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Prospectus
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Administration
Shares
August 2, 2000
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GOLDMAN SACHS FIXED INCOME FUND
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n Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund |
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
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NOT FDIC-INSURED
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May Lose Value
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No Bank Guarantee
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Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), a unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
(Goldman Sachs), serves as investment adviser to the Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund (the Fund). GSAM is referred to in this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
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The Enhanced Income Fund Is Not A Money Market Fund. Investors In This Fund Should Understand That The Net Asset Value (
NAV) Of The Fund Will Fluctuate Which May Result In A Loss Of A Portion Of The Principal Amount Invested.
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Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Investing Philosophy:
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Active Management Within a Risk-Managed Framework
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The Investment Adviser employs a disciplined, multi-step process to evaluate potential investments:
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1. Sector AllocationThe Investment Adviser assesses the relative value of different investment sectors (such
as U.S. government, U.S. and foreign corporate and asset-backed securities) to create investment strategies that meet the Funds objective.
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2. Security SelectionIn selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser draws on the extensive
resources of Goldman Sachs, including fixed-income research professionals.
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3. Yield Curve StrategiesThe Investment Adviser adjusts the term structure of the Fund based on its
expectations of changes in the shape of the yield curve while closely controlling the overall duration of the Fund.
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The Investment Adviser de-emphasizes interest rate predictions as a means of generating incremental return. Instead, the
Investment Adviser seeks to add value through the selection of particular securities and investment sector allocation.
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With every fixed-income portfolio, the Investment Adviser applies a team approach that emphasizes risk management and capitalizes
on Goldman Sachs extensive research capabilities.
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The Fund described in this Prospectus has a target duration. The Funds duration approximates its price sensitivity to
changes in interest rates. Maturity measures the time until final payment is due; it takes no account of the pattern of a securitys cash flows over time. In computing portfolio duration, the Fund will estimate the duration of obligations that are
subject to prepayment or redemption by the issuer, taking into account the influence of interest rates on prepayments and coupon flows. This method of computing duration is known as option-adjusted duration.
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The Fund also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys. The Fund will deem a security to have met its minimum
credit rating requirement if the security has the required rating at the time of purchase from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more
other NRSROs. Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality. If a security satisfies the Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded
below such rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of such security. This is so even if the downgrade causes the average credit quality of the Fund to be lower than that stated in the Prospectus. Furthermore, during this period, the Investment
Adviser will only buy securities at or above the Funds average rating requirement. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of such security, is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
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FUND FACTS
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_______________________________________________________
Duration (under normal
interest rate conditions): |
Target = 9 month U.S. Treasury Bill +/- 3 months | |
Expected Approximate
Interest Rate Sensitivity: |
9-month U.S. Treasury bill | |
Credit Quality: | Security Minimum = A
Portfolio Weighted Average = AA |
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Benchmarks: | Six-Month and One-Year U.S. Treasury Security |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
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The Fund seeks to generate return in excess of traditional money market products while maintaining an emphasis on preservation of
capital and liquidity.
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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, primarily in a portfolio of fixed income securities, including non-mortgage U.S.
Government Securities, corporate notes and commercial paper and fixed and floating rate asset-backed securities. The Fund will not invest in securities with remaining maturities of more than 5 years (excluding Treasury Securities deliverable into futures
transactions). The Fund will invest across a broad range of high-grade fixed income sectors with an emphasis on the preservation of capital and liquidity. In pursuing the Funds investment objective, the Investment Adviser will seek to enhance the
Funds return by identifying those high grade fixed income securities that are within the maturity limitations discussed above and that the Investment Adviser believes offer advantageous yields relative to other similar securities. The Investment
Adviser will then use futures contracts and options on futures contracts to manage the Funds target duration in accordance with its benchmark.
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No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
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---|---|---|---|
Investment Practices | |||
Borrowings | 33 1
/3
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Credit and Interest Rate Swaps* | | ||
Financial Futures Contracts | | ||
Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars | | ||
Options (including Options on Futures) | | ||
Repurchase Agreements** | | ||
Securities Lending | 33 1
/3
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||
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments | | ||
*
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Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all structured securities which are not
deemed to be liquid and all swap transactions.
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**
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The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by foreign governments.
|
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No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Investment Securities | |||
Asset-Backed Securities | | ||
Convertible Securities | | ||
Corporate Debt Obligations | | ||
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | | ||
Preferred Stock | | ||
Foreign Securities*** | | ||
Structured Securities* | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
***
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Non-Dollar securities not permitted.
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Applicable | Not Applicable | ||
Enhanced
Income Fund |
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NAV | | ||
Interest Rate | | ||
Credit/Default | | ||
Call | | ||
Extension | | ||
Derivatives | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
Market | | ||
Management | | ||
Liquidity | | ||
Foreign | | ||
n
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NAV RiskThe risk that the NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment will fluctuate.
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n
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Interest Rate RiskThe risk that when interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the Fund will
decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term securities.
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n
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Credit/Default RiskThe risk that an issuer or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
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n
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Call RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund
earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to recoup all of its initial investment and will also suffer from having to reinvest in lower yielding securities.
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n
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Extension RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the
Fund later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to invest in higher yielding securities.
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n
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Derivatives RiskThe risk that loss may result from the Funds investments in options, futures, swaps,
structured securities and other derivative investments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund.
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n
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U.S. Government Securities RiskThe risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to U.S.
government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
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n
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Market RiskThe risk that the value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response
to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods.
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n
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Management RiskThe risk that a strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
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n
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Liquidity RiskThe risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time period stated
in this Prospectus because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset Allocation Portfolios) may invest a percentage of their assets
in the Fund and other funds for which Goldman Sachs now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may impact the Funds NAV.
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n
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Foreign RiskThe Fund will be subject to risks of loss with respect to its foreign investments that are 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.
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HOW THE FUND HAS PERFORMED
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The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information is provided in this
section.
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Enhanced
Income Fund |
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Shareholder Fees | |||
(fees paid directly from your investment): | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) | None | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | ||
Redemption Fees | None | ||
Exchange Fees | None | ||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 1 | |||
Management Fees 2 | 0.25% | ||
Administration Fees 3 | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses 4 | 0.20% | ||
Total Fund Operating Expenses* | 0.70% | ||
*
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As a result of the current waivers and expense limitations, Other Expenses and Total Fund Operating
Expenses of the Fund which are actually incurred are as set forth below. The waivers and expense limitations may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses and Total Fund
Operating Expenses may increase without shareholder approval.
|
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 1 | |||
Management Fees 2 | 0.20% | ||
Administration Fees 3 | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses 4 | 0.05% | ||
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current waivers and expense limitations) | 0.50% | ||
1
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The operating expenses for the Fund are estimated for the current year.
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2
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The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed not to impose a portion of the management fee on the Enhanced Cash Fund
equal to 0.05% of such Funds average daily net assets. As a result of fee waivers, the current management fees of the Fund is 0.20%, of such Funds average daily net assets. The waivers may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
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3
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Service Organizations may charge other fees to their customers who are beneficial owners of Administration Shares in connection with their customers accounts. Such fees
may affect the return customers realize with respect to their investments.
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4
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Estimated Other Expenses include transfer agency fees equal to 0.04% of the average daily net assets of the Funds Administration Shares, plus all other
ordinary expenses not detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limit Other Expenses of the Fund (excluding management fees, transfer agency fees, administration fees, taxes, interest and brokerage fees and
litigation, indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) to the following percentage of the Funds average daily net assets:
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Fund | 1 Year | 3 Years | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Enhanced Income | $72 | $224 | |||
INVESTMENT ADVISER
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Investment Adviser | Fund | ||
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Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) | Enhanced Income | ||
32 Old Slip | |||
New York, New York 10005 | |||
As of September 1, 1999, the Investment Management Division (IMD) was established as a new operating division of
Goldman Sachs. This newly created entity includes GSAM. Goldman Sachs registered as an investment adviser in 1981. The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., which controlled the Investment Adviser, merged into the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as a result of an initial
public offering. As of March 31, 2000, GSAM, along with other units of IMD, had assets under management of $243.6 billion.
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The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes
the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers, including Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates. While the Investment Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and management with respect to certain
portfolio securities. In addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs, and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among
categories of issuers and types of securities.
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The Investment Adviser also performs the following additional services for the Fund:
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n
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Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
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n
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Provides personnel to perform necessary executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
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n
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Arranges for the preparation of all required tax returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of additional
information and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and other regulatory authorities
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n
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Maintains the records of the Fund
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n
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Provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services
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MANAGEMENT FEES
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As compensation for its services and its assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is entitled to the following fee,
computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate listed below (as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets):
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Contractual Rate
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---|---|---|---|
|
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Enhanced Income | 0.25% | ||
The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may discontinue any voluntary
waiver at any time at its discretion.
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FUND MANAGERS
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Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team
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n
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The fixed-income portfolio management team is comprised of a deep team of sector specialists
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n
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The team strives to maximize risk-adjusted returns by de-emphasizing interest rate anticipation and focusing on security selection
and sector allocation
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n
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The team manages approximately $50.5 billion in fixed-income assets for retail, institutional and high net worth clients
|
Name and Title | Fund Responsibility | Years Primarily
Responsible |
Five Year Employment History | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jonathan A. Beinner
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Beinner joined the
Investment Adviser in 1990. He became a portfolio manager in 1992. |
||||
Peter A. Dion
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Dion joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992. From 1994 to 1995 he was an associate portfolio manager. He became a portfolio manager in 1995. |
||||
C. Richard Lucy
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Lucy joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992 as a portfolio manager. |
||||
James P. McCarthy
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. McCarthy joined the
Investment Adviser in 1995 as a portfolio manager after working four years at Nomura Securities, where he was an assistant vice president and an adjustable rate mortgage trader. |
||||
DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
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Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the Distributor) of the
Funds shares. Goldman Sachs, 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6372, also serves as the Funds transfer agent (the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
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From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs reserves the
right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for its own account.
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ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS
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The involvement of the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other
accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and funds which
have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will not have any obligation to make
available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund. The results of the Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for
proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may, from time to time, enter into transactions in which other clients of Goldman Sachs have an adverse interest. The Funds activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable
to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions.
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YEAR 2000
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Goldman Sachs spent a total of approximately $185 million over the past several years to address the potential hardware, software
and other computer and technology issues and related concerns associated with the transition to Year 2000 and to confirm that its service providers did the same. As a result of those efforts, Goldman Sachs has not experienced any material disruptions in
its operations in connection with, or following, the transition to the Year 2000.
|
n
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Cash
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n
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Additional shares of the same class of the same Fund
|
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Shares of the same or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for certain ILA
Portfolios. See the Additional Statement.
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Investment Income
Dividends |
Capital Gains
Distributions |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund | Declared | Paid | Declared and Paid | ||||
Enhanced Income | Daily | Monthly | Annually |
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding buying and selling the
Funds Administration Shares.
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How Can I Purchase Administration Shares Of The Fund?
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Generally, Administration Shares may be purchased only through institutions that have agreed to provide account administration and
personal and account maintenance services to their customers who are the beneficial owners of Administration Shares. These institutions are called Service Organizations. Customers of a Service Organization will normally give their purchase
instructions to the Service Organization, and the Service Organization will, in turn, place purchase orders with Goldman Sachs. Service Organizations will set times by which purchase orders and payments must be received by them from their customers.
Generally, Administration Shares may be purchased from the Fund on any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of an order by Goldman Sachs from a Service Organization. No sales load is charged. Purchases of Administration Shares must be
settled within three business days of receipt of a complete purchase order.
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Service Organizations are responsible for transmitting purchase orders and payments to Goldman Sachs in a timely fashion. Service
Organizations should place an order with Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550 and either:
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n
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Wire federal funds to The Northern Trust Company (Northern), as subcustodian for State Street Bank and Trust Company
(State Street) (the Funds custodian) on the next business day; or
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n
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Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares), 4900 Sears
Tower60th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-6372. The Fund will not accept a check drawn on a foreign bank or a third-party check.
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In certain instances, the Trust may require a signature guarantee in order to effect purchase, redemption or exchange
transactions. Signature guarantees 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
signature guarantee.
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What Do I Need To Know About Service Organizations?
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Service Organizations may provide the following services in connection with their customers investments in Administration
Shares:
|
n
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Acting, directly or through an agent, as the sole shareholder of record
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Maintaining account records for customers
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Processing orders to purchase, redeem or exchange shares for customers
|
In addition, some (but not all) Service Organizations are authorized to accept, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust (the
Trust), purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their customers, and may designate other intermediaries to accept such orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
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The Fund will be deemed to have received an order in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized Service Organization
or intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Funds NAV next determined after such acceptance.
|
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Service Organizations or intermediaries will be responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to the Trust within the
time period agreed upon by them.
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You should contact your Service Organization directly to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
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Pursuant to an administration plan adopted by the Trusts Board of Trustees, Service Organizations are entitled to receive
payment for their services from the Trust of up to 0.25% (on an annualized basis) of the average daily net assets of the Administration Shares of the Fund, which are attributable to or held in the name of the Service Organization for its customers.
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may pay additional compensation from time to time, out of their assets
and not as an additional charge to the Fund, to selected Service Organizations and other persons in connection with the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. Additional compensation based on sales may,
but is currently not expected to, exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount invested.
|
In addition to Administration Shares, the Fund also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share classes are
subject to different fees and expenses (which affect performance), have different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services than Administration Shares. Information regarding the other share classes may be obtained from your
sales representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
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What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
|
The Fund does not have any minimum purchase or account requirements with respect to Administration Shares. A Service Organization
may, however, impose a minimum amount for initial and subsequent investments in Administration Shares, and may establish other requirements such as a minimum account balance. A Service Organization may redeem Administration Shares held by non-complying
accounts, and may impose a charge for any special services.
|
What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
n
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Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange orders by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers). This may occur, for
example, when a pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of Administration Shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that would disrupt the management of the Fund.
|
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Close the Fund to new investors from time to time and reopen the Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by the Funds
Investment Adviser.
|
The Fund may allow Service Organizations to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Funds
investment policies and operations and if approved by the Funds Investment Adviser.
|
How Are Shares Priced?
|
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or exchange Administration Shares is determined by the Funds NAV. The Fund
calculates NAV as follows:
|
(Value of Assets of the Class) | ||||
(Liabilities of the Class) | ||||
NAV = | ||||
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class |
The Funds investments are valued based on market quotations, which may be furnished by a pricing service or provided by
securities dealers. If accurate quotations are not readily available, the fair value of the Funds investments may be determined based on yield equivalents, a pricing matrix or other sources, under valuation procedures established by the Trustees.
Debt obligations with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.
|
n
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NAV per share of each class is calculated by State Street 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). This occurs after the determination, if any, of income declared as a dividend. Fund shares will not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
|
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When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.
|
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When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.
|
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in
case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York time.
|
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, if the Fund holds foreign securities
its NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
|
In addition, the impact of events that occur after the publication of market quotations used by the Fund to price its securities
(for example, in foreign markets), but before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange will normally not be reflected in the Funds next determined NAV unless the Trust, in its discretion, makes an adjustment in light of the nature
and materiality of the event, its effect on Fund operations and other relevant factors.
|
When Will Shares Be Issued And Dividends Begin To Be Paid?
|
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Shares Purchased by Federal Funds Wire:
|
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If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined that day,
shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the purchased shares on the later of (i) the business day after the purchase order is received; or (ii) the day that the federal funds wire is received by State Street.
|
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If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
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Shares Purchased by Check or Federal Reserve Draft:
|
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If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined that day,
shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the business day after payment is received.
|
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If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
How Can I Sell Administration Shares Of The Fund?
|
Generally, Administration Shares may be sold (redeemed) only through Service Organizations. Customers of a Service Organization
will normally give their redemption instructions to the Service Organization, and the Service Organization will, in turn, place redemption orders with the Fund. Generally, the Fund will redeem its Administration Shares upon request on any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of such request in proper form. Redemption proceeds may be sent to recordholders by check or by wire (if the wire
instructions are on record).
|
A Service Organization may request redemptions in writing or by telephone if the optional telephone redemption privilege is
elected on the Account Application.
|
|
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By Writing: | Goldman Sachs Funds | ||
4900 Sears Tower60th Floor | |||
Chicago, IL 60606-6372 | |||
|
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By Telephone: | If you have elected the telephone redemption
privilege on your Account Application: |
||
n 1-800-621-2550 | |||
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time) | |||
|
What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that the Trust
accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs employs reasonable procedures specified by
the Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
|
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All telephone requests are recorded.
|
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Any redemption request that requires money to go to an account or address other than that designated on the Account Application
must be in writing and signed by an authorized person designated on the Account Application. The written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank account to verify instructions.
|
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The telephone redemption option may be modified or terminated at any time.
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
By Wire: The Fund will arrange for redemption proceeds to be wired as federal funds to the bank account designated
in the recordholders Account Application. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
|
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Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business day delay), but
may be paid up to three business days following receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request. If the shares to be sold were recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay the redemption proceeds when the check has cleared, which may take
up to 15 days. If the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be delayed one additional business day.
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To change the bank designated on your Account Application,
you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated on the Account Application to the Transfer Agent.
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Neither the Trust nor Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of intermediaries or your Service Organization
in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with such intermediaries or Service Organizations.
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By Check: A recordholder may elect in writing to receive redemption proceeds by check. Redemption proceeds paid by
check will normally be mailed to the address of record within three business days of receipt of a properly executed redemption request. If the shares to be sold were recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay the redemption proceeds when the check has
cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
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What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
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The following generally applies to redemption requests:
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Administration Shares of the Fund earn dividends declared on the day the shares are redeemed.
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Additional documentation may be required when deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request will not be in proper
form until such additional documentation has been received.
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Service Organizations are responsible for the timely transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the Transfer Agent.
In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of redemption requests, Service Organizations may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. Service Organizations may also require additional documentation from you.
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The Trust reserves the right to:
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Redeem the Administration Shares of any Service Organization whose account balance falls below $50 as a result of a redemption.
The Fund will not redeem Administration Shares on this basis if the value of the account falls below the minimum account balance solely as a result of market conditions. The Fund will give 60 days prior written notice to allow a Service Organization
to purchase sufficient additional shares of the Fund in order to avoid such redemption.
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Redeem the shares in other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in the best interest of the Trust.
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Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds in-kind, you should
expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of those securities.
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Reinvest any dividends or other distributions which you have elected to receive in cash should your check for such dividends or
other distributions be returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. In addition, that distribution and all future distributions payable to you will be reinvested at NAV in additional Fund shares. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distributions or redemption checks.
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Can I Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
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A Service Organization may exchange Administration Shares of the Fund at NAV for Administration Shares of any other Goldman Sachs
Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice.
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Instructions For Exchanging Shares: | |||
---|---|---|---|
By Writing: | n Write a letter of instruction that includes: | ||
n The recordholder name(s) and signature(s) | |||
n The account number | |||
n The Fund names and Class of Shares | |||
n The dollar amount to be exchanged | |||
n Mail the request to: | |||
Goldman Sachs Funds | |||
4900 Sears Tower60th Floor | |||
Chicago, IL 60606-6372 | |||
By Telephone: | If you have elected the telephone exchange
privilege on your Account Application: |
||
n 1-800-621-2550 | |||
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time) | |||
You should keep in mind the following factors when making or considering an exchange:
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You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange.
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All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirements of that
Fund, except that this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust.
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Telephone exchanges normally will be made only to an identically registered account.
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Shares may be exchanged among accounts with different names, addresses and social security or other taxpayer identification
numbers only if the exchange instructions are in writing and are signed by an authorized person designated on the Account Application.
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Exchanges are available only in states where exchanges may be legally made.
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It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
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Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
in an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
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For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated as a redemption of the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you
may be subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
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What Types of Reports Will Be Sent Regarding Investments in Administration Shares?
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Service Organizations will receive from the Fund annual reports containing audited financial statements and semi-annual reports.
Service Organizations will also be provided with a printed confirmation for each transaction in their account and a monthly account statement. Service Organizations are responsible for providing these or other reports to their customers who are the
beneficial owners of Administration Shares in accordance with the rules that apply to their accounts with the Service Organizations.
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TAXABILITY OF DISTRIBUTIONS
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As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information below is provided
as general information. More tax information is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund.
|
Unless your investment is an IRA or other tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax consequences of Fund
distributions and the sale of your Fund shares.
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TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS
|
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 Funds income dividend distributions and short-term capital gain distributions are taxable to you as ordinary
income. Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
Although distributions are generally treated as taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared in October,
November or December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. The Fund will inform shareholders of the character and tax status of all distributions promptly 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.
|
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 a dividend.
|
TAXABILITY OF 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 gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends that were received on the shares.
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OTHER INFORMATION
|
When you open your account, you should provide your social security or tax identification number on your Account Application. By
law, the Fund must withhold 31% 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.
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A. General Portfolio Risks
|
The Fund will be subject to the risks associated with fixed-income securities. These risks include interest rate risk, credit risk
and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to increase (although some asset-backed securities will have less potential than other debt
securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves the risk that the issuer could default on its obligations,
and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in asset-backed securities. For example, car owners have the option to prepay their car loans. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by auto loans can
either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new auto loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding auto loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
auto loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding auto 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.
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The Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for the
Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. The portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of
one year or less.
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The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by
the Fund, including its associated risks. Additional information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among other things, the Additional Statement describes certain fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be
changed without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the investment objective and all investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamen
tal and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a change in the Funds investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial positions and needs.
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B. Other Portfolio Risks
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Credit Risks. Debt securities purchased by the Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued by
the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in the next section below. Further
information is provided in the Additional Statement.
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Debt securities rated A or higher by Standard & Poors or Moodys are considered high grade. 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, is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.
|
Risks of Derivative Investments. The Funds transactions in options, futures, options on futures, swaps,
interest rate caps, floors and collars and structured securities involve additional risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged, the
potential illiquidity of the markets for derivative instruments, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with such transactions. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The Fund may also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), which is considered a
speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
|
Some floating-rate derivative debt securities can present more complex types of derivative and interest rate risks. For example,
range floaters are subject to the risk that the coupon will be reduced below market rates if a designated interest rate floats outside of a specified interest rate band or collar. Dual index or yield curve floaters are subject to lower prices in the event
of an unfavorable change in the spread between two designated interest rates.
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Risks of Foreign Investments. The Fund may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks
that are not typically associated with domes
tic investments. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments.
|
Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are
more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making
it difficult to conduct such transactions.
|
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 a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than 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), limitations on the removal of funds
or other assets of the Fund, and political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could affect investments in those countries.
|
Concentration of the Funds assets in one or a few countries will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Funds
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 a Funds NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
|
A sovereign debtors willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among
other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign
debtors policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
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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
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Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable
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n
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Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
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n
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Certain over-the-counter options
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Certain structured securities and all swap transactions
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Certain restricted securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted
security, that such restricted security is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (144A Securities) and, therefore, is liquid.
|
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional
buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable
securities for which a liquid market exists.
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Temporary Investment Risks. The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of its total
assets in:
|
n
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U.S. Government Securities
|
n
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Repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government Securities
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When a Funds assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.
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C. Portfolio Securities and Techniques
|
This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund,
including its associated risks. Further information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request.
|
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 (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury (such as the
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)); (b) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association); (c) the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)); or (d) only
the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently
.
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Custodial Receipts. The Fund may invest in custodial receipts. Interests in U.S. Government Securities may be
purchased in the form of custodial receipts that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, in
strumentalities, political subdivisions or authorities. For certain securities law purposes, custodial receipts are not considered obligations of the U.S. government.
|
Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their
stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate.
Accordingly, the Funds ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields
is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. There is the possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. In the event of a default, the Fund may suffer
a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed.
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Corporate Debt Obligations; Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations and
convertible securities. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal, and include securities issued by banks, financial institutions and other
entities. The Fund may also invest in other short-term obligations payable in U.S. Dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities.
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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 securi
ties 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.
|
Structured Securities. The Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose
value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the
principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an
increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than other types of fixed-income securities, and may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
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Zero Coupon Bonds. The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. Such bonds are issued at a discount from their face
value because interest payments are typically postponed until maturity. The market prices of these securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in
interest rates than interest-bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.
|
Options on Securities and Securities Indices. 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 it may invest or on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest.
|
The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment risks. Options may be used
for either hedging or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity). The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation
between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the correlation between the instruments or indices on which options are written and purchased and the
instruments in the Funds investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Fund may be traded on either U.S.
or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will present greater possibility of loss because of their greater illiquidity and credit risks.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts
that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position
in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. A futures contract may be based on various securities (such as U.S. Government Securities), securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Fund may
engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.
|
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, in order to
seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into
closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as defined in regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or to
seek to increase total return to the extent permitted by such regulations. The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts or purchase or sell related options to seek to increase total return, except for closing purchase or sale transactions, if
immediately thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits and premiums paid on the Funds outstanding positions in futures and related options entered
into for the purpose of seeking to increase total return would exceed 5% of the market value of the Funds net assets.
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Futures contracts and related options present the following risks:
|
n
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While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
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Because perfect correlation between a futures position and portfolio position that is intended to be protected is impossible to
achieve, the desired protection may not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.
|
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The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is potentially unlimited
and may exceed the amount of the premium received.
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Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Funds NAV.
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As a result of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures
contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund.
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Futures contracts and options on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a
single day.
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Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate obligations. The value of
these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels. The issuers or financial intermediaries providing demand features may support their ability to purchase the obligations by
obtaining credit with liquidity supports. These may include lines of credit, which are conditional commitments to lend, and letters of credit, which will ordinarily be irrevocable both of which may be issued by domestic banks or foreign banks which have a
branch agency or subsidiary in the United States. The Fund may purchase variable or floating rate obligations from the issuers or may purchase certificates of participation, a type of floating or variable rate obligation, which are interests in a pool of
debt obligations held by a bank or other financial institution.
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When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase when-issued securities and enter into forward
commitments. 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 entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.
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The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to
be purchased declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although the Fund will generally purchase
securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it
appropriate.
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Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending
of securities owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government Securities or letters of credit in an amount at least
equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested in cash equivalents. To the extent that cash collateral is invested in other investment securities, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation,
and the Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 1
/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral).
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The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its
securities, or capital loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
|
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the sellers
agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with dealers in U.S. Government Securities and member banks of the Federal Reserve System which furnish collateral at least equal in value
or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligation. The Fund may also enter into repurchase agreements involving certain foreign government securities.
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If the other party or seller defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of
the underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund
could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
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In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement, the Investment Adviser will carefully consider the creditworthiness
of the seller. 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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Borrowings. The Fund can borrow money from banks with banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets.
The Fund may not make additional investments if borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets. Borrowings involve leverage. If the securities held by the Fund decline in value while these transactions are outstanding, the NAV of the Funds outstanding
shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value of the securities.
|
Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the 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. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for
assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. 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 or make a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence
of specified credit events. 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.
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The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The use of interest rate and
credit swaps, as well as 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 the Investment Adviser is
incorrect in its forecasts of market values or interest rates the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.
|
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies subject to statutory
limitations prescribed by the Act. These limitations include a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
|
Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an
ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment
obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.
|
13 | Service Providers | |||
16 | Dividends | |||
17 | Shareholder Guide | |||
17 | How to Buy Shares | |||
21 | How to Sell Shares | |||
25 | Taxation | |||
27 |
Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques |
|||
FOR MORE INFORMATION
|
Annual/Semi-annual Report
|
Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders. In the Funds annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the last fiscal year. The annual report for the Enhanced Income
Fund for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2000 will become available to shareholders in December 2000.
|
Statement of Additional Information
|
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Funds Additional Statement. The Additional
Statement is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports, and the Additional Statement, are available free upon request by calling Goldman
Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
|
By telephone Call 1-800-621-2550
|
By mail Goldman, Sachs & Co., 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois
60606-6372 |
By e-mail [email protected]
|
On the Internet Text-only versions of the Funds documents are located online and may be downloaded from:
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents by visiting the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may
also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to: [email protected]. Information on the operation of the public reference
room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration number is 811-5349.
|
Prospectus
|
GOLDMAN SACHS FIXED INCOME FUND
|
![]() |
Class A Shares August 2, 2000
n Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund |
|
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
|
NOT FDIC-INSURED
|
May Lose Value
|
No Bank Guarantee
|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), a unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
(Goldman Sachs), serves as investment adviser to the Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund (the Fund). GSAM is referred to in this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
The Enhanced Income Fund Is Not A Money Market Fund. Investors In This Fund Should Understand That The Net Asset Value (
NAV) Of The Fund Will Fluctuate Which May Result In A Loss Of A Portion Of The Principal Amount Invested.
|
Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Investing Philosophy:
|
Active Management Within a Risk-Managed Framework
|
The Investment Adviser employs a disciplined, multi-step process to evaluate potential investments:
|
1. Sector AllocationThe Investment Adviser assesses the relative value of different investment sectors (such
as U.S. government, U.S. and foreign corporate and asset-backed securities) to create investment strategies that meet the Funds objective.
|
2. Security SelectionIn selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser draws on the extensive
resources of Goldman Sachs, including fixed-income research professionals.
|
3. Yield Curve StrategiesThe Investment Adviser adjusts the term structure of the Fund based on its
expectations of changes in the shape of the yield curve while closely controlling the overall duration of the Fund.
|
The Investment Adviser de-emphasizes interest rate predictions as a means of generating incremental return. Instead, the
Investment Adviser seeks to add value through the selection of particular securities and investment sector allocation.
|
With every fixed-income portfolio, the Investment Adviser applies a team approach that emphasizes risk management and capitalizes
on Goldman Sachs extensive research capabilities.
|
The Fund described in this Prospectus has a target duration. The Funds duration approximates its price sensitivity to
changes in interest rates. Maturity measures the time until final payment is due; it takes no account of the pattern of a securitys cash flows over time. In computing portfolio duration, the Fund will estimate the duration of obligations that are
subject to prepayment or redemption by the issuer, taking into account the influence of interest rates on prepayments and coupon flows. This method of computing duration is known as option-adjusted duration.
|
The Fund also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys. The Fund will deem a security to have met its minimum
credit rating requirement if the security has the required rating at the time of purchase from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more
other NRSROs. Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality. If a security satisfies the Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded
below such rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of such security. This is so even if the downgrade causes the average credit quality of the Fund to be lower than that stated in the Prospectus. Furthermore, during this period, the Investment
Adviser will only buy securities at or above the Funds average rating requirement. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of such security, is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
|
FUND FACTS
|
Duration (under normal
interest rate conditions): |
Target = 9 month U.S. Treasury Bill +/- 3 months | |
Expected Approximate
Interest Rate Sensitivity: |
9-month U.S. Treasury bill | |
Credit Quality: | Security Minimum = A
Portfolio Weighted Average = AA |
|
Benchmarks: | Six-Month and One-Year U.S. Treasury Security |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
|
The Fund seeks to generate return in excess of traditional money market products while maintaining an emphasis on preservation of
capital and liquidity.
|
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, primarily in a portfolio of fixed income securities, including non-mortgage U.S.
Government Securities, corporate notes and commercial paper and fixed and floating rate asset-backed securities. The Fund will not invest in securities with remaining maturities of more than 5 years (excluding Treasury Securities deliverable into futures
transactions). The Fund will invest across a broad range of high-grade fixed income sectors with an emphasis on the preservation of capital and liquidity. In pursuing the Funds investment objective, the Investment Adviser will seek to enhance the
Funds return by identifying those high grade fixed income securities that are within the maturity limitations discussed above and that the Investment Adviser believes offer advantageous yields relative to other similar securities. The Investment
Adviser will then use futures contracts and options on futures contracts to manage the Funds target duration in accordance with its benchmark.
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Investment Practices | |||
Borrowings | 33 1
/3
|
||
Credit and Interest Rate Swaps* | | ||
Financial Futures Contracts | | ||
Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars | | ||
Options (including Options on Futures) | | ||
Repurchase Agreements** | | ||
Securities Lending | 33 1
/3
|
||
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments | | ||
*
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all structured securities which are not
deemed to be liquid and all swap transactions.
|
**
|
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by foreign governments.
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Investment Securities | |||
Asset-Backed Securities | | ||
Convertible Securities | | ||
Corporate Debt Obligations | | ||
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | | ||
Preferred Stock | | ||
Foreign Securities*** | | ||
Structured Securities* | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
***
|
Non-Dollar securities not permitted.
|
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
NAV | | ||
Interest Rate | | ||
Credit/Default | | ||
Call | | ||
Extension | | ||
Derivatives | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
Market | | ||
Management | | ||
Liquidity | | ||
Foreign | | ||
n
|
NAV RiskThe risk that the NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment will fluctuate.
|
n
|
Interest Rate RiskThe risk that when interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the Fund will
decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term securities.
|
n
|
Credit/Default RiskThe risk that an issuer or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
n
|
Call RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund
earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to recoup all of its initial investment and will also suffer from having to reinvest in lower yielding securities.
|
n
|
Extension RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the
Fund later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to invest in higher yielding securities.
|
n
|
Derivatives RiskThe risk that loss may result from the Funds investments in options, futures, swaps,
structured securities and other derivative investments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund.
|
n
|
U.S. Government Securities RiskThe risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to U.S.
government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
|
n
|
Market RiskThe risk that the value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response
to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods.
|
n
|
Management RiskThe risk that a strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
|
n
|
Liquidity RiskThe risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time period stated
in this Prospectus because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset Allocation Portfolios) may invest a percentage of their assets
in the Fund and other funds for which Goldman Sachs now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may impact the Funds NAV.
|
n
|
Foreign RiskThe Fund will be subject to risks of loss with respect to its foreign investments that are 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.
|
HOW THE FUND HAS PERFORMED
|
The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information is provided in
this section.
|
Enhanced Income Fund |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Class A | ||||
Shareholder Fees | ||||
(fees paid directly from your investment): | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed
on Purchases |
1.5% | 1 | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) | None | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on
Reinvested Dividends |
None | |||
Redemption Fees 2 | None | |||
Exchange Fees 2 | None | |||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 3 | ||||
Management Fees 4 | 0.25% | |||
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | |||
Other Expenses 5 | 0.35% | |||
Total Fund Operating Expenses* | 0.85% | |||
See page 11 for all other footnotes.
|
*
|
As a result of the current waivers and expense limitations, Other Expenses and Total Fund Operating
Expenses of the Fund which are actually incurred are as set forth below. The waivers and expense limitations may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses and Total Fund
Operating Expenses may increase without shareholder approval.
|
Enhanced Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Class A | |||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 3 | |||
Management Fees 4 | 0.20% | ||
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses 5 | 0.20% | ||
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current waivers
and expense limitations) |
0.65% | ||
1
|
The maximum sales charge is a percentage of the offering price.
|
2
|
A transaction fee of $7.50 may be charged for redemption proceeds paid by wire. In addition to free reinvestments of
dividends and distributions in shares of other Goldman Sachs Funds or shares of the Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios (the ILA Portfolios) and free automatic exchanges pursuant to the Automatic Exchange Program, six free
exchanges are permitted in each 12-month period. A fee of $12.50 may be charged for each subsequent exchange during such period.
|
3
|
The operating expenses for the Fund are estimated for the current year.
|
4
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed not to impose a portion of the management fee on the Fund equal to 0.05%
of the Funds average daily net assets. As a result of the fee waivers, the current management fee of the Fund is 0.20% of the Funds average daily net assets. The waivers may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
|
5
|
Other Expenses include transfer agency fees equal to 0.19% of the average daily net assets of the Fund
s Class A Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limit Other Expenses of the Fund (excluding management fees, distribution and service fees, transfer agency fees,
taxes, interest and brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) to the following percentage of the Funds average daily net assets:
|
Fund | Other
Expenses |
||
---|---|---|---|
Enhanced Income | 0.01% | ||
The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund (without the waivers and expense
limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
Fund | 1 Year | 3 Years | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||||
Enhanced Income | ||||||
Class A Shares | $235 | $417 | ||||
|
|
Certain institutions that sell Fund shares and/or their salespersons may receive other compensation in connection with the sale
and distribution of Class A Shares for services to their customers accounts and/or the Fund. For additional information regarding such compensation, see What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through an Authorized Dealer?
|
INVESTMENT ADVISER
|
Investment Adviser | Fund | ||
---|---|---|---|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) | Enhanced Income | ||
32 Old Slip | |||
New York, New York 10005 | |||
As of September 1, 1999, the Investment Management Division (IMD) was established as a new operating division of
Goldman Sachs. This newly created entity includes GSAM. Goldman Sachs registered as an investment adviser in 1981. The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., which controlled the Investment Adviser, merged into the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as a result of an initial
public offering. As of March 31, 2000, GSAM, along with other units of IMD, had assets under management of $243.6 billion.
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes
the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers, including Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates. While the Investment Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and management with respect to certain
portfolio securities. In addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs, and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among
categories of issuers and types of securities.
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the following additional services for the Fund:
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of additional
information and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and other regulatory authorities
|
n
|
Maintains the records of the Fund
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services
|
MANAGEMENT FEES
|
As compensation for its services and its assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is entitled to the following fee,
computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate listed below (as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets):
|
Contractual Rate | |||
---|---|---|---|
Enhanced Income | 0.25% | ||
The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may discontinue any voluntary
waiver at any time at its discretion.
|
FUND MANAGERS
|
Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team
|
n
|
The fixed-income portfolio management team is comprised of a deep team of sector specialists
|
n
|
The team strives to maximize risk-adjusted returns by de-emphasizing interest rate anticipation and focusing on security selection
and sector allocation
|
n
|
The team manages approximately $50.5 billion in fixed-income assets for retail, institutional and high net worth clients
|
Name and Title | Fund Responsibility | Years Primarily
Responsible |
Five Year Employment History | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jonathan A. Beinner
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Beinner joined the
Investment Adviser in 1990. He became a portfolio manager in 1992. |
||||
Peter A. Dion
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Dion joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992. From 1994 to 1995 he was an associate portfolio manager. He became a portfolio manager in 1995. |
||||
C. Richard Lucy
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Lucy joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992 as a portfolio manager. |
||||
James P. McCarthy
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. McCarthy joined the
Investment Adviser in 1995 as a portfolio manager after working four years at Nomura Securities, where he was an assistant vice president and an adjustable rate mortgage trader. |
||||
DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the Distributor) of the
Funds shares. Goldman Sachs, 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6372, also serves as the Funds transfer agent (the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs reserves the
right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other
accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and funds which
have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will not have any obligation to make
available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund. The results of the Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for
proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may, from time to time, enter into transactions in which other clients of Goldman Sachs have an adverse interest. The Funds activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable
to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions.
|
YEAR 2000
|
Goldman Sachs spent a total of approximately $185 million over the past several years to address the potential hardware, software
and other computer and technology issues and related concerns associated with the transition to Year 2000 and to confirm that its service providers did the same. As a result of those efforts, Goldman Sachs has not experienced any material disruptions in
its operations in connection with, or following, the transition to the Year 2000.
|
n
|
Cash
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the same Fund
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for certain ILA
Portfolios. See the Additional Statement.
|
Investment Income
Dividends |
Capital Gains
Distributions |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund | Declared | Paid | Declared and Paid | ||||
Enhanced Income | Daily | Monthly | Annually |
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding buying and selling the
Funds Class A shares.
|
How Can I Purchase Class A Shares Of The Fund?
|
You may purchase shares of the Fund through:
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs;
|
n
|
Authorized Dealers; or
|
n Directly from Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust).
|
In order to make an initial investment in the Fund, you must furnish to the Fund, Goldman Sachs or your Authorized Dealer the
information in the Account Application attached to this Prospectus.
|
To Open an Account:
|
n
|
Complete the enclosed Account Application
|
n
|
Mail your payment and Account Application to:
|
Your Authorized Dealer
|
|
Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft should be made payable to your Authorized Dealer
|
|
Your Authorized Dealer is responsible for forwarding payment promptly (within three business days) to the Fund
|
or
|
Goldman Sachs Funds c/o National Financial Data Services, Inc. (NFDS), P.O. Box 219711, Kansas
City, MO 64121-9711
|
|
Purchases by check or Federal Reserve draft should be made payable to Goldman Sachs Funds (Name of Fund and
Class of Shares)
|
|
NFDS will not accept a check drawn on a foreign bank or a third-party check, cash, money orders, travelers checques or credit card
checks
|
|
Federal funds wire, Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) transfer or bank wires should be sent to State Street Bank
and Trust Company (State Street) (each Funds custodian). Please call the Funds at
1-800-526-7384 to get detailed instructions on how to wire your money. |
What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?
|
Initial | Additional | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regular Accounts | $1,000 | $50 | |||
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans (excluding SIMPLE IRAs and
Education IRAs) |
$250 | $50 | |||
Uniform Gift to Minors Act Accounts/Uniform Transfer to
Minors Act Accounts |
$250 | $50 | |||
403(b) Plan Accounts | $200 | $50 | |||
SIMPLE IRAs and Education IRAs | $50 | $50 | |||
Automatic Investment Plan Accounts | $50 | $50 | |||
What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
n
|
Refuse to open an account if you fail to (i) provide a social security number or other taxpayer identification number; or (ii)
certify that such number is correct (if required to do so under applicable law).
|
n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange order by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers). This may occur, for
example, when a pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that would disrupt management of the Fund.
|
n
|
Close the Fund to new investors from time to time and reopen the Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by the Funds
Investment Adviser.
|
n
|
Modify or waive the minimum investment amounts.
|
n
|
Modify the manner in which shares are offered.
|
n
|
Modify the sales charge rates applicable to future purchases of shares.
|
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Funds investment policies
and operations and if approved by the Funds Investment Adviser.
|
How Are Shares Priced?
|
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or exchange shares is determined by the Funds NAV and share class. Each
class calculates its NAV as follows:
|
(Value of Assets of the Class) | ||
NAV = | - (Liabilities of the Class) | |
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class |
The Funds investments are valued based on market quotations, which may be furnished by a pricing service or provided by
securities dealers. If accurate quotations are not readily available, the fair value of the Funds investments may be determined based on yield equivalents, a pricing matrix or other sources, under
valuation procedures established by the Trustees. Debt obligations with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.
|
n
|
NAV per share of each share class is calculated by the Funds custodian 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). This occurs after the determination, if any, of the income to be declared as a dividend. Fund shares will not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
|
n
|
When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form, plus any applicable
sales charge.
|
n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.
|
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in
case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York time.
|
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, if the Fund holds foreign securities,
its NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
|
In addition, the impact of events that occur after the publication of market quotations used by the Fund to price its securities
(for example, in foreign markets) but before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange will normally not be reflected in the Funds next determined NAV unless the Trust, in its discretion, makes an adjustment in light of the nature
and materiality of the event, its effect on Fund operations and other relevant factors.
|
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A SHARES
|
What Is The Offering Price Of Class A Shares?
|
The offering price of Class A Shares of the Fund is the next determined NAV per share plus an initial sales charge paid to
Goldman Sachs at the time of purchase of shares. The sales charge varies depending upon the amount you purchase. In some cases, described below, the initial sales charge may be eliminated altogether, and the offering price will be the NAV per share. The current sales charges and commissions paid to
Authorized Dealers for Class A Shares of the Fund is as follows:
|
Amount of Purchase
(including sales charge, if any) |
Sales Charge as
Percentage of Offering Price |
Sales Charge
as Percentage of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum Dealer
Allowance as Percentage of Offering Price* |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Less than $500,000 | 1.50 | % | 1.52 | % | 1.25 | % | ||||
$500,000 up to (but less than) $1 million | 1.00 | 1.01 | 0.75 | |||||||
$1 million or more | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||||||
*
|
Dealers allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be allowed
to Authorized Dealers. Authorized Dealers to whom substantially the entire sales charge is allowed may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933.
|
In addition to Class A Shares, the Fund also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share classes are subject to
different fees and expenses (which affect performance), have different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services. Information regarding these other share classes may be obtained from your sales representative or from Goldman
Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
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;
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n
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Qualified retirement plans of Goldman Sachs;
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n
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Trustees or directors of investment companies for which Goldman Sachs or an affiliate acts as sponsor;
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n
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Any employee or registered representative of any Authorized Dealer or their respective spouses, children and parents;
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n
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Banks, trust companies or other types of depository institutions investing for their own account or investing for discretionary or
non-discretionary accounts;
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n
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Any state, county or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof, which is prohibited by applicable
investment laws from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares of a Fund;
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n
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Pension and profit sharing plans, pension funds and other company-sponsored benefit plans that:
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Buy shares of Goldman Sachs Funds worth $500,000 or more; or
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Have 100 or more eligible employees at the time of purchase; or
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n
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Certify that they expect to have annual plan purchases of shares of Goldman Sachs Funds of $200,000 or more; or
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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
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Have at the time of purchase aggregate assets of at least $2,000,000.
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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;
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Registered investment advisers investing for accounts for which they receive asset-based fees;
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Accounts over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion; or
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Shareholders receiving distributions from a qualified retirement plan invested in the Goldman Sachs Funds and reinvesting such
proceeds in a Goldman Sachs IRA.
|
You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your Account Application and notify the Fund if you no longer
are eligible for the exemption. The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your entitlement. You may be charged a fee if you effect your transactions through a broker or agent.
|
How Can The Sales Charge On Class A Shares Be Reduced?
|
n
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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 (shares at current offering price), plus new purchases, reaches $500,000 or more. Class A Shares of any of the Goldman Sachs
Funds may be combined under the Right of Accumulation. To qualify for a reduced sales load, you or your Authorized Dealer must notify the Funds Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. Use of this service is
subject to a check of appropriate records. The Additional Statement has more information about the Right of Accumulation.
|
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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 in the aggregate $500,000 or more (not counting reinvestments of dividends and distributions) within a period of 13 months. Any investments you make during the period will receive the discounted sales load
based on the full amount of your investment commitment. 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. By sign
ing the Statement of Intention, you authorize the Transfer Agent to escrow and redeem Class A Shares in your account to pay this additional charge. The Additional Statement has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read
carefully.
|
COMMON QUESTIONS APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF CLASS A SHARES
|
When Will Shares Be Issued And Dividends Begin To Be Paid?
|
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Shares Purchased by Federal Funds Wire or ACH Transfer:
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If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined, shares
will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the purchased shares on the later of (i) the business day after the purchase order is received; or (ii) the day that the federal funds wire or ACH transfer is received by State Street.
|
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If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
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Shares Purchased by Check or Federal Reserve Draft:
|
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If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined, shares
will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the business day after payment is received.
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If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will being to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
How Can I Sell Class A Shares Of The Fund?
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares. 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. You may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or by wire (if the wire instructions are on record). Redemptions may be requested in writing or by telephone.
|
Instructions For Redemptions: | |||
---|---|---|---|
By Writing: | n Write a letter of instruction that includes: | ||
n Your name(s) and signature(s) | |||
n Your account number | |||
n The Fund name and Class of Shares | |||
n The dollar amount you want to sell | |||
n How and where to send the proceeds | |||
n Obtain a signature guarantee (see details below) | |||
n Mail your request to:
Goldman Sachs Funds c/o NFDS P.O. Box 219711 Kansas City, MO 64121-9711 |
|||
By Telephone: | If you have not declined the telephone redemption
privilege on your Account Application: |
||
n 1-800-526-7384
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time) |
|||
n You may redeem up to $50,000 of your shares
within any 7 calendar day period |
|||
n Proceeds which are sent directly to a Goldman
Sachs brokerage account are not subject to the $50,000 limit |
|||
When Do I Need A Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?
|
A signature guarantee is required if:
|
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You are requesting in writing to redeem shares in an amount over $50,000;
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You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or
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You would like to change the bank designated on your Account Application.
|
A 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 Fund. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. Additional documentation may be required for executors, trustees or corporations or when deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent.
|
What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that the Trust
accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may accept telephone redemption instructions from any person identifying himself or herself as the owner of an account or the owners
registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Thus, you risk possible losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by you.
|
In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs and NFDS each
employ reasonable procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general
policies are currently in effect:
|
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All telephone requests are recorded.
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Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent only to your address of record or authorized bank account designated in the
Account Application (unless you provide written instructions and a signature guarantee, indicating another address or account) and exchanges of shares normally will be made only to an identically registered account.
|
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Telephone redemptions by check to your address of record will not be accepted during the 30-day period following any change in
your address of record.
|
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The telephone redemption option does not apply to shares held in a street name account. Street name
accounts are accounts maintained and serviced by your Authorized Dealer. If your account is held in street name, you should contact your registered representative of record, who may make telephone redemptions on your behalf.
|
n
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The telephone redemption option may be modified or terminated at any time.
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
By Wire: You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal funds to the bank account designated in
your Account Application. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
|
n
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Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business day delay), but
may be paid up to three business days following receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request. If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
If the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be delayed one additional business day. |
n
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A transaction fee of $7.50 may be charged for payments of redemption proceeds by wire. Your bank may also charge wiring fees. You
should contact your bank directly to learn whether it charges such fees.
|
n
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To change the bank designated on your Account Application you must send written instructions (with your signature guaranteed) to
the Transfer Agent.
|
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Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any Authorized Dealer assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any
intermediaries in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such intermediaries.
|
By Check: You may elect to receive your redemption proceeds by check. Redemption proceeds paid by check will
normally be mailed to the address of record within three business days of a properly executed redemption request. If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
|
What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
The following generally applies to redemption requests:
|
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Shares of the Fund earn dividends declared on the day the shares are redeemed.
|
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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.
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
n
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Redeem your shares if your account balance is less than $50 as a result of earlier redemptions. 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.
|
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Redeem your shares in other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in the best interests of the Trust.
|
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Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds in-kind, you should
expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of those securities.
|
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Reinvest any dividends or other distributions which you have elected to receive in cash should your check for such dividends or
other distributions be returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. In addition, that distribution and all future distributions payable to you will be reinvested at NAV in additional Fund shares. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distribution or redemption checks.
|
Can I Reinvest Redemption Proceeds In The Same Or Another Goldman Sachs Fund?
|
You may redeem shares of the Fund and reinvest a portion or all of the redemption proceeds (plus any additional amounts needed to
round off purchases to the nearest full share) at NAV. To be eligible for this privilege, you must hold the
shares you want to redeem for at least 30 days and you must reinvest the share proceeds within 90 days after you redeem. You may reinvest as follows:
|
n
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Class A Shares of the same Fund or any other Goldman Sachs Fund
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You should obtain and read the applicable prospectuses before investing in any other Funds.
|
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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 retirement plan. In other cases, the reinvestment privilege may be exercised once per year upon receipt of a written redemption request.
|
n
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You may be subject to tax as a result of a redemption. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of a
redemption and reinvestment.
|
Can I Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
You may exchange shares of the Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge at the time of exchange for shares of
the same class or an equivalent class of any other Goldman Sachs Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice to you.
|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares: | |||
---|---|---|---|
By Writing: | n Write a letter of instruction that includes: | ||
n Your name(s) and signature(s) | |||
n Your account number | |||
n The Fund names and Class of Shares | |||
n The dollar amount you want to exchange | |||
n Obtain a signature guarantee (see details above) | |||
n Mail the request to: | |||
Goldman Sachs Funds | |||
c/o NFDS | |||
P.O. Box 219711 | |||
Kansas City, MO 64121-9711 | |||
or for overnight delivery | |||
Goldman Sachs Funds | |||
c/o NFDS | |||
330 West 9th St. | |||
Poindexter Bldg., 1st Floor | |||
Kansas City, MO 64105 | |||
By Telephone: | If you have not declined the telephone exchange
privilege on your Account Application: |
||
n 1-800-526-7384 (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | |||
New York time) | |||
You should keep in mind the following factors when making or considering an exchange:
|
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You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange.
|
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Six free exchanges are allowed in each 12 month period.
|
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A $12.50 fee may be charged for each subsequent exchange.
|
n
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There is no charge for exchanges made pursuant to the Automatic Exchange Program.
|
n
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The exchanged shares may later be exchanged for shares of the same class (or an equivalent class) of the original Fund at the next
determined NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge 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
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Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information,
call Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-526-7384.
|
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All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirements of that Fund.
|
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Exchanges are available only in states where exchanges may be legally made.
|
n
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It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
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Goldman Sachs and NFDS 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
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Telephone exchanges normally will be made only to an identically registered account. Shares may be exchanged among accounts with
different names, addresses and social security or other taxpayer identification numbers only if the exchange instructions are in writing and accompanied by a signature guarantee.
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated as a redemption of the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you
may be subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
|
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
|
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?
|
You may be able to make systematic cash investments through your bank via ACH transfer or your checking account via bank draft
each month. Forms for this
option are available from Goldman Sachs, your Authorized Dealer or you may check the appropriate box on the Account Application.
|
Can My Dividends And Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Funds?
|
You may elect to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the Fund in shares of the same class or an
equivalent class of any other Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
n
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Shares will be purchased at NAV.
|
n
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No initial sales charge or CDSC will be imposed.
|
n
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You may elect cross-reinvestment into an identically registered account or an account registered in a different name or with a
different address, social security number or taxpayer identification number provided that the account has been properly established, appropriate signatures obtained and the minimum initial investment has been satisfied.
|
Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?
|
You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of shares of a Fund for shares of the same class or an
equivalent class of any other Goldman Sachs Fund.
|
n
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Shares will be purchased at NAV.
|
n
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No initial sales charge is imposed.
|
n
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Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Fund into which
the exchange is made depending upon the date and value of your original purchase.
|
n
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Automatic exchanges are made monthly on the 15th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.
|
n
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Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.
|
What Else Should I Know About Cross-Reinvestments And Automatic Exchanges?
|
Cross-reinvestments and automatic exchanges are subject to the following conditions:
|
n
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You must hold $5,000 or more in the Fund which is paying the dividend or from which the exchange is being made.
|
n
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You must invest an amount in the Fund into which cross-reinvestments or automatic exchanges are being made that is equal to that
Funds minimum initial investment or continue to cross-reinvest or to make automatic exchanges until such minimum initial investment is met.
|
n
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You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Fund into which dividends are invested or automatic exchanges are made.
|
Can I Have Automatic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?
|
You may draw on your account systematically via check or ACH transfer in any amount of $50 or more.
|
n
|
It is normally undesirable to maintain a systematic withdrawal plan at the same time that you are purchasing additional Class A
Shares because of the sales charge imposed on your purchases of Class A Shares.
|
n
|
You must have a minimum balance of $5,000 in the Fund.
|
n
|
Checks are mailed on or about the 25th day of each month.
|
n
|
Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore a taxable transaction.
|
What Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?
|
You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and an individual quarterly account
statement. A year-to-date statement for your account will be provided upon request made to Goldman Sachs. If your account is held in street name you may receive your statement and confirmations on a different schedule.
|
You will also receive an annual shareholder report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual shareholder report.
If you have consented to the delivery of a single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other information to all shareholders who share the same mailing address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any time by contacting Goldman Sachs
Funds by phone at 1-800-526-7384 or by mail at Goldman Sachs Funds, 4900 Sears Tower 60th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-6372. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation.
|
The Fund does not generally provide sub-accounting services.
|
What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Authorized Dealer?
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem
Fund shares. They may charge additional fees not described in this Prospectus to their customers for such services.
|
If shares of the Fund are held in a street name account with an Authorized Dealer, all recordkeeping, transaction
processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by the Authorized Dealer, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact the Authorized Dealer to
purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a street name account to an account with another dealer or to an account
directly with
the Fund involves special procedures and will require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the Authorized Dealer.
|
Authorized Dealers and other financial intermediaries may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, purchase, redemption
and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Trust, to designate other intermediaries to accept such orders. In these cases:
|
n
|
The Fund will be deemed to have received an order that is in proper form when the order is accepted by an Authorized Dealer or
intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Funds NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after such acceptance.
|
n
|
Authorized Dealers and intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders to the Fund within the time period agreed
upon by them.
|
You should contact your Authorized Dealer or intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may pay additional compensation from time to time, out of their assets
and not as an additional charge to the Fund, to selected Authorized Dealers and other persons in connection with the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. Additional compensation based on sales may, but
is currently not expected to, exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount invested.
|
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES
|
What Are the Distribution and Service Fees Paid by Class A Shares?
|
The Trust has adopted a distribution and service plan (the Plan) under which Class A Shares bear distribution and
service fees paid to Authorized Dealers and Goldman Sachs. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceeds its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement. Goldman Sachs pays the distribution and service fees on a
quarterly basis.
|
Under the Plan, Goldman Sachs is entitled to a monthly fee from the Fund for distribution services equal, on an annual basis, to
0.25% of the Funds average daily net assets attributed to Class A Shares. Because the fee is paid out of the Funds assets on an ongoing basis, over time, this fee 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 Act, and may be used (among other things) for:
|
n
|
Compensation paid to and expenses incurred by Authorized Dealers, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales
representatives;
|
n
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Commissions paid to Authorized Dealers;
|
n
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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 Shares.
|
TAXABILITY OF DISTRIBUTIONS
|
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information below is provided
as general information. More tax information is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund.
|
Unless your investment is an IRA or other tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax consequences of Fund
distributions and the sale of your Fund shares.
|
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS
|
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 Funds income dividend distributions and short-term capital gain distributions are taxable to you as ordinary
income. Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
Although distributions are generally treated as taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared in October,
November or December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. The Fund will inform shareholders of the character and tax status of all distributions promptly 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.
|
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 a dividend.
|
TAXABILITY OF 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 gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends that were received on the shares.
|
OTHER INFORMATION
|
When you open your account, you should provide your social security or tax identification number on your Account Application. By
law, the Fund must withhold 31% 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.
|
A. General Portfolio Risks
|
The Fund will be subject to the risks associated with fixed-income securities. These risks include interest rate risk, credit risk
and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to increase (although some asset-backed securities will have less potential than other debt
securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves the risk that the issuer could default on its obligations,
and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in asset-backed securities. For example, car owners have the option to prepay their car loans. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by auto loans can
either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new auto loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding auto loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
auto loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding auto 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 Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for the
Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. The portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of
one year or less.
|
The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by
the Fund, including its associated risks. Additional information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among other things, the Additional Statement describes certain fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be
changed without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the investment objective and all investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamen
tal and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a change in the Funds investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial positions and needs.
|
B. Other Portfolio Risks
|
Credit Risks. Debt securities purchased by the Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued by
the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in the next section below. Further
information is provided in the Additional Statement.
|
Debt securities rated A or higher by Standard & Poors or Moodys are considered high grade. 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, is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.
|
Risks of Derivative Investments. The Funds transactions in options, futures, options on futures, swaps,
interest rate caps, floors and collars and structured securities involve additional risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged, the
potential illiquidity of the markets for derivative instruments, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with such transactions. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The Fund may also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), which is considered a
speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
|
Some floating-rate derivative debt securities can present more complex types of derivative and interest rate risks. For example,
range floaters are subject to the risk that the coupon will be reduced below market rates if a designated interest rate floats outside of a specified interest rate band or collar. Dual index or yield curve floaters are subject to lower prices in the event
of an unfavorable change in the spread between two designated interest rates.
|
Risks of Foreign Investments. The Fund may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks
that are not typically associated with domes
tic investments. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments.
|
Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are
more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making
it difficult to conduct such transactions.
|
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 a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than 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), limitations on the removal of funds
or other assets of the Fund, and political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could affect investments in those countries.
|
Concentration of the Funds assets in one or a few countries will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Funds
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 a Funds NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
|
A sovereign debtors willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among
other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign
debtors policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
|
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
|
Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
|
n
|
Certain over-the-counter options
|
n
|
Certain structured securities and all 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 eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (144A Securities) and, therefore, is liquid.
|
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional
buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable
securities for which a liquid market exists.
|
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
|
Repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government Securities
|
When a Funds 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 its associated risks. Further information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request.
|
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 (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury (such as the
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)); (b) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association); (c) the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)); or (d) only
the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently
.
|
Custodial Receipts. The Fund may invest in custodial receipts. Interests in U.S. Government Securities may be
purchased in the form of custodial receipts that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, in
strumentalities, political subdivisions or authorities. For certain securities law purposes, custodial receipts are not considered obligations of the U.S. government.
|
Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their
stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate.
Accordingly, the Funds ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields
is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. There is the possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these 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.
|
Corporate Debt Obligations; Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations and
convertible securities. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal, and include securities issued by banks, financial institutions and other
entities. The Fund may also invest in other short-term obligations payable in U.S. Dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities.
|
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 securi
ties 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.
|
Structured Securities. The Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose
value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the
principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an
increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than other types of fixed-income securities, and may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
|
Zero Coupon Bonds. The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. Such bonds are issued at a discount from their face
value because interest payments are typically postponed until maturity. The market prices of these securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in
interest rates than interest-bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.
|
Options on Securities and Securities Indices. 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 it may invest or on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest.
|
The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment risks. Options may be used
for either hedging or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity). The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation
between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the correlation between the instruments or indices on which options are written and purchased and the
instruments in the Funds investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Fund may be traded on either U.S.
or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will present greater possibility of loss because of their greater illiquidity and credit risks.
|
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts
that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position
in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. A futures contract may be based on various securities (such as U.S. Government Securities), securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Fund may
engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.
|
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, in order to
seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into
closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as defined in regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or to
seek to increase total return to the extent permitted by such regulations. The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts or purchase or sell related options to seek to increase total return, except for closing purchase or sale transactions, if
immediately thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits and premiums paid on the Funds outstanding positions in futures and related options entered
into for the purpose of seeking to increase total return would exceed 5% of the market value of the Funds net assets.
|
Futures contracts and related options present the following risks:
|
n
|
While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
|
n
|
Because perfect correlation between a futures position and 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 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 Funds 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 on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a
single day.
|
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate obligations. The value of
these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels. The issuers or financial intermediaries providing demand features may support their ability to purchase the obligations by
obtaining credit with liquidity supports. These may include lines of credit, which are conditional commitments to lend, and letters of credit, which will ordinarily be irrevocable both of which may be issued by domestic banks or foreign banks which have a
branch agency or subsidiary in the United States. The Fund may purchase variable or floating rate obligations from the issuers or may purchase certificates of participation, a type of floating or variable rate obligation, which are interests in a pool of
debt obligations held by a bank or other financial institution.
|
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase when-issued securities and enter into forward
commitments. 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 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.
|
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending
of securities owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government Securities or letters of credit in an amount at least
equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested in cash equivalents. To the extent that cash collateral is invested in other investment securities, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation,
and the Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 1
/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral).
|
The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its
securities, or capital loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
|
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the sellers
agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with dealers in U.S. Government Securities and member banks of the Federal Reserve System which furnish collateral at least equal in value
or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligation. The Fund may also enter into repurchase agreements involving certain foreign government securities.
|
If the other party or seller defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of
the underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund
could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
|
In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement, the Investment Adviser will carefully consider the creditworthiness
of the seller. 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.
|
Borrowings. The Fund can borrow money from banks with banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets.
The Fund may not make additional investments if borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets. Borrowings involve leverage. If the securities held by the Fund decline in value while these transactions are outstanding, the NAV of the Funds outstanding
shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value of the securities.
|
Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the 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. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for
assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. 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 or make a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence
of specified credit events. 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.
|
The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The use of interest rate and
credit swaps, as well as 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 the Investment Adviser is
incorrect in its forecasts of market values or interest rates the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.
|
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies subject to statutory
limitations prescribed by the Act. These limitations include a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
|
Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an
ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment
obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.
|
Index
16
Dividends
|
||
3 Enhanced Income Fund | ||
17 How to Buy Shares | ||
32
Taxation
|
||
FOR MORE INFORMATION
|
Annual/Semi-annual Report
|
Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders. In the Funds annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the last fiscal year. The annual report for the Enhanced Income
Fund for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2000 will become available to shareholders in December 2000.
|
Statement of Additional Information
|
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Funds Additional Statement. The Additional
Statement is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports, and the Additional Statement, are available free upon request by calling Goldman
Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
|
By telephone Call 1-800-621-2550
|
By mail Goldman, Sachs & Co., 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois
60606-6372 |
By e-mail [email protected]
|
On the Internet Text-only versions of the Funds documents are located online and may be downloaded from:
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents by visiting the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may
also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to: [email protected]. Information on the operation of the public reference
room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration number is 811-5349.
|
Prospectus
|
Institutional
August 2, 2000 |
GOLDMAN SACHS FIXED INCOME FUND
|
||
![]() |
n Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund |
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
|
AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN A FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.
|
NOT FDIC-INSURED | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee |
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), a unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
(Goldman Sachs), serves as investment adviser to the Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund (the Fund). GSAM is referred to in this Prospectus as the Investment Adviser.
|
The Enhanced Income Fund Is Not A Money Market Fund. Investors In This Fund Should Understand That The Net Asset Value (
NAV) Of The Fund Will Fluctuate Which May Result In A Loss Of A Portion Of The Principal Amount Invested.
|
Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Investing Philosophy:
|
Active Management Within a Risk-Managed Framework
|
The Investment Adviser employs a disciplined, multi-step process to evaluate potential investments:
|
1. Sector AllocationThe Investment Adviser assesses the relative value of different investment sectors (such
as U.S. government, U.S. and foreign corporate and asset-backed securities) to create investment strategies that meet the Funds objective.
|
2. Security SelectionIn selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser draws on the extensive
resources of Goldman Sachs, including fixed-income research professionals.
|
3. Yield Curve StrategiesThe Investment Adviser adjusts the term structure of the Fund based on its
expectations of changes in the shape of the yield curve while closely controlling the overall duration of the Fund.
|
The Investment Adviser de-emphasizes interest rate predictions as a means of generating incremental return. Instead, the
Investment Adviser seeks to add value through the selection of particular securities and investment sector allocation.
|
With every fixed-income portfolio, the Investment Adviser applies a team approach that emphasizes risk management and capitalizes
on Goldman Sachs extensive research capabilities.
|
The Fund described in this Prospectus has a target duration. The Funds duration approximates its price sensitivity to
changes in interest rates. Maturity measures the time until final payment is due; it takes no account of the pattern of a securitys cash flows over time. In computing portfolio duration, the Fund will estimate the duration of obligations that are
subject to prepayment or redemption by the issuer, taking into account the influence of interest rates on prepayments and coupon flows. This method of computing duration is known as option-adjusted duration.
|
The Fund also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys. The Fund will deem a security to have met its minimum
credit rating requirement if the security has the required rating at the time of purchase from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more
other NRSROs. Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality. If a security satisfies the Funds minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded
below such rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of such security. This is so even if the downgrade causes the average credit quality of the Fund to be lower than that stated in the Prospectus. Furthermore, during this period, the Investment
Adviser will only buy securities at or above the Funds average rating requirement. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of such security, is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
|
FUND FACTS
|
Duration (under normal
interest rate conditions): |
Target = 9 month U.S. Treasury Bill +/- 3 months | |
Expected Approximate
Interest Rate Sensitivity: |
9-month U.S. Treasury bill | |
Credit Quality: | Security Minimum = A
Portfolio Weighted Average = AA |
|
Benchmarks: | Six-Month and One-Year U.S. Treasury Security |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
|
The Fund seeks to generate return in excess of traditional money market products while maintaining an emphasis on preservation of
capital and liquidity.
|
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
|
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, primarily in a portfolio of fixed income securities, including non-mortgage U.S.
Government Securities, corporate notes and commercial paper and fixed and floating rate asset-backed securities. The Fund will not invest in securities with remaining maturities of more than 5 years (excluding Treasury Securities deliverable into futures
transactions). The Fund will invest across a broad range of high-grade fixed income sectors with an emphasis on the preservation of capital and liquidity. In pursuing the Funds investment objective, the Investment Adviser will seek to enhance the
Funds return by identifying those high grade fixed income securities that are within the maturity limitations discussed above and that the Investment Adviser believes offer advantageous yields relative to other similar securities. The Investment
Adviser will then use futures contracts and options on futures contracts to manage the Funds target duration in accordance with its benchmark.
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Investment Practices | |||
Borrowings | 33 1
/3
|
||
Credit and Interest Rate Swaps* | | ||
Financial Futures Contracts | | ||
Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars | | ||
Options (including Options on Futures) | | ||
Repurchase Agreements** | | ||
Securities Lending | 33 1
/3
|
||
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments | | ||
*
|
Limited to 15% of net assets (together with other illiquid securities) for all structured securities which are not
deemed to be liquid and all swap transactions.
|
**
|
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by foreign governments.
|
|
No specific percentage limitation on usage;
limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund |
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Investment Securities | |||
Asset-Backed Securities | | ||
Convertible Securities | | ||
Corporate Debt Obligations | | ||
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | | ||
Preferred Stock | | ||
Foreign Securities*** | | ||
Structured Securities* | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
***
|
Non-Dollar securities not permitted.
|
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
NAV | | ||
Interest Rate | | ||
Credit/Default | | ||
Call | | ||
Extension | | ||
Derivatives | | ||
U.S. Government Securities | | ||
Market | | ||
Management | | ||
Liquidity | | ||
Foreign | | ||
n
|
NAV RiskThe risk that the NAV of the Fund and the value of your investment will fluctuate.
|
n
|
Interest Rate RiskThe risk that when interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by the Fund will
decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term securities.
|
n
|
Credit/Default RiskThe risk that an issuer or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by the Fund may
default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
|
n
|
Call RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund
earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to recoup all of its initial investment and will also suffer from having to reinvest in lower yielding securities.
|
n
|
Extension RiskThe risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the
Fund later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to invest in higher yielding securities.
|
n
|
Derivatives RiskThe risk that loss may result from the Funds investments in options, futures, swaps,
structured securities and other derivative investments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund.
|
n
|
U.S. Government Securities RiskThe risk that the U.S. government will not provide financial support to U.S.
government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
|
n
|
Market RiskThe risk that the value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response
to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods.
|
n
|
Management RiskThe risk that a strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
|
n
|
Liquidity RiskThe risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time period stated
in this Prospectus because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. The Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios (the Asset Allocation Portfolios) may invest a percentage of their assets
in the Fund and other funds for which Goldman Sachs now or in the future acts as investment adviser or
underwriter. Redemptions by an Asset Allocation Portfolio of its position in the Fund may further increase liquidity risk and may impact the Funds NAV.
|
n
|
Foreign RiskThe Fund will be subject to risks of loss with respect to its foreign investments that are 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.
|
HOW THE FUND HAS PERFORMED
|
The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, no performance information is provided in this
section.
|
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Shareholder Fees | |||
(fees paid directly from your investment): | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) | None | ||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | ||
Redemption Fees | None | ||
Exchange Fees | None | ||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 1 | |||
Management Fees 2 | 0.25% | ||
Distribution and Service Fees | None | ||
Other Expenses 3 | 0.20% | ||
Total Fund Operating Expenses* | 0.45% | ||
*
|
As a result of the current waivers and expense limitations, Other Expenses and Total Fund Operating
Expenses of the Fund which are actually incurred are as set forth below. The waivers and expense limitations may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this occurs, Other Expenses and Total Fund
Operating Expenses may increase without shareholder approval.
|
Enhanced
Income Fund |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets): 1 | |||
Management Fees 2 | 0.20% | ||
Distribution and Service Fees | None | ||
Other Expenses 3 | 0.05% | ||
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current waivers and expense limitations) | 0.25% | ||
1
|
The operating expenses for the Fund are estimated for the current year.
|
2
|
The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed not to impose a portion of the management fee on the Fund equal to 0.05%,
of such Funds average daily net assets. As a result of fee waivers, the current management fee of the Fund is 0.20%, of such Funds average daily net assets. The waivers may be terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser.
|
3
|
Estimated Other Expenses include transfer agency fees equal to 0.04% of the average daily net assets of the
Funds Institutional Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limit Other Expenses of the Fund (excluding management fees, transfer agency fees, taxes,
interest and brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) to the following percentage of the Funds average daily net assets:
|
Fund | Other
Expenses |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||
Enhanced Income | 0.01% |
Fund | 1 Year | 3 Years | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enhanced Income | $46 | $144 | |||
INVESTMENT ADVISER
|
Investment Adviser | Fund | ||
---|---|---|---|
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) | Enhanced Income | ||
32 Old Slip | |||
New York, New York 10005 | |||
As of September 1, 1999, the Investment Management Division (IMD) was established as a new operating division of
Goldman Sachs. This newly created entity includes GSAM. Goldman Sachs registered as an investment adviser in 1981. The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., which controlled the Investment Adviser, merged into the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as a result of an initial
public offering. As of March 31, 2000, GSAM, along with other units of IMD, had assets under management of $243.6 billion.
|
The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Funds portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes
the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Funds portfolio transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers, including Goldman Sachs and its
affiliates. While the Investment Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and management with respect to certain
portfolio securities. In addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs, and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among
categories of issuers and types of securities.
|
The Investment Adviser also performs the following additional services for the Fund:
|
n
|
Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund
|
n
|
Provides personnel to perform necessary executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund
|
n
|
Arranges for the preparation of all required tax returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of additional
information and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and other regulatory authorities
|
n
|
Maintains the records of the Fund
|
n
|
Provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services
|
MANAGEMENT FEES
|
As compensation for its services and its assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is entitled to the following fee,
computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate listed below (as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets):
|
Contractual Rate
|
|||
---|---|---|---|
|
|||
Enhanced Income | 0.25% | ||
The Investment Adviser may voluntarily waive a portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may discontinue any voluntary
waiver at any time at its discretion.
|
FUND MANAGERS
|
Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team
|
n
|
The fixed-income portfolio management team is comprised of a deep team of sector specialists
|
n
|
The team strives to maximize risk-adjusted returns by de-emphasizing interest rate anticipation and focusing on security selection
and sector allocation
|
n
|
The team manages approximately $50.5 billion in fixed-income assets for retail, institutional and high net worth clients
|
Name and Title | Fund Responsibility | Years Primarily
Responsible |
Five Year Employment History | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jonathan A. Beinner
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Beinner joined the
Investment Adviser in 1990. He became a portfolio manager in 1992. |
||||
Peter A. Dion
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Dion joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992. From 1994 to 1995 he was an associate portfolio manager. He became a portfolio manager in 1995. |
||||
C. Richard Lucy
Managing Director and Co-Head U.S. Fixed Income |
Senior Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. Lucy joined the Investment
Adviser in 1992 as a portfolio manager. |
||||
James P. McCarthy
Vice President |
Portfolio Manager
Enhanced Income |
Since
2000 |
Mr. McCarthy joined the
Investment Adviser in 1995 as a portfolio manager after working four years at Nomura Securities, where he was an assistant vice president and an adjustable rate mortgage trader. |
||||
DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
|
Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor (the Distributor) of the
Funds shares. Goldman Sachs, 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6372, also serves as the Funds transfer agent (the Transfer Agent) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.
|
From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs reserves the
right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for its own account.
|
ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS
|
The involvement of the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other
accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund or limit the Funds investment activities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and funds which
have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will not have any obligation to make
available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund. The results of the Funds investment activities,
therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for
proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may, from time to time, enter into transactions in which other clients of Goldman Sachs have an adverse interest. The Funds activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable
to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions.
|
YEAR 2000
|
Goldman Sachs spent a total of approximately $185 million over the past several years to address the potential hardware, software
and other computer and technology issues and related concerns associated with the transition to Year 2000 and to confirm that its service providers did the same. As a result of those efforts, Goldman Sachs has not experienced any material disruptions in
its operations in connection with, or following, the transition to the Year 2000.
|
n
|
Cash
|
n
|
Additional shares of the same class of the same Fund
|
n
|
Shares of the same or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply for certain ILA
Portfolios. See the Additional Statement.
|
Investment Income
Dividends |
Capital Gains
Distributions |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund | Declared | Paid | Declared and Paid | ||||
Enhanced Income | Daily | Monthly | Annually |
The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding buying and selling the
Funds Institutional Shares.
|
How Can I Purchase Institutional Shares Of The Fund?
|
You may purchase Institutional Shares on any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of an order. No sales load is
charged. You should place an order with Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550 and either:
|
n
|
Wire federal funds to The Northern Trust Company (Northern), as subcustodian for State Street Bank and Trust Company
(State Street) (the Funds custodian) on the next business day; or
|
n
|
Send a check or Federal Reserve draft payable to Goldman Sachs Funds(Name of Fund and Class of Shares), 4900 Sears
Tower60th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-6372. The Fund will not accept a check drawn on a foreign bank or a third-party check.
|
In order to make an initial investment in the Fund, you must furnish to the Fund or Goldman Sachs the Account Application attached
to this Prospectus. Purchases of Institutional Shares must be settled within three business days of receipt of a complete purchase order.
|
In certain instances, the Trust may require a signature guarantee in order to effect purchase, redemption or exchange
transactions. Signature guarantees 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
signature guarantee.
|
How Do I Purchase Shares Through A Financial Institution?
|
Certain institutions (including banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) that provide recordkeeping, reporting and
processing services to their customers may be authorized to accept, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust (the Trust), purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their customers and may designate other intermediaries to
accept such orders, if approved by the Trust. In these cases:
|
n
|
The Fund will be deemed to have received an order in proper form when the order is accepted by the authorized institution or
intermediary on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Funds NAV next determined after such acceptance.
|
n
|
Authorized institutions or intermediaries will be responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to the Trust within
the time period agreed upon by them.
|
You should contact your institution or intermediary directly to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.
|
These institutions may receive payments from the Fund or Goldman Sachs for the services provided by them with respect to the
Funds Institutional Shares. These payments may be in addition to other payments borne by the Fund.
|
The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may pay additional compensation from time to time, out of their assets
and not as an additional charge to the Fund, to certain institutions and other persons in connection with the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. Additional compensation based on sales may, but is
currently not expected to, exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount invested.
|
In addition to Institutional Shares, the Fund also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share classes are
subject to different fees and expenses (which affect performance), have different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services than Institutional Shares. Information regarding the other share classes may be obtained from your
sales representative or from Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
|
What is My Minimum Investment in the Fund?
|
Type of Investor | Minimum Investment | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||
n Individual investors
n Qualified non-profit organizations, charitable trusts, foundations and endowments n Accounts over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion |
$10,000,000 | |||
|
||||
n Banks, trust companies
or other depository institutions investing for their own account or on behalf of their clients n Pension and profit sharing plans, pension funds and other company-sponsored benefit plans 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 |
$1,000,000 in
Institutional Shares of the Fund alone or in combination with other assets under the management of GSAM and its affiliates |
|||
|
The minimum investment requirement may be waived for current and former officers, partners, directors or employees of Goldman
Sachs or any of its affiliates or for other investors at the discretion of the Trusts officers. No minimum amount is required for subsequent investments.
|
What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
n
|
Modify or waive the minimum investment amounts.
|
n
|
Reject or restrict any purchase or exchange orders by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers). This may occur, for
example, when a pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of Institutional Shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent abrupt redemption might be, of a size that would disrupt management of the Fund.
|
n
|
Close the Fund to new investors from time to time and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by the Funds
Investment Adviser.
|
The Fund may allow you to purchase shares with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Funds investment policies
and operations and if approved by the Funds Investment Adviser.
|
How Are Shares Priced?
|
The price you pay or receive when you buy, sell or exchange Institutional Shares is determined by the Funds NAV. The Fund
calculates NAV as follows:
|
(Value of Assets of the Class) | ||||
(Liabilities of the Class) | ||||
NAV = | ||||
Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class |
The Funds investments are valued based on market quotations, which may be furnished by a pricing service or provided by
securities dealers. If accurate quotations are not readily available, the fair value of the Funds investments may be determined based on yield equivalents, a pricing matrix or other sources, under valuation procedures established by the Trustees.
Debt obligations with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.
|
n
|
NAV per share of each class is calculated by State Street 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). This occurs after the determination, if any, of income declared as a dividend. Fund shares will not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
|
n
|
When you buy shares, you pay the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.
|
n
|
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.
|
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in
case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York time.
|
Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, if the Fund holds foreign
securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.
|
In addition, the impact of events that occur after the publication of market quotations used by the Fund to price its securities
(for example, in foreign markets), but before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange will normally not be reflected in the Funds next determined NAV unless the Trust, in its discretion, makes an adjustment in light of the nature
and materiality of the event, its effect on Fund operations and other relevant factors.
|
When Will Shares Be Issued And Dividends Begin To Be Paid?
|
n
|
Shares Purchased by Federal Funds Wire:
|
n
|
If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined that day,
shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the purchased shares on the later of (i) the business day after the purchase order is received; or (ii) the day that the federal funds wire is received by State Street.
|
n
|
If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
n
|
Shares Purchased By Check or Federal Reserve Draft:
|
n
|
If a purchase order in proper form specifies a settlement date and is received before the Funds NAV is determined that day,
shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on the business day after payment is received.
|
n
|
If a purchase order in proper form does not specify a settlement date, shares will be issued and dividends will begin to accrue on
the business day after payment is received.
|
How Can I Sell Institutional Shares Of The Fund?
|
You may arrange to take money out of your account by selling (redeeming) some or all of your shares. Generally, the Fund will
redeem its Institutional Shares upon request on any business day at their NAV next determined after receipt of such request in proper form. You may request that redemption proceeds be
sent to you by check or by wire (if the wire instructions are on record). Redemptions may be requested in writing or by telephone.
|
Instructions For Redemptions: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
By Writing: | n Write a letter of instruction that includes: | ||||
n Your name(s) and signature(s) | |||||
n Your account number | |||||
n The Fund name and Class of Shares | |||||
n The dollar amount you want to sell | |||||
n How and where to send the proceeds | |||||
n Mail the request to: | |||||
Goldman Sachs Funds | |||||
4900 Sears Tower - 60th Floor | |||||
Chicago, IL 60606-6372 | |||||
By Telephone: | If you have elected the telephone redemption
privilege on your Account Application: |
||||
n 1-800-621-2550 | |||||
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time) | |||||
Certain institutions and intermediaries are authorized to accept redemption requests on behalf of the Fund as described under
How Do I Purchase Shares Through A Financial Institution?
|
What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
|
The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss you may incur in the event that the Trust
accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs employs reasonable procedures specified by
the Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. The following general policies are currently in effect:
|
n
|
All telephone requests are recorded.
|
n
|
Any redemption request that requires money to go to an account or address other than that designated on the Account Application
must be in writing and signed by an authorized person designated on the Account Application. The written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the designated bank account to verify instructions.
|
n
|
The telephone redemption option may be modified or terminated at any time.
|
Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?
|
By Wire: You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be wired as federal funds to the bank account designated in
your Account Application. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:
|
n
|
Redemption proceeds will normally be wired on the next business day in federal funds (for a total of one business day delay), but
may be paid up to three business days following receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request. If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days. If
the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be delayed one additional business day.
|
n
|
To change the bank designated on your Account Application, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person
designated on the Account Application to the Transfer Agent.
|
n
|
Neither the Trust, Goldman Sachs nor any other institution assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or any
intermediaries in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or any such intermediaries.
|
By Check: You may elect in writing to receive your redemption proceeds by check. Redemption proceeds paid by check
will normally be mailed to the address of record within three business days of a properly executed redemption request. If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.
|
What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?
|
The following generally applies to redemption requests:
|
n
|
Institutional Shares of the Fund earn dividends declared on the day the shares are redeemed.
|
n
|
Additional documentation may be required when deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request will not be in proper
form until such additional documentation has been received.
|
n
|
Institutions (including banks, trust companies, brokers and investment advisers) are responsible for the timely transmittal of
redemption requests by their customers to the Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of redemption requests, these institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. These institutions may also require
additional documentation from you.
|
The Trust reserves the right to:
|
n
|
Redeem your shares if your account balance falls below $50 as a result of a redemption. The Fund will not redeem your shares on
this basis if the value of your account falls below the minimum account balance solely as a result of market conditions. The Fund will give you 60 days prior written notice to allow you to purchase sufficient additional shares of the Fund in order
to avoid such redemption.
|
n
|
Redeem your shares in 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 dividends or other distributions which you have elected to receive in cash should your check for such dividends or
other distributions be returned to the Fund as undeliverable or remain uncashed for six months. In addition, that distribution and all future distributions payable to you will be reinvested at NAV in additional Fund shares. No interest will accrue on
amounts represented by uncashed distributions or redemption checks.
|
Can I Exchange My Investment From One Fund To Another?
|
You may exchange Institutional Shares of the Fund at NAV for Institutional Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund. The exchange
privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days written notice to you.
|
Instructions For Exchanging Shares: | |||
---|---|---|---|
By Writing: | n Write a letter of instruction that includes: | ||
n Your name(s) and signature(s) | |||
n Your account number | |||
n The Fund names and Class of Shares | |||
n The dollar amount to be exchanged | |||
n Mail the request to:
Goldman Sachs Funds 4900 Sears Tower60th Floor Chicago, IL 60606-6372 |
|||
By Telephone: | If you have elected the telephone exchange
privilege on your Account Application: |
||
n 1-800-621-2550
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time) |
|||
You should keep in mind the following factors when making or considering an exchange:
|
n
|
You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange.
|
n
|
All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirements of that
Fund, except that this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust.
|
n
|
Telephone exchanges normally will be made only to an identically registered account.
|
n
|
Shares may be exchanged among accounts with different names, addresses and social security or other taxpayer identification
numbers only if the exchange instructions are in writing and are signed by an authorized person designated on the Account Application.
|
n
|
Exchanges are available only in states where exchanges may be legally made.
|
n
|
It may be difficult to make telephone exchanges in times of drastic economic or market conditions.
|
n
|
Goldman Sachs may use reasonable procedures described under What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?
in an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.
|
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated as a redemption of the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you
may be subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.
|
What Types of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding Investments in Institutional Shares?
|
You will receive an annual report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual report. To eliminate unnecessary
duplication, only one copy of such reports will be sent to shareholders with the same mailing address. If you would like a duplicate copy to be mailed to you, please contact Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-621-2550. You will also be provided with a printed
confirmation for each transaction in your account and a monthly account statement. The Fund does not generally provide sub-accounting services.
|
TAXABILITY OF DISTRIBUTIONS
|
As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information below is provided
as general information. More tax information is available in the Additional Statement. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund.
|
Unless your investment is an IRA or other tax-advantaged account, you should consider the possible tax consequences of Fund
distributions and the sale of your Fund shares.
|
TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS
|
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 Funds income dividend distributions and short-term capital gain distributions are taxable to you as ordinary
income. Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares.
|
Although distributions are generally treated as taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared in October,
November or December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. The Fund will inform shareholders of the character and tax status of all distributions promptly 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.
|
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 a dividend.
|
TAXABILITY OF 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 gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be
treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends that were received on the shares.
|
OTHER INFORMATION
|
When you open your account, you should provide your social security or tax identification number on your Account Application. By
law, the Fund must withhold 31% 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.
|
A. General Portfolio Risks
|
The Fund will be subject to the risks associated with fixed-income securities. These risks include interest rate risk, credit risk
and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to increase (although some asset-backed securities will have less potential than other debt
securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves the risk that the issuer could default on its obligations,
and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in asset-backed securities. For example, car owners have the option to prepay their car loans. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by auto loans can
either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new auto loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding auto loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if
auto loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding auto 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 Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for the
Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. The portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the Funds portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of
one year or less.
|
The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by
the Fund, including its associated risks. Additional information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among other things, the Additional Statement describes certain fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be
changed without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that the investment objective and all investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamen
tal and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a change in the Funds investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial positions and needs.
|
B. Other Portfolio Risks
|
Credit Risks. Debt securities purchased by the Fund may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued by
the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in the next section below. Further
information is provided in the Additional Statement.
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Debt securities rated A or higher by Standard & Poors or Moodys are considered high grade. 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, is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.
|
Risks of Derivative Investments. The Funds transactions in options, futures, options on futures, swaps,
interest rate caps, floors and collars and structured securities involve additional risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged, the
potential illiquidity of the markets for derivative instruments, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with such transactions. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the
Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The Fund may also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), which is considered a
speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
|
Some floating-rate derivative debt securities can present more complex types of derivative and interest rate risks. For example,
range floaters are subject to the risk that the coupon will be reduced below market rates if a designated interest rate floats outside of a specified interest rate band or collar. Dual index or yield curve floaters are subject to lower prices in the event
of an unfavorable change in the spread between two designated interest rates.
|
Risks of Foreign Investments. The Fund may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks
that are not typically associated with domes
tic investments. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments.
|
Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are
more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making
it difficult to conduct such transactions.
|
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 a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than 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), limitations on the removal of funds
or other assets of the Fund, and political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could affect investments in those countries.
|
Concentration of the Funds assets in one or a few countries will subject the Fund to greater risks than if the Funds
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 a Funds NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
|
A sovereign debtors willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among
other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign
debtors policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
|
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
|
Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
|
n
|
Certain over-the-counter options
|
n
|
Certain structured securities and all 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 eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (144A Securities) and, therefore, is liquid.
|
Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Funds portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional
buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable
securities for which a liquid market exists.
|
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
|
Repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government Securities
|
When a Funds 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 its associated risks. Further information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request.
|
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 (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury (such as the
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)); (b) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association); (c) the
discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)); or (d) only
the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently
.
|
Custodial Receipts. The Fund may invest in custodial receipts. Interests in U.S. Government Securities may be
purchased in the form of custodial receipts that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, in
strumentalities, political subdivisions or authorities. For certain securities law purposes, custodial receipts are not considered obligations of the U.S. government.
|
Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities
whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their
stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate.
Accordingly, the Funds ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields
is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. There is the possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these 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.
|
Corporate Debt Obligations; Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations and
convertible securities. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal, and include securities issued by banks, financial institutions and other
entities. The Fund may also invest in other short-term obligations payable in U.S. Dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities.
|
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 securi
ties 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.
|
Structured Securities. The Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose
value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the Reference) or the relative change in two or more References. The interest rate or the
principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an
increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured
securities may present a greater degree of market risk than other types of fixed-income securities, and may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
|
Zero Coupon Bonds. The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. Such bonds are issued at a discount from their face
value because interest payments are typically postponed until maturity. The market prices of these securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest-bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in
interest rates than interest-bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.
|
Options on Securities and Securities Indices. 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 it may invest or on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest.
|
The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment risks. Options may be used
for either hedging or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity). The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation
between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the correlation between the instruments or indices on which options are written and purchased and the
instruments in the Funds investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Funds transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Fund may be traded on either U.S.
or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter. Foreign and over-the-counter options will present greater possibility of loss because of their greater illiquidity and credit risks.
|
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts
that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position
in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. A futures contract may be based on various securities (such as U.S. Government Securities), securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Fund may
engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.
|
The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, in order to
seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into
closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as defined in regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or to
seek to increase total return to the extent permitted by such regulations. The Fund may not purchase or sell futures contracts or purchase or sell related options to seek to increase total return, except for closing purchase or sale transactions, if
immediately thereafter the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits and premiums paid on the Funds outstanding positions in futures and related options entered
into for the purpose of seeking to increase total return would exceed 5% of the market value of the Funds net assets.
|
Futures contracts and related options present the following risks:
|
n
|
While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities
prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.
|
n
|
Because perfect correlation between a futures position and 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 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 Funds 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 on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a
single day.
|
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate obligations. The value of
these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels. The issuers or financial intermediaries providing demand features may support their ability to purchase the obligations by
obtaining credit with liquidity supports. These may include lines of credit, which are conditional commitments to lend, and letters of credit, which will ordinarily be irrevocable both of which may be issued by domestic banks or foreign banks which have a
branch agency or subsidiary in the United States. The Fund may purchase variable or floating rate obligations from the issuers or may purchase certificates of participation, a type of floating or variable rate obligation, which are interests in a pool of
debt obligations held by a bank or other financial institution.
|
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase when-issued securities and enter into forward
commitments. 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 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.
|
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending
of securities owned by the Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government Securities or letters of credit in an amount at least
equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested in cash equivalents. To the extent that cash collateral is invested in other investment securities, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation,
and the Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 1
/3% of the value of the total assets of the
Fund (including the loan collateral).
|
The Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. The Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its
securities, or capital loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.
|
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the sellers
agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with dealers in U.S. Government Securities and member banks of the Federal Reserve System which furnish collateral at least equal in value
or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligation. The Fund may also enter into repurchase agreements involving certain foreign government securities.
|
If the other party or seller defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of
the underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Funds costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund
could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Funds interest in the collateral is not enforceable.
|
In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement, the Investment Adviser will carefully consider the creditworthiness
of the seller. 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.
|
Borrowings. The Fund can borrow money from banks with banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets.
The Fund may not make additional investments if borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets. Borrowings involve leverage. If the securities held by the Fund decline in value while these transactions are outstanding, the NAV of the Funds outstanding
shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value of the securities.
|
Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the 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. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for
assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. 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 or make a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence
of specified credit events. 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.
|
The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The use of interest rate and
credit swaps, as well as 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 the Investment Adviser is
incorrect in its forecasts of market values or interest rates the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.
|
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies subject to statutory
limitations prescribed by the Act. These limitations include a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting
shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Funds total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. The Fund will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
|
Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest in preferred stocks. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an
ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuers earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment
obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.
|
13 | Service Providers | |
16 | Dividends | |
17 | Shareholder Guide | |
17 How to Buy Shares | ||
21 How to Sell Shares | ||
26 | Taxation | |
28 |
Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques |
|
FOR MORE INFORMATION
|
Annual/Semi-annual Report
|
Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds annual and semi-annual reports to
shareholders. In the Funds annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the last fiscal year. The annual report for the Enhanced Income
Fund for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2000 will become available to shareholders in December 2000.
|
Statement of Additional Information
|
Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Funds Additional Statement. The Additional
Statement is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
|
The Funds annual and semi-annual reports, and the Additional Statement, are available free upon request by calling Goldman
Sachs at 1-800-621-2550.
|
To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
|
By telephone Call 1-800-621-2550
|
By mail Goldman, Sachs & Co., 4900 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6372
|
By e-mail [email protected]
|
On the Internet Text-only versions of the Funds documents are located online and may be downloaded from:
|
SEC EDGAR database http://www.sec.gov
|
You may review and obtain copies of Fund documents by visiting the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may
also obtain copies of Fund documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SECs Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to: [email protected]. Information on the operation of the public reference
room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090.
|
The Funds investment company registration number is 811-5349.
|
PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Class A Shares Institutional Shares Administration Shares GOLDMAN SACHS ENHANCED INCOME FUND (A portfolio of Goldman Sachs Trust) Goldman Sachs Trust 4900 Sears Tower Chicago, Illinois 60606 This Statement of Additional Information (the "Additional Statement") is not a prospectus. This Additional Statement should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses for the Class A Shares, Institutional Shares and Administration Shares of Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund dated August 2, 2000, as may be further amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the "Prospectuses"). The Prospectuses may be obtained without charge from Goldman, Sachs & Co. by calling the telephone number, or writing to one of the addresses, listed below or from institutions ("Service Organizations") for the benefit of their customers. The date of this Additional Statement is August 2, 2000. B-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................................B-4 INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES............................................B-5 DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES...........................B-6 INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS.....................................................B-19 MANAGEMENT..................................................................B-22 PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS......................................................B-37 SHARES OF THE TRUST.........................................................B-38 NET ASSET VALUE.............................................................B-41 TAXATION....................................................................B-43 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.....................................................B-49 OTHER INFORMATION...........................................................B-52 OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS..................................................B-54 DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN...............................................B-56 ADMINISTRATION PLAN.........................................................B-57 APPENDIX A...................................................................1-A APPENDIX B...................................................................1-B APPENDIX C (STATEMENT OF INTENTION AND ESCROW AGREEMENT)....................1-C B-2
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT Investment Adviser 32 Old Slip New York, New York 10005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. Distributor 85 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. Transfer Agent 4900 Sears Tower Chicago, Illinois 60606 Toll free (in U.S.) .......800-621-2550 B-3
INTRODUCTION Goldman Sachs Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end, management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware business trust, and is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust that was combined with the Trust on April 30, 1997. This Additional Statement describes the Trust's Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund ("Fund"). 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 of shares into one or more classes without further action by shareholders. Pursuant thereto, the Trustees have created the Fund and other series. The Fund is authorized to issue three classes of shares: Class A Shares, Institutional Shares and Administration Shares. Additional series may be added in the future from time to time. The Fund is a diversified, open-end management investment company. Goldman Sachs Asset Management ("GSAM" or the "Investment Adviser"), a unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs"), serves as the Investment Adviser to the Fund. In addition, Goldman Sachs serves as the Fund's distributor and transfer agent. The Fund's custodian is State Street Bank and Trust Company. Because the Fund's shares may be redeemed upon request of a shareholder on any business day at net asset value, the Fund offers greater liquidity than many competing investments, such as certificates of deposit and direct investments in certain securities in which the Fund may invest. However, unlike certificates of deposits, shares of the Fund are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The following information relates to and supplements the description of the Fund's investment policies contained in the Prospectuses. See the Prospectuses for a fuller description of the Fund's investment objective and policies. Investing in the Fund entails certain risks and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the prospectuses. Experienced Management. Successfully creating and managing a portfolio ---------------------- of securities requires professionals with extensive experience. Goldman Sachs' highly skilled portfolio management team brings together many years of experience in the analysis, valuation and trading of U.S. and foreign fixed-income securities. B-4
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES The Fund is designed for investors who seek returns in excess of traditional money market products while maintaining an emphasis on preservation of capital and liquidity. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, primarily in a portfolio of fixed income securities, including non-mortgage-backed U.S. Government Securities, corporate notes and commercial paper and fixed and floating rate asset-backed securities rated, at the time of investment, at least A by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality. A number of investment strategies will be used to achieve the Fund's investment objective, including market sector selection, determination of yield curve exposure, and issuer selection. In addition, the Investment Adviser will attempt to take advantage of pricing inefficiencies in the fixed-income markets. Market sector selection is the underweighting or overweighting of one or more of the four market sectors (i.e., U.S. Treasuries, U.S. government agencies, corporate securities and asset-backed securities) in which the Fund primarily invests. The decision to overweight or underweight a given market sector is based on expectations of future yield spreads between different sectors. Yield curve exposure strategy consists of overweighting or underweighting different maturity sectors to take advantage of the shape of the yield curve. Issuer selection is the purchase and sale of corporate securities based on a corporation's current and expected credit standing. To take advantage of price discrepancies between securities resulting from supply and demand imbalances or other technical factors, the Fund may simultaneously purchase and sell comparable, but not identical, securities. The Investment Adviser will usually have access to the research of, and proprietary technical models developed by, Goldman Sachs and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among the categories of issuers and types of securities. The Fund's overall returns are generally likely to move in the opposite direction as interest rates. Therefore, when interest rates decline, the Fund's return is likely to increase. Conversely, when interest rates increase, the Fund's return is likely to decline. In exchange for accepting a higher degree of share price fluctuation, investors have the potential to achieve a higher return from the Fund than from shorter-term investments. Preservation of Capital. The Fund seeks to reduce principal fluctuation ----------------------- by maintaining a target duration equal to that of a nine-month U.S. Treasury Bill (plus or minus three months) and an approximate interest rate sensitivity of a nine-month U.S. Treasury Bill, as well as utilizing certain interest rate hedging techniques. There is no assurance that these strategies will be successful. Liquidity. Because the Fund's shares may be redeemed upon request of a --------- shareholder on any business day at net asset value, the Fund offers greater liquidity than many competing investments such as certificates of deposit and direct investments in certain securities in which the Fund may invest. A Sophisticated Investment Process. The Fund will attempt to control ---------------------------------- its exposure to interest rate risk, including overall market exposure and the spread risk of particular sectors and securities, through active portfolio management techniques. The Fund's investment process starts with a review of trends for the overall economy as well as for different sectors of the fixed-income securities markets. Goldman Sachs' portfolio managers then analyze yield spreads, implied volatility and the shape of the yield curve. In planning the Fund's portfolio investment strategies, the Investment Adviser is able to draw upon the economic and fixed-income research resources of Goldman Sachs. The Investment
B-5
Adviser will use a sophisticated analytical process including Goldman Sachs' option-adjusted spread model to assist in structuring and maintaining the Fund's investment portfolio. In determining the Fund's investment strategy and making market timing decisions, the Investment Adviser will have access to input from Goldman Sachs' economists and fixed-income analysts. DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES U.S. Government Securities The 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 (a) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association), (b) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer (such as securities of Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac")) or (c) only the credit of the issuer (such as securities of the Financing Corporation). 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (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 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. The Fund may also purchase U.S. Government Securities in private placements and may 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"). Custodial Receipts The Fund may invest in custodial receipts in respect of securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions or authorities. Such custodial receipts evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions or authorities. These custodial receipts are known by various names, including "Treasury Receipts," "Treasury Investors Growth Receipts" ("TIGRs") and "Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities" ("CATs"). For certain securities law purposes, custodial receipts are not considered U.S. Government Securities. B-6
Asset-Backed Securities Asset-backed securities represent participation in, or are secured by and payable from, assets such as motor vehicle installment sales, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables. Such assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present. Such securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, 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. To the extent that the Fund invests in asset-backed securities, the values of its portfolio securities will vary with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of asset-backed securities. 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, there is the possibility that, in some cases, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. Zero Coupon Bonds The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds. Zero coupon bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and which do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date. The original issue discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. The market prices of zero coupon bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality. Zero coupon bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. In addition, even though such securities do not provide for the payment of current
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interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally are required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax. Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the Fund. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable. See "Taxation." Variable and Floating Rate Securities The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the 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. The value of floating and variable rate obligations generally is more stable than that of fixed rate obligations in response to changes in interest rate levels. 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 obligations, or for other reasons. Preferred Stock The Fund may invest in preferred stock. 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 (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. Corporate Debt Obligations The Fund may 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. Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations The Fund may invest in commercial paper and other short-term obligations payable in U.S. dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies. B-8
Bank Obligations The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. and 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 obligations only of the issuing branch pursuant to the terms of the specific obligations or government regulation. Banks are subject to extensive governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. Foreign banks are subject to different regulations and are generally permitted to engage in a wider variety of activities than U.S. banks. 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 operations of this industry. Foreign Investments The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar denominated fixed-income securities of foreign issuers. Investment in foreign securities may offer potential benefits that are not available from investing exclusively in domestic issues. Foreign countries may have economic policies or business cycles different from those of the U.S. and markets for foreign fixed-income securities do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers also involves, however, certain special considerations, including those set forth below, which are not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. Since foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a comparable U.S. company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States markets and securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities markets and exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed and unlisted companies than in the United States. For example, there may be no comparable provisions under certain foreign laws to insider trading and similar investor protection securities laws that apply with respect to securities transactions consummated in the United States. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the Fund's assets is uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of the 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
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possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect the Fund's investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Sovereign Debt Obligations. Investments in sovereign debt obligations -------------------------- involve special risks not present in corporate debt obligations. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due, and the Fund may have limited recourse in the event of a default. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign debt, and the Fund's net asset value, may be more volatile than prices of debt obligations of U.S. issuers. In the past, the governments of certain emerging countries have encountered difficulties in servicing their debt obligations, withheld payments of principal and interest and declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debts. 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, the relative size of the debt service burden, the sovereign debtor's policy toward principal international lenders and local political constraints. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multinational agencies and other entities to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The failure of a sovereign debtor to implement economic reforms, achieve specified levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of the third parties' commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor's ability or willingness to timely service its debts. Brady Bonds. Certain foreign debt obligations, customarily referred to ----------- as "Brady Bonds," are created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to foreign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructuring under a plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady (the "Brady Plan"). Brady Bonds may be fully or partially collateralized or uncollateralized and issued in various currencies (although most are U.S. dollar denominated). In the event of a default on collateralized Brady Bonds for which obligations are accelerated, the collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will such obligations be sold and the proceeds distributed. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds, which will continue to be outstanding, at which time the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the normal course. In light of the residual risk of the Brady Bonds, and among other factors, the history of default with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady Bonds may be speculative. Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars The Fund may enter into interest rate and credit swaps and may enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of its commitment to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. Credit swaps give one party to a transaction the right to
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dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive or make a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. 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. Since interest rate and credit swaps and interest rate caps, floors and collars are individually negotiated, the Fund expects to achieve an acceptable degree of correlation between its portfolio investments and its swap, cap, floor and collar positions. The Fund will enter into interest rate swaps only 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 swaps do not involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. To the extent that the Fund's potential exposure in a transaction involving a swap or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, the Fund and its Investment Adviser believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund's borrowing restrictions. The Fund will not enter into any interest rate or credit swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party is rated either A or A-1 or better by Standard & Poor's or A or P-1 or better by Moody's or their equivalent ratings. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments which are traded in the interbank market. The Investment Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund's transactions in swaps, caps, floors and collars. The use of interest rate and credit swaps, as well as 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 the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality and interest rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique were not used. Options on Securities and Securities Indices Writing Covered Options. The Fund may write (sell) covered call and put ----------------------- options on any securities in which it may invest or on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. The Fund may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by the Fund obligates the Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. All call options written by the Fund are covered, which means that the Fund will own the securities subject to the option so long
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as the option is outstanding or the Fund will use the other methods described below. The Fund's purpose in writing covered call options is to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, the Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security. A put option written by the Fund obligates the Fund to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. All put options written by the Fund would be covered, which means that the Fund will segregate cash or liquid assets with a value at least equal to the exercise price of the put option 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, the 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. All call and put options written by the Fund are covered. A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) segregating cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law with a value at least equal to the Fund's obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment, and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the Fund's net exposure on its written option position. The 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." The Fund may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed 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 settlement 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. The 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 cash consideration that is segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. The 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 equal to the exercise price or by using the other methods described above. 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 predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in securities prices or determination of the correlation between the securities indices on which options are written and purchased and the securities in the Fund's investment portfolio, the investment performance of the Fund will be less favorable than it would have been in the absence of such options transactions. The writing of options could increase the Fund's portfolio turnover rate and, therefore, associated brokerage commissions or spreads.
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Purchasing Options. The Fund may also purchase put and call options on ------------------ any securities in which it may invest or options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. The Fund would also be able to enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased. The Fund may purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease ("protective puts"), in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The 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 the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle the 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 the Fund's securities. Put options may also be purchased by the Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to 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 put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities. The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. 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. Risks Associated with Options Transactions. There is no assurance that ------------------------------------------ a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If the 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 assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the 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, but are not limited to, the following: (a) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (b) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening or closing transactions or both; (c) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (d) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (e) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (f) 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.
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The 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 the Fund in options 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 facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one of more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients or the Fund's 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. Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts The Fund may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. Government Securities), securities indices and any other financial instruments and indices. The Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as defined below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return to the extent permitted by regulations of the CFTC. Futures contracts entered into by the Fund are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC. Futures Contracts. A futures contract may generally be described as an ----------------- agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments or currencies 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, the Fund can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, the 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. Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, the Fund may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities or currency 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 or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that the Fund proposes to acquire. The 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
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a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by the Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of the Fund's portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for the Fund's portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in the 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 the Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by attempting to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the 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 the Fund's portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position. On other occasions, the Fund may take a "long" position by purchasing futures contracts. This may be done, for example, when the Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available. Options on Futures Contracts. The acquisition of put and call options ---------------------------- on futures contracts will give the 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, the 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 the Fund's assets. By writing a call option, the 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. Conversely, 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 the Fund intends to purchase. However, the Fund becomes obligated (upon 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 the Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The 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. The 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 Risk Considerations Regarding Options on Futures Contracts. The ---------------------------------------------------------------- Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging or to seek to increase total return as permitted by CFTC regulations which permit principals of an investment company registered under the Act to engage in such transactions without registering as commodity pool operators.
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In addition to bona fide hedging, a CFTC regulation permits the Fund to engage in other futures transactions if the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish such positions in futures contracts and options on futures do not exceed 5% of the net asset value of the Fund's portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which such options were in-the-money at the time of purchase. The Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Code for maintaining their qualifications as regulated investment companies for federal income tax purposes. Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in the case of contracts and options obligating the Fund to purchase securities or currencies, require the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options. While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. 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 the Fund may be exposed to risk of loss. Perfect correlation between the Fund's futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. The profitability of the Fund's trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Adviser to analyze correctly the futures markets. Convertible Securities The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include corporate notes or preferred stock but are ordinarily long-term debt obligations of the issuer convertible at a stated exchange rate into common stock of the issuer. As with all debt securities, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. However, when the market price of the common stock underlying a convertible security exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security tends to reflect the value of the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the convertible security tends to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and thus may not depreciate to the same extent as the underlying common stock. Convertible securities rank senior to common stocks in an issuer's capital structure and consequently entail less risk than the issuer's common stock. 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. B-16
Lending of Portfolio Securities The Fund may lend portfolio securities. Under present regulatory policies, such loans may be made to institutions, such as brokers or dealers and would be required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents, letters of credit or U.S. Government Securities maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The Fund would be required to have the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on five days' notice. For the duration of a loan, the Fund would continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and would also receive compensation from investment of the collateral. The Fund would not have the right to vote any securities having voting rights during the existence of the loan, but the Fund would call the loan in anticipation of an important vote to be taken among holders of the securities or the giving or withholding of their consent on a material matter affecting the investment. As with other extensions of credit there are risks of delay in recovering, or even loss of rights in, the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the loans would be made only to firms deemed by the applicable Investment Adviser to be of good standing, and when, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, the consideration which can be earned currently from securities loans of this type justifies the attendant risk. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, it is intended that the value of the securities loaned would not exceed one-third of the value of the total assets of the Fund (including the loan collateral). Cash received as collateral for securities lending transactions may be invested in other investment eligible securities. Investing the collateral subjects it to market depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund is responsible for any loss that may result from its investment of the borrowed collateral. Restricted and Illiquid Securities The Fund may purchase securities that are not registered or that are offered in an exempt non-public offering ("Restricted Securities") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), including securities eligible for resale to "qualified institutional buyers" pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. However, the Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments, which include repurchase agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, certain over-the-counter options, securities that are not readily marketable and Restricted Securities, unless the Board of Trustees determines, based upon a continuing review of the trading markets for the specific Restricted Securities, that such Restricted Securities are liquid. Certain commercial paper issued in reliance on Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act is treated like Rule 144A Securities. The Trustees have adopted guidelines and delegated to the Investment Advisers the daily function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund 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 Securities may reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction make them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions. B-17
When-Issued and Forward Commitment Securities The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. These transactions involve a commitment by the 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. The 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, the Fund may dispose of or negotiate a commitment after entering into it. The Fund may also sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Funds may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions. For purposes of determining the Fund's duration, the maturity of when-issued or forward commitment securities will be calculated from the commitment date. The Fund is generally required to segregate, until three days prior to settlement date, cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price unless the Fund's obligations are otherwise covered. Alternatively, the Fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of securities. 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. Other Investment Companies The Fund reserves the right to invest up to 10% of its total assets, calculated at the time of purchase, in the securities of other investment companies, but may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, the Fund may invest in money market funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as Investment Adviser. The 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 advisory and other fees paid by the Fund. However, to the extent that the 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 be reduced by an amount equal to the Fund's proportionate share of the management fees paid by such money market fund to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates. Repurchase Agreements The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial institutions. These repurchase agreements may involve foreign government securities. A repurchase agreement is an arrangement under which the Fund purchases securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the securities within a particular time and at a specified price. Custody of the securities is maintained by the Fund's custodian. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security subject to the repurchase agreement. B-18
For purposes of the Act, and generally for tax purposes, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller of the security. For other purposes, it is not always clear whether a court would consider the security purchased by the Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the 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, the 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 value of the security. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the security, the 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, the Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest involved in the transaction. The Investment Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss from repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the security. 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), the 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. In addition, the Fund, together with other registered investment companies having management 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. Portfolio Turnover The Fund may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from yield disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for fixed-income securities, or for other reasons. It is anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will vary from year to year. During the Fund's first year of operations, its portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed 150%. INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The following investment restrictions have been adopted by the Trust as fundamental policies that cannot be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Fund. The investment objective of the Fund and all other investment policies or practices of the Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. As defined in the Act, "a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Fund means the vote (a) of 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the shares of the Trust or the Fund. B-19
For the purposes of the limitations (except for the asset coverage requirement with respect to borrowings), 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, the Fund. As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not: (1) Make any investment inconsistent with the Fund's classification as a diversified company under the Act; (2) 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 its agencies or instrumentalities). (For the purposes of this restriction, state and municipal governments and their agencies, authorities and instrumentalities are not deemed to be industries; telephone companies are considered to be a separate industry from water, gas or electric utilities; personal credit finance companies and business credit finance companies are deemed to be separate industries; and wholly-owned finance companies are considered to be in the industry of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents.) This restriction does not apply to investments in Municipal Securities which have been pre-refunded by the use of obligations of the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; (3) Borrow money, except (a) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the Act) or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); (b) the Fund may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes; (c) the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities; (d) the Fund may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (e) the Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings; (4) 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; and (c) loans of securities as permitted by applicable law; (5) Underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the sale of portfolio securities by the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriting; (6) Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, although the 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 the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities; (7) Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may invest in currency and financial instruments and contracts that are commodities or commodity contracts; and B-20
(8) Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law. Notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, the Fund may invest some or all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same fundamental investment objective, restrictions and policies as the Fund. In addition to the fundamental policies mentioned above, the Trustees have adopted the following non-fundamental policies which can be changed or amended by action of the Trustees without approval of shareholders. The Fund may not: (1) Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management; (2) Invest more than 15% of the Fund's net assets in illiquid investments, including 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 1933 Act; (3) Purchase additional securities if the Fund's borrowings (excluding covered mortgage dollar rolls) exceed 5% of its net assets; or (4) Make short sales of securities, except short sales against-the-box. B-21
MANAGEMENT The Trustees of the Trust are responsible for deciding matters of general policy and reviewing the actions of the Investment Adviser, distributor and transfer agent. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise the Fund's daily business operations. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers of the Trust is set forth below. Trustees and officers deemed to be "interested persons" of the Trust for purposes of the Act are indicated by an asterisk. Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- Ashok N. Bakhru, 58 Chairman Chairman of the Board and Trustee--Goldman Sachs P.O. Box 143 & Trustee Variable Insurance Trust (registered investment Lima, PA 19037 company) (since October 1997); President, ABN Associates (July 1994-March 1996 and November 1998 to present); Executive Vice President - Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Coty Inc. (manufacturer of fragrances and cosmetics) (April 1996-November 1998); Senior Vice President of Scott Paper Company (until June 1994); Director of Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company (1984-1999); Trustee of International House of Philadelphia (1989-Present); Member of Cornell University Council (1992-Present); Trustee of the Walnut Street Theater (1992-Present); Director, Private Equity Investors - III (since November 1998); Trustee, Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America (since 1998). B-22
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *David B. Ford, 54 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip (registered investment company) (since October 1997); New York, NY 10005 Director, Commodities Corp. LLC (futures and commodities traders) (since April 1997); Managing Director, J. Aron & Company (commodity dealer and risk management adviser) (since November 1996); Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co. Investment Banking Division (since November 1996); Chief Executive Officer and Director, CIN Management (investment adviser) (since August 1996); Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director and Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (since November 1995 and December 1994, respectively); Co-Head, Goldman Sachs Asset Management (since November 1995); Co-Head and Director, Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P. (since November 1995 and December 1994, respectively); and Chairman and Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management Japan Limited (since November 1994). *Douglas C. Grip, 37 Trustee Trustee and President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance 32 Old Slip & President Trust (registered investment company) (since October 1997); New York, NY 10005 Trustee, Trust for Credit Unions (registered investment company) (since March 1998); Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management Group (since November 1997); President, Goldman Sachs Funds Group (since April 1996); and President, MFS Retirement Services Inc., of Massachusetts Financial Services (prior thereto). B-23
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *John P. McNulty, 47 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip (registered investment company) (since October 1997); New York, NY 10005 Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (since November 1996); Head of Investment Management Division (since September 1999); General Partner, J. Aron & Company (commodity dealer and risk management adviser) (since November 1995); Director and Co-Head, Goldman Sachs Funds Management L.P. (since November 1995); Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (since January 1996); Co-Head, GSAM (November 1995-September 1999); Director, Global Capital Reinsurance (insurance) (since 1989); Director, Commodities Corp. LLC (since April 1997); and Limited Partner of Goldman Sachs (1994-November 1995). Mary P. McPherson, 64 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (registered investment company) (since October 1997); 140 East 62nd Street Vice President, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New York, NY 10021 (provider of grants for conservation, environmental and educational purposes) (since October 1997); President of Bryn Mawr College (1978-1997); Director, Smith College (since 1998); Director, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation (health educational programs) (since 1977); Director, the Philadelphia Contributionship (insurance) (since 1985); Director Emeritus, Amherst College (1986-1998); Director, Dayton Hudson Corporation (general retailing merchandising) (1988-1997); Director, The Spencer Foundation (educational research) (since 1993); member of PNC Advisory Board (banking) (since 1993); and Director, American School of Classical Studies in Athens (since 1997). B-24
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *Alan A. Shuch, 50 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip (registered investment company) (since October 1997); New York, NY 10005 Advisory Director - GSAM (since May 1999); Limited Partner, Goldman Sachs (prior to May 1999); Consultant . to GSAM (since December 1994). William H. Springer, 70 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 701 Morningside Drive (registered investment company) (since October 1997); Lake Forest, IL 60045 Director, The Walgreen Co. (a retail drug store business) (April 1988-January 2000); Director of Baker, Fentress & Co. (a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company) (April 1992-present); and Chairman and Trustee, Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds (since April 1984 and March 2000, respectively). Richard P. Strubel, 60 Trustee Trustee--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 500 Lake Cook Road (registered investment company) (since October 1997); Suite 150 President and COO, UNext.com (provider of educational Deerfield, IL 60015 services via the internet) (since 1999); Director, Gildan Activewear Inc. (since February 1999); Director of Kaynar Technologies Inc. (since March 1997); Managing Director, Tandem Partners, Inc. (1990-1999); President and Chief Executive Officer, Microdot, Inc. (a diversified manufacturer of fastening systems and connectors) (January 1984-October 1994); Trustee, Northern Institutional Funds and Northern Funds (since December 1982 and March 2000, respectively) and Director, Cantilever Technologies, Inc. (since 1999). B-25
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *Nancy L. Mucker, 50 Vice President Vice President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 4900 Sears Tower (registered investment company) (since 1997); Vice Chicago, IL 60606 President and Co-Manager of Funds Group Shareholder Servicing, Goldman Sachs (since April 1985). *John M. Perlowski, 35 Treasurer Treasurer--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip (registered investment company) (since 1997); Vice New York, NY 10005 President, Goldman Sachs (since July 1995); and Banking Director, Investors Bank and Trust (November 1993-July 1995). *James A. Fitzpatrick, 39 Vice President Vice President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 4900 Sears Tower (registered investment company) (since October 1997); Chicago, IL 60606 Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (since October 1999); Vice President of GSAM (April 1997-December 1999); and . Vice President and General Manager, First Data Corporation - Investor Services Group (1994 to 1997). *Jesse Cole, 36 Vice President Vice President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 4900 Sears Tower (registered investment company) (since 1998); Vice Chicago, IL 60606 President, GSAM (June 1998 to present); Vice President, AIM Management Group, Inc. (investment adviser) (April 1996-June 1998); and Assistant Vice President, The Northern Trust Company (June 1987-April 1996). *Kerry K. Daniels, 37 Vice President Vice President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 4900 Sears Tower (registered investment company) (since April 2000); and Chicago, IL 60606 Manager, Institutional Account Administration - Shareholder Services, Goldman Sachs (since 1986). B-26
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *Mary F. Hoppa, 36 Vice President Vice President--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 4900 Sears Tower (registered investment company) (since April 2000); Chicago, IL 60606 Vice President, Goldman Sachs (since October 1999); and Senior Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Operations, Strong Capital Management (January 1987-September 1999). *Philip V. Giuca , Jr., 37 Assistant Assistant Treasurer--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Treasurer (registered investment company) (since 1997); and Vice New York, NY 10005 President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992-Present). *Michael J. Richman, 39 Secretary Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 1 Liberty Plaza (registered investment company) (since 1997); General New York, NY 10004 Counsel of the Funds Group of GSAM (since December 1997); Associate General Counsel of GSAM (February 1994-December 1997); Counsel to the Funds Group, GSAM (June 1992-December 1997); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (since December 1998); Vice President of Goldman Sachs (since June 1992); and Assistant General Counsel of Goldman Sachs (June 1992 to December 1998). *Howard B. Surloff, 34 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Secretary (registered investment company) (since 1997); Assistant New York, NY 10005 General Counsel, GSAM and General Counsel to the U.S. Funds Group (since December 1997); Assistant General Counsel and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (since November 1993 and May 1994, respectively); and Counsel to the Funds Group, GSAM (November 1993-December 1997). B-27
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *Valerie A. Zondorak, 34 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Secretary (registered investment company) (since 1997); Assistant New York, NY 10005 General Counsel, GSAM and Assistant General Counsel to the Funds Group (since December 1997); Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (since March 1997); Counsel to the Funds Group, GSAM (March 1997-December 1997); and Associate of Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman (September 1990 to February 1997). *Deborah A. Farrell, 28 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Secretary (registered investment company) (since 1997); Legal New York, NY 10005 Products Analyst, Goldman Sachs (since December 1998); Legal Assistant, Goldman Sachs (January 1996-December 1998); Assistant Secretary to the Funds Group (1996 to present); and Executive Secretary, Goldman Sachs (January 1994-January 1996). *Kaysie P. Uniacke, 39 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Secretary (registered investment company) (since 1997); Managing New York, NY 10005 Director, GSAM (since 1997); Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, GSAM (1988 to 1997). B-28
Name, Age Positions Principal Occupation(s) and Address With Trust During Past 5 Years ----------- ---------- ----------------------- *Elizabeth D. Anderson, 30 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 32 Old Slip Secretary (registered investment company) (since 1997); Portfolio New York, NY 10005 Manager, GSAM (since April 1996); Junior Portfolio Manager, GSAM (1995-April 1996); and Funds Trading Assistant, GSAM (1993-1995). *Amy E. Belanger, 30 Assistant Assistant Secretary--Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance 32 Old Slip Secretary Trust (registered investment company) (since 1999); Vice New York, NY 10005 President, Goldman Sachs (since June 1999); Counsel, Goldman Sachs (since 1998); and Associate, Dechert Price & Rhoads (September 1996-1998). The Trustees and officers of the Trust hold comparable positions with certain other investment companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or one of their affiliates is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. The Trust pays each Trustee, other than those who are "interested persons" of Goldman Sachs, a fee for each Trustee meeting attended and an annual fee. Such Trustees are also reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending such meetings. B-29
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Trust for the one-year period ended October 31, 1999 with respect to each of the Trust's funds then in existence: Total Compensation Aggregate Pension or Retirement From Goldman Sachs Compensation from Benefits Accrued as Funds Complex Name of Trustee the Trust2 Part of Trust's Expenses (including the Trust)3 --------------- ----------------- ------------------------ ---------------------- Ashok N. Bakhru1 $112,116 $0 $136,000 David B. Ford 0 0 0 Douglas C. Grip 0 0 0 John P. McNulty 0 0 0 Mary P. McPherson 83,284 0 101,000 Alan A. Shuch 0 0 0 Jackson W. Smart4 83,284 0 101,000 William H. Springer 83,284 0 101,000 Richard P. Strubel 83,284 0 101,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Includes compensation as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 2 Reflects amount paid by the Trust's funds during fiscal year ended October 31, 1999. During this period, the Fund had not offered shares. 3 The Goldman Sachs Funds complex consists of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 50 mutual funds, including 8 fixed-income funds, on October 31, 1999. Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 16 mutual funds on October 31, 1999. 4 Mr. Smart passed away in June 2000. 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 code of ethics to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. Class A Shares of the Fund may be sold at net asset value without payment of any sales charge to 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 the above individuals. The sales load waivers are due to the nature of the investors and the reduced sales effort that is needed to obtain such investments. B-30
Investment Adviser ------------------ As of September 1, 1999, the Investment Management Division ("IMD") was established as a new operating division of Goldman Sachs. This newly created entity includes GSAM. GSAM, 32 Old Slip, New York, New York 10005, a unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs, serves as the Fund's Investment Adviser pursuant to a Management Agreement. See "Service Providers" in the Fund's Prospectuses for a description of the Investment Adviser's duties to the Fund. The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., which controlled the Fund's Investment Adviser, merged into The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as a result of an initial public offering. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is among the oldest and largest investment banking firms in the United States. Goldman Sachs is a leader in developing portfolio strategies and in many fields of investing and financing, participating in financial markets worldwide and serving individuals, institutions, corporations and governments. Goldman Sachs also is 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 and has offices throughout the United States and in Beijing, Frankfurt, George Town, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Montreal, Paris, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver and Zurich. It has trading professionals throughout the United States, as well as in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. The active participation of Goldman Sachs in the world's financial markets enhances its ability to identify attractive investments. Goldman Sachs has agreed to permit the Fund to use the name "Goldman Sachs" or a derivative thereof as part of its name for as long as the Fund's Management Agreement is in effect. The Investment Advisers are able to draw on the substantial research and market expertise of Goldman Sachs, whose investment research effort is one of the largest in the industry. The Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Department covers approximately 2,200 companies, including approximately 1,000 U.S. corporations in 60 industries. The in-depth information and analyses generated by Goldman Sachs' research analysts are available to the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser manages money for some of the world's largest institutional investors. For more than a decade, Goldman Sachs has been among the top-ranked firms in Institutional Investor's annual "All-America Research Team" survey. 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 each security's term, coupon and call option, providing an overall analysis of the security's value relative to its interest risk. In structuring the Fund's securities portfolio, the Investment Adviser will review the existing overall economic trends. The Investment Adviser will then study yield spreads, the implied volatility and the shape of the yield curve. The Investment Adviser will then apply this analysis to a list of eligible securities that meet the Fund's investment guidelines. The Investment Adviser expects to utilize Goldman Sachs' sophisticated option-adjusted analytics to help make strategic asset allocations within the markets for U.S. Government and other B-31
securities and to employ this technology periodically to re-evaluate the Fund's investments as market conditions change. The fixed-income research capabilities of Goldman Sachs available to the Investment Advisers include the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Research Department and the Credit Department. The Fixed Income Research Department monitors developments in U.S. and foreign fixed-income markets, assesses the outlooks for various sectors of the markets and provides relative value comparisons, as well as analyzes trading opportunities within and across market sectors. The Fixed Income Research Department is at the forefront in developing and using computer-based tools for analyzing fixed-income securities and markets, developing new fixed-income products and structuring portfolio strategies for investment policy and tactical asset allocation decisions. The Credit Department tracks specific governments, regions and industries and from time to time may review the credit quality of the Fund's investments. The Management Agreement provides that GSAM, 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 Management Agreement was initially approved with respect to the Fund by the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to such agreements or "interested persons" (as such term is defined in the Act) of any party thereto (the "non-interested Trustees"), on April 26, 2000. The Fund's sole shareholder approved these arrangements on July 28, 2000. The Management Agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2001 and will continue in effect 0with respect to the Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting securities or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (b) 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 Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Act). The Management Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on 60 days' written notice to the Investment Adviser or by the Investment Adviser on 60 days' written notice to the Trust. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser is entitled to receive fees, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Prior to the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund had been offered and accordingly, no fees were paid by the Fund to the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Management Agreement. The Investment Adviser performs administrative services for the Fund under the Management Agreement. Such administrative services include, subject to the general supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, (a) providing supervision of all aspects of the Fund's non-investment operations (other than certain operations performed by others pursuant to agreements with the Fund); (b) providing the Fund, to the extent not provided pursuant to the agreement with the Trust's custodian, transfer and dividend disbursing agent or agreements with other institutions, with personnel to perform such executive, administrative and clerical services as are reasonably necessary to provide effective administration of the Fund; (c) arranging, to the extent not provided pursuant to such agreements, for the preparation, at the Fund's expense, of the Fund's tax returns, reports to shareholders, periodic updating of the Fund's prospectuses and statements of additional information, and reports filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities; (d) providing the Fund, to the extent not provided pursuant to such agreements, with adequate office space and certain related office equipment and services; and (e) maintaining all of the Fund's records other than those maintained pursuant to such agreements.
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Activities of Goldman Sachs and Its Affiliates and Other Accounts ----------------------------------------------------------------- Managed by Goldman Sachs. The involvement of the Investment Adviser and 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 impede its investment activities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Investment Adviser and its advisory affiliates have proprietary interests in, and may manage or advise with respect to, accounts or funds (including separate accounts and other funds and collective investment vehicles) which have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are major participants in the global currency, equities, swap and fixed-income markets, in each case both on a proprietary basis and for the accounts of customers. As such, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are actively engaged in transactions in the same securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Fund invests. Such activities could affect the prices and availability of the securities, currencies, and instruments in which the Fund invests, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund's performance. Such transactions, particularly in respect of proprietary accounts or customer accounts other than those included in the Investment Adviser's and its advisory affiliates' asset management activities, will be executed independently of the Fund's transactions and thus at prices or rates that may be more or less favorable. When the Investment Adviser and its advisory affiliates seek to purchase or sell the same assets for their managed accounts, including the Fund, the assets actually purchased or sold may be allocated among the accounts on a basis determined in their good faith discretion to be equitable. In some cases, this system may adversely affect the size or the price of the assets purchased or sold for the Fund. From time to time, the Fund's activities may be restricted because of regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when the Investment Adviser, and/or its affiliates, will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which the Investment Adviser and/or its affiliates are performing services or when position limits have been reached. In connection with their management of the Fund, the Investment Adviser may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs and other affiliates. The Investment Adviser will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of the Fund in accordance with such analysis and models. In addition, neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund and it is not anticipated that the Investment Adviser will have access to such information for the purpose of managing the Fund. The proprietary activities or portfolio strategies of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates or the activities or strategies used for accounts managed by them or other customer accounts could conflict with the transactions and strategies employed by the Investment Adviser in managing the Fund. The results of the Fund's investment activities may differ significantly from the results achieved by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates for their proprietary accounts or accounts (including investment companies or collective investment vehicles) managed or advised by them. It is possible that Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and such other accounts will achieve investment results which are substantially more or less favorable than the results achieved by the Fund. Moreover, it is possible
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that the Fund will sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The opposite result is also possible. An investment policy committee which may include partners of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may develop general policies regarding the Fund's activities, but will not be involved in the day-to-day management of the Fund. In such instances, those individuals may, as a result, obtain information regarding the Fund's proposed investment activities which is not generally available to the public. In addition, by virtue of their affiliation with Goldman Sachs, any such member of an investment policy committee will have direct or indirect interests in the activities of Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in securities and investments similar to those in which the Fund invests. In addition, certain principals and certain employees of the Investment Adviser are also principals or employees of Goldman Sachs or their affiliated entities. As a result, the performance by these principals and employees of their obligations to such other entities may be a consideration of which investors in the Fund should be aware. The Investment Adviser may enter into transactions and invest in instruments on behalf of the Fund in which customers of Goldman Sachs serve as the counterparty, principal or issuer. In such cases, such party's interests in the transaction will be adverse to the interests of the Fund, and such party may have no incentive to assure that the Fund obtains the best possible prices or terms in connection with the transactions. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may also create, write or issue derivative instruments for customers of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates, the underlying securities or instruments of which may be those in which the Fund invests or which may be based on the performance of the Fund. The Fund may, subject to applicable law, purchase investments which are the subject of an underwriting or other distribution by Goldman Sachs or its affiliates and may also enter into transactions with other clients of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates where such other clients have interests adverse to those of the Fund. At times, these activities may cause departments of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates to give advice to clients that may cause these clients to take actions adverse to the interests of the client. To the extent affiliated transactions are permitted, the Fund will deal with Goldman Sachs and its affiliates on an arms-length basis. The Fund will be required to establish business relationships with its counterparties based on the Fund's own credit standing. Neither Goldman Sachs nor its affiliates will have any obligation to allow their credit to be used in connection with the Fund's establishment of its business relationships, nor is it expected that the Fund's counterparties will rely on the credit of Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates in evaluating the Fund's creditworthiness. From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may, but is not required to, purchase and hold shares of the Fund in order to increase the assets of the Fund. Increasing the Fund's assets may enhance investment flexibility and diversification and may contribute to economies of scale that tend to reduce the Fund's expense ratio. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares of the Fund acquired for its own account. A large redemption of shares of the Fund by Goldman Sachs could significantly reduce the asset size of the Fund, which might have an adverse effect on the Fund's investment flexibility, portfolio diversification and expense ratio. Goldman Sachs will consider the effect of redemptions on the Fund and other shareholders in deciding whether to redeem its shares. It is possible that the Fund's holding will include securities of entities for which Goldman Sachs performs investment banking services as well as securities of entities in which Goldman Sachs makes
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a market. From time to time, Goldman Sachs' activities may limit the Fund's flexibility in purchases and sales of securities. When Goldman Sachs is engaged in and underwriting or other distribution of securities of an entity, the Investment Adviser may be prohibited from purchasing or recommending the purchase of certain securities of that entity for the Fund. Distributor and Transfer Agent ------------------------------ Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 serves as the exclusive distributor of shares of the Fund pursuant to a "best efforts" arrangement as provided by a distribution agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are offered and sold on a continuous basis by Goldman Sachs, acting as agent. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, after the Fund's 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 has entered into sales agreements with certain investment dealers and other financial service firms (the "Authorized Dealers") to solicit subscriptions for the Fund's Class A Shares. Goldman Sachs receives a portion of the sales load imposed on the sale of Class A Shares. Prior to the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund had been offered and, accordingly, Goldman Sachs retained no sales commissions on the sale of Class A Shares. Goldman Sachs, 4900 Sears Tower, 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: (a) record the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares; (b) provide purchase and redemption confirmations and quarterly statements, as well as certain other statements; (c) provide certain information to the Trust's custodian and the relevant subcustodian in connection with redemptions; (d) provide dividend crediting and certain disbursing agent services; (e) maintain shareholder accounts; (f) provide certain state Blue Sky and other information; (g) provide shareholders and certain regulatory authorities with tax-related information; (h) respond to shareholder inquiries; and (i) render certain other miscellaneous services. For its transfer agency services, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a transfer agency fee equal, on an annual basis, to 0.04% of average daily net assets with respect to the Fund's Institutional and Administration Shares and 0.19% of average daily net assets with respect to the Fund's Class A Shares. Prior to the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund had been offered and, accordingly, no fees were paid by the Fund to Goldman Sachs as transfer agent. The foregoing distribution and transfer agency agreements each provide that Goldman Sachs may render similar services to others so long as the services each provides thereunder to the Fund are not impaired thereby. Each such agreement also provides that the Trust will indemnify Goldman Sachs against certain liabilities. Expenses -------- The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, is responsible for the payment of the Fund's expenses. The expenses include, without limitation, the fees payable to the Investment Adviser, fees paid to Service Organizations for providing certain account administration services to their customers who are beneficial owners of Administration Shares, the fees and expenses of the Trust's custodian and subcustodians, transfer agent fees, 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 B-35
of the Trust, fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with membership in investment company organizations, taxes, interest, costs of liability insurance, fidelity bonds or indemnification, any costs, expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damages or other relief asserted against, the Trust for violation of any law, legal, tax and auditing fees and expenses (including the cost of legal and certain accounting services rendered by employees of Goldman Sachs, or its affiliates, with respect to the Trust), expenses of preparing and setting in type Prospectuses, Additional Statements, proxy material, reports and notices and the printing and distributing of the same to the Trust's shareholders and regulatory authorities, any expenses assumed by the Fund pursuant to its Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares and its Administration Plan for Administration Shares, any compensation and expenses of its "non-interested" Trustees and extraordinary expenses, if any, incurred by the Trust. Except for fees under the Distribution and Service Plan and Administration Plan and transfer agency fees, all Fund expenses are borne on a non-class specific basis. 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 fees and/or voluntarily assume certain expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the 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 the date of this Additional Statement, the Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit certain "Other Expenses" (excluding management fees, distribution and service fees payable under the Distribution and Service Plan, administration fees payable under the Administration Plan, transfer agency fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification and other extraordinary expenses) for the Fund to the extent such expenses exceed .01% of average daily net assets. Such reductions or limits are calculated monthly on a cumulative basis. The Investment Adviser may modify or discontinue such expense limitations or the limitations on the management fees, described above under "Management -- Investment Adviser," in the future at its discretion. Fees and expenses of legal counsel, registering shares of the Fund, holding meetings and communicating with shareholders may include an allocable portion of the cost of maintaining an internal legal and compliance department. The Fund may also bear an allocable portion of the costs incurred by the Investment Adviser in performing certain accounting services not being provided by the Trust's custodian. Custodian and Sub-Custodians ---------------------------- State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, Massachusetts 02110, is the custodian of the Trust's portfolio securities and cash. State Street also maintains the Trust's accounting records. State Street may appoint domestic and foreign sub-custodians from time to time to hold certain securities purchased by the Trust in foreign countries and to hold cash and currencies for the Trust. Independent Auditors -------------------- Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, have been selected as auditors of the Fund for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2000. In addition to B-36
audit services, Ernst & Young LLP will prepare the Fund's federal and state tax returns, and will provide consultation and assistance on accounting, internal control and related matters. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS The portfolio transactions for the Fund are generally effected at a net price without a broker's commission (i.e., a dealer is dealing with the Fund as principal and receives compensation equal to the spread between the dealer's cost for a given security and the resale price of such security). In certain foreign countries, debt securities in which the Fund may invest are traded on exchanges at fixed commission rates. In connection with portfolio transactions, the Management Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser shall attempt to obtain the most favorable execution and net price available. The Management Agreement provides that, on occasions when the Investment Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other investment company or advisory account for which the Investment Adviser or an affiliate acts as Investment Adviser), the Fund, 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. 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 most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the size and price of the position obtainable for the Fund. The Management Agreement permits each Investment Adviser, in its discretion, to purchase and sell portfolio securities to and from dealers who provide the Trust with brokerage or research services in which dealers may execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Fund. Brokerage and research services furnished by firms through which the Fund effects its securities transactions may be used by the Investment Adviser in servicing other accounts and not all of these services may be used by the Investment Adviser in connection with the Fund. Such research or other services may include research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; computer databases; quotation equipment and services; and research-oriented computer hardware, software and other services. The fees received under the Management Agreement are not reduced by reason of the Investment Adviser receiving such brokerage and research services. 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 of the 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 are far larger than those of the Fund, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by the Investment Adviser in providing management services for the Trust. In circumstances where two or more broker-dealers offer comparable prices and execution capability, preference may be given to a broker-dealer which has sold shares of the Fund as well as shares of other investment companies or accounts managed by the Investment Adviser. This policy does not imply a commitment to execute all portfolio transactions through all broker-dealers that sell shares of the Fund. Subject to the above considerations, the Investment Adviser may use Goldman Sachs as a broker for the Fund. In order for Goldman Sachs to effect any portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by Goldman Sachs must be reasonable and fair
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compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar instruments being purchased or sold on an exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow Goldman Sachs to receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. 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. As of the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund had been offered and, accordingly, the Fund paid no brokerage commissions. SHARES OF THE TRUST The Fund is a series of Goldman Sachs Trust, a Delaware business trust established by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997. 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. The Act requires that where more than one class or series of shares exists, each class or series must be preferred over all other classes or series in respect of assets specifically allocated to such class or series. As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Trustees have authorized the issuance of three classes of shares of the Fund: Class A Shares, Institutional Shares and Administration Shares. Additional series may be added in the future. As of the date of this Additional Statement, no Class A Shares, Institutional Shares or Administration Shares of the Fund were outstanding. Each Class A Share, Institutional Share and Administration Share of the Fund represents a proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the applicable class of the Fund. All expenses of the Fund are borne at the same rate by each class of shares, except that fees under the Distribution and Service Plan are borne exclusively by Class A Shares and fees under the Administration Plan are borne exclusively by Administration Shares. Transfer agency fees are borne at different rates by Class A Shares than Institutional and Administration Shares. 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 series. See "Shareholder Guide" in the Prospectus. Class A Shares are sold, with an initial sales charge, through brokers and dealers who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and certain other financial service firms that have sales agreements with Goldman Sachs. Class A Shares of the Fund bear the cost of distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees at the aggregate rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Class A Shares. With respect to Class A Shares, the Distributor at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Distribution and Services Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plan does not exceed the maximum cap on "service fees" imposed by the NASD. 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 for services provided to the institution's customers.
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Administration Shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge for accounts held in the name of an institution that provides certain account administration services to its customers, including maintenance of account records and processing orders to purchase, redeem and exchange Administration Shares. Administration Shares bear the cost of account administration fees at the annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Administration Shares. It is possible that an institution or its affiliate may offer different classes of shares (i.e., Class A, Institutional and Administration Shares) to its customers and thus receive different compensation with respect to different classes of shares of the Fund. Dividends paid by the 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 in the same amount, except for differences caused by the fact that the respective account, transfer agency, distribution and service and administration 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, 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, servicing or similar agent 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 Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. All shares are freely transferable and have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. In the interest of economy and convenience, the Trust does not issue certificates representing the Fund's 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 Fund are reflected in account statements from the Transfer Agent. The Act requires that where more than one class or series of shares exists, each class or series must be preferred over all other classes or series in respect of assets specifically allocated to such class or series. 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 class or series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a class or series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless the interests of each class or series in the matter are substantially identical or the matter does not affect any interest of such class or 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 shares on all matters presented to shareholders including the election of Trustees (this method of voting being referred to as
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"dollar based voting"). However, to the extent required by the Act or otherwise determined by the Trustees, series and classes of the Trust will vote separately from each other. Shareholders of the Trust do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees. Meetings of shareholders of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, may be called by the Trustees, certain officers or upon the written request of holders of 10% or more of the shares entitled to vote at such meetings. The Trustees will call a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees, if, at any time, less than a majority of Trustees holding office at the time were elected by shareholders. The shareholders of the Trust will have voting rights only with respect to the limited number of matters specified in the Declaration of Trust and such other matters as the Trustees may determine or may be required by law. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees, officers 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 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 that such action is in the best interest of the Trust or its shareholders. The factors and events that the Trustees may take into account in making such determination include (i) the inability of the Trust or any successor 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 their business or operations. 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 affect the voting rights of shareholders; (ii) that is required by law to be approved by shareholders; (iii) that would amend the voting provisions of the Declaration of Trust; 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. The Series Trustees have, to the exclusion of any other B-40
Trustees of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees under the Declaration of Trust with respect to any other series or class. Shareholder and Trustee Liability Under Delaware law, the shareholders of the Fund 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 business trust shareholder liability exists in other states. As a result, to the extent that a Delaware business 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 business 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 the Fund. Notice of such disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a series or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the Fund 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 business trust is remote. In addition to the requirement 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 Fund 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. NET ASSET VALUE Under the Act, the Trustees of the Trust are responsible for determining in good faith the fair value of the Fund's securities. In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Trust, the net asset value per share of each class of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributable to each class and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class. All securities are valued as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. New York time) on each Business Day. 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, Presidents' Day (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. B-41
In the event that the New York Stock Exchange or the national securities exchange on which stock options are traded adopt different trading hours on either a permanent or temporary basis, the Trustees will reconsider the time at which net asset value is computed. In addition, the 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. For the purpose of calculating the Fund's net asset value, investments are valued under valuation procedures established by the Trustees. Portfolio securities, for which accurate market quotations are readily available, other than money market instruments, are valued via electronic feeds to the custodian bank containing dealer-supplied bid quotations or bid quotations from a recognized pricing service. Securities for which a pricing service either does not supply a quotation or supplies a quotation that is believed by the Investment Adviser to be in accurate, will be valued based on bid-side broker quotations. Securities for which the custodian bank is unable to obtain an external price as provided above or with respect to which the Investment Adviser believes an external price does not reflect accurate market values, will be valued by the Investment Adviser in good faith based on valuation models that take into account spread and daily yield changes on government securities (i.e., matrix pricing). Other securities are valued as follows: (a) overnight repurchase agreements will be valued at cost; (b) term repurchase agreements (i.e., those whose maturity exceeds seven days) and swaps, caps, collars and floors will be valued at the average of the bid quotations obtained daily from at least one dealer; (c) debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which the Trustees have determined to approximate fair value; (d) spot and forward foreign currency exchange contracts will be valued using a pricing service such as Reuters (if quotations are unavailable from a pricing service or, if the quotations by the Investment Adviser are believed to be inaccurate, the contracts will be valued by calculating the mean between the last bid and asked quotations supplied by at least one independent dealers in such contracts); (e) exchange-traded options and futures contracts will be valued by the custodian bank at the last sale price on the exchange where such contracts and options are principally traded if accurate quotations are readily available; and (f) over-the-counter options will be valued by a broker identified by the portfolio manager/trader. All other securities, 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 fair value as stated in the valuation procedures which were approved by the Board of Trustees. Generally, trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and on over-the-counter markets 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 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 Fund's 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. The impact of events that occur after the publication of market quotations used by the Fund to price its securities but before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange will normally not be reflected in the Fund's next determined net asset value unless the Trust, in its discretion, makes an adjustment in light of the nature and materiality of the event, its effect on Fund operations and other relevant factors.
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The proceeds received by the 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 the Fund and constitute the underlying assets of that Fund or series. The underlying assets of the Fund will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in respect of the Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust. Expenses of the Trust with respect to the Fund 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 direct expenses can otherwise be fairly made. TAXATION The following summary of the principal U.S. federal income, and certain state and local, tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund shares and the tax summary in the Prospectuses are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. This summary does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax-exempt entities, insurance companies and financial institutions. Each prospective shareholder is urged to consult his or her own tax adviser with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this Additional Statement, which are subject to change. General ------- The Fund is treated as a separate entity for tax purposes, intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company and intends to qualify for such treatment for each taxable year under Subchapter M of the Code. To qualify as such, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements relating to the sources of its income, diversification of its assets and distribution of its income to shareholders. As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income or excise tax on any net investment income and net realized capital gains that are distributed to its shareholders in accordance with certain timing requirements of the Code. There are certain tax requirements that the Fund must follow in order to avoid federal taxation. In its efforts to adhere to these requirements, the Fund may have to limit its investment activities in some types of instruments. Qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code requires, among other things, that (a) the Fund derive at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) for its taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or securities, or foreign currencies or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies (the "90% gross income test"); and (b) the Fund diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of its 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 the Fund's total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) 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) or two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses. B-43
As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders in any taxable year for which it distributes, in compliance with the Code's timing and other requirements, at least 90% of its "investment company taxable income" (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount income, market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign exchange gains, and any other taxable income other than "net capital gain" as defined below and is reduced by deductible expenses) and at least 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income, if any, over certain disallowed deductions ("net tax-exempt interest"). The Fund may retain for investment its "net capital gain" (which consists of the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss). However, if the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (a) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (b) 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 such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal under current law to 65% of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder's gross income. The Fund intends to distribute for each taxable year to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (if any), 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 such as the Fund and may therefore make it more difficult for the Fund to satisfy the distribution requirements described above, as well as the excise tax distribution requirements described below. However, the Fund generally expects to be able to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy such requirements from new investors, the sale of securities or other sources. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be taxed on all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain at corporate rates, its net tax-exempt interest (if any) may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, and its distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits. For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any year to offset its own capital gains, if any, during the eight years following the year of the loss. In order to avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the 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 such year, at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year) and 100% of any taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which the Fund did not pay federal income tax. The Fund anticipates that it will generally make timely distributions of income and capital gains in compliance with these requirements so that they will generally not be required to pay the excise tax.
For federal income tax purposes, dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month that are actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as if they were received by shareholders on December 31 of the year declared. B-44
Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gain and losses. Certain of the futures contracts, forward contracts and options held by the Fund will be required to be "marked-to-market" for federal income tax purposes, that is, treated as having been sold at their fair market value on the last day of the Fund's taxable year. These provisions may require the 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 the Fund, the Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures or 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 above applicable to options, futures and forward contracts may affect the amount, timing, and character of the Fund's distributions to shareholders. Certain tax elections may be available to the Fund to mitigate some of the unfavorable consequences described in this paragraph. The Fund 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 such taxes in some cases. If the Fund acquires stock (including, under proposed regulations, an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations ("passive foreign investment companies") that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and additional interest charges on "excess distributions" received from such companies or gain from the sale of such stock in such 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. Certain elections may, if available, ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but any such election would require the Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash. The Fund may limit and/or manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize their tax liability or maximize their return from these investments. A Fund's investment in zero coupon securities or other securities bearing original issue discount or, if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently, market discount, as well as any "mark-to-market" gain from certain options, futures or forward contracts, as described above, will generally cause it to realize income or gain prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities or contracts. In order to obtain cash to enable it to distribute this income or gain, maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid federal income or excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold. The federal income tax rules applicable to interest rate swaps, floors, caps and collars are unclear in certain respects, and the Fund may also be required to account for these instruments under tax rules in a manner that, under certain circumstances, may limit its transactions in these instruments.
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Taxable U.S. Shareholders - Distributions Distributions from investment company taxable income, as defined above, are taxable to shareholders who are subject to tax as ordinary income whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Taxable distributions include distributions from the Fund that are attributable to (a) taxable income, including but not limited to dividends, taxable bond interest, recognized market discount income, original issue discount income accrued with respect to taxable bonds, income from repurchase agreements, income from securities lending, income from interest rate swaps, caps, floors and collars; or (b) capital gains from the sale of securities or other investments (including from the disposition of rights to when-issued securities prior to issuance) or from options, futures or certain forward contracts. Any portion of such taxable distributions that is attributable to the Fund's net capital gain, as defined above, may be designated by the Fund as a "capital gain dividend," taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain whether received in cash or additional shares and regardless of the length of time their shares of the Fund have been held. It is expected that distributions made by the Fund will ordinarily not qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations because qualifying distributions may be made only from the Fund's dividend income that it receives from stock in U.S. domestic corporations. The Fund does not intend to purchase stock of domestic corporations other than in limited instances, including investments in investment companies, distributions from which may in rare cases qualify as dividends for this purpose. The dividends-received deduction, if available, is reduced to the extent the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under the federal income tax law and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally 46 days. Receipt of certain distributions qualifying for the deduction may result in reduction of the tax basis of the corporate shareholder's shares and may give rise to or increase its liability for federal corporate alternative minimum tax. Distributions in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first reduce a shareholder's basis in his or her shares and, after the shareholder's basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital gains to a shareholder who holds his or her shares as capital assets. Shareholders receiving a distribution in the form of newly issued shares will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of cash that they would have received had they elected to receive cash and will have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount. After the close of each calendar year, the Fund will inform shareholders of the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions for such year, including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as tax-exempt or as capital gain, the portion, if any, that should be treated as a tax preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax and the foreign tax credits, if any, associated with such dividends. All distributions, whether received in shares or in cash, as well as redemptions and exchanges, must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a U.S. federal income tax return. Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain prohibited transactions is accorded to B-46
accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for more information. Taxable U.S. Shareholders -- Sale of Shares When a shareholder's shares are sold, redeemed or otherwise disposed of in a transaction that is treated as a sale for tax purposes, the shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the shareholder's adjusted tax basis in the shares and the cash, or fair market value of any property, received. (To aid in computing your tax basis, a shareholder should generally retain its account statements for the period that it held shares.) Assuming the shareholder holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of such sale, such gain or loss should be capital in character, and long-term if the shareholder has a tax holding period for the shares of more than one year, otherwise short-term, subject to the rules described below. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with reference to their particular circumstances to determine whether a redemption (including an exchange) or other disposition of Fund shares is properly treated as a sale for tax purposes, as is assumed in this discussion. All or a portion of a sales charge paid in purchasing Class A Shares of the Fund cannot be taken into account for purposes of determining gain or loss on the redemption or exchange of such shares within 90 days after their purchase to the extent shares of the Fund or another fund are subsequently acquired without payment of a sales charge pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. Any disregarded portion of such charge will result in an increase in the shareholder's tax basis in the shares subsequently acquired. If a shareholder received a capital gain dividend with respect to shares and such shares have a tax holding period of six months or less at the time of the sale or redemption, then any loss the shareholder realizes on the sale or redemption will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of such capital gain dividend. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale 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 same 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. Backup Withholding The Fund will be required to report to the IRS all taxable distributions, as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt recipients, i.e., corporations and certain other investors distributions to which are exempt from the information reporting provisions of the Code. Under the backup withholding provisions of Code Section 3406 and applicable Treasury regulations, all such reportable distributions and proceeds may be subject to backup withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 31% in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") and with certain required certifications or if the IRS or a broker notifies the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest or dividend income. The Fund may refuse to accept an application that does not contain any required taxpayer identification number or certification that the number provided is correct. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability. If a shareholder does not have a TIN, it should apply for one immediately by contacting the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Backup withholding could apply to payments relating to a shareholder's account while it is waiting receipt of a TIN. Special rules apply for certain entities. For example, for an account established under a Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act, the
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TIN of the minor should be furnished. Investors should consult their tax advisers about the applicability of the backup withholding provisions. Non-U.S. Shareholders The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as it applies to "U.S. persons" (i.e., U.S. citizens and residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) subject to tax under such law. Dividends from investment company taxable income distributed by the Fund to a shareholder who is not a U.S. person will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty) unless the dividends are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the shareholder, in which case the dividends will be subject to tax on a net income basis at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. individuals or domestic corporations. Distributions of net capital gain, including amounts retained by the Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains, to a shareholder who is not a U.S. person 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. Any capital gain realized by a shareholder who is not a U.S. person upon a sale or redemption of shares of the 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 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. persons who fail to furnish the Fund with an IRS Form W-8, certificate of foreign status, or acceptable substitute may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% on capital gain dividends and the proceeds of redemptions and exchanges. 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 Fund. State and Local Taxes The Fund may be subject to state or local taxes in certain jurisdictions in which the Fund may be deemed to be doing business. A state income (and possibly local income and/or intangible property) tax exemption is generally available to the extent (if any) the Fund's distributions are derived from interest on (or, in the case of intangible property taxes, the value of its assets is attributable to) certain U.S. Government obligations and/or tax-exempt municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the particular state or a political subdivision thereof, provided in some states that certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations and/or reporting requirements are satisfied. In addition, in those states or localities which have income tax laws, the treatment of the Fund and its shareholders under such laws may differ from their treatment under federal income tax laws, and investment in the Fund may have tax consequences for shareholders different from those of a direct investment in the Fund's portfolio securities. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers concerning these matters. B-48
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION The Fund may from time to time quote or otherwise use yield and total return information in advertisements, shareholder reports or sales literature. Thirty-day yield and average annual total return values are computed pursuant to formulas specified by the SEC. The Fund may also from time to time quote distribution rates in reports to shareholders and in sales literature. Thirty-day yield is derived by dividing net investment income per share earned during the period by the maximum public offering price per share on the last day of such period. Yield is then annualized by assuming that yield is realized each month for 12 months and is reinvested every six months. Net investment income per share is equal to the dividends and interest earned during the period, reduced by accrued expenses for the period. The calculation of net investment income for these purposes may differ from the net investment income determined for accounting purposes. Distribution rate for a specified period is calculated by annualizing distributions of net investment income for such period and dividing this amount by the net asset value per share or maximum public offering price on the last day of the period. Average annual total return for a specified period is derived by calculating the actual dollar amount of the investment return on a $1,000 investment made at the maximum public offering price applicable to the relevant class (i.e., net asset value in the case of each class other than Class A Shares) at the beginning of the period, and then calculating the annual compounded rate of return which would produce that amount, assuming a redemption at the end of the period. This calculation assumes a complete redemption of the investment. It also assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period. Year-by-year total return and cumulative total return for a specified period are each derived by calculating the percentage rate required to make a $1,000 investment (made at the maximum public offering price per share with all distributions reinvested) at the beginning of such period equal to the actual total value of such investment at the end of such period. Total return calculations for Class A Shares reflect the effect of paying the maximum initial sales charge. Investment at a lower sales charge would result in higher performance figures. The Fund may also from time to time advertise total return on a cumulative, average, year-by-year or other basis for various specified periods by means of quotations, charts, graphs or schedules. In addition, the Fund may furnish total return calculations based on investments at various sales charge levels or at NAV. Any performance information which is based on the Fund's NAV per share would be reduced if any applicable sales charge were taken into account. In addition to the above, the Fund may from time to time advertise its performance relative to certain averages, performance rankings, indices, other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services and investments for which reliable performance information is available. The Fund's performance quotations do not reflect any fees charged by an Authorized Dealer, Service Organization or other financial intermediary to its customer accounts in connection with investments in the Fund. Thirty-day yield, distribution rate and average annual total return are calculated separately for each class of shares. Each class of shares is subject to different fees and expenses and may have different returns for the same period. B-49
The average annual total return calculation reflects a maximum initial sales charge of 1.5% for the Fund's Class A Shares. As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Fund had not commenced operations. Accordingly, no performance information is provided for the Fund. Occasionally, statistics may be used to specify the Fund's volatility or risk. Measures of volatility or risk are generally used to compare the Fund's net asset value or performance relative to a market index. One measure of volatility is beta. Beta is the volatility of the Fund relative to the total market. A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market. Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation is used to measure variability of net asset value or total return around an average, over a specified period of time. The premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk undertaken in achieving performance. The Fund may from time to time advertise comparative performance as measured by various independent sources, including, but not limited to, Lipper ------ Analytical Services, Inc., Donaghue's Money Fund Report, Barron's, The Wall ------------------------- ----------------- -------- Street Journal, Weisenberger Investment Companies Service, Business Week, -------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------- Changing Times, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, Morningstar Mutual Funds The -------------- --------------- ------ ------- ------------------------ --- New York Times, Personal Investor, Sylvia Porter's Personal Finance and Money. -------------- ----------------- -------------------------------- ----- In addition, the Fund may from time to time advertise its performance relative to certain indices, any component of such indices and benchmark investments, including but not limited to: (a) the Shearson Lehman Government/Corporate (Total) Index; (b) Shearson Lehman Government Index; (c) Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year Treasury Index; (d) Merrill Lynch 2-Year Treasury Curve Index; (e) the Salomon Brothers Treasury Yield Curve Rate of Return Index; (f) the Payden & Rygel 2-Year Treasury Note Index; (g) 1 through 3 year U.S. Treasury Notes; (h) constant maturity U.S. Treasury yield indices; (i) the Consumer Price Index; (j) the London Interbank Offered Rate; (k) other taxable investments such as certificates of deposit, money market deposit accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, money market mutual funds, repurchase agreements, commercial paper; (l) the Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Mutual Fund Performance Analysis, Fixed Income Analysis and Mutual Fund Indices (which measure total return and average current yield for the mutual fund industry and rank mutual fund performance); (m) the CDA Mutual Fund Report published by CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. (which analyzes price, risk and various measures of return for the mutual fund industry); (n) Stocks, Bonds, Bills and Inflation published by Ibbotson Associates (which provides historical performance figures for stocks, government securities and inflation); (o) the Salomon Brothers' World Bond Index (which measures the total return in U.S. dollar terms of government bonds, Eurobonds and foreign bonds of ten countries, with all such bonds having a minimum maturity of five years); (p) the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index or its component indices; (q) the Standard & Poor's Bond Indices (which measure yield and price of corporate, municipal and U.S. government bonds); (r) the J.P. Morgan Global Government Bond Index; (s) historical investment data supplied by the research departments of Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers Inc., First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Salomon Brothers, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation; (t) Donoghue's Money Fund Report (which provides industry averages for 7-day annualized and compounded yields of taxable, tax-free and U.S. government money funds); (u) the Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Indices; (v) the Merrill Lynch Municipal Bond Institutional Total Rate of Return Indices; (w) Bond Buyer Indices; and (x) IBC/Donoghue's Money Fund Averages/Institutional Only Tax Free; and constant maturity U.S. Treasury yield indices.
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The composition of the investments in the above-referenced indices and the characteristics of the Fund's benchmark investments are not identical to, and in some cases may be very different from, those of the Fund's portfolio. These indices and averages are generally unmanaged and the items included in the calculations of such indices and averages may not be identical to the formulas used by the Fund to calculate its performance figures. From time to time advertisements or communications to shareholders may summarize the substance of information contained in shareholder reports (including the investment composition of the Fund), as well as the views of Goldman Sachs as to current market, economic, trade and interest rate trends, legislative, regulatory and monetary developments, investment strategies and regulated matters believed to be of relevance to the Fund. Information used in advertisement and materials furnished to present and prospective investors may include statements or illustrations relating to the appropriateness of certain types of securities and/or mutual funds to meet specific financial goals. Such information may address: . cost associated with aging parents; . funding a college education (including its actual and estimated cost); . health care expenses (including actual and projected expenses); . long-term disabilities (including the availability of, and coverage provided by, disability insurance): . retirement (including the availability of social security benefits, the tax treatment of such benefits and statistics and other information relating to maintaining a particular standard of living and outliving existing assets); . asset allocation strategies and the benefits of diversifying among asset classes; . the benefits of international and emerging market investments; . the effects of inflation on investing and saving; . the benefits of establishing and maintaining a regular pattern of investing and the benefits of dollar-cost averaging; and . measures of portfolio risk, including but not limited to, alpha, beta and standard deviation. The Trust may from time to time use comparisons, graphs or charts in advertisements to depict the following types of information: . The performance of various types of securities (taxable money market funds, U.S. Treasury securities, adjustable rate mortgage securities, government securities, municipal bonds) over time. However, the characteristics of these securities are not identical to, and may be very different from, those of the Fund's portfolio; B-51
. Volatility of total return of various market indices (i.e., Lehman Government Bond Index, Standard and Poor's 500, IBC/Donoghue's Money Fund Average/All Taxable Index) over varying periods of time; . Credit ratings of domestic government bonds in various countries; . Price volatility comparisons of types of securities over different periods of time; or . Price and yield comparisons of a particular security over different periods of time. In addition, the Trust may from time to time include rankings of Goldman Sachs' research department by publications such as the Institutional Investor and the Wall Street Journal in advertisements. In addition, from time to time, advertisements or information may include a discussion of asset allocation models developed by GSAM and/or its affiliates, certain attributes or benefits to be derived from asset allocation strategies and the Goldman Sachs mutual funds that may be offered as investment options for the strategic asset allocations. Such advertisements and information may also include GSAM's current economic outlook and domestic and international market views to suggest periodic tactical modifications to current asset allocation strategies. Such advertisements and information may include other material which highlight or summarize the services provided in support of an asset allocation program. In addition, advertisements or shareholder communications may include a discussion of certain attributes or benefits to be derived by an investment in the Fund. Such advertisements or information may include symbols, headlines or other material which highlight or summarize the information discussed in more detail therein. Performance data is based on historical results and is not intended to indicate future performance. Total return, 30-day yield and distribution rate will vary based on changes in market conditions, portfolio expenses, portfolio investments and other factors. The value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate and an investor's shares may be worth more or less than their original cost upon redemption. The Trust may also, at its discretion, from time to time make a list of the Fund's holdings available to investors upon request. Performance quotations will be calculated separately for each class of shares in existence. Because each class of shares is subject to different expenses, the performance of each class of shares of the Fund will differ. OTHER INFORMATION As stated in the Prospectuses, the Trust may authorize Service Organizations and other institutions 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 Service Organizations or institutions may enter into sub-transfer agency agreements with the Trust or Goldman B-52
Sachs with respect to their services. The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may pay, out of their own assets, compensation to Authorized Dealers, Service Organizations and other financial intermediaries ("Intermediaries") in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Fund and/or servicing of these shares. These payments ("Additional Payments") would be in addition to the payments by the Fund described in the Fund's Prospectuses and this Additional Statement for distribution and shareholder servicing and processing and would also be in addition to the sales commissions payable to Intermediaries as set forth in the Prospectus. These Additional Payments may take the form of "due diligence" payments for an Intermediary's examination of the Fund and payments for providing extra employee training and information relating to the Fund; "listing" fees for the placement of the Funds on a dealer's list of mutual funds available for purchase by its customers; "finders" or "referral" fees for directing investors to the Fund; "marketing support" fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of the Fund's shares; and payments for the sale of shares and/or the maintenance of share balances. In addition, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make Additional Payments for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to any shareholder servicing and processing fees paid by the Fund. 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, or may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved, and may be different for different Intermediaries. Furthermore, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions. The Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates may also pay for the travel expenses, meals, lodging and entertainment of Intermediaries and their salespersons and guests in connection with educational, sales and promotional programs, subject to applicable NASD regulations. The Distributor currently expects that such additional bonuses or incentives will not exceed 0.50% of the amount of any sales. The 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. The Fund, however, reserves the right to pay redemptions exceeding $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund at the time of redemption by a distribution in kind of securities (instead of cash) from the Fund. The securities distributed in kind would be readily marketable and would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating the 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 the 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 the 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 the Fund. (The Trust may also suspend or postpone the recommendation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions).
The Prospectuses and this Additional Statement do not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act with respect to the securities offered by the Prospectuses. Certain portions of the Registration Statement have been omitted from the B-53
Prospectuses and this Additional Statement pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Registration Statement including the exhibits filed therewith may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. Statements contained in the Prospectuses or in this Additional Statement as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which the Prospectuses and this Additional Statement form a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS (Class A Shares Only) The following information supplements the information in the Prospectus under the captions "Shareholder Guide" and "Dividends." Please see the Prospectus for more complete information. Other Purchase Information -------------------------- The sales load waivers on the Fund's 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 the 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. Since the Fund 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. Right of Accumulation --------------------- 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 Shares (acquired by purchase or exchange) of the Fund and Class A 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 $465,000 and purchases additional Class A Shares of the Fund with a purchase price of $45,000, the sales charge for the $45,000 purchase would be 1.0% (the rate applicable to a single purchase of more than $500,000). Class A Shares purchased without the imposition of a sales charge and shares of another class of the Fund may not be aggregated with Class A Shares purchased subject to a sales charge. Class A Shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased (a) by an individual, his spouse and his children; and (b) 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 Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by an existing client of the Private Client Services Division of Goldman Sachs will be B-54
combined with Class A Shares held by any other Private Client Services account. In addition, Class A Shares of the Fund and Class A Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners, directors, officers or employees of the same business organization or by 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: (a) the business organization's, group's or firm's agreement to cooperate in the offering of the Fund's shares to eligible persons; and (b) notification to the 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 (a) your employee has been assigned a cumulative discount number by Goldman Sachs; and (b) your account, alone or in combination with the accounts of other plan participants also invested in Class A shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds totals the requisite aggregate amount as described in the Prospectuses. Statement of Intention ---------------------- If a shareholder anticipates purchasing at least $500,000, not counting reinvestments of dividends and distributions, of Class A Shares of the 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 an 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 90 days before submitting the Statement. The Statement authorizes the Transfer Agent to hold in escrow a sufficient number of shares which can be redeemed to make up any difference in the sales charge on the amount actually invested. For purposes of satisfying the amount specified on the Statement, the gross amount of each investment, exclusive of any appreciation on shares previously purchased, will be taken into account. The provisions applicable to the Statement, and the terms of the related escrow agreement, are set forth in Appendix C to this Additional Statement. Cross-Reinvestment of Dividends and Distributions ------------------------------------------------- Shareholders may receive dividends and distributions in additional shares of the same class of the Fund in which they have invested or they may elect to receive them in cash or shares of the same class of other mutual funds sponsored by Goldman Sachs (the "Goldman Sachs Funds") or ILA Service Units of the Prime Obligations Portfolio or the Tax-Exempt Diversified Portfolio (the "ILA Portfolios"). A Portfolio shareholder should obtain and read the prospectus relating to any other Goldman Sachs Fund or ILA Fund and its shares or units 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.
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Automatic Exchange Program -------------------------- A shareholder may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of shares of the Fund into an identical account of another Fund or an account registered in a different name or with a different address, social security or other taxpayer identification number, provided that the account in the acquired fund has been established, appropriate signatures have been obtained and 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. Systematic Withdrawal Plan -------------------------- A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Systematic Withdrawal Plan") is available to shareholders of the 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 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 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 Shares would be disadvantageous because of the sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A Shares. See "Shareholder Guide" in the Prospectus. 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. Offering Price -------------- Class A Shares of Fund are sold at a maximum sales charge of 1.5%. Assuming a $10.00 initial offering price per share, the maximum offering price of the Fund's Class A shares would be: net asset value, $10.00; Maximum Sales Charge 1.5%; offering price to public, $10.15. DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN (Class A Shares Only) Distribution and Service Plan. As described in the Prospectus, the ----------------------------- Trust has adopted, on behalf of Class A Shares of the Fund, a distribution and service plan ("Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Plan was initially approved with respect to the Fund on August 1, 2000 by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust who have no B-56
direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of approving the Plan. The compensation for distribution services payable under the Plan may not exceed 0.25% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A Shares. The Distributor at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plan does not exceed the maximum cap on "service fees" imposed by the NASD. Prior to the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund had been offered and, accordingly, no fees were paid by the Fund to Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan. The Plan is a compensation plan which provides for the payment of a specified fee without regard to the expenses actually incurred by Goldman Sachs. If such fee exceeds Goldman Sachs' expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these arrangements. The distribution fees received by Goldman Sachs under the Plan may be paid by Goldman Sachs as distributor to entities which provide financing for payments to Authorized Dealers in respect of sales of Class A Shares. To the extent such fees are not paid to such dealers, Goldman Sachs may retain such fee as compensation for its services and expenses of distributing the Fund's Class A Shares. Under the Plan, Goldman Sachs, as distributor of the Fund's Class A 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 Plan and the purposes for which such services were performed and expenditures were made. The Plan will remain in effect until May 1, 2001 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 Plan. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution compensation described therein without approval of a majority of the outstanding Class A Shares of the Fund. All material amendments of Plan must also be approved by the Trustees of the Trust in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time as to the 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 Fund's Class A Shares. If the 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 the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust may 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 Plan will benefit the Fund and its Class A shareholders. ADMINISTRATION PLAN (Administration Shares Only) The Fund has adopted an administration plan (the "Plan") with respect to its Administration Shares which authorizes it to compensate Service Organizations for providing certain account administration services to their customers who are beneficial owners of such Shares. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund enters into agreements with Service Organizations which purchase Administration Shares B-57
on behalf of their customers ("Service Agreements"). Under such Service Agreements the Service Organizations may agree to perform some or all of the following services: (a) act, directly or through an agent, as the shareholder of record and nominee for customers; (b) maintain account records for customers who beneficially own Administration Shares of the Fund; (c) receive and transmit, or assist in receiving and transmitting, funds for purchases and redemptions; (d) provide facilities to answer questions and handle correspondence from customers regarding their accounts; and (e) issue, or assist in issuing, confirmations for transactions in shares by customers. As compensation for such services, the Fund will pay each Service Organization an account administration fee in an amount up to 0.25% (on an annualized basis) of the average daily net assets of the Administration Shares of the Fund attributable to or held in the name of such Service Organization. As of the date of this Additional Statement, no shares of the Fund were offered and accordingly, the Fund paid no fees to Service Organizations pursuant to the Plan. Conflict of interest restrictions (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) may apply to a Service Organization's receipt of compensation paid by a Fund in connection with the investment of fiduciary assets in Administration Shares of the Fund. Service Organizations, including banks regulated by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and investment advisers and other money managers subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions, are urged to consult their legal advisers before investing fiduciary assets in Administration Shares of the Fund. In addition, under some state securities laws, banks and other financial institutions purchasing Administration Shares on behalf of their customers may be required to register as dealers. The Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or the related Service Agreements (the "Non-Interested Trustees"), initially voted to approve the Plan and Service Agreements with respect to the Fund at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan and Service Agreements on April 26, 2000. The Plan and Service Agreements will remain in effect until May 1, 2001 and will continue in effect thereafter only if such continuance is specifically approved annually by a vote of the Board of Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services described therein, and other material amendments of the Plan may not be made, unless approved by the Board of Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time by a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees as described above or by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding Administration Shares. The Service Agreements may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees as described above or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding Administration Shares of the Fund on not more than 60 days' written notice to any other party to the Service Agreements. The Service Agreements will terminate automatically if assigned. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons will be committed to the discretion of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust. The Board of Trustees has determined that, in its judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and the holders of its Administration Shares. B-58
APPENDIX A Commercial Paper Ratings ------------------------ A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current ----------------- opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to financial obligations having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor's for commercial paper: "A-1" - Obligations are rated in the highest category indicating that 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" - Obligations are 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" - Obligations exhibit 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" - Obligations are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. "C" - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. "D" - Obligations are in payment default. 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 and Poor's believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The "D" rating will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability ------- of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations not having an original maturity in excess of one year, unless explicitly noted. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Moody's for commercial paper: "Prime-1" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established industries; high rates of return on funds employed; conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high 1-A
internal cash generation; and well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity. "Prime-2" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained. "Prime-3" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained. "Not Prime" - Issuers do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories. Fitch short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that have ----- time horizons of less than 12 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities. 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 and 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. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment. "D" - Securities are in actual or imminent payment default. Thomson Financial BankWatch short-term ratings assess the --------------------------- likelihood of an untimely payment of principal and interest of debt instruments with original maturities of one year or less. The following summarizes the ratings used by Thomson Financial BankWatch: 2-A
"TBW-1" - This designation represents Thomson Financial ----------------- BankWatch's highest category and indicates a very high likelihood that principal --------- and interest will be paid on a timely basis. "TBW-2" - This designation represents Thomson Financial ----------------- BankWatch's second-highest category and indicates that while the degree of --------- safety regarding timely repayment of principal and interest is strong, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues rated "TBW-1." "TBW-3" - This designation represents Thomson Financial ----------------- BankWatch's lowest investment-grade category and indicates that while the --------- obligation is more susceptible to adverse developments (both internal and external) than those with higher ratings, the capacity to service principal and interest in a timely fashion is considered adequate. "TBW-4" - This designation represents Thomson Financial ----------------- BankWatch's lowest rating category and indicates that the obligation is regarded --------- as non-investment grade and therefore speculative. Corporate Long-Term Debt Ratings -------------------------------- The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor's ----------------- for corporate debt: "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 in 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. "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 3-A
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" - The "C" rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. "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 and ------------ 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" through "CCC" may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. "c" - The "c" subscript is used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer is below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer's bonds are deemed taxable. "p" - The letter "p" indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk. * - Continuance of the ratings is contingent upon Standard & ---------- Poor's receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing ------ documentation confirming investments and cash flows. "r" - The "r" highlights derivative, hybrid and certain other obligations that Standard & Poor's believes may experience high volatility or ----------------- high variability in expected returns as a result of noncredit risks. Examples of such obligations are securities with principal or interest return indexed to equities or currencies; certain swaps and options; and interest-only and principal-only mortgage securities. The absence of an "r" symbol should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will exhibit no volatility or variability in total return. N.R. Indicated that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to bast a rating, or that Standard & Poor's ----------------- does not rate a particular 4-A
obligation as a matter of policy. Debt obligations of issuers outside the United States and its territories are rated on the same basis as domestic corporate issues. The rating measure the creditworthiness of the obligor but do not take into account currency exchange and related uncertainties. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody's for corporate ------- long-term debt: "Aaa" - Bonds are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. "Aa" - Bonds are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the "Aaa" group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in "Aaa" securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the "Aaa" securities. "A" - Bonds possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future. "Baa" - Bonds are considered as medium-grade obligations, (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. "Ba," "B," "Caa," "Ca" and "C" - Bonds that possess one of these ratings provide questionable protection of interest and principal ("Ba" indicates speculative elements; "B" indicates a general lack of characteristics of desirable investment; "Caa" are of poor standing; "Ca" represents obligations which are speculative in a high degree; and "C" represents the lowest rated class of bonds). "Caa," "Ca" and "C" bonds may be in default. Con. (---) - Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction; (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operating experience; (c) rentals which begin when facilities are completed; or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of basis of condition. Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in 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 its generic rating category. 5-A
The following summarizes the ratings used by Fitch for ----- long-term debt: "AAA" - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. These ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk and are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. "AA" - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. These ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk and indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events. "A" - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. These ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk and indicate strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. "BBB" - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of good credit quality. These ratings denote that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category. "BB" - Bonds considered to be speculative. These ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic changes 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" - Bonds are considered highly speculative. These ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment. "CCC", "CC", "C" - Bonds have high default risk. Default is a real possibility, and capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable, and "C" ratings signal imminent default. "DDD," "DD" and "D" - Bonds are in default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines: "DDD" obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90% - 100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. "DD" indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50% - 90%, and "D" the lowest recovery potential, i.e. below 50%. Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated "DDD" have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued 6-A
operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated "DD" and "D" are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated "DD" are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated "D" have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations. To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the Fitch ratings from and including "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the addition ----- of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within these major rating categories. "NR" indicates the Fitch does not rate the issuer or issue in ----- question. "Withdrawn": A rating is withdrawn when Fitch deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced. Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as "Positive," indicating a potential upgrade, "Negative," for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving," if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period. Thomson Financial BankWatch assesses the likelihood of an --------------------------- untimely repayment of principal or interest over the term to maturity of long term debt and preferred stock which are issued by United States commercial banks, thrifts and non-bank banks; non-United States banks; and broker-dealers. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Thomson Financial BankWatch for long-term debt ratings: "AAA" - This designation indicates that the ability to repay principal and interest on a timely basis is extremely high. "AA" - This designation indicates a very strong ability to repay principal and interest on a timely basis, with limited incremental risk compared to issues rated in the highest category. "A" - This designation indicates that the ability to repay principal and interest is strong. Issues rated "A" could be more vulnerable to adverse developments (both internal and external) than obligations with higher ratings. "BBB" - This designation represents the lowest investment-grade category and indicates an acceptable capacity to repay principal and interest. Issues rated "BBB" are more vulnerable to adverse developments (both internal and external) than obligations with higher ratings. "BB" - A rating of BB suggests that the likelihood of default is considerable less than for lower-rated issues, although there are significant uncertainties that could affect the ability to adequately service debt obligations. "B" - Issues rated B show a higher degree of uncertainty and therefore greater likelihood of default than higher-rated issues. Adverse developments could negatively affect the payment of interest and principal on a timely basis. 7-A
"CCC" - Issues rated CCC clearly have a high likelihood of default, with little capacity to address further adverse changes in financial circumstances. "CC" - This rating is applied to issues that are subordinate to other obligations rated CCC and are afforded less protection in the event of bankruptcy or reorganization. "D" - This designation indicates that the long-term debt is in default. PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-) - The ratings from "AAA" through "CC" may include a plus or minus sign designation which indicates where within the respective category the issue is placed. 8-A
APPENDIX B BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OF GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. Goldman Sachs is noted for its Business Principles, which guide all of the firm's activities and serve as the basis for its distinguished reputation among investors worldwide. Our client's interests always come first. Our experience shows that if we serve our clients well, our own success will follow. Our assets are our people, capital and reputation. If any of these is ever diminished, the last is the most difficult to restore. We are dedicated to complying fully with the letter and spirit of the laws, rules and ethical principles that govern us. Our continued success depends upon unswerving adherence to this standard. We take great pride in the professional quality of our work. We have an uncompromising determination to achieve excellence in everything we undertake. Though we may be involved in a wide variety and heavy volume of activity, we would, if it came to a choice, rather be best than biggest. We stress creativity and imagination in everything we do. While recognizing that the old way may still be the best way, we constantly strive to find a better solution to a client's problems. We pride ourselves on having pioneered many of the practices and techniques that have become standard in the industry. We make an unusual effort to identify and recruit the very best person for every job. Although our activities are measured in billions of dollars, we select our people one by one. In a service business, we know that without the best people, we cannot be the best firm. We offer our people the opportunity to move ahead more rapidly than is possible at most other places. We have yet to find limits to the responsibility that our best people are able to assume. Advancement depends solely on ability, performance and contribution to the Firm's success, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other impermissible criterion or circumstance. We stress teamwork in everything we do. While individual creativity is always encouraged, we have found that team effort often produces the best results. We have no room for those who put their personal interests ahead of the interests of the firm and its clients. The dedication of our people to the Firm and the intense effort they give their jobs are greater than one finds in most other organizations. We think that this is an important part of our success. Our profits are a key to our success. They replenish our capital and attract and keep our best people. It is our practice to share our profits generously with all who help create them. Profitability is crucial to our future. We consider our size an asset that we try hard to preserve. We want to be big enough to undertake the largest project that any of our clients could contemplate, yet small enough to maintain 1-B
the loyalty, the intimacy and the esprit de corps that we all treasure and that contribute greatly to our success. We constantly strive to anticipate the rapidly changing needs of our clients and to develop new services to meet those needs. We know that the world of finance will not stand still and that complacency can lead to extinction. We regularly receive confidential information as part of our normal client relationships. To breach a confidence or to use confidential information improperly or carelessly would be unthinkable. Our business is highly competitive, and we aggressively seek to expand our client relationships. However, we must always be fair to competitors and must never denigrate other firms. Integrity and honesty are the heart of our business. We expect our people to maintain high ethical standards in everything they do, both in their work for the firm and in their personal lives. 2-B
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.'S INVESTMENT BANKING AND SECURITIES ACTIVITIES Goldman Sachs is a leading financial services firm traditionally known on Wall Street and around the world for its institutional and private client service. . With thirty-seven offices worldwide Goldman Sachs employs over 11,000 professionals focused on opportunities in major markets. . The number one underwriter of all international equity issues from 1989-1997. . The number one lead manager of U.S. common stock offerings for the past nine years (1989-1997).* . The number one lead manager for initial public offerings (IPOs) worldwide (1989-1997). * Source: Securities Data Corporation. Common stock ranking excludes REITS, ----------------------------------- Investment Trusts and Rights. 3-B
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.'S HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE 1869 Marcus Goldman opens Goldman Sachs for business 1890 Dow Jones Industrial Average first published 1896 Goldman, Sachs & Co. joins New York Stock Exchange 1906 Goldman, Sachs & Co. takes Sears Roebuck & Co. public (at 93 years, the firm's longest-standing client relationship) Dow Jones Industrial Average tops 100 1925 Goldman, Sachs & Co. finances Warner Brothers, producer of the first talking film 1956 Goldman, Sachs & Co. co-manages Ford's public offering, the largest to date 1970 Goldman, Sachs & Co. opens London office 1972 Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 1000 1986 Goldman, Sachs & Co. takes Microsoft public 1988 Goldman Sachs Asset Management is formally established 1991 Goldman, Sachs & Co. provides advisory services for the largest privatization in the region of the sale of Telefonos de Mexico 1995 Goldman Sachs Asset Management introduces Global Tactical Asset Allocation Program Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 5000 1996 Goldman, Sachs & Co. takes Deutsche Telekom public Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 6000 1997 Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 7000 Goldman Sachs Asset Management increases assets under management by 100% over 1996 1998 Goldman Sachs Asset Management reaches $195.5 billion in assets under management Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 9000 1999 Goldman Sachs becomes a public company 4-B
APPENDIX C Statement of Intention 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 $500,000 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 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. 1-C
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