /
 
  (24)   Amendment No. 23 dated October 30, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 17 /
 
  (25)   Amendment No. 24 dated May 6, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 18 /
 
  (26)   Amendment No. 25 dated April 21, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 19 /
 
  (27)   Amendment No. 26 dated November 4, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 19 /
 
  (28)   Amendment No. 27 dated February 10, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 20 /
 
  (29)   Amendment No. 28 dated May 12, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 21 /
 
  (30)   Amendment No. 29 dated June 16, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 21 /
 
  (31)   Amendment No. 30 dated August 4, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1977 21 /
 
  (32)   Amendment No. 31 dated November 2, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 22 /
 
  (33)   Amendment No. 32 dated December 31, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 23 /
 
  (34)   Amendment No. 33 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 22 /
 
  (35)   Amendment No. 34 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 22 /
 
  (36)   Amendment No. 35 dated May 11, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 24 /
 
  (37)   Amendment No. 36 dated June 15, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 25 /

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  (38)   Amendment No. 37 dated August 10, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 26 /
 
  (39)   Amendment No. 38 dated November 9, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 26 /
 
  (40)   Amendment No. 39 dated December 14, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 27 /
 
  (41)   Amendment No. 40 dated December 14, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 27 /
 
  (42)   Amendment No. 41 dated February 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 27 /
 
  (43)   Amendment No. 42 dated March 15, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 27 /
 
  (44)   Amendment No. 43 dated May 10, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 27 /
 
  (45)   Amendment No. 44 dated June 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 28 /
 
  (46)   Amendment No. 45 dated June 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 29 /
 
  (47)   Amendment No. 46 dated November 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 29 /
 
  (48)   Amendment No. 47 dated November 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 29 /
 
  (49)   Amendment No. 48 dated December 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 30 /
 
  (50)   Amendment No. 49 dated June 19, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 31 /
 
  (51)   Amendment No. 50 dated August 14, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 32 /
 
  (52)   Amendment No. 51 dated August 25, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 33 /
 
  (53)   Amendment No. 52 dated November 13, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 33 /
 
  (54)   Amendment No. 53 dated May 21, 2009 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 34 /
 
  (55)   Amendment No. 54 dated November 19, 2009 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 34 /
 
  (56)   Amendment No. 55 dated February 11, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 35 /

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  (57)   Amendment No. 56 dated May 20, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 36 /
 
  (58)   Amendment No. 57 dated June 17, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 36 /
 
  (59)   Amendment No. 58 dated November 18, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 37 /
 
  (60)   Amendment No. 59 dated January 5, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 38 /
 
  (61)   Amendment No. 60 dated February 10, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 38 /
 
  (62)   Amendment No. 61 dated February 10, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 38 /
 
(b) (1)   Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated October 30, 2002 15 /
 
  (2)   Amendment No. 1 dated November 4, 2004 to Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated October 30, 2002 20 /
 
  (3)   Amendment No. 2 dated October 16, 2009 to Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated October 30, 2002 34 /
 
  (4)   Amendment No. 3 dated February 10, 2011 to Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated October 30, 2002 38 /
  (c)   Instruments defining the rights of holders of Registrant’s shares of beneficial interest 39 /
(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. 3 /
 
  (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. 3 /
 
  (3)   Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Short Duration Tax-Free Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management 3 /
 
  (4)   Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management 3 /
 
  (5)   Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between the Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds (formerly Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios), and Goldman Sachs Asset Management 3 /
 
  (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 40 /
 
  (7)   Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios and Goldman Sachs Asset Management 3 /

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  (8)   Amended Annex A dated September 25, 2007 to the Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios and Goldman Sachs Asset Management 41 /
 
  (9)   Amended Annex A dated February 10, 2011 to the Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Goldman Sachs Fund Management L.P. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International 38 /
 
  (10)   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) 42 /
 
  (11)   Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds (formerly Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios)) 42 /
 
  (12)   Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to certain of the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income, Equity, Specialty and Money Market Funds) 42 /
 
  (13)   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) 42 /
 
  (14)   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) 42 /
 
  (15)   Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Equity Growth Strategy (formerly Aggressive Growth Strategy), Balanced Strategy, Growth and Income Strategy and Growth Strategy Portfolios 20 /
 
  (16)   Fee Reduction Commitment dated July 1, 2008 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Short Duration Tax-Free Fund 33 /
 
  (17)   Fee Reduction Commitment dated July 1, 2008 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Ultra-Short Duration Government Fund (formerly Goldman Sachs Adjustable Rate Government Fund) 33 /
 
  (18)   Fee Reduction Commitment dated July 1, 2008 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Short Duration Government Fund 33 /
 
  (19)   Fee Reduction Commitment dated July 1, 2008 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Core Fixed Income Fund 33 /
 
(e) (1)   Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997 17 /
 
  (2)   Amended Exhibit A dated February 10, 2011 to the Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997 38 /
  (f)   Not applicable

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(g) (1)   Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991, between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 43 /
 
  (2)   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 2 /
 
  (3)   Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company on behalf of Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund 5 /
 
  (4)   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) 7 /
 
  (5)   Fee schedule dated July 19, 1999 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Technology Tollkeeper Fund (formerly Tollkeeper Fund and formerly Internet Tollkeeper Fund)) 8 /
 
  (6)   Fee schedule dated October 1, 1999 relating to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Large Cap Value Fund) 44 /
 
  (7)   Fee schedule dated January 12, 2000 relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Structured Tax-Managed Equity Fund (formerly CORE Tax-Managed Equity Fund)) 10 /
 
  (8)   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) 10 /
 
  (9)   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) 11 /
 
  (10)   Additional Portfolio Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 10 /
 
  (11)   Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 10 /
 
  (12)   Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 10 /
 
  (13)   Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 14 /
 
  (14)   Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 14 /
 
  (15)   Amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 45 /
 
  (16)   Amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 45 /
 
  (17)   Letter Amendment dated May 15, 2002 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company 15 /

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  (18)   Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 46 /
 
  (19)   Letter Amendment dated August 26, 2003 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Debt Fund) 47 /
 
  (20)   Letter Amendment dated October 28, 2003 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs U.S. Mortgages Fund) 47 /
 
  (21)   Letter Amendment dated February 8, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (for the fund now known as Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund) 47 /
 
  (22)   Letter Amendment dated March 14, 2007 to Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Satellite Strategies Portfolio) 47 /
 
  (23)   Letter Amendment dated April 23, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund) 47 /
 
  (24)   Letter Amendment dated May 2, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund and Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund) 47 /
 
  (25)   Letter Amendment dated August 10, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Inflation Protected Securities Fund) 47 /
 
  (26)   Letter Amendment dated August 10, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Retirement Strategies Portfolios) 47 /
 
  (27)   Letter Amendment dated September 12, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund) 47 /
 
  (28)   Letter Amendment dated September 12, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Structured Emerging Markets Equity Fund) 47 /
 
  (29)   Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Enhanced Dividend Global Equity Portfolio) 47 /
 
  (30)   Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Tax-Advantaged Global Equity Portfolio) 47 /
 
  (31)   Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Structured International Tax-Managed Equity Fund) 47 /

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  (32)   Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Equity Dividend and Premium Fund) 47 /
 
  (33)   Letter Amendment dated October 4, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Local Emerging Markets Debt Fund) 47 /
 
  (34)   Letter Amendment dated November 28, 2007 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Tracker Fund) 47 /
 
  (35)   Letter Amendment dated September 17, 2009 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Structured International Equity Fund and Goldman Sachs Structured International Equity Flex Fund) 34 /
 
  (36)   Letter Amendment dated November 19, 2009 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs U.S. Equity Fund) 34 /
 
  (37)   Letter Amendment dated November 19, 2009 to the Custodian Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Dynamic Allocation Fund) 48 /
 
  (38)   Letter Amendment dated August 11, 2009 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Technology Tollkeeper Fund (formerly Tollkeeper Fund )) 49 /
 
  (39)   Letter Amendment dated June 17, 2010 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Fund) 36 /
 
  (40)   Letter Amendment dated December 31, 2010 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A (Goldman Sachs N-11 Equity Fund) 38 /
 
  (41)   Letter Amendment dated February 15, 2011 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs High Yield Floating Rate Fund) 50/
 
  (42)   Letter Amendment dated March 31, 2011 to the Custodian Agreement dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Brazil Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund, and Goldman Sachs Korea Equity Fund) 50/
 
  (43)   Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Bank of New York Trust Company on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds, filed herewith
 
(h) (1)   First Amendment dated July 18, 1994 to Amended and Restated Wiring Agreement dated January 25, 1994 among Goldman, Sachs & Co., State Street Bank and Trust Company and The Northern Trust Company 51 /
 
  (2)   Amended and Restated Wiring Agreement dated January 25, 1994 among Goldman, Sachs & Co., State Street Bank and Trust Company and The Northern Trust Company 51 /

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  (3)   Letter Agreement dated June 20, 1987 regarding use of checking account between Registrant and The Northern Trust Company 43 /
 
  (4)   Transfer Agency Agreement dated August 9, 2007 between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. 52 /
 
  (5)   Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement Fee Schedule dated February 10, 2011, to the Transfer Agency Agreement dated August 9, 2007 between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. 38 /
 
  (6)   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 5 /
 
  (7)   Form of Retail Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust — TPA Assistance Version relating to the 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 53 /
 
  (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 5 /
 
  (9)   Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the FST Shares, FST Select Shares, FST Preferred Shares, FST Capital Shares, FST Administration Shares and FST Service Shares of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds 5 /
 
  (10)   Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Class A Shares and Service Shares of Goldman Sachs Equity and Fixed Income Funds 53 /
 
  (11)   Form of Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Institutional Class, Select Class, Preferred Class, Capital Class, Administration Class, Premier Class, Service Class, Resource Class and Cash Management Class, as applicable, of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds, Goldman Sachs Domestic Equity Funds, Goldman Sachs International Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs Fund of Funds Portfolios 54 /
 
  (12)   Goldman Sachs Trust Administration Shares Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds) 55 /
 
  (13)   Goldman Sachs Trust Cash Management Shares Service Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds) 55 /
 
  (14)   Goldman Sachs Trust FST Select Class Select Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (15)   Goldman Sachs Trust Administration Shares Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of the remaining Financial Square Funds) 55 /
 
  (16)   Goldman Sachs Trust FST Preferred Class Preferred Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /

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  (17)   Goldman Sachs Trust Administration Class Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (18)   Goldman Sachs Trust Service Shares Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds) 55 /
 
  (19)   Goldman Sachs Trust Service Class Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (20)   Goldman Sachs Trust FST Capital Administration Class Capital Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (21)   Goldman Sachs Trust Service Shares Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of the remaining Financial Square Funds) 55 /
 
  (22)   Mutual Funds Service Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co. 56 /
 
  (23)   Form of Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Commodity Strategy Fund 51 /
 
  (24)   Goldman Sachs Trust FST Cash Management Shares Service Plan dated February 11, 2010 (on behalf of the remaining Financial Square Funds) 57 /
 
  (25)   Goldman Sachs Trust Premier Shares Service Plan and Administration Plan dated February 11, 2010 57 /
 
  (26)   Goldman Sachs Trust Resource Shares Service Plan dated February 11, 2010 57 /
 
  (27)   Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Bank of New York Trust Company on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds, filed herewith
  (i)   Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP, filed herewith
 
  (j)   Not applicable
 
  (k)   Not applicable
 
  (l)   Not applicable
(m) (1)   Class A Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of May 5, 2004 19 /
 
  (2)   Class B Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (3)   Class C Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 46 /
 
  (4)   Cash Management Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds) 55 /
 
  (5)   Class R Distribution and Service Plan dated November 8, 2007 29 /

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  (6)   Cash Management Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated February 11, 2010 (on behalf of the remaining Financial Square Funds) 57 /
 
  (7)   Resource Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated February 11, 2010 57 /
 
(n) (1)   Plan in Accordance with Rule 18f-3, amended and restated as of December 1, 2010 55 /
 
(p) (1)   Code of Ethics — Goldman Sachs Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Goldman Sachs Credit Strategies Fund dated April 23, 1997, as amended effective March 12, 2009 36 /
 
  (2)   Code of Ethics — Goldman, Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies LLC and GS Investment Strategies, LLC dated January 23, 1991, effective November 17, 2010 55 /
 
(q) (1)   Powers of Attorney for Messrs. Bakhru, Coblentz, Shuch and Strubel 23 /
 
  (2)   Powers of Attorney for Ms. Daniels and Ms. Palmer 58 /
 
  (3)   Power of Attorney for James A. McNamara 59 /
 
  (4)   Power of Attorney for George F. Travers 34 /
 
  (5)   Powers of Attorney for Donald C. Burke and Joseph P. LoRusso 60 /
 
1 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 14, 1997.
 
2 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 16, 1997.
 
3 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998.
 
4 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 1, 1998.
 
5 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998.
 
6 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 12, 1999.
 
7 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 16, 1999.
 
8 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 16, 1999.
 
9 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 22, 1999.
 
10 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000.

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11 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 3, 2000.
 
12 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 22, 2000.
 
13 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 13, 2001.
 
14 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2001.
 
15 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 11, 2002.
 
16 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 19, 2003.
 
17 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 12, 2003.
 
18 /   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 relating to the Registrant’s acquisition of the Golden Oak ® Family of Funds (“Acquisition”), SEC File No. 333-117561, filed July 22, 2004.
 
19 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2004.
 
20 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 17, 2005.
 
21 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 7, 2005.
 
22 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 26, 2006.
 
23 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2005.
 
24 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 23, 2006.
 
25 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 18, 2006.
 
26 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2006.
 
27 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 811-05349, filed June 12, 2007.
 
28 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 162 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 811-05349, filed August 14, 2007.

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29 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 27, 2007.
 
30 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 18, 2008.
 
31 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 205 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2008.
 
32 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 27, 2008.
 
33 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2009.
 
34 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 24, 2009.
 
35 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 242 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2010.
 
36 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 249 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 30, 2010.
 
37 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 30, 2010.
 
38 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 270 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2011.
 
39 /   Article II, Section 10, Article IV, Section 3, Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article IX, Section 8 and Section 9 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit (a)(1) and Article III of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws incorporated by reference as Exhibit (b)(3).
 
40 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 25, 1998.
 
41 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 195 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 29, 2008.
 
42 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 13, 2003.
 
43 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1995.
 
44 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 1, 1999.
 
45 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 15, 2002.
 
46 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004.

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47 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2009.
 
48 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 28, 2009.
 
49 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 24, 2009.
 
50/   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 277 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 5, 2011.
 
51 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File. No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2009.
 
52 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 10, 2007.
 
53 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 198 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 28, 2008.
 
54 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2010.
 
55 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2010.
 
56 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 19, 2007.
 
57 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010.
 
58 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 10, 2007.
 
59 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 171 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 9, 2007.
 
60 /   Incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 253 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 26, 2010.
Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund
     Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity Fund, Ltd. (the “Cayman Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Commodity Strategy Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
     Goldman Sachs India Equity Fund, also a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Goldman Sachs Mauritius India Equity Fund Ltd (the “Mauritius Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Mauritius. The Mauritius Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the India Equity Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
Item 30. Indemnification

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     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 Agreements (other than the Management Agreements on behalf of the Financial Square Tax-Exempt California and Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Funds and the Short Duration Government Fund) provide 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 Agreements. Section 7 of the Management Agreements on behalf of the ILA Portfolios and the Short Duration Government Fund provides that the ILA Portfolios and the Short Duration Government Fund 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 Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligation under the Management Agreements. The Management Agreements are incorporated by reference as Exhibits (d)(1) through (d)(7).
     Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman Sachs dated April 30, 1997, as amended, and Section 7 of the Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. dated August 9, 2007 provides that the Registrant will indemnify Goldman, Sachs & Co. against certain liabilities. Copies of the Distribution Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement are incorporated by reference as Exhibits (e)(1) and (h)(4) respectively, to the Registrant’s Registration Statement.
     Mutual fund and trustees and officers liability policies purchased jointly by the Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Goldman Sachs Credit Strategies Fund 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.
Item 31. 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 Other   Connection with
the Investment Advisers   Company   Other Company
John S. Weinberg
Managing Director- GSAM LP
  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
  Vice Chairman
 
       
 
  Goldman, Sachs & Co.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
  Managing Director
 
       
Lloyd C. Blankfein
Managing Director- GSAM LP
  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
       
 
  Goldman, Sachs & Co.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
  Managing Director

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Item 32. Principal Underwriters
  (a)   Goldman, Sachs & Co. or an affiliate or a division thereof currently serves as distributor 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 Registrant’s 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.
Yusuf A. Alireza (1)
  Managing Director
Lloyd C. Blankfein (2)
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Alan M. Cohen (2)
  Global Head of Compliance, Managing Director
Gary D. Cohn (2)
  Managing Director
Christopher A. Cole (2)
  Managing Director
Edith Cooper (2)
  Managing Director
Gordon E. Dyal (3)
  Managing Director
Isabelle Ealet (4)
  Managing Director
Edward K. Eisler (4)
  Managing Director
J. Michael Evans (1)
  Managing Director
Edward C. Forst (2)
  Managing Director
Richard A. Friedman (2)
  Managing Director
Richard J. Gnodde (3)
  Managing Director
David B. Heller (2)
  Managing Director
Kevin W. Kennedy (2)
  Managing Director
Gwen R. Libstag (2)
  Managing Director
Masanori Mochida (5)
  Managing Director
Donald R. Mullen, Jr. (2)
  Managing Director
Timothy J. O’Neill (2)
  Managing Director
Gregory K. Palm (2)
  General Counsel and Managing Director
John F.W. Rogers (2)
  Managing Director
David C. Ryan (6)
  Managing Director
Pablo J. Salame (4)
  Managing Director
Jeffrey W. Schroeder (2)
  Managing Director
Harvey M. Schwartz (2)
  Managing Director
Michael S. Sherwood (4)
  Managing Director
David M. Solomon (2)
  Managing Director
Esta Stecher (2)
  General Counsel and Managing Director
Steven H. Strongin (2)
  Managing Director
David A. Viniar (2)
  Managing Director
John S. Weinberg (2)
  Managing Director
Yoel Zaoui (3)
  Managing Director
 
(1)   Cheung Kong Center, 68 th Floor, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong, China
 
(2)   200 West Street, New York, NY 10282
 
(3)   Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BB, England
 
(4)   River Court, 120 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2QQ, England

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(5)   12-32, Akasaka I-chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-6006, Japan
 
(6)   1 Raffles Link, #07-01 South Lobby, Singapore 039393
(c) Not Applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
     The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Amended and Restated By-laws and minute books of the Registrant and certain investment adviser records are in the physical possession of GSAM LP, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282. 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, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Bank of New York Mellon, One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 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, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Item 34. Management Services
     Not applicable
Item 35. Undertakings
     Not applicable

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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 of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 279 under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 279 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 28th day of April, 2011.
         
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 James A. McNamara
 
James A. McNamara
  President (Chief Executive
Officer) and Trustee
  April 28, 2011
 
       
1 George F. Travers
 
George F. Travers
  Principal Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President
  April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Ashok N. Bakhru
 
Ashok N. Bakhru
  Chairman and Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Donald C. Burke
 
Donald C. Burke
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 John P. Coblentz, Jr.
 
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Diana M. Daniels
 
Diana M. Daniels
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Joseph P. LoRusso
 
Joseph P. LoRusso
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Jessica Palmer
 
Jessica Palmer
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Alan A. Shuch
 
Alan A. Shuch
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
 
       
1 Richard P. Strubel
 
Richard P. Strubel
  Trustee     April 28, 2011
         
     
  By:   /s/ Peter V. Bonanno    
    Peter V. Bonanno,    
    Attorney-In-Fact   
 
 
1   Pursuant to powers of attorney previously filed.

 


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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 17, 2010.
      RESOLVED , that the Trustees and Officers of the Trust who may be required to execute any amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement be, and each hereby is, authorized to execute a power of attorney appointing Peter V. Bonanno, James A. Fitzpatrick and James A. McNamara, 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 Trust 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 may have caused to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: April 28, 2011
         
     
  /s/ Peter V. Bonanno    
  Peter V. Bonanno,    
  Secretary   
 

 


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EXHIBIT INDEX
(g)(43)   Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Bank of New York Trust Company on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds
 
(h)(27)   Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Bank of New York Trust Company on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds
 
(i)   Opinion and Consent of Dechert LPP

 

     
(THE BANK OF NEWYORK MELLON LOGO)   exhibit (g)(43)
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
     AGREEMENT, dated as of April 5, 2011 between Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, a statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware having its principal office and place of business at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282 (the “Fund”) and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York corporation authorized to do a banking business having its principal office and place of business at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 (“Custodian”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
that for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth the Fund and Custodian agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
     Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words shall have the meanings set forth below:
     1.  “Authorized Person” shall be any person, whether or not an officer or employee of the Fund, duly authorized by the Fund’s board to execute any Certificate or to give any Oral Instruction with respect to one or more Accounts, such persons to be designated in a Certificate annexed hereto or such other Certificate as may be received by Custodian from time to time.
     2.  “Custodian Affiliate” shall mean any office, branch or subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
     3.  “Book Entry System” shall mean the Federal Reserve/Treasury book entry system for receiving and delivering securities, its successors and nominees.
     4.  “Business Day” shall mean any day on which Custodian and relevant Depositories are open for business.
     5.  “Certificate” shall mean any notice, instruction, or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, which is actually received by Custodian by letter or facsimile transmission and signed on behalf of the Fund by an Authorized Person or a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
     6.  “Composite Currency Unit” shall mean the Euro or any other composite currency unit consisting of the aggregate of specified amounts of specified currencies, as such unit may be constituted from time to time.
     7.  “Depository” shall include (a) the Book-Entry System, (b) the Depository Trust Company, (c) any other clearing agency or securities depository registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission identified to the Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

 


 

     8.  “Foreign Depository” shall mean (a) Euroclear, (b) Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, (c) each Eligible Securities Depository as defined in Rule 17f-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), identified to the Fund from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.
     9.  “Instructions” shall mean instructions which are received by Custodian in writing or via Custodian’s electronic instruction system, SWIFT, tested telex, facsimile or such other methods as are for the time being agreed by Fund (or an Authorized Person) and Custodian.
     10.  “Oral Instructions” shall mean verbal instructions received by Custodian from an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
     11.  “Series” shall mean the various portfolios, if any, of the Fund listed on Schedule I hereto, and if none are listed references to Series shall be references to the Fund.
     12.  “Securities” shall include, without limitation, any common stock and other equity securities, bonds, debentures and other debt securities, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any instruments representing rights to receive, purchase, or subscribe for the same, or representing any other rights or interests therein (whether represented by a certificate or held in a Depository or by a Subcustodian).
     13.  “Subcustodian” shall mean a bank (including any branch thereof) or other financial institution (other than a Foreign Depository) that is eligible to serve as a fund custodian pursuant to the 1940 Act and which is utilized by Custodian in connection with the purchase, sale or custody of Securities hereunder and identified to the Fund from time to time, and their respective successors and nominees.
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; ACCOUNTS;
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS
     1. (a) The Fund hereby appoints Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash at any time delivered to Custodian during the term of this Agreement, and authorizes Custodian to hold Securities in registered form in its name or the name of its nominees. Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to establish and maintain one or more securities accounts and cash accounts for each Series in which Custodian will hold Securities and cash as provided herein. Custodian shall maintain books and records segregating the assets of each Series from the assets of any other Series. Such accounts (each, an “Account”; collectively, the “Accounts”) shall be in the name of the Fund on behalf of each of its Series.
        (b) Custodian may from time to time establish on its books and records such sub-accounts within each Account as the Fund and Custodian may agree upon (each a “Special Account”), and Custodian shall reflect therein such assets as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.
        (c) Custodian may from time to time establish pursuant to a written agreement with and for the benefit of a broker, dealer, future commission merchant or other third party identified in a Certificate or Instructions such accounts on such terms and conditions as the Fund and

- 2 -


 

Custodian shall agree, and Custodian shall transfer to such account such Securities and money as the Fund may specify in a Certificate or Instructions.
     2. The Fund hereby represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon each delivery of a Certificate or each giving of Oral Instructions or Instructions by the Fund, that:
          (a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder;
          (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, approved by a resolution of its board, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it, and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
          (c) It is conducting its business in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and requirements, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted;
          (d) It will not knowingly use the services provided by Custodian hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Fund;
          (e) Its board or its foreign custody manager, as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act, has determined that use of each Subcustodian (including any Replacement Custodian) which Custodian is authorized to utilize in accordance with Section 1(a) of Article III hereof satisfies the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder;
          (f) The Fund or its investment adviser has determined that the custody arrangements of each Foreign Depository provide reasonable safeguards against the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Foreign Depository within the meaning of Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act;
          (g) It is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with various methods of transmitting Instructions and Oral Instructions and delivering Certificates to Custodian, shall, and shall cause each Authorized Person, to safeguard and treat with extreme care any user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys, understands that there may be more secure methods of transmitting or delivering the same than the methods selected by it, agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection therewith provide a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances, and acknowledges and agrees that Instructions need not be reviewed by Custodian, may conclusively be presumed by Custodian to have been given by person(s) duly authorized, and may be acted upon as given;
          (h) It shall manage its borrowings, including, without limitation, any advance or overdraft (including any day-light overdraft) in the Accounts, so that the aggregate of its total

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borrowings for each Series does not exceed the amount such Series is permitted to borrow under the 1940 Act;
          (i) Its transmission or giving of, and Custodian acting upon and in reliance on, Certificates, Instructions, or Oral Instructions pursuant to this Agreement shall at all times comply with the 1940 Act;
          (j) It shall impose and maintain restrictions on the destinations to which cash may be disbursed by Instructions to ensure that each disbursement is for a proper purpose;
          (k) It has the right to make the pledge and grant the security interest and security entitlement to Custodian contained in Section 1 of Article V hereof, free of any right of redemption or prior claim of any other person or entity, such pledge and such grants shall have a first priority subject to no setoffs, counterclaims, or other liens or grants prior to or on a parity therewith, and it shall take such additional steps as Custodian may require to assure such priority; and
     3. Custodian hereby represents and warrants, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon each receipt of a Certificate or Oral Instructions or Instructions by the Fund, that:
          (a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder;
          (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Custodian, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Custodian, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting generally the enforceability of creditors’ rights or by equitable principles generally applied, and there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it, and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property, which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;
          (c) It will not knowingly use the Securities and cash delivered to it pursuant to this Agreement in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to Custodian;
          (d) It has established policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
          (e) It will not provide services hereunder in any manner that is, or will result in, a violation of any applicable law, rule or regulation;
          (f) Custodian will submit to the Fund on an annual basis a copy of its report prepared in compliance with the requirements of Statement of Auditing Standards No. 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as it may be amended from time to time, or such other similar report or attestation used by professional custodians relating to their internal controls.

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          (g) Custodian will provide the Fund with the results of any regulatory examination, notice or other communication from a regulatory agency that could materially impact the services provider under this Agreement;
          (h) It has adopted a Code of Conduct for employees providing services under this Agreement with respect to the employees’ personal trading activities;
          (i) It has at least the minimum qualifications required by Section 17(f)(1) of the 1940 Act to act as custodian of the Securities and cash of the Fund;
          (j) It will notify the Fund regarding any material compliance matter or any material change to the Custodian’s compliance program that materially affects the services provided pursuant to this Agreement; and
     4. The Fund hereby covenants that it shall from time to time complete and execute and deliver to Custodian upon Custodian’s request a Form FR U-1 (or successor form) whenever the Fund borrows from Custodian any money to be used for the purchase or carrying of margin stock as defined in Federal Reserve Regulation U.
ARTICLE III
CUSTODY AND RELATED SERVICES
     1. (a) Subject to the terms hereof, the Fund hereby authorizes Custodian to hold any Securities received by it from time to time for the Fund’s account. Custodian shall be entitled to utilize, subject to subsection (c) of this Section 1, Depositories, Subcustodians, and, subject to subsection (d) of this Section 1, Foreign Depositories, to the extent possible in connection with its performance hereunder. Securities and cash held in a Depository or Foreign Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such entity. Securities and cash held through Subcustodians shall be held subject to the terms and conditions of Custodian’s agreements with such Subcustodians. Subcustodians may be authorized to hold Securities in Foreign Depositories in which such Subcustodians participate. Unless otherwise required by local law or practice or a particular Subcustodian agreement, Securities deposited with a Subcustodian, a Depositary or a Foreign Depository will be held in a commingled account, in the name of Custodian, holding only Securities held by Custodian as custodian for its customers. Custodian shall identify on its books and records the Securities and cash belonging to the Fund, and its separate Series, whether held directly or indirectly through Depositories, Foreign Depositories, or Subcustodians. Custodian shall, directly or indirectly through Subcustodians, Depositories, or Foreign Depositories, endeavor, to the extent feasible, to hold Securities in the country or other jurisdiction in which the principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such Securities are to be presented for cancellation and/or payment and/or registration, or where such Securities are acquired. Custodian at any time may cease utilizing any Subcustodian and/or may replace a Subcustodian with a different Subcustodian (the “Replacement Subcustodian”). In the event Custodian selects a Replacement Subcustodian, Custodian shall not utilize such Replacement Subcustodian until after the Fund’s board or foreign custody manager has determined that utilization of such Replacement Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act and Rule 17f-5 thereunder.

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          (b) Unless Custodian has received a Certificate or Instructions to the contrary, Custodian shall hold Securities indirectly through a Subcustodian only if (i) the Securities are not subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of such Subcustodian or its creditors or operators, including a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or similar authority, except for a claim of payment for the safe custody or administration of Securities on behalf of the Fund by such Subcustodian, and (ii) beneficial ownership of the Securities is freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration.
          (c) With respect to each Depository, Custodian (i) shall exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain Securities or financial assets deposited or held in such Depository, and (ii) will provide, promptly upon request by the Fund, such reports as are available concerning the internal accounting controls and financial strength of Custodian.
          (d) With respect to each Foreign Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence (i) to provide the Fund with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Foreign Depository, including in advance of any transfer of assets to such Foreign Depository, to the extent reasonably practical under the circumstances, and (ii) to monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis and promptly notify the Fund of any material change in such risks. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that such analysis and monitoring shall be made on the basis of, and limited by, information gathered from Subcustodians or through publicly available information otherwise obtained by Custodian, and shall not include any evaluation of Country Risks. As used herein the term “Country Risks” shall mean with respect to any Foreign Depository: (a) the financial infrastructure of the country in which it is organized, (b) such country’s prevailing custody and settlement practices, (c) nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions, (d) such country’s regulation of the banking or securities industry, (e) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and (f) market conditions which affect the order execution of securities transactions or affect the value of securities.
     2. Custodian shall furnish the Fund with an advice of daily transactions (including a confirmation of each transfer of Securities) and a monthly summary of all transfers to or from the Accounts.
     3. With respect to all Securities held hereunder, Custodian shall, unless otherwise instructed to the contrary:
          (a) Receive all income and other payments and advise the Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;
          (b) Present for payment and receive the amount paid upon all Securities which may mature and advise the Fund as promptly as practicable of any such amounts due but not paid;
          (c) Forward to the Fund copies of all information or documents that it may actually receive from an issuer of Securities which, in the opinion of Custodian, are intended for the beneficial owner of Securities;

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          (d) Execute, as custodian, any certificates of ownership, affidavits, declarations or other certificates under any tax laws now or hereafter in effect in connection with the collection of bond and note coupons;
          (e) Hold directly or through a Depository, a Foreign Depository, or a Subcustodian all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to any Securities credited to an Account hereunder; and
          (f) Endorse for collection checks, drafts or other negotiable instruments.
     4. (a) Custodian shall notify the Fund of rights, notices, or discretionary actions with respect to Securities held hereunder, and of the date or dates by when such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken, provided that Custodian has actually received, from the issuer or the relevant Depository (with respect to Securities issued in the United States) or from the relevant Subcustodian, Foreign Depository, or a nationally or internationally recognized bond or corporate action service to which Custodian subscribes (each, “Notice Provider”), timely notice of such rights or discretionary corporate action or of the date or dates such rights must be exercised or such action must be taken. Absent actual receipt of such notice, Custodian shall have no liability for failing to so notify the Fund. Custodian shall use commercially reasonable care in forwarding such notice to the relevant Fund. Custodian shall be reasonable in its selection of a Notice Provider other than a Foreign Depository.
          (b) Whenever Securities (including, but not limited to, warrants, options, tenders, options to tender or non mandatory puts or calls) confer discretionary rights on the Fund or provide for discretionary action or alternative courses of action by the Fund, the Fund shall be responsible for making any decisions relating thereto and for directing Custodian to act. Absent Custodian’s timely receipt of a Certificate or Instructions, Custodian shall not be liable for failure to take any action relating to or to exercise any rights conferred by such Securities, unless attributable to Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct in discharging its duties hereunder.
     5. All voting rights with respect to Securities, however registered, shall be exercised by the Fund or its designee. Custodian will make available to the Fund proxy voting services upon the request of, and for the jurisdictions selected by, the Fund in accordance with terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon by Custodian and the Fund.
     6. Custodian shall promptly advise the Fund upon Custodian’s actual receipt of notification of the partial redemption, partial payment or other action affecting less than all Securities of the relevant class. If Custodian, any Subcustodian, any Depository, or any Foreign Depository holds any Securities in which the Fund has an interest as part of a fungible mass, Custodian, such Subcustodian, Depository, or Foreign Depository may select the Securities to participate in such partial redemption, partial payment or other action in any non-discriminatory manner that it customarily uses to make such selection.
     7. Custodian shall not under any circumstances accept bearer interest coupons which have been stripped from United States federal, state or local government or agency securities unless explicitly agreed to by Custodian in writing.

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     8. The Fund shall be liable for all taxes, assessments, duties and other governmental charges, including any interest or penalty with respect thereto (“Taxes”), with respect to any cash or Securities held on behalf of the Fund or any transaction related thereto. The Fund shall indemnify Custodian and each Subcustodian for the amount of any Tax that Custodian, any such Subcustodian or any other withholding agent is required under applicable laws (whether by assessment or otherwise) to pay on behalf of, or in respect of income earned by or payments or distributions made to or for the account of the Fund (including any payment of Tax required by reason of an earlier failure to withhold). Custodian shall, or shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or other withholding agent to, withhold the amount of any Tax which is required to be withheld under applicable law upon collection of any dividend, interest or other distribution made with respect to any Security and any proceeds or income from the sale, loan or other transfer of any Security. In the event that Custodian or any Subcustodian is required under applicable law to pay any Tax on behalf of the Fund, Custodian is hereby authorized to withdraw cash from any cash account in the amount required to pay such Tax and to use such cash, or to remit such cash to the appropriate Subcustodian or other withholding agent, for the timely payment of such Tax in the manner required by applicable law. If the aggregate amount of cash in all cash accounts is not sufficient to pay such Tax, Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of the additional amount of cash (in the appropriate currency) required, and the Fund shall directly deposit such additional amount in the appropriate cash account promptly after receipt of such notice, for use by Custodian as specified herein. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that Fund is eligible, pursuant to applicable law or to the provisions of any tax treaty, for a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax which is otherwise required to be withheld or paid on behalf of the Fund under any applicable law, Custodian shall instruct the applicable Subcustodian or withholding agent to, either withhold or pay such Tax at such reduced rate or refrain from withholding or paying such Tax, as appropriate; provided that Custodian shall have received from the Fund all documentary evidence of residence or other qualification for such reduced rate or exemption required to be received under such applicable law or treaty. In the event that Custodian reasonably believes that a reduced rate of, or exemption from, any Tax is obtainable only by means of an application for refund, Custodian and the applicable Subcustodian shall have no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any forms or documentation provided by the Fund to Custodian hereunder. The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Custodian and each Subcustodian in respect of any liability arising from any underwithholding or underpayment of any Tax which results from the inaccuracy or invalidity of any such forms or other documentation, and such obligation to indemnify shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
     9. (a) For the purpose of settling Securities and foreign exchange transactions, the Fund shall provide Custodian with sufficient immediately available funds for all transactions by such time and date as conditions in the relevant market dictate. As used herein, “sufficient immediately available funds” shall mean either (i) sufficient cash denominated in U.S. dollars to purchase the necessary foreign currency, or (ii) sufficient applicable foreign currency, to settle the transaction. Custodian shall provide the Fund with immediately available funds each day which result from the actual settlement of all sale transactions, based upon advices received by Custodian from Subcustodians, Depositories, and Foreign Depositories. Such funds shall be in U.S. dollars or such other currency as the Fund may specify to Custodian.

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          (b) Any foreign exchange transaction effected by Custodian in connection with this Agreement may be entered with Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate acting as principal or otherwise through customary banking channels. The Fund may issue a standing Certificate or Instructions with respect to foreign exchange transactions, but Custodian may establish rules or limitations concerning any foreign exchange facility made available to the Fund. The Fund shall bear all risks of investing in Securities or holding cash denominated in a foreign currency.
          (c) To the extent that Custodian has agreed to provide pricing or other information services in connection with this Agreement, Custodian is authorized to utilize any vendor (including brokers and dealers of Securities) reasonably believed by Custodian to be reliable to provide such information. The Fund understands that certain pricing information with respect to complex financial instruments (e.g., derivatives) may be based on calculated amounts rather than actual market transactions and may not reflect actual market values, and that the variance between such calculated amounts and actual market values may or may not be material. Where vendors do not provide information for particular Securities or other property, an Authorized Person may advise Custodian in a Certificate regarding the fair market value of, or provide other information with respect to, such Securities or property as determined by it in good faith. Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense incurred as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other information utilized by Custodian hereunder except to the extent that the Custodian has not fulfilled its standard of care under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Custodian shall be liable for the performance of any vendor selected by the Custodian that is a Custodian Affiliate to the same extent as Custodian would have been liable if it performed such services itself.
     10. Until such time as Custodian receives a certificate to the contrary with respect to a particular Security, Custodian may release the identity of the Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and shareholder.
     11. Custodian shall continuously maintain such back-up systems and disaster recovery plans as are required by all applicable laws and regulations.
     12. Custodian shall provide sub-certifications as reasonably requested by the Funds in connection with any certification required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
     13. Custodian will provide a service level agreement which will be applicable to the services provided pursuant solely to the terms, conditions and limitations of this Agreement. Such service level agreement will be mutually agreed to by Custodian and the Fund.
     14. Upon request of a Fund, the Custodian will establish segregated accounts on behalf of a Fund to hold liquid or other assets as it shall be directed and shall increase or decrease the assets in such segregated accounts only as it shall be directed by subsequent Instruction.

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ARTICLE IV
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES;
CREDITS TO ACCOUNT
     1. Promptly after each purchase or sale of Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions, or with respect to a purchase or sale of a Security generally required to be settled on the same day the purchase or sale is made, Oral Instructions specifying all information Custodian may reasonably request to settle such purchase or sale. Custodian shall account for all purchases and sales of Securities on the actual settlement date unless otherwise agreed by Custodian.
     2. The Fund understands that when Custodian is instructed to deliver Securities against payment, delivery of such Securities and receipt of payment therefor may not be completed simultaneously. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, settlements, payments and deliveries of Securities may be effected by Custodian or any Subcustodian in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivery to a purchaser or dealer therefor (or agent) against receipt with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Securities. The Fund assumes full responsibility for all credit risks involved in connection with such deliveries of Securities.
     3. Custodian may, as a matter of bookkeeping convenience or by separate agreement with the Fund, credit the Account with the proceeds from the sale, redemption or other disposition of Securities or interest, dividends or other distributions payable on Securities prior to its actual receipt of final payment therefor. All such credits shall be conditional until Custodian’s actual receipt of final payment and may be reversed by Custodian to the extent that final payment is not received. Custodian shall notify the Fund as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prior to any such reversal. Payment with respect to a transaction will not be “final” until Custodian shall have received immediately available funds which under applicable local law, rule and/or practice are irreversible and not subject to any security interest, levy or other encumbrance, and which are specifically applicable to such transaction.
ARTICLE V
OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS
     1. If Custodian should in its sole discretion advance funds on behalf of any Series which results in an overdraft (including, without limitation, any day-light overdraft) because the money held by Custodian in an Account for such Series shall be insufficient to pay the total amount payable upon a purchase of Securities specifically allocated to such Series, as set forth in a Certificate, Instructions or Oral Instructions, or if an overdraft arises in the separate account of a Series for any other reason, including, without limitation, because of redemption activity, and any extension of credit related thereto or any overdrafts arising in connection therewith, including through any clearing or operating accounts, or a reversal of a conditional credit or the purchase of any currency, or if the Fund is for any other reason indebted to Custodian or its affiliates with respect to a Series, including any indebtedness to The Bank of New York Mellon under the Treasury Services Terms and Conditions, or Agreement for Shareholder Draft Processing Service applicable to the Fund (except a borrowing for investment or for temporary or emergency

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purposes using Securities as collateral pursuant to a separate agreement and subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article), such overdraft or indebtedness shall be deemed to be a loan made by Custodian to the Fund for such Series payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date incurred at a rate per annum ordinarily charged by Custodian to its institutional customers, as such rate may be adjusted from time to time. In addition, the Fund hereby agrees that Custodian shall to the maximum extent permitted by law have a continuing lien, security interest, and security entitlement in and to any property, including, without limitation, any investment property or any financial asset, of such Series at any time held by Custodian for the benefit of such Series or in which such Series may have an interest which is then in Custodian’s possession or control or in possession or control of any third party acting in Custodian’s behalf, as shall have a fair market value equal to the aggregate amount of all overdrafts of, or advances to, the Fund, together with any other indebtedness as contemplated herein or accrued interest, such lien, security interest and security entitlement to be effective only so long as such advance, overdraft, indebtedness or accrued interest thereon remains outstanding. The Fund authorizes Custodian, in its sole discretion, at any time to charge any such overdraft or indebtedness together with interest due thereon against any balance of account standing to such Series’ credit on Custodian’s books. Custodian shall as promptly as practicable under the circumstances notify the Fund when such Fund has an overdraft or indebtedness bearing interest as provided in this Section (1) or whenever Custodian intends to charge such overdraft or indebtedness to the balance of any Fund Account.
     2. If the Fund borrows money from any bank (including Custodian if the borrowing is pursuant to a separate agreement) for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using Securities held by Custodian hereunder as collateral for such borrowings, the Fund shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such borrowing: (a) the Series to which such borrowing relates; (b) the name of the bank, (c) the amount of the borrowing, (d) the time and date, if known, on which the loan is to be entered into, (e) the total amount payable to the Fund on the borrowing date, (f) the Securities to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the name of the issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities, and (g) a statement specifying whether such loan is for investment purposes or for temporary or emergency purposes and that such loan is in conformance with the 1940 Act and the Fund’s prospectus. Custodian shall deliver on the borrowing date specified in a Certificate the specified collateral against payment by the lending bank of the total amount of the loan payable, provided that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in the Certificate. Custodian may, at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in its possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory note or loan agreement. Custodian shall deliver such Securities as additional collateral as may be specified in a Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described in this Section. The Fund shall cause all Securities released from collateral status to be returned directly to Custodian, and Custodian shall receive from time to time such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the event that the Fund fails to specify in a Certificate the Series, the name of the issuer, the title and number of shares or the principal amount of any particular Securities to be delivered as collateral by Custodian, Custodian shall not be under any obligation to deliver any Securities. In this event, Custodian shall notify the Fund that the Securities were not delivered, and the information that the Fund failed to specify in the Certificate.

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ARTICLE VI
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
     1. Whenever the Fund shall sell any shares issued by the Fund (“Shares”) it shall deliver to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions specifying the amount of money and/or Securities to be received by Custodian for the sale of such Shares and specifically allocated to an Account for such Series.
     2. Upon receipt of such money, Custodian shall credit such money to an Account in the name of the Series for which such money was received.
     3. Except as provided hereinafter, whenever the Fund desires Custodian to make redemption payments out of the money held by Custodian hereunder, or through extensions of credit requested by the Fund or overdrafts arising from Certificates, Instructions or Oral Instructions issued by the Fund, at Custodian’s sole discretion and subject to Article V above, in connection with a redemption of any Shares (“Redemption Credit”), it shall furnish to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions specifying the total amount to be paid for such Shares, including the allocation of Redemption Credit obligations amongst the Series. Custodian shall make payment of such total amount to the transfer agent specified in such Certificate or Instructions out of the money held in an Account of the appropriate Series and/or through Redemption Credit identified by the Fund as an obligation of the appropriate Series. Custodian shall make commercially reasonable efforts to wire funds for Fund redemptions as promptly as practicable under the circumstances, after confirming receipt of instructions in an agreed format from the transfer agent of the Funds.
     4. Notwithstanding the above provisions regarding the redemption of any Shares, whenever any Shares are redeemed pursuant to any check redemption privilege which may from time to time be offered by the Fund, Custodian, unless otherwise instructed by a Certificate or Instructions, shall, upon presentment of such check, charge the amount thereof against the money held in the Account of the Series of the Shares being redeemed, provided, that if the Fund or its agent timely advises Custodian that such check is not to be honored, Custodian shall return such check unpaid.
ARTICLE VII
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS
     1. Whenever the Fund shall determine to pay a dividend or distribution on Shares it shall furnish to Custodian Instructions or a Certificate setting forth with respect to the Series specified therein the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the total amount payable, and the payment date.
     2. Upon the payment date specified in such Instructions or Certificate, Custodian shall pay out of the money held for the account of such Series the total amount payable to the dividend agent of the Fund specified therein.

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ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING CUSTODIAN
     1. (a) Custodian shall exercise such good faith, reasonable care, diligence and prudence in carrying out the duties and obligations set forth herein as a professional custodian would exercise under the facts and circumstances. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, Custodian shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees (collectively, “Losses”), incurred by or asserted against the Fund, except those Losses arising out of Custodian’s own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct ( i.e. , the Custodian’s standard of care). Custodian shall have no liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any Depository, Foreign Depository or Subcustodian, except in each case to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of the Custodian’s failure to fulfill its duties hereunder. With respect to any Losses incurred by the Fund as a result of the acts or any failures to act by any Depository, Foreign Depository or Subcustodian (other than a Custodian Affiliate), Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover such Losses from such Depository, Foreign Depository or Subcustodian; provided that, at the Fund’s election and to the extent practicable under the circumstances and allowable under the applicable agreement and/ or the law pursuant to which such agreement is construed, the Fund shall be subrogated on behalf of the Series to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against such entity as a consequence of any such Loss if and to the extent that the Series have not been made whole for any such Loss by such Depository, Foreign Depository or Subcustodian.
     2. In no event shall Custodian be liable to the Fund or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement, nor shall Custodian or any Subcustodian be liable: (i) for acting in accordance with any Certificate or Oral Instructions actually received by Custodian and reasonably believed by Custodian to be given by an Authorized Person; (ii) for acting in accordance with Instructions; (iii) for presuming that all Instructions are given only by person(s) duly authorized; (iv) for presuming that all disbursements of cash directed by the Fund, whether by a Certificate, an Oral Instruction, or an Instruction, are in accordance with Section 2(i) of Article II hereof; (v) for holding property in any particular country, including, but not limited to, Losses resulting from nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions; regulation of the banking or securities industry; exchange or currency controls or restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; availability of cash or Securities or market conditions which prevent the transfer of property or execution of Securities transactions or affect the value of property; (vi) for any Losses due to forces beyond the control of Custodian, including without limitation acts of war or terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, or interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, but only if Custodian is reasonable in its maintenance of such back-up systems and disaster recovery plans as are set forth herein; (vii) for the insolvency of any Subcustodian (other than a Custodian Affiliate), any Depository, or, except to the extent such action or inaction is a direct result of the Custodian’s failure to fulfill its duties hereunder, any Foreign Depository; or (viii) for any Losses arising from the applicability of any law or regulation now or hereafter in effect, or from the occurrence of any event, including, without limitation, implementation or adoption of any rules or procedures of a Foreign Depository, which may affect, limit, prevent or impose costs or burdens on, the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any currency or Composite Currency Unit in any country or on the transfer of any Securities, and in no event shall Custodian be obligated to

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substitute another currency for a currency (including a currency that is a component of a Composite Currency Unit) whose transferability, convertibility or availability has been affected, limited, or prevented by such law, regulation or event, and to the extent that any such law, regulation or event imposes a cost or charge upon Custodian in relation to the transferability, convertibility, or availability of any cash currency or Composite Currency Unit, such cost or charge shall be for the account of the Fund, and Custodian may treat any account denominated in an affected currency as a group of separate accounts denominated in the relevant component currencies.
          (b) Custodian may enter into subcontracts, agreements and understandings with any Custodian Affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to perform its services hereunder, provided that Custodian acts in good faith and with reasonable care, diligence and prudence in doing so. No such subcontract, agreement or understanding shall discharge Custodian from its obligations hereunder, and Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any Custodian Affiliate to the same extent as it is liable for its own acts and omissions under this Agreement. Other than as contemplated herein, Custodian will not assign any of its rights, powers or duties under this Agreement without the Fund’s prior written consent.
          (c) The Fund agrees to indemnify Custodian and hold Custodian harmless from and against any and all Losses sustained or incurred by or asserted against Custodian by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of Custodian’s performance hereunder, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by Custodian in a successful defense of claims by the Fund; provided however, that the Fund shall not indemnify Custodian for those Losses arising out of Custodian’s own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, or for any Losses that constitute indirect, special or consequential damages or lost profits. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
     3. Custodian agrees to indemnify the Fund against and hold the Fund harmless from and against any and all direct damages arising out of Custodian’s failure to discharge its duties hereunder in accordance with its standard of care as set forth herein. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of Custodian, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
     4. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (and provided that the Custodian’s acts or omissions do not constitute a breach of any representation or warranty of Custodian under this Agreement), Custodian shall be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for:
          (a) Any Losses incurred by the Fund or any other person as a result of the receipt or acceptance of fraudulent, forged or invalid Securities, or Securities which are otherwise not freely transferable or deliverable without encumbrance in any relevant market;
          (b) The validity of the issue of any Securities purchased, sold, or written by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchase, sale or writing thereof, or the propriety of the amount paid or received therefor;

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          (c) The legality of the sale or redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be received or paid therefor;
          (d) The legality of the declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund;
          (e) The legality of any borrowing by the Fund;
          (f) The legality of any loan of portfolio Securities, nor shall Custodian be under any duty or obligation to see to it that any cash or collateral delivered to it by a broker, dealer or financial institution or held by it at any time as a result of such loan of portfolio Securities is adequate security for the Fund against any loss it might sustain as a result of such loan, which duty or obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund. In addition, Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to see that any broker, dealer or financial institution to which portfolio Securities of the Fund are lent makes payment to it of any dividends or interest which are payable to or for the account of the Fund during the period of such loan or at the termination of such loan, provided, however that Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund in the event that such dividends or interest are not paid and received when due;
          (g) The sufficiency or value of any amounts of money and/or Securities held in any Special Account in connection with transactions by the Fund; whether any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member makes payment to the Fund of any variation margin payment or similar payment which the Fund may be entitled to receive from such broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member, or whether any payment received by Custodian from any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or clearing member is the amount the Fund is entitled to receive, or to notify the Fund of Custodian’s receipt or non-receipt of any such payment, except that Custodian shall as promptly as practical under the circumstances notify the Fund of any difference between the amount the Fund has specified in a Certificate or Oral Instructions the amount to be received and the amount the Custodian actually receives or does not receive; or
          (h) Whether any Securities at any time delivered to, or held by it or by any Subcustodian, for the account of the Fund and specifically allocated to a Series are such as properly may be held by the Fund or such Series under the provisions of its then current prospectus and statement of additional information, or to ascertain whether any transactions by the Fund, whether or not involving Custodian, are such transactions as may properly be engaged in by the Fund.
     5. Custodian may, with respect to questions of law specifically regarding an Account, obtain the advice of Fund counsel, or its own counsel at its expense, and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice.
     6. Custodian shall be under no obligation to take action to collect any amount payable on Securities in default, or if payment is refused after due demand and presentment, except that Custodian shall as promptly as practical under the circumstances notify the Fund in writing of such refusal to pay.

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     7. Custodian shall have no duty or responsibility to inquire into, make recommendations, supervise, or determine the suitability of any transactions affecting any Account.
     8. The Fund shall pay to Custodian the fees and charges as may be specifically agreed upon from time to time and as set forth in the attached fee agreement Appendix II, and such other fees and charges at Custodian’s standard rates for such services as may be applicable and agreed to by the parties in advance. Such fees and charges shall not include out-of-pocket disbursements of the Custodian; the Custodian shall be entitled to bill separately for reasonable and documented out-of pocket disbursements of the type that are listed in the fee agreement Appendix II.
     9. Custodian has the right to debit any cash account for any amount payable by the Fund in connection with any and all obligations of the Fund to Custodian including, without limitation, any obligations to The Bank of New York Mellon under the Treasury Services Terms and Conditions or Agreement for Shareholder Draft Processing Service applicable to the Fund, provided that Custodian has endeavored in good faith to notify the Fund of such debit. In addition to the rights of Custodian under applicable law and other agreements, at any time when the Fund shall not have honored any of its obligations to Custodian, Custodian shall have the right without notice to the Fund to retain or set-off, against such obligations of the Fund, any Securities or cash Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate may directly or indirectly hold for the account of the Fund, and any obligations (whether matured or unmatured) that Custodian or a Custodian Affiliate may have to the Fund in any currency or Composite Currency Unit, and Custodian shall notify the Fund whenever it has exercised such right. Any such asset of, or obligation to, the Fund may be transferred to Custodian and any Custodian Affiliate in order to effect the above rights.
     10. The Fund agrees to forward to Custodian a Certificate or Instructions confirming Oral Instructions by the close of business of the same day that such Oral Instructions are given to Custodian. The Fund agrees that the fact that such confirming Certificate or Instructions are not received or that a contrary Certificate or contrary Instructions are received by Custodian shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of transactions authorized by such Oral Instructions and effected by Custodian. If the Fund elects to transmit Instructions through an on-line communications system offered by Custodian, the Fund’s use thereof shall be subject to the Terms and Conditions attached as Appendix I hereto. If Custodian receives Instructions which appear on their face to have been transmitted by an Authorized Person via (i) computer facsimile, email, the Internet or other insecure electronic method, or (ii) secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys, the Fund understands and agrees that Custodian cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that Custodian shall presume that such Written Instructions have been sent by an Authorized Person. If the Fund elects (with Custodian’s prior consent) to transmit Instructions through an on-line communications service owned or operated by a third party, the Fund agrees that Custodian shall not be responsible or liable for the reliability or availability of any such service.
     11. The books and records pertaining to the Fund which are in possession of Custodian shall be the property of the Fund and shall be surrendered to the Fund promptly on request. Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, as well as all other applicable law, rule or regulation. The Fund, or its authorized representatives, shall have access to such books and records during Custodian’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be

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provided by Custodian to the Fund or its authorized representative. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, Custodian promptly shall provide in hard copy or on computer disc or other electronic form approved by the Company any records included in any such delivery which are maintained by Custodian on a computer disc, or are similarly maintained.
     12. It is understood that Custodian is authorized to supply any information regarding the Accounts which is required by any law, regulation or rule now or hereafter in effect. The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report obtained by the Custodian on the system of internal accounting control of a Depository, including, on an annual basis, a copy of any reports prepared in compliance with the requirements of Statement of Auditing Standards No. 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as it may be amended from time to timeor such other similar report or attestation used by professional custodians relating to their internal controls.
     13. BNY has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to provide for adequate training and supervision of employees and vendor management.
     14. No party hereto shall have any duties or responsibilities to the other party whatsoever under this Agreement, except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement or are otherwise agreed to by the parties in writing.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
     1. Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not less than ninety (90) days after the date of giving of such notice. In the event such notice is given by the Fund, it shall be accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the board of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating a successor custodian or custodians, each of which shall be a bank or trust company having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits. In the event such notice is given by Custodian, the Fund shall, on or before the termination date, deliver to Custodian a copy of a resolution of the board of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, designating a successor custodian or custodians. In the absence of such designation by the Fund, Custodian may designate a successor custodian which shall satisfy the requirements of the 1940 Act and any other applicable law. Upon the date set forth in such notice this Agreement shall terminate, and Custodian shall upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian on that date deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities and money then owned by the Fund and held by it as Custodian, after deducting all fees, expenses and other amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled. Custodian agrees to provide reasonable cooperation to the Fund in connection with the transition to a successor custodian.
     2. If a successor custodian is not designated by the Fund or Custodian in accordance with the preceding Section, the Fund shall upon the date specified in the notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery by Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund) and money then owned by the Fund be deemed to be its own custodian and Custodian shall thereby be relieved of all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this

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Agreement, other than the duty with respect to Securities which cannot be delivered to the Fund to hold such Securities hereunder in accordance with this Agreement.
     3. Following termination, Custodian will as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, forward income and principal received, if any, with respect to the Fund, including but not limited to tax reclaim payments for tax reclaims filed prior to termination, to the designated successor custodian or the Fund, as applicable.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
     1. The Fund agrees to furnish to Custodian a new Certificate of Authorized Persons in the event of any change in the then present Authorized Persons. Until such new Certificate is received, Custodian shall be fully protected in acting upon Certificates or Oral Instructions of such present Authorized Persons.
     2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Custodian, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Custodian and received by it at its offices at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, or at such other place as Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.
     3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Fund and received by it at its offices at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, attn: Peter Bonanno, or at such other place as the Fund may from time to time designate in writing.
     4. Each and every right granted to either party hereunder or under any other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, or allowed it by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by either party of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
     5. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any exclusive jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties, except that any amendment to the Authorized Persons list need be signed only by the Fund and any amendment to Appendix I hereto need be signed only by Custodian. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the written consent of the other.
     6. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. The Fund and Custodian hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. The Fund hereby irrevocably waives, to the

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fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Fund and Custodian each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
     7. The Fund hereby acknowledges that Custodian is subject to federal laws, including the Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, pursuant to which Custodian must obtain, verify and record information that allows Custodian to identify the Fund. Accordingly, prior to opening an Account hereunder Custodian will ask the Fund to provide certain information including, but not limited to, the Fund’s name, physical address, tax identification number and other information that will help Custodian to identify and verify the Fund’s identity such as organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or other pertinent identifying information. The Fund agrees that Custodian cannot open an Account hereunder unless and until Custodian verifies the Fund’s identity in accordance with its CIP.
     8. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
     9. Custodian shall with respect to each of the Fund’s investment portfolios create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement during and after the term thereof is such manner as will meet the obligations of Fund under the 1940 Act with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of Fund and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Custodian shall, at Fund’s request, supply Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by each portfolio and held by Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between Fund and Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations.
     10. The name “Goldman Sachs Trust” is the designation of the Board of Trustees for the time being under the Declaration of Trust and all persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the Trustees, officers, agents, nor shareholders of the Fund assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund. No Series shall be liable for any claims against any other Series.
     11. In the event that the Fund establishes additional Series with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such Series shall be added to Schedule I hereunder.
     12. Custodian agrees not to use the name of the Fund, any series thereof, nor the name of Goldman, Sachs & Co., its affiliates, designees, or assignees in any material written in a manner not previously, specifically approved in writing by the Fund, Goldman, Sachs & Co., or its affiliates, designees, or assignees except where required by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any federal or state agency responsible for regulation of the Custodian.

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     13. Custodian agrees on its behalf and on behalf of its employees to treat confidentially as proprietary information of the Fund, all records and other information relative to the Fund and its portfolios, and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund, which approval shall not be withheld where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Fund. Custodian agrees to comply with the Fund’s policies related to non-disclosure of portfolio holdings BNY and privacy of customer information pursuant to Regulation S-P.

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Fund and Custodian have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
         
     
  By:   /s/ Scott McHugh    
    Goldman Sachs Trust   
    on behalf of each Fund identified on Schedule I attached hereto   
 
     
  By:   /s/ Scott McHugh    
    Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust   
    on behalf of each Fund identified on Schedule I attached hereto   
 
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joseph Keenan    
  Title:   
       
 

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SCHEDULE I
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Obligations Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime Obligations Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Money Market Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Free Money Market Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Federal Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Instruments Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt California Fund
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust — Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund

 


 

APPENDIX I
ELECTRONIC SERVICES TERMS AND CONDITIONS
     The use of Workbench Services and INFORM Services are governed by and subject to these Electronic Access Terms and Conditions (“EATCs”).
Definitions
“Affiliate” shall mean any company which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with another company, where “control” means possessing, directly or indirectly, the power to direct the management and policies of an entity, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the words “controls” and “controlled” will be construed accordingly.
“Authorized User” shall mean (a) employees of the Client; and (b) other persons designated by Client (subject to BNYM’s approval).
“BNYM Web Sites” shall mean the components of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism consisting of the Internet web sites hosted by BNYM on the world wide web and the Proprietary Software through which Proprietary Information or Client Data is accessed: (1) Workbench services — http://www.workbench.bnymellon.com and (2) INFORM services — https://inform.bankofny.com or http://ii.bnyinform.com.
“Commands” shall mean directions given via computer, including but not limited to keystrokes and mouse clicks.
“Client” shall mean, collectively, the Client of BNYM and any of Client’s Affiliates identified in the EASA.
“Client Data” shall mean Client’s portfolio information that is unique to Client’s portfolio (such as number of shares and which holdings) and provided or accessed through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism, provided that Client Data will not be construed to include Proprietary Information.
“Data Terms Web Site” shall mean the set of terms and conditions (as may be amended by BNYM from time to time without notice to Client) available at http://www.bnymellon.com/products/assetservicing/vendoragreement.pdf or such other location as BNYM shall notify the Client in writing.
“EASA” shall mean a written Electronic Access Services Agreement executed between BNYM and Client, which incorporates these EATCs by reference.
“Information” shall encompass any software, text, graphics, files, scripts or other content or materials, any database and any proprietary data, processes, information and documentation made available to Client by BNYM.
“Information Provider” shall mean any third party source, excluding a Third Party Service Provider, from which Proprietary Information may have been gathered.
“Proprietary Information” shall mean Information provided or available through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism in which BNYM, its Affiliates or Information Providers have a proprietary interest, including without limitation the following: (i) security identifiers (e.g. CUSIPS and SEDOLS), (ii) ratings (e.g. S&P, Moody s, Fitch), (iii) classifications data (e.g. GICS, ICB, Russell, Lehman, Merrill Lynch, Topix), (iv) index data; and (v) other data identified to a proprietary source or data in an ancillary service covered by an addendum to the EASA.
“Proprietary Software” shall mean the component of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism that consists of proprietary software owned by BNYM and its Affiliates through which Client and Authorized Users may access Proprietary Information or Client Data.

 


 

“Third Party Service Provider” shall mean any other party (excluding an Information Provider) that provides services to BNYM and its Affiliates in relation to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism.
Services
(a) BNYM will provide the Electronic Delivery Mechanism to Client and its Affiliates through Client’s Authorized Users via the BNYM Web Sites. Client and Authorized Users will gain access to and may be able to configure and download Proprietary Information and Client Data, all through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism by issuing Commands through Proprietary Software or the BNYM Web Sites, subject to the terms of this EASA.
(b) BNYM retains the discretion and authority to add, delete or revise in whole or in part the Electronic Delivery Mechanism offered to the Client and to modify the BNYM Web Sites and the Proprietary Software from time to time. To the extent reasonably possible, BNYM will provide notice of such modifications, which notice may be provided via the BNYM Web Sites.
(c) BNYM may review or retain records of Client’s or Authorized User’s Commands for any applicable legal or regulatory requirement and, among other reasons, for monitoring the quality of service Client receives, Client’s compliance with this EASA and the security of the Information.
License/Proprietary Rights
(a) The BNYM Web Sites, Electronic Delivery Mechanism, Proprietary Software and Proprietary Information are proprietary to BNYM, its licensors, Information Providers or Third Party Service Providers. Client shall cooperate with reasonable written requests from BNYM to protect BNYM’s, BNYM’s licensors’, Information Providers’ and/or Third Party Service Providers’ respective rights in the BNYM Web Sites, Electronic Access, Proprietary Software or Proprietary Information. Nothing in this EASA shall be construed as giving Client and Authorized Users any license or right to use any of BNYM’s, BNYM’s licensors’, Information Providers’ and/or Third Party Service Providers’ trademarks, logos and/or service marks.
(b) Proprietary Software License
     (1) To the extent Client and Authorized Users receive Proprietary Software hereunder, BNYM hereby grants Client and such Authorized Users a limited, worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable license for the term of this EASA to install such Proprietary Software on Client’s internal computer system only and to use such Proprietary Software solely in connection with the Electronic Delivery Mechanism. This license shall continue through the earlier of (i) BNYM’s termination of the license for such software, as may be permitted herein; or (ii) the termination of this EASA. To the extent such internal computer system is accessible to networks beyond the control of Client, such as without limitation the Internet, Client shall take commercially reasonable measures to protect from unauthorized access the computers on which the Proprietary Software is installed, unless such unauthorized access is a result of BNYM’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
     (2) Client and Authorized Users shall have no rights in or to Proprietary Software, or any copies thereof, except for the right to use Proprietary Software as specifically set forth in this EASA. Title and ownership rights to Proprietary Software (including, copyright and trade secret property rights inherent in and appurtenant thereto) shall remain with BNYM or any third party owner. Client may make copies of the Proprietary Software for backup purposes only, provided all copyright and other Proprietary Information included in the original copy of the Proprietary Software are reproduced in or on such backup copies. Client and Authorized Users shall not: (i) except as provided above, make additional copies of Proprietary Software; (ii) disclose Proprietary Software to, or allow Proprietary Software to be used by or for the benefit of, any third party; (iii) modify Proprietary Software and/or merge Proprietary Software with another software program; (iv) alter, decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer or otherwise modify Proprietary Software; and (v) remove any copyright or proprietary rights notices or legends placed upon or within Proprietary Software. Client agrees, on behalf of itself and Authorized Users, not to use the Proprietary Software for any other purpose, including without limitation, use in a time share or service bureau arrangement. Client shall be responsible for the consequences of any misuse of, or unauthorized use of or access to, Proprietary Software by Client’s Authorized Users.

 


 

(c) Proprietary Information
     (1) Proprietary Information provided hereunder may be subject to certain additional provisions or restrictions in licenses BNYM and/or its Affiliates have with Information Providers or such Information Providers may require Client to agree to certain terms and conditions, provided however, such terms and conditions do not materially alter the terms of this Agreement. Such additional provisions, restrictions and requirements are shown on the Data Terms Web Site. Terms on the Data Terms Web Site may be revised periodically with concurrent notice to the Client, which notice may be provided via the BNYM Web Sites. Use of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism, and continued use of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism following revision of any terms on the Data Terms Web Site, constitutes Client’s acceptance of and agreement to the then-current terms shown on the Data Terms Web Site.
     (2) Client’s use of the Proprietary Information may require Client to enter into additional contracts directly with Information Providers or other Third Party Service Providers. In the event that Client’s rights under its agreement with any such provider conflict with the terms of this EASA, the terms of Client’s provider agreement shall prevail.
     (3) Except to the extent Client is permitted otherwise pursuant to its own licenses with applicable Information Providers, Client agrees that the Proprietary Information shall be solely for its internal use. As used herein, Client’s “internal use” may include Client making available such Proprietary Information to its third party professional advisors provided such advisors are legally obligated to treat such Proprietary Information in a confidential manner and legally prohibited from using such Proprietary Information in any manner other than in support of its services to Client. Client also agrees not to, and to cause Authorized Users and third party professional advisors, not to (i) reproduce or repackage, retransmit, disseminate, sell, distribute, publish, broadcast, or circulate to third parties not covered by “internal use” or otherwise commercially exploit Proprietary Information, (ii) identify and extract Proprietary Information from the Electronic Delivery Mechanism independent of any Client Data, (iii) use Proprietary Information in any Client or third party software application except to the extent formally approved by BNYM in writing, provided however, to the extent that BNYM has observed the use by Client of certain products, systems, materials, software or services with the deliverables, if BNYM knows that such use in combination with the Proprietary Software or Proprietary Information is infringing, BNYM must affirmatively recommend against such usage in combination with the Proprietary Software or Proprietary Information in writing to Client in order for the above exception to be applicable, or (iv) use Proprietary Information in an environment shared by the Client and third parties, in each case without the express written consent of BNYM and without first obtaining any licenses needed from the relevant Information Provider(s). The foregoing shall not be construed to permit Client to allow any third party professional advisor to have direct access to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism through the use of a user id and password issued to Client. In the event Client requires any such professional advisor to have such direct access, Client shall notify BNYM in writing and BNYM will have the right to require such third party professional advisor to execute a separate EASA.
(d) All rights not specifically granted to Client hereunder are reserved by BNYM, its Licensors, Information Providers and/or Third Party Service Providers.
(e) The provisions of this License/Proprietary Rights Section shall survive the termination of the EASA between the Client and BNYM.
Reliance on Commands/Security
(a) Client shall furnish BNYM with a written list of the names, and the extent of authority or level of access of, Client’s proposed Authorized Users. Upon BNYM’s approval (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), BNYM shall send to Client a user-id for each Authorized User and, where appropriate, a secure identification device for each Authorized User.
As an alternative to the foregoing, Client may identify in a writing to BNYM the employee(s) at Client (“Client Electronic Access Administrator(s)”) who will have the ability to administer access, including the requesting and revoking of user ids, to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism for Authorized Users as described herein. The Client Electronic Access Administrators will be provided with a level of access that will give them the ability to request the issuance of user IDs for Authorized Users electronically by entering Authorized User information into the web site

 


 

along with the extent of authority or level of access of such Authorized Users. Client will be solely responsible for the Client Electronic Access Administrator’s actions and for protecting such Client Electronic Access Administrator’s user ids and passwords. Client will not, through a Client Electronic Access Administrator, request a user ID for anyone other than a permanent employee of Client, and Client will be responsible for ensuring that its Client Electronic Access Administrators understand that they are not to request user ids for individuals other than permanent Client employees. Any request for a user id for an individual that is not a permanent Client employee shall be addressed to BNYM through Client’s Client Services Officer.
The Client will be responsible for providing the user-ids, and as appropriate secure identification devices, received from BNYM for each Authorized User to the Authorized Users.
Client shall ensure that an Authorized User returns the secure identification device following the termination of that user’s authorization to access the Electronic Delivery Mechanism. Client shall return the secure identification devices of all of the users immediately upon termination of this EASA. Client shall be responsible for immediately notifying BNYM in writing in the event of the change in status of any Client Electronic Access Administrator that would cause such individual to no longer need access to the functionality that allows for the requesting of user ids for Authorized Users or the revocation or disabling of such user ids.
BNYM shall be authorized and entitled to rely on, and shall be fully protected in acting upon, any Commands associated with a user id issued to an Authorized User, until such time as notified in writing by Client (and after passage of a reasonable time for BNYM to act upon such notice) of the change in status of an Authorized User. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Client requested a Client Electronic Access Administrator to have authority to request user ids electronically, Client will be solely responsible for revoking the authorization granted to any Authorized User upon Client’s determination that the authorization is no longer necessary for such Authorized User’s job duties or the Authorized User has left Client’s employ or for any other reason.
(b) Browser software compatibility is published on the BNYM Web Sites, and may be updated from time to time by BNYM with concurrent notice to Client, which notice may be provided via the BNYM Web Sites. With the exception of Proprietary Software and browser software listed on the BNYM Web Sites or other applications formally approved by BNYM in writing, Client agrees not to use, and agrees to require each Authorized User not to use, any software, program, application or any other device to access or log on to BNYM’s computer systems or the BNYM Web Sites, provided however, to the extent that BNYM has observed the use by Client of certain products, systems, materials, software or services with the deliverables, if BNYM knows that such use in combination with the Proprietary Software or Proprietary Information is infringing, BNYM must affirmatively recommend against such usage in combination with the Proprietary Software or Proprietary Information in writing to Client in order for the above exception to be applicable. Except to the extent formally approved in writing by BNYM, Client agrees not to, and agrees to require each Authorized User not to, automate the process of obtaining, downloading, transferring or transmitting any Proprietary Information or Client Data.
Client Responsibilities and Obligations
(a) Client is responsible for having and maintaining, and for ensuring that each Authorized User has and maintains, all hardware, equipment and software (other than the Proprietary Software) necessary to access and use the Electronic Delivery Mechanism. Client shall accept and properly install any updates or modification to any software forming part of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism that BNYM considers necessary, and shall cause its Authorized Users do the same.
(b) The Client shall maintain the confidentiality of the Authorized Users’ BNYM-assigned user-ids and passwords and the security of any secure identification devices. The Client is responsible for all Commands processed through the BNYM Web Sites through and under, and the use of, the Authorized Users’ user-ids and passwords (except to the extent arising out of the acts of BNYM). The Client will notify BNYM immediately if it becomes aware of any loss or theft of any Authorized Users’ user-ids, passwords or secure identification devices, or of any unauthorized use of any Authorized Users’ user-ids, passwords or secure identification devices or of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism, Proprietary Information or Client Data.
(c) The Client (and its Authorized Users, as appropriate) shall:

 


 

  (1)   Use the Electronic Delivery Mechanism only within the scope of the EASA and shall not permit the use of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism by any third party that is not an Authorized User.
 
  (2)   Not use any Command or other feature of the BNYM Web Sites for any purpose that is unlawful.
 
  (3)   Keep all information contained in the Client’s profile up-to-date.
 
  (4)   Not upload or post to the BNYM Web Sites any material protected by copyright or any other intellectual property right (as well as rights of publicity and privacy) without first obtaining the permission of the owner of such rights.
 
  (5)   Not unlawfully export or re-export, directly or indirectly, any part of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism in contravention of applicable law.
(d) Access to third party Web Sites linked to or referenced in the BNYM web sites is at the Client’s or each Authorized User’s sole discretion. BNYM is not responsible for third party Web Sites that collect information from parties who visit their web sites through links on the BNYM Web Sites.
Confidentiality
(a) The Electronic Delivery Mechanism (including without limitation the design, programming techniques, algorithms and codes contained within the Electronic Delivery Mechanism) and Proprietary Information are confidential property of BNYM, its licensors or the Information Providers or Third Party Service Providers, and, for purposes hereof, shall be deemed the confidential property of BNYM (“BNYM Confidential Property”).
(b) BNYM acknowledges that it or its employees may, in the course of performing its responsibilities under this Agreement, be exposed to or acquire information which is proprietary to or confidential to Client or its Affiliates or their clients or to third parties to whom Client owes a duty of confidentiality. Any and all non-public information of any form obtained by BNYM or its employees in the performance of this Agreement including Client Data shall be deemed to be confidential and proprietary information (together with BNYM Confidential Property hereinafter known as “Confidential Information”). Confidential Information shall not include information which is (i) in or becomes part of the public domain other than by disclosure by BNYM in violation of this EATC, (ii) demonstrably known to BNYM previously, (iii) independently developed by BNYM outside of this EATC or (iv) rightfully obtained by BNYM from third parties.
(c) Neither party shall disclose or make unauthorized use (i.e., a use not permitted under this EASA or a separate agreement between the Client and an Information Provider or Third Party Service Provider) of the Confidential Information. Both parties agree to hold such information in strict confidence and will not copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer or otherwise dispose of, give or disclose such information to third parties or to use such information for any purposes whatsoever other than as contemplated under this EATC and will advise each of its employees who may be exposed to such proprietary and Confidential Information of their obligations to keep such information confidential. Both parties will take care to protect Confidential Property from examination by anyone except for its employees who have a need to know or as otherwise permitted under this EASA. Client shall be responsible for the consequences of any misuse of, or unauthorized use of or access to, any BNYM Confidential Property by the Client’s Authorized Users.
(d) The obligations in this section shall not restrict any disclosure by Client pursuant to any applicable law, or by order of any court or government agency.
(e) This provision shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Limited Warranty/Exclusion of Other Warranties
(a) BNYM represents and warrants that it has the full right and authority to enter into this EASA and to provide

 


 

the Electronic Delivery Mechanism under its terms.
(b) Except as otherwise provided under (c) below, Proprietary Information and Client Data provided through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism are provided on an “AS-IS” basis and Client accepts the entire risk as to how and for what purposes Client and Authorized Users use such Proprietary Information and Client Data. Except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct, neither BNYM, the Information Providers nor the Third Party Service Providers shall have any liability, contingent or otherwise, under this EASA for the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or correct sequencing of Proprietary Information or Client Data. Client acknowledges that (i) Client Data provided through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism is subject to change because (x) such Client Data is generally updated as of the prior business day’s close of business, and (y) as is customary in securities trading transactions, is subject to adjustment and correction and that (ii) Proprietary Information and Client Data provided through the Electronic Delivery Mechanism are not reconciled on a real-time basis and are provided via the Electronic Delivery Mechanism without any independent investigation by BNYM.
(c) Notwithstanding Section (b) above, nothing in this EASA shall limit Client’s rights and remedies under any other written agreement between Client and BNYM or and affiliate of BNYM with respect to Client Data provided by BNYM to Client pursuant to such written agreement through Electronic Services. However, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing under this Section (c) shall create any separate basis of liability on the part of BNYM or its affiliates to Client because such Client Data is accessed or received by Client through Electronic Access.
(d) THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE, NO WARRANTY OF QUALITY. THERE IS NO OTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OR CLIENT DATA. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (a) OF THIS SECTION, THERE IS NO OTHER WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY MECHANISM.
Indemnification
(a) BNYM shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Client and pay any damages finally awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction, in any action or proceeding commenced by a third party against Client based on a claim that the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites infringe upon a third party patent, copyright, or trade secret, provided that Client (i) notifies BNYM promptly of any such action or claim (except that the failure to so notify BNYM shall not limit BNYM’s obligations hereunder except to the extent that such failure materially prejudices BNYM); (ii) grants BNYM full and exclusive authority to defend, compromise or settle such claim or action; and (iii) provides BNYM all assistance reasonably necessary to so defend, compromise or settle. The foregoing obligations shall not apply, however, to any claim or action arising from (i) Client or Authorized User’s use of the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites in a manner not authorized by this EASA; or (ii) Client or Authorized User’s use of the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites in combination with other software or services not supplied by BNYM where such use alone would not be infringing.
(b) In addition to BNYM’s indemnification obligations set forth in paragraph (a) above, in the event that the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites are found to infringe upon a third party patent, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary right, or in BNYM’s opinion the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites are likely to be found to so infringe, BNYM may, at its sole option, (i) procure for Client the right to continue using the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites; (ii) replace the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites with software or services that are non-infringing; or (iii) terminate this EASA and refund to Client any pre-paid charges specifically relating to the Proprietary Software or BNYM Web Sites, if any.
(c) THE FOREGOING PARAGRAPHS (a) AND (b) OF THIS SECTION STATE BNYM’S SOLE OBLIGATION, AND CLIENT S SOLE REMEDY, WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OF INFRINGEMENT REGARDING THE PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE OR BNYM WEB SITES.
(d) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, Client shall indemnify, protect and hold BNYM harmless from and against all losses, liabilities, judgments, suits, actions, proceedings, claims, damages and costs, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, resulting from or arising out of (i) any breach by Client or any Authorized User of

 


 

any term in this EASA and (ii) any person obtaining access to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism through Client or any Authorized User or through use of the Client’s or Authorized User’s password, user-id or secure identification device, whether or not Client authorized such access (except to the extent of any unauthorized access that results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of BNYM).
Limitation of Liability
(a) EXCEPT FOR EACH PARTY’S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN THE SECTION OF THESE EATCs ENTITLED “INDEMNIFICATION”, EACH PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY, IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE THE OTHER PARTY, ANY AUTHORIZED USER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING CONSEQUENTIAL, RELIANCE, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, COMPENSATORY, ECONOMIC, PUNITIVE OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS, LOSSES AND DAMAGES THAT RESULT FROM THIS EASA OR THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE ELECTRONIC DELIVERY MECHANISM OR PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OR CLIENT DATA), EVEN IF PARTY, ITS LICENSORS, THE INFORMATION PROVIDERS OR THE THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSSES.
(b) None of BNYM, its licensors, the Information Providers or the Third Party Service Providers shall be liable under this EASA if they are prevented from or delayed in performing their obligations, or for any loss resulting from a cause that is beyond the reasonable control of that entity.
(c) BNYM makes no guarantee that the Electronic Delivery Mechanism and Proprietary Information are virus-free; however, BNYM will make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the systems used by BNYM to provide the Electronic Delivery Mechanism and Proprietary Information are virus-free. BNYM is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from voluntary shutdown of the server or the BNYM Web Sites by BNYM to address computer viruses, denial-of-service messages or other similar problems. BNYM is not responsible for any damage to Client’s computer, software, modem, telephone or other property resulting from Client’s use of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in the EASA shall be deemed to modify or limit any service obligation or liability that BNYM may otherwise have to Client under any other agreement between BNYM and Client.
No Promotion
Without the prior written consent of the other party, neither party will (i) use the name of the other party, or the name of any of the other party’s Related Parties, or any trade name, trademark, trade device, service mark, symbol, logo or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation of the other party or its affiliates in advertising, publicity, or otherwise; or (ii) represent (directly or indirectly) that any product or any service provided by the party has been approved or endorsed by the other.
Term and Termination
(a) In addition to any termination provision set forth in the EASA, Client or BNYM may terminate the EASA as follows:
(1) In the event of any breach of the EASA, the non-breaching party may terminate the EASA immediately upon written notice to the breaching party if any breach of the EASA remains uncured after thirty (30) days written notice of the breach is sent to the breaching party.
(2) Either BNYM or Client may terminate the EASA in the event the other party (a) files for liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy, (b) fails to have dismissed a bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution proceeding that was commenced against it by a third party within ninety (90) days of the filing; or (c) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 


 

(3) BNYM may immediately terminate access through an Authorized User’s user-id and password and may, at its discretion, also terminate access by an Authorized User, without right of cure, in the event of an unauthorized use of an Authorized User’s user-id or password, or where BNYM believes there is a security risk created by such access.
(4) BNYM may terminate, immediately and without advance notice, and without right of cure, any portion or component of the Electronic Delivery Mechanism, the BNYM Web Sites or Proprietary Information in the event an Information Provider or Third Party Service Provider (i) ceases to provide such portion or component to BNYM or an Affiliate of BNYM or (ii) prohibits BNYM from permitting Client to have access to the Information Provider’s Proprietary Information; provided, however, that if BNYM receives advance notice of termination from the provider of such information, BNYM shall provide advance notice of termination to its Customers affected thereby, but only to the extent reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
(b) Within five (5) business days of receiving or giving notice of termination, Client shall notify all Authorized Users of the effective date of the termination of the EASA, irrespective of whether the termination was initiated by BNYM or Client.
(c) In the event of termination, BNYM will cease providing the Electronic Delivery Mechanism and, where applicable and at BNYM’s request, Client shall return to BNYM any copies of Proprietary Software and any Proprietary Information. The foregoing, however, shall not be construed to require Client to return or destroy Proprietary Information that may be embedded within a report containing Client Data, but the Proprietary Information will continue to be subject to the restrictions set forth herein.
(d) The provisions of this Termination Section shall survive the termination of the EASA.

 


 

Schedule of Rights of Audit and Inspection by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
Audit Access and Cooperation Rights. Custodian shall keep detailed accounts and records of all activities carried out, and all out-of pocket costs and expenses to be passed on to the Funds, in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Upon reasonable notice to Custodian and during normal business hours, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GS”) or the Funds or their designee has the right to audit and verify the Fund’s Books and Records, Custodian’s operating environment and other areas of service (including those of any subcontractors) to ensure, among other things, that Custodian is maintaining adequate controls and security measures, that Custodian’s billings to GS are correct, that reports relating to Custodian’s performance are accurate and that Custodian is otherwise complying with this Agreement. GS may conduct audit and verification reviews itself or with the assistance of a third party organization (provided that the third party organization executes a confidentiality agreement that contains protections for confidential information comparable to this Agreement), at GS’s expense. All audits shall be performed in a manner intended to minimize disruption to the parties’ respective businesses. All such audits and verifications may be conducted during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year after the termination of this Agreement.
Audit Expenses. GS shall bear its expenses relating to any audit performed under this provision; provided, however, if any such inspection reveals any invoice or payment has not been rendered or made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and results in an overcharge to GS which results in a refund or credit of the overcharge, Custodian shall reimburse GS for its reasonable internal costs and external expenses in connection with any audit without prejudice to any other remedies or claims of GS.
Exit Conference. Following an audit or examination by GS, GS may (in its sole discretion) conduct (in the case of an internal audit), or request its external auditors or examiners to conduct, an exit conference with Custodian to obtain Custodian’s factual concurrence with issues identified in the review.

 


 

APPENDIX II
Custody, Fund Accounting, Fund Administration and
Treasury Management Services Fee Schedule

 


 

I. Domestic Custody, Fund Accounting, Fund Administration and Treasury Management Services
      Tier 1 — .40 basis points on the first $30 billion in assets
 
      Tier 2 — .325 basis points on the next $30 billion in assets
 
      Tier 3 — .30 basis points on the next $40 billion in assets
 
      Tier 4 — .225 basis points on the remainder
 
      Form N-MFP Filing — $6,000 per fund per annum
 
      US Securities Transaction Charges — Securities Settlement
 
      $ 2 Automated Book-Entry Settlements (DTC/FRB)
 
      SWIFT Messaging/Reporting Charges — Waived
 
      Treasury Management Transaction Charges
 
      $2 per Wire/Check/ACH
 
      Internal Transfers — Waived
 
      DDA Account Fee — Waived
 
      Reporting Fee — Waived
 
      Out-of-Pocket Expenses
 
      Out-of-Pocket expenses will be passed through to client. These expenses include, but are not limited to, cost of obtaining prices for security valuations (including manual broker quotes), Federal Reserve charges related to securities transactions, postage, courier expense, insurance on physical transfer items, registration fees, stamp duties, telex charges, custom programming, attendance at closings, legal, audit, consultative services or other functions including fund reorganizations. These expenses will be billed to the client as they are incurred. Special projects and other professional services fees would be agreed upon in advance.
 
      Interest on US Dollar Custody Credits
 
      Earnings Credit Plus, will be computed at 100% of the balance on the 90 day t-bill rate and applied to offset monthly Custody Fees where applicable.

 


 

      Interest on US Dollar Overdrafts
      Overdrafts, excluding bank errors, will be computed at the Federal Funds rate on the day of the overdraft and billed monthly.
      Terms and Conditions
    BNY Mellon reserves the right to amend the fees from those quoted should the actual business awarded differ significantly to the information on which this proposal was based.
 
    All of the information contained within this schedule is confidential and should not be made available to third parties without receiving prior approval from BNY Mellon.

 

(h)(27)
(THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON LOGO)
FUND ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING AGREEMENT
     AGREEMENT made as of April 5, 2011 by and between Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, (each, a “Trust” and collectively the “Trusts”) on behalf of each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A hereto (each a “Fund”, and collectively the “Funds”) and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking organization (“BNY”).
W I T N E S S E T H :
     WHEREAS, each Fund is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
     WHEREAS, each Fund desires to retain BNY to provide the services described herein, and BNY is willing to provide such services, all as more fully set forth below;
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
     1.  Appointment.
     Each Fund hereby appoints BNY as its agent for the term of this Agreement to perform the services described herein. BNY hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the duties hereinafter set forth.
     2.  Representations and Warranties.
     Each Trust, on behalf of the Funds, hereby represents and warrants to BNY, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing, that:
          (a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
          (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

 


 

          (c) It has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and
          (d) To the extent the performance of any services described in Schedule II attached hereto by BNY in accordance with the then effective Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) for the Fund would violate any applicable laws or regulations, the Fund shall immediately so notify BNY in writing to the extent that it has knowledge, or should reasonably know of such information, and thereafter shall either furnish BNY with the appropriate values of securities, net asset value or other computation, as the case may be, or, subject to the prior approval of BNY, instruct BNY in writing to value securities and/or compute net asset value or other computations in a manner the Fund specifies in writing, and either the furnishing of such values or the giving of such instructions shall constitute a representation by the Fund that the same is consistent with all applicable laws and regulations and with its Prospectus.
     3.  Representations and Warranties of BNY
     BNY hereby represents and warrants to the Funds, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing, that:
          (a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
          (b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by BNY in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of BNY, enforceable in accordance with its terms;
          (c) It has obtained all regulatory licenses, approvals and consents necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, regulation, rule, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter or by-laws, nor of any mortgage, indenture, credit agreement or other contract binding on it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;

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          (d) BNY will submit to the Fund on an annual basis a copy of any reports prepared in compliance with the requirements of Statement of Auditing Standards No. 70 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as it may be amended from time to time, or such other similar report or attestation used by professional custodians relating to their internal controls (SAS 70 reports); and
          (e) BNY has implemented policies and procedures to ensure adequate training and supervision of employees and vendor management.
     4.  Delivery of Documents.
          (a) Each Fund will promptly deliver to BNY true and correct copies of each of the following documents as currently in effect and will promptly deliver to it all future amendments and supplements thereto, if any:
               (i) The Trust’s articles of incorporation or other organizational document and all amendments thereto (the “Charter”);
               (ii) The Trust’s bylaws (the “Bylaws”);
               (iii) Resolutions of the Trust’s board of directors or other governing body (the “Board”) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Fund;
               (iv) The Fund’s registration statement most recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the shares of the Fund (the “Registration Statement”);
               (v) The Fund’s Notification of Registration under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A filed with the SEC; and
               (vi) The Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to each Fund (collectively, the “Prospectus”).
          (b) Each copy of the Charter shall be certified by the Secretary of State (or other appropriate official) of the state of organization, and if the Charter is required by law also to be filed with a county or other officer or official body, a certificate of such filing shall be filed with

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a certified copy submitted to BNY. Each copy of the Bylaws, Registration Statement and Prospectus, and all amendments thereto, and copies of Board resolutions, shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the appropriate Trust.
          (c) To the extent the documents listed above in paragraph 4(a) are publicly available via the SEC website or the Trust’s website, the Trust shall not be required to deliver such documents to BNY.
     5.  Duties and Obligations of BNY.
          (a) Subject to the direction and control of each Trust’s Board and the provisions of this Agreement, BNY shall provide to each Fund (i) the administrative services set forth on Schedules I and III attached hereto and (ii) the valuation and computation services listed on Schedule II attached hereto. In addition, BNY shall perform such additional services for any Fund that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time for which each Fund shall pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon. The provision of such additional services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall be reflected on the revised schedules to this Agreement. In performing hereunder, BNY shall provide, at its expense, office space, facilities, equipment and personnel.
          (b) BNY shall maintain such compliance policies, procedures and controls as reasonably designed to prevent violations of federal securities laws and shall provide summaries of such compliance policies, procedures and controls as shall reasonably be requested by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), including copies of BNY’s privacy policy and rules of conduct, and shall cooperate with the CCO with respect to the CCO’s oversight of the Funds’ compliance program pursuant to Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act. In addition, BNY shall provide such sub-certifications as mutually agreed between BNY and the Funds in connection with any certification as to its knowledge concerning information, controls and procedures related to the Funds’ financial reports and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any of the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
          (c) The parties shall establish a service level agreement which will be applicable to this Agreement to be mutually agreed to by BNY and the Fund.
          (d) BNY shall not provide any services relating to the management, investment

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advisory or sub-advisory functions of any Fund, distribution of shares of any Fund, maintenance of any Fund’s financial records or other services normally performed by the Funds’ respective counsel or independent auditors.
          (e) Upon receipt of a Fund’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), BNY may delegate any of its duties and obligations hereunder to any delegee or agent whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Fund consent shall be required for any such delegation to any other subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. BNY shall remain liable for any loss or damage arising out of, or in connection with, the actions or omissions to act of any delegee or agent utilized hereunder to the same extent as BNY would have been liable if it performed such services itself.
          (f) Each Fund shall cause its officers, advisors, sponsor, distributor, legal counsel, independent accountants, current administrator (if any), transfer agent, and any other service provider to cooperate with BNY and to provide BNY, upon request, with such information, documents and advice relating to such Fund as is within the possession or knowledge of such persons, and which in the reasonable opinion of BNY, is necessary in order to enable it to perform its duties hereunder. Provided that it satisfies its duty of care under this Agreement, BNY shall not be responsible for, under any duty to inquire into, or be deemed to make any assurances with respect to the accuracy, validity or propriety of any information, documents or advice provided to BNY by any of the aforementioned persons. BNY shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense resulting from or arising out of the failure of the Fund to cause any information, documents or advice to be provided to BNY as provided herein and shall be held harmless by each Fund when acting in good faith reliance upon such information, documents or advice relating to such Fund. All reasonable fees or costs charged by such persons shall be borne by the appropriate Fund. In the event that any services performed by BNY hereunder rely, in whole or in part, upon information obtained from a third party service utilized or subscribed to by BNY which BNY in its reasonable judgment deems reliable, BNY shall not have any responsibility or liability for, under any duty to inquire into, or deemed to make any assurances with respect to, the accuracy or completeness of such information; provided that BNY takes all reasonable steps to notify third party service providers the extent to which BNY’s service depends on such service providers.

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          (g) Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict BNY, any affiliate of BNY or any officer or employee thereof from acting for or with any third parties, and providing services similar or identical to same or all of the services provided hereunder.
          (h) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, BNY shall compute the net asset value per share of the Fund and shall value the securities held by the Fund at such times and dates and in the manner specified in the then currently effective Prospectus of the Fund. BNY shall provide a report of such net asset value to the Fund at the respective times set forth in Schedule II, as amended from time to time. To the extent valuation of securities or computation of a net asset value as specified in the Fund’s then currently effective Prospectus is at any time inconsistent with any applicable laws or regulations, the Fund shall immediately so notify BNY in writing and thereafter shall either furnish BNY at all appropriate times with the values of such securities and the Fund’s net asset value, or subject to the prior approval of BNY, instruct BNY in writing to value securities and compute net asset value in a manner which the Fund then represents in writing to be consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. The Fund may also from time to time, subject to the prior approval of BNY, instruct BNY in writing to compute the value of the securities or net asset value in a manner other than as specified in this paragraph. By giving such instruction, the Fund shall be deemed to have represented that such instruction is consistent with all applicable laws and regulations and the then currently effective Prospectus of the Fund. The Fund shall have sole responsibility for determining the method of valuation of securities and the method of computing net asset value.
          (i) Each Fund shall furnish BNY with any and all instructions, explanations, information, specifications and documentation deemed necessary by BNY in the performance of its duties hereunder, including, without limitation, the amounts or written formula for calculating the amounts and times of accrual of Fund liabilities and expenses. BNY shall not be required to include as Fund liabilities and expenses, nor as a reduction of net asset value, any accrual for any federal, state, or foreign income taxes unless the Fund shall have specified to BNY the precise amount of the same to be included in liabilities and expenses or used to reduce net asset value. Each Fund shall also furnish BNY with bid, offer, or market values of Securities if BNY notifies such Fund that same are not available to BNY from a security pricing or similar service utilized, or subscribed to, by BNY which BNY in its reasonable judgment deems reliable at the time such

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information is required for calculations hereunder. At any time and from time to time, the Fund also may furnish BNY with bid, offer, or market values of Securities and instruct BNY to use such information in its calculations hereunder. BNY shall at no time be required or obligated to commence or maintain any utilization of, or subscriptions to, any securities pricing or similar service. In no event shall BNY be required to determine, or have any obligations with respect to, whether a market price represents any fair or true value, nor to adjust any price to reflect any events or announcements, including, without limitation, those with respect to the issuer thereof, it being agreed that all such determinations and considerations shall be solely for the Fund.
          (j) BNY may apply to an officer or duly authorized agent of any Fund for written instructions with respect to any matter arising in connection with BNY’s performance hereunder for such Fund, and BNY shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with such instructions. Such application for instructions may, at the option of BNY, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by BNY with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken, and BNY shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified therein unless, prior to taking or omitting to take any such action, BNY has received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
          (k) BNY may consult with counsel to the appropriate Fund or its own counsel, at its expense, and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel provided that BNY shall act solely in a manner consistent with its duty of care and obligations as set forth herein.
          (l) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement or Schedules I, II or III attached hereto, BNY shall have no duty or obligation to with respect to, including, without limitation, any duty or obligation to determine, or advise or notify any Fund of: (i) the taxable nature of any distribution or amount received or deemed received by, or payable to, a Fund, (ii) the taxable nature or effect on a Fund or its shareholders of any corporate actions, class actions, tax reclaims, tax refunds or similar events, (iii) the taxable nature or taxable amount of any distribution or dividend paid, payable or deemed paid, by a Fund to its shareholders; or (iv) the effect under any federal, state, or foreign income tax laws of a Fund making or not making any

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distribution or dividend payment, or any election with respect thereto.
          (m) No party hereto shall have any duties or responsibilities for performance under this Agreement whatsoever except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement and the Schedules attached hereto or are otherwise agreed to by the parties in writing.
          (n) BNY, in performing the services required of it under the terms of this Agreement, shall be entitled to reasonably rely fully on the accuracy and validity of any and all instructions, explanations, information, specifications and documentation furnished to it by a Fund and, provided that such reliance is reasonable, shall have no further duty or obligation to review the accuracy, validity or propriety of such instructions, explanations, information, specifications or documentation, including, without limitation, evaluations of securities; the amounts or formula for calculating the amounts and times of accrual of Fund liabilities and expenses; the amounts receivable and the amounts payable on the sale or purchase of Securities; and amounts receivable or amounts payable for the sale or redemption of Fund shares effected by or on behalf of a Fund. In the event BNY’s computations hereunder rely, in whole or in part, upon information, including, without limitation, bid, offer or market values of securities or other assets, or accruals of interest or earnings thereon, from a pricing or similar service utilized, or subscribed to, by BNY which BNY in its judgment deems reliable, BNY shall not be responsible for, under any duty to inquire into, or deemed to make any assurances with respect to, the accuracy or completeness of such information.
          (o) BNY, in performing the services required of it under the terms of this Agreement, shall not be responsible for determining whether any interest accruable to a Fund is or will be actually paid, but will accrue such interest, and report such accruals and past due items, if applicable, until otherwise instructed by such Fund.
          (p) BNY shall not be responsible for delays or errors which occur by reason of circumstances beyond its control in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, labor difficulties within or without BNY, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, failures of transportation, interruptions, loss, or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (hardware or software) services where BNY has exercised reasonable care, including the establishment and maintenance of a commercially reasonable

- 8 -


 

business continuity plan. Nor shall BNY be responsible for delays or failures to supply the information or services specified in this Agreement where such delays or failures are caused by the failure of any person(s) other than BNY or under the control of BNY to supply any instructions, explanations, information, specifications or documentation deemed necessary by BNY in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. BNY shall promptly inform the Fund of any delays and errors resulting from events beyond its control as described in this subsection.
     6.  Allocation of Expenses.
     Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and expenses arising or incurred in connection with the performance of this Agreement, including all costs incurred by BNY in preparation for its performance hereunder, shall be paid by BNY, excluding normal and customary Fund expenses, including but not limited to, organizational costs and costs of maintaining corporate existence, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and commissions, insurance premiums, compensation and expenses of such Fund’s trustees, directors, officers or employees, legal, accounting and audit expenses, management, advisory, sub-advisory, administration and shareholder servicing fees, charges of custodians, transfer and dividend disbursing agents, expenses (including clerical expenses) incident to the issuance, redemption or repurchase of Fund shares, fees and expenses incident to the registration or qualification under federal or state securities laws of the Fund or its shares, costs (including printing and mailing costs) of preparing and distributing Prospectuses, reports, notices and proxy material to such Fund’s shareholders, all expenses incidental to holding meetings of such Fund’s trustees, directors and shareholders, and extraordinary expenses as may arise, including litigation affecting such Fund and legal obligations relating thereto for which the Fund may have to indemnify its trustees, directors and officers.
     7.  [Reserved]
     8.  Standard of Care; Indemnification.
          (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, BNY shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred by a Fund (collectively “Claims”), except those costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims arising out of BNY’s own negligence, bad faith, or wilful misconduct. In no event shall BNY be liable to any Fund or any third party for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of

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business, arising under or in connection with this Agreement, even if previously informed of the possibility of such damages and regardless of the form of action. BNY shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense, including counsel fees and other costs and expenses of a defense against any claim or liability, resulting from, arising out of, or in connection with its performance hereunder, including its actions or omissions, the incompleteness or inaccuracy of any specifications or other information furnished by the Fund, or for delays caused by circumstances beyond BNY’s control, unless such loss, damage or expense arises out of the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of BNY.
          (b) Each Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless BNY from and against any and all Claims (including claims asserted by a Fund), which are sustained or incurred or which may be asserted against BNY, by reason of or as a result of any action taken or omitted to be taken by BNY in good faith hereunder or in reasonable reliance upon (i) any law, act, regulation or interpretation of the same even though the same may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed, (ii) such Fund’s Registration Statement or Prospectus, (iii) any instructions of an Authorized Person of such Fund, or (iv) any opinion of legal counsel for such Fund or BNY, or arising out of transactions or other activities of such Fund which occurred prior to the commencement of this Agreement; provided , that no Fund shall indemnify BNY for Claims for which BNY is liable under preceding 8(a) or for any Claims that constitute indirect, special or consequential damages or lost profits. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of each Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Fund shall indemnify BNY against and save BNY harmless from any loss, damage or expense, including counsel fees and other costs and expenses of a defense against any claim or liability, arising from any one or more of the following:
               (i) Errors in records or instructions, explanations, information, specifications or documentation of any kind, as the case may be, supplied to BNY by any third party described above or by or on behalf of a Fund;
               (ii) Action or inaction taken or omitted to be taken by BNY pursuant to written or oral instructions of the Fund, and carried out in accordance with its standard of care;
               (iii) Any action taken or omitted to be taken by BNY in good faith in accordance with the advice or opinion of counsel for a Fund or its own counsel;

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               (iv) Any improper use by a Fund or its agents, distributor or investment advisor of any valuations or computations supplied by BNY pursuant to this Agreement; or
               (v) Any valuations of securities or net asset value provided by a Fund.
          (c) Actions taken or omitted in reliance on oral or written instructions, or upon any information, order, indenture, stock certificate, power of attorney, assignment, affidavit or other instrument believed in good faith by BNY to be genuine or bearing the signature of a person or persons believed to be authorized to sign, countersign or execute the same, or upon the opinion of legal counsel for a Fund or its own counsel, shall be conclusively presumed to have been taken or omitted in good faith.
          (d) BNY shall indemnify and hold harmless each Fund from and against all Claims where such Claims have arisen directly out of BNY’s failure to discharge its duties in accordance with its standard of care as set forth hereunder. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of BNY, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.
     9.  Compensation.
     For the services provided hereunder, each Fund agrees to pay BNY such compensation as is mutually agreed from time to time and such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses ( e.g. , telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, approved record retention costs, reproduction charges and transportation and lodging costs) as are incurred by BNY in performing its duties hereunder. The parties agree to consider the applicability of a performance-based fee structure to the extent practicable. Except as hereinafter set forth, compensation shall be calculated and accrued daily and payable monthly upon receipt of an invoice from BNY. Upon termination of this Agreement before the end of any month, the compensation for such part of a month shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the effective date of termination of this Agreement. For the purpose of determining compensation payable to BNY, each Fund’s net asset value shall be computed at the times and in the manner specified in the Fund’s Prospectus.
     10.  Term of Agreement.
          (a) This Agreement shall continue until terminated by either BNY giving to a Fund, or a Fund giving to BNY, a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which

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date shall be not less than 90 days after the date of the giving of such notice. Upon termination hereof, the affected Fund(s) shall pay to BNY such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination, and shall reimburse BNY for any reasonable disbursements and expenses made or incurred by BNY and payable or reimbursable hereunder.
          (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, BNY may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days prior written notice to a Fund if such Fund shall terminate its custody agreement with The Bank of New York provided that such termination shall not take effect prior to the effective date of the termination of the custody agreement without the mutual consent of the parties. Either party may terminate this Agreement if the other party fails to perform its obligations hereunder in a material respect. BNY agrees to provide reasonable cooperation to the Fund with the transition to a successor service provider.
     11.  Authorized Persons .
     Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a list of persons duly authorized by the board of each Trust to execute this Agreement, on behalf of the Funds, and give any written or oral instructions, or written or oral specifications, by or on behalf of such Fund. From time to time each Trust may deliver a new Exhibit B to add or delete any person and BNY shall be entitled to rely on the last Exhibit B actually received by BNY.
     12.  Amendment.
     This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement executed by BNY and the Trust to be bound thereby, and authorized or approved by such Trust’s Board.

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     13.  Records.
     BNY shall with respect to each Fund create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement during and after the term thereof in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Funds and shall at all times during the regular business hours of BNY be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Funds and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
     14.  Statutory Trust.
     The names “Goldman Sachs Trust” and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust are the designations of the Board of Trustees for the time being under their respective Declarations of Trust and all persons dealing with a Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the Trustees, officers, agents, nor shareholders of any Fund assumes any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of a Fund.
     15.  Additional Portfolios.
     In the event that the Trust establishes additional series with respect to which it desires to have BNY render services under the terms hereof, it shall so notify BNY in writing, and if BNY agrees in writing to provide such services, such series shall become a Fund hereunder.
     16.  Use of Name.
     BNY agrees not to use a Trust or Fund’s name nor the name of Goldman, Sachs & Co., its affiliates, designees, or assignees in any material written in a manner not previously, specifically approved in writing by the Trust, Goldman, Sachs & Co., or its affiliates, designees, or assignees except where required by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any federal or state agency responsible for regulation of BNY.
     17.  Proprietary and Confidential Information.
     BNY agrees on its behalf and on behalf of its employees to treat confidentially and as

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proprietary information of the Fund, all records and other information relative to the Fund and its portfolios, and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Fund, which approval shall not be required where BNY may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Fund. BNY agrees to comply with the Fund’s policies related to non-disclosure of portfolio holdings and privacy of customer information pursuant to
Regulation S-P.
     18.  Assignment.
     This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by any Fund without the written consent of BNY, or by BNY without the written consent of the affected Fund accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Trust’s Board.
     19.  Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
     This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof. Each Fund hereby consents to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in New York City, New York in connection with any dispute arising hereunder, and waives to the fullest extent permitted by law its right to a trial by jury. To the extent that in any jurisdiction any Fund may now or hereafter be entitled to claim, for itself or its assets, immunity from suit, execution, attachment (before or after judgment) or other legal process, such Fund irrevocably agrees not to claim, and it hereby waives, such immunity.
     20.  Severability.
     In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstances, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.

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     21.  No Waiver.
     Each and every right granted to the parties hereunder or under any other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, or allowed it by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by a party of any right preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.
     22.  Notices.
     All notices, requests, consents and other communications pursuant to this Agreement in writing shall be sent as follows:
if to a Trust, at
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
200 West Street,
New York, NY 10282
Attn: Peter Bonanno
if to BNY, at
The Bank of New York Mellon
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Peter Sutton
or at such other place as may from time to time be designated in writing. Notices hereunder shall be effective upon receipt.
     23.  Counterparts.
     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts together shall constitute only one instrument.
     24.  Several Obligations.
     The parties acknowledge that the obligations of the Funds hereunder are several and not joint, that no Fund shall be liable for any amount owing by another Fund and that the Funds have

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executed one instrument for convenience only.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the foregoing instrument to be executed by their duly authorized officers and their seals to be hereunto affixed, all as of the day and year first above written.
         
     
  By:   /s/ Scott McHugh    
    Goldman Sachs Trust   
    on behalf of each Fund
identified on Exhibit A
attached hereto 
 
 
     
  By:   /s/ Scott McHugh    
    Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust    
    on behalf of each Fund
identified on Exhibit A
attached hereto 
 
 
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joseph Keenan    
  Title:     
       
 

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EXHIBIT A
Name of Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt New York Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Obligations Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime Obligations Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Money Market Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Free Money Market Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Federal Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Instruments Fund
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt California Fund
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust — Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund

 


 

SCHEDULE I
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1.   Subject to approval by the Fund Controllers team and legal counsel, coordinate the preparation, filing, printing and dissemination of periodic reports and other information to the SEC and the Fund’s shareholders, including annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, Form N-SAR, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, and notices pursuant to Rule 24(f)-2.
 
2.   Provide monthly and weekly, or as mutually agreed by the parties, portfolio holdings information and other information required to be posted on the Fund’s website pursuant to Rule 2a-7(c)(12) under the 1940 Act.
 
3.   Prepare statistical reports for outside information services as mutually agreed by the parties.
 
4.   Prepare reports to rating agencies, including Standard & Poors, Moody’s and Fitch.
 
5.   Attend shareholder and Board meetings as requested from time to time.
 
6.   Subject to instructions, review and approval by Fund Controllers, establish appropriate expense accruals, maintain expense files and coordinate the payment of invoices for each Fund.
 
7.   Provide wash sale reporting on a periodic basis.

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SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND COMPUTATION SERVICES
     I. BNY shall maintain the following records on a daily basis for each Fund.
  1.   General Ledger
 
  2.   Report of amortized cost of portfolio securities
 
  3.   Statement of net asset value per share
 
  4.   Feeds of agreed-upon information in agreed-upon format to agreed-upon parties
 
  5.   Daily yields
 
  6.   Prepare Money Market Fee Waiver Spreadsheet as requested by Fund Controllers.
 
  7.   Maintain a schedule of security-level gains/losses for each Fund.
     II. BNY shall maintain the following records on a weekly basis, or more frequently, upon reasonable request, for each money market Fund.
  1.   Report of weekly Rule 2a-7 testing, including report of Fund designated second source testing comparison.
 
  2.   Prepare Weekly Money Market Fee Waiver Reporting as requested by Fund Controllers (weekly and monthly file).
 
  2.   Preparation of shadow NAV.
     III. BNY shall maintain the following records on a monthly basis for each Fund:
  1.   General Journal
 
  2.   Cash Receipts Journal
 
  3.   Cash Disbursements Journal
 
  4.   Subscriptions Journal
 
  5.   Redemptions Journal

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  6.   Accounts Receivable Reports
 
  7.   Accounts Payable Reports
 
  8.   Open Subscriptions/Redemption Reports
 
  9.   Transaction (Securities) Journal
 
  10.   Broker Net Trades Reports
 
  11.   Monthly Money Market Fee Waiver Spreadsheet in agreed-upon format as requested by Fund Controllers
     IV. BNY shall prepare a Holdings Ledger on a quarterly basis, and a Buy-Sell Ledger (Broker’s Ledger) on a semiannual basis for each Fund.
     The above reports may be printed according to any other required frequency to meet various requirements, including but not limited to those of the Internal Revenue Service, The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund’s Auditors.
     V. For internal control purposes, BNY uses the Account Journals produced by The Bank of New York Mellon Custody System to record daily settlements of the following for each Fund:
  1.   Securities bought
 
  2.   Securities sold
 
  3.   Interest received
 
  4.   Dividends received
 
  5.   Capital stock sold
 
  6.   Capital stock redeemed
 
  7.   Other income and expenses
     All portfolio purchases for the Fund are recorded to reflect expected maturity value and total cost including any prepaid interest.

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SCHEDULE III
MONEY MARKET FUND SERVICES
1.   BNY has entered into an agreement with a financial printer (the “Print Vendor”) for the Print Vendor to provide to BNY the ability to generate monthly portfolio holdings reports on Form N-MFP as required by Rule 30b1-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act (“Rule 30b1-7”) and an electronic file of the monthly portfolio holdings information required by Rule 2a-7(c)(12) promulgated under the 1940 Act (“Rule 2a-7(c)(12)”) for public website disclosure (collectively “Money Market Reports”) for its clients. The Print Vendor is a delegate of BNY for purposes of the provision of its services hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Schedule III, BNY shall not be obligated to perform any of the services described in this Schedule III unless an agreement, including all relevant schedules and appendices thereto, between BNY, or its affiliate, and the Print Vendor for the provision of such services (collectively, the “Print Vendor Agreement”) is then-currently in effect. BNY shall provide written notice to the Fund immediately if a Print Vendor Agreement (including any relevant schedules or appendices thereto) upon which BNY is relying to provide the services set forth in this Schedule III is terminated and BNY is unable to timely contract with a successor Print Vendor, or if notice of termination under the Print Vendor Agreement is provided, BNY will inform the Fund of the identity of the Print Vendor, and the Fund is free to attempt to contract directly with the Print Vendor for the provision of the services described in this Schedule III. The confidentiality provisions of the Print Vendor Agreement are consistent with the terms of the Agreement.
2.   BNY shall provide the following services to the Fund:
  2.1   BNY, subject to its timely receipt of all necessary information related thereto, will, or will cause the Print Vendor to, as applicable for the particular Money Market Report: (i) prepare, on a monthly basis, Form N-MFP; (ii) prepare, on a monthly basis, an electronic file of the portfolio holdings information required by Rule 2a-7(c)(12) for public website disclosure; (iii) file Form N-MFP with the SEC; and (iv) provide the electronic file prepared pursuant to Section 2.1(ii) herein to the Fund, or at the Fund’s written direction, to a third party (together, for this Schedule III, the “Services”).
 
  2.2   Neither BNY nor the Print Vendor, in connection with a particular Money Market Report, will: (i) access, post reports to or perform any service on the Fund’s website; or (ii) prepare, provide or generate any reports, forms or files not specifically agreed to by the parties hereto. The Fund acknowledges that it shall be responsible for the retention of the Money Market Reports in accordance with Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act or any other applicable rule or regulation.
 
  2.3   Unless mutually agreed in writing between BNY and the Fund, BNY will use the same layout and format for every successive reporting period for the Money Market Reports. At the request of the Fund and upon the mutual agreement of the parties

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      hereto as to the scope of any changes and the additional compensation of BNY, BNY will, or will cause the Print Vendor to, customize the Money Market Report described in Section 2.1(ii) above. Any such customization to be further described in an exhibit to this Schedule III.
3.   BNY shall not be responsible for: (a) delays in the transmission to it by the Fund, the Fund’s adviser and entities unaffiliated with BNY (collectively, for this Schedule III, “Third Parties”) of data required for the preparation of the Money Market Reports, (b) inaccuracies of, errors in or omissions of, such data provided to it by any Third Party, and (c) review of such data provided to it by any Third Party. This Section 3 is a limitation of responsibility provision for the benefit of BNY, and shall not be used to imply any responsibility or liability against BNY.
 
4.   The Fund, in a timely manner, shall review and comment on, and, as the Fund deems necessary, cause its counsel and accountants to review and comment on, each Form N-MFP. The Fund shall provide timely final sign-off of, and authorization and direction to file, each Form N-MFP. Absent such timely final sign-off, authorization and direction by the Fund, BNY shall be excused from its obligations to prepare and file the affected Form N-MFP. BNY is providing the Services based on the representation and warranty of the Fund, that the Services together with the activities of the Fund in accordance with its internal policies, procedures and controls shall together satisfy requirements of the laws applicable to the Fund and Money Market Reports.
 
5.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Schedule III, the Services are not, nor shall they be construed as constituting, legal advice or the provision of legal services for or on behalf of the Fund or any other person. Neither this Schedule III nor the provision of the Services establishes or is intended to establish an attorney-client relationship between BNY and the Fund or any other person.
 
6.   As compensation for the Services, the Fund will pay to BNY such fees as may be agreed to in writing by the Fund and BNY. In turn, BNY will be responsible for paying the Print Vendor’s fees out of the compensation it receives hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, BNY anticipates that the fees it charges hereunder will be more than the fees charged to it by the Print Vendor.
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to BNY that (i) the terms of this Schedule III, (ii) the fees and expenses associated with this Schedule III and (iii) any benefits accruing to BNY and/or any affiliate of the Trust relating to this Schedule III have been fully disclosed to the Board of Trustees of the Trust and that, if required by applicable law, such Board of Trustees has approved or will approve the terms of this Schedule III, any such fees and expenses, and any such benefits.

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(i)
     
(DECHERT LLP LOGO)
  1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6797
+1 212 698 3500 Main
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www.dechert.com
April 28, 2011
Goldman Sachs Trust
71 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
     Re:   Goldman Sachs Trust,
File Nos. 33-17619 and 811-05349
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Registrant”), a statutory trust duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, in connection with amendments to and restatements of the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the issuance and sale by the Registrant of its authorized shares, divided into several series and classes. We have examined such governmental and corporate certificates and records as we deemed necessary to render this opinion, and we are familiar with the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended to date. We note that we are not admitted to practice law in the State of Delaware and, to the extent that this opinion is based on Delaware law, it is based on the published statutes of the State and on the published decisions of courts applying Delaware law.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares of each Series and Class have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered against payment therefore in accordance with the terms, conditions, requirements and procedures described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued and, subject to the qualifications set forth in the Declaration of Trust, fully paid and non-assessable beneficial interests in such Series and Class. In this regard, we note that, pursuant to Section 2 of Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or Class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared by unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement, unless and until we revoke such consent. In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Dechert LLP
Dechert LLP
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