485APOS 1 j09785ape485apos.htm POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO FORM N-1A GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2005
Registration No. 333-35883
811-08361
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
         
 
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   þ
 
       
 
  Pre-Effective Amendment No. _   o
 
       
 
  Post-Effective Amendment No. 13   þ
 
       
 
  and/or    
 
       
 
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   þ
 
       
 
  Amendment No. 14   þ
GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
71 South Wacker, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code: (312) 655-4400
Howard B. Surloff, Esq.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
One New York Plaza, 37th Floor
New York, New York 10004
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
copies to:
Jeffrey A. Dalke, Esq.
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square
18th and Cherry Streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
o   Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
 
o   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
 
þ   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
 
o   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
o   this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
 
 


 

GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST

GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM U.S. EQUITY FUND

GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MID CAP VALUE FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS EQUITY INDEX FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CORE FIXED INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MONEY MARKET FUND

Service Shares

Supplement Dated October 28, 2005

To the Prospectus dated October 28, 2005

The Service Shares of the Goldman Sachs CORESM U.S. Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs CORESM Small Cap Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund, Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund, Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund, and Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund are newly created shares offered by Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (“GSVIT”). It is expected that Service Shares of certain of these Funds will be issued initially in connection with the proposed acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the portfolios of the Allmerica Investment Trust (“AIT”).

In connection with the proposed acquisition, a shareholder meeting is scheduled to be held on December 9, 2005. At that meeting, the shareholders of each of the investment portfolios of AIT (an “AIT Fund”) will be asked to approve a proposed agreement and plan of reorganization whereby each AIT Fund listed below would be acquired by the corresponding investment portfolio of GSVIT listed opposite its name:

     
AIT Funds GSVIT Funds


Select International Equity Fund
  International Equity Fund
Core Equity Fund
  CORESM U.S. Equity Fund
Select Growth Fund
  Capital Growth Fund
Select Capital Appreciation Fund
  Growth Opportunities Fund
Equity Index Fund
  Equity Index Fund
Select Value Opportunity Fund
  Mid Cap Value Fund
Government Bond Fund
  Government Income Fund
Select Investment Grade Income Fund
  Core Fixed Income Fund
Money Market Fund
  Money Market Fund


 

The Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund, Equity Index Fund, Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund are newly organized Funds that have been created for purposes of acquiring the assets and liabilities of the AIT Select Capital Appreciation Fund, AIT Equity Index Fund, AIT Government Bond Fund, AIT Select Investment Grade Income Fund and AIT Money Market Fund (the “Predecessor AIT Funds”), respectively, and continuing their operations. If the reorganization is approved by AIT shareholders, for purposes of the reorganization, the Predecessor AIT Funds will be considered the accounting survivor, and accordingly, certain financial highlights and other information relating to the Predecessor AIT Funds have been included in the attached prospectus and presented as if the reorganization has been consummated. However, as of the date of this prospectus, the reorganization has not yet been approved by shareholders and has not occurred.

VITSTCK 10-05


 

Prospectus
  Service
Shares
  October 28, 2005
GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
  n  Goldman Sachs CORE SM U.S. Equity Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs CORE SM Small Cap Equity Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund
  n  Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund
 
(GRAPHIC)
 
  Shares of the Trust are offered to separate accounts of participating life insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Shares of the Trust are not offered directly to the general public.
 
  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 THE FUND IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND INVOLVES INVESTMENT RISKS, AND YOU MAY LOSE MONEY IN THE FUND.
 
(GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO)


 

         

NOT FDIC-INSURED   May Lose Value   No Bank Guarantee


 

  General Investment Management Approach
 
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM®”), serves as investment adviser to the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”) serves as investment adviser to the International Equity Fund (also a “Fund”). GSAM and GSAMI are referred to in this Prospectus as the “Investment Adviser.” SSgA Funds Management, Inc. serves as the sub-investment adviser to the Equity Index Fund (the “Sub-Adviser”).
 
  Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”) offers shares of the Funds to separate accounts of participating insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Shares of the Trust are not offered directly to the public. The participating insurance companies, not the owners of the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies or participants therein, are shareholders of the Funds. The Funds pool the monies of these separate accounts and invest these monies in portfolios of securities pursuant to the Funds’ stated investment objectives.
 
  The investment objectives and policies of the Funds are similar to the investment objectives and policies of other mutual funds that the Investment Adviser manages. Although the objectives and policies may be similar, the investment results of the Funds may be higher or lower than the results of such other mutual funds. The Investment Adviser cannot guarantee, and makes no representation, that the investment results of similar funds will be comparable even though the funds have the same Investment Adviser.

   QUANTITATIVE (“CORE”) STYLE FUNDS   

  GSAM’s CORE Investment Philosophy:
 
  GSAM’s quantitative style of funds management— CORE— emphasizes the three building blocks of active management: stock selection, portfolio construction and efficient implementation.
 
  I. CORE Stock Selection
  The CORE Funds use GSAM’s proprietary multifactor model (“Multifactor Model”), a rigorous computerized rating system, to forecast the returns of securities held in a Fund’s portfolio. The Multifactor Model incorporates common variables covering measures of:
  n  Research (What do fundamental analysts think about the company and its prospects?)
  n  Value (How is the company priced relative to fundamental accounting measures?)
  n  Momentum (What are medium-term price trends? How has the price responded to new information?)
  n  Profitability (What is the company’s margin on sales? How efficient are its operations?)
  n  Earnings Quality (Were earnings derived from sustainable (cash-based) sources?)
  n  Management Impact (Are companies using capital to enhance shareholder value?)

  All of the above factors are carefully evaluated within the Multifactor Model since each has demonstrated a significant impact on the performance of the securities and markets they were designed to forecast. Stock selection in this process applies quantitative methods to evaluate company fundamentals.
 
  II. CORE Portfolio Construction
  A proprietary risk model, which is intended to identify and measure risk as accurately as possible, includes all the above factors used in the return model to select stocks, as well as several other factors associated with risk but not return. In this process, the Investment Adviser manages risk by attempting to limit deviations from the benchmark, and by attempting to run a size and sector neutral portfolio. A computer optimizer evaluates many different security combinations (considering many possible weightings) in an effort to construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio given the Fund’s benchmark.
 
  III. Efficient Implementation
  The portfolio management team considers transaction costs at each step of the investment process. The team incorporates expected portfolio turnover when assigning weights to the variables of the Multifactor Model. The team also factors expected execution costs into portfolio construction and evaluates multiple trading options. The team then selects the trading strategy it believes will reduce the total transaction costs to the Funds.
 
 
  The CORE Funds are fully invested, broadly diversified and offer consistent overall portfolio characteristics. They may serve as a good foundation on which to build a portfolio.


 
1


 

   GROWTH STYLE FUNDS   

  GSAM’s Growth Investment Philosophy:
  The Investment Adviser’s Growth Team seeks to generate excess returns through stock selection—identifying high quality business franchises, purchasing them at what the Investment Adviser believes are attractive prices and owning them for the long-term.

  1.  Invest as if buying the company/business, not simply trading its stock:
  n  Understand the business, management, products and competition.
  n  Perform intensive, hands-on fundamental research.
  n  Seek businesses with strategic competitive advantages.
  n  Over the long-term, expect each company’s stock price ultimately to track the growth in the value of the business.

  2.  Buy high-quality growth businesses that possess strong business franchises, favorable long-term prospects and excellent management.
 
  3.  Purchase superior long-term growth companies at a favorable price—seek to purchase at a fair valuation, giving the investor the potential to fully capture returns from above-average growth rates.

  Growth companies have earnings expectations that exceed those of the stock market as a whole.


   VALUE STYLE FUNDS   

  GSAM’s Value Investment Philosophy:
  Through intensive, firsthand fundamental research our portfolio team seeks to identify quality businesses selling at compelling valuations.

  1.  Businesses represent compelling value when:
  n  Market uncertainty exists.
  n  Their economic value is not recognized by the market.

  2.  By quality, we mean companies that have:
  n  Sustainable operating or competitive advantage.
  n  Excellent stewardship of capital.
  n  Capability to earn above their cost of capital.
  n  Strong or improving balance sheet and cash flow.

  Business quality, conservative valuation, and thoughtful portfolio construction are the key elements of our value approach.


   ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL STYLE FUND   

  GSAMI’s Active International Investment Philosophy:

     
    Belief How the Investment Adviser Acts on Belief

n Equity markets are inefficient
  Seeks excess return through team driven, research intensive and bottom-up stock selection.
 
n Returns are variable
  Seeks to capitalize on variability of market and regional returns through asset allocation decisions.
 
n Corporate fundamentals ultimately drive share price
  Seeks to conduct rigorous, first-hand research of business and company management.
 
n A business’ intrinsic value will be achieved over time
  Seeks to realize value through a long-term investment horizon.
 
n Portfolio risk must be carefully analyzed and monitored
  Seeks to systematically monitor and manage risk through diversification, multifactor risk models and currency management.

  The Investment Adviser attempts to manage risk in the Fund through disciplined portfolio construction and continual portfolio review and analysis. As a result, bottom-up stock selection, driven by fundamental research, should be a main driver of returns.


 
2


 

GENERAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

   FIXED-INCOME STYLE FUNDS   

  The Fixed-Income Style Funds Described In This Prospectus Are Not Money Market Funds. Investors In The Funds Should Understand That The Net Asset Value (“NAV”) Of The Funds Will Fluctuate Which May Result In A Loss Of A Portion Of The Principal Amount Invested.  

  Goldman Sachs’ Fixed-Income Investing Philosophy:
  The Fixed-Income investment philosophy focuses on consistently striving to add value through a disciplined investment approach. The globally integrated team actively seeks to generate multiple sources of return through a process based on four beliefs:
  n  multiple investment strategies are key to achieving optimal risk-adjusted returns;
  n  global integration is essential;
  n  short-term, tactical opportunities and long-term, investment views are equally important; and
  n  consistent, long-term returns can best be achieved through a risk aware approach.

  The investment process revolves around four groups: the Fixed Income Strategy Group (“FISG”), the Top-down Strategy Teams, the Bottom-up Sector Teams, and the Portfolio Teams. Cross-membership of portfolio managers across these groups enables them to fully capitalize on the expertise of the entire investment team.
 
  1. Fixed-Income Strategy Group establishes overall macro-economic view— This view serves as the backdrop for the sector allocation, security selection, duration and yield curve strategies.
 
  2. Top-down Strategy Teams formulate decisions across all GSAM portfolios— Using the FISG outlook as a backdrop, these four teams are responsible, to the extent applicable for a particular Fund, for Cross-Sector, Duration, Country and Currency decisions.
 
  3. Bottom-up Sector Teams formulate subsector allocation and security selection decisions— Concurrently, these teams formulate subsector allocation and security selection decisions.
 
  4. Portfolio Teams assess the risk for each Fund— Ultimately accountable for the aggregate result, these teams calibrate the “Best Ideas” generated by the Top-down Strategy and Bottom-up Sector Teams, incorporating Fund guidelines and objectives.
 
  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 as described above.
 
 
  With every fixed-income portfolio, the Investment Adviser applies a team approach that emphasizes risk management and capitalizes on Goldman Sachs’ extensive research capabilities.


  Each of the Fixed-Income Funds described in this Prospectus has a target duration. Duration is a weighted measure of the length of time until the security matures, or pays out, which takes into account interest payments that occur throughout the course of holding the security. A Fund’s duration approximates its price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Individual securities purchased by the Funds may have durations that are either shorter or longer than the target duration for the Fund as a whole. Maturity measures the time until final payment is due; it takes no account of the pattern of a security’s cash flows over time. In computing portfolio duration, a 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 Investment Adviser uses derivative instruments to manage the durations of the Funds’ investment portfolios in accordance with their respective target durations. These derivative instruments include financial futures contracts and swap transactions, as well as other types of derivatives, and can be used to shorten and lengthen the duration of a Fund. The Funds’ investments in derivative instruments, including financial futures contracts and swaps, can be significant. These transactions can result in sizeable realized and unrealized capital gains and losses relative to the gains and losses from the Funds’ investments in bonds and other securities.
 
  Interest rates, fixed-income securities prices, the prices of futures and other derivatives, and currency exchange rates can be volatile, and a variance in the degree of volatility or in the direction of the market from the Investment Adviser’s expectations may produce significant losses in a Fund’s investments in derivatives. In addition, a perfect correlation between a derivatives position and a fixed-income security position is generally impossible to achieve. As a result, the Investment Adviser’s use of derivatives may not be effective in fulfilling the Investment Adviser’s investment strategies and may contribute to losses that would not have been incurred otherwise.

 
3


 

  Financial futures contracts used by each of the Funds include interest rate futures contracts including, among others, Eurodollar futures contracts. Eurodollar futures contracts are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts that are based on the implied forward London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) of a three-month deposit. A Fund will not be limited as to its maximum weighted average portfolio maturity or the maximum stated maturity with respect to individual securities unless otherwise noted.
 
  Each Fixed-Income Fund also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys. A 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 Funds if they are determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality. A security satisfies a Fund’s minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking (for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies a Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 a Fund and its shareholders.

   MONEY MARKET FUND   

  Goldman Sachs’ Money Market Investment Philosophy:
  The Money Market Fund is managed to seek preservation of capital, daily liquidity and maximum current income. With the Fund, the Investment Adviser follows a conservative, risk-managed investment process that seeks to:
  n  Manage credit risk
  n  Manage interest rate risk
  n  Manage liquidity

  Investment Process
 
  1. Managing Credit Risk
 
  The Investment Adviser’s process for managing risk emphasizes:
  n  Intensive research—The Credit Department, a separate operating entity of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”), approves all money market fund eligible securities for the Funds. Sources for the Credit Department’s analysis include third-party inputs, such as financial statements and media sources, ratings releases and company meetings, as well as the Investment Research, Legal and Compliance departments of Goldman Sachs.
  n  Timely updates—A Credit Department-approved list of securities is continuously communicated on a “real-time” basis to the portfolio management team via computer link.

  The Result: An “approved” list of high-quality credits—The Investment Adviser’s portfolio management team uses this approved list to construct portfolios which offer the best available risk-return tradeoff within the “approved” credit universe.
 
  2. Managing Interest Rate Risk
 
  Three main steps are followed in seeking to manage interest rate risk:
  n  Establish weighted average maturity (“WAM”) target—WAM (the weighted average time until the yield of a portfolio reflects any changes in the current interest rate environment) is constantly revisited and adjusted as market conditions change. An overall strategy is developed by the portfolio management team based on insights gained from weekly meetings with both Goldman Sachs economists and economists from outside the firm.
  n  Implement optimum portfolio structure—Proprietary models that seek the optimum balance of risk and return, in conjunction with the Investment Adviser’s analysis of factors such as market events, short-term interest rates and the Fund’s asset volatility, are used to identify the most effective portfolio structure.
  n  Conduct rigorous analysis of new securities—The Investment Adviser’s five-step process includes legal, credit, historical index and liquidity analysis, as well as price stress testing to determine suitability for money market mutual funds.

  3. Managing Liquidity
 
  Factors that the Investment Adviser’s portfolio managers continuously monitor and that affect liquidity of a money market portfolio include:
  n  The Fund’s investors and factors that influence their asset volatility;
  n  Technical events that influence the trading range of federal funds and other short-term fixed-income markets; and
  n  Bid-ask spreads associated with securities in the portfolios.

 
4


 

GENERAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH

  The benchmark for the Money Market Fund is an iMoneyNet, Inc. Index. The Fund uses the iMoneyNet Index which best corresponds to the Fund’s eligible investments.


  n  The Fund: The Fund’s securities are valued by the amortized cost method as permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Under Rule 2a-7, the Fund may invest only in U.S. dollar-denominated securities that are determined to present minimal credit risk and meet certain other criteria including conditions relating to maturity, diversification and credit quality. These operating policies may be more restrictive than the fundamental policies set forth in the Statement of Additional Information (the “Additional Statement”).
  n  The Investors: The Fund is designed for investors seeking a high rate of return, a stable NAV and convenient liquidation privileges.
  n  NAV: The Fund seeks to maintain a stable NAV of $1.00 per share. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able at all times to maintain a NAV of $1.00 per share.
  n  Maximum Remaining Maturity of Portfolio Investments: 13 months (as determined pursuant to Rule 2a-7) at the time of purchase.
  n  Dollar-Weighted Average Portfolio Maturity: Not more than 90 days (as required by Rule 2a-7).
  n  Investment Restrictions: The Fund is subject to certain investment restrictions that are described in detail under “Investment Restrictions” in the Additional Statement. Fundamental investment restrictions and the investment objective of the Fund cannot be changed without approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. All investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.
  n  Diversification: Diversification can help the Fund reduce the risks of investing. In accordance with current regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund may not invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets at the time of purchase in the securities of any single issuer with the following exception: the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer for up to three business days. This limitation does not apply to cash, certain repurchase agreements, U.S. Government Securities (as defined in Appendix A) or securities of other investment companies. In addition, securities subject to certain unconditional guarantees are subject to different diversification requirements as described in the Additional Statement.

  References in this Prospectus to a Fund’s benchmark are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted are not an indication of how a particular Fund is managed.

 
5


 

  Fund Investment Objective and Strategies
 
 
  Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term growth of capital and dividend income
 
Benchmark:
  S&P 500® Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Large-cap U.S. equity investments
 
Investment Style:
  Quantitative, applied to large-cap growth and value (blend) stocks

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and dividend income. The Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified portfolio of large-cap and blue chip equity investments representing all major sectors of the U.S. economy.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 90% of its total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that collateral) measured at the time of purchase (“Total Assets”) in a diversified portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers, including foreign companies that are traded in the United States.* However, it is currently anticipated that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 95% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) in such equity investments.
 
  The Fund’s investments are selected using both a variety of quantitative techniques and fundamental research in seeking to maximize the Fund’s expected return, while maintaining risk, style, capitalization and industry characteristics similar to the S&P 500® Index. The Fund seeks a broad representation in most major sectors of the U.S. economy and a portfolio consisting of companies with average long-term earnings growth expectations and dividend yields. The Fund is not required to limit its investments to securities in the S&P 500® Index.
 
  Other. The Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities are limited to securities that are considered cash equivalents.


*  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Total Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
6


 

FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

  Goldman Sachs CORE Small
Cap Equity Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term growth of capital
 
Benchmark:
  Russell 2000® Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Equity investments in small-cap U.S. companies
 
Investment Style:
  Quantitative, applied to small-cap growth and value (blend) stocks

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The Fund seeks this objective through a broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in U.S. issuers.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at time of purchase) (“Net Assets”) in a broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap U.S. issuers, including foreign issuers that are traded in the United States.* However, it is currently anticipated that, under normal circumstances the Fund will invest at least 95% of its Net Assets in such equity investments. These issuers will have public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares available for trading on an unrestricted basis) similar to that of the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Russell 2000® Index at the time of investment. The Fund is not required to limit its investments to securities in the Russell 2000® Index. In addition, if the market capitalization of a company held by the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of the Russell 2000® Index is currently between $68 million and $2.4 billion.
 
  The Fund’s investments are selected using both a variety of quantitative techniques that evaluate fundamental characteristics in seeking to maximize the Fund’s expected return, while maintaining risk, style, capitalization and industry characteristics similar to the Russell 2000® Index. The Fund seeks to invest in small cap stocks with better momentum, earnings quality, profitability and valuations than the Russell 2000® Index.
 
  Other. The Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities are limited to securities that are considered cash equivalents.


*  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
7


 

  Goldman Sachs Capital
Growth Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term growth of capital
 
Benchmark:
  Russell 1000 Growth Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Large-cap U.S. equity investments that offer long-term capital appreciation potential
 
Investment Style:
  Growth

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 90% of its Total Assets in equity investments. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity investments that are considered by the Investment Adviser to have long-term capital appreciation potential. Although the Fund invests primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest up to 10% of its Total Assets in foreign securities, including securities of issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies (“emerging countries”) and securities quoted in foreign currencies.

 
8


 

FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

  Goldman Sachs Growth
and Income Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term growth of capital and growth of income
 
Benchmark:
  Russell 1000 Value Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Large-cap U.S. equity investments that are believed to be undervalued
 
Investment Style:
  Value

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and growth of income.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its Total Assets in equity investments that the Investment Adviser considers to have favorable prospects for capital appreciation and/or dividend-paying ability. Although the Fund will invest primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest up to 25% of its Total Assets in foreign securities, including securities of issuers in emerging countries and securities quoted in foreign currencies.
 
  Other. The Fund may also invest up to 35% of its Total Assets in fixed-income securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt obligations, that offer the potential to further the Fund’s investment objective.

 
 
9


 

  Goldman Sachs Mid Cap
Value Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term capital appreciation
 
Benchmark:
  Russell Midcap® Value Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Mid-cap U.S. equity investments that are believed to be undervalued or undiscovered by the marketplace
 
Investment Style:
  Value

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in a diversified portfolio of equity investments in mid-cap issuers with public stock market capitalizations (based upon shares available for trading on an unrestricted basis) within the range of the market capitalization of companies constituting the Russell Midcap® Value Index at the time of investment.* If the market capitalization of a company held by the Fund moves outside this range, the Fund may, but is not required to, sell the securities. The capitalization range of the Russell Midcap® Value Index is currently between $276 million and $14.9 billion. Although the Fund will invest primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest up to 25% of its Net Assets in foreign securities, including securities of issuers in emerging countries and securities quoted in foreign currencies.
 
  Other. The Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in companies with public stock market capitalizations outside the range of companies constituting the Russell Midcap® Value Index at the time of investment and in fixed-income securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt obligations.


*  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
10


 

FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

  Goldman Sachs Growth
Opportunities Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term growth of capital
 
Benchmark:
  Russell Midcap® Growth
 
Investment Focus:
  U.S. equity investments that offer long-term capital appreciation potential with a primary focus on mid-cap companies
 
Investment Style:
  Growth

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 90% of its Total Assets in equity investments with a primary focus on mid-cap companies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity investments that are considered by the Investment Adviser to be strategically positioned for long-term growth. Although the Fund invests primarily in publicly traded U.S. securities, it may invest up to 10% of its Total Assets in foreign securities, including securities of issuers in emerging countries and securities quoted in foreign currencies.

 
11


 

  Goldman Sachs Equity
Index Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  The Fund seeks to achieve investment results that correspond to the aggregate price and yield performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment returns of large capitalization stocks.
 
Benchmark:
  S&P 500 Index
 
Investment Focus:
  Large-cap U.S. equity investments
 
Investment Style:
  Quantitative

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks to achieve investment results that correspond to the aggregate price and yield performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment returns of large capitalization stocks.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund tries to achieve its objective by attempting to replicate the aggregate price and yield performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment returns of large capitalization stocks. The Fund’s benchmark is the S&P 500 Index. Because of its policy of tracking the S&P 500 Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of active investment management, which involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and market factors. The method used to select investments for the Fund involves investing in common stocks in approximately the order of their weightings in the S&P 500 Index. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will hold equity securities of approximately 500 different companies included in the S&P 500 Index and will invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in equity type securities.* The Fund will incur expenses that are not reflected in the performance results of the S&P 500 Index. Therefore, the return of the Fund may be lower than the return of the S&P 500 Index. These factors, among others, may result in “tracking error,” which is a measure of the degree to which the Fund’s results differ from the results of the S&P 500 Index.
 
  Other. The Fund’s sub-adviser’s passive equity process objective is to remain fully invested in the equity market at all times. To accomplish this, the sub-adviser may hold a small amount of unleveraged exchange-traded index futures contracts to maintain full exposure. For instance, the sub-adviser may hold approximately 1%-3% of the Fund’s value in suitable CFTC approved index futures contracts. This position in futures also allows the sub-adviser to accommodate cash flows into and out of the Fund on a daily basis and equitize dividend receivables to achieve closer tracking. Derivatives are used as needed, but are not used for leverage purposes. The Fund reserves the right to use, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, the services of one or more other sub-investment advisers to implement the investment objective, strategies and policies of the Fund, without shareholder approval of those sub-investment advisers’ contracts if hereafter permitted by the SEC, by rule, order or otherwise.
 
  S&P does not endorse any stock in the S&P 500 Index. It is not a sponsor of the Equity Index Fund and is not affiliated with the Fund in any way.


*   To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in the Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
12


 

FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

  Goldman Sachs International
Equity Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Objective:
  Long-term capital appreciation
 
Benchmark:
  MSCI® Europe, Australasia, Far East (“EAFE®”) Index (unhedged)
 
Investment Focus:
  Equity investments in companies organized outside the United States or whose securities are principally traded outside the United States
 
Investment Style:
  Active International

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks this objective by investing in the stocks of leading companies within developed and emerging countries around the world, outside the U.S.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  Equity Investments. The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, substantially all, and at least 80% of its Net Assets in a diversified portfolio of equity investments in companies that are organized outside the United States or whose securities are principally traded outside the United States.* The Fund intends to invest in companies with public stock market capitalizations that are larger than $2.5 billion at the time of investment.
 
  The Fund may allocate its assets among countries as determined by the Investment Adviser from time to time, provided the Fund’s assets are invested in at least three foreign countries.
 
  The Fund expects to invest a substantial portion of its assets in the securities of issuers located in the developed countries of Western Europe and in Japan. From time to time, the Fund’s investments in a particular developed country may exceed 25% of its investment portfolio. In addition, the Fund may also invest in the securities of issuers located in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and in emerging countries. Currently, emerging countries include, among others, most Latin, Central and South American, African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European nations.
 
  Other. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its Net Assets in fixed-income securities, such as government, corporate and bank debt obligations.


*  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in the Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
13


 

  Goldman Sachs Government
Income Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Duration* (under normal interest rate conditions):
  Target = Lehman Brothers Government/Mortgage Index plus or minus 1 year
Maximum = 6 years
 
Expected Approximate Interest Rate Sensitivity:
 
5-year U.S. Treasury note
 
Credit Quality:
  U.S. Government Securities; non-U.S. Government Securities rated AAA or Aaa by a NRSRO at the time of purchase or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality
 
Benchmark:
  Lehman Brothers Government/Mortgage Index

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks a high level of current income, consistent with safety of principal.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in U.S. Government Securities and in repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities**. The remainder of the Fund’s Net Assets (up to 20%) may be invested in non-government securities such as privately issued securities representing an interest in or collateralized by adjustable rate and fixed rate mortgage loans or other mortgage-related securities (“Mortgage-Backed Securities”), asset-backed securities and corporate securities. 100% of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in U.S. dollar-denominated securities.


 *  The Fund’s duration approximates its price sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
**  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
14


 

FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

  Goldman Sachs Core Fixed
Income Fund

     
FUND FACTS

Duration* (under normal interest rate conditions):
  Target = Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index plus or minus one year
Maximum = 6 years
 
Expected Approximate Interest Rate Sensitivity:
 
5-year U.S. Treasury note
 
Credit Quality:
  Minimum = BBB- or Baa3 at time of purchase. Securities will either be rated by a NRSRO or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality
 
Benchmark:
  Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE   

  The Fund seeks a total return consisting of capital appreciation and income that exceeds the total return of the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index (the “Index”).

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in fixed-income securities, including U.S. Government Securities, corporate debt securities, privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities and asset-backed securities**. The Fund may also invest in custodial receipts, fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of states, territories, and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and the political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities thereof (“Municipal Securities”) and convertible securities. The Fund may also engage in forward foreign currency transactions for both speculative and hedging purposes. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated obligations will not exceed 25% of its total assets at the time of investment and 10% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in obligations of issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies (“emerging countries”). However, to the extent that the Investment Adviser has entered into transactions that are intended to hedge the Fund’s position in a non-U.S. dollar denominated obligation against currency risk, such obligation will not be counted when calculating compliance with the 25% limitation on obligations in non-U.S. currency. In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund uses the Index as its performance benchmark, but the Fund will not attempt to replicate the Index. The Fund may, therefore, invest in securities that are not included in the Index.


 *  The Fund’s duration approximates its price sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
**  To the extent required by SEC regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.
 
15


 

  Goldman Sachs Money
Market Fund

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES   

  The Money Market Fund seeks to maximize current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity by investing exclusively in high quality money market instruments.
 
  The Money Market Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in U.S. Government Securities, obligations of U.S. banks, commercial paper and other short-term obligations of U.S. companies, states, municipalities and other entities and repurchase agreements. The Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar denominated obligations of foreign banks, foreign companies and foreign governments.

   PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES   

  The table below identifies some of the investment techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Numbers in this table show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports. For more information see Appendix A. The Fund publishes its complete portfolio holdings on the Fund’s website (http://www.gs.com/funds). The Money Market Fund publishes its holdings as of the end of each month subject to a thirty calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. This information will be available on the website until the date on which a Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. In addition, a description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Additional Statement.

Investment Policies Matrix

     
Money
Market
Fund

U.S. Treasury Obligations
  n1

U.S. Government Securities
  n

Bank Obligations
  n
    Over 25% of total assets must be invested in U.S. and foreign (US$) banks2

Commercial Paper
  n
    U.S. and foreign (US$) commercial paper

Short-Term Obligations of Corporations and Other Entities
  n
    U.S. and foreign (US$) entities

Repurchase Agreements
  n

Asset-Backed and Receivables-Backed Securities3
  n

Foreign Government Obligations (US$)4
  n

Foreign Securities5
  n

Municipals
  n6

Custodial Receipts
  n

Unrated Securities7
  n

Investment Companies
  n
    Up to 10% of total assets in other investment companies

Private Activity Bonds
  n

Credit Quality7
  First Tier8

Miscellaneous
  Reverse repurchase
agreements not permitted

  Note: See Appendix A for a description of, and certain criteria applicable to, each of these categories of investments.

 
1.
Issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
2.
If adverse economic conditions prevail in the banking industry (such as substantial losses on loans, increases in non-performing assets and charge-offs and declines in total deposits) the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest less than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations.
3.
To the extent required by Rule 2a-7, asset-backed and receivables-backed securities will be rated by the requisite number of NRSROs.
4.
The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations (limited to commercial paper and other notes) issued or guaranteed by a foreign government. The Fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any one foreign government.
5.
The Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by any entity located or organized in a foreign country that maintains a short-term foreign currency rating in the highest short-term ratings category by the requisite number of NRSROs.
6.
Will only make such investments when yields on such securities are attractive compared to other taxable investments.
7.
To the extent permitted by Rule 2a-7, securities without short-term ratings may be purchased if they are deemed to be of comparable quality to First Tier Securities. In addition, a Fund holding a security supported by a guarantee or demand feature may rely on the credit quality of the guarantee or demand feature in determining the credit quality of the investment.
8.
First Tier Securities are (a) rated in the highest short-term rating category by at least two NRSROs, or if only one NRSRO has assigned a rating, by that NRSRO; or (b) issued or guaranteed by, or otherwise allow a Fund under certain conditions to demand payment from, an entity with such ratings. U.S. Government Securities are considered First Tier Securities.
 
16


 

Other Investment Practices and Securities: Equity Funds

The tables below identify some of the investment techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The table also highlights the differences among the Funds in their use of these techniques and other investment practices and investment securities. Numbers in this table show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds’ annual/ semi-annual reports. For more information about these and other investment practices and securities, see Appendix A. Each Equity Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gs.com/funds) complete portfolio holdings for the Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Equity Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. Each Fixed-Income Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gs.com/funds) complete portfolio holdings for the Fund as of the end of each fiscal quarter subject to a thirty calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Funds publish on their website selected holdings information monthly subject to a ten calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. This information will be available on the website until the date on which a Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. In addition, a description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Funds’ Additional Statement.

                                                                 
10 Percent of total assets (including securities lending
    collateral) (italic type)
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment
    purposes) (roman type)
 •  No specific percentage limitation on usage; CORE CORE
    limited only by the objectives and strategies U.S. Small Cap Capital Growth Mid Cap Growth Equity International
    of the Fund Equity Equity Growth and Income Value Opportunities Index Equity
—  Not permitted Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund

Investment Practices
Borrowings
    33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3  
Currency Swaps*
                                              15  
Cross Hedging of Currencies
                                               
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
           •                                      
Equity Swaps*
    15       15       15       15       15       15       15       15  
Foreign Currency Transactions**
                                               
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
     • 3      • 4                                    
Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars
                                               
Investment Company Securities (including iSharesSM and Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts)
    10       10       10       10       10       10       10       10  
Loan Participations
                                               
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
                                               
Options on Foreign Currencies1**
                                               
Options on Securities and Securities Indices2
                                               
Repurchase Agreements
                                               
Reverse Repurchase Agreements (for investment purposes)
                                               
Securities Lending
    33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3       33 1/3  
Short Sales Against the Box
                25       25       25       25             25  
Unseasoned Companies
                                               
Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
                                               
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
                                               

                                                                 
10 Percent of Total Assets (excluding securities lending
   collateral) (italic type)
10 Percent of Net Assets (including borrowings for investment
   purposes) (roman type)
 •  No specific percentage limitation on usage;
   limited only by the objectives and strategies
   of the Fund
—  Not permitted
Investment Securities                                                        
American, European and Global Depositary Receipts
    8     8                             8      
Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities5
                                               
Bank Obligations5
    9     9                             9     11
Convertible Securities
    10     10     6     6     6     6     10     6
Corporate Debt Obligations5
    9     9                             9      
Equity Investments
    90 +     80 +     90 +     65 +     80 +     90 +     80 +     80 +
Emerging Country Securities
                10 12     25 12     25 12     10 12            
Fixed-Income Securities7
    10       20             35       20 13           20       20  
Foreign Securities
    14     14     10 12     25 12     25 12     10 12     15 12      
Foreign Government Securities5
                                               
Municipal Securities
                                               
Non-Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities
                10 15     10 15     10 16     10 15           5,15
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)
                                               
Stripped Mortgage Backed Securities5
                                               
Structured Securities*
                                               
Temporary Investments
    35       35       100       100       100       100       35       100  
U.S. Government Securities5
    9     9                             9      
Yield Curve Options and Inverse Floating Rate Securities
                                               

 
*
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.
 
**
Limited by the amount the Funds invest in foreign securities.
 
17


 

 
1.
The Funds may purchase and sell call and put options.
 
2.
The Funds may sell covered call and put options and purchase call and put options.
 
3.
The CORE U.S. Equity Fund may enter into futures transactions only with respect to S&P 500® Index.
 
4.
The CORE Small Cap Equity Fund may enter into futures transactions only with respect to a representative index.
 
5.
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed-income securities.
 
6.
The Funds use the same rating criteria for convertible and non-convertible debt securities.
 
7.
Except as noted under “Convertible Securities” and “Non-Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities,” fixed-income securities must be investment grade (i.e., BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO).
 
8.
The CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds may not invest in European Depositary Receipts.
 
9.
Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed-income securities and limited to cash equivalents only.
 
10.
The CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund and Equity Index Fund have no minimum rating criteria for convertible debt securities.
 
11.
Issued by U.S. or foreign banks.
 
12.
The Capital Growth, Growth and Income and Growth Opportunities Funds may invest in the aggregate up to 10%, 25% and 10%, respectively, of their Total Assets in foreign securities, including emerging country securities. The Mid Cap Value Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 25% of its Net Assets in foreign securities, including emerging country securities. The Equity Index Fund may invest up to 15% of its Total Assets in foreign securities (not including its investments in American Depositary Receipts).
 
13.
The Mid Cap Value Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 20% of its Net Assets in: (1) securities of companies with public stock market capitalizations outside the range of companies constituting the Russell Midcap Value Index at the time of investment; and (2) fixed-income securities.
 
14.
Equity securities of foreign issuers must be traded in the United States.
 
15.
May be BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s, Ba or lower by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
 
16.
Must be B or higher by Standard & Poor’s, B or higher by Moody’s or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.
 
18


 

Other Investment Practices and Securities: Fixed-Income Funds

                 
10 Percent of total assets (including securities lending
    collateral) (italic type)
10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment
    purposes) (roman type)
 •  No specific percentage limitation on usage; Core 
    limited only by the objectives and strategies Government Fixed
    of the Fund Income Income
—  Not permitted Fund Fund

Investment Practices        
Borrowings
    33 1/3     33 1/3
 
Credit, Interest Rate and Total Return Swaps*
           
 
Currency Options and Futures
           
 
Cross Hedging of Currencies
           
 
Currency Swaps*
           
 
Financial Futures Contracts
           
 
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
           
 
Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars
           
 
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
           
 
Mortgage Swaps*
           
 
Options (including Options on Futures)
           
 
Options on Foreign Currencies
           
 
Repurchase Agreements
             **  
 
Securities Lending
    33 1/3     33 1/3
 
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
           

                   
10 Percent of total assets (excluding securities lending
collateral) (italic type)
10 Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment
    purposes) (roman type)
 •  No specific percentage limitation on usage;
    limited only by the objectives and strategies
    of the Fund
—  Not permitted
Investment Securities        
Asset-Backed Securities
           
Bank Obligations
           
Convertible Securities
           
Corporate Debt Obligations and Trust Preferred Securities
           
Emerging Country Securities
          10 2
Floating and Variable Rate Obligations
           
Foreign Securities1
          3
Loan Participations
           
Mortgage-Backed Securities
               
 
 
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans
           
 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
           
 
Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans
           
 
Government Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities
           
 
Multiple Class Mortgage-Backed Securities
           
 
Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities
           
 
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities
           
Lower Grade Fixed-Income Securities
           
Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights
           
Structured Securities*
           
Taxable Municipal Securities
           
Tax-Free Municipal Securities
           
Temporary Investments
           
U.S. Government Securities
    80+        
Yield Curve Options and Inverse Floating Rate Securities
           

 
*
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 Core Fixed Income Fund may enter into repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by foreign governments.
 
1.
Includes issuers domiciled in one country and issuing securities denominated in the currency of another.
 
2.
Of the Funds’ investments in foreign securities, 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the aggregate may be invested in emerging country securities.
 
3.
The Core Fixed Income Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities not denominated in U.S. dollars (unless the Fund’s position is hedged against currency risk).
 
19


 

Principal Risks of the Funds

Loss of money is a risk of investing in each Fund. An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The following summarizes important risks that apply to the Funds and may result in a loss of your investment. None of the Funds should be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.

•   Applicable
— Not applicable

                                               
CORE CORE Growth Mid
U.S. Small Cap Capital and Cap Growth Equity International Government Core Money
Equity Equity Growth Income Value Opportunities Index Equity Income Fixed Income Market
Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund

Credit/ Default
                     
Foreign
                     
Emerging Countries
                     
Stock
                     
Derivatives
                     
Interest Rate
                     
Management
                     
Market
                     
Liquidity
                     
Investment Style
                     
Mid Cap and Small Cap
                     
Initial Public Offering (“IPO”)
                     
Geographic
                     
NAV
                     
Call
                     
Extension
                     
U.S. Government Securities
                     
Sovereign
                                           
 
Political
                     
 
Economic
                     
 
Repayment
                     
Foreign Currency Trading
                     
Banking Industry
                     
Tracking
                     

 
20


 

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUNDS

All Funds:
  n  Credit/Default Risk—The risk that an issuer or guarantor of fixed-income securities held by a Fund (which may have low credit ratings) or a bank or other financial institution that has entered into a repurchase agreement may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.
  n  Interest Rate Risk—The risk that when interest rates increase, fixed-income securities held by a Fund will decline in value. Long-term fixed-income securities will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term fixed-income securities. With regard to the Money Market Fund, the risk that during periods of rising interest rates, a Fund’s yield (and the market value of its securities) will tend to be lower than prevailing market rates; in periods of falling interest rates, a Fund’s yield will tend to be higher.
  n  Management Risk—The risk that a strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.
  n  Market Risk—The risk that the value of the securities in which a Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular industry sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods. A Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more industry sectors, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors.
  n  Liquidity Risk—The risk that a Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the time period stated in this Prospectus because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. Funds that invest in non-investment grade fixed-income securities, small and mid-capitalization stocks, REITs and emerging country issuers will be especially subject to the risk that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within particular investment categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate.
  n  NAV Risk—The risk that the NAV of a Fund and the value of your investment will fluctuate. With regard to the Money Market Fund, the risk that the Fund will not be able to maintain a net asset value per share of $1.00 at all times.

Specific Funds:
  n  Foreign Risk—The risk that when a Fund invests in foreign securities, it will be subject to risk of loss not typically associated with domestic issuers. Loss may result because of less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions. A Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when a Fund invests in issuers located in emerging countries. The Money Market Portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any one foreign government.
  n  Emerging Countries Risk—The securities markets of Asian, Latin, Central and South American, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, African and other emerging countries are less liquid, are especially subject to greater price volatility, have smaller market capitalizations, have less government regulation and are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries. Further, investment in equity securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries involves risk of loss resulting from problems in share registration and custody and substantial economic and political disruptions. These risks are not normally associated with investments in more developed countries.
  n  Stock Risk—The risk that stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. Recently, U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced substantial price volatility.
  n  Derivatives Risk—The risk that loss may result from a Fund’s investments in options, futures, swaps, structured securities and other derivative instruments. These instruments may be leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses to a Fund.
  n  Investment Style Risk—Different investment styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. A Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that employ a different investment style. Examples of different investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential. Also, since growth companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors.
  n  Mid Cap and Small Cap Risk—The securities of small capitalization and mid-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.
  n  IPO Risk—The risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the

 
21


 

  small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When a Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance.
  n  Call Risk—The risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by a Fund (such as a Mortgage-Backed Security) earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates. Under these circumstances, a 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 Risk—The risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by a Fund (such as a Mortgage-Backed Security) 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 a Fund will also suffer from the inability to invest in higher yielding securities.
  n  U.S. Government Securities Risk—The 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. Although many U.S. Government Securities purchased by the Funds, such as those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and Federal Home Loan Banks may be chartered or sponsored by Acts of Congress, their securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the United States Treasury and, therefore, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government Securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
  n  Sovereign Risk—The International Equity Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund will be subject to the risk that the issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay the principal or interest when due.
  n  Political Risk—The risks associated with the general political and social environment of a country. These factors may include among other things government instability, poor socioeconomic conditions, corruption, lack of law and order, lack of democratic accountability, poor quality of the bureaucracy, internal and external conflict, and religious and ethnic tensions. High political risk can impede the economic welfare of a country.
  n  Economic Risk—The risks associated with the general economic environment of a country. These can encompass, among other things, low quality and growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”), high inflation or deflation, high government deficits as a percentage of GDP, weak financial sector, overvalued exchange rate, and high current account deficits as a percentage of GDP.
  n  Repayment Risk—The risk associated with the inability of a country to pay its external debt obligations in the immediate future. Repayment risk factors may include but are not limited to high foreign debt as a percentage of GDP, high foreign debt service as a percentage of exports, low foreign exchange reserves as a percentage of short-term debt or exports, and an unsustainable exchange rate structure.
  n  Foreign Currency Trading Risk—The International Equity Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund may engage, to a greater extent than the other Funds, in forward foreign currency transactions for speculative purposes. The Funds’ Investment Adviser may purchase or sell foreign currencies through the use of forward contracts based on the Investment Adviser’s judgment regarding the direction of the market for a particular foreign currency or currencies. In pursuing this strategy, the Investment Adviser seeks to profit from anticipated movements in currency rates by establishing “long” and/or “short” positions in forward contracts on various foreign currencies. Foreign exchange rates can be extremely volatile and a variance in the degree of volatility of the market or in the direction of the market from the investment adviser’s expectations may produce significant losses to the Funds.
  n  Geographic Risks—Concentration of the investments of a Fund in issuers located in a particular country or region will subject a Fund, to a greater extent than if investments were less concentrated, to risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political, regulatory or economic events in that country or region.
  n  Banking Industry Risk—The risk that if the Money Market Fund invests more than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations, an adverse development in the banking industry may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund’s investments were not invested to such a degree in the banking industry. Banks may be particularly susceptible to certain economic factors such as interest rate changes, adverse developments in the real estate market, fiscal and monetary policy and general economic cycles.
  n  Tracking Risk—The risk that the Equity Index Fund’s performance may vary substantially from the performance of the benchmark index it tracks as a result of share purchases and redemptions, transaction costs, expenses and other factors.

  More information about the Funds’ portfolio securities and investment techniques, and their associated risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the investment risks discussed in this section and in Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.

 
22


 

Fund Performance

   HOW THE FUNDS HAVE PERFORMED   

  The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in a Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of a Fund’s Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of a Fund’s Shares compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
 
  The bar chart (including “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” information) and table assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. A Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how a Fund will perform in the future. Performance reflects expense limitations in effect. If expense limitations were not in place, a Fund’s performance would have been reduced. In addition, performance reflects Fund level expenses but does not reflect the fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses a Fund as an investment option for any contract or policy. Had performance reflected all of those fees and expenses, performance would have been reduced.
 
  Prior to the date of this Prospectus, Service Shares of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds had not been offered. Performance of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds is represented by the Institutional Shares of these Funds. Institutional Shares are not offered in this Prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. Annual returns differ only to the extent that Institutional Shares have no distribution and service fee while Service Shares have a 0.25% distribution and service fee. Distribution and service fees for Service Shares after voluntary waivers for the current fiscal year are not expected to exceed: (i) 0.10% for each of the CORE Small Cap Equity Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds; (ii) 0.08% for the CORE U.S. Equity Fund; and (iii) 0.02% for the International Equity Fund. These waivers may be modified or terminated at any time at the option of Goldman Sachs.
 
  The Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds first began operations as the Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation, Equity Index, Government Bond, Select Investment Grade Income and Money Market Funds (each a “Predecessor AIT Fund”) of the Allmerica Investment Trust. In December 2005, each Predecessor AIT Fund was reorganized as a new portfolio of the Trust. Performance of the Predecessor AIT Funds prior to the reorganization is not shown because as part of the reorganization each Predecessor AIT Fund changed its investment adviser to GSAM. In addition, the Goldman Sachs Fund that each Predecessor AIT Fund reorganized into had an investment objective and/or policies which were not identical to the Predecessor AIT Fund.
 
  See “Appendix C—Prior Performance of the Investment Adviser” for additional performance information relating to the Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities, Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds.

 
23


 

CORE U.S. Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q4 ’99  +15.50%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’02  -15.34%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 2/13/98)
    14.94%       -1.54%       4.11%  
S&P 500® Index***
    10.88%       -2.30%       4.00%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
  ***
The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index of 500 stocks, an unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
 
24


 

FUND PERFORMANCE

CORE Small Cap Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q2 ’03     +21.89%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’02  -19.60%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 2/13/98)
    16.33%       8.95%       7.42%  
Russell 2000® Index***
    18.33%       6.60%       6.80%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
***
The Russell 2000® Index is an unmanaged index of common stock prices that measures the performance of the 2000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
 
25


 

Capital Growth Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q4 ’99     +19.82%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’01  -16.47%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 4/30/98)
    9.09%       -4.26%       2.24%  
Russell 1000 Growth Index***
    6.30%       -9.28%       -0.18%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
***
The Russell 1000 Growth Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of companies with higher price to earnings ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
 
 
26


 

FUND PERFORMANCE

Growth and Income Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q2 ’03  +13.09%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’02  -13.87%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 1/12/98)
    18.80%       2.51%       3.35%  
S&P 500 Index***
    10.88%       -2.30%       5.46%  
Russell 1000 Value Index****
    16.86%       5.65%       7.74%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
***
The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index of 500 stocks, an unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
****
Effective June 1, 2005, the Russell 1000 Value Index replaced the S&P 500 Index as the Fund’s benchmark. The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of the 1,000 largest U.S. companies with lower price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The S&P 500 Index (with dividends reinvested) is the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index of 500 stocks, an unmanaged index of common stock prices. In the Investment Adviser’s opinion, the Russell 1000 Value Index is a more appropriate benchmark against which to measure the performance of the Fund. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.
 
 
27


 

Mid Cap Value Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q2 ’99         +19.62%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’99         -16.40%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 5/1/98)
    25.88%       17.72%       10.41%  
Russell Midcap Value Index***
    23.71%       13.47%       9.26%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
***
The Russell Midcap® Value Index is a unmanaged index of common stock prices that measures the performance of those Russell Midcap companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
 
28


 

FUND PERFORMANCE

International Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)*

     
TOTAL RETURN CALENDAR YEAR

Best Quarter**
Q4 ’99     +21.73%

Worst Quarter**
Q3 ’02  -20.58%
  (AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN GRAPH)

   AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN   

                         
For the period ended December 31, 2004 1 Year 5 Years Since Inception

Fund (Inception 1/12/98)
    13.48%       -3.25%       4.30%  
MSCI® EAFE® (unhedged)***
    20.70%       -0.80%       6.10%  

 
  *
The above returns are for a class that is not offered in this prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. The annual returns differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses.
  **
Please note that “Best Quarter” and “Worst Quarter” figures are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.
***
The unmanaged MSCI® EAFE® Index (unhedged) is a market capitalization-weighted composite of securities in 21 developed markets. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees or expenses.
 
29


 

Fund Fees and Expenses (Service Shares)

This table describes the fees and expenses that you would pay if you buy and hold Service Shares of a Fund.

                                                                                         
CORE Growth Core
CORE Small Cap Capital and Mid Cap Growth Equity International Government Fixed Money
U.S. Equity Equity Growth Income Value Opportunities Index Equity Income Income Market
Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment):
                                                                               
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Redemption Fees
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Exchange Fees
    N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):1
                                                                                       
Management Fees
    0.65%2       0.75%2       0.75%2       0.75% 2       0.80%2       1.00%3       0.30% 3       1.00%2       0.54%3       0.40% 3       0.35%  
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 4
    0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%       0.25%  
Other Expenses*
    0.08%       0.22%       0.09%       0.11%       0.07%       0.11%       0.10%       0.20%       0.24%       0.12%       0.11%  

Total Fund Operating Expenses*
    0.98%5       1.22%       1.09%5       1.11%       1.12%5       1.36%5       0.65% 5       1.45%5       1.03%5       0.77% 5       0.71% 5  

See page 32 for all other footnotes.

  The “Other Expenses” and “Total Fund Operating Expenses” (after any waivers and expense limitations) of the Funds are as set forth below. Except as noted below, the waivers and expense limitations may be modified or terminated at any time at the option of the Investment Adviser. If this occurs, “Other Expenses” and “Total Fund Operating Expenses” may increase without shareholder approval.  

                                                                                         
CORE Growth Core
CORE Small Cap Capital and Mid Cap Growth Equity International Government Fixed Money
U.S. Equity Equity Growth Income Value Opportunities Index Equity Income Income Market
Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets):1
                                                                                       
Management Fees
    0.65%2       0.75%2       0.75%2       0.75% 2       0.80%2       1.00%3       0.20% 3       1.00%2       0.54%3       0.40% 3       0.35%  
  Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees4
    0.08%       0.10%       0.10%       0.10%       0.10%       0.10%       0.10%       0.02%       0.10%       0.10%       0.10%  
  Other Expenses 6
    0.08%       0.15%       0.09%       0.11%       0.07%       0.04%       0.10%       0.20%       0.04%       0.04%       0.04%  

Total Fund Operating Expenses (after current waivers and expense limitations)
    0.81%5       1.00%       0.94%5       0.96%       0.97%5       1.14%5       0.40% 5       1.22%5       0.68%5       0.54% 5       0.49% 5  

 
30


 

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES

1.
The offering of Service Shares commenced as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, annual operating expenses have been estimated for the current fiscal year.
2.
Effective July 1, 2005, the Investment Adviser implemented a voluntary fee reduction with the Trust. The fee reduction will become effective on a contractual basis in 2006. The fee reduction imposed breakpoints on the management fees and reduces the management fees for the following Funds to annual rates equal to the following percentages of the average daily net assets of the Funds:

                         
Over $1 billion
Fund First $1 billion up to $2 billion Over $2 billion

CORE U.S. Equity     0.65%       0.59%       0.56%  
Capital Growth     0.75%       0.68%       0.65%  
Growth and Income     0.75%       0.68%       0.65%  
International Equity     1.00%       0.90%       0.86%  
                 
Fund First $2 billion Over $2 billion

CORE Small Cap Equity     0.75%       0.68%  
Mid Cap Value     0.80%       0.72%  
3.
The Management Agreements for the following Funds provide for management fees at annual rates equal to the following percentages of the average daily net assets of the Funds:
                 
Fund First $2 billion Over $2 billion

Growth Opportunities     1.00%       0.90%  
                         
Over $1 billion
Fund First $1 billion up to $2 billion Over $2 billion

Government Income     0.54%       0.49%       0.47%  
Core Fixed Income     0.40%       0.36%       0.34%  

The Management Agreement for the Equity Index Fund provides for a management fee at an annual rate equal to 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. If the Fund’s average daily net assets exceed $400 million, 0.10% of the management fee will be waived on a voluntary basis. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are between $300 million and $400 million, 0.05% of the management fee will be waived on a voluntary basis. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are less than $300 million, 0% of the management fee will be waived. These waivers may be modified or terminated at any time without shareholder approval.
4.
Distribution and service fees for Service Shares after voluntary waivers for the current fiscal year are not expected to exceed (i) 0.10% for each of the CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Markets Funds, (ii) 0.08% for the CORE U.S. Equity Fund and (iii) 0.02% for the International Equity Fund. These waivers may be modified or terminated at any time at the option of Goldman Sachs. Participating insurance companies may charge other fees to their customers who are beneficial owners of Service Shares in connection with their customers’ accounts. Such fees may affect the return customers realize with respect to their investments.
5.
The Investment Advisers have contractually agreed to reimburse the following Funds as necessary to limit the total annual operating expenses of the Service Shares of the Funds to the following levels until June 2007:
         
Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  0.81%    
Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund
  1.00%    
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
  0.99%    
Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
  1.14%    
Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
  0.44%    
Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund
  1.22%    
Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund
  0.68%    
Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund
  0.54%    
Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund
  0.49%    
6.
“All Other Expenses” include transfer agency fees and expenses equal on an annualized basis to 0.04% of the average daily net assets of each Fund’s Service Shares, plus all other ordinary expenses not detailed above. The Investment Adviser has voluntarily agreed to reduce or limit “All Other Expenses” (excluding management fees, transfer agency fees and expenses, distribution and service fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other extraordinary expenses exclusive of any expense offset arrangements) to the following percentages of each Fund’s average daily net assets:
             
Other
Fund Expenses

CORE U.S. Equity
    0.044%      
CORE Small Cap Equity
    0.114%      
Capital Growth
    0.114%      
Growth and Income
    0.114%      
Mid Cap Value
    0.054%      
Growth Opportunities
    0.004%      
Equity Index
    0.064%      
International Equity
    0.164%      
Government Income
    0.004%      
Core Fixed Income
    0.004%      
Money Market
    0.004%      
 
31


 

  Example
 
  The following Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in a Fund (without the waivers and expense limitations) with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Surrender charges, mortality and expense risk fees and other charges may be assessed by participating insurance companies under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies and are not reflected in the Table above and Example below. These fees should be described in the participating insurance companies’ prospectuses. Such fees or charges, if any, may affect the return you may realize with respect to your investments. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Service Shares of a Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that a Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

                                 
Fund 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years

CORE U.S. Equity
  $ 83     $ 295     $ 525     $ 1,186  

CORE Small Cap Equity
  $ 124     $ 387     $ 670     $ 1,477  

Capital Growth
  $ 102     $ 338     $ 592     $ 1,321  

Growth and Income
  $ 113     $ 353     $ 612     $ 1,352  

Mid Cap Value
  $ 101     $ 343     $ 604     $ 1,352  

Growth Opportunities
  $ 116     $ 409       N/A       N/A  

Equity Index
  $ 45     $ 187       N/A       N/A  

International Equity
  $ 124     $ 436     $ 770     $ 1,716  

Government Income
  $ 69     $ 293       N/A       N/A  

Core Fixed Income
  $ 55     $ 223       N/A       N/A  

Money Market
  $ 50     $ 205       N/A       N/A  

  Certain participating insurance companies, financial intermediaries and broker dealers that invest in Service Shares on behalf of their customers may charge other fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact such organization for information regarding such charges. Such fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.
 
  Certain participating insurance companies, financial intermediaries and broker dealers that invest in Service Shares may receive other compensation in connection with the sale and distribution of Service Shares or for services to their customers’ accounts and/or the Funds. For additional information regarding such compensation, see “Service Providers” in the Prospectus and “Payments to Intermediaries” in the Additional Statement.

 
32


 

  Service Providers

   INVESTMENT ADVISER   

     
Investment Adviser Fund

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”)
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
  CORE U.S. Equity
CORE Small Cap Equity
Capital Growth
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
Growth Opportunities
Equity Index
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
Money Market

Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”)
Christchurch Court
10-15 Newgate Street
London, England
EC1A 7HD
  International Equity

  GSAM has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since 1990 and is an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. GSAMI, a member of the Investment Management Regulatory Organization Limited since 1990 and a registered investment adviser since 1991, is an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. As of June 30, 2005, GSAM and GSAMI, along with other units of the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs, had assets under management of $452.6 billion.
 
  Except for the Equity Index Fund, the Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Funds’ portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Funds and places purchase and sale orders for the Funds’ portfolio transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. As permitted by applicable law, these orders may be directed to any brokers, including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the Funds, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs, and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among categories of issuers and types of securities.
 
  With regard to the Equity Index Fund, the Investment Adviser may perform the foregoing services directly or through a sub-adviser. In addition, if hereafter permitted by the SEC by rule, order or otherwise, the sub-adviser may be replaced and additional sub-advisers may be retained without shareholder approval.
 
  The Investment Adviser also performs the following additional services for the Funds:
  n  Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Funds
  n  Provides personnel to perform necessary executive, administrative and clerical services to the Funds
  n  Arranges for the preparation of all required tax returns, reports to shareholders, prospectuses and statements of additional information and other reports filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities
  n  Maintains the records of each Fund
  n  Provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services
  n  Supervises the sub-adviser of the Equity Index Fund

 
33


 

   MANAGEMENT FEES   

  As compensation for its services and its assumption of certain expenses, the Investment Adviser is entitled to the following fees, computed daily and payable monthly, at the annual rates listed below (as a percentage of each respective Fund’s average daily net assets):

                 
Actual Rate
For the Fiscal
Contractual Year Ended
Rate December 31, 2004

CORE U.S. Equity
    0.65%*       0.65%  

CORE Small Cap Equity
    0.75%*       0.75%  

Capital Growth
    0.75%*       0.75%  

Growth and Income
    0.75%*       0.75%  

Mid Cap Value
    0.80%*       0.80%  

Growth Opportunities
  1.00% on the
first $2 billion
    N/A  

      0.90% over
$2 billion
         

Equity Index
    0.30%**       N/A  

International Equity
    1.00%*       1.00%  

Government Income
  0.54% on the
first $1 billion
    N/A  

    0.49% on the
next $1  billion
       

    0.47% over $2  billion        

Core Fixed Income
  0.40% on the
first $1 billion
    N/A  

    0.36% on the
next $1  billion
       

    0.34% over $2  billion        

Money Market
    0.35%       N/A  

  * Effective July 1, 2005, the Investment Adviser has implemented a voluntary fee reduction which will be made effective on a contractual basis in 2006. The fee reduction imposed breakpoints on the management fees and reduced the management fees for the following Funds to annual rates equal to the following percentages of the average daily net assets of the Funds:
                         
Over $1 billion
Fund First $1 billion up to $2 billion Over $2 billion

CORE U.S. Equity     0.65%       0.59%       0.56%  

Capital Growth     0.75%       0.68%       0.65%  

Growth and Income     0.75%       0.68%       0.65%  

International Equity     1.00%       0.90%       0.86%  

                 
Fund First $2 billion Over $2 billion

CORE Small Cap Equity     0.75%       0.68%  

Mid Cap Value     0.80%       0.72%  

  ** If the Equity Index Fund’s average daily net assets exceed $400 million, 0.10% of the management fee will be waived on a voluntary basis. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are between $300 million and $400 million, 0.05% of the management fee will be waived on a voluntary basis. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are less than $300 million, 0% of the management fee will be waived.
 
  The difference, if any, between the stated fees and the actual fees paid by the Funds reflects that the Investment Adviser did not charge the full amount of the fees to which it would have been entitled. The Investment Adviser may discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the future at its discretion.
 
  Effective April 29, 2005, the CORE U.S. Equity Fund entered into a fee reduction commitment to permanently reduce the Fund’s management fee to 0.65% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Prior to April 29, 2005, the contractual rate for the Fund was 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
 
  The Investment Adviser, distributor, and/or their affiliates may, from time to time, pay compensation from their own assets (and not as an additional charge to a Fund) to participating insurance companies for administrative services that such companies provide to their variable annuity and variable life insurance contract owners who are invested in a Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser, distributor, and/or their affiliates may, from time to time, pay compensation from their own assets (and not as an additional charge to a Fund) to various securities dealers (including affiliates of participating insurance companies) (“Intermediaries”) that distribute variable annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance contracts of such companies in connection with the sale, distribution and/or servicing of such contracts. Such payments are intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing shares of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the Intermediaries’ registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; marketing support; and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Funds and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions. The additional payments by the Investment Adviser, distributor and/or their affiliates may also compensate Intermediaries for subaccounting, administrative

 
34


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

  and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Funds. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. Please refer to the “Payments to Intermediaries” section of the Additional Statement for more information about these payments.
 
  The payments made by the Investment Adviser, distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for different participating insurance companies and Intermediaries. The presence of these payments and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered representative or salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend a Fund based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should contact your participating insurance company or Intermediary for more information about the payments they receive and any potential conflicts of interest.

   SUB-ADVISER   

  SSgA Funds Management, Inc., with offices at State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2900, serves as the sub-adviser to the Equity Index Fund and provides the day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The sub-adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s portfolio transactions in U.S. and foreign markets. The sub-adviser has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since 2001 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation, a publicly held bank holding company. As of June 30, 2005, the sub-adviser had over $99.7 billion in assets under management. As compensation for its services, the sub-adviser is entitled to a fee, computed daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rates of the Fund’s average daily net assets:
  n  0.03% on the first $50 million
  n  0.02% on the next $200 million
  n  0.01% on the next $750 million
  n  0.008% over $1 billion

 
35


 

   FUND MANAGERS   

  Quantitative Equity Team

  n  A stable and growing team supported by an extensive internal staff
  n  Access to the research ideas of Goldman Sachs’ renowned Global Investment Research Department
  n  Over $64 billion in equities currently under management

   ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Quantitative Equity Team
                 
Years
Primarily
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

Melissa Brown, CFA
Managing Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
CORE U.S. Equity
CORE Small Cap Equity
    Since
1998
1998
    Ms. Brown joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1998. From 1984 to 1998, she was the director of Quantitative Equity Research and served on the Investment Policy Committee at Prudential Securities.

Gary Chropuvka, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
CORE U.S. Equity
CORE Small Cap Equity
    Since
2003
2003
    Mr. Chropuvka joined the Investment Adviser in 1998 as a member of the Private Equity Partnerships team. He became a member of the Quantitative Equity team in 1999 and is responsible for the construction and trading of the portfolios.

  Melissa Brown, CFA is the Senior Portfolio Manager of the Quantitative Equity Team and is ultimately responsible for the Funds’ portfolio management processes. Gary Chropuvka is responsible for the portfolio implementation team that has daily responsibility for the computer optimizer and execution of the Funds’ transactions. The computer optimizer constructs the portfolio and no one person on the team has a subjective override of the computer optimizer process.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.

 
36


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

   FUND MANAGERS   

  Growth Investment Team

  n  24-year consistent investment style applied through diverse and complete market cycles
  n  More than $30 billion in equities currently under management
  n  A portfolio management and analytical team with more than 260 years combined experience

   ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Growth Investment Team
                 
Years
Primarily
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

Steven M. Barry
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
1999
2005
    Mr. Barry joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1999. From 1988 to 1999, he was a portfolio manager at Alliance Capital Management.

Kenneth T. Berents
Managing Director
Co-Chairman of Investment Committee
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2000
2005
    Mr. Berents joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 2000. From 1992 to 1999, he was Director of Research and head of the Investment Committee at Wheat First Union.

Herbert E. Ehlers
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
1997
2005
    Mr. Ehlers joined the Investment Adviser as a senior portfolio manager and Chief Investment Officer of the Growth Team in 1997.

Gregory H. Ekizian, CFA
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
1997
2005
    Mr. Ekizian joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager and Co-Chair of the Growth Investment Committee in 1997.

Warren E. Fisher, CFA, CPA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2004
2005
    Mr. Fisher joined the Investment Adviser as an equity analyst in 1999 and became a portfolio manager in 2004.

Mark Gordon, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
    Since
2004
    Mr. Gordon joined the Investment Advisor in 2000. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs he worked for Lehman Brothers as an Investment Banking analyst in the mergers and acquisitions group.

Joseph B. Hudepohl, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2004
2005
    Mr. Hudepohl joined the Investment Adviser as an equity analyst in 1999 and became a portfolio manager in 2004.

Prashant Khemka, CFA
Vice President
Co-Chairman of Investment Committee
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2003
2005
    Mr. Khemka joined the Investment Adviser in 2000 as an equity analyst. He became a portfolio manager in 2003. From 1998 to 2000, he was assistant portfolio manager in the Fundamental Strategies group at State Street Global Advisors.

Scott Kolar, CFA
Managing Director
Co-Chairman of Investment Committee
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2000
2005
    Mr. Kolar joined the Investment Adviser as an equity analyst in 1997 and became a portfolio manager in 1999.

Adria B. Markus
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2004
2005
    Ms. Markus joined the Investment Adviser as an equity analyst in 2001 and became a portfolio manager in 2004. Ms. Markus was an equity research analyst at Epoch Partners from 2000 to 2001.

Derek S. Pilecki, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2004
2005
    Mr. Pilecki joined the Investment Adviser as an equity analyst in 2002 and became a portfolio manager in 2004. Mr. Pilecki was an equity analyst at Clover Capital Management from 2001 to 2002. From 1998-2000 Mr. Pilecki attended the University of Chicago where he received his M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting.

 
37


 

                 
Years
Primarily
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

Andrew F. Pyne
Managing Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2001
2005
    Mr. Pyne joined the Investment Adviser as a product manager in 1997. He became a portfolio manager in August 2001.

Jeffrey Rabinowitz, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
2003
2005
    Mr. Rabinowitz joined the Investment Adviser in 1999 as an equity analyst. He became a portfolio manager in 2003. From 1997 to 1999 Mr. Rabinowitz attended Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his M.B.A. in Finance.

David G. Shell, CFA
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
Growth Opportunities
    Since
1997
2005
    Mr. Shell joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in 1997.

Charles Silberstein
M.D., CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Capital Growth
    Since
2004
    Mr. Silberstein joined the Investment Adviser in 2000. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs he was an equity research analyst at Barington Capital Group, responsible for biotechnology industry. Mr. Silberstein received his M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School in 2000.

  Herb Ehlers, Dave Shell, Steve Barry and Greg Ekizian serve as the lead portfolio managers and Chief Investment Officers for the Growth Investment Team. Each lead manager and other portfolio manager serves as a research analyst for a particular industry. Investment decisions are discussed by the entire Growth Investment Team, but the final decision to purchase or sell a particular security is collectively made by the lead portfolio managers. In addition, the lead portfolio managers are ultimately responsible for implementation of investment decisions made by the Growth Investment Team and the composition of a Fund’s portfolio structure at both the stock and industry level.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.

 
38


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

   FUND MANAGERS   

  Value Investment Team

  n  Fifteen investment professionals each with an average of over 17 years of financial experience comprise the Investment Adviser’s value investment team
  n  The team is organized by industry in order to deliver depth and breadth of research expertise
  n  Portfolio decision makers are actively conducting the research, which brings intensity and focus to the Value team process

   ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Value Investment Team
                 
Years
Primarily
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

Eileen Rominger
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
1999
1999
    Ms. Rominger joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager and Chief Investment Officer of the Value team in August 1999. From 1981 to 1999, she worked at Oppenheimer Capital, most recently as a senior portfolio manager.

Dolores Bamford, CFA
Managing Director
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2002
2002
    Ms. Bamford joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager for the Value team in April 2002. Prior to that, she was a portfolio manager at Putnam Investments for various products since 1991.

David L. Berdon
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2002
2002
    Mr. Berdon joined the Investment Adviser as a research analyst in March 2001 and became a portfolio manager in October 2002. From September 1999 to March 2001, he was a Vice President for Business Development and Strategic Alliances at Soliloquy Inc. From September 1997 to September 1999, he was a principal consultant at Diamond Technology partners.

Andrew Braun
Managing Director
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2001
2001
    Mr. Braun joined the Investment Adviser as a mutual fund product development analyst in July 1993. From January 1997 to April 2001, he was a research analyst on the Value team and he became a portfolio manager in May 2001.

Scott Carroll, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2002
2002
    Mr. Carroll joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager for the Value team in May 2002. From 1996 to 2002, he worked at Van Kampen Funds where he had portfolio management and analyst responsibilities for Growth and Income and Equity Income funds.

Sally Pope Davis
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2001
2001
    Ms. Davis joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in August 2001. From December 1999 to July 2001, she was a relationship manager in Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs. From August 1989 to November 1999, she was a bank analyst in the Goldman Sachs Investment Research Department.

Sean Gallagher
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2001
2001
    Mr. Gallagher joined the Investment Adviser as a research analyst in May 2000. He became a portfolio manager in December 2001. From October 1993 to May 2000, he was a research analyst at Merrill Lynch Asset Management.

Lisa Parisi, CFA
Managing Director
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2002
2001
    Ms. Parisi joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in August 2001. From December 2000 to August 2001, she was a portfolio manager at John A. Levin & Co. From March 1995 to December 2000, she was a portfolio manager and managing director at Valenzuela Capital.

Edward Perkin, CFA
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Growth and Income
Mid Cap Value
    Since
2004
2004
    Mr. Perkin joined the Investment Adviser as a research analyst in June 2002 and became a portfolio manager in July 2004. From August 2000 to May 2002, he gained investment research experience at Gabelli Asset Management and Fidelity Advisors while attending business school. From August 1997 to May 2000, he was a senior research analyst at FiServe.

  Eileen Rominger serves as lead manager of the Value team. Each other portfolio manager serves as a primary research analyst for a particular industry. While the entire team debates investment ideas and overall portfolio structure, the final buy/sell decision for a particular security resides primarily with the portfolio manager responsible for that particular industry. As Chief Investment Officer and lead portfolio manager of the team, Ms. Rominger is ultimately responsible for the composition of a Fund’s portfolio structure at both the stock and industry level.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.

 
39


 

   FUND MANAGERS   

   ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Sub-Adviser Portfolio Management Team (Equity Index Fund)
                 
Years        
Primarily   
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

James May, CFA
Principal,
Senior Portfolio Manager
  Lead Portfolio Manager     Since 2005     Mr. May is a Principal of the Sub-Adviser and State Street Global Advisors and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the firm’s Global Structured Products Group. He manages a variety of portfolios for the Developed Markets team benchmarked to indices including MSCI, Standard & Poor’s and Russell. He has been working in the investment management field since 1989.

Michael J. Feehily, CFA
Principal,
Senior Portfolio Manager
  Senior Portfolio Manager     Since 2005     Mr. Feehily is a Principal of the Sub-Adviser and State Street Global Advisors as well as head of the U.S. Equity Team within the Global Structured Products Group. He is responsible for overseeing the management of all U.S. equity index funds for State Street Global Advisors. He has been working in the investment management field since 1992.

  Mr. May serves as the lead manager of the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio management team. Mr. May and Mr. Feehily meet weekly to discuss anticipated cash flows, index changes, new product development, systems and data issues and other investment management topics. As lead manager, Mr. May is ultimately responsible for the Fund’s portfolio structure.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.

 
40


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

   FUND MANAGERS   

  International Equity Portfolio Management Team

  n  London-based portfolio management team leverages GSAM’s global research teams based in London, Singapore, Tokyo, New York and Tampa. Local presence is a key to the Investment Adviser’s fundamental research capabilities
  n  Team manages over $2.5 billion in international equities for retail, institutional and high net worth clients
  n  Focus on bottom-up stock selection as main driver of returns, though the team leverages the asset allocation, currency and risk management capabilities of the Investment Adviser

   ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  London-Based Management Team
                 
Years        
Primarily   
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

Mark Beveridge, CFA
Managing Director
Chief Investment Officer,
Global/EAFE Equity
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
International Equity
    Since
2004
    Mr. Beveridge joined the Investment Adviser in December 2004 as Chief Investment Officer of Non-US Active Equity and Multi-Regional Equity businesses and senior portfolio manager. Prior to joining the Investment Adviser, he spent 19 years at Franklin Templeton, where he was Executive Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager responsible for ex-US portfolios.

Nuno Fernandes
Executive Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
International Equity
    Since
1999
    Mr. Fernandes joined the Investment Adviser as a research analyst on the Global Emerging Markets Equity team in April 1998. He was named a senior portfolio manager in April 1999. From 1994 to 1998, he worked for ING Barings and Smith Barney where he followed Latin American financial stocks.

William Howard, CFA
Managing Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—International Equity     Since 2005     Mr. Howard joined the Investment Adviser in January 2005 as a senior portfolio manager. From 1993 to 2004 he was a Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton responsible for ex-US portfolios. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton in 1993, William was Portfolio Manger, Head of International Equity at the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, which he joined in 1986.

Michael Stanes
Executive Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
International Equity
    Since
2002
    Mr. Stanes joined the Investment Adviser as a portfolio manager in November 2002. From 1986 to 2001, he worked at Mercury Asset Management where he managed UK equity portfolios in London, Japanese equity portfolios in Tokyo and, most recently, US and global portfolios in the US.

  Mark Beveridge serves as Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) of GSAM’s Non-US Active Equity team and CIO of GSAMI’s Global/EAFE strategies. As CIO, Mr. Beveridge is ultimately responsible for the composition of a Fund’s structure at both the stock and industry level. Along with the other portfolio managers on the team, Mr. Beveridge has specific industry research responsibilities. Each portfolio manager is responsible for liaising with research analysts around the world, promoting his or her stock selection ideas to the other members of the team and after debating their inclusion in the portfolio.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund, see the Additional Statement.

 
41


 

   FUND MANAGERS   

  Fixed-Income Portfolio Management Team
 
  Jonathan Beinner, a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, is the Chief Investment Officer and a Co-Head of the U.S. and Global Fixed-Income portfolio management teams. Mr. Beinner joined the Investment Adviser in 1990, and became a portfolio manager in 1992. Prior to being named Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Beinner was Co-Head of the U.S. Fixed-Income portfolio management team.
 
  Tom Kenny, a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs, is a Co-Head of the U.S. and Global Fixed-Income portfolio management teams. Mr. Kenny joined the Investment Adviser in 1999 as a senior portfolio manager. Prior to joining the Investment Adviser, he spent 13 years at Franklin Templeton where he was a portfolio manager of high yield municipal and municipal funds and Director of the Municipal Bond Department.
  n  The investment process revolves around four groups: the Fixed-Income Strategy Group, the Top-down Strategy Teams, the Bottom-up Sector Teams and the Portfolio Teams.
  n  These teams strive to maximize risk-adjusted returns by de-emphasizing interest rate anticipation and focusing on security selection and sector allocation.
  n  The team manages approximately $136.7 billion in municipal and taxable fixed-income assets for retail, institutional and high net worth clients.

                 
Years
Primarily
Name and Title Fund Responsibility Responsible Five Year Employment History

James B. Clark
Managing Director,
Co-Head U.S.
Fixed-Income Team
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. Clark joined the Investment Adviser in 1994 as a portfolio manager after working as an investment manager in the mortgage- backed securities group at Travelers Insurance Company.

Christopher Sullivan
Managing Director,
Co-Head U.S. Fixed-
Income Team
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. Sullivan joined the Investment Adviser in 2001 as a portfolio manager and as Co-Head of the U.S. Fixed-Income Team. Since 1997, he was a senior member of the account management group of Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO). Prior to joining PIMCO, he was an equity portfolio manager for Hawaiian Trust Company for three years.

James McCarthy
Managing Director
  Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. McCarthy joined the Investment Adviser in 1995 after working for Nomura Securities as a mortgage backed securities trader.

Thomas D. Teles
Managing Director
  Portfolio Manager—
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
    Mr. Teles joined the Investment Adviser in 2000. Prior to his current position, he worked for three years as a mortgage trader and in the research department for Goldman Sachs.

James Cielinski
Managing Director
  Senior Portfolio Manager—
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
    Mr. Cielinski joined the Investment Adviser in 1998 as a portfolio manager. Prior to his current position, he spent five years at Utah Retirement Systems, where he managed the fixed-income group.

Mark Van Wyk
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. Van Wyk joined the Investment Adviser in 1994 and specializes in U.S. government and financial derivatives. He worked with an options trading firm prior to joining the Investment Adviser.

Peter D. Dion
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    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.

Stig S. Hansen
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. Hansen joined the Investment Adviser in 1997 and specializes in U.S. government and agency securities. Prior to joining the Investment Adviser, he spent one year as an Investment Officer at the Travelers Group and was a portfolio manager with MetLife Investment Management Corp.

Steven Kuhn
Vice President
  Portfolio Manager—
Government Income
Core Fixed Income
    Since
2005
2005
    Mr. Kuhn joined the Investment Adviser in 2002 as a portfolio manager. Prior to his current position, he worked at Citadel Investment Group for two and one half years, where he was primarily responsible for Japanese convertible bond arbitrage and contributed in the development of risk models and portfolio analytics. Prior to joining Citadel Investment Group, he worked for six years in mortgage backed securities with Cargill Investments and Piper Capital Management.

 
42


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

  Jonathan Beinner serves as the Chief Investment Officer for the Global and US Fixed-Income Portfolio Management Team. Alongside Tom Kenny, he Co-Heads the Global and US Fixed-Income Team and is responsible for high-level decisions pertaining to portfolios across multiple strategies. The Fixed-Income Portfolio Management Team is organized into a series of specialist teams which focus on generating and implementing investment ideas within their area of expertise. Both top-down and bottom-up decisions are made by these small strategy teams, rather than by one portfolio manager or committee. Ultimate accountability for the portfolio resides with the lead portfolio managers, who set the long-term risk budget and oversee the portfolio construction process.
 
  For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Funds, see the Additional Statement.

 
43


 

   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, P.O. Box 06050, 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 Funds. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for its own account.

   ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES 
   AND OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS   

  The involvement of the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to a Fund or limit a Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financer, advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker, lender, agent and principal, and has other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed-income, currency, commodity, equity and other markets in which a Fund directly and indirectly invests. Thus, it is likely that a Fund will have multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives similar to those of a Fund and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as a 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 a Fund. The results of a Fund’s investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs, and it is possible that a Fund could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. In addition, a Fund may, from time to time, enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. Furthermore, transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients may adversely impact a Fund. Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the Investment Adviser may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of a Fund. A Fund’s activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking and financial services to issuers of securities and investors in securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in and affect transactions in, securities of issuers held by a Fund, and may also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or sell services or products from or to, distributors, consultants and others who recommend a Fund or who engage in transactions with or for a Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the Additional Statement.
 
  Under a securities lending program approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Trust has retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities lending agent for a Fund to the extent that a Fund engages in the securities lending program. For these services, the lending agent may receive a fee from a Fund, including a fee based on the returns earned on a Fund’s investment of the cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In addition, a Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with a Fund’s portfolio investment transactions.

 
44


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   

  On April 2, 2004, Lois Burke, a plaintiff identifying herself as a shareholder of the Goldman Sachs Internet Tollkeeper Fund, filed a purported class and derivative action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GSG”), GSAM, the Trustees and Officers of the Goldman Sachs Trust (the “GS Trust”), and John Doe Defendants. In addition, certain other investment portfolios of the GS Trust were named as nominal defendants. On April 19 and May 6, 2004, additional class and derivative action lawsuits containing substantially similar allegations and requests for redress were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. On June 29, 2004, the three complaints were consolidated into one action, In re Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Fee Litigation, and on November 17, 2004, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint against GSG, GSAM, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Trustees and Officers of the GS Trust and the Trust and John Doe Defendants (collectively, the “Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Certain investment portfolios of the GS Trust and the Trust (collectively, the “Goldman Sachs Funds”) were named as nominal defendants in the amended complaint.
 
  The consolidated amended complaint, which is brought on behalf of all persons or entities who held shares in the Goldman Sachs Funds between April 2, 1999 and January 9, 2004, inclusive (the “Class Period”), asserts claims involving (i) violations of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (ii) common law breach of fiduciary duty, and (iii) unjust enrichment. The complaint alleges, among other things, that during the Class Period, the Defendants made improper and excessive brokerage commission and other payments to brokers that sold shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds and omitted statements of fact in registration statements and reports filed pursuant to the Investment Company Act which were necessary to prevent such registration statements and reports from being materially false and misleading. In addition, the complaint alleges that the Goldman Sachs Funds paid excessive and improper investment advisory fees to GSAM and GSAMI. The complaint also alleges that GSAM and GSAMI used Rule 12b-1 fees for improper purposes and made improper use of soft dollars. The complaint further alleges that the Trust’s Officers and Trustees breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the foregoing. The plaintiffs in the cases are seeking compensatory damages; rescission of GSAM’s and GSAMI’s investment advisory agreements and return of fees paid; an accounting of all Goldman Sachs Funds-related fees, commissions and soft dollar payments; restitution of all unlawfully or discriminatorily obtained fees and charges; and reasonable costs and expenses, including counsel fees and expert fees.
 
  Based on currently available information, GSAM and GSAMI believe that the likelihood that the pending purported class and derivative action lawsuit will have a material adverse financial impact on the Goldman Sachs Funds is remote, and the pending action is not likely to materially affect their ability to provide investment management services to their clients, including the Goldman Sachs Funds.

 
45


 

  Dividends
 
  Equity and Fixed Income Funds
  Dividends from investment company taxable income and distributions from net realized capital gains (if any) are declared and paid by the Equity Fund at least annually. The Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund declare dividends from investment company taxable income daily and pay them monthly. Distribution from net realized capital gains are declared at least annually by the Fixed Income Funds. Over the course of the year, accrued and paid dividends and distributions will equal all or substantially all of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains. All dividends will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at NAV of such shares on the payment date, unless an insurance company’s separate account is permitted to hold cash and elects to receive payment in cash. From time to time, a portion of the Fund’s dividends may constitute a return of capital.
 
  Money Market Fund
  All or substantially all of the Money Market Fund’s net investment income will be declared as a dividend daily. Dividends will normally, but not always, be declared as of 4:00 p.m. New York time as a dividend and distributed monthly.
 
  Dividends will be reinvested as of the last calendar day of each month. Cash distributions normally will be paid on or about the first business day of each month. Net short-term capital gains, if any, will be distributed in accordance with federal income tax requirements and may be reflected in the Fund’s daily distributions.
 
  The Fund may distribute at least annually other realized capital gains, if any, after reduction by available capital losses. In order to avoid excessive fluctuations in the amount of monthly capital gains distributions, a portion of any net capital gains realized on the disposition of securities during the months of November and December may be distributed during the subsequent calendar year. The realized gains and losses are not expected to be of an amount which would affect the Fund’s NAV of $1.00 per share.

 
46


 

  Shareholder Guide
 
  The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most often asked questions regarding buying and selling the Funds’ Service Shares.
 
  How Can I Purchase Or Sell Service Shares Of The Funds?
  Service Shares of the Funds are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Fund shares are sold to unaffiliated separate accounts that fund variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by participating insurance companies. You may purchase or sell (redeem) shares of the Funds through variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies offered through the separate accounts. The variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies are described in the separate prospectuses issued by the participating insurance companies. You should refer to those prospectuses for information on how to purchase a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy, how to select a specific Fund as an investment option for your contract or policy and how to redeem monies from the Funds.
 
  The separate accounts of the participating insurance companies place orders to purchase and redeem shares of the Funds based on, among other things, the amount of premium payments to be invested and the amount of surrender and transfer requests (as defined in the prospectus describing the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by the participating insurance companies) to be effected on that day pursuant to variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.
 
  The separate accounts of unaffiliated participating insurance companies may purchase shares of the Funds. The sale of Fund shares to these unaffiliated separate accounts may present certain conflicts of interests among variable annuity owners, variable life insurance policy owners and plan investors. The Trust’s Board of Trustees will monitor the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict of interest. The Trust currently does not foresee any disadvantages to the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies arising from the fact that interests of the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies may differ due to differences of tax treatment or other considerations or due to conflicts among the unaffiliated participating insurance companies. If, however, a material unreconcilable conflict arises between the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies of unaffiliated participating insurance companies, a participating insurance company may be required to withdraw the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Funds. Any such withdrawal could disrupt orderly portfolio management to the potential detriment of such holders.
 
  Shares of the Funds (and other existing and new funds that might be added to the Trust) may also be offered to:

  n  Unregistered separate accounts of various participating insurance companies through which variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies are sold in non-public offerings.
  n  Unregistered separate accounts of various participating insurance companies through which variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies are offered exclusively to qualified pension and profit-sharing plans and/or certain governmental plans.
  n  Qualified pension and profit-sharing plans. The Trust does not currently anticipate offering shares directly to such plans.

  In addition to Service Shares, each Fund other than the Growth Opportunities Fund, Equity Index Fund, Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund offers another class of shares. This other share class is subject to different fees and expenses (which affect performance) and are entitled to different services than Service Shares. Information regarding this other share class can be obtained from Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of this Prospectus.
 
  How Are Shares Priced?
  Service Shares of a Fund are purchased and sold at the Fund’s next determined NAV for its Service Share Class. The Funds calculate NAV as follows:

     

NAV =
  (Value of Assets of the Class)
- (Liabilities of the Class)

Number of the Outstanding Shares of the Class

  The Funds’ investments are valued based on market quotations or if market quotations are not readily available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may be determined in good faith under procedures established by the Trustees.
 
  To the extent that a Fund invests a significant portion of assets in foreign equity securities, “fair value” prices are provided by an independent fair value service. Fair value prices are used because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair value service does not provide a fair value for a particular security or if the value does not meet the established criteria for a Fund, the most recent closing price for such a security on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on such date.

 
47


 

  In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with applicable regulatory guidance, may determine to make an adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the time of determining the Fund’s NAV. Significant events that could effect a large number of securities in a particular market may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one or more single issuers in a market sector; significant fluctuations in foreign markets; market disruptions or market closings; governmental actions or other developments; as well as the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or the securities markets even though not tied directly to the securities markets. Other significant events that could relate to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to: corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs; corporate announcements on earnings; significant litigation; and regulatory news such as governmental approvals.
 
  One effect of using an independent fair value service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of shares of the Funds. However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Funds to price its investments may be different from those used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.
 
  Investments in other registered mutual funds (if any) are valued based on the NAV of those mutual funds (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses).
  n  NAV per share of the Funds is generally calculated by the accounting agent on each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such later time as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially close. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
  n  Shares are purchased and redeemed at the NAV next calculated after an order is received in proper form by the Trust.
  n  On any business day when the Bond Market Association (“BMA”) recommends that the securities markets close early, the Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund reserve the right to close at or prior to the BMA recommended closing time. If a Fund does so, it will cease granting same business day credit for purchase and redemption orders received after the Fund’s closing time and credit will be given to the next business day.
  n  The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at an NAV other than the Fund’s official closing NAV that is subsequently adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV.
  n  The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.

  Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange does not open for business because of an emergency, the Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether a Fund is open for business during an emergency situation, please call 1-800-621-2550.
 
  Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, if a Fund holds foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when its shares may not be purchased or redeemed.
 
  Do I Have To Pay Any Fees When Purchasing Or Selling Shares Of The Fund?
  The Funds do not charge any fees when they sell or redeem their shares. Surrender charges, mortality and expense risk fees and other charges may be assessed by participating insurance companies under the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies. These fees should be described in the participating insurance companies’ prospectuses.
 
  What Else Should I Know About Service Share Purchases And Redemptions?
  The Trust reserves the right to:
  n  Suspend the right of redemption under certain extraordinary circumstances in accordance with the rules of the SEC.
  n  Suspend the offering of shares for a period of time.
  n  Reject any purchase order.
  n  Close the Funds to new investors from time to time and reopen the Funds whenever it is deemed appropriate by the Funds’ Investment Adviser.

  Orders received by the Trust are effected on business days. The separate accounts purchase and redeem shares of the Funds at the Fund’s NAV per share calculated as of the day an order is received by the Funds although such purchases and redemptions may be executed the next morning. Redemption proceeds paid by wire transfer will normally be wired in federal funds on the next business day after the Trust receives actual notice of the redemption order, but may be paid up to three business days after receipt of actual notice of the order.

 
48


 

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

  The Mid Cap Value Fund closed to new investors effective May 13, 2005 (the “Closing Date”). After the Closing Date, purchases into new accounts generally will no longer be accepted. Participating insurance companies that as of the Closing Date have invested their separate accounts into other Funds of the Trust but not the Fund will not be able to invest in the Fund.
 
  The following investors may continue to make additional purchases and to reinvest dividends and capital gains into their accounts:

  n  Separate accounts of the participating insurance companies that as of the Closing Date have made investments in the Fund (“Current Fund Shareholders”).

  Once a Current Fund Shareholder closes all accounts in the Fund, additional investments may not be accepted.
 
  The Fund may resume sales of shares to new investors at some future date. Additionally, the Fund may enter into asset purchase or other reorganization transactions with other investment companies that involve the issuance of shares of the Fund to new accounts, and such new accounts may continue to make additional purchases and reinvest dividends and capital gains into their accounts.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders.
 
  What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding Investments In The Fund?
  As a holder of a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy, you will receive annual reports containing audited financial statements and semiannual reports from your participating insurance company.
 
  What Are The Fund’s Voting Procedures?
  Participating insurance companies, not the owners of the variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies or participants therein, are shareholders of the Funds. To the extent required by law:
  n  The participating insurance companies will vote Fund shares held in the separate accounts in a manner consistent with timely voting instructions received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.
  n  The participating insurance companies will vote Fund shares held in the separate accounts for which no timely instructions are received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, as well as shares they own, in the same proportion as those shares for which voting instructions are received.

  It is anticipated that Fund shares held by unregistered separate accounts or qualified plans generally will be voted for or against any proposition in the same proportion as all other Fund shares are voted unless the unregistered separate account’s participating insurance company or the plan makes other arrangements.
 
  Additional information concerning voting rights of the participants in the separate accounts is more fully set forth in the prospectus relating to those accounts issued by the participating insurance companies.

   RESTRICTIONS ON EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES   

  Policies and Procedures on Excessive Trading Practices. In accordance with the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Trust discourages frequent purchases and redemption of Service Shares in its non-money market funds and otherwise does not permit market timing or other excessive trading practices. Purchases and exchanges should be made with a view to longer-term investment purposes only. Excessive, short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm fund performance and result in dilution in the value of the Fund shares held by longer-term shareholders. The Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase or exchange requests from any participating insurance company or other investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase or exchange orders. To minimize harm to the Trust and its shareholders (or Goldman Sachs), the Trust (or Goldman Sachs) will exercise this right if, in the Trust’s (or Goldman Sachs’) judgement, an investor has a history of excessive trading or if an investor’s trading, in the judgement of the Trust (or Goldman Sachs), has been or may be disruptive to a Fund. In making this judgement, trades executed in multiple accounts under common ownership or control may be considered together to the extent they can be identified. No waivers of the provisions of the policy established to detect and deter market timing and other excessive trading activity are permitted that would harm the Trust or its shareholders or would subordinate the interests of the Trust or its shareholders to those of Goldman Sachs or any affiliated person or associated person of Goldman Sachs.
 
  Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. Goldman Sachs reviews on a regular, periodic basis available information relating to

 
49


 

  the trading activity in the Funds in order to assess the likelihood that a Fund may be the target of excessive trading. As part of its excessive trading surveillance process, Goldman Sachs, on a periodic basis, examines transactions that exceed certain monetary thresholds or numerical limits within a period of time. Consistent with the standards described above, if Goldman Sachs detects excessive, short term trading, and after analysis determines that the transaction is part of an attempt to market time or otherwise disrupt the operation of the Fund Goldman Sachs will contact an intermediary in order to restrict trading in the account or is authorized to reject or restrict a purchase or exchange request. Goldman Sachs may further seek to close an investor’s account with the Fund. Goldman Sachs may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs’ judgement, will be uniform.
 
  Fund shares are generally held through omnibus arrangements maintained by participating insurance companies or other intermediaries. Omnibus accounts include multiple investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors shares are netted against one another. The identity of individual investors whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are normally not known by the Fund. A number of these insurance companies or intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing or legally able to apply the Fund’s market timing policies. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund’s ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders in these omnibus accounts is limited. The netting effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate market timing activities In addition, those inventors who engage in market timing and other excessive trading activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can be no assurance that the Fund and Goldman Sachs will be able to identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance.

   DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES   

  What Are The Distribution And Service Fees Paid By Service Shares?
  The Trust has adopted a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”) under which Service Shares bear distribution and service fees paid to participating insurance companies and Goldman Sachs. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution and service fees on a quarterly basis.
 
  Under the Plan, Goldman Sachs is entitled to a monthly fee from each Fund for distribution services equal, on an annual basis, to 0.25% of a Fund’s average daily net assets attributed to Service Shares. Distribution and service fees for Service Shares after voluntary waivers for the current fiscal year are not expected to exceed: (i) 0.10% for each of the CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds; (ii) 0.08% for the CORE U.S. Equity Fund; and (iii) 0.02% for the International Equity Fund. These waivers may be modified or terminated at any time at the option of Goldman Sachs. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of such charges.
 
  The distribution fees are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, and may be used (among other things) for:
  n  Compensation paid to and expenses incurred by (including sales commissions) Goldman Sachs and its respective officers, employees and sales representatives (including allocable overhead, travel and telephone expenses);
  n  Compensation (including travel or other commissions) paid to participating insurance companies, financial intermediaries and broker-dealers;
  n  Interest and other costs associated with the financing of such compensation and expenses;
  n  Printing and mailing 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 Service Shares.

  In addition, the fees may be used for personal and account maintenance services performed and related expenses incurred in connection with Service Shares. Personal and account maintenance services include services relating to assistance to contract owners regarding their investments in Service Shares and responding to contract owner inquiries.
 
50


 

  Taxation
 
  The Funds are treated as separate corporate entities for federal tax purposes. The Funds intend to elect to be treated as regulated investment companies and to qualify for such treatment for each taxable year under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In addition, the Funds intend to qualify under the Code with respect to the diversification requirements related to variable contracts. Provided that the Funds and separate accounts investing in the Funds satisfy applicable tax requirements, the Funds will not be subject to federal tax and any distributions from the Funds to the separate accounts will be exempt from current federal income taxation to the extent that such distributions accumulate in a variable annuity contract or a variable life insurance contract.
 
  Persons investing in variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts should refer to the prospectuses with respect to such contracts for further information regarding the tax treatment of the contracts and the separate accounts in which the contracts are invested.

 
51


 

  Appendix A
Additional Information on Portfolio
Risks, Securities and Techniques

   A.  GENERAL PORTFOLIO RISKS   

  To the extent that a Fund invests in equity investments, that Fund will be subject to the risks associated with equity investments. “Equity investments” may include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar enterprises, warrants, stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. In general, the values of equity investments fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and in response to general market and economic conditions. Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets have experienced substantial price volatility.
 
  To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed-income securities, that 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 many mortgage related securities will have less potential than other debt securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline. Credit risk involves the risk that the issuer or guarantor could default on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in adjustable rate mortgage loans (“ARMs”), Mortgage-Backed Securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to decrease. In either case, a change in the prepayment rate can result in losses to investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities, such as securities backed by car loans.
 
  The Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See “Financial Highlights” in Appendix B for a statement of the Funds’ historical portfolio turnover rates.
 
  The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their associated risks. Additional information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request. Among other things, the Additional Statement describes certain fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that all investment objectives and all investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental, and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a change in a Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.

   B.  OTHER PORTFOLIO RISKS   

  Risks of Investing in Small Capitalization and Mid-Capitalization Companies. In general, certain Funds may, to the extent consistent with their investment policies, invest in small and mid-capitalization companies. Investments in small and mid-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities. Small and mid-capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions,

 
52


 

APPENDIX A

  or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Small and mid-capitalization companies include “unseasoned” issuers that do not have an established financial history; often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Small and mid-capitalization companies may be operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these companies may face intense competition, including competition from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in small and mid-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.
 
  Risks of Foreign Investments. In general, certain Funds may make foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in exchange control regulations (e.g., currency blockage). A decline in the exchange rate of the currency (i.e., weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S. dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In addition, if the currency in which a Fund receives dividends, interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S. dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such dividends.
 
  Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct such transactions.
 
  Foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such countries, and risks of political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those countries. Foreign banks and their foreign branches are not regulated by U.S. banking authorities, and generally are not bound by the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards applicable to U.S. banks.
 
  Concentration of a Fund’s assets in one or a few countries and currencies will subject a Fund to greater risks than if a Fund’s assets were not geographically concentrated.
 
  Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). Certain Funds may also invest in European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside the United States. Prices of ADRs are quoted in U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.
 
  Risk of Sovereign Debt. Investment in sovereign debt obligations by a 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 a 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 Fund’s NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.
 
  A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign

 
53


 

  exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.
 
  The foreign government obligations that the Money Market Fund invests in are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations (limited to commercial paper and other notes) issued or guaranteed by a foreign government or other entity located or organized in a foreign country that maintains a short-term foreign currency rating in the highest short-term ratings category by the requisite number of NRSROs.
 
  Risks of Euro. On January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”) introduced a new single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the national currencies of the following member countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. In addition, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became members of the EMU on May 1, 2004, but these countries will not adopt the euro as their new currency until they can show that their economies have converged with the economies of the euro zone.
 
  The European Central Bank has control over each country’s monetary policies. Therefore, the member countries no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however, have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt levels.
 
  The change to the euro as a single currency is relatively new and untested. The elimination of currency risk among EMU countries has affected the economic environment and behavior of investors, particularly in European markets, but the long-term impact of those changes on currency values or on the business or financial condition of European countries and issuers cannot be fully assessed at this time. In addition, the introduction of the euro presents other unique uncertainties, including the fluctuation of the euro relative to non-euro currencies; whether the interest rate, tax and labor regimes of European countries participating in the euro will converge over time; and whether the conversion of the currencies of other countries that now are or may in the future become members of the European Union (“EU”) will have an impact on the euro. Also, it is possible that the euro could be abandoned in the future by countries that have already adopted its use. In May 2005, voters in France and the Netherlands rejected ratification of the EU Constitution, causing some other countries to postpone moves toward ratification. These or other events, including political and economic developments, could cause market disruptions, and could adversely affect the value of securities held by the Funds. Because of the number of countries using this single currency, a significant portion of the assets held by the Funds may be denominated in the euro.
 
  Risks of Emerging Countries. Certain Funds may invest in securities of issuers located in emerging countries. The risks of foreign investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in the Asia and Pacific regions, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin, Central and South America and Africa. A Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging countries may be constrained by limitations relating to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. Such limitations may be computed based on the aggregate trading volume by or holdings of a Fund, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their respective clients and other service providers. A Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached.
 
  Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or increase the administrative costs of such investments. For example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that may be purchased by a Fund. The repatriation of both investment income and capital from certain emerging countries is subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental consents. In situations where a country restricts direct investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and other countries), a Fund may invest in such countries through other investment funds in such countries.
 
  Many emerging countries have experienced currency devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners, trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.

 
54


 

APPENDIX A

  Many emerging countries are subject to a substantial degree of economic, political and social instability. Governments of some emerging countries are authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a result of military coups, while governments in other emerging countries have periodically used force to suppress civil dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection, among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. Investing in emerging countries involves greater risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested. As an example, in the past some Eastern European governments have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and many claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that similar expropriations will not recur in Eastern European or other countries.
 
  A Fund’s investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return from an investment in such countries to the Fund.
 
  Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve a Fund’s delivery of securities before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition, significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems may make it more difficult for a Fund to value its portfolio securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the Fund’s inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.
 
  The creditworthiness of the local securities firms used by a Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of its responsibilities.
 
  The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Fund’s investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most Western European countries). A Fund’s investments in emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of a particular investment, or investments generally, in such countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult to price precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.
 
  A Fund’s use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser currently anticipates that a significant portion of the Funds’ currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by these techniques.
 
  Geographic Risks. The International Equity Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of corporate and governmental issuers located in a particular foreign country or region. Concentration of the Fund’s investments in such issuers will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if investment was more limited, to the risks of adverse securities markets, exchange rates and social, political or economic events which may occur in that country or region.
 
  Risks of Derivative Investments. A Fund’s transactions, if any, in options, futures, options on futures, swaps, interest rate caps, floors and collars, structured securities and foreign currency transactions involve additional risk of loss. Loss can result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the markets for derivative instruments, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related leverage factors associated with such transactions. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or currency prices. Each Fund may also invest in derivative investments for non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return). Investing for non-hedging purposes is considered a speculative practice and presents even greater risk of loss.
 
  Derivative Mortgage-Backed Securities (such as principal-only (“POs”), interest-only (“IOs”) or inverse floating rate securities) are particularly exposed to call and extension risks. Small changes in mortgage prepayments can significantly impact the cash flow and the market value of these securities. In general, the risk of faster than anticipated prepayments adversely affects IOs, super floaters and premium priced Mortgage-Backed Securities. The risk of slower than anticipated prepayments generally adversely affects POs, floating-rate securities subject to interest rate caps, support tranches and discount priced Mortgage-Backed Securities. In addition, particular derivative securities may be leveraged such that their exposure (i.e., price sensitivity) to interest rate and/or prepayment risk is magnified.

 
55


 

  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 Illiquid Securities. Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at fair value. Illiquid securities include:
  n  Both domestic and foreign securities that are not readily marketable
  n  Certain stripped mortgage-backed securities
  n  Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days
  n  Certain over-the-counter options
  n  Certain 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 liquid because it is so-called “4(2) commercial paper” or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (“144A Securities”).

  Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists.
 
  Credit/Default Risks. Debt securities purchased by the Funds may include securities (including zero coupon bonds) issued by the U.S. government (and its agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises), foreign governments, domestic and foreign corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these fixed-income securities are described in the next section below. Further information is provided in the Additional Statement.
 
  Debt securities rated BBB or higher by Standard & Poor’s, Baa or higher by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO are considered “investment grade.” Securities rated BBB or Baa are considered medium-grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken their issuers’ capacity to pay interest and repay principal. A security will be deemed to have met a rating requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at least one such rating organization even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more other rating organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality. If a security satisfies a Fund’s minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider what action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of a Fund and its shareholders.
 
  Certain Funds may invest in fixed-income securities rated BB or Ba or below including securities rated D by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (or comparable unrated securities) which are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Junk bonds are considered predominantly speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.
 
  In some cases, junk bonds may be highly speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such bonds will present greater speculative risks than those associated with investment in investment grade bonds. Also, to the extent that the rating assigned to a security in a Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
 
  Risks of Initial Public Offerings. In general, certain Funds may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When a Fund’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund’s performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

 
56


 

APPENDIX A

  Temporary Investment Risks. In general, certain Funds may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest a certain percentage of their total assets in:
  n  U.S. government securities
  n  Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO
  n  Certificates of deposit
  n  Bankers’ acceptances
  n  Repurchase agreements
  n  Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year

  When a Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.

   C.  PORTFOLIO SECURITIES AND TECHNIQUES   

  This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their associated risks.
 
  The Funds may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Further information is provided in the Additional Statement, which is available upon request.
 
  Convertible Securities. Certain Funds may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible securities in which a Fund invests are subject to the same rating criteria as its other investments in fixed-income securities. Convertible securities have both equity and fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market price of the common stock underlying a convertible security exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the convertible security, like a fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock.
 
  Foreign Currency Transactions. A Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase or sell foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, certain Funds may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between the Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s performance benchmark. Certain Funds may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which is considered a speculative practice.
 
  Some Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in a currency different from that in which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into U.S. dollars at a later date (e.g., the Investment Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate against the U.S. dollar).
 
  Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, a Fund’s NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund’s NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.
 
  The market in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by the other party to such instruments than is available for currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will default on its obligations. Since these contracts are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.
 
  Structured Securities. Certain Funds 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

 
57


 

  of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many types of securities and may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities.
 
  REITs. Certain Funds may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of the REITs’ managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally associated with investments in real estate including possible declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, these risks may be heightened. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.
 
  Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying instrument during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument during the option period. Certain Funds may write (sell) covered call and put options and purchase put and call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on foreign currencies.
 
  The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment risks. Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity). The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities (or currency) markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the correlation between the instruments or indices on which options are written and purchased and the instruments in a Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase a Fund’s transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Funds 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 particular securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Funds may engage in futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.
 
  Certain Funds may purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or, to the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under that Act with respect to the Funds.
 
  Futures contracts and related options present the following risks:
  n  While a 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 a portfolio position that is intended to be protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.
  n  The loss incurred by a Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.
  n  Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of a Fund’s NAV.
  n  As a result of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to a Fund.

 
58


 

APPENDIX A

  n  Futures contracts and options on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.
  n  Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

  Equity Swaps. Certain Funds may invest in equity swaps. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or an index) for a component of return on another non-equity or equity investment.
 
  An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or disadvantageous. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile. To the extent that the Investment Adviser does not accurately analyze and predict the potential relative fluctuation of the components swapped with another party, a Fund may suffer a loss, which may be substantial. The value of some components of an equity swap (such as the dividends on a common stock) may also be sensitive to changes in interest rates. Furthermore, a Fund may suffer a loss if the counterparty defaults. Because equity swaps are normally illiquid, a Fund may be unable to terminate its obligations when desired.
 
  When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. Certain Funds may purchase when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. When-issued securities are securities that have been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued securities are purchased in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction. A forward commitment involves the entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.
 
  The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.
 
  Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. Certain Funds may enter into repurchase agreements with securities dealers and banks which furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligation. Some Funds may also enter into repurchase agreements involving certain foreign government securities.
 
  The difference between the original purchase price and the repurchase price is normally based on prevailing short-term interest rates. Under a repurchase agreement, the seller is required to furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of the seller’s repurchase obligation.
 
  If the seller under a repurchase agreement defaults, a Fund could suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Fund’s cost associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings concerning the seller, a Fund could suffer additional losses if the collateral held by the Fund is subject to a court “stay” that prevents the Fund from promptly selling the collateral. If this occurs, the Fund will bear the risk that the value of the collateral will decline below the repurchase price. Furthermore, a Fund could experience a loss if a court determines that the Fund’s 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.
 
  Certain Funds, together with other registered investment companies having advisory agreements with the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more repurchase agreements.
 
  Lending of Portfolio Securities. Certain Funds may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates and from which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers’ collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the total assets of a Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan

 
59


 

  collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations described elsewhere in this Prospectus regarding investments in fixed-income securities and cash equivalents.
 
  A Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund or becomes insolvent.
 
  Short Sales Against-the-Box. Certain Funds may make short sales against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same issuer as the securities sold short.
 
  Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights. Certain Funds may invest in preferred stock, warrants and rights. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.
 
  Warrants and other rights are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
 
  Other Investment Companies. Certain Funds may invest in securities of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and iSharesSM, as defined below) subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act of 1940. These limitations include a prohibition on any Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. With regard to the Money Market Fund, such other investment companies will have investment objectives, policies and restrictions substantially similar to the acquiring Fund and will be subject to substantially the same risks. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies. Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, other investment companies in which a Fund may invest include money market funds which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.
 
  Exchange-traded funds such as SPDRs and iSharesSM are shares of unaffiliated investment companies which are traded like traditional equity securities on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ® National Market System.

  n  Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts™. Certain Funds may, consistent with their investment policies, purchase Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts™ (“SPDRs”). SPDRs are securities traded on an exchange that represent ownership in the SPDR Trust, a trust which has been established to accumulate and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track the price performance and dividend yield of the S&P 500®. SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading, or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may not perfectly parallel the price action of the S&P 500®.
 
  n  iSharesSM. iShares are shares of an investment company that invests substantially all of its assets in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI indices for various countries and regions. iShares are listed on an exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996. The market prices of iShares are expected to fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the NAVs of their underlying indices and supply and demand of iShares on an exchange. However, iShares have a limited operating history and information is lacking regarding the actual performance and trading liquidity of iShares for extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that the requirements of an exchange necessary to maintain the listing of iShares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting iShares occur in the future, the liquidity and value of a Fund’s shares could also be substantially and adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, a Fund could be required to reconsider the use of iShares as part of its investment strategy.

  Unseasoned Companies. Certain Funds may invest in companies which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than three years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.
 
  Corporate Debt Obligations; Trust Preferred Securities. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures,

 
60


 

APPENDIX A

  commercial paper and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Certain Funds may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt obligations include securities issued by banks and other financial institutions and supranational entities (i.e., the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).
 
  A trust preferred security is a long dated bond (for example, 30 years) with preferred features. The preferred features are that payment of interest can be deferred for a specified period without initiating a default event. The securities are generally senior in claim to standard preferred stock but junior to other bondholders. Certain Funds may also invest in other short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities.
 
  Bank Obligations. Certain Funds may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulations. The Money Market Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign banks that have more than $1 billion in total assets at the time of purchase, U.S. branches of such foreign banks (Yankee obligations), foreign branches of such foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks having more than $1 billion in total assets at the time of purchase. Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.
 
  To the extent that the Money Market Fund invests more than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations (whether foreign or domestic), it may be especially affected by favorable and adverse developments in or related to the banking industry. The activities of U.S. and most foreign banks are subject to comprehensive regulations which, in the case of U.S. regulations, have undergone substantial changes in the past decade. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operations and profitability of domestic and foreign banks. Significant developments in the U.S. banking industry have included increased competition from other types of financial institutions, increased acquisition activity and geographic expansion. Banks may be particularly susceptible to certain economic factors, such as interest rate changes and adverse developments in the real estate markets. Fiscal and monetary policy and general economic cycles can affect the availability and cost of funds, loan demand and asset quality and thereby impact the earnings and financial conditions of banks.
 
  Commercial Paper. Certain Funds may invest in commercial paper, including variable amount master demand notes and asset-backed commercial paper. Commercial paper normally represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations, finance companies and other issuers. The commercial paper purchased by a Fund consists of direct U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or, in the case of certain Funds, foreign issuers. Asset-backed commercial paper is issued by a special purpose entity that is organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial assets. The credit quality of asset-backed commercial paper depends primarily on the quality of these assets and the level of any additional credit support.
 
  Short-Term Obligations. Certain Funds may invest in other short-term obligations, including short-term funding agreements payable in U.S. dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, foreign corporations or other entities. A funding agreement is a contract between an issuer and a purchaser that obligates the issuer to pay a guaranteed rate of interest on a principal sum deposited by the purchaser. Funding agreements will also guarantee a stream of payments over time. A funding agreement has a fixed maturity date and may have either a fixed or variable interest rate that is based on an index and guaranteed for a set time period. Because there is normally no secondary market for these investments, funding agreements purchased by a Fund may be regarded as illiquid.
 
  U.S. Government Securities. Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by (a) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (b) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or (d) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components of stripped U.S. Government Securities are traded independently.
 
  U.S. Treasury Obligations include, among other things, the separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. Treasury if such

 
61


 

  components are traded independently under the Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities program (“STRIPS”).
 
  U.S. Government Securities are deemed to include (a) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (b) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are so guaranteed. Certain of these participations may be regarded as illiquid. U.S. Government Securities also include zero coupon bonds.
 
  Some Funds invest in U.S. Treasury Obligations and certain U.S. Government Securities the interest from which is generally exempt from state income taxation. Securities generally eligible for this exemption include those issued by the U.S. Treasury and certain agencies, authorities or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, including the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks and Tennessee Valley Authority.
 
  U.S. Government Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.
 
  Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates. Certain Funds may invest in custodial receipts and trust certificates representing interests in securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust certificates may not be considered obligations of the U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial receipts and trust certificates.
 
  Mortgage-Backed Securities. Certain Funds may invest in Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-Backed Securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property. Mortgage-Backed Securities can be backed by either fixed-rate mortgage loans or adjustable rate mortgage loans, and may be issued by either a governmental or non-governmental entity.
 
  Certain Funds may invest in privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities that represent interests in pools of mortgage loans that are issued by trusts formed by originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans (or represent interests in custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These originators and institutions include commercial banks, savings and loans associations, credit unions, savings banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, investment banks or special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The pools underlying privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities consist of mortgage loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust creating a first lien on commercial, residential, residential multi-family and mixed residential/ commercial properties. These Mortgage-Backed Securities typically do not have the same credit standing as U.S. government guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities.
 
  Privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities generally offer a higher yield than similar securities issued by a government entity because of the absence of any direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. However, timely payment of interest and principal on mortgage loans in these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, pool and hazard insurance, subordination and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by government entities, private insurers, banks and mortgage poolers. Mortgage-Backed Securities without insurance or guarantees may also be purchased by the Fund if they have the required rating from an NRSRO. Some Mortgage-Backed Securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable.
 
  Mortgage-Backed Securities may include multiple class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (“REMIC”) pass-through or participation certificates. A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an investor with a specified interest in the cash flow from a pool of underlying mortgages or of other Mortgage-Backed Securities. CMOs are issued in multiple classes each with a specified fixed or floating interest rate and a final scheduled distribution date. In many cases, payments of principal are applied to the CMO classes in the order of their respective stated maturities, so that no principal payments will be made on a CMO class until all other classes having an earlier stated maturity date are paid in full.
 
  Sometimes, however, CMO classes are “parallel pay,” i.e., payments of principal are made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed security whose price can

 
62


 

APPENDIX A

  be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other types of Mortgage-Backed Securities, and under certain interest rate and payment scenarios, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless of their credit quality.
 
  To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in pools of Mortgage-Backed Securities sponsored by the same sponsor or serviced by the same servicer, it may be subject to additional risks. Servicers of mortgage-related pools collect payments on the underlying mortgage assets for pass-through to the pool on a periodic basis. Upon insolvency of the servicer, the pool may be at risk with respect to collections received by the servicer but not yet delivered to the pool.
 
  Mortgaged-Backed Securities also include stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities (“SMBS”), which are derivative multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities. SMBS are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all of the interest payments and the other that receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other Mortgage-Backed Securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped.
 
  Asset-Backed Securities and Receivables Backed Securities. Certain Funds may invest in asset-backed securities and receivables backed securities. Asset-backed securities and receivables 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, a Fund’s ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Fund’s recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the securities. In the event of a default, a Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed.
 
  Borrowings. Each Fund can borrow money from banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets for temporary or emergency purposes. A Fund may not make additional investments if borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.
 
  Mortgage Dollar Rolls. Certain Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A mortgage dollar roll involves the sale by a Fund of securities for delivery in the current month. The Fund simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund loses the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold. However, the Fund benefits to the extent of any difference between (a) the price received for the securities sold and (b) the lower forward price for the future purchase and/or fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold. Unless the benefits of a mortgage dollar roll exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the roll, the use of this technique will diminish the Fund’s performance.
 
  Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls depends upon the Investment Adviser’s ability to predict correctly interest rates and mortgage prepayments. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its prediction, a Fund may experience a loss. The Funds do not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and do not treat them as borrowings.
 
  Yield Curve Options. Certain Funds may enter into options on the yield “spread” or differential between two securities. Such transactions are referred to as “yield curve” options. In contrast to other types of options, a yield curve option is based on the difference between the yields of designated securities, rather than the prices of the individual securities, and is settled through cash payments. Accordingly, a yield curve option is profitable to the holder if this differential widens (in the case of a call) or narrows (in the case of a put), regardless of whether the yields of the underlying securities increase or decrease.
 
  The trading of yield curve options is subject to all of the risks associated with the trading of other types of options. In addition, such options present a risk of loss even if the yield of an underlying security remains constant, or if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.
 
  Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Certain Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by a Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price (including interest).

 
63


 

  These transactions may be entered into as a temporary measure for emergency purposes or to meet redemption requests. Reverse repurchase agreements may also be entered into when the Investment Adviser expects that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the transaction proceeds will be greater than the related interest expense. Reverse repurchase agreements involve leveraging. If the securities held by a Fund decline in value while these transactions are outstanding, the NAV of the Fund’s outstanding shares will decline in value by proportionately more than the decline in value of the securities. In addition, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the investment return earned by a Fund (from the investment of the proceeds) will be less than the interest expense of the transaction, that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund will decline below the price the Fund is obligated to pay to repurchase the securities, and that the securities may not be returned to the Fund.
 
  Municipal Securities. Certain Funds may invest in securities and instruments issued by state and local government issuers. Municipal Securities in which a Fund may invest consist of bonds, notes, commercial paper and other instruments (including participation interests in such securities) issued by or on behalf of the states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities.
 
  Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes (“TANs”), revenue anticipation notes (“RANs”), bond anticipation notes (“BANs”), tax and revenue anticipation notes (“TRANs”) and construction loan notes.
 
  Municipal Securities include both “general” and “revenue” bonds and may be issued to obtain funds for various purposes. General obligations are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power. Revenue obligations are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities.
 
  Municipal Securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Municipal Securities include private activity bonds, pre-refunded municipal securities and auction rate securities.
 
  The obligations of the issuer to pay the principal of and interest on a Municipal Security are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and laws, if any, that may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest or imposing other constraints upon the enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that, as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of the issuer to pay when due the principal of or interest on a Municipal Security may be materially affected.
 
  In addition, Municipal Securities include municipal leases, certificates of participation and “moral obligation” bonds. A municipal lease is an obligation issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment or facilities. Certificates of participation represent interests in municipal leases or other instruments, such as installment purchase agreements. Moral obligation bonds are supported by a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of a state or local government. Municipal leases, certificates of participation and moral obligation bonds frequently involve special risks not normally associated with general obligation or revenue bonds. In particular, these instruments permit governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. If, however, the governmental issuer does not periodically appropriate money to enable it to meet its payment obligations under these instruments, it cannot be legally compelled to do so. If a default occurs, it is likely that a Fund would be unable to obtain another acceptable source of payment. Some municipal leases, certificates of participation and moral obligation bonds may be illiquid.
 
  Municipal Securities may also be in the form of a tender option bond, which is a Municipal Security (generally held pursuant to a custodial arrangement) having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a fixed-rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rates. The bond is typically issued with the agreement of a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, which grants the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution. After payment of a fee to the financial institution that provides this option, the security holder effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. An institution may not be obligated to accept tendered bonds in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrading in the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the bond. The tender option will be taken into account in determining the maturity of the tender option bonds and a Fund’s duration. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid.
 
  Municipal Securities may be backed by letters of credit or other forms of credit enhancement issued by domestic or foreign banks or by other financial institutions. The credit quality of these banks and financial institutions could, therefore, cause a loss to a Fund that invests in Municipal Securities. Letters of credit and other obligations of foreign banks and financial institutions may involve risks in addition to those of domestic obligations because of less publicly available financial and other information, less securities regulation, potential imposition of foreign withholding and other taxes, war, expropriation or other adverse governmental actions. Foreign banks and their foreign branches are not

 
64


 

APPENDIX A

  regulated by U.S. banking authorities, and are generally not bound by the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards applicable to U.S. banks.
 
  Revenue Anticipation Warrants (“RAWs”) are issued in anticipation of the issuer’s receipt of revenues and present the risk that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations. The entire amount of principal and interest on RAWs is due at maturity. RAWs, including those with a maturity of more than 397 days, may also be repackaged as instruments which include a demand feature that permits the holder to sell the RAWs to a bank or other financial institution at a purchase price equal to par plus accrued interest on each interest rate reset date.
 
  Certain Funds may invest in industrial development bonds (private activity bonds). Industrial development bonds are a specific type of revenue bond backed by the credit and security of a private user, the interest from which would be an item of tax preference when distributed by a Fund as “exempt-interest dividends” to shareholders under the AMT.
 
  In order to enhance the liquidity, stability or quality of a municipal obligation, a Fund may acquire the right to sell the obligation to another party at a guaranteed price and date.
 
  Certain Funds may invest 25% or more of the value of their respective total assets in Municipal Securities which are related in such a way that an economic, business or political development or change affecting one Municipal Security would also affect the other Municipal Security. For example, a Fund may invest all of its assets in (a) Municipal Securities the interest on which is paid solely from revenues from similar projects such as hospitals, electric utility systems, multi-family housing, nursing homes, commercial facilities (including hotels), steel companies or life care facilities; (b) Municipal Securities whose issuers are in the same state; or (c) industrial development obligations. Concentration of a Fund’s investments in these Municipal Securities will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if such investment was not so concentrated, to the risks of adverse economic, business or political developments affecting the particular state, industry or other area of concentration.
 
  Brady Bonds and Similar Instruments. Certain Funds may invest in debt obligations commonly referred to as “Brady Bonds.” Brady Bonds are created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to foreign borrowers for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings under a plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady (the “Brady Plan”).
 
  Brady Bonds involve various risk factors including the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds. There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds in which the Fund may invest will not be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to suffer a loss of interest or principal on its holdings.
 
  In addition, the Fund may invest in other interests issued by entities organized and operated for the purpose of restructuring the investment characteristics of instruments issued by emerging country issuers. These types of restructuring involve the deposit with or purchase by an entity of specific instruments and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. Certain issuers of such structured securities may be deemed to be “investment companies” as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investment in such securities may be limited by certain investment restrictions contained in the Investment Company Act.
 
  Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed-rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses on 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 a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Total return swaps give a Fund the right to receive the appreciation in the value of a specified security, index or other instrument in return for a fee paid to the counterparty, which will typically be an agreed upon interest rate. If the underlying asset in a total return swap declines in value over the term of the swap, the Fund may also be required to pay the dollar value of that decline to the counterparty. Certain Funds may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling

 
65


 

  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.
 
  Certain Funds may enter into the transactions described above for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The use of interest rate, mortgage, credit, currency and total return swaps, options on swaps, and interest rate caps, floors and collars is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market value, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.
 
  Inverse Floaters. Certain Funds may invest in inverse floating rate debt securities (“inverse floaters”). The interest rate on inverse floaters resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher the degree of leverage of an inverse floater, the greater the volatility of its market value.
 
  Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. Certain Funds 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. Subject to the conditions for using amortized cost valuation under the Act, the Money Market Fund may consider the maturity of a variable or floating rate obligation to be shorter than its ultimate stated maturity if the obligation is a U.S. Treasury Obligation or U.S. Government Security, if the obligation has a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less, or if the obligation has a demand feature that permits the Fund to receive payment at any time or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 calendar days. 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. A 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 institutions.
 
  Zero Coupon, Deferred Interest, Pay-In-Kind and Capital Appreciation Bonds. Certain Funds may invest in zero coupon bonds, deferred interest, pay-in-kind and capital appreciation bonds. These bonds are issued at a discount from their face value because interest payments are typically postponed until maturity. Pay-in-kind securities are securities that have interest payable by the delivery of additional securities. 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.
 
  Non-Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities. Non-investment grade fixed-income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered predominantly speculative by traditional investment standards. In some cases, these obligations may be highly speculative and have poor prospects for reaching investment grade standing. Non-investment grade fixed-income securities are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest obligations. These securities, also referred to as high yield securities, may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific corporate or municipal developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less secondary market liquidity.
 
  Non-investment grade fixed-income securities are often issued in connection with a corporate reorganization or restructuring or as part of a merger, acquisition, takeover or similar event. They are also issued by less established companies seeking to expand. Such issuers are often highly leveraged and generally less able than more established or less leveraged entities to make scheduled payments of principal and interest in the event of adverse developments or business conditions. Non-investment grade securities are also issued by governmental bodies that may have difficulty in making all scheduled interest and principal payments.
 
  The market value of non-investment grade fixed-income securities tends to reflect individual corporate or municipal developments to a greater extent than that of higher rated securities which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. As a result, a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective may depend to a greater extent on the Investment Adviser’s judgment concerning the creditworthiness of issuers than funds which invest in higher-rated securities. Issuers of non-investment grade fixed-income securities may not be able to make use of more traditional methods of financing and their ability to service debt obligations may be affected more adversely than issuers of higher-rated securities by economic downturns, specific corporate or financial developments or the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts. Negative publicity about the junk bond market and investor perceptions regarding lower

 
66


 

APPENDIX A

  rated securities, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may depress the prices for such securities.
 
  A holder’s risk of loss from default is significantly greater for non-investment grade fixed-income securities than is the case for holders of other debt securities because such non-investment grade securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to the rights of other creditors of the issuers of such securities. Investment by a Fund in defaulted securities poses additional risk of loss should nonpayment of principal and interest continue in respect of such securities. Even if such securities are held to maturity, recovery by a Fund of its initial investment and any anticipated income or appreciation is uncertain.
 
  The secondary market for non-investment grade fixed-income securities is concentrated in relatively few market makers and is dominated by institutional investors, including mutual funds, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Accordingly, the secondary market for such securities is not as liquid as, and is more volatile than, the secondary market for higher-rated securities. In addition, market trading volume for high yield fixed-income securities is generally lower and the secondary market for such securities could shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse market or economic conditions, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. The lack of sufficient market liquidity may cause a Fund to incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and then only at a substantial drop in price. These factors may have an adverse effect on the market price and a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular portfolio investments. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.
 
  Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of non-investment grade securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the conditions of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.
 
  Downgraded Securities. After its purchase, a portfolio security may be assigned a lower rating or cease to be rated. If this occurs, a Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

 
67


 

  Appendix B
Financial Highlights
 
 
  The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). Total return reflects Fund level expenses but does not reflect fees and expenses associated with any variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy that uses the Fund as an investment option for any contract or policy. If total return reflected all of those fees and expenses, total return would be reduced. Except for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2005, the information for the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report, along with the Funds’ financial statements, is included in the Funds’ annual report (available upon request). As of the date of this Prospectus, Service Shares of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds had not commenced operations. The financial highlights information of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds is represented by the Funds’ Institutional Shares. Institutional Shares are not offered in this Prospectus but have substantially similar annual returns because the shares are invested in the same investment portfolio of securities. Annual returns differ only to the extent that Institutional Shares have no distribution and service fee while Service Shares have a 0.25% distribution and service fee. Distribution and service fees for Service Shares after voluntary waivers for the current fiscal year are not expected to exceed: (i) 0.10% for each of the CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds; (ii) 0.08% for the CORE U.S. Equity Fund; and (iii) 0.02% for the International Equity Fund. These waivers may be modified or terminated at any time at the option of Goldman Sachs.
 
  The financial highlights information for the Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities, Goldman Sachs Equity Index, Goldman Sachs Government Income, Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income and Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund are based on the financial history of the predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, Allmerica Equity Index Fund, Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income and Allmerica Money Market Fund, respectively (the “Predecessor AIT Funds”). Except for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2005, the information for each of the Predecessor AIT Funds has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
  CORE U.S. Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                                         
Income (loss) from
investment operations Distributions to shareholders


Net
Net asset realized From
value, Net and Total from From net net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment realized Total
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income gain distributions

For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 12.42     $ 0.06     $ (0.39 )   $ (0.33 )   $     $     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                        
2004
    10.92       0.14       1.49       1.63       (0.13 )           (0.13 )
2003
    8.49       0.07       2.43       2.50       (0.07 )           (0.07 )
2002
    10.94       0.06       (2.45 )     (2.39 )     (0.06 )           (0.06 )
2001
    12.48       0.05       (1.54 )     (1.49 )     (0.05 )           (0.05 )
2000
    13.98       0.11       (1.46 )     (1.35 )     (0.08 )     (0.07 )     (0.15 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income expenses income Portfolio
end of Total of period to average to average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 12.09       (2.66 )%   $ 633,327       0.74 %(c)     0.99 %(c)     0.77 %(c)     0.96 %(c)     56 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    12.42       14.94       521,137       0.75       1.26       0.78       1.23       128  
2003
    10.92       29.47       383,025       0.85       0.79       0.85       0.79       92  
2002
    8.49       (21.89 )     143,439       0.85       0.60       0.86       0.59       84  
2001
    10.94       (11.94 )     163,904       0.81       0.48       0.82       0.47       72  
2000
    12.48       (9.62 )     139,303       0.85       0.87       0.87       0.85       32  

 

(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

68

 


 

APPENDIX B

  CORE Small Cap Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                                                 
Income (loss) from
investment operations Distributions to shareholders


Net
Net asset realized From
value, Net and Total from From net From net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment tax return realized Total
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income of capital gain distributions

For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 14.40     $ 0.03     $ 0.11     $ 0.14     $     $     $     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    12.99       0.02       2.10       2.12       (0.03 )           (0.68 )     (0.71 )
2003
    9.19       0.04       4.18       4.22       (0.03 )           (0.39 )     (0.42 )
2002
    10.84       0.03       (1.65 )     (1.62 )     (0.03 )                 (0.03 )
2001
    10.40       0.03       0.44       0.47       (0.02 )     (0.01 )           (0.03 )
2000
    10.60       0.06       0.09       0.15       (0.04 )           (0.31 )     (0.35 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income expenses income Portfolio
end of Total of period to average to average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 14.54       0.97 %   $ 183,394       0.90 %(c)     0.44 %(c)     0.97 %(c)     0.37 %(c)     61 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    14.40       16.33       191,821       0.90       0.14       0.97       0.07       146  
2003
    12.99       46.00       181,765       1.03       0.40       1.25       0.18       141  
2002
    9.19       (14.97 )     47,005       1.04       0.25       1.29       0.00       128  
2001
    10.84       4.53       54,365       1.00       0.32       1.22       0.10       105  
2000
    10.40       1.75       40,561       0.99       0.59       1.55       0.03       91  

 

(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.

(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

69

 


 

APPENDIX B

  Capital Growth Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                                         
Income (loss) from
investment operations Distributions to shareholders


Net
Net asset realized From
value, Net and Total from From net net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment realized Total
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income gain distributions

For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 10.39     $ 0.01     $ (0.32 )   $ (0.31 )   $     $     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                        
2004
    9.59       0.07       0.80       0.87       (0.07 )           (0.07 )
2003
    7.77       0.03       1.81       1.84       (0.02 )           (0.02 )
2002
    10.28       0.01       (2.50 )     (2.49 )     (0.02 )           (0.02 )
2001
    12.09       0.02       (1.78 )     (1.76 )     (0.02 )     (0.03 )     (0.05 )
2000
    14.01       0.01       (1.16 )     (1.15 )     (0.01 )     (0.76 )     (0.77 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income to expenses income (loss) Portfolio
end of Total of period to average average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 10.08       (2.98 )%   $ 168,820       0.90 %(c)     0.20 %(c)     0.91 %(c)     0.19 % (c)     17 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    10.39       9.09       186,688       0.89       0.69       0.89       0.69       45  
2003
    9.59       23.74       179,694       1.02       0.38       1.43       (0.03 )     16  
2002
    7.77       (24.33 )     18,052       1.10       0.16       1.77       (0.51 )     24  
2001
    10.28       (14.46 )     16,266       1.00       0.15       1.69       (0.54 )     39  
2000
    12.09       (7.98 )     16,775       0.99       0.13       1.84       (0.72 )     37  

 

(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

70

 


 

APPENDIX B

  Growth and Income Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                         
Income (loss) from
investment operations

Distributions
Net to
Net asset realized shareholders
value, Net and Total from from net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income

For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)   $ 11.71     $ 0.10     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.06     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                        
2004
    10.00       0.19       1.69       1.88       (0.17 )
2003
    8.14       0.13       1.85       1.98       (0.12 )
2002
    9.33       0.13       (1.19 )     (1.06 )     (0.13 )
2001
    10.34       0.05       (1.02 )     (0.97 )     (0.04 )
2000
    10.89       0.04       (0.55 )     (0.51 )     (0.04 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income to expenses income Portfolio
end of Total of period to average average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)   $ 11.77       0.60 %   $ 294,499       0.86 %(c)     1.77 %(c)     0.86 %(c)     1.77 %(c)     27 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    11.71       18.80       276,395       0.86       1.75       0.86       1.75       58  
2003
    10.00       24.36       230,316       1.02       1.44       1.20       1.26       51  
2002
    8.14       (11.34 )     36,911       1.05       1.51       1.27       1.29       98  
2001
    9.33       (9.34 )     40,593       1.00       0.49       1.17       0.32       48  
2000
    10.34       (4.69 )     37,116       0.99       0.40       1.22       0.17       68  

 

(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

71

 


 

APPENDIX B

  Mid Cap Value Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                                         
Income (loss) from
investment operations Distributions to shareholders


Net
Net asset realized From
value, Net and Total from From net net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment realized Total
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income gain distributions

For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 15.28     $ 0.08     $ 0.87     $ 0.95     $     $     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                        
2004
    13.37       0.10       3.34       3.44       (0.09 )     (1.44 )     (1.53 )
2003
    10.61       0.12       2.89       3.01       (0.11 )     (0.14 )     (0.25 )
2002
    11.29       0.14       (0.67 )     (0.53 )     (0.12 )     (0.03 )     (0.15 )
2001
    10.67       0.14       1.14       1.28       (0.11 )     (0.55 )     (0.66 )
2000
    8.42       0.15       2.45       2.60       (0.08 )     (0.27 )     (0.35 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income to expenses income Portfolio
end of Total of period to average average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 16.23       6.22 %   $ 1,157,317       0.88 %(c)     1.03 %(c)     0.88 %(c)     1.03 %(c)     30 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    15.28       25.88       917,151       0.88       0.67       0.88       0.67       72  
2003
    13.37       28.39       577,923       0.91       1.02       0.91       1.02       64  
2002
    10.61       (4.69 )     357,537       0.91       1.20       0.91       1.20       95  
2001
    11.29       12.05       243,521       0.93       1.27       0.94       1.26       82  
2000
    10.67       31.07       101,657       1.04       1.60       1.22       1.42       101  

 

(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

72

 


 

APPENDIX B

  International Equity Fund (Institutional Shares)
                                                                 
Income (loss) from
investment operations Distributions to shareholders


Net From
Net asset realized tax From
value, Net and Total from From net return net
beginning investment unrealized investment investment of realized Total
of period income(b) gain (loss) operations income capital gain distributions

For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 10.62     $ 0.09     $ (0.36 )   $ (0.27 )   $     $     $     $  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    9.48       0.07       1.18       1.25       (0.11 )                 (0.11 )
2003
    7.25       0.04       2.53       2.57       (0.34 )                 (0.34 )
2002
    8.99       0.03       (1.68 )     (1.65 )     (0.09 )                 (0.09 )
2001
    11.78       0.05       (2.68 )     (2.63 )     (0.09 )     (0.04 )     (0.03 )     (0.16 )
2000
    14.47       0.05       (1.99 )     (1.94 )                 (0.75 )     (0.75 )

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                 
Ratios assuming no
expense reductions

Ratio of Ratio of
Net Ratio of net Ratio of net
Net asset assets net investment total investment
value, at end expenses income expenses income (loss) Portfolio
end of Total of period to average to average to average to average turnover
period return(a) (in 000s) net assets net assets net assets net assets rate


For the Period Ended June 30,
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 10.35       (2.63 )%   $ 97,233       1.20 %(c)     1.73 %(c)     1.27 %(c)     1.66 %(c)     26 %
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                
2004
    10.62       13.48       108,624       1.20       0.75       1.35       0.60       63  
2003
    9.48       35.49       106,792       1.37       0.49       2.60       (0.74 )     49  
2002
    7.25       (18.34 )     13,214       1.46       0.32       2.96       (1.18 )     86  
2001
    8.99       (22.26 )     17,773       1.35       0.47       2.05       (0.23 )     76  
2000
    11.78       (13.19 )     29,261       1.34       0.37       1.99       (0.28 )     70  

 

 
(a) Assumes investment at the net asset value at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all distributions and a complete redemption of the investment at the net asset value at the end of the period. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized.
(b) Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.
(c) Annualized.

73

 


 

APPENDIX B

  Growth Opportunities Fund (Predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund)
                                                                         
Income from investment operations Less distributions


Net
realized Net
and Distributions increase
Net asset Net unrealized Dividends from net (decrease) Net asset
value, investment gain (loss) Total from from net realized in net value,
beginning income on investment investment capital Total asset end of
of period (loss)(1) investments operations income gains distributions value period

For the Period Ended June 30,                                                                        
2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 2.286     $ (0.007 )   $ 0.044     $ 0.037     $     $     $     $ 0.037     $ 2.323  
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                        
2004
    2.125       (0.015 )     0.373       0.358             (0.197 )     (0.197 )     0.161       2.286  
2003
    1.521       (0.015 )     0.619       0.604                         0.604       2.125  
2002
    1.940       (0.014 )     (0.405 )     (0.419 )                       (0.419 )     1.521  
2001
    2.122       (0.010 )     (0.019 )     (0.029 )           (0.153 )     (0.153 )     (0.182 )     1.940  
2000
    2.053       (0.008 )     0.147       0.139             (0.070 )     (0.070 )     0.069       2.122  

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
                                                                         
Ratios/supplemental data

Ratios to average net assets

Net assets Net
end of investment Operating expenses Management fee Portfolio
Total period income

turnover
return (000’s) (loss) (a) (b) (c) Gross Net rate


For the Period Ended June 30,                                                                        
2005 (Unaudited)
    1.62 % (2)   $ 271,476       (0.55 )% (3)     1.15 % (3)     1.15 % (3)     1.15 % (3)     0.93 % (3)     0.93 % (3)     12 %(2)
For the Years Ended December 31,                                                                        
2004
    18.62       299,355       (0.70 )     1.14       1.15       1.15       0.92       0.92       38  
2003
    39.71       296,204       (0.70 )     1.11       1.13       1.13       0.92       0.92       46  
2002
    (21.60 )     287,593       (0.70 )     1.05       1.06       1.06       0.90       0.90       41  
2001
    (1.14 )     435,864       (0.51 )     0.93       0.94       0.94       0.88       0.88       44  
2000
    6.81       510,483       (0.38 )     0.93       0.94       0.94       0.87       0.87       53  

 

 
(a) Including reimbursements, waivers, and reductions.
(b) Excluding reductions. Certain Portfolios have entered varying arrangements with brokers who reduced a portion of the Portfolio’s expenses.
(c) Excluding reimbursements, waivers, and reductions.
(1) Net investment income (loss) per share before reimbursements and waivers of fees by the investment advisor or reductions were $(0.016) in 2004 for predecessor Select Capital Appreciation Fund.
(2) Not Annualized.
(3) Annualized.

74

 


 

APPENDIX B

 

                                                                 
Income from investment operations Less distributions(d)


Net realized Net
and Distributions increase
Net asset unrealized Dividends from net (decrease)
value, Net gain (loss) Total from from net realized in net
beginning investment on investment investment capital Total asset
of period income(2) investments operations income gains distributions value

 
Equity Index Fund (Predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund)
                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 2.664     $ 0.018     $ (0.047 )   $ (0.029 )   $ (0.017 )   $     $ (0.017 )   $ (0.046 )
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                               
2004
    2.453       0.040 (3)     0.211       0.251       (0.040 )           (0.040 )     0.211  
2003
    1.944       0.029       0.508       0.537       (0.028 )           (0.028 )     0.509  
2002
    2.715       0.027       (0.616 )     (0.589 )     (0.028 )     (0.154 )     (0.182 )     (0.771 )
2001
    3.299       0.030       (0.422 )     (0.392 )     (0.029 )     (0.163 )     (0.192 )     (0.584 )
2000
    4.060       0.032       (0.362 )     (0.330 )     (0.034 )     (0.397 )     (0.431 )     (0.761 )
 
Core Fixed Income Fund(1) (Predecessor Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income Fund)
                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.088     $ 0.022     $ (9)   $ 0.022     $ (0.026 )   $     $ (0.026 )   $ (0.004 )
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                               
2004
    1.119       0.043             0.043       (0.059 )     (0.015 )     (0.074 )     (0.031 )
2003
    1.134       0.040       (0.003 )(4)     0.037       (0.052 )           (0.052 )     (0.015 )
2002
    1.106       0.054       0.034       0.088       (0.060 )           (0.060 )     0.028  
2001
    1.086       0.064 (5)     0.021       0.085       (0.065 )           (0.065 )     0.020  
2000
    1.051       0.070       0.035       0.105       (0.070 )           (0.070 )     0.035  
 
Government Income Fund(1) (Predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund)
                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.083     $ 0.017     $ 0.002     $ 0.019     $ (0.020 )   $     $ (0.020 )   $ (0.001 )
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                               
2004
    1.104       0.030       (0.007 )     0.023       (0.042 )     (0.002 )     (0.044 )     (0.021 )
2003
    1.130       0.030       (0.011 )     0.019       (0.045 )           (0.045 )     (0.026 )
2002
    1.077       0.041       0.057       0.098       (0.045 )           (0.045 )     0.053  
2001
    1.051       0.049 (5)     0.030       0.079       (0.053 )           (0.053 )     0.026  
2000
    1.011       0.058       0.040       0.098       (0.058 )           (0.058 )     0.040  
 
Money Market Fund (Predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund)
                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.000     $ 0.011     $     $ 0.011     $ (0.011 )   $     $ (0.011 )   $  
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                               
2004
    1.000       0.009             0.009       (0.009 )           (0.009 )      
2003
    1.000       0.008             0.008       (0.008 )     (6)     (0.008 )      
2002
    1.000       0.016             0.016       (0.016 )           (0.016 )      
2001
    1.000       0.042             0.042       (0.042 )           (0.042 )      
2000
    1.000       0.062             0.062       (0.062 )           (0.062 )      

[Additional columns below]

[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]

                                                                                 
Ratios/supplemental data

Ratios to average net assets
Net
Net asset assets
value, end of Net Operating expenses Management fee Portfolio
end of Total period investment

turnover
period return (000’s) income (a) (b) (c) Gross Net rate


Equity Index Fund (Predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund)
                                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 2.618       (1.07 )% (7)   $ 520,874       1.36 %(8)     0.52 % (8)     0.52 % (8)     0.52 % (8)     0.28 % (8)     0.28 % (8)     3 %(7)
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                               
2004
    2.664       10.32       595,037       1.53       0.50       0.52       0.52       0.28       0.28       4  
2003
    2.453       27.83       666,455       1.37       0.45       0.50       0.50       0.28       0.28       23  
2002
    1.944       (22.22 )     342,683       1.16       0.45       0.47       0.47       0.28       0.28       10  
2001
    2.715       (12.02 )     517,315       1.02       0.32       0.34       0.34       0.28       0.28       21  
2000
    3.299       (9.03 )     599,266       0.87       0.32       0.33       0.33       0.27       0.27       9  
Core Fixed Income Fund(1) (Predecessor Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income Fund)
                                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.084       2.02 % (7)   $ 367,911       3.98 %(8)     0.64 % (8)     0.64 % (8)     0.64 % (8)     0.42 % (8)     0.42 % (8)     44 %(7)
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                               
2004
    1.088       3.98       402,219       3.78       0.64       0.64       0.64       0.42       0.42       113  
2003
    1.119       3.31       530,199       3.42       0.63       0.63       0.63       0.41       0.41       192  
2002
    1.134       8.14       620,074       4.85       0.58       0.58       0.58       0.41       0.41       130  
2001
    1.106       7.94       571,582       5.79       0.47       0.47       0.47       0.41       0.41       114  
2000
    1.086       10.31       445,609       6.53       0.49       0.49       0.49       0.42       0.42       159  
Government Income Fund(1) (Predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund)
                                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.082       1.75 % (7)   $ 116,238       3.08 %(8)     0.74 % (8)     0.74 % (8)     0.74 % (8)     0.50 % (8)     0.50 % (8)     15 %(7)
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                               
2004
    1.083       2.12       128,860       3.02       0.73       0.73       0.73       0.50       0.50       77  
2003
    1.104       1.67       200,158       2.82       0.71       0.71       0.71       0.50       0.50       55  
2002
    1.130       9.28       291,995       3.48       0.68       0.68       0.68       0.50       0.50       79  
2001
    1.077       7.63       116,514       4.52       0.58       0.58       0.58       0.50       0.50       190  
2000
    1.051       10.00       78,531       5.58       0.61       0.61       0.61       0.50       0.50       53  
Money Market Fund (Predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund)
                                                                               
For the Period Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
  $ 1.000       1.08 % (7)   $ 251,228       2.16 %(8)     0.54 % (8)     0.54 % (8)     0.54 % (8)     0.32 % (8)     0.32 % (8)     N/A  
For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                               
2004
    1.000       0.91       264,679       0.88       0.52       0.52       0.52       0.32       0.32       N/A  
2003
    1.000       0.80       377,155       0.82       0.53       0.53       0.53       0.30       0.30       N/A  
2002
    1.000       1.66       704,805       1.63       0.45       0.45       0.45       0.30       0.30       N/A  
2001
    1.000       4.28       604,657       4.11       0.36       0.36       0.36       0.31       0.31       N/A  
2000
    1.000       6.40       457,912       6.19       0.31       0.31       0.31       0.26       0.26       N/A  

 
 
(a) Including reimbursements, waivers, and reductions.
(b) Excluding reductions. Certain Portfolios have entered into varying arrangements with brokers who reduced a portion of the Portfolio’s expenses.
(c) Excluding reimbursements, waivers, and reductions.
(d) Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
(1) Effective January 1, 2001 the predecessor Select Investment Grade Income Fund and predecessor Government Bond Fund adopted the provisions of the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies and are amortizing premium and discount on debt securities using the daily effective yield method. The effect of this change for the year ended December 31, 2001 was a decrease in net investment income per share by $0.003 for predecessor Select Investment Grade Income Fund and a decrease in net investment income per share by $0.007 for predecessor Government Bond Fund, an increase in net realized and unrealized gains and losses per share by $0.003 for predecessor Select Investment Grade Income Fund and an increase in net realized and unrealized gains and losses per share by $0.007 for predecessor Government Bond Fund and a decrease in the ratio of net investment income to average net assets from 6.04% to 5.79% for predecessor Select Investment Grade Income Fund and a decrease in the ratio of net investment income to average net assets from 5.16% to 4.52% for the predecessor Government Bond Fund. Per share data and ratio/supplemental data for periods prior to January 1, 2001 have not been restated to reflect this change in presentation.
(2) Net investment income (loss) per share before reimbursement of fees by the investment advisor was $0.028 in 2003 and $0.029 in 2001 for predecessor Equity Index Fund.
(3) Investment income per share reflects a special dividend which amounted to $0.008 per share for predecessor Equity Index Fund.
(4) The amount shown for a share outstanding does not correspond with the aggregate net gain on investments for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of Portfolio shares in relation to the fluctuating market values of the investments of the Portfolio.
(5) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.
(6) Distributions from net realized gains are less than $.0005.
(7) Not Annualized.
(8) Annualized.
(9) Amount is less than $0.0005 or $(.0005).

75

 


 

  Appendix C
Prior Performance of the Investment Adviser
 
  The Investment Adviser manages investment portfolios of the Goldman Sachs Trust, an affiliated registered investment company, that have investment objectives, policies and strategies which are identical to the Trust’s Growth Opportunities Fund, Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund. In addition, with respect to the Growth Opportunities Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund, the Investment Adviser manages separate accounts that also have investment objectives, policies and strategies which are substantially similar to those Funds. Below are performance tables which include the performance of the Goldman Sachs Trust’s Growth Opportunities Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Government Income Fund. In addition, the Growth Opportunities Composite and Core Fixed Income Composite performance table includes the performance of separate accounts that have investment objectives, policies and strategies which are substantially similar to the Goldman Sachs Trust Growth Opportunities Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund, respectively. Although the performance shown below is no substitute for the performance of the Trust’s Growth Opportunities Fund, Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund, it does provide a historical track record of the Investment Adviser in managing substantially similar mutual funds and accounts.
 
  Investors should not consider this performance data as a substitute for the performance of any Fund nor should investors consider this data as an indication of the future performance of any Fund or of the Investment Adviser. The Russell Midcap Growth Index, Lehman Brothers Government/Mortgage Index and Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index are unmanaged indices, and investors cannot invest directly in them.

                                   
Growth Opportunities Composite

Average Annual Total Return
for the Periods Ended August 31, 2005
Since
Inception
(June 1,
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 1999)

Growth Opportunities Composite
                               
 
Before Waivers
    19.78 %     16.45 %     3.42 %     14.57 %
 
After Waivers
    20.04 %     16.70 %     3.65 %     14.82 %
Russell Midcap Growth Index
    26.45 %     20.98 %     (5.69 )%     4.00 %

                                   
Goldman Sachs Trust
Government Income Fund

Average Annual Total Return
for the Periods Ended August 31, 2005
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years

GST Government Income Fund
                               
 
Before Waivers
    3.12 %     3.73 %     6.23 %     6.04 %
 
After Waivers
    3.48 %     4.10 %     6.60 %     6.41 %
Lehman Brothers Government/ Mortgage Index
    3.96 %     4.10 %     6.51 %     6.57 %

                                   
Core Fixed Income Composite

Average Annual Total Return
for the Periods Ended August 31, 2005
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years

Core Fixed Income Composite
                               
 
Before Waivers
    3.98 %     5.31 %     6.75 %     6.36 %
 
After Waivers
    4.21 %     5.55 %     6.99 %     6.60 %
Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index
    4.15 %     4.87 %     6.98 %     6.75 %

  The performance information has been adjusted to reflect the annual fund operating expenses (before and after waivers and expense limitations) of the Service Class of the Growth Opportunities Fund, Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund that have been estimated for the current fiscal year and total 1.36% and 1.14%, 1.03% and 0.68% and 0.77% and 0.54% of each respective Fund’s average daily net assets.
 
  All returns include the reinvestment of earnings. Certain separate accounts in the Growth Opportunities and Core Fixed Income composites are not subject to the same diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Growth Opportunities Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund by the Investment Company Act and Subchapter M of the Code. Consequently, the performance results of the Investment Adviser’s separate accounts could have been adversely affected if the separate accounts had been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws. In addition, the securities held by the Growth Opportunities Fund, Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund will not be identical to the securities held by the mutual funds and separate accounts included in the above performance for the periods shown above. Accordingly, the future performance of the Growth Opportunities Fund, Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund will differ from the above performance.

 
76


 

  Table of Contents

           
Page

GENERAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH     1  
 
FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES
    6  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund
    6  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    7  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund
    8  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund
    9  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
    10  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
    11  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
    12  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund
    13  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund
    14  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund
    15  
 
 
—Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund
    16  
 
OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES
    17  
 
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND
    20  
 
FUND PERFORMANCE
    23  
 
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES
    30  
 
SERVICE PROVIDERS
    33  
 
DIVIDENDS
    46  
 
SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
    47  
 
TAXATION
    51  
 
APPENDIX A—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PORTFOLIO RISKS, SECURITIES AND TECHNIQUES     52  
 
APPENDIX B—FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    68  
 
APPENDIX C—PRIOR PERFORMANCE OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER     76  


 

  Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
Prospectus

   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 its last fiscal year.
 
  Your insurance company will provide you with annual and semi-annual reports if the Funds serve as the investment vehicle for your variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy.
 
  A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreements for the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds is available in the respective Fund’s semiannual reports dated June 30, 2005.
 
  Statement of Additional Information
  Additional information about the Funds and their policies is also available in the Funds’ Additional Statement. The Additional Statement is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus (is legally considered part of this Prospectus).
 
  The Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports, and the Additional Statement, are available free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-621-2550. You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual reports and the Additional Statement at the Funds’ website: http://www.gs.com/funds.
 
  To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:
  n  By telephone – 1-800-621-2550
  n  By mail – Goldman Sachs Funds
                 P.O. Box 06050
                 Chicago, IL 60606-6306
  n  By e-mail – gs-funds@gs.com
  n  On the Internet – SEC EDGAR database –
                                 http://www.sec.gov
                             Goldman Sachs – http://www.gs.com/funds

  You may review and obtain copies of Trust documents by visiting the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Trust documents, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic request to: publicinfo@sec.gov. Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090.

(Goldman Sachs Logo)

The Trust’s investment company registration number is 811-08361.

CORESM is a service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GSAM® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

VITCOREUSPRO

 


 

GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM U.S. EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MID CAP VALUE FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS EQUITY INDEX FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CORE FIXED INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MONEY MARKET FUND
Service Shares
Supplement Dated October 28, 2005 to the Statement of Additional Information dated October 28, 2005
     The Service Shares of the Goldman Sachs COREsm U.S. Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs COREsm Small Cap Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund, Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund, Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund, and Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund are newly created shares offered by the Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (“GSVIT”). It is expected that Service Shares of certain of these Funds will be issued initially in connection with the proposed acquisition of the assets and liabilities of the portfolios of the Allmerica Investment Trust (“AIT”).
     In connection with the proposed acquisition, a shareholder meeting is scheduled to be held on December 9, 2005. At that meeting, the shareholders of each of the investment portfolios of AIT (an “AIT Fund”) will be asked to approve a proposed agreement and plan of reorganization whereby each AIT Fund listed below would be acquired by the corresponding investment portfolio of the Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (“GSVIT”) listed opposite its name:
     
AIT Funds   GSVIT Funds
Select International Equity Fund
  International Equity Fund
Core Equity Fund
  CORESM U.S. Equity Fund
Select Growth Fund
  Capital Growth Fund
Select Capital Appreciation Fund
  Growth Opportunities Fund
Equity Index Fund
  Equity Index Fund
Select Value Opportunity Fund
  Mid Cap Value Fund
Government Bond Fund
  Government Income Fund
Select Investment Grade Income Fund
  Core Fixed Income Fund
Money Market Fund
  Money Market Fund

 


 

The Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund, Equity Index Fund, Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund are newly organized Funds that have been created for purposes of acquiring the assets and liabilities of the AIT Select Capital Appreciation Fund, AIT Equity Index Fund, AIT Government Bond Fund, AIT Select Investment Grade Income Fund and AIT Money Market Fund (the “Predecessor AIT Funds”), respectively, and continuing their operations. If the reorganization is approved by AIT shareholders, for purposes of the reorganization, the Predecessor AIT Funds will be considered the accounting survivor, and accordingly, certain financial information relating to the Predecessor AIT Funds has been included in the attached statement of additional information and presented as if the reorganization has been consummated. However, as of the date of this statement of additional information, the reorganization has not yet been approved by shareholders and has not occurred.

 


 

PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED OCTOBER 28, 2005
SERVICE SHARES
GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM U.S. EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CORESM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CAPITAL GROWTH FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MID CAP VALUE FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS EQUITY INDEX FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS CORE FIXED INCOME FUND
GOLDMAN SACHS MONEY MARKET FUND
(PORTFOLIOS OF GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST)
Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60606
     This Statement of Additional Information (the “Additional Statement”) is not a Prospectus. This Additional Statement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for Service Shares of the Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund, Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund, Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund, Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund and Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) dated October 28, 2005 as it may be further amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”) and which may be obtained without charge from Goldman, Sachs & Co. by calling the telephone number, or writing to one of the addresses, listed below.
     The audited financial statements and related report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for each of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds, contained in each such Fund’s 2004 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the section “Financial Statements.” The audited financial statements and related report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund, predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund, predecessor Allmerica Investment Grade Income Fund and predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund of Allmerica Investment Trust (the “Predecessor Allmerica Funds”), contained in each such Predecessor Allmerica Funds’ 2004 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the section “Financial Statements.” No other parts of any Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The unaudited financial statements for each of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds, contained in each such Fund’s 2005 Semi-Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the section “Financial Statements”.” The unaudited financial statements for the Predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Predecessor

 


 

Allmerica Investment Grade Income Fund and Predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund, contained in each such Predecessor Allmerica Funds’ 2005 Semi-Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the section “Financial Statements.” A copy of the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained upon request and without charge by writing Goldman, Sachs & Co., P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling Goldman, Sachs & Co., at the telephone number on the back cover of the Funds’ Prospectus.
CORESM is a service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
GSAM® is a registered service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
The date of this Additional Statement is October 28, 2005.

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Page  
 
       
INTRODUCTION
    B-1  
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
    B-2  
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
    B-66  
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
    B-69  
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
    B-79  
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
    B-97  
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
    B-111  
NET ASSET VALUE
    B-117  
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
    B-121  
SHARES OF THE TRUST
    B-123  
TAXATION
    B-127  
PROXY VOTING
    B-131  
PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES
    B-133  
OTHER INFORMATION
    B-134  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    B-137  
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
    B-137  
APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
    1-A  
APPENDIX B ISS PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
    1-B  
APPENDIX C STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS PROXY VOTING POLICY
    1-C  
APPENDIX D BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OF GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
    1-D  
- i -

 


 

     
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Investment Adviser to:
  Distributor
     Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  85 Broad Street
     Goldman Sachs CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
  New York, New York 10004
     Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund
   
     Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund
 
     Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
     Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
  Transfer Agent
     Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
  71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500
     Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund
  Chicago, IL 60606
     Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund
 
     Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund
   
     32 Old Slip
   
     New York, New York 10005
   
 
   
GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT
  SSgA Funds Management, Inc.
INTERNATIONAL
  Investment Sub-Adviser to:
Investment Adviser to:
       Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
     Goldman Sachs International
  State Street Financial Center
          Equity Fund
  One Lincoln Street
     Christchurch Court
  Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2900
     10-15 Newgate Street
   
     London, England EC1A7HD
   
Toll free (in U.S.)...800-621-2550
- ii -

 


 

INTRODUCTION
     Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end, management investment company. Service Shares of the Trust may be purchased and held by the separate accounts (“Separate Accounts”) of participating life insurance companies (“Participating Insurance Companies”) for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. Service Shares of the Trust are not offered directly to the general public. The following series of the Trust are described in this Additional Statement: Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund (“CORE U.S. Equity Fund”), Goldman Sachs CORE Small Cap Equity Fund (“CORE Small Cap Equity Fund”), Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund (“Capital Growth Fund”), Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Fund (“Growth and Income Fund”), Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund (“Mid Cap Value Fund”), Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund (“Growth Opportunities Fund”), Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund (“Equity Index Fund”), Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund (“International Equity Fund”), Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund (“Government Income Fund”), Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund (“Core Fixed Income Fund”) and Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund (“Money Market Fund”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Funds”).
     The Growth Opportunities Fund, Equity Index Fund, Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund are newly organized funds that have been created to acquire the assets and liabilities of the Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, Allmerica Equity Index Fund, Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income Fund and Allmerica Money Market Fund of Allmerica Investment Trust (the “Predecessor Allmerica Funds”), respectively. These Predecessor Allmerica Funds, for purposes of the reorganization, are considered the accounting survivors and accordingly, certain financial history of the Predecessor Allmerica Funds is included in this statement of additional information.
     Each Fund is a series of Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, which was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 16, 1997. The Trustees of the Trust have authority under the Declaration of Trust to create and classify shares of beneficial interests into separate series and to classify and reclassify any series or portfolio of shares into one or more classes without further action by shareholders. Pursuant thereto, the Trustees have created the Funds. Additional series and classes may be added in the future from time to time.
     Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”) (formerly Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P.), an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”), serves as the investment adviser to the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds. Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, serves as the investment adviser to the International Equity Fund. SSgA Funds Management, Inc. (“SSgA”) serves as investment sub-adviser to the Equity Index Fund. GSAM and GSAMI are sometimes individually referred to as an “Investment Adviser” and collectively herein as the “Investment Advisers.” SSgA is referred to herein as the “Sub-Adviser.” In addition, Goldman Sachs serves as each Fund’s distributor and transfer agent. Each Fund’s custodian is State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).

B-1


 

     The following information relates to and supplements the description of each Fund’s investment policies contained in the Prospectus. See the Prospectus for a more complete description of the Funds’ investment objectives and policies. Investing in the Funds entails certain risks and there is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
     Each Fund has a distinct investment objective and policies. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be achieved. Each Fund is a diversified open-end management company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”). The investment objective and policies of each Fund, and the associated risks of each Fund, are discussed in the Funds’ Prospectus, which should be read carefully before an investment is made. All investment objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed without shareholder approval. However, with respect to the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Mid Cap Value, International Equity, Equity Index, Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds, to the extent required by Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations, shareholders will be provided with sixty days’ notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in a Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) or total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that collateral) in the particular type of investment suggested by its name. Additional information about the Funds, their policies, and the investment instruments they may hold, is provided below.
     Each of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index and International Equity Funds may be referred to in this Additional Statement individually as an “Equity Fund” and collectively as the “Equity Funds.” Each of the Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds may be referred to in this Additional Statement individually as a “Fixed Income Fund” and together as the “Fixed Income Funds.”
     Each Fund’s share price will fluctuate with market, economic and, to the extent applicable, foreign exchange conditions, so that an investment in any of the Funds may be worth more or less when redeemed than when purchased. None of the Funds should be relied upon as a complete investment program.
     The following discussion supplements the information in the Funds’ Prospectus.
General Information Regarding The Equity Funds (Other Than The Equity Index Fund)
     The Investment Adviser may purchase for the Equity Funds common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real estate investment trusts, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar enterprises, warrants and stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities (“equity investments”). The Investment Adviser utilizes first-hand fundamental research, including visiting company facilities to assess operations and

B-2


 

to meet decision-makers, in choosing an Equity Fund’s securities. The Investment Adviser may also use macro analysis of numerous economic and valuation variables to anticipate changes in company earnings and the overall investment climate. The Investment Adviser is able to draw on the research and market expertise of the Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Department and other affiliates of the Investment Adviser, as well as information provided by other securities dealers. Equity investments in an Equity Fund’s portfolio will generally be sold when the Investment Adviser believes that the market price fully reflects or exceeds the investments’ fundamental valuation or when other more attractive investments are identified.
     Value Style Funds. The Growth and Income Fund and Mid Cap Value Fund are managed using a value oriented approach. The Investment Adviser evaluates securities using fundamental analysis and intends to purchase equity investments that are, in its view, underpriced relative to a combination of such companies’ long-term earnings prospects, growth rate, free cash flow and/or dividend-paying ability. Consideration will be given to the business quality of the issuer. Factors positively affecting the Investment Adviser’s view of that quality include the competitiveness and degree of regulation in the markets in which the company operates, the existence of a management team with a record of success, the position of the company in the markets in which it operates, the level of the company’s financial leverage and the sustainable return on capital invested in the business. The Funds may also purchase securities of companies that have experienced difficulties and that, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, are available at attractive prices.
     Growth Style Funds. The Capital Growth and Growth Opportunities Funds are managed using a growth equity oriented approach. Equity investments for these Funds are selected based on their prospects for above average growth. The Investment Adviser will select securities of growth companies trading, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, at a reasonable price relative to other industries, competitors and historical price/earnings multiples. The Funds will generally invest in companies whose earnings are believed to be in a relatively strong growth trend, or, to a lesser extent, in companies in which significant further growth is not anticipated but whose market value per share is thought to be undervalued. In order to determine whether a security has favorable growth prospects, the Investment Adviser ordinarily looks for one or more of the following characteristics in relation to the security’s prevailing price: prospects for above average sales and earnings growth per share; high return on invested capital; free cash flow generation; sound balance sheet, financial and accounting policies, and overall financial strength; established brand name; long product life cycle; enduring competitive advantages; effective research, product development, and marketing; pricing power; strength of management; and general operating characteristics that will enable the company to compete successfully in its marketplace.
     Quantitative Style Equity Funds. The CORE U.S. Equity and CORE Small Cap Equity Funds (the “CORE Equity Funds”) are managed using both quantitative and fundamental techniques. CORE is an acronym for “Computer-Optimized, Research-Enhanced,” which reflects the CORE Funds’ investment process. This investment process and the proprietary multifactor model used to implement it are discussed below.
          Investment Process. The Investment Adviser begins with a broad universe of U.S. equity investments for the CORE Equity Funds. As described more fully below, the Investment

B-3


 

Adviser uses a proprietary multifactor model (the “Multifactor Model”) to forecast the returns of different markets, currencies and individual securities.
     In building a diversified portfolio for each CORE Equity Fund, the Investment Adviser utilizes optimization techniques to seek to construct the most efficient risk/return portfolio given each CORE Fund’s benchmark. Each portfolio is primarily composed of securities rated highest by the foregoing investment process or those that the Investment Adviser believes maximize the portfolio’s risk/return tradeoff characteristics and industry weightings similar to the relevant Fund’s benchmark.
          Multifactor Model. The Multifactor Model is a rigorous computerized rating system for forecasting the returns of different equity markets, currencies and individual equity investments according to fundamental investment characteristics. The CORE Equity Funds use one Multifactor Model to forecast the returns of securities held in each Fund’s portfolio. The Multifactor Model incorporates common variables including measures of research value, momentum, profitability, earnings quality, and management impact. All of the factors used in the Multifactor Model have been shown to significantly impact the performance of the securities, currencies and markets they were designed to forecast.
     The weightings assigned to the factors in the Multifactor Model used by the CORE Equity Funds are derived using a statistical formulation that considers each factor’s historical performance in different market environments. As such, the U.S. Multifactor Model is designed to evaluate each security using factors that are statistically related to returns over the long run. Because they include many disparate factors, the Investment Adviser believes that the Multifactor Model is broader in scope and provide a more thorough evaluation than traditional investment processes. Securities and markets ranked highest by the relevant Multifactor Model do not have one dominant investment characteristic; rather, they possess an attractive combination of investment characteristics. By using a variety of relevant factors to select securities, currencies or markets, the Investment Adviser believes that the Fund will be better balanced and have more consistent performance than an investment portfolio that uses only one or two factors to select such investments.
     The Investment Adviser will monitor, and may occasionally suggest and make changes to, the method by which securities, currencies or markets are selected for or weighted in a Fund. Such changes (which may be the result of changes in the Multifactor Model or the method of applying the Multifactor Model) may include: (i) evolutionary changes to the structure of the Multifactor Model (e.g., the addition of new factors or a new means of weighting the factors); (ii) changes in trading procedures (e.g., trading frequency or the manner in which a Fund uses futures); or (iii) changes in the method by which securities, currencies or markets are weighted in a Fund. Any such changes will preserve a Fund’s basic investment philosophy of combining qualitative and quantitative methods of selecting securities using a disciplined investment process.
     Other Information. Since normal settlement for equity investments is three trading days (for certain international markets settlement may be longer), the Equity Funds will need to hold cash balances to satisfy shareholder redemption requests. Such cash balances will normally range from 2% to 5% of a Fund’s net assets. The CORE U.S. Equity Fund may enter into futures transactions only with respect to the S&P 500™ Index and the CORE Small Cap Equity Fund may enter into futures transactions only with respect to a representative index in order to keep the Fund’s effective equity

B-4


 

exposure close to 100%. For example, if cash balances are equal to 5% of the net assets, the Fund may enter into long futures contracts covering an amount equal to 5% of the Fund’s net assets. As cash balances fluctuate based on new contributions or withdrawals, a Fund may enter into additional contracts or close out existing positions.
Information About the Equity Index Fund
     The Equity Index Fund will attempt to replicate the investment results of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the “S&P 500”) while minimizing transactional costs and other expenses. Stocks in the S&P 500 are ranked in accordance with their statistical weighting from highest to lowest. The method used to select investments for the Equity Index Fund involves investing in common stocks in approximately the order of their weighting in the S&P 500, beginning with those having the highest weighting. The Fund uses the S&P 500 as the performance standard because it represents over 70 percent of the total market value of all publicly-traded common stocks in the U.S., is well-known to investors and, in the opinion of the Sub-Adviser, is representative of the performance of common stocks publicly-traded in the United States. Many, but not all, of the stocks in the S&P 500 are issued by companies that are among the 500 largest as measured by the aggregate market value of their outstanding stock (market price per share multiplied by number of shares outstanding). Inclusion of a stock in the S&P 500 does not imply that Standard & Poor’s, a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), has endorsed it as an investment. With respect to investing in common stocks, there can be no assurance of capital appreciation and there is a substantial risk of market decline.
     The Equity Index Fund’s ability to duplicate the performance of the S&P 500 will be influenced by the size and timing of cash flows into or out of the Fund, the liquidity of the securities included in the S&P 500, transaction and operating expenses and other factors. These factors, among others, may result in “tracking error,” which is a measure of the degree to which the Fund’s results differ from the results of the S&P 500.
     Tracking error is measured by the difference between total return for the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested and total return for the Fund with dividends reinvested prior to deductions for fund or product expenses. Tracking error is monitored by the Sub-Adviser on a regular basis. All tracking error deviations are reviewed to determine the effectiveness of investment policies and techniques. If the tracking error deviation exceeds industry standards for the Fund’s asset size, the Sub-Adviser will bring the deviation to the attention of the Trustees.
     While the Board of Trustees of the Trust has selected the S&P 500 as the index the Fund will attempt to replicate, the Trustees reserve the right to select another index at any time without seeking shareholder approval if they believe that the S&P 500 no longer represents a broad spectrum of common stocks that are publicly traded in the United States or if there are legal, economic or other factors limiting the use of any particular index. If the Trustees change the index which the Equity Index Fund attempts to replicate, the Equity Index Fund may incur significant transaction costs in switching from one index to another.
     The Equity Index Fund will invest only in those stocks, and in such amounts, as the Investment Adviser and/or the Sub-Adviser determines to be necessary or appropriate for the Equity Index Fund to

B-5


 

approximate the S&P 500. As the size of the Equity Index Fund increases, the Equity Index Fund may purchase a larger number of stocks included in the S&P 500, and the percentage of its assets invested in most stocks included in the S&P 500 will approach the percentage that each such stock represents in the S&P 500. However, there is no minimum or maximum number of stocks included in the S&P 500 which the Equity Index Fund will hold. Under normal circumstances, it is expected that the Equity Index Fund will hold approximately 500 different companies included in the S&P 500 Index. The Equity Index Fund may compensate for the omission of a stock that is included in the S&P 500, or for purchasing stocks in other than the same proportions that they are represented in the S&P 500, by purchasing stocks which are believed to have characteristics which correspond to those of the omitted stocks.
     The Equity Index Fund may invest in short-term debt securities to maintain liquidity or pending investment in stocks. Such investments will not be made for defensive purposes or in anticipation of a general decline in the market price of stocks in which the Equity Index Fund invests; investors in the Equity Index Fund bear the risk of general declines in the stock markets. The Equity Index Fund also may take advantage of tender offers, resulting in higher returns than are reflected in the performance of the S&P 500. In addition, the Equity Index Fund may hold warrants, preferred stocks and debt securities, whether or not convertible into common stock or with rights attached, if acquired as a result of in-kind dividend distributions, mergers, acquisitions or other corporate activity involving the common stocks held by the Equity Index Fund. Such investment transactions and securities holdings may result in positive or negative tracking error.
     The Equity Index Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts on stock indexes for hedging purposes and in order to achieve a fully invested position while maintaining sufficient liquidity to meet possible net redemptions. The effectiveness of a strategy of investing in stock index futures contracts will depend upon the continued availability of futures contracts based on the S&P 500 or which tend to move together with stocks included in the S&P 500. The Equity Index Fund would not enter into futures contracts on stock indexes for speculative purposes.
     The Equity Index Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in foreign securities (not including its investments in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)). The Equity Index Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities which are illiquid.
     Because of its policy of tracking the S&P 500, the Equity Index Fund is not managed according to traditional methods of active investment management, which involve the buying and selling of securities based upon investment analysis of economic, financial and market factors. Consequently, the projected adverse financial performance of a company normally would not result in the sale of the company’s stock and projected superior financial performance by a company normally would not lead to an increase in the holdings of the company. From time to time, the Sub-Adviser may make adjustments in the portfolio because of cash flows, mergers, changes in the composition of the S&P 500 and other similar reasons.
     Standard & Poor’s is not in any way affiliated with the Equity Index Fund or the Trust. “Standard & Poor’s,” “Standard & Poor’s 500, “S&P 500” and “500” are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Corporation.

B-6


 

Additional Information About the International Equity Fund
     The International Equity Fund is managed using an active international approach, which utilizes a consistent process of stock selection undertaken by portfolio management teams located within each of the major investment regions, including Europe, Japan, Asia and the United States. In selecting securities, the Investment Adviser uses a bottom-up strategy based on first-hand fundamental research that is designed to give broad exposure to the available opportunities while seeking to add return primarily through stock selection. Equity investments for this Fund are evaluated based on three key factors—the business, the management and the valuation. The Investment Adviser ordinarily seeks securities that have, in the Investment Adviser’s opinion, superior earnings growth potential, sustainable franchise value with management attuned to creating shareholder value and relatively discounted valuations. In addition, the Investment Adviser uses a multi-factor risk model which seeks to assure that deviations from the benchmark are justifiable.
     The International Equity Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, substantially all, and at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) in equity investments of companies that are organized outside the United States or whose securities are principally traded outside the United States.
     The International Equity Fund’s Investment Adviser believes that outperformance is generated by a long-term focus on quality companies with quality managements that trade at attractive valuations.
Bottom-up, fundamental research is carried out by both the Investment Adviser’s four senior portfolio managers and its 80+ research analysts based in London, Singapore, Tokyo, New York and Tampa. These research analysts are organized into five global sector research teams — Consumer, Health Sciences, Financials, Industrials and Technology/Telecoms. The Investment Adviser’s global research platform also includes a ‘Specialist’ team that focuses on the small and mid-cap segments of each market. The rigorous investment criteria employed by the research analysts are designed to capture the quality of business, quality of management and valuation of the companies within the international equity universe.
Stock selection. The portfolio management team evaluates ideas with the global research analysts through formal conference calls, regular visits to the Investment Adviser’s regional offices and regular ad hoc communication. These forums allow the portfolio managers to cross-examine the research analysts, question their assumptions, ensure issues have been raised, and offer counter-perspectives to their investment recommendations. After questions arising from these discussions have been answered, primary stock selection is carried out by the International Equity portfolio managers, who assess each stock by balancing views of the global sector teams with their own before making a cross-border and cross-sector assessment of each company.
Portfolio construction is carried out by the Investment Adviser’s dedicated Portfolio Construction Team, which sizes each position based on the International Equity portfolio managers’ conviction in each stock and the position’s desired impact on portfolio risk. The portfolio managers work closely with the Portfolio Construction Team to position the research ideas in the International Equity Fund

B-7


 

and cross-check positioning across all of the regional and sector flagship portfolios to ensure that investment themes are implemented consistently.
     GSAMI’s currency team manages the foreign exchange risk embedded in foreign equities by means of a currency overlay program. The program may be utilized to protect the value of foreign investments in sustained periods of dollar appreciation and to add returns by seeking to take advantage of foreign exchange fluctuations.
     The members of GSAMI’s International Equity team bring together years of experience in analyzing and investing in companies globally. Global research analysts have a local presence around the world that facilitates interaction with companies and enhances knowledge of local trends. Moreover, the ability of the portfolio managers to leverage the views of GSAMI’s Corporate Credit and Currency Teams result in a deeper understanding of companies and industries.
Information About the Government Income Fund
     The Government Income Fund is designed for investors who seek a high level of current income, consistent with safety of principal and the high credit quality of U.S. Government Securities, without incurring the administrative and account burdens involved in direct investment.
     The Government Income Fund’s overall returns are generally likely to move in the opposite direction from interest rates. Therefore, when interest rates decline, the Government Income Fund’s return is likely to increase. In exchange for accepting a higher degree of share price fluctuation, investors have the potential to achieve a higher return from the Government Income Fund than from shorter-term investments.
     High Current Income. The Government Income Fund is designed to have a higher current yield than a money market fund, since it can invest in longer-term, higher yielding securities, and may utilize certain investment techniques not available to a money market fund. Similarly, the Government Income Fund’s yield is expected to exceed that offered by bank certificates of deposit and money market accounts. However, the Government Income Fund does not maintain a constant net asset value per share and is subject to greater fluctuation in the value of its shares than a money market fund. Unlike bank certificates of deposit and money market accounts, investments in shares of the Government Income Fund are not insured or guaranteed by any government agency. The Government Income Fund seeks to provide high current income without, however, sacrificing credit quality.
     Liquidity. Because the Government Income Fund’s shares may be redeemed upon request of a shareholder on any business day at net asset value, the Government Income Fund offers greater liquidity than many competing investments such as certificates of deposit and direct investments in certain securities in which the Government Income Fund may invest.
     A Sophisticated Investment Process. The Government Income Fund’s investment process starts with a review of trends for the overall economy as well as for different sectors of the U.S. government and Mortgage-Backed Securities markets. Goldman Sachs’ portfolio managers then analyze yield spreads, implied volatility and the shape of the yield curve. In planning the Government Income Fund’s portfolio investment strategies, the Investment Adviser is able to draw upon the economic and fixed-income

B-8


 

research resources of Goldman Sachs. The Investment Adviser will use a sophisticated analytical process involving Goldman Sachs’ proprietary mortgage prepayment model and option-adjusted spread model to structure and maintain the Government Income Fund’s investment portfolio. In determining the Government Income Fund’s investment strategy and in making market timing decisions, the Investment Adviser will have access to information from Goldman Sachs’ economists, fixed-income analysts and mortgage specialists.
     Convenience of a Fund Structure. The Government Income Fund eliminates many of the complications that direct ownership of U.S. Government Securities and Mortgage-Backed Securities entails. The Government Income Fund automatically reinvests all principal payments within the Fund and distributes only current income each month, thereby conserving principal and eliminating the investor’s need to segregate and reinvest the principal portion of each payment on his own.
Information About the Core Fixed Income Fund
     The Core Fixed Income Fund is designed for investors seeking a total return consisting of capital appreciation and income that exceeds the total return of the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index (the “Index”), without incurring the administrative and accounting burdens involved in direct investment. Such investors also prefer liquidity, experienced professional management and administration, a sophisticated investment process, and the convenience of a mutual fund structure. The Core Fixed Income Fund may be appropriate as part of a balanced investment strategy consisting of stocks, bonds and cash or as a complement to positions in other types of fixed-income investments.
     The Index currently includes U.S. Government Securities and fixed-rate, publicly issued, U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income securities rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or if a Moody’s rating is unavailable, the comparable S& P Ratings Group rating is used. The securities currently included in the Index have at least one year remaining to maturity; have an outstanding principal amount of at least $150 million; and are issued by the following types of issuers, with each category receiving a different weighting in the Index: U.S. Treasury; agencies, authorities or instrumentalities of the U.S. government; issuers of Mortgage-Backed Securities; utilities; industrial issuers; financial institutions; foreign issuers; and issuers of asset-backed securities. In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund uses the Index as its performance benchmark, but the Fund will not attempt to replicate the Index. The Fund may, therefore, invest in securities that are not included in the Index. The Index is a trademark of Lehman Brothers. Inclusion of a security in the Index does not imply an opinion by Lehman Brothers as to its attractiveness or appropriateness for investment. Although Lehman Brothers obtains factual information used in connection with the Index from sources which it considers reliable, Lehman Brothers claims no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of such information and has no liability to any person for any loss arising from results obtained from the use of the Index data.
     The Core Fixed Income Fund’s overall returns are generally likely to move in the opposite direction from interest rates. Therefore, when interest rates decline, the Core Fixed Income Fund’s return is likely to increase. Conversely, when interest rates increase, the Core Fixed Income Fund’s return is likely to decline. However, the Investment Adviser believes that, given the flexibility of managers to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities, the Core Fixed Income Fund’s return is not likely to decline as quickly as that of other fixed-income funds with a comparable average portfolio duration. In exchange

B-9


 

for accepting a higher degree of potential share price fluctuation, investors have the opportunity to achieve a higher return from the Core Fixed Income Fund than from shorter-term investments.
     A number of investment strategies will be used to achieve the Core Fixed Income 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 five market sectors (i.e., U.S. Treasuries, U.S. government agencies, corporate securities, Mortgage-Backed 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 among 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.
     A Sophisticated Investment Process. The Core Fixed Income 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 Core Fixed Income 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 Core Fixed Income 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 Adviser will use a sophisticated analytical process including Goldman Sachs’ proprietary mortgage prepayment model and option-adjusted spread model to assist in structuring and maintaining the Core Fixed Income Fund’s investment portfolio. In determining the Core Fixed Income Fund’s investment strategy and making market timing decisions, the Investment Adviser will have access to input from Goldman Sachs’ economists, fixed-income analysts and mortgage specialists.
Corporate Debt Obligations
     The Money Market Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations to the extent described in the Prospectus and as permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the Act. Each other Fund may, under normal market conditions, invest in corporate debt obligations, including obligations of industrial, utility and financial issuers. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. The CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds may only invest in debt securities that are cash equivalents. 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.

B-10


 

     Fixed income securities rated BBB or Baa are considered medium-grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken their issuers’ capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Medium to lower rated and comparable non-rated securities tend to offer higher yields than higher rated securities with the same maturities because the historical financial condition of the issuers of such securities may not have been as strong as that of other issuers. Since medium to lower rated securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities, investors should consider carefully the relative risks associated with investment in securities which carry medium to lower ratings and in comparable unrated securities. In addition to the risk of default, there are the related costs of recovery on defaulted issues. The Funds’ Investment Advisers will attempt to reduce these risks through portfolio diversification and by analysis of each issuer and its ability to make timely payments of income and principal, as well as broad economic trends and corporate developments. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in a Fund’s portfolio and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.
High Yield Securities
     The Capital Growth, Growth and Income, MidCap Value, Growth Opportunities, and International Equity Funds may invest in bonds rated BB or below by Standard & Poor’s or Ba or below by Moody’s (or comparable rated and unrated securities). These bonds are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative. The ability of their issuers to make principal and interest payments may be questionable. In some cases, such bonds may be highly speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such bonds will entail greater risks than those associated with investment grade bonds (i.e., bonds rated AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard and Poor’s or Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s). Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities, and the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective may, to the extent of its investments in high yield securities, be more dependent upon such creditworthiness analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in higher quality securities. See Appendix A for a description of the corporate bond and preferred stock ratings by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) and Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (“DBRS”).
     The amount of high yield, fixed-income securities proliferated in the 1980s and early 1990s as a result of increased merger and acquisition and leveraged buyout activity. Such securities are also issued by less-established corporations desiring to expand. Risks associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally are greater than is the case with higher rated securities because such issuers are often less creditworthy companies or are highly leveraged and generally less able than more established or less leveraged entities to make scheduled payments of principal and interest. High yield securities are also issued by governmental issuers that may have difficulty in making all scheduled interest and principal payments.
     The market values of high yield, fixed-income securities tends to reflect those individual corporate or municipal developments to a greater extent than do those of higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Issuers of such high yield securities are often highly leveraged, and may not be able to make use of more traditional methods of financing. Their ability to service debt obligations may be more adversely affected than issuers of higher rated securities by

B-11


 

economic downturns, specific corporate or governmental developments or the issuers’ inability to meet specific projected business forecasts. These non-investment grade securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than higher-rated securities. Negative publicity about the junk bond market and investor perceptions regarding lower-rated securities, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may depress the prices for such securities.
     An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers of junk bond securities to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of junk bonds will have an adverse effect on a Fund’s net asset value to the extent it invests in such securities. In addition, a Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.
     The secondary market for junk bonds, which is concentrated in relatively few market makers, may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities. This reduced liquidity may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities and International Equity Funds to dispose of a particular security when necessary to meet their redemption requests or other liquidity needs. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for junk bonds could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. As a result, the Investment Advisers could find it difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under such circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating a Fund’s net asset value.
     Since investors generally perceive that there are greater risks associated with the medium to lower rated securities of the type in which the Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities and International Equity Funds may invest, the yields and prices of such securities may tend to fluctuate more than those for higher rated securities. In the lower quality segments of the fixed-income securities market, changes in perceptions of issuers’ creditworthiness tend to occur more frequently and in a more pronounced manner than do changes in higher quality segments of the fixed-income securities market, resulting in greater yield and price volatility.
     Another factor which causes fluctuations in the prices of fixed-income securities is the supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the prices of fixed-income securities fluctuate in response to the general level of interest rates. Fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities subsequent to their acquisition will not affect cash income from such securities but will be reflected in a Fund’s net asset value.
     Medium to lower rated and comparable non-rated securities tend to offer higher yields than higher rated securities with the same maturities because the historical financial condition of the issuers of such securities may not have been as strong as that of other issuers. Since medium to lower rated securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities, investors should consider carefully the relative risks associated with investment in securities which carry medium to lower ratings and in comparable unrated securities. In addition to the risk of default, there are the related costs of recovery on defaulted issues. The Investment Adviser will attempt to reduce these risks through portfolio diversification and by analysis of each issuer and its ability to make timely payments of income and principal, as well as broad economic trends and corporate developments.

B-12


 

     The Investment Adviser employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, the issuer’s sensitivity to economic conditions, its operating history and the current trend of earnings. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in a Fund’s portfolio and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.
Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations
     The Money Market Fund may invest in commercial paper, including variable amount master demand notes and asset-backed commercial paper. The commercial paper purchased by the Money Market Fund consists of direct U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign issuers.
     The other Funds may invest in commercial paper and other short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies.
     The Money Market Fund may invest in other short-term obligations, including short-term funding agreements payable in U.S. dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, foreign corporations or other entities. A funding agreement is a contract between an issuer and a purchaser that obligates the issuer to pay a guaranteed rate of interest on a principal sum deposited by the purchaser. Funding agreements will also guarantee a stream of payments over time. A funding agreement has a fixed maturity date and may have either a fixed or variable interest rate that is based on an index and guaranteed for a set time period. Because there is generally no secondary market for these investments, funding agreements purchased by the Money Market Fund may be regarded as illiquid.
U.S. Government Securities
     Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. Some U.S. Government Securities (such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance) are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others, such as obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, are supported either by (i) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, (ii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer or (iii) only the credit of the issuer. The U.S. government is under no legal obligation, in general, to purchase the obligations of its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to the U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises in the future.
     U.S. Government Securities include (to the extent consistent with the Act), securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. government, or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may also include (to the extent consistent with the Act) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government

B-13


 

or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The secondary market for certain of these participations is extremely limited. In the absence of a suitable secondary market, such participations are regarded as illiquid.
     Each Fund may also purchase U.S. Government Securities in private placements and may also invest in separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. Treasury that are traded independently under the separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities program (“STRIPS”). Each Fund (other than the Money Market Fund) may also invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury Securities and in zero coupon securities issued by financial institutions which represent a proportionate interest in underlying U.S. Treasury Securities. A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life and its value consists of the difference between its face value at maturity and its cost. The market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically.
Bank Obligations
     Bank obligations in which each Fund may invest include certificates of deposit, unsecured bank promissory notes, bankers’ acceptances, fixed time deposits and other debt obligations. Bank obligations may be issued or guaranteed by U.S. banks or foreign banks. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.
     Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits. Bank notes and bankers’ acceptances rank junior to domestic deposit liabilities of the bank and pari passu with other senior, unsecured obligations of the bank. Bank notes are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other insurer. Deposit notes are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only to the extent of $100,000 per depositor per bank.
     The Money Market Fund will invest more than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations (whether foreign or domestic), including bank commercial paper. However, if adverse economic conditions prevail in the banking industry (such as substantial losses on loans, increases in non-performing assets and charge-offs and declines in total deposits) the Money Market Fund may, for defensive purposes, temporarily invest less than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations. As a result, the Money Market Fund may be especially affected by favorable and adverse developments in or related to the banking industry.
     Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for

B-14


 

the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.
Zero Coupon, Deferred Interest, Pay-in-Kind and Capital Appreciation Bonds
     Each Fund (other than the Money Market Fund) may invest in zero coupon bonds. The Fixed Income Funds also may invest in deferred interest, pay-in-kind (“PIK”) and capital appreciation bonds. Zero coupon, deferred interest and capital appreciation 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, deferred interest, capital appreciation bonds and PIK 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.
     PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash. Similar to zero coupon bonds and deferred interest bonds, PIK securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. PIK securities that are debt securities can be either senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest). The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.
     Zero coupon, deferred interest, capital appreciation and PIK securities involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, a 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, a Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. In addition, even though such securities do not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, the Funds are 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, a 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 Amount Master Demand Notes
     The Money Market Fund may purchase variable amount master demand notes. These obligations permit the investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements between the Money Market Fund, as lender, and the borrower. Variable amount master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender and borrower and are not generally transferable, nor are they ordinarily rated. The Money Market Fund may invest in them only if the

B-15


 

Investment Adviser believes that the notes are of comparable quality to the other obligations in which the Money Market Fund may invest.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities
     The interest rates payable on certain fixed income securities in which a Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. A variable rate obligation has an interest rate which is adjusted at pre-designated periods in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. Variable and floating rate obligations are less effective than fixed rate instruments at locking in a particular yield. Nevertheless, such obligations may fluctuate in value in response to interest rate changes if there is a delay between changes in market interest rates and the interest reset date for the obligation, or for other reasons.
     The Money Market Fund may purchase variable and floating rate demand instruments that are municipal obligations or other debt securities issued by corporations and other non-governmental issuers that possess a floating or variable interest rate adjustment formula. These instruments permit the Fund to demand payment of the principal balance plus unpaid accrued interest upon a specified number of days’ notice to the issuer or its agent. The demand feature may be backed by a bank letter of credit or guarantee, or the credit enhancement issued with respect to such instrument.
     The terms of the variable or floating rate demand instruments that the Money Market Fund may purchase provide that interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily up to 397 calendar days, and the adjustments are based upon current market levels, the prime rate of a bank or other appropriate interest rate adjustment index as provided in the respective instruments. Some of these instruments are payable on demand on a daily basis or on not more than seven days’ notice. Others, such as instruments with quarterly or semi-annual interest rate adjustments, may be put back to the issuer on designated days, usually on not more than thirty days’ notice. Still others are automatically called by the issuer unless the Money Market Fund instructs otherwise. The Trust, on behalf of the Money Market Fund, intends to exercise the demand only (i) upon a default under the terms of the debt security; (ii) as needed to provide liquidity to the Fund; (iii) to maintain the respective quality standards of the Fund’s investment portfolio; or (iv) to attain a more optimal portfolio structure. The Money Market Fund will determine the variable or floating rate demand instruments that it will purchase in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees to minimize credit risks. To be eligible for purchase by the Money Market Fund, a variable or floating rate demand instrument which is unrated must have high quality characteristics similar to other obligations in which the Fund may invest. The Investment Adviser may determine that an unrated variable or floating rate demand instrument meets the Money Market Fund’s quality criteria by reason of being backed by a letter of credit, guarantee, or demand feature issued by an entity that meets the quality criteria for the Fund. Thus, either the credit of the issuer of the obligation or the provider of the credit support or both will meet the quality standards of the Money Market Fund.
     As stated in the Prospectus, the Money Market Fund may consider the maturity of a long-term variable or floating rate demand instrument to be shorter than its ultimate stated maturity under specified conditions. The acquisition of variable or floating rate demand notes for the Money Market Fund must also meet the requirements of rules issued by the SEC applicable to the use of the amortized cost method of securities valuation. The Money Market Fund will also consider the liquidity of the

B-16


 

market for variable and floating rate instruments, and in the event that such instruments are illiquid, the Fund’s investments in such instruments will be subject to the limitation on illiquid investments.
     The Money Market Fund may invest in variable or floating rate participation interests in municipal obligations held by financial institutions (usually commercial banks). Such participation interests provide the Money Market Fund with a specific undivided interest (up to 100%) in the underlying obligation and the right to demand payment of its proportional interest in the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest from the financial institution upon a specific number of days’ notice. In addition, the participation interest may be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee from the institution. The financial institution usually is entitled to a fee for servicing the obligation and providing the letter of credit.
     The Fixed Income Funds may invest in “leveraged” inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”), including “leveraged inverse floaters.” The interest rate on inverse floaters resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher the degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Accordingly, the duration of an inverse floater may exceed its stated final maturity. Certain inverse floaters may be deemed to be illiquid securities for purposes of each Fixed Income Fund’s limitation on illiquid investments.
Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates
     The Money Market Fund may acquire U.S. Government Securities, municipal obligations or other debt instruments in the form of custodial receipts that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain U.S. Government Securities, municipal obligations or other debt instruments. Such securities are held in custody by a bank on behalf of the owners. These custodial receipts are known by various names, including “Treasury Receipts,” “Treasury Investors Growth Receipts” (“TIGRs”), and “Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities” (“CATS”). Although custodial receipts involving U.S. Government Securities are not considered U.S. Government Securities for certain securities law purposes, the securities underlying such receipts are issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities.
     Each other Fund may invest in custodial receipts and trust certificates (which may be underwritten by securities dealers or banks), representing interests in securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so held may include U.S. Government Securities, municipal securities or other types of securities in which the Funds may invest. The custodial receipts or trust certificates are underwritten by securities dealers or banks and may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust certificates may not be considered obligations of the U.S. Government or other issuer of the securities held by the custodian or trustee. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust certificates, the Funds will bear their proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. The Funds may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial receipts and trust certificates.

B-17


 

     Although under the terms of a custodial receipt or trust certificate the Funds would be typically authorized to assert their rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, the Funds could be required to assert through the custodian bank or trustee those rights as may exist against the underlying issuers. Thus, in the event an underlying issuer fails to pay principal and/or interest when due, the Funds may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Funds had purchased a direct obligation of the issuer. In addition, in the event that the trust or custodial account in which the underlying securities have been deposited is determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, instead of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying securities would be reduced in recognition of any taxes paid.
     Certain custodial receipts and trust certificates may be synthetic or derivative instruments that have interest rates that reset inversely to changing short-term rates and/or have embedded interest rate floors and caps that require the issuer to pay an adjusted interest rate if market rates fall below or rise above a specified rate. Because some of these instruments represent relatively recent innovations, and the trading market for these instruments is less developed than the markets for traditional types of instruments, it is uncertain how these instruments will perform under different economic and interest-rate scenarios. Also, because these instruments may be leveraged, their market values may be more volatile than other types of fixed income instruments and may present greater potential for capital gain or loss. The possibility of default by an issuer or the issuer’s credit provider may be greater for these derivative instruments than for other types of instruments. In some cases, it may be difficult to determine the fair value of a derivative instrument because of a lack of reliable objective information and an established secondary market for some instruments may not exist. In many cases, the Internal Revenue Service has not ruled on the tax treatment of the interest or payments received on the derivative instruments and, accordingly, purchases of such instruments are based on the opinion of counsel to the sponsors of the instruments.
Mortgage Loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities
     Each Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may invest in mortgage loans and mortgage pass-through securities and other securities representing an interest in or collateralized by mortgage loans (“Mortgage-Backed Securities”). Mortgage-Backed Securities (including collateralized mortgage obligations, REMICs and stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities described below) are subject to both call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, these securities can have significantly greater price and yield volatility than with traditional fixed-income securities.
     General Characteristics. Each mortgage pool underlying Mortgage-Backed Securities consists of mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by first mortgages or first deeds of trust or other similar security instruments creating a first lien on owner occupied and non-owner occupied one-unit to four-unit residential properties, multifamily (i.e., five or more) properties, agricultural properties, commercial properties and mixed use properties (the “Mortgaged Properties”). The Mortgaged Properties may consist of detached individual dwelling units, multifamily dwelling units, individual condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, row houses, individual units in planned unit developments and other attached dwelling units. The Mortgaged Properties may also include residential investment properties and second homes.

B-18


 

     The investment characteristics of adjustable and fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities differ from those of traditional fixed-income securities. The major differences include the payment of interest and principal on Mortgage-Backed Securities on a more frequent (usually monthly) schedule, and the possibility that principal may be prepaid at any time due to prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans or other assets. These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed-income securities. As a result, if a Fund purchases Mortgage-Backed Securities at a premium, a faster than expected prepayment rate will reduce both the market value and the yield to maturity from those which were anticipated. A prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity and market value. Conversely, if a Fund purchases Mortgage-Backed Securities at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase, while slower than expected prepayments will reduce yield to maturity and market values. To the extent that a Fund invests in Mortgage-Backed Securities, the Investment Adviser may seek to manage these potential risks by investing in a variety of Mortgage-Backed Securities and by using certain hedging techniques.
     Prepayments on a pool of mortgage loans are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors (such as changes in mortgagors’ housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagors’ equity in the mortgage properties and servicing decisions). The timing and level of prepayments cannot be predicted. A predominant factor affecting the prepayment rate on a pool of mortgage loans is, however, the difference between the interest rates on outstanding mortgage loans and prevailing mortgage loan interest rates (giving consideration to the cost of any refinancing). Generally, prepayments on mortgage loans will increase during a period of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during a period of rising mortgage interest rates. Accordingly, the amounts of prepayments available for reinvestment by a Fund are likely to be greater during a period of declining mortgage interest rates. If general interest rates decline, such prepayments are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than the Fund was earning on the Mortgage-Backed Securities that were prepaid. Due to these factors, Mortgage-Backed Securities may be less effective than U.S. Treasury and other types of debt securities of similar maturity at maintaining yields during periods of declining interest rates. Because the Funds’ investments are interest-rate sensitive, each Fund’s performance will depend in part upon the ability of the Fund to anticipate and respond to fluctuations in market interest rates and to utilize appropriate strategies to maximize returns to the Fund, while attempting to minimize the associated risks to its investment capital. Prepayments may have a disproportionate effect on certain Mortgage-Backed Securities and other multiple class pass-through securities, which are discussed below.
     The rate of interest on Mortgage-Backed Securities is normally lower than the interest rates paid on the mortgages included in the underlying pool due to the annual fees paid to the servicer of the mortgage pool for passing through monthly payments to certificate holders and to any guarantor, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), and due to any yield retained by the issuer. Actual yield to the holder may vary from the coupon rate, even if adjustable, if the Mortgage-Backed Securities are purchased or traded in the secondary market at a premium or discount. In addition, there is normally some delay between the time the issuer receives mortgage payments from the servicer and the time the issuer makes the payments on the Mortgage-Backed Securities and this delay reduces the effective yield to the holder of such securities.

B-19


 

     The issuers of certain mortgage-backed obligations may elect to have the pool of mortgage loans (or indirect interests in mortgage loans) underlying the securities treated as a real estate mortgage investment conduit (“REMIC”), which is subject to special federal income tax rules. A description of the types of Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Funds may invest is provided below. The descriptions are general and summary in nature, and do not detail every possible variation of the types of securities that are permissible for the Funds.
     Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans (“ARMs”). The Fixed Income Funds may invest in ARMs. ARMs generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest rate for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the interest rates (the “Mortgage Interest Rates”) may be subject to periodic adjustment based on changes in the applicable index rate (the “Index Rate”). The adjusted rate would be equal to the Index Rate plus a fixed percentage spread over the Index Rate established for each ARM at the time of its origination. ARMs allow a Fund to participate in increases in interest rates through periodic increases in the securities coupon rates. During periods of declining interest rates, coupon rates may readjust downward resulting in lower yields to a Fund.
     Adjustable interest rates can cause payment increases that some mortgagors may find difficult to make. However, certain ARMs may provide that the Mortgage Interest Rate may not be adjusted to a rate above an applicable lifetime maximum rate or below an applicable lifetime minimum rate for such ARM. Certain ARMs may also be subject to limitations on the maximum amount by which the Mortgage Interest Rate may adjust for any single adjustment period (the “Maximum Adjustment”). Other ARMs (“Negatively Amortizing ARMs”) may provide instead or as well for limitations on changes in the monthly payment on such ARMs. Limitations on monthly payments can result in monthly payments which are greater or less than the amount necessary to amortize a Negatively Amortizing ARM by its maturity at the Mortgage Interest Rate in effect in any particular month. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on a Negatively Amortizing ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the loan, causing negative amortization, and will be repaid through future monthly payments. It may take borrowers under Negatively Amortizing ARMs longer periods of time to build up equity and may increase the likelihood of default by such borrowers. In the event that a monthly payment exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate and the principal payment which would have been necessary to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess (or “accelerated amortization”) further reduces the principal balance of the ARM. Negatively Amortizing ARMs do not provide for the extension of their original maturity to accommodate changes in their Mortgage Interest Rate. As a result, unless there is a periodic recalculation of the payment amount (which there generally is), the final payment may be substantially larger than the other payments. These limitations on periodic increases in interest rates and on changes in monthly payments protect borrowers from unlimited interest rate and payment increases, but may result in increased credit exposure and prepayment risks for lenders.
     ARMs also have the risk of prepayments. The rate of principal prepayments with respect to ARMs has fluctuated in recent years. The value of Mortgage-Backed Securities that are structured as pass through mortgage securities that are collateralized by ARMs are less likely to rise during periods of declining interest rates to the same extent as fixed-rate securities. Accordingly, ARMs may be subject to a greater rate of principal repayments in a declining interest rate environment resulting in lower yields to a Fund. For example, if prevailing interest rates fall significantly, ARMs could be subject to higher prepayment rates (than if prevailing interest rates remain constant or increase) because the availability of

B-20


 

low fixed-rate mortgages may encourage mortgagors to refinance their ARMs to “lock-in” a fixed-rate mortgage. On the other hand, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of ARMs will lag behind changes in the market rate. ARMs are also typically subject to maximum increases and decreases in the interest rate adjustment which can be made on any one adjustment date, in any one year, or during the life of the security. In the event of dramatic increases or decreases in prevailing market interest rates, the value of a Fund’s investment in ARMs may fluctuate more substantially since these limits may prevent the security from fully adjusting its interest rate to the prevailing market rates. As with fixed-rate mortgages, ARM prepayment rates vary in both stable and changing interest rate environments.
     There are two main categories of indices which provide the basis for rate adjustments on ARMs: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year, three-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury rates, the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year London Interbank Offered Rate, the prime rate of a specific bank or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others, such as the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds index, tend to lag behind changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile. The degree of volatility in the market value of a Fund that holds ARMs and, therefore, in the net asset value of its shares, will be a function of the length of the interest rate reset periods and the degree of volatility in the applicable indices.
     Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans. Generally, fixed-rate mortgage loans included in a mortgage pool (“Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans”) will bear simple interest at fixed annual rates and have original terms to maturity ranging from 5 to 40 years. Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans generally provide for monthly payments of principal and interest in substantially equal installments for the term of the mortgage note in sufficient amounts to fully amortize principal by maturity, although certain Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans provide for a large final “balloon” payment upon maturity.
     Legal Considerations of Mortgage Loans. The following is a discussion of certain legal and regulatory aspects of the mortgage loans in which the Funds may invest. These regulations may impair the ability of a mortgage lender to enforce its rights under the mortgage documents. These regulations may adversely affect the Funds’ investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities (including those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) by delaying the Funds’ receipt of payments derived from principal or interest on mortgage loans affected by such regulations.
1.   Foreclosure. A foreclosure of a defaulted mortgage loan may be delayed due to compliance with statutory notice or service of process provisions, difficulties in locating necessary parties or legal challenges to the mortgagee’s right to foreclose. Depending upon market conditions, the ultimate proceeds of the sale of foreclosed property may not equal the amounts owed on the Mortgage-Backed Securities.
 
    Furthermore, courts in some cases have imposed general equitable principles upon foreclosure generally designed to relieve the borrower from the legal effect of default and have required lenders to undertake affirmative and expensive actions to determine the causes for the default and the likelihood of loan reinstatement.

B-21


 

2.   Rights of Redemption. In some states, after foreclosure of a mortgage loan, the borrower and foreclosed junior lienors are given a statutory period in which to redeem the property, which right may diminish the mortgagee’s ability to sell the property.
 
3.   Legislative Limitations. In addition to anti-deficiency and related legislation, numerous other federal and state statutory provisions, including the federal bankruptcy laws and state laws affording relief to debtors, may interfere with or affect the ability of a secured mortgage lender to enforce its security interest. For example, a bankruptcy court may grant the debtor a reasonable time to cure a default on a mortgage loan, including a payment default. The court in certain instances may also reduce the monthly payments due under such mortgage loan, change the rate of interest, reduce the principal balance of the loan to the then-current appraised value of the related mortgaged property, alter the mortgage loan repayment schedule and grant priority of certain liens over the lien of the mortgage loan. If a court relieves a borrower’s obligation to repay amounts otherwise due on a mortgage loan, the mortgage loan servicer will not be required to advance such amounts, and any loss may be borne by the holders of securities backed by such loans. In addition, numerous federal and state consumer protection laws impose penalties for failure to comply with specific requirements in connection with origination and servicing of mortgage loans.
 
4.   “Due-on-Sale” Provisions. Fixed-rate mortgage loans may contain a so-called “due-on-sale” clause permitting acceleration of the maturity of the mortgage loan if the borrower transfers the property. The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 sets forth nine specific instances in which no mortgage lender covered by that Act may exercise a “due-on-sale” clause upon a transfer of property. The inability to enforce a “due-on-sale” clause or the lack of such a clause in mortgage loan documents may result in a mortgage loan being assumed by a purchaser of the property that bears an interest rate below the current market rate.
 
5.   Usury Laws. Some states prohibit charging interest on mortgage loans in excess of statutory limits. If such limits are exceeded, substantial penalties may be incurred and, in some cases, enforceability of the obligation to pay principal and interest may be affected.
     Government Guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities. There are several types of government guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities currently available, including guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple class securities, which include guaranteed Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Certificates (“REMIC Certificates”), other collateralized mortgage obligations and stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. A Fund is permitted to invest in other types of Mortgage-Backed Securities that may be available in the future to the extent consistent with its investment policies and objective.
     A Fund’s investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as Ginnie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”). Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, which means that the U.S. Government guarantees that the interest and principal will be paid when due. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the

B-22


 

ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, and as a result, they are generally viewed by the market as high quality securities with low credit risks. From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating federal sponsorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that issue guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Trust cannot predict what legislation, if any, may be proposed in the future in Congress as regards such sponsorship or which proposals, if any, might be enacted. Such proposals, if enacted, might materially and adversely affect the availability of government guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities and a Fund’s liquidity and value.
     There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Fund may purchase U.S. Government Securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government Securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.
     Ginnie Mae Certificates. Ginnie Mae is a wholly-owned corporate instrumentality of the United States. Ginnie Mae is authorized to guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest on certificates that are based on and backed by a pool of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA Loans”), or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (“VA Loans”), or by pools of other eligible mortgage loans. In order to meet its obligations under any guaranty, Ginnie Mae is authorized to borrow from the United States Treasury in an unlimited amount. The National Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae of amounts due on Ginnie Mae certificates.
     Fannie Mae Certificates. Fannie Mae is a stockholder-owned corporation chartered under an act of the United States Congress. Generally, Fannie Mae Certificates are issued and guaranteed by Fannie Mae and represent an undivided interest in a pool of mortgage loans (a “Pool”) formed by Fannie Mae. Each Pool consists of residential mortgage loans (“Mortgage Loans”) either previously owned by Fannie Mae or purchased by it in connection with the formation of the Pool. The Mortgage Loans may be either conventional Mortgage Loans (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any U.S. Government agency) or Mortgage Loans that are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (“VA”). However, the Mortgage Loans in Fannie Mae Pools are primarily conventional Mortgage Loans. The lenders originating and servicing the Mortgage Loans are subject to certain eligibility requirements established by Fannie Mae.
     Fannie Mae has certain contractual responsibilities. With respect to each Pool, Fannie Mae is obligated to distribute scheduled installments of principal and interest after Fannie Mae’s servicing and guaranty fee, whether or not received, to Certificate holders. Fannie Mae also is obligated to distribute to holders of Certificates an amount equal to the full principal balance of any foreclosed Mortgage Loan, whether or not such principal balance is actually recovered. The obligations of Fannie Mae under its guaranty of the Fannie Mae Certificates are obligations solely of Fannie Mae.
     Freddie Mac Certificates. Freddie Mac is a publicly held U.S. Government sponsored enterprise. The principal activity of Freddie Mac currently is the purchase of first lien, conventional, residential mortgage loans and participation interests in such mortgage loans and their resale in the

B-23


 

form of mortgage securities, primarily Freddie Mac Certificates. A Freddie Mac Certificate represents a pro rata interest in a group of mortgage loans or participations in mortgage loans (a “Freddie Mac Certificate group”) purchased by Freddie Mac.
     Freddie Mac guarantees to each registered holder of a Freddie Mac Certificate the timely payment of interest at the rate provided for by such Freddie Mac Certificate (whether or not received on the underlying loans). Freddie Mac also guarantees to each registered Certificate holder an ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans, without any offset or deduction, but does not, generally, guarantee the timely payment of scheduled principal. The obligations of Freddie Mac under its guaranty of Freddie Mac Certificates are obligations solely of Freddie Mac.
     The mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Certificates consist of adjustable rate or fixed-rate mortgage loans with original terms to maturity of up to forty years. Substantially all of these mortgage loans are secured by first liens on one-to-four-family residential properties or multi-family projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the law creating Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans and participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.
     Conventional Mortgage Loans. The conventional mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Certificates consist of adjustable rate or fixed rate mortgage loans normally with original terms to maturity of between five and thirty years. Substantially all of these mortgage loans are secured by first liens on one-to four-family residential properties or multi-family projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the law creating Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans and participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.
     Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Each Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may invest in both government guaranteed and privately issued mortgage pass-through securities (“Mortgage Pass-Throughs”) that are fixed or adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities which provide for monthly payments that are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees or other amounts paid to any guarantor, administrator and/or servicer of the underlying mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make representations and warranties to certificate holders as to certain characteristics of the mortgage loans and as to the accuracy of certain information furnished to the trustee in respect of each such mortgage loan. Upon a breach of any representation or warranty that materially and adversely affects the interests of the related certificate holders in a mortgage loan, the seller or servicer generally will be obligated either to cure the breach in all material respects, to repurchase the mortgage loan or, if the related agreement so provides, to substitute in its place a mortgage loan pursuant to the conditions set forth therein. Such a repurchase or substitution obligation may constitute the sole remedy available to the related certificate holders or the trustee for the material breach of any such representation or warranty by the seller or servicer.

B-24


 

     The following discussion describes only a few of the wide variety of structures of Mortgage Pass-Throughs that are available or may be issued.
          Description of Certificates. Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be issued in one or more classes of senior certificates and one or more classes of subordinate certificates. Each such class may bear a different pass-through rate. Generally, each certificate will evidence the specified interest of the holder thereof in the payments of principal or interest or both in respect of the mortgage pool comprising part of the trust fund for such certificates.
     Any class of certificates may also be divided into subclasses entitled to varying amounts of principal and interest. If a REMIC election has been made, certificates of such subclasses may be entitled to payments on the basis of a stated principal balance and stated interest rate, and payments among different subclasses may be made on a sequential, concurrent, pro rata or disproportionate basis, or any combination thereof. The stated interest rate on any such subclass of certificates may be a fixed rate or one which varies in direct or inverse relationship to an objective interest index.
     Generally, each registered holder of a certificate will be entitled to receive its pro rata share of monthly distributions of all or a portion of principal of the underlying mortgage loans or of interest on the principal balances thereof, which accrues at the applicable mortgage pass-through rate, or both. The difference between the mortgage interest rate and the related mortgage pass-through rate (less the amount, if any, of retained yield) with respect to each mortgage loan will generally be paid to the servicer as a servicing fee. Since certain adjustable rate mortgage loans included in a mortgage pool may provide for deferred interest (i.e., negative amortization), the amount of interest actually paid by a mortgagor in any month may be less than the amount of interest accrued on the outstanding principal balance of the related mortgage loan during the relevant period at the applicable mortgage interest rate. In such event, the amount of interest that is treated as deferred interest will generally be added to the principal balance of the related mortgage loan and will be distributed pro rata to certificate-holders as principal of such mortgage loan when paid by the mortgagor in subsequent monthly payments or at maturity.
          Ratings. The ratings assigned by a rating organization to Mortgage Pass-Throughs address the likelihood of the receipt of all distributions on the underlying mortgage loans by the related certificate-holders under the agreements pursuant to which such certificates are issued. A rating organization’s ratings normally take into consideration the credit quality of the related mortgage pool, including any credit support providers, structural and legal aspects associated with such certificates, and the extent to which the payment stream on such mortgage pool is adequate to make payments required by such certificates. A rating organization’s ratings on such certificates do not, however, constitute a statement regarding frequency of prepayments on the related mortgage loans. In addition, the rating assigned by a rating organization to a certificate may not address the remote possibility that, in the event of the insolvency of the issuer of certificates where a subordinated interest was retained, the issuance and sale of the senior certificates may be recharacterized as a financing and, as a result of such recharacterization, payments on such certificates may be affected.
          Credit Enhancement. Mortgage pools credited by non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher yield than government and government-related pools because of the absence of direct or indirect government or agency payment guarantees. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on

B-25


 

underlying assets to make payments, Mortgage Pass-Throughs may contain elements of credit support. Credit support falls generally into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses resulting from default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pools of mortgages, the provision of a reserve fund, or a combination thereof, to ensure, subject to certain limitations, that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. Such credit support can be provided by among other things, payment guarantees, letters of credit, pool insurance, subordination, or any combination thereof.
          Subordination; Shifting of Interest; Reserve Fund. In order to achieve ratings on one or more classes of Mortgage Pass-Throughs, one or more classes of certificates may be subordinate certificates which provide that the rights of the subordinate certificate-holders to receive any or a specified portion of distributions with respect to the underlying mortgage loans may be subordinated to the rights of the senior certificate-holders. If so structured, the subordination feature may be enhanced by distributing to the senior certificate-holders on certain distribution dates, as payment of principal, a specified percentage (which generally declines over time) of all principal payments received during the preceding prepayment period (“shifting interest credit enhancement”). This will have the effect of accelerating the amortization of the senior certificates while increasing the interest in the trust fund evidenced by the subordinate certificates. Increasing the interest of the subordinate certificates relative to that of the senior certificates is intended to preserve the availability of the subordination provided by the subordinate certificates. In addition, because the senior certificate-holders in a shifting interest credit enhancement structure are entitled to receive a percentage of principal prepayments which is greater than their proportionate interest in the trust fund, the rate of principal prepayments on the mortgage loans may have an even greater effect on the rate of principal payments and the amount of interest payments on, and the yield to maturity of, the senior certificates.
     In addition to providing for a preferential right of the senior certificate-holders to receive current distributions from the mortgage pool, a reserve fund may be established relating to such certificates (the “Reserve Fund”). The Reserve Fund may be created with an initial cash deposit by the originator or servicer and augmented by the retention of distributions otherwise available to the subordinate certificate-holders or by excess servicing fees until the Reserve Fund reaches a specified amount.
     The subordination feature, and any Reserve Fund, are intended to enhance the likelihood of timely receipt by senior certificate-holders of the full amount of scheduled monthly payments of principal and interest due them and will protect the senior certificate-holders against certain losses; however, in certain circumstances the Reserve Fund could be depleted and temporary shortfalls could result. In the event the Reserve Fund is depleted before the subordinated amount is reduced to zero, senior certificate-holders will nevertheless have a preferential right to receive current distributions from the mortgage pool to the extent of the then outstanding subordinated amount. Unless otherwise specified, until the subordinated amount is reduced to zero, on any distribution date any amount otherwise distributable to the subordinate certificates or, to the extent specified, in the Reserve Fund will generally be used to offset the amount of any losses realized with respect to the mortgage loans (“Realized Losses”). Realized Losses remaining after application of such amounts will generally be applied to reduce the ownership interest of the subordinate certificates in the mortgage pool. If the

B-26


 

subordinated amount has been reduced to zero, Realized Losses generally will be allocated pro rata among all certificate-holders in proportion to their respective outstanding interests in the mortgage pool.
          Alternative Credit Enhancement. As an alternative, or in addition to the credit enhancement afforded by subordination, credit enhancement for Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be provided by mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, by the deposit of cash, certificates of deposit, letters of credit, a limited guaranty or by such other methods as are acceptable to a rating agency. In certain circumstances, such as where credit enhancement is provided by guarantees or a letter of credit, the security is subject to credit risk because of its exposure to an external credit enhancement provider.
          Voluntary Advances. Generally, in the event of delinquencies in payments on the mortgage loans underlying the Mortgage Pass-Throughs, the servicer agrees to make advances of cash for the benefit of certificate-holders, but generally will do so only to the extent that it determines such voluntary advances will be recoverable from future payments and collections on the mortgage loans or otherwise.
          Optional Termination. Generally, the servicer may, at its option with respect to any certificates, repurchase all of the underlying mortgage loans remaining outstanding at such time if the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such mortgage loans is less than a specified percentage (generally 5-10%) of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date specified with respect to such series.
     Multiple Class Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. A Fund may invest in multiple class securities including collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and REMIC Certificates. These securities may be issued by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. In general, CMOs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by, and multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities represent direct ownership interests in, a pool of mortgage loans or Mortgage-Backed Securities the payments on which are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities.
     Fannie Mae REMIC Certificates are issued and guaranteed as to timely distribution of principal and interest by Fannie Mae. In addition, Fannie Mae will be obligated to distribute the principal balance of each class of REMIC Certificates in full, whether or not sufficient funds are otherwise available.
     Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest on Freddie Mac REMIC Certificates and also guarantees the payment of principal as payments are required to be made on the underlying mortgage participation certificates (“PCs”). PCs represent undivided interests in specified level payment, residential mortgages or participations therein purchased by Freddie Mac and placed in a PC pool. With respect to principal payments on PCs, Freddie Mac generally guarantees ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans without offset or deduction but the receipt of

B-27


 

the required payments may be delayed. Freddie Mac also guarantees timely payment of principal of certain PCs.
     CMOs and guaranteed REMIC Certificates issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are types of multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities. The REMIC Certificates represent beneficial ownership interests in a REMIC trust, generally consisting of mortgage loans or Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities (the “Mortgage Assets”). The obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac under their respective guaranty of the REMIC Certificates are obligations solely of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, respectively.
     CMOs and REMIC Certificates are issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs or REMIC Certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Loans or the Mortgage Assets underlying the CMOs or REMIC Certificates may cause some or all of the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates to be retired substantially earlier than their final distribution dates. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates on a monthly basis.
     The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in various ways. In certain structures (known as “sequential pay” CMOs or REMIC Certificates), payments of principal, including any principal prepayments, on the Mortgage Assets generally are applied to the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made on any class of sequential pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full.
     Additional structures of CMOs and REMIC Certificates include, among others, “parallel pay” CMOs and REMIC Certificates. Parallel pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates are those which are structured to apply principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets to two or more classes concurrently on a proportionate or disproportionate basis. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class.
     A wide variety of REMIC Certificates may be issued in parallel pay or sequential pay structures. These securities include accrual certificates (also known as “Z-Bonds”), which only accrue interest at a specified rate until all other certificates having an earlier final distribution date have been retired and are converted thereafter to an interest-paying security, and planned amortization class (“PAC”) certificates, which are parallel pay REMIC Certificates that generally require that specified amounts of principal be applied on each payment date to one or more classes or REMIC Certificates (the “PAC Certificates”), even though all other principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets are then required to be applied to one or more other classes of the PAC Certificates. The scheduled principal payments for the PAC Certificates generally have the highest priority on each payment date after interest due has been paid to all classes entitled to receive interest currently. Shortfalls, if any, are added to the amount payable on the next payment date. The PAC Certificate payment schedule is taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class of PAC. In order to create PAC tranches, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of

B-28


 

the volatility in the underlying mortgage assets. These tranches tend to have market prices and yields that are much more volatile than other PAC classes.
     Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fixed Income Funds may invest in stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities (“SMBS”), which are derivative multiclass mortgage securities, issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or, to the extent consistent with a Fund’s investment policies, non-governmental originators. Certain SMBS may not be readily marketable and will be considered illiquid for purposes of each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. The Investment Adviser may determine that SMBS which are U.S. Government Securities are liquid for purposes of each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. The market value of the class consisting entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on a class of SMBS that receives all or most of the interest from Mortgage Assets are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other Mortgage-Backed Securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped. A Fund’s investment in SMBS may require the Fund to sell certain of its portfolio securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.
     Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Fixed Income Funds may invest in privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities. Privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make representations and warranties to certificate-holders as to certain characteristics of the mortgage loans and as to the accuracy of certain information furnished to the trustee in respect of each such mortgage loan. Upon a breach of any representation or warranty that materially and adversely affects the interests of the related certificate-holders in a mortgage loan, the seller or servicer generally will be obligated either to cure the breach in all material respects, to repurchase the mortgage loan or, if the related agreement so provides, to substitute in its place a mortgage loan pursuant to the conditions set forth therein. Such a repurchase or substitution obligation may constitute the sole remedy available to the related certificate-holders or the trustee for the material breach of any such representation or warranty by the seller or servicer.
Asset-Backed and Receivables-Backed Securities
     Each Fund (except the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may invest in asset-backed and receivables-backed securities. Asset-backed and receivables-backed securities represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as mortgages, motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements, corporate receivables and other categories of receivables. Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose vehicles. 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 or other credit enhancements may be present. The value of a Fund’s investments in asset-backed and receivables-backed securities may be adversely affected by prepayment of the underlying obligations. In addition, the risk of prepayment may cause the value of these investments to be more volatile than a Fund’s other investments.

B-29


 

     Through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations, various types of assets, including automobile loans, computer leases, trade receivables and credit card receivables, are being securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through structures. Consistent with their respective investment objectives and policies, the Funds may invest in these and other types of asset-backed securities that may be developed. This Additional Statement may be amended or supplemented as necessary to reflect the intention of one or more Funds to invest in asset-backed securities with characteristics that are materially different from the securities described in the preceding paragraph. However, a Fund will generally not invest in an asset-backed security if the income received with respect to its investment constitutes rental income or other income not treated as qualifying income under the 90% test described in “Taxation” below.
     As set forth below, several types of asset-backed and receivables-backed securities are offered to investors, including for example, Certificates for Automobile Receivablessm (“CARSsm”) and interests in pools of credit card receivables. CARSsm represent undivided fractional interests in a trust (“CAR Trust”) whose assets consist of a pool of motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and security interests in the vehicles securing the contracts. Payments of principal and interest on CARSsm are passed through monthly to certificate holders, and are guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trustee or originator of the CAR Trust. An investor’s return on CARSsm may be affected by early prepayment of principal on the underlying vehicle sales contracts. If the letter of credit is exhausted, the CAR Trust may be prevented from realizing the full amount due on a sales contract because of state law requirements and restrictions relating to foreclosure sales of vehicles and the obtaining of deficiency judgments following such sales or because of depreciation, damage or loss of a vehicle, the application of federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, or other factors. As a result, certificate holders may experience delays in payments or losses if the letter of credit is exhausted.
     Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by Mortgage-Backed Securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors 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. There is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on these securities.
     Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the securities may contain elements of credit support which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection, and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor or servicer. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, the provision of a reserve fund, or a combination thereof to ensure, subject to certain limitations that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transactions or through a combination of such approaches. The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information reflecting the level of credit risk associated with

B-30


 

the underlying assets. Delinquency or loss in excess of that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the value of or return on an investment in such a security.
     The availability of asset-backed securities may be affected by legislative or regulatory developments. It is possible that such developments could require a Fund to dispose of any then existing holdings of such securities.
     To the extent consistent with its investment objective and policies, each Fund may invest in new types of mortgage-related securities and in other asset-backed securities that may be developed in the future.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
     Each Fund (other than the Money Market Fund) may purchase and sell futures contracts and may also purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts. The CORE Small Cap Equity Fund may only enter into such transactions with respect to a representative index. The CORE U.S. Equity Fund may enter into futures transactions only with respect to the S&P 500 Index. The other Funds may purchase and sell futures contracts based on various securities, securities indices, foreign currencies and other financial instruments and indices (except that the Government Income Fund may not purchase and sell future contracts based on foreign currencies). Financial futures contracts used by the Fixed Income Funds include interest rate futures contracts including, among others, Eurodollar futures contracts. Eurodollar futures contracts are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts that are based on the implied forward London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) of a three-month deposit. Each Fund will engage in futures and related options transactions in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or, to the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options. The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under that Act with respect to the Funds.
     Futures contracts entered into by a Fund have historically been traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) or with respect to certain funds, on foreign exchanges. More recently, certain futures may also be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as derivatives transaction execution facilities, exempt boards of trade or electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by the CFTC. Also, certain single stock futures and narrow based security index futures may be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as contract markets, derivatives transaction execution facilities and electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by both the CFTC and the SEC, or on foreign exchanges.
     Neither the CFTC, National Futures Association, SEC nor any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign exchange or boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign exchange or board of trade or any applicable foreign law. This is true even if the exchange is formally linked to a domestic

B-31


 

market so that a position taken on the market may be liquidated by a transaction on another market. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs. For these reasons, a Fund’s investments in foreign futures or foreign options transactions may not be provided the same protections in respect of transactions on United States exchanges. In particular, persons who trade foreign futures or foreign options contracts may not be afforded certain of the protective measures provided by the Commodity Exchange Act, the CFTC’s regulations and the rules of the National Futures Association and any domestic exchange, including the right to use reparations proceedings before the CFTC and arbitration proceedings provided by the National Futures Association or any domestic futures exchange. Similarly, these persons may not have the protection of the U.S. securities laws.
     Futures Contracts. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).
     When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, a Fund can seek through the sale of futures contracts to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, a Fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases. Similarly, each Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Equity Index and Government Income Funds) can purchase and sell futures contracts on a specified currency in order to seek to increase total return or to protect against changes in currency exchange rates. For example, each Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Equity Index and Government Income Funds) can purchase futures contracts on foreign currency to establish the price in U.S. dollars of a security quoted or denominated in such currency that such Fund has acquired or expects to acquire, or to seek to affect anticipated changes in the value of a currency in which such Fund’s portfolio securities, or securities that it intends to purchase, are quoted or denominated. As another example, certain Funds may enter into futures transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Fund’s performance benchmark.
     Positions taken in the futures market are not normally held to maturity, but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions which may result in a profit or a loss. While a Fund will usually liquidate futures contracts on securities or currency in this manner, a Fund may instead make or take delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous for the Fund to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.
     Hedging Strategies. Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price, rate of return or currency exchange rate on portfolio securities or securities that a Fund owns or proposes to acquire. A Fund may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices or (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Equity Index and Government Income Funds) foreign currency rates that would adversely affect the dollar value of such Fund’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts

B-32


 

may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by a Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of Fund’s portfolio securities. Similarly, each Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Equity Index and Government Income Funds) may sell futures contracts on a currency in which its portfolio securities are quoted or denominated, or sell futures contracts on one currency to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency if there is an established historical pattern of correlation between the two currencies. If, in the opinion of the applicable Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Fund’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, a Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in a Fund’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Investment Advisers or Sub-Adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having a Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by attempting to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting a Fund’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.
     On other occasions, a Fund may take a “long” position by purchasing such futures contracts. This may be done, for example, when a Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices or currency exchange rates then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices or rates that are currently available.
     Options on Futures Contracts. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give a Fund the right (but not the obligation), for a specified price, to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, a Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.
     The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset a decline in the value of a Fund’s assets. By writing a call option, a Fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. The writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that a Fund intends to purchase. However, a Fund becomes obligated (upon the exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by a Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. A Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.
     The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such

B-33


 

closing transactions can be effected. A Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.
     Other Considerations. A Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options transactions only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for maintaining its qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.
     Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in certain cases, require the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets 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, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. When futures contracts and options are used for hedging purposes, perfect correlation between a Fund’s futures position and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.
     Perfect correlation between a Fund’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be difficult to achieve, particularly where futures contracts based on individual equity or corporate fixed-income securities are currently not available. In addition, it is not possible for a Fund to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities quoted or denominated in foreign currencies because the value of such securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of independent factors unrelated to currency fluctuations. The profitability of a Fund’s trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser to analyze correctly the futures markets.
Options on Securities and Securities Indices
     Writing Covered Options. Each Fund (other than the Money Market 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. A 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 a Fund obligates such Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. All call options written by a Fund are covered, which means that such Fund will own the securities subject to the option as long as the option is outstanding or such Fund will use the other methods described below. A Fund’s purpose in writing covered call options is to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, a Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security.
     A put option written by a Fund would obligate such 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 a Fund would be covered, which means that such Fund will segregate cash

B-34


 

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, each Fund accepts the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.
     In the case of a call option, the option is “covered” if a Fund owns the instrument underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, liquid assets in such amount are segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other instruments held by it. A call option is also covered if a Fund holds a call on the same instrument as the option written where the exercise price of the option held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the option written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates liquid assets in the amount of the difference. A put option is also covered if a Fund holds a put on the same instrument as the option written where the exercise price of the option held is (i) equal to or higher than the exercise price of the option written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates liquid assets in the amount of the difference. In the case of the Core Fixed Income Fund, segregated cash or liquid assets may be quoted or denominated in any currency.
     A Fund may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.
     A Fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index, or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional consideration which has been segregated by the Fund) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. A Fund may also cover call and put options on a securities index by segregating cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin or deposit, that is equal to the market value of the underlying securities in the case of a call option or the exercise price or by owning offsetting options as described above.
     A Fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions.”
     Purchasing Options. Each Fund (other than the Money Market Fund) may purchase put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or options on any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest. A Fund may also, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, purchase put and call options on foreign currencies. A Fund may also enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.

B-35


 

     A Fund may purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle a Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise such a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.
     A Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the market value of securities in its portfolio (“protective puts”) or in securities in which it may invest. The purchase of a put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of a Fund’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by a Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise such a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.
     A Fund would purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it would purchase options on individual securities. For a description of options on securities indices, see “Writing Covered Options” above.
     Yield Curve Options. The Fixed Income Funds may enter into options on the yield “spread” or differential between two securities. Such transactions are referred to as “yield curve” options. In contrast to other types of options, a yield curve option is based on the difference between the yields of designated securities, rather than the prices of the individual securities, and is settled through cash payments. Accordingly, a yield curve option is profitable to the holder if this differential widens (in the case of a call) or narrows (in the case of a put), regardless of whether the yields of the underlying securities increase or decrease.
     A Fixed Income Fund may purchase or write yield curve options for the same purposes as other options on securities. For example, a Fixed Income Fund may purchase a call option on the yield spread between two securities if the Fund owns one of the securities and anticipates purchasing the other security and wants to hedge against an adverse change in the yield spread between the two securities. A Fixed Income Fund may also purchase or write yield curve options in an effort to increase current income if, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, the Fund will be able to profit from movements in the spread between the yields of the underlying securities. The trading of yield curve options is subject to all of the risks associated with the trading of other types of options. In addition, however, such options present a risk of loss even if the yield of one of the underlying securities remains constant, or if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.
     Yield curve options written by a Fixed Income Fund will be “covered.” A call (or put) option is covered if the Fund holds another call (or put) option on the spread between the same two securities and segregates cash or liquid assets sufficient to cover the Fund’s net liability under the two options.

B-36


 

Therefore, a Fixed Income Fund’s liability for such a covered option is generally limited to the difference between the amount of the Fund’s liability under the option written by the Fund less the value of the option held by the Fund. Yield curve options may also be covered in such other manner as may be in accordance with the requirements of the counterparty with which the option is traded and applicable laws and regulations. Yield curve options are traded over-the-counter, and established trading markets for these options may not exist.
     Risks Associated with Options Transactions. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular exchange—traded option or at any particular time. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of segregated assets until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if a Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it will have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities.
     Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
     Each Fund (other than the Money Market Fund) may purchase and sell both options that are traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and options traded over-the-counter with broker-dealers who make markets in these options. The ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations.
     Transactions by each Fund in options on securities and indices will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facility or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which a Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of the Investment Advisers. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

B-37


 

     The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of options to seek to increase total return involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The successful use of options for hedging purposes also depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities 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 a Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The writing of options could increase a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and, therefore, associated brokerage commissions or spreads.
Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights
     Each Equity Fund may invest in warrants or rights (in addition to those acquired in units or attached to other securities) which entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time. An Equity Fund will invest in warrants and rights only if such equity securities are deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser for investment by the Fund. The CORE Equity Funds have no present intention of acquiring warrants or rights. Warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Foreign Securities
     Equity Funds. Each Equity Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers. The Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Growth Opportunities and Equity Index Funds may invest in the aggregate up to 10%, 25%, 10% and 15%, respectively, of their total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that collateral) in foreign securities. The Mid-Cap Value Fund may invest in the aggregate up to 25% of its net assets plus any borrowings (measured at the time of purchase) in securities of foreign issuers. The International Equity Fund will invest primarily in foreign securities under normal circumstances. The International Equity Fund is intended for long-term investors who can accept the risks associated with investing primarily in equity and equity-related securities of foreign issuers, including emerging country issuers, as well as the risks associated with investments quoted or denominated in foreign currencies. With respect to the CORE U.S. Equity and CORE Small Cap Equity Funds, equity securities of foreign issuers must be traded in the United States. Potential benefits of investments by an Equity Fund in foreign securities may include the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear, in the opinion of the applicable Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser, to offer the potential for long-term growth of capital and income, the opportunity to invest in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the United States and the opportunity to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets.
     Each Equity Fund may invest in foreign securities which take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and (except for the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may also invest in European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers (together, “Depositary Receipts”).

B-38


 

     ADRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a domestic bank or a correspondent bank. ADRs are traded on domestic exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market and, generally, are in registered form. EDRs and GDRs are receipts evidencing an arrangement with a non-U.S. bank similar to that for ADRs and are designed for use in the non-U.S. securities markets. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.
     To the extent an Equity Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do not have a contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack of information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary Receipts is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. However, by investing in Depositary Receipts, such as ADRs, that are quoted in U.S. dollars, a Fund may avoid currency risks during the settlement period for purchases and sales.
     Each Equity Fund (except the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may invest in countries with emerging economies or securities markets. Political and economic structures in many of such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of such countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. See “Investing in Emerging Countries including Asia and Eastern Europe” below.
     Core Fixed Income Fund. The Core Fixed Income Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers and in fixed-income securities quoted or denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars. Investment in foreign securities may offer potential benefits that are not available from investing exclusively in U.S. dollar-denominated 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. Up to 10% of the Core Fixed Income Fund’s total assets may be invested in emerging countries. See “Investing in Emerging Countries including Asia and Eastern Europe” below.
     Money Market Fund. The Money Market Fund may invest in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, unsecured bank promissory notes, bankers’ acceptances, fixed time deposits and other debt obligations issued or guaranteed by major foreign banks which have more than $1 billion in total assets at the time of purchase, U.S. branches of such foreign banks (Yankee obligations), foreign branches of such foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks. Under current SEC rules relating to the use of the amortized cost method of portfolio securities valuation, the Money Market Fund is restricted to purchasing U.S. dollar-denominated securities, but is not otherwise precluded from purchasing securities of foreign issuers.

B-39


 

     The Money Market Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations (limited to commercial paper and other notes) issued or guaranteed by a foreign government. The Money Market Fund may also invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued or guaranteed by any entity located or organized in a foreign country that maintains a short-term foreign currency rating in the highest short-term ratings category by the requisite number of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”). The Money Market Fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any one foreign government.
     Foreign Investment Risks. Investments in foreign securities and bank obligations may involve considerations different from investments in domestic securities due to limited publicly available information; non-uniform accounting standards; the possible imposition of withholding or confiscatory taxes; the possible adoption of foreign governmental restrictions affecting the payment of principal and interest; expropriation; or other adverse political or economic developments. In addition, it may be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer or a foreign branch of a domestic bank and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States.
     Investing in foreign securities involves certain special risks, including those discussed in the Funds’ Prospectus and those set forth below, which are not typically associated with investing in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in foreign securities often involve currencies of foreign countries. Accordingly, a Fund that invests in foreign securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. To the extent that a Fund is fully invested in foreign securities while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk. A Fund also may be subject to currency exposure independent of its securities positions.
     Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or anticipated changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or the failure to intervene or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. To the extent that a substantial portion of a Fund’s total assets, adjusted to reflect the Fund’s net position after giving effect to currency transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries. A Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions. In addition, if the payment declines in value against the U.S. dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such dividends.
     Since foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than in the United States and securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S.

B-40


 

companies. The securities of foreign issuers may be listed on foreign securities exchanges or be traded in foreign over-the-counter markets. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although each Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed and unlisted companies than in the United States and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States. 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 some of a Fund’s assets are uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the movement of funds and other assets between different countries, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect a Fund’s investments in those countries. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
     Investing in Emerging Countries including Asia and Eastern Europe. The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets. In certain countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities, and the market may be dominated by a few issues or sectors. Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S. issuers. Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers than is available about issuers in the United States. The development of a market for debt securities of emerging market issuers is a relatively recent phenomenon.
     Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors. The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries may not

B-41


 

be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging country securities may also affect a Fund’s ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests.
     With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Funds. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders in U.S. corporations.
     Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.
     Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Fund’s investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer’s outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals. In addition, the repatriation of both investment income and capital from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of a Fund. A Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.
     Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra—constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private

B-42


 

property. Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Funds may invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds’ assets. A Fund’s investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.
     Certain Funds may seek investment opportunities within former “east bloc” countries in Eastern Europe. Most Eastern European countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many Eastern European countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy. However, business entities in many Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of Eastern European countries’ attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear. In addition, any change in the leadership or policies of Eastern European countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.
     The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports.
     A Fund’s income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates. See “Taxation.”
     Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures and in certain U.S. markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of a Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases or sales due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.
     Sovereign Debt Obligations. The International Equity and Core Fixed Income Funds may invest in sovereign debt obligations. The Money Market Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of foreign governments. Investments in sovereign debt obligations involve special risks not present in corporate debt obligations. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental

B-43


 

authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or 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.
     Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. The CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities and Equity Index Funds may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. The International Equity Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes, to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates and to seek to increase total return. The Core Fixed Income Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are generally charged at any stage for trades.

B-44


 

     At the maturity of a forward contract a Fund may either accept or make delivery of the currency specified in the contract or, at or prior to maturity, enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to forward contracts are often, but not always, effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.
     A Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in several circumstances. First, when a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated or quoted in a foreign currency, or when a Fund anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security which it holds, the Fund may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions, the Fund will attempt to protect itself against an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such payments are made or received.
     Additionally, when the Investment Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of such Fund’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. Using forward contracts to protect the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange, which a Fund can achieve at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of a Fund’s foreign assets.
     Each Fund may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency. In addition, certain Funds may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Fund’s performance benchmark.
     The International Equity Fund may also enter into forward contracts to seek to increase total return. Unless otherwise covered in accordance with applicable regulations, cash or liquid assets of a Fund will be segregated in an amount equal to the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to the consummation of forward foreign currency exchange contracts. If the value of the segregated assets declines, additional cash or liquid assets will be segregated so that the value of the assets will equal the amount of a Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts. The Core Fixed Income Fund will not enter into a forward contract with a term of greater than one year.

B-45


 

     While a Fund may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between a Fund’s portfolio holdings of securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by such Fund. Such imperfect correlation may cause a Fund to sustain losses which will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign exchange loss.
     Markets for trading foreign forward currency contracts offer less protection against defaults than is available when trading in currency instruments on an exchange. Forward contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on the contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price. In addition, the institutions that deal in forward currency contracts are not required to continue to make markets in the currencies they trade and these markets can experience periods of illiquidity. A Fund will not enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts, currency swaps or other privately negotiated currency instruments unless the credit quality of the unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the counterparty is considered to be investment grade by the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser. To the extent that a substantial portion of a Fund’s total assets, adjusted to reflect the Fund’s net position after giving effect to currency transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries.
     Writing and Purchasing Currency Call and Put Options. A Fund may, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, write and purchase put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of protecting against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign portfolio securities and against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign securities to be acquired. As with other kinds of option transactions, however, the writing of an option on foreign currency will constitute only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received. If and when a Fund seeks to close out an option, the Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on foreign currency may constitute an effective hedge against exchange rate fluctuations; however, in the event of exchange rate movements adverse to a Fund’s position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs. Options on foreign currencies may be traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter.
     Options on currency may also be used for cross—hedging purposes, which involves writing or purchasing options on one currency to seek to hedge against changes in exchange rates for a different currency with a pattern of correlation, or to seek to increase total return when the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser anticipates that the currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but the securities quoted or denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not included in the Fund’s portfolio.
     A call option written by a Fund obligates a Fund to sell a specified currency to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. A put option written by

B-46


 

a Fund would obligate a Fund to purchase a specified currency from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. The writing of currency options involves a risk that a Fund will, upon exercise of the option, be required to sell currency subject to a call at a price that is less than the currency’s market value or be required to purchase currency subject to a put at a price that exceeds the currency’s market value. Written put and call options on foreign currencies may be covered in a manner similar to written put and call options on securities and securities indices described under “Writing Covered Options” above.
     A Fund may terminate its obligations under a call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions.” A Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options purchased by the Fund.
     A Fund may purchase call options on foreign currency in anticipation of an increase in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities to be acquired by the Fund are quoted or denominated. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified currency at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of such currency exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.
     A Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities in its portfolio are quoted or denominated (“protective puts”). The purchase of a put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified currency at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is usually designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the dollar value of a Fund’s portfolio securities due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying currency decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of underlying currency or portfolio securities.
     In addition to using options for the hedging purposes described above, the Funds may use options on currency to seek to increase total return. For example, the Funds may write (sell) covered put and call options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing covered call options for additional income, the Funds may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying currency. Also, when writing put options, the Funds accept, in return for the option premium, the risk that they may be required to purchase the underlying currency at a price in excess of the currency’s market value at the time of purchase.
     Special Risks Associated with Options on Currency. An exchange-traded options position may be closed out only on an options exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although a Fund will generally purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time. For some options no secondary

B-47


 

market on an exchange may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that a Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the sale of underlying instruments pursuant to the exercise of put options. If a Fund as a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying currency (or security quoted or denominated in that currency) until the option expires or it delivers the underlying currency upon exercise.
     There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers’ orders.
     A Fund may purchase and write over-the-counter options to the extent consistent with its limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Trading in over-the-counter options is subject to the risk that the other party will be unable or unwilling to close out options purchased or written by a Fund.
     The amount of the premiums, which a Fund may pay or receive, may be adversely affected as new or existing institutions, including other investment companies, engage in or increase their option purchasing and writing activities.
Convertible Securities
     Each Fund (other than the Government Income and Money Market Funds) may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest that is generally paid or accrued on debt or a dividend that is paid or accrued on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics, in that they generally (i) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities, (ii) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying common stock due to their fixed-income characteristics and (iii) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.
     The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value normally declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying

B-48


 

common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed-income security.
     A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective, which, in turn, could result in losses to the Fund.
Preferred Stock
     Each Fund (other than the Fixed Income Funds and the Money Market Fund) may invest in preferred 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.
Currency Swaps
     The International Equity and Core Fixed Income Funds may enter into currency swaps for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. Currency swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies.
     A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of a gross payment stream in one designated currency in exchange for the gross payment stream in another designated currency. Therefore, the entire payment stream under a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. To the extent that a Fund’s potential exposure in a transaction involving a swap is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets or otherwise, the Fund and the Investment Adviser believe that swaps do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions.
     The International Equity Fund will not enter into swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Investment Adviser. The Core Fixed Income Fund will not enter into any currency swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is rated investment grade by Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, or, if unrated by such rating organization, determined to be of comparable quality by the Investment Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the

B-49


 

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 Funds’ transactions in swaps.
     The use of currency swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If an Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique were not used.
Equity Swaps
     Each Equity Fund may enter into equity swap contracts to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in various circumstances, including circumstances where direct investment in the securities is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. Equity swaps may also be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. The counterparty to an equity swap contract will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, a counterparty may agree to pay a Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or an index of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In these cases, the Fund may agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the equity swap contract plus the amount, if any, by which that notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on the equity swap contract should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount. In other cases, the counterparty and a Fund may each agree to pay the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or indices of stocks).
     An Equity Fund will generally enter into equity swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of an equity swap contract or periodically during its term. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Inasmuch as these transactions are entered into for hedging purposes or are offset by segregated cash or liquid assets to cover the Fund’s potential exposure, the Funds and their Investment Advisers believe that transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s borrowing restrictions.
     An Equity Fund will not enter into swap transactions unless the unsecured commercial paper, senior debt or claims paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by

B-50


 

the Investment Adviser. An Equity Fund’s ability to enter into certain swap transactions may be limited by tax considerations.
Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars
     Each Fixed Income Fund may enter into interest rate, mortgage, credit and total return swaps. Each Fixed Income Fund may also enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars. Each Fixed Income Fund may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions. Each Fixed Income Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. 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 from or make a payment to the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates. Since interest rate, mortgage and credit swaps and interest rate caps, floors and collars are individually negotiated, each Fixed Income Fund expects to achieve an acceptable degree of correlation between its portfolio investments and its swap, cap, floor and collar positions.
     A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally a Fund will enter into interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and index swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and index swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and index swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage or index swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. To the extent that a 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 Fixed Income Funds and the Investment

B-51


 

Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s borrowing restrictions.
     The Fixed Income Funds will not enter into any interest rate, mortgage 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, a 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 Funds’ transactions in swaps, caps, floors and collars.
     The use of interest rate, mortgage, credit and total return 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, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fixed Income Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique were not used.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
     Each Equity Fund may invest in shares of REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in real estate or real estate related loans. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Like regulated investment companies such as the Equity Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Code. An Equity Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by a Fund.
     Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from the Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks.

B-52


 

Lending of Portfolio Securities
     Each Fund (except the Money Market Fund) may lend portfolio securities. Under present regulatory policies, such loans may be made to institutions, such as brokers or dealers (including Goldman Sachs), and are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents, letters of credit or U.S. Government Securities maintained on a current basis at an amount, marked to market daily, at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash received as collateral for securities lending transactions may be invested in short-term investments. Investing the collateral subjects it to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund is responsible for any loss that may result from its investment of the borrowed collateral. A Fund will have the right to terminate a loan at any time and recall the loaned securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions. For the duration of the loan, a Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and will also receive compensation from investment of the collateral. A Fund will not have the right to vote any securities having voting rights during the existence of the loan, but a Fund may call the loan in anticipation of an important vote to be taken by the holders of the securities or the giving or withholding of their consent on a material matter affecting the investment. As with other extensions of credit there are risks of delay in recovering, or even loss of rights in, the collateral and loaned securities should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the loans will be made only to firms deemed to be of good standing, and when the consideration which can be earned currently from securities loans of this type is deemed to justify the attendant risk. In determining whether to lend securities to a particular borrower and during the period of the loan, the creditworthiness of the borrower will be considered and monitored. It is intended that the value of securities loaned by a Fund will not exceed one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations stated elsewhere in this Additional Statement or the Prospectuses regarding investing in fixed-income securities and cash equivalents.
     The Funds’ Board of Trustees has approved each Fund’s participation in a securities lending program and adopted policies and procedures relating thereto. Under the securities lending program, the Funds have retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as the securities lending agent for the Funds. For these services, the lending agent may receive a fee from the Funds, including a fee based on the returns earned on the Funds’ investment of cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. The lending agent may, on behalf of the Funds, invest cash collateral received by the Funds for securities loans in, among other things, other registered or unregistered funds. These funds include private investing funds or money market funds that are managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates for the purpose of investing cash collateral generated from securities lending activities, and which pay the Investment Adviser or its affiliates for their services. The Funds’ Board of Trustees will periodically review securities loan transactions for which the Goldman Sachs affiliate has acted as lending agent for compliance with a Fund’s securities lending procedures. Goldman Sachs also has been approved as a borrower under the Funds’ securities lending program, subject to certain conditions.
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments
     Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis beyond the customary settlement time. These transactions involve a

B-53


 

commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges. A Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or negotiate a commitment after entering into it. A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions. For purposes of determining a Fund’s duration, the maturity of when-issued or forward commitment securities will be calculated from the commitment date. A Fund is generally required to segregate, until three days prior to the settlement date, cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price unless the Fund’s obligations are otherwise covered. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date.
Investment in Unseasoned Companies
     Each Equity Fund may invest in companies (including predecessors) which have operated less than three years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.
Other Investment Companies
     Each Fund reserves the right to invest up to 10% of its total assets, calculated at the time of purchase, in the securities of other investment companies (including with respect to the Equity and Fixed Income Funds exchange-traded funds such as Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts™ (“SPDRs”) and iShares,sm as defined below but may neither invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company nor acquire more than 3% of the voting securities of any other investment company. Pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, the Funds may invest in money market funds for which an Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by investment companies in which it invests in addition to the management fees (and other expenses) paid by the Fund. However, to the extent that the Fund invests in a money market fund for which an Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates acts as investment adviser, the management fees payable by the Fund to an Investment Adviser will, to the extent required by the SEC, be reduced by an amount equal to the Fund’s proportionate share of the management fees paid by such money market fund to its investment adviser. Although the Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund.

B-54


 

     Exchange-traded funds are shares of unaffiliated investment companies issuing shares which are traded like traditional equity securities on a national stock exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System. SPDRs are interests in a unit investment trust (“UIT”) that may be obtained from the UIT or purchased in the secondary market (SPDRs are listed on an exchange). The UIT was established to accumulate and hold a portfolio of common stocks that is intended to track the price performance and dividend yield of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the “S&P 500”). SPDRs may be used for several reasons, including, but not limited to, facilitating the handling of cash flows or trading or reducing transaction costs. The price movement of SPDRs may not perfectly parallel the price activity of the S&P 500. The UIT will issue SPDRs in aggregations known as “Creation Units” in exchange for a “Portfolio Deposit” consisting of (i) a portfolio of securities substantially similar to the component securities (“Index Securities”) of the S&P 500, (ii) a cash payment equal to a pro rata portion of the dividends accrued on the UIT’s portfolio securities since the last dividend payment by the UIT, net of expenses and liabilities, and (iii) a cash payment or credit (“Balancing Amount”) designed to equalize the net asset value of the S&P 500 and the net asset value of a Portfolio Deposit.
     SPDRs are not individually redeemable, except upon termination of the UIT. To redeem, an investor must accumulate enough SPDRs to reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small holdings of SPDRs, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market. Upon redemption of a Creation Unit, an investor will receive Index Securities and cash identical to the Portfolio Deposit required of an investor wishing to purchase a Creation Unit that day.
     The price of SPDRs is derived from and based upon the securities held by the UIT. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of a SPDR is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for SPDRs is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying SPDRs purchased or sold by the Funds could result in losses on SPDRs.
     Each Fund (other then the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Government Income and Money Market Funds) may also purchase shares of investment companies investing primarily in foreign securities, including “country funds.” Country funds have portfolios consisting primarily of securities of issuers located in specified foreign countries or regions. Each such Fund may, subject to the limitations stated above, invest in iSharessm and similar securities that invest in securities included in specified indices, including the MSCI indices for various countries and regions. iSharessm are listed on an exchange and were initially offered to the public in 1996. The market prices of iSharessm are expected to fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the asset values of their underlying indices and supply and demand of iSharessm on an exchange. However, iSharessm have a limited operating history and information is lacking regarding the actual performance and trading liquidity of iSharessm for extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that the requirements of an exchange necessary to maintain the listing of iSharessm will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting iSharessm should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of a Fund’s shares could also be substantially and adversely affected. If such disruptions were to occur, a Fund could be required to reconsider the use of iSharessm as part of its investment strategy.

B-55


 

Repurchase Agreements
     Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with banks, brokers and securities dealers which furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligation. The International Equity and Core Fixed Income Funds may also enter into repurchase agreements involving certain foreign government securities A repurchase agreement is similar to a collateralized loan, but involves an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a Fund) purchases securities subject to the seller’s agreement, at the time of sale, to repurchase the securities at a specified time and price. These securities may include securities that could not be held by a Fund without the seller’s repurchase commitment.
     Custody of the securities will be maintained by the Funds’ custodian or subcustodian for the duration of the agreement. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the investment return, if any, on the securities subject to the repurchase agreement. The seller of a repurchase agreement will agree that the value of the purchased securities will at all times equal or exceed the repurchase price during the term of the repurchase agreement.
     Repurchase agreements pose certain risks for the Funds that utilize them. Such risks are not unique to the Funds but are inherent in repurchase agreements. The Funds seek to minimize such risks by, among others, the means indicated below, but because of the inherent legal uncertainties involved in repurchase agreements, such risks cannot be eliminated.
     For purposes of the Act, and generally, for tax purposes, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from a Fund to the seller of the securities. It is not clear whether for other purposes a court would consider the securities purchased by a 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.
     If, in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings concerning the seller of the securities, a court holds that a Fund does not have a perfected security interest in the securities, the Fund may be required to return the securities to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. To minimize this risk, the Funds utilize custodians and subcustodians that the Investment Adviser believes follow customary securities industry practice with respect to repurchase agreements, and the Investment Adviser analyzes the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the securities. But because of the legal uncertainties, this risk, like others associated with repurchase agreements, cannot be eliminated.
     Also, in the event of commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the securities before repurchase of the securities under a repurchase agreement, a Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the securities. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in the value of the securities or other collateral, in which case a Fund may not recover the full amount it paid for the securities. Certain Funds may enter into repurchase agreements that involve securities that would be subject to a court “stay” in the event of the seller’s bankruptcy or insolvency. A “stay” will prevent a Fund from selling the securities it holds under a

B-56


 

repurchase agreement until permitted by a court. In these situations a Fund will be subject to greater risk that the value of the securities will decline before they are sold, and that the Fund will experience a loss.
     Apart from the risks associated with bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the security, whether or not the seller is bankrupt or insolvent. However, if the market value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the securities to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the repurchase price. It is possible that, with respect to certain repurchase agreements, a trustee for a bankrupt or insolvent seller could be able to demand the return of any additional securities that were previously delivered to the Fund for this purpose, and a Fund could incur a loss for this reason.
     Each Fund may not invest in repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 15% (10% with respect to the Money Market Fund) of the net assets of that Fund (taken at market value) would be invested in such investments and other securities which are not readily marketable . Certain repurchase agreements which mature 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, each Fund, together with other registered investment companies having management 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.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
     The Core Fixed Income Fund and Government Fund may borrow money by entering into transactions called reverse repurchase agreements. Under these arrangements, a Fund will sell portfolio securities to dealers in U.S. Government Securities or members of the Federal Reserve System, with an agreement to repurchase the security on an agreed date, price and interest payment. In the case of the Core Fixed Income Fund, these revenue repurchase agreements may involve foreign government securities. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the possible risk that the value of portfolio securities a Fund relinquishes may decline below the price the Fund must pay when the transaction closes. Borrowings may magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested resulting in an increase in the speculative character of a Fund’s outstanding shares.
     When a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it places in a separate custodial account either liquid assets or other high-grade debt securities that have a value equal to or greater than the repurchase price. The account is thereafter monitored to make sure that an appropriate value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the Act.

B-57


 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities
     Each Fund may purchase securities that are not registered or 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, a Fund will not invest more than 15% (10% with respect to the Money Market Fund) of its net assets in illiquid investments, which include securities (both foreign and domestic) that are not readily marketable, certain SMBS, certain municipal leases and participation interests, certain over-the-counter options, repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, and certain Restricted Securities, unless it is determined, based upon a continuing review of the trading markets for the specific instrument, that such instrument is liquid. The Trustees have adopted guidelines under which the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser determine and monitor the liquidity of the Funds’ portfolio securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in a Fund to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these instruments.
     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 may 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.
Trust Preferreds
     The Fixed Income Funds may invest in trust preferred securities. A trust preferred or capital security is a long dated bond (for example 30 years) with preferred features. The preferred features are that payment of interest can be deferred for a specified period without initiating a default event. From a bondholder’s viewpoint, the securities are senior in claim to standard preferred but are junior to other bondholders. From the issuer’s viewpoint, the securities are attractive because their interest is deductible for tax purposes like other types of debt instruments.
Municipal Securities
     General. The Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds may invest in fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities thereof (“Municipal Securities”), the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes but not necessarily exempt from the federal alternative minimum tax or from the income taxes of any state or local government). In addition, Municipal Securities include participation interests in such securities the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel or counsel selected by the Investment Adviser, excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Money Market Fund may invest in tax-exempt Municipal Securities when yields on such securities are attractive compared to other taxable investments. The Funds may revise their definition of Municipal Securities in the future to include other types of securities that currently exist, the interest on which is or will be, in the opinion of such counsel, excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes, provided that investing in such securities is consistent with each Fund’s investment

B-58


 

objective and policies. The Fixed Income Funds and Money Market Fund may also invest in taxable Municipal Securities.
     The yields and market values of Municipal Securities are determined primarily by the general level of interest rates, the creditworthiness of the issuers of Municipal Securities and economic and political conditions affecting such issuers. The yields and market prices of Municipal Securities may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies, which may have less effect on the market for taxable fixed-income securities. Moreover, certain types of Municipal Securities, such as housing revenue bonds, involve prepayment risks which could affect the yield on such securities. The credit rating assigned to municipal securities may reflect the existence of guarantees, letters of credit or other credit enhancement features available to the issuers or holders of such municipal securities.
     Dividends paid by the Funds that are derived from interest paid on both tax-exempt and taxable Municipal Securities will be taxable to the Funds’ shareholders.
     Municipal Securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes including refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses, and obtaining funds to lend to other public institutions and facilities. Municipal Securities also include certain “private activity bonds” or industrial development bonds, which are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to provide financing aid to acquire sites or construct or equip facilities within a municipality for privately or publicly owned corporations.
     Investments in Municipal Securities are subject to the risk that the issuer could default on its obligations. Such a default could result from the inadequacy of the sources or revenues from which interest and principal payments are to be made or the assets collateralizing such obligations. Revenue bonds, including private activity bonds, are backed only by specific assets or revenue sources and not by the full faith and credit of the governmental issuer.
     The two principal classifications of Municipal Securities are “general obligations” and “revenue obligations.” General obligations are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith and credit for the payment of principal and interest, although the characteristics and enforcement of general obligations may vary according to the law applicable to the particular issuer. Revenue obligations, which include, but are not limited to, private activity bonds, resource recovery bonds, certificates of participation and certain municipal notes, are not backed by the credit and taxing authority of the issuer, and are payable solely from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Nevertheless, the obligations of the issuer of a revenue obligation may be backed by a letter of credit, guarantee or insurance. General obligations and revenue obligations may be issued in a variety of forms, including commercial paper, fixed, variable and floating rate securities, tender option bonds, auction rate bonds, zero coupon bonds, deferred interest bonds and capital appreciation bonds.
     In addition to general obligations and revenue obligations, there is a variety of hybrid and special types of Municipal Securities. There are also numerous differences in the security of Municipal Securities both within and between these two principal classifications.

B-59


 

     For the purpose of applying a Fund’s investment restrictions, the identification of the issuer of a Municipal Security which is not a general obligation is made by the Investment Adviser based on the characteristics of the Municipal Security, the most important of which is the source of funds for the payment of principal and interest on such securities.
     An entire issue of Municipal Securities may be purchased by one or a small number of institutional investors, including one or more Funds. Thus, the issue may not be said to be publicly offered. Unlike some securities that are not publicly offered, a secondary market exists for many Municipal Securities that were not publicly offered initially and such securities may be readily marketable.
     Municipal Securities purchased for the Funds may be subject to a Fund’s policy on holdings of illiquid securities. The Investment Adviser determines whether a Municipal Security liquid based on whether it may be sold in a reasonable time consistent with the customs of the municipal markets (usually seven days) at a price (or interest rate) which accurately reflects its value. The Investment Adviser believes that the quality standards applicable to the Funds’ investments enhance liquidity. In addition, stand-by commitments and demand obligations also enhance liquidity.
     The credit rating assigned to Municipal Securities may reflect the existence of guarantees, letters of credit or other credit enhancement features available to the issuers or holders of such Municipal Securities.
     The obligations of the issuer to pay the principal of and interest on a Municipal Security are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, that may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest or imposing other constraints upon the enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that, as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of the issuer to pay when due principal of or interest on a Municipal Security may be materially affected.
     Municipal Leases, Certificates of Participation and Other Participation Interests. The Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds may invest in municipal leases, certificates of participation and other participation interests. A municipal lease is an obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase which is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities. Income from such obligations is generally exempt from state and local taxes in the state of issuance. Municipal leases frequently involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove

B-60


 

difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover a Fund’s original investment. To the extent that a Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
     Certificates of participation represent undivided interests in municipal leases, installment purchase agreements or other instruments. The certificates are typically issued by a trust or other entity which has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements.
     Certain municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation may be deemed to be illiquid for the purpose of the Funds’ limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Other municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation acquired by a Fund may be determined by the Investment Adviser, pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Trustees of the Trust, to be liquid securities for the purpose of such limitation. In determining the liquidity of municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, the Investment Adviser will consider a variety of factors, including: (i) the willingness of dealers to bid for the security; (ii) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the obligation and the number of other potential buyers; (iii) the frequency of trades or quotes for the obligation; and (iv) the nature of the marketplace trades. In addition, the Investment Adviser will consider factors unique to particular lease obligations and certificates of participation affecting the marketability thereof. These include the general creditworthiness of the issuer, the importance to the issuer of the property covered by the lease and the likelihood that the marketability of the obligation will be maintained throughout the time the obligation is held by a Fund.
     The Funds may purchase participations in Municipal Securities held by a commercial bank or other financial institution. Such participations provide a Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying Municipal Securities. In addition, such participations generally provide a Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of such Fund’s participation interest in the underlying Municipal Securities, plus accrued interest.
     Municipal Notes. Municipal Securities in the form of notes generally are used to provide for short-term capital needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Such instruments may include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes and certain receipts for municipal obligations. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance the working capital needs of governments. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the notes. Tax and revenue anticipation notes combine the funding sources of both tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. These notes are secured by mortgage notes insured by the FHA; however, the proceeds from the insurance may be less than the economic equivalent of the payment of principal and interest on the mortgage note if there has been a default. The obligations of an issuer of municipal notes are generally secured by the anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing.

B-61


 

An investment in such instruments, however, presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.
     The Money Market Fund may acquire securities in the form of custodial receipts which evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain state and local governmental and authority obligations when, in the opinion of bond counsel, if any, interest payments with respect to such custodial receipts are excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes. Such obligations are held in custody by a bank on behalf of the holders of the receipts. These custodial receipts are known by various names, including “Municipal Receipts” (“MRs”) and “Municipal Certificates of Accrual on Tax-Exempt Securities” (“M-CATS”). There are a number of other types of notes issued for different purposes and secured differently from those described above.
     Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper. Issues of commercial paper typically represent short-term, unsecured, negotiable promissory notes. These obligations are issued by state and local governments and their agencies to finance working capital needs of municipalities or to provide interim construction financing and are paid from general revenues of municipalities or are refinanced with long-term debt. In most cases, tax-exempt commercial paper is backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or other institutions.
     Pre-Refunded Municipal Securities. The principal of and interest on pre-refunded Municipal Securities are no longer paid from the original revenue source for the securities. Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. Government Securities. The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the pre-refunded Municipal Securities. Issuers of Municipal Securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the issuer. For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded Municipal Securities. However, except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded Municipal Securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer. Pre-refunded Municipal Securities are usually purchased at a price which represents a premium over their face value.
     Private Activity Bonds. The Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds may each invest in certain types of Municipal Securities, generally referred to as industrial development bonds (and referred to under current tax law as private activity bonds), which are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of industrial development bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may constitute Municipal Securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues.
     Tender Option Bonds. A tender option bond is a Municipal Security (generally held pursuant to a custodial arrangement) having a relatively long maturity and bearing interest at a fixed rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rates. The bond is typically issued with the agreement of a

B-62


 

third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, which grants the security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees equal to the difference between the bond’s fixed coupon rate and the rate, as determined by a remarketing or similar agent at or near the commencement of such period, that would cause the securities, coupled with the tender option, to trade at par on the date of such determination. Thus, after payment of this fee, the security holder effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, an institution will not be obligated to accept tendered bonds in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the issuer of the bond. The liquidity of a tender option bond is a function of the credit quality of both the bond issuer and the financial institution providing liquidity. Tender option bonds are deemed to be liquid unless, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, the credit quality of the bond issuer and the financial institution is deemed, in light of a Fund’s credit quality requirements, to be inadequate and the bond would not otherwise be readily marketable. The tender option will be taken into consideration in determining the maturity of tender option bonds and the average portfolio maturity of the Money Market Fund.
     Serial Bonds, Put Bonds and Moral Obligation Bonds. Municipal bonds with a series of maturity dates are called serial bonds. The serial bonds which the Money Market Fund may purchase are limited to short-term serial bonds—those with original or remaining maturities of thirteen months or less. The Money Market Fund may purchase long-term bonds provided that they have a remaining maturity of thirteen months or less or, in the case of bonds called for redemption, the date on which the redemption payment must be made is within thirteen months. The Money Market Fund may also purchase long-term bonds (sometimes referred to as “Put Bonds”), which are subject to the Fund’s commitment to put the bond back to the issuer at par at a designated time within thirteen months and the issuer’s commitment to so purchase the bond at such price and time. The Money Market Fund also may invest in “moral obligation” bonds. Moral obligations bonds are supported by the moral commitment but not the legal obligation of a state or municipality. In particular, these instruments permit governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. If, however, the governmental issuer does not periodically appropriate money to enable it to meet its payment obligations under these instruments, it cannot be legally compelled to do so. If a default occurs, it is likely that the Money Market Fund would be unable to obtain another acceptable source of payment.
     Auction Rate Securities. The Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds may invest in auction rate securities. Auction rate securities include auction rate Municipal Securities and auction rate preferred securities issued by closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in Municipal Securities (collectively, “auction rate securities”). Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities usually permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is some risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. A Fund will take the time remaining until the next scheduled auction date into account for purpose of determining the securities’ duration.

B-63


 

     Dividends on auction rate preferred securities issued by a closed-end fund may be designated as exempt from federal income tax to the extent they are attributable to exempt income earned by the fund on the securities in its portfolio and distributed to holders of the preferred securities, provided that the preferred securities are treated as equity securities for federal income tax purposes and the closed-end fund complies with certain tests under the Code.
     A Fund’s investments in auction rate securities of closed-end funds are subject to the limitations prescribed by the Act and certain state securities regulations. The Funds will indirectly bear their proportionate share of any management and other fees paid by such closed-end funds in addition to the advisory fees payable directly by the Funds.
     Insurance and Letters of Credit. The Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds may invest in “insured” tax-exempt Municipal Securities. Insured Municipal Securities are securities for which scheduled payments of interest and principal are guaranteed by a private (non-governmental) insurance company. The insurance only entitles a Fund to receive the face or par value of the securities held by the Fund. The insurance does not guarantee the market value of the Municipal Securities or the value of the shares of a Fund.
     The Funds may utilize new issue or secondary market insurance. A new issue insurance policy is purchased by a bond issuer who wishes to increase the credit rating of a security. By paying a premium and meeting the insurer’s underwriting standards, the bond issuer is able to obtain a high credit rating (usually, Aaa from Moody’s or AAA from Standard & Poor’s) for the issued security. Such insurance is likely to increase the purchase price and resale value of the security. New issue insurance policies generally are non-cancelable and continue in force as long as the bonds are outstanding.
     A secondary market insurance policy is purchased by an investor (such as a Fund) subsequent to a bond’s original issuance and generally insures a particular bond for the remainder of its term. The Funds may purchase bonds which have already been insured under a secondary market insurance policy by a prior investor, or the Funds may directly purchase such a policy from insurers for bonds which are currently uninsured.
     An insured Municipal Security acquired by a Fund will typically be covered by only one of the above types of policies. All of the insurance policies used by a Fund will be obtained only from insurance companies rated, at the time of purchase, A by Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s, or if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality.
     The Money Market Fund may purchase municipal instruments that are backed by letters of credit issued by foreign banks that have a branch, agency or subsidiary in the United States. Such letters of credit, like other obligations of foreign banks, may involve credit risks in addition to those of domestic obligations, including risks relating to future political and economic developments, nationalization, foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls and difficulties in obtaining or enforcing a judgment against a foreign bank (including branches).
     Call Risk and Reinvestment Risk. Municipal Securities may include “call” provisions which permit the issuers of such securities, at any time or after a specified period, to redeem the securities prior to their stated maturity. In the event that Municipal Securities held in a Fund’s portfolio are called prior to

B-64


 

the maturity, the Fund will be required to reinvest the proceeds on such securities at an earlier date and may be able to do so only at lower yields, thereby reducing the Fund’s return on its portfolio securities.
Mortgage Dollar Rolls
     The Fixed Income Funds may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, a Fund loses the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold. However, a Fund would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) or fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of a Fund compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls. All cash proceeds will be invested in instruments that are permissible investments for the applicable Fund. Each Fixed Income Fund will hold and maintain in a segregated account until the settlement date cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, in an amount equal to its forward purchase price.
     For financial reporting and tax purposes, the Fixed Income Funds treat mortgage dollar rolls as two separate transactions; one involving the purchase of a security and a separate transaction involving a sale. The Funds do not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and do not treat them as borrowings.
     Mortgage dollar rolls involve certain risks including the following: if the broker-dealer to whom a Fixed Income Fund sells the security becomes insolvent, a Fund’s right to purchase or repurchase the mortgage-related securities subject to the mortgage dollar roll may be restricted. Also, the instrument which a Fund is required to repurchase may be worth less than an instrument which a Fund originally held. Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls will depend upon the Investment Adviser’s ability to manage a Fund’s interest rate and mortgage prepayments exposure. For these reasons, there is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed.
Short Sales
     Each Equity Fund (other than the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity and Equity Index Funds) may engage in short sales against the box. In a short sale, the seller sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. While a short sale is made by selling a security the seller does not own, a short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the seller contemporaneously owns or has the right to obtain, at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. It may be entered into by a Fund, for example, to lock in a sales price for a security the Fund does not wish to sell immediately. If a Fund sells securities short against the box, it may protect itself from loss if the price of the securities declines in the future, but will lose the opportunity to profit on such securities if the price rises.

B-65


 

     If a Fund effects a short sale of securities at a time when it has an unrealized gain on the securities, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had actually sold the securities (as a “constructive sale”) on the date it effects the short sale. However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if a Fund closes out the short sale with securities other than the appreciated securities held at the time of the short sale and if certain other conditions are satisfied. Uncertainty regarding the tax consequences of effecting short sales may limit the extent to which the Fund may effect short sales.
Portfolio Turnover
     Each Fund may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from price disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for equity securities, or for other reasons. It is anticipated that the portfolio turnover may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may be affected by changes in the holdings of specific issuers, changes in country and currency weightings, cash requirements for redemption of shares and by requirements which enable the Funds to receive favorable tax treatment. The Funds are not restricted by policy with regard to portfolio turnover and will make changes in their investment portfolio from time to time as business and economic conditions as well as market prices may dictate.
     The Predecessor Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 was 113% and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 was 192%. The portfolio turnover ratio in 2004 reflected a return to a more normalized turnover ratio following a fund merger in 2003.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
     The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Trust as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the affected Fund. The investment objective of each Fund and all other investment policies or practices of each Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the Act, a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or a Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares of the Trust or a Fund. For purposes of the following limitations, any limitation which involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund. With respect to the Funds’ fundamental investment restriction no. 3, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.
     As a matter of fundamental policy, a Fund may not:
     (1) Make any investment inconsistent with the Fund’s classification as a diversified company under the 1940 Act. This restriction does not, however, apply to any Fund classified as a non-diversified company under the Act;

B-66


 

     (2) Invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (excluding the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities). (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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Money Market Fund will invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in bank obligations (whether foreign or domestic) except that if adverse economic conditions prevail in the banking industry, the Money Market Fund may, for defensive purposes, temporarily invest less than 25% of its total assets in bank obligations;
     (3) Borrow money, except (a) the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds 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 Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds, to the extent permitted by applicable law, may borrow from banks (as defined in the Act), other affiliated investment companies and other persons or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (c) each Fund may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (d) each Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, (e) each Fund may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law and (f) each Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings. (Notwithstanding the foregoing fundamental policy that would allow the Money Market Fund to borrow through reverse repurchase agreements, as of the date of this Additional Statement, the Money Market Fund does not engage in reverse repurchase transactions as a matter of non-fundamental policy which may be changed or amended by action of the Board of Trustees without approval of shareholders);
     (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, (c) loans of securities as permitted by applicable law, and (d) for the Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds only, loans to affiliates of such Funds to the extent permitted by 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)(a) For each Fund other than the Core Fixed Income Fund, purchase, hold or deal in real estate, although a Fund may purchase and sell securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, securities of real estate investment trusts and mortgage-related securities and may hold and sell real estate acquired by a Fund as a result of the ownership of securities;

B-67


 

     (6)(b) In the case of the Core Fixed Income Fund, hold or deal in real estate (including real estate limited partnerships) or oil, gas or mineral leases, although the Fund may purchase and sell securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein, may purchase 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; or
     (8) Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law.
     For purposes of the 25% investment requirement for the Money Market Fund stated in Investment Limitation No. 2 above, the Fund considers “bank obligations” to include obligations either issued or guaranteed by banks (whether foreign or domestic).
     Each Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest some or all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same 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.
     A Fund may not:
  (a)   Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management;
 
  (b)   Invest more than 15% (10% with respect to the Money Market Fund) of the Fund’s net assets in illiquid investments including illiquid repurchase agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, securities which are not readily marketable and restricted securities not eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act;
 
  (c)   Purchase additional securities if the Fund’s borrowings (excluding covered mortgage dollar rolls) exceed 5% of its net assets; or
 
  (d)   Make short sales of securities, except short sales against the box.
     The Money Market Fund must also comply, as a non-fundamental policy, with Rule 2a-7 under the Act. While a detailed and technical rule, Rule 2a-7 has three basic requirements: portfolio maturity, portfolio quality and portfolio diversification. Portfolio maturity. Rule 2a-7 requires that the maximum maturity (as determined in accordance with Rule 2a-7) of any security in the Money Market Fund’s portfolio may not exceed 13 months and the Fund’s average portfolio maturity may not exceed 90 days. Portfolio quality. The Money Market Fund may only invest in First Tier and Second Tier securities (as defined in the Rule). The Money Market Fund, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, only invests in First Tier securities. Portfolio diversification. The Money Market Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (except U.S. Government Securities, repurchase agreements collateralized by such securities and certain securities subject to a guarantee or unconditional demand feature). The Money Market Fund may, however, invest up to 25% of its total

B-68


 

assets in the First Tier Securities of a single issuer for a period of up to three business days after the purchase thereof. Subject to certain exceptions, immediately after the acquisition of any demand features or guarantees (i.e., generally, the right to sell the security at a price equal to its approximate amortized cost (for a demand feature) or principal amount (for a guarantee) plus accrued interest), with respect to 75% of the assets of the Money Market Fund, no more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in securities issued by or subject to demand features or guarantees issued by the same issuer. Securities which are rated in the highest short-term rating category by at least two NRSROs or, if only one NRSRO has assigned a rating, by that NRSRO, are “First Tier securities.” Securities rated in the top two short-term rating categories by at least two NRSROs or by the only NRSRO which has assigned a rating, but which are not First Tier securities, are “Second Tier securities.” Unrated securities may also be First Tier or Second Tier securities if they are of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Adviser. In accordance with certain rules, the rating of a demand feature or guarantee of a security may be deemed to be the rating of the underlying security. NRSROs include S&P, Moody’s, Fitch and Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited. See Appendix A for a description of their rating categories.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
     The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Trustees are responsible for deciding matters of general policy and reviewing the actions of the Trust’s service providers. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise each Fund’s daily business operations.
     Trustees of the Trust
     Information pertaining to the Trustees of the Trust is set forth below. Trustees who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the Act are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” Trustees who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust are referred to as “Interested Trustees.”

B-69


 

                         
Independent Trustees
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex    
Name,   Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Other Directorships
Address and Age1   the Trust   Served2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee3   Held by Trustee4
 
                       
Ashok N. Bakhru
Age: 63
  Chairman of the Board of Trustees   Since 1997   President, ABN Associates (July 1994—March 1996 and November 1998—Present); Executive Vice President — Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Coty Inc. (manufacturer of fragrances and cosmetics) (April 1996—November 1998); Director of Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company (1984—1999); Trustee of International House of Philadelphia (program center and residential community for students and professional trainees from the United States and foreign countries) (1989-2004); Member of Cornell University Council (1992-2004); Trustee of the Walnut Street Theater (1992-2004); Trustee, Scholarship America (1998-Present); Trustee, Institute for Higher Education Policy (2003-Present); Director, Private Equity Investors —III and IV (November 1998-Present), and Equity-Limited Investors II (April 2002-Present); and Chairman, Lenders Service Inc. (provider of mortgage lending services) (2000-2003).     70     None
 
                       
 
          Chairman of the Board of Trustees — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
Age: 64
  Trustee   Since 2003   Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (June 1975 — May 2003).     70     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
Patrick T. Harker
Age: 46
  Trustee   Since 2000   Dean and Reliance Professor of Operations and Information Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (February 2000-Present); Interim and Deputy Dean, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (July 1999-Present); and Professor and Chairman of Department of Operations and Information Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (July 1997—August 2000).     70     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            

B-70


 

                         
Independent Trustees
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex    
Name,   Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Other Directorships
Address and Age1   the Trust   Served2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee3   Held by Trustee4
 
                       
Mary P. McPherson
Age: 70
  Trustee   Since 1997   Vice President, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (provider of grants for conservation, environmental and educational purposes) (October 1997-Present); Director, Smith College (1998-Present); Director, Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation (health educational programs) (1977-Present); Director, Philadelphia Contributionship (insurance) (1985-Present); Director Emeritus, Amherst College (1986—1998); Director, The Spencer Foundation (educational research) (1993-February 2003); member of PNC Advisory Board (banking) (1993-1998); Director, American School of Classical Studies in Athens (1997-Present); and Trustee, Emeriti Retirement Health Solutions (post-retirement medical insurance program for not-for-profit institutions) (since 2005).     70     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
Wilma J. Smelcer
Age: 56
  Trustee   Since 2001   Chairman, Bank of America, Illinois (banking) (1998-January 2001); and Governor, Board of Governors, Chicago Stock Exchange (national securities exchange) (April 2001-April 2004).     70     Lawson Products Inc. (distributor of industrial products).
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
Richard P. Strubel
Age: 66
  Trustee   Since 1997   Vice Chairman and Director, Unext, Inc. (provider of educational services via the internet) (2003-Present); President, COO and Director, Unext, Inc. (1999-2003); Director, Cantilever Technologies, Inc. (a private software company) (1999-Present); Trustee, The University of Chicago (1987-Present); and Managing Director, Tandem Partners, Inc. (management services firm) (1990—1999).     70     Gildan Activewear Inc. (an activewear clothing marketing and manufacturing company); Unext, Inc. (provider of educational services via the internet); Northern Mutual Fund Complex (53 Portfolios).
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            

B-71


 

                         
Interested Trustees
                Number of    
        Term of       Portfolios in    
        Office and       Fund    
    Position(s)   Length of       Complex    
Name,   Held with   Time   Principal Occupation(s)   Overseen by   Other Directorships
Address and Age1   the Trust   Served2   During Past 5 Years   Trustee3   Held by Trustee4
 
                       
*Alan A. Shuch
Age: 55
  Trustee   Since 1997   Advisory Director — GSAM (May 1999-Present); Consultant to GSAM (December 1994 — May 1999); and Limited Partner, Goldman Sachs (December 1994 — May 1999).     70     None
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
*Kaysie P. Uniacke
Age: 44
  Trustee   Since 2001   Managing Director, GSAM (1997-Present).     70     None
 
  &       Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).            
 
  President   Since 2002                
 
          President — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (2002-Present) (registered investment companies).            
 
                       
 
          Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (1997 — 2002) ( registered investment companies).            
 
                       
 
          Trustee — Gettysburg College.            
 
*   These persons are considered to be “Interested Trustees” because they hold positions with Goldman Sachs and own securities issued by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Each Interested Trustee holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
 
1   Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs, One New York Plaza, 37th Floor, New York, New York, 10004, Attn: Howard B. Surloff.
 
2   Each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the earliest of: (a) the election of his or her successor; (b) the date the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Board of Trustees or shareholders, in accordance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust; (c) the date the Trustee attains the age of 72 years (in accordance with the current resolutions of the Board of Trustees, which may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder vote); or (d) the termination of the Trust.
 
3   The Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex consists of the Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust. As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Trust consisted of 11 portfolios, including the Funds described in this Additional Statement, and Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 59 portfolios.
 
4   This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e., “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the Act.

B-72


 

Officers of the Trust
     Information pertaining to the officers of the Trust is set forth below.
             
Officers of the Trust
    Position(s)        
    Held   Term of Office    
Name, Age   With the   and Length of   Principal Occupation(s)
And Address   Trust   Time Served1   During Past 5 Years
 
           
Kaysie P. Uniacke
  President   Since 2002   Managing Director, GSAM (1997-Present).
32 Old Slip
  &        
New York, NY 10005
Age: 44
  Trustee   Since 2001   Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
 
          President — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (1997—2002) (registered investment companies).
 
           
 
          Trustee — Gettysburg College
 
           
John M. Perlowski
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 40
  Treasurer   Since 1997   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2003 — Present) and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 1995-November 2003).
 
          Treasurer — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Philip V. Giuca, Jr.
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 43
  Assistant
Treasurer
  Since 1998   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992-Present).

Assistant Treasurer — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Peter Fortner
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 47
  Assistant
Treasurer
  Since 2000   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2000-Present); Associate, Prudential Insurance Company of America (November 1985—June 2000); and Assistant Treasurer, certain closed-end funds administered by Prudential (1999 and 2000).
 
           
 
          Assistant Treasurer — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Kenneth G. Curran
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 41
  Assistant
Treasurer
  Since 2001   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (November 1998-Present); and Senior Tax Manager, KPMG Peat Marwick (accountants) (August 1995—October 1998).
 
          Assistant Treasurer — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).

B-73


 

             
Officers of the Trust
    Position(s)        
    Held   Term of Office    
Name, Age   With the   and Length of   Principal Occupation(s)
And Address   Trust   Time Served1   During Past 5 Years
 
           
James A. Fitzpatrick
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 45
  Vice President   Since 1997   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (October 1999— Present); and Vice President of GSAM (April 1997—December 1999).
 
          Vice President — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Jesse Cole
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 42
  Vice President   Since 1998   Vice President, GSAM (June 1998-Present); and Vice President, AIM Management Group, Inc. (investment adviser) (April 1996—June 1998).
 
          Vice President — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Kerry K. Daniels
71 South Wacker Drive
Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60606
Age: 42
  Vice President   Since 2000   Manager, Financial Control — Shareholder Services, Goldman Sachs (1986-Present).

Vice President — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
James McNamara
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 42
  Vice President   Since 2001   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 1998-Present); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998—December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993 — April 1998).

Vice President—Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).

Trustee — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (December 2002-May 2004).
 
           
Howard B. Surloff
One New York Plaza
37 th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Age: 40
  Secretary   Since 2001   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2002—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs and General Counsel to the U.S. Funds Group (December 1997—Present).

Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (2001-Present) and Assistant Secretary prior thereto.
 
           
Dave Fishman
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 40
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2001   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2001—Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1997—December 2001).

Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).

B-74


 

             
Officers of the Trust
    Position(s)        
    Held   Term of Office    
Name, Age   With the   and Length of   Principal Occupation(s)
And Address   Trust   Time Served1   During Past 5 Years
 
           
Danny Burke
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 42
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2001   Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1987—Present).

Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Elizabeth D. Anderson
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 35
  Assistant Secretary   Since 1997   Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2002 — Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1997-December 2002) and Fund Manager, GSAM (April 1996—Present).
 
           
 
          Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
           
Peter V. Bonanno
32 Old Slip
New York, NY 10005
Age: 37
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2003   Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2002—Present); Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (1999-2002).
 
          Assistant Secretary — Goldman Sachs Mutual Fund Complex (registered investment companies).
 
1   Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Each officer holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
Standing Board Committees
     The Board of Trustees has established seven standing committees in connection with their governance of the Funds — Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance, Valuation, Dividend, Schedule E and Contract Review.
     The Audit Committee oversees the audit process and provides assistance to the full Board of Trustees with respect to fund accounting, tax compliance and financial statement matters. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selects and recommends annually to the entire Board of Trustees an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books and records of the Trust for the ensuing year, and reviews with the firm the scope and results of each audit. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held three meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
     The Governance and Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board of Trustees in matters involving mutual fund governance and industry practices; (ii) select and nominate candidates for appointment or election to serve as Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or its investment adviser or distributor (as defined by the Act) and (iii) advise the Board of Trustees on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the

B-75


 

Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. As stated above, each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies, the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Trust at its mailing address stated in the Funds’ Prospectuses and should be directed to the attention of Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust Governance and Nominating Committee.
     The Compliance Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the compliance processes: (i) of the Funds; and (ii) insofar as they relate to, services provided to the Funds, of the Funds investment advisers, distributor, administrator (if any), and transfer agent, except that compliance processes relating to the accounting and financial reporting processes, and certain related matters, are overseen by the Audit Committee. In addition, the Compliance Committee provides assistance to the full Board of Trustees with respect to compliance matters. The Compliance Committee was formed on May 6, 2004 and met twice during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Compliance Committee.
     The Valuation Committee is authorized to act for the Board of Trustees in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities held by the Funds in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures. Mr. Shuch and Ms. Uniacke serve on the Valuation Committee. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Valuation Committee held twelve meetings.
     The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare dividends and capital gain distributions consistent with each Fund’s Prospectuses. Currently, the sole member of the Trust’s Dividend Committee is Ms. Uniacke. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Dividend Committee held one meeting with respect to the Funds.
     The Schedule E Committee is authorized to address potential conflicts of interest regulated by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”). Currently, the sole member of the Trust’s Schedule E Committee is Mr. Bakhru. The Schedule E Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
     The Contract Review Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the processes of the Board of Trustees for approving and monitoring the Funds’ investment management, distribution, transfer agency and other agreements with the Funds, Investment Advisers and their affiliates. The Contract Review Committee is responsible for overseeing the Board of Trustees processes for approving and reviewing the operation of the Funds’ distribution, service, shareholder administration and other plans, and any agreements related to the 1940 Act. The Contract Review Committee also provides appropriate assistance to the Board of Trustees in connection with the Board’s approval, oversight and review of the Funds’ other service providers including, without limitation, the Funds’ custodian/accounting agent, sub-transfer agents, professional (legal and accounting) firms and printing firms. The Contract Review Committee was formed on November 4, 2004 and held one meeting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee.

B-76


 

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
     The following table shows the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Funds and other portfolios of the Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust. Shares of the Funds are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies for the purpose of funding various annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and are not available for direct investment by the Trustees.
                 
            Aggregate Dollar Range of  
            Equity Securities in All  
    Dollar Range of     Portfolios in Fund Complex  
Name of Trustee   Equity Securities in the Funds1     Overseen By Trustee2  
 
               
Ashok N. Bakhru
  None   Over $100,000
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
  None   Over $100,000
Patrick T. Harker
  None   Over $100,000
Mary P. McPherson
  None   Over $100,000
Alan A. Shuch
  None   Over $100,000
Wilma J. Smelcer
  None   Over $100,000
Richard P. Strubel
  None   Over $100,000
Kaysie P. Uniacke
  None   Over $100,000
 
1   Includes the value of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in each Fund described in this Additional Statement as of December 31, 2004.
 
2   Includes the Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust. As of December 31, 2004, the Trust consisted of the 6 portfolios described in this Additional Statement, and Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 57 portfolios.
     As of September 30, 2005, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of each Fund.
Board Compensation
     The Trust pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee for his or her services as a Trustee of the Trust, plus an additional fee for each regular and special telephonic Board meeting, and Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee, Contract Review Committee and Audit Committee meeting attended by such Trustee. The Independent Trustees are also reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with attending such meetings. The Trust may also pay the incidental costs of a Trustee to attend training or other types of conferences relating to the investment company industry.

B-77


 

     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004:
                                                 
    Trustee Compensation  
            CORE                            
    CORE     Small             Growth     Mid        
    U.S.     Cap     Capital     and     Cap        
    Equity     Equity     Growth     Income     Value     International  
Name of Trustee   Fund     Fund     Fund     Fund     Fund     Equity Fund  
 
                                               
Ashok N. Bakhru1
  $ 3,172     $ 3,172     $ 3,172     $ 3,172     $ 3,172     $ 3,172  
Gary D. Black2
                                   
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
    2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253  
Patrick T. Harker
    2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253  
James McNamara2
                                   
Mary P. McPherson
    2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253  
Alan A. Shuch
                                   
Wilma J. Smelcer
    2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253  
Richard P. Strubel
    2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253       2,253  
Kaysie P. Uniacke
                                   
                         
            Pension or     Total Compensation  
            Retirement     From Fund  
    Aggregate     Benefits Accrued as     Complex  
    Compensation     Part of the Trust's     (including the  
Name of Trustee   from the Funds     Expenses     Funds)3  
 
                       
Ashok N. Bakhru1
  $ 19,032     $     $ 198,500  
Gary D. Black2
                 
John P. Coblentz, Jr.
    13,518             141,000  
Patrick T. Harker
    13,518             141,000  
James McNamara2
                 
Mary P. McPherson
    13,518             141,000  
Alan A. Shuch
                 
Wilma J. Smelcer
    13,518             141,000  
Richard P. Strubel
    13,518             141,000  
Kaysie P. Uniacke
                 
 
1   Includes compensation as Board Chairman.
 
2   Messrs. Black and McNamara resigned from the Boards of the Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust effective April 2004 and May 2004, respectively.
 
3   The Fund Complex consists of the Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust. The Trust consisted of 6 portfolios and Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 57 portfolios as of December 31, 2004.

B-78


 

Miscellaneous
     The Trust, its Investment Advisers and principal underwriter have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Act that permit personnel subject to their particular codes of ethics to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser
     As stated in the Funds’ Prospectus, GSAM (formerly, Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P.), 32 Old Slip, New York, New York 10005, serves as Investment Adviser to the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value, Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds. GSAM is a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. Prior to the end of April 2003, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a business unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs served as the Fund’s investment adviser. On or about April 26, 2003, GSAM assumed Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s investment advisory responsibilities for the Funds. GSAMI, Christchurch Court, 10-15 Newgate Street, London, England EC1A7HD, serves as Investment Adviser to the International Equity Fund. As a company with unlimited liability under the laws of England, GSAMI is regulated by the Investment Management Regulatory Organization Limited, a United Kingdom self regulatory organization, in the conduct of its investment advisory business. GSAMI is also an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. SSGA Funds Management, Inc., State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2900, serves as Sub-Adviser to the Equity Index Fund. See “Service Providers” in the Funds’ Prospectus for a description of the applicable Investment Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s duties to the Funds.
     Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is among the oldest and largest investment banking firms in the United States. Goldman Sachs is a leader in developing portfolio strategies and in many fields of investing and financing, participating in financial markets worldwide and serving individuals, institutions, corporations and governments. Goldman Sachs is also among the principal market sources for current and thorough information on companies, industrial sectors, markets, economies and currencies, and trades and makes markets in a wide range of equity and debt securities 24 hours a day. The firm is headquartered in New York and has offices throughout the United States and in Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Calgary, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, George Town, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, 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 Funds to use the name “Goldman Sachs” or a derivative thereof as part of each Fund’s name for as long as the Management Agreement is in effect.

B-79


 

     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 2,400 companies, over 50 economies and over 25 markets. The in-depth information and analyses generated by Goldman Sachs’ research analysts are available to the Investment Advisers.
     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 to structure and evaluate portfolios.
     In managing the Funds, the Investment Advisers have access to Goldman Sachs’ economics research. The Economics Research Department based in London, conducts economic, financial and currency markets research which analyzes economic trends and interest and exchange rate movements worldwide. The Economics Research Department tracks factors such as inflation and money supply figures, balance of trade figures, economic growth, commodity prices, monetary and fiscal policies, and political events that can influence interest rates and currency trends. The success of Goldman Sachs’ international research team has brought wide recognition to its members. The team has earned top rankings in various external surveys such as Extel, Institutional Investor and Reuters. These rankings acknowledge the achievements of the firm’s economists, strategists and equity analysts.
     In allocating assets among foreign countries and currencies for the Funds which can invest in foreign securities, the Investment Advisers will have access to the Global Asset Allocation Model. The model is based on the observation that the prices of all financial assets, including foreign currencies, will adjust until investors globally are comfortable holding the pool of outstanding assets. Using the model, the Investment Advisers will estimate the total returns from each currency sector which are consistent with the average investor holding a portfolio equal to the market capitalization of the financial assets among those currency sectors. These estimated equilibrium returns are then combined with the expectations of Goldman Sachs’ research professionals to produce an optimal currency and asset allocation for the level of risk suitable for a Fund given its investment objectives and criteria.
     With respect to the Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund, GSAM expects to utilize Goldman Sachs’ sophisticated option-adjusted analytics to help make strategic asset allocations within the markets for U.S. Government Securities, Mortgage-Backed Securities and other securities and to employ this technology periodically to re-evaluate the Funds’ investments as market conditions change. Goldman Sachs has also developed a prepayment model designed to estimate mortgage prepayments and cash flows under different interest rate scenarios. Because a Mortgage-Backed Security incorporates the borrower’s right to prepay the mortgage, GSAM uses a sophisticated option-adjusted spread (OAS) model to measure expected returns. A security’s OAS is a function of the level and shape of the yield curve, volatility and GSAM’s expectation of how a change in interest rates will affect prepayment levels. Since the OAS model assumes a relationship between prepayments and interest rates, GSAM considers it a better way to measure a security’s expected return and absolute and relative values than yield to maturity. In using OAS technology, GSAM will first evaluate the absolute level of a security’s OAS and consider its liquidity and its interest rate, volatility and prepayment sensitivity. GSAM will then analyze its value

B-80


 

relative to alternative investments and to its own investments. GSAM will also measure a security’s interest rate risk by computing an option adjusted duration (OAD). GSAM believes a security’s OAD is a better measurement of its price sensitivity than cash flow duration, which systematically misstates portfolio duration. GSAM also evaluates returns for different mortgage market sectors and evaluates the credit risk of individual securities. This sophisticated technical analysis allows GSAM to develop portfolio and trading strategies using Mortgage-Backed Securities that are believed to be superior investments on a risk-adjusted basis and which provide the flexibility to meet the respective Fund’s duration targets and cash flow pattern requirements.
     Because the OAS is adjusted for the differing characteristics of the underlying securities, the OAS of different Mortgage-Backed Securities can be compared directly as an indication of their relative value in the market. GSAM also expects to use OAS-based pricing methods to calculate projected security returns under different, discrete interest rate scenarios, and Goldman Sachs’ proprietary prepayment model to generate yield estimates under these scenarios. The OAS, scenario returns, expected returns, and yields of securities in the mortgage market can be combined and analyzed in an optimal risk-return matching framework.
     GSAM will use OAS analytics to choose what they believe is an appropriate portfolio of investments for the Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund from a universe of eligible investments. In connection with initial portfolio selections, in addition to using OAS analytics as an aid to meeting each Fund’s particular composition and performance targets, GSAM will also take into account important market criteria like the available supply and relative liquidity of various mortgage securities in structuring the portfolio.
     GSAM also expects to use OAS analytics to evaluate the mortgage market on an ongoing basis. Changes in the relative value of various Mortgage-Backed Securities could suggest tactical trading opportunities for the Government Income Fund and Core Fixed Income Fund. GSAM will have access to both current market analysis as well as historical information on the relative value relationships among different Mortgage-Backed Securities. Current market analysis and historical information is available in the Goldman Sachs database for most actively traded Mortgage-Backed Securities.
     Goldman Sachs has agreed to provide GSAM, on a non-exclusive basis, use of its mortgage prepayment model, OAS model and any other proprietary services which it now has or may develop, to the extent such services are made available to other similar customers. Use of these services by the Investment Adviser with respect to a Fund does not preclude Goldman Sachs from providing these services to third parties or using such services as a basis for trading for its own account or the account of others.
     The fixed-income research capabilities of Goldman Sachs available to GSAM 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

B-81


 

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 a Fund’s investments.
     The Management Agreement for the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds was initially approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Management Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the Act) of any party thereto (the “non-interested Trustees”), on October 21, 1997. The Management Agreement with respect to these Funds was most recently approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Management Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, on June 15, 2005. A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ basis for approving the Management Agreement is available in the Trust’s semi-annual reports dated June 30, 2005.
     The Management Agreements were approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees, with respect to the Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income, Core Fixed Income and Money Market Funds on August 4, 2005. At that meeting the Board of Trustees reviewed the written and oral presentations provided by the Investment Adviser in connection with the Trustees’ consideration of the Management Agreements. The Trustees also reviewed, with the advice of legal counsel, their responsibilities under applicable law and met in executive session without representatives of the Investment Adviser present. Among other things, the Trustees reviewed the Management Agreements as they applied to the Funds, including information regarding the terms of the Management Agreements; the fees and expenses to be paid by the Funds; the spread between the Investment Adviser’s management fee for the Equity Index Fund and the Sub-Adviser’s sub-advisory fee for that Fund; the Investment Adviser’s proposal to reimburse certain expenses of the Funds that exceed a specified level; the Investment Adviser’s proposal to waive voluntarily a portion of its management fee with respect to the Equity Index Fund; other benefits to be derived by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Funds; and a comparison of the Funds’ fees and expenses with those paid by other similar mutual funds. The Trustees also considered the investment performance of other similar mutual funds managed by the Investment Adviser, which the Trustees believed to have been competitive.
     In connection with their approval of the Management Agreements for the Funds, the Trustees gave weight to various factors, but did not identify any particular factor as controlling their decision. As part of their review, the Trustees considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Investment Adviser. In this regard, the Trustees considered both the investment advisory services and the other, non-advisory, services to be provided to the Funds by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. These services include services as the Funds’ transfer agent, securities lending agent and distributor. The Trustees believed that the Investment Adviser was able to provide quality services to the Funds.
     The Trustees also considered the contractual fee rates payable by the Funds (some of which included fee breakpoints) under the Management Agreements. In this regard, information on the fees payable by the Funds and the Funds’ total operating expense ratios were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment management firms. The comparisons of the Funds’ fee rates and total operating expense ratios were prepared by a third-party

B-82


 

consultant. These comparisons assisted the Trustees in evaluating the reasonableness of the management fees paid by the Funds.
     The Trustees also considered the breakpoints in the contractual fee rates payable by the Growth Opportunities, Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds under their Management Agreement. In approving these fee breakpoints, the Trustees considered the Investment Adviser’s potential economies of scale, and whether the Funds and their shareholders would participate in the benefits of these economies. In this regard, the Trustees considered the amount of assets in the Funds, and information comparing fee rates charged by the Investment Adviser with fee rates charged by other, unaffiliated investment managers to other mutual funds. The Trustees agreed that the fee breakpoints were a way to ensure that benefits of scalability would be passed along to shareholders at the specified asset levels. In addition, with respect to the Equity Index Fund, the Trustees considered the Investment Adviser’s proposed voluntary management fee waiver and the Fund’s future growth prospects and, with respect to the Money Market Fund, the Trustees considered the relatively lower asset level that was expected when the Fund commenced operations. With respect to all of the Funds, the Trustees considered information relating to the Investment Adviser’s past revenues and costs with respect to the Trust and its Funds.
     The Trustees also considered the other benefits that would be received by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates from the Funds, including the fees received by them for transfer agency, securities lending, brokerage and distribution services, as well as the brokerage and research services that may be received by the Investment Adviser in connection with the placement of brokerage transactions for the Funds.
     After consideration of these matters, the Trustees concluded that the management fees paid by the Funds were reasonable in light of the services to be provided by the Investment Adviser, and the Funds’ reasonably foreseeable asset levels, and that the Management Agreements should be approved.
     The Management Agreements will remain in effect with respect to these Funds until June 30, 2006 and will continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Each Management Agreement will terminate automatically with respect to a Fund if assigned (as defined in the Act). Each Management Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Investment Adviser and by the Investment Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.

B-83


 

     Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Advisers are entitled to receive the fees listed below, payable monthly of such Fund’s average daily net assets.
         
        Actual Rate
        For the Fiscal
        Year Ended
Fund   Contractual Rate   December 31, 2004
CORE U.S. Equity
  0.65%*   0.65%
CORE Small Cap Equity
  0.75%*   0.75%
Capital Growth
  0.75%*   0.75%
Growth and Income
  0.75%*   0.75%
Mid Cap Value
  0.80%*   0.80%
Growth Opportunities
  1.00% on the first $2 billion   N/A
 
  0.90% over $2 billion    
Equity Index
  0.30%**   N/A
International Equity
  1.00%*   1.00%
Government Income
  0.54% on the first $1 billion   N/A
 
  0.49% on the next $1 billion    
 
  0.47% over $2 billion    
Core Fixed Income
  0.40% on the first $1 billion   N/A
 
  0.36% on the next $1 billion    
 
  0.34% over $2 billion    
Money Market
  0.35%   N/A
* Effective July 1, 2005, the Investment Adviser has implemented a voluntary fee reduction. The fee reduction will become effective on a contractual basis in 2006. The fee reduction imposed breakpoints on the management fees and reduced the management fees for the following Funds to annual rates equal to the following percentages of the average daily net assets of the Funds:
                         
            Over $1 billion    
Fund   First $1 billion   up to $2 billion   Over $2 billion
CORE U.S. Equity
    0.65 %     0.59 %     0.56 %
Capital Growth
    0.75 %     0.68 %     0.65 %
Growth and Income
    0.75 %     0.68 %     0.65 %
International Equity
    1.00 %     0.90 %     0.86 %
Fund
          First $2 billion   Over $2 billion
CORE Small Cap Equity
            0.75 %     0.68 %
Mid Cap Value
            0.80 %     0.72 %
     Prior to April 29, 2005, the contractual rate for the CORE U.S. Equity Fund was 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. On April 29, 2005, the CORE U.S. Equity Fund entered into a fee reduction commitment with the Investment Adviser to permanently reduce the management fee for the Fund to an annual rate of 0.65% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
** If the Equity Index Fund’s average daily net assets exceed $400 million, 0.10% of the management fee will be waived. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are between $300 million and $400 million, 0.05%

B-84


 

of the management fee will be waived. If the Fund’s average daily net assets are less than $300 million, 0% of the management fee will be waived.
     For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 the amount of fees incurred by each Fund then in existence pursuant to the Management Agreement were as follows:
                                 
    2004     2003     2002  
    With Fee     Without Fee                  
    Limitations     Limitations                  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 2,872,768     $ 3,003,641     $ 1,180,209     $ 1,075,955  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    1,353,485       1,353,485       428,325       394,097  
Capital Growth Fund
    1,333,178       1,333,178       198,348       129,442  
Growth and Income Fund
    1,803,238       1,803,238       336,295       288,101  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    5,607,738       5,607,738       3,472,612       2,636,097  
International Equity Fund
    1,019,839       1,019,839       172,679       156,515  
     As further explained in the “Introduction” section of this Additional Statement, the Predecessor Allmerica Funds were reorganized into certain portfolios of the Trust. Investment advisory services for the Predecessor Allmerica Funds were provided by Allmerica Financial Investment Management Services, Inc. (“AFIMS”) and several sub-advisers. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, historical data presented below is that of the Predecessor Allmerica Funds. For the services provided and expenses assumed by AFIMS under the management agreement with respect to the Predecessor Allmerica Funds, AFIMS was paid advisory fees as follows:
                         
Predecessor Allmerica Fund   2004     2003     2002  
 
                       
Select Capital Appreciation Fund1
  $ 2,670,846     $ 2,664,113     $ 3,280,835  
Equity Index Fund2
    1,677,737       1,498,250       1,242,005  
Government Bond Fund3
    774,665       1,286,446       844,055  
Select Investment Grade Income Fund4
    1,944,823       2,497,160       2,550,744  
Money Market Fund5
    1,003,441       1,600,664       1,895,176  
 
1   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Growth Opportunities Fund
 
2   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Equity Index Fund
 
3   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Government Income Fund
 
4   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Core Fixed Income Fund
 
5   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Money Market Fund
     AFIMS was responsible for paying fees to sub-advisers from the advisory fees it received from the Predecessor Allmerica Funds.
     In addition to providing advisory services under its Management Agreement, each Investment Adviser also: (i) supervises all non-advisory operations of each Fund that it advises; (ii) provides personnel to perform such executive, administrative and clerical services as are reasonably necessary to provide effective administration of each Fund; (iii) arranges for at each Fund’s expense (a) the

B-85


 

preparation of all required tax returns, (b) the preparation and submission of reports to existing shareholders, (c) the periodic updating of prospectuses and statements of additional information and (d) the preparation of reports to be filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities; (iv) maintains each Fund’s records; and (v) provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services.
     The Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Equity Index Fund was approved by the Trustees, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees, on August 4, 2005. At that meeting the Board of Trustees reviewed the written and oral presentations provided by the Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser in connection with the Trustees’ consideration of the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Trustees also reviewed, with the advice of legal counsel, their responsibilities under applicable law and met in executive session without representatives of the Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser present. Among other things, the Trustees reviewed the Sub-Advisory Agreement as it applied to the Equity Index Fund, including information regarding the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement; the fees to be paid to the Sub-Adviser; and a comparison of the Fund’s fees and expenses with those paid by other similar mutual funds. The Trustees also considered the investment performance of other similar clients managed by the Sub-Adviser. The Trustees believed that the Sub-Adviser had been able to track the investment returns of the S&P 500 Index for its other clients.
     In connection with their approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Equity Index Fund, the Trustees gave weight to various factors, but did not identify any particular factor as controlling their decision. As part of their review, the Trustees considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Sub-Adviser. In this regard, the Trustees considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s experience in index investing and its compliance policies and procedures and code of ethics. The Trustees believed that the Sub-Adviser was able to provide quality services to the Fund.
     The Trustees also considered the contractual fee rates payable under the Sub-Advisory Agreement. In addition, information on the fees payable with respect to the Equity Index Fund and the Fund’s total operating expense ratio were compared to similar information for mutual funds advised by other, unaffiliated investment management firms. These comparisons assisted the Trustees in evaluating the reasonableness of the fees relating to the Fund.
     The Trustees also considered the breakpoints in the contractual fee rates in the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser’s potential economies of scale, and whether the Funds and their shareholders would participate in the benefits of these economies. In this regard, the Trustees considered the projected amount of assets in the Fund, and information comparing fee rates charged by the Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser with fee rates charged by other, unaffiliated investment managers to other mutual funds. The Trustees agreed that the fee breakpoints were a way to ensure that benefits of scalability would be passed along to shareholders at the specified asset levels.
     In addition, the Trustees considered whether the Sub-Adviser would experience other benefits relating to its services for the Fund. In this regard, they considered the benefits that affiliates of the Sub-Adviser would receive for providing other services to the Funds, including services as the custodian and accounting agent.
     After deliberation, the Trustees concluded that the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by GSAM was reasonable in light of the services provided by the Sub-Adviser, and that the Sub-Advisory Agreement should be approved.

B-86


 

     The Sub-Advisory Agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2006 and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Act). The Sub-Advisory Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by the Investment Adviser or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Sub-Adviser and by the Sub-Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.
     For the services provided and expenses assumed under the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser a monthly management fee at the following annual rates of the average daily net assets of the Equity Index Fund:
                    0.03% on the first $50 million
                    0.02% on the next $200 million
                    0.01% on the next $750 million
                    0.08% over $1 billion

B-87


 

Portfolio Managers — Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
     The following tables discloses other accounts within each type of category listed below for which the portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for day to day portfolio management.
                                                                                                 
    Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type*     Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance Based*  
    Registered                                     Registered              
Name of   Investment     Other Pooled     Other     Investment     Other Pooled     Other  
Portfolio Manager   Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts     Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts  
    Number             Number             Number             Number             Number             Number        
    of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets  
    Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Quantitative Equity Team
                                                                                               
Melissa Brown
    37     $9.6 bn     5     $2.5 bn     94     $16.7 bn   None   None     1     $109.7 mm     18     $4.2 bn
Gary Chropuvka
    38     $9.7 bn     5     $2.5 bn     241     $17.8 bn   None   None     1     $109.7 mm     18     $4.2 bn
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
                                                                                               
Quantitative Equity Team
                                                                                               
Melissa Brown
    37     $9.6 bn     5     $2.5 bn     94     $16.7 bn   None   None     1     $109.7 mm     18     $4.2 bn
Gary Chropuvka
    38     $9.7 bn     5     $2.5 bn     241     $17.8 bn   None   None     1     $109.7 mm     18     $4.2 bn
Capital Growth Fund
                                                                                               
Growth Team
                                                                                               
Steven M. Barry
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Kenneth T. Berents
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Herbert E. Ehlers
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Gregory H. Ekizian
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Warren Fisher
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Mark Gordon
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Joe Hudepohl
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Prashant Khemka
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Scott Kolar
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Adria Markus
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Derek Pilecki
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Andrew F. Pyne
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn

B-88


 

                                                                                                 
    Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type*     Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance Based*  
    Registered                                     Registered              
Name of   Investment     Other Pooled     Other     Investment     Other Pooled     Other  
Portfolio Manager   Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts     Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts  
    Number             Number             Number             Number             Number             Number        
    of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets  
    Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed  
Jeffrey Rabinowitz
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
David G. Shell
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Charles Silberstein
    29     $9.4 mm     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $1.9 bn
Growth and Income Fund
                                                                                               
Value Team
                                                                                               
Dolores Bamford
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
David L. Berdon
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Andrew Braun
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Scott Carroll
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Sally Pope Davis
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Sean Gallagher
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Lisa Parisi
                                                                                               
Edward Perkin
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Eileen Rominger
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.9 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Mid Cap Value Fund
                                                                                               
Value Team
                                                                                               
Dolores Bamford
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
David L. Berdon
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Andrew Braun
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Scott Carroll
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Sally Pope Davis
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Sean Gallagher
    6     $3.0 bn   None   None     26     $662 mm   None   None   None   None   None   None
Lisa Parisi
    6     $3.0 bn   None   None     26     $663 mm   None   None   None   None   None   None
Edward Perkin
    19     $9.2 bn   None   None     311     $4.7 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm
Eileen Rominger
    13     $6.2 bn   None   None     285     $4.1 bn   None   None   None   None     1     $113.6 mm

B-89


 

                                                                                                 
    Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type*     Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance Based*  
    Registered                                     Registered              
Name of   Investment     Other Pooled     Other     Investment     Other Pooled     Other  
Portfolio Manager   Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts     Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts  
    Number             Number             Number             Number             Number             Number        
    of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets  
    Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed  
Growth Opportunities Fund
                                                                                               
Growth Team
                                                                                               
Steven M. Barry
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Kenneth T. Berents
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Herbert E. Ehlers
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Gregory H. Ekizian
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Warren Fisher
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Mark Gordon
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Joe Hudepohl
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Prashant Khemka
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Scott Kolar
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Adria Markus
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Derek Pilecki
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Andrew F. Pyne
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Jeffrey Rabinowitz
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
David G. Shell
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Charles Silberstein
    29     $9.4 bn     1     $67 mm     623     $21.3 bn   None   None   None   None     14     $2.0 bn
Equity Index Fund
                                                                                               
James May
    3     $59.0 bn     3     $91.3 bn     16     $26.6 bn     2     $4.0 bn     1     $15 mm     3     $1.5 mm
Michael J. Feehily
    2     $7.9 bn     4     $15.0 bn     11     $10.0 bn     2     $4.0 bn     1     $15 mm     3     $1.5 mm
International Equity Fund
                                                                                               
International Equity Team
                                                                                               
Mark Beveridge
    4     $604.4 mm     1     $329.2 mm     20     $1.8 bn   None   None   None   None   None   None
Nuno Fernandes
    4     $604.4 mm     1     $329.2 mm     20     $1.8 bn   None   None   None   None   None   None
William Howard
    4     $604.4 mm     1     $329.2 mm     20     $1.8 bn   None   None   None   None   None   None
Michael Stanes
    4     $604.4 mm     1     $329.2 mm     20     $1.8 bn   None   None   None   None   None   None

B-90


 

                                                                                                 
    Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type*     Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance Based*  
    Registered                                     Registered              
Name of   Investment     Other Pooled     Other     Investment     Other Pooled     Other  
Portfolio Manager   Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts     Companies     Investment Vehicles     Accounts  
    Number             Number             Number             Number             Number             Number        
    of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets     of     Assets  
    Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed     Accounts     Managed  
Government Income Fund
                                                                                               
U.S. Fixed Income Team
                                                                                               
James Cielinski
    6     $2.8 bn     30     $14.2 bn     172     $62 bn   None   None     9     $7.6 bn     13     $7.0 bn
James B. Clark
    7     $2.8 bn     9     $4.5 bn     152     $40 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     4     $1.5 bn
Peter D. Dion
    12     $8.5 bn     11     $6.0 bn     175     $54 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Stig S. Hansen
    14     $8.6 bn     12     $6.1 bn     191     $56 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Steven Kuhn
    11     $8.0 bn     10     $4.8 bn     172     $53 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
James McCarthy
    7     $5.8 bn     3     $1.6 bn     39     $15.8 bn   None   None   None   None     8     $3.8 bn
Christopher Sullivan
    7     $2.8 bn     9     $4.5 bn     152     $39.8 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     4     $1.5 bn
Thomas Teles
    11     $8.0 bn     10     $4.8 bn     175     $54 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Mark Van Wyk
    14     $8.6 bn     12     $6.0 bn     191     $56 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Core Fixed Income Fund
                                                                                               
U.S. Fixed Income Team
                                                                                               
James Cielinski
    6     $2.8 bn     30     $14.2 bn     172     $62 bn   None   None     9     $7.6 bn     13     $7.0 bn
James B. Clark
    7     $2.8 bn     9     $4.5 bn     152     $40 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     4     $1.5 bn
Peter D. Dion
    12     $8.5 bn     11     $6.0 bn     175     $54 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Stig S. Hansen
    14     $8.6 bn     12     $6.1 bn     191     $56 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Steven Kuhn
    11     $8.0 bn     10     $4.8 bn     172     $53 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
James McCarthy
    7     $5.8 bn     3     $1.6 bn     39     $15.8 bn   None   None   None   None     8     $3.8 bn
Christopher Sullivan
    7     $2.8 bn     9     $4.5 bn     152     $39.8 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     4     $1.5 bn
Thomas Teles
    11     $8.0 bn     10     $4.8 bn     175     $54 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
Mark Van Wyk
    14     $8.6 bn     12     $6.0 bn     191     $56 bn   None   None     4     $3.8 bn     12     $5.3 bn
 
*   The information is as of December 31, 2004.

B-91


 

     Conflicts of Interest. The Investment Advisers’ portfolio managers are often responsible for managing one or more of the Funds as well as other accounts, including proprietary accounts, separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles, such as unregistered hedge funds. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle which may have materially higher fee arrangements than the Fund and may also have a performance-based fee. The side-by-side management of these funds may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to cross trading, the allocation of investment opportunities and the aggregation and allocation of trades.
     The Investment Advisers have a fiduciary responsibility to manage all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. They seek to provide best execution of all securities transactions and aggregate and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. To this end, the Investment Advisers have developed policies and procedures designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side management. In addition, the Investment Advisers and the Funds have adopted policies limiting the circumstances under which cross-trades may be effected between a Fund and another client account. The Investment Advisers conduct periodic reviews of trades for consistency with these policies. For more information about conflicts of interests that may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the Funds’ investments and the investments of other accounts, see “Potential Conflicts of Interest — Potential Conflicts Relating to the Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds and Other Goldman Sachs Accounts and Potential Conflicts Relating to Goldman Sachs’ and the Investment Adviser’s Proprietary Activities and Activities on Behalf of Other Accounts.”
     With respect to the Sub-Adviser, when a portfolio manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. The Sub-Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to address these potential material conflicts. For instance, portfolio managers are normally responsible for all accounts within a certain investment discipline, and do not, absent special circumstances, differentiate among various accounts when allocating resources. In addition, the Sub-Adviser and its advisory affiliates use a system for allocating investment opportunities among portfolios that is designed to provide a fair and equitable allocation.
Portfolio Managers — Compensation
     Value Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus. The Investment Adviser’s Value Team (“Value Team”) compensation package for its portfolio managers is comprised of a base salary and a performance bonus. The performance bonus is a function of each portfolio manager’s individual performance and his or her contribution to overall team performance. Portfolio managers are rewarded for their ability to outperform a benchmark while managing risk appropriately. Compensation is also influenced by the Value Team’s total revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees, and for certain accounts performance based fees. Anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms may also be considered, but are not a principal factor.
     The performance bonus is significantly influenced by 3 year period of investment performance. The following criteria are considered:

B-92


 

    Individual performance (relative, absolute)
 
    Team Performance (relative, absolute)
 
    Consistent performance that aligns with clients’ objectives
 
    Achievement of top rankings (relative and competitive)
The investment performance mentioned above is considered only on a pre-tax basis. As it relates to the Growth and Income Fund and Mid Cap Value Fund, the performance benchmark is the Russell 1000 Value Index and the Russell Mid Cap Value Index, respectively.
     Quantitative Equity Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus. The Quantitative Equity Team’s (the “QE Team”) compensation packages for its portfolio managers are comprised of a base salary and performance bonus. The performance bonus is a function of each portfolio manager’s individual performance; his or her contribution to the overall performance of QE Team strategies; and annual revenues in the investment strategy which in part is derived from advisory fees and for certain accounts, performance based fees.
     The performance bonus for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the following criteria: (1) whether the Team’s pre-tax performance exceeded performance benchmarks over a one, three and five year period; (2) whether the portfolio manager managed portfolios within a defined range around a targeted tracking error and risk budget; (3) consistency of performance across accounts with similar profiles; and (4) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process. In addition the other factors that are also considered when the amount of performance bonus is determined: (1) whether the Team performed consistently with objectives and client commitments; (2) whether the Team achieved top tier rankings and ratings; and (3) whether the Team managed all similarly mandated accounts in a consistent manner. Benchmarks for measuring performance can either be broad based or narrow based indices which will vary based on client expectations.
     The QE Team’s decision may also be influenced by the following: the performance of the Investment Adviser and anticipated compensation levels among competitive firms.
     The benchmarks for these Funds are:
CORE U.S. Equity Fund: S&P 500 Index
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund: Russell 2000 Index
     Growth Investment Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus. The Investment Adviser’s Growth team’s (the “Growth Team”) compensation packages for its portfolio managers are comprised of a base salary and performance bonus. The performance bonus is first and foremost tied to the Growth Team’s pre-tax performance for its clients and the Growth Team’s total revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees and for certain accounts, performance based fees. The Growth Team measures its performance on a market cycle basis which is typically measured over a three to seven year period, rather than being focused on short term gains in its strategies or short term contributions from a portfolio manager in any given year.

B-93


 

     The performance bonus for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the following criteria: (1) whether the team performed consistently with objectives and client commitments; (2) whether the team’s performance exceeded performance benchmarks over a market cycle; (3) consistency of performance across accounts with similar profiles; and (4) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process. Benchmarks for measuring performance can either be broad based or narrow based indices which will vary based on client expectations. As they relate to the Capital Growth Fund and Growth Opportunities Fund, the performance benchmarks are the Russell 1000 Growth Index and Russell Midcap Growth Index, respectively.
     The Growth Team also considers each portfolio manager’s individual performance, his or her contribution to the overall performance of the strategy long-term and his/her ability to work as a member of the Team. The Growth Team’s decision may also be influenced by the following: the performance of GSAM, the profitability of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms.
     International Equity Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus. The Investment Adviser’s International Equity team’s (the “International Team”) compensation packages for portfolio managers are comprised of a base salary and performance bonus. The performance bonus is a function of: each portfolio manager’s individual performance; the International Team’s total revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees and for certain accounts, performance based fees; his or her contribution to the overall performance of the International Team; the performance of the Investment Adviser; the profitability of Goldman, Sachs & Co.; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers are rewarded for their ability to outperform a benchmark over a three to five year period while managing risk exposure.
     The performance bonus for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the following criteria: (1) overall portfolio performance (2) consistency of performance across accounts with similar profiles; (3) compliance with risk budgets; and (4) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process. In addition, the following factors involving the overall performance of the International Team are also considered when the amount of performance bonus is determined: (1) whether the Team’s performance exceeded performance benchmarks over three-year and five-year periods; (2) whether the Team performed consistently with objectives and client commitments; and (3) whether the Team managed all similarly mandated accounts in a consistent manner. As it relates to the International Equity Fund, the performance benchmark is the MSCI EAFE (unhedged) Index.
     Fixed Income Team Base Salary and Performance Bonus. The Investment Adviser’s Fixed Income Team’s (the “Fixed Income Team”) compensation package for its portfolio managers is comprised of a base salary and performance bonus. The base salary is fixed. However, the performance bonus is a function of each portfolio manager’s individual performance; the Fixed Income Team’s total revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees and for certain accounts, performance based fees; his or her contribution to the overall performance of the Fixed Income team; the performance of GSAM; the profitability of Goldman, Sachs & Co.; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers are rewarded for their ability to outperform a benchmark while managing risk exposure.

B-94


 

     The performance bonus for portfolio managers is significantly influenced by the following criteria: (1) overall pre-tax portfolio performance; (2) consistency of performance across accounts with similar profiles; (3) compliance with risk budgets; and (4) communication with other portfolio managers within the research process. In addition, the following factors involving the overall performance of the investment style team are also considered when the amount of performance bonus is determined: (1) whether the teams’ performance exceeded performance benchmarks over one-year and three-year periods (for Fund specific benchmark’s please see below); (2) whether the team managed portfolios within a defined range around a targeted tracking error; (3) whether the team performed consistently with objectives and client commitments; (4) whether the team achieved top tier rankings and ratings (a consideration secondary to the above); and (5) whether the team managed all similarly mandated accounts in a consistent manner.
     The benchmark for measuring performance of these Funds are:
Government Income Fund: Lehman Brothers Government/Mortgage Index
Core Fixed Income Fund: Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index
     Other Compensation — All Teams. In addition to base salary and performance bonus, the Investment Advisers have a number of additional benefits/deferred compensation programs for all portfolio managers in place including (i) a 401k program that enables employees to direct a percentage of their pretax salary and bonus income into a tax-qualified retirement plan; (ii) a profit sharing program to which Goldman, Sachs & Co. makes a pretax contribution; and (iii) investment opportunity programs in which certain professionals are eligible to participate subject to certain net worth requirements. Portfolio managers may also receive grants of restricted stock units and/or stock options as part of their compensation.
     Certain GSAM portfolio managers may also participate in the firm’s Partner Compensation Plan, which covers many of the firm’s senior executives. In general, under the Partner Compensation Plan, participants receive a base salary and a bonus (which may be paid in cash or in the form of an equity-based award) that is linked to Goldman Sachs’ overall financial performance.
     Sub-Adviser’s Portfolio Management Team — Equity Index Fund. The compensation of the Sub-Adviser’s investment professionals is based on a number of factors. The first factor considered is external market. Through an extensive compensation survey process, the Sub-Adviser seeks to understand what its competitors are paying people to perform similar roles. This data is then used to determine a competitive baseline in the areas of base pay, bonus and long term incentive (i.e., equity). The second factor taken into consideration is the size of the pool available for this compensation. The Sub-Adviser is part of State Street Corporation, and therefore works within its corporate environment in determining the overall level of its incentive compensation pool. Once determined, this pool is then allocated to the various locations and departments of the Sub-Adviser and State Street Global Advisors. The determination of the allocation amounts to these locations and departments is influenced by the competitive market data, as well as the overall performance of the group. The pool is then allocated to individual employees based on their individual performance. There is no fixed formula for determining these amounts, nor is anyone’s compensation directly tied to the investment performance or asset value of a product or strategy. The same process is followed in determining equity allocations.

B-95


 

Portfolio Managers — Portfolio Manager’s Ownership of Securities in the Funds They Manage
     Shares of the Funds are only offered to separate accounts of participating insurance companies for the purpose of funding various annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and are not available for direct investment by the portfolio managers.
     
    Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially
Name of Portfolio Manager   Owned by Portfolio Manager*
 
CORE U.S. Equity Fund*
   
Melissa Brown
  CORE U.S. Equity Fund: None
Gary Chropuvka
  CORE U.S. Equity Fund: None
 
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund*
   
Melissa Brown
  CORE Small Cap Equity Fund: None
Gary Chropuvka
  CORE Small Cap Equity Fund: None
 
Capital Growth Fund*
   
Steven M. Barry
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Kenneth T. Berents
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Herbert E. Ehlers
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Gregory H. Ekizian
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Warren Fisher
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Mark Gordon
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Joe Hudepohl
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Prashant Khemka
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Scott Kolar
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Adria Markus
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Derek Pilecki
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Andrew F. Pyne
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Jeffrey Rabinowitz
  Capital Growth Fund: None
David G. Shell
  Capital Growth Fund: None
Chuck Silberstein
  Capital Growth Fund: None
 
Growth and Income Fund*
   
Dolores Bamford
  Growth and Income Fund: None
David L. Berdon
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Andrew Braun
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Scott Carroll
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Sally Pope Davis
  Growth and Income Fund: None
J. Kelly Flynn
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Sean Gallagher
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Edward Perkin
  Growth and Income Fund: None
Eileen Rominger
  Growth and Income Fund: None
 
Mid Cap Value Fund*
   
Dolores Bamford
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
David L. Berdon
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Andrew Braun
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Scott Carroll
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None

B-96


 

     
    Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially
Name of Portfolio Manager   Owned by Portfolio Manager*
 
Sally Pope Davis
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Sean Gallagher
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Lisa Parisi
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Edward Perkin
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
Eileen Rominger
  Mid Cap Value Fund: None
 
International Equity Fund*
   
Mark Beveridge
  International Equity Fund: None
Nuno Fernandes
  International Equity Fund: None
William Howard
  International Equity Fund: None
Michael Stanes
  International Equity Fund: None
*   This information is as of December 31, 2004. The Growth Opportunities, Equity Index, Government Income and Core Fixed Income Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Additional Statement.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Summary
     The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., including its affiliates and personnel (collectively for purposes of this “Potential Conflicts of Interest” section, “Goldman Sachs”), is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization, and a major participant in global financial markets. As a result, Goldman Sachs is engaged in many businesses and has interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equity and other markets in addition to those related to the Funds, including as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, investment adviser, financer, advisor, market maker, proprietary trader, prime broker, lender and agent. Such additional businesses and interests may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. The following is a brief summary description of certain of these potential conflicts of interest:
    While the Investment Advisers will make decisions for the Funds in accordance with their obligations to manage the Funds appropriately, the fees, compensation and other benefits (including relating to business relationships of Goldman Sachs) to Goldman Sachs arising therefrom may be greater as a result of certain portfolio, investment, service provider or other decisions made by the Investment Advisers than they would have been had other decisions been made which also might have been appropriate for the Funds.
 
    Goldman Sachs, its sales personnel and other financial service providers may have conflicts associated with their promotion of the Funds or other dealings with the Funds that would create incentives for them to promote the Funds.
 
    While the allocation of investment opportunities among Goldman Sachs, the Funds and other funds and accounts managed by Goldman Sachs may raise potential conflicts because of financial or other interests of Goldman Sachs or its personnel, portfolio managers will not make allocation decisions based on such other factors.

B-97


 

    The Investment Advisers will give advice to and make investment decisions for the Funds as they believe is in the fiduciary interests of the Funds. Advice given to the Funds or investment decisions made for the Funds may differ from, and may conflict with, advice given or investment decisions made for Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts. Actions taken with respect to Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts may adversely impact the Funds, and actions taken by the Funds may benefit Goldman Sachs or other funds or accounts.
 
    Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation to provide to the Funds, or effect transactions on behalf of the Funds in accordance with, any market or other information, analysis, technical models or research in its possession.
 
    To the extent permitted by the Act, the Funds may enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs acts as principal, or in which Goldman Sachs acts on behalf of the Funds and the other parties to such transactions. Goldman Sachs will have potentially conflicting interests in connection with such transactions.
 
    Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or otherwise for the Funds and will retain all commissions, fees and other compensation in connection therewith.
 
    Securities traded for the Funds may, but are not required to, be aggregated with trades for other funds or accounts managed by Goldman Sachs. When transactions are aggregated but it is not possible to receive the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold, the various prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds.
 
    Products and services received by the Investment Advisers or their affiliates from brokers in connection with brokerage services provided to the Funds and other funds or accounts managed by Goldman Sachs may disproportionately benefit other of such funds and accounts based on the relative amounts of brokerage services provided to the Funds and such other funds and accounts.
 
    While the Investment Advisers will make proxy voting decisions as they believe appropriate and in accordance with the Investment Advisers’ policies designed to help avoid conflicts of interest, proxy voting decisions made by the Investment Advisers with respect to the Funds’ portfolio securities may favor the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of Goldman Sachs.
 
    Regulatory restrictions (including relating to the aggregation of positions among different funds and accounts) and internal Goldman Sachs policies may restrict investment activities of the Funds. Information held by Goldman Sachs could have the effect of restricting investment activities of the Funds.

B-98


 

Prospective investors should carefully review the following section of this document which more fully describes these and other potential conflicts of interest presented by Goldman Sachs’ other businesses and interests.
     As a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, each Investment Adviser is required to file a Form ADV with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Form ADV contains information about assets under management, types of fee arrangements, types of investments, potential conflicts of interest, and other relevant information regarding the Investment Adviser. A copy of Part 1 of an Investment Adviser’s Form ADV is available on the SEC’s website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).
Potential Conflicts Relating to Portfolio Decisions, the Sale of Fund Shares and the Allocation of Investment Opportunities.
     Goldman Sachs’ Other Activities May Have an Impact on the Funds
     The Investment Advisers make decisions for the Funds in accordance with their obligations as the Investment Advisers of the Funds. However, Goldman Sachs’ other activities may have a negative effect on the Funds. As a result of the various activities and interests of Goldman Sachs as described in the first paragraph under “Summary” above, it is likely that the Funds will have multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. It is also likely that the Funds will undertake transactions in securities in which Goldman Sachs makes a market or otherwise has other direct or indirect interests. In addition, while the Investment Advisers will make decisions for the Funds in accordance with their obligations to manage the Funds appropriately, the fees, compensation and other benefits (including relating to business relationships of Goldman Sachs) to Goldman Sachs arising therefrom may be greater as a result of certain portfolio, investment, service provider or other decisions made by the Investment Advisers for the Funds than they would have been had other decisions been made which also might have been appropriate for the Funds.
Goldman Sachs’ Financial and Other Interests and Relationships May Incentivize Goldman Sachs to Promote the Sale of Fund Shares
     Goldman Sachs, its sales personnel and other financial service providers, have interests in promoting sales of the Funds. With respect to Goldman Sachs and its personnel, the remuneration and profitability of activity relating to the Funds may be greater than the provision of other services and sales of other products that might be provided or offered. For example, Goldman Sachs may directly or indirectly receive a portion of the fees and commissions charged to the Funds. Such fees and commissions may be higher than for other products or services, and the remuneration and profitability to Goldman Sachs and such personnel resulting from transactions on behalf of the Funds may be greater than the remuneration and profitability resulting from other products.
     Goldman Sachs may also have relationships with, and purchase, or distribute or sell, services or products from or to, distributors, consultants and others who recommend the Funds, or who engage in transactions with or for the Funds. For example, Goldman Sachs regularly participates in industry and

B-99


 

consultant sponsored conferences and may purchase educational data related or other services from consultants or other third parties that it deems to be of value to its personnel and its business. The products and services purchased from consultants may include, but are not limited to, those that help Goldman Sachs understand the consultants’ points of view on the investment management process. Consultants and other third parties that provide consulting or other services to potential investors in the Funds may receive fees from Goldman Sachs or the Funds in connection with the distribution of shares in the Funds or other Goldman Sachs products. In addition, Goldman Sachs personnel, including employees of the Investment Advisers, may have board, advisory, brokerage or other relationships with issuers, distributors, consultants and others that may have investments in the Funds or that may recommend investments in the Funds or distribute the Funds. Goldman Sachs may, when it considers it appropriate, make charitable contributions to institutions, including those that have relationships with clients or personnel of clients. Goldman Sachs personnel may also make political contributions in accordance with law. As a result, those persons and institutions may have conflicts associated with their promotion of the Funds or other dealings with the Funds that would create incentives for them to promote the Funds or raise other conflicts.
Potential Conflicts Relating to the Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds and Other Goldman Sachs Accounts
     Goldman Sachs has potential conflicts in connection with the allocation of investments or transaction decisions for the Funds, including in situations in which Goldman Sachs or its personnel (including personnel of the Investment Advisers) have interests. For example, the Funds may be competing for investment opportunities with current or future accounts or funds managed or advised by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Advisers). These accounts or funds may provide greater fees or other compensation (such as performance based fees) to Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Advisers) or in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Advisers) or its personnel have an interest (collectively, the “Client/GS Accounts”).
     Goldman Sachs may manage or advise Client/GS Accounts that have investment objectives that are similar to those of the Funds and/or may seek to make investments in securities or other instruments in which the Funds may invest. This will create potential conflicts and potential differences among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts, particularly where there is limited availability or limited liquidity for those investments. The Investment Advisers have developed policies and procedures that provide that they will allocate investment opportunities and make purchase and sale decisions among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts in a manner that they consider, in their sole discretion and consistent with their fiduciary obligation to each Client/GS Account, to be reasonable and equitable over time.
     The Investment Advisers will make allocations for the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts with reference to numerous factors that may include, without limitation, relative sizes and expected future sizes of applicable accounts, investment objectives and guidelines, risk tolerance, availability of other investment opportunities, and available cash for investment. Although allocating orders among the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts may create potential conflicts of interest because of the interests of Goldman Sachs or its personnel or because Goldman Sachs may receive greater fees or compensation from one of the Client/GS Account’s allocated orders, the portfolio managers will not make allocation decisions based on such interests or greater fees or compensation.

B-100


 

     Allocation decisions among accounts may be more or less advantageous to any one account or group of accounts. The Investment Advisers may determine that an investment opportunity or particular purchases or sales are appropriate for one or more Client/GS Accounts or for themselves or an affiliate, but not for the Funds, or is appropriate for, or available to, the Funds but in different sizes, terms or timing than is appropriate for other Client/GS Accounts. Therefore, the amount, timing, structuring or terms of an investment by the Funds may differ from, and performance may be lower than, investments and performance of other Client/GS Accounts.
Other Potential Conflicts Relating to the Management of the Funds by the Investment Advisers
     Potential Restrictions and Issues Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs
     From time to time and subject to the Investment Advisers’ policies and procedures regarding informational barriers, the Investment Advisers may consult with personnel in other areas of Goldman Sachs, or with persons unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs, or may form investment policy committees comprised of such personnel. The performance by such persons of obligations related to their consultation with personnel of the Investment Advisers could conflict with their areas of primary responsibility within Goldman Sachs or elsewhere. In connection with their activities with the Investment Advisers, such persons may receive information regarding the Investment Advisers’ proposed investment activities of the Funds that is not generally available to the public. There will be no obligation on the part of such persons to make available for use by the Funds any information or strategies known to them or developed in connection with their own client, proprietary or other activities. In addition, Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation to make available any research or analysis prior to its public dissemination.
     The Investment Advisers make decisions for the Funds based on their investment programs. The Investment Advisers from time to time may have access to certain fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs and its personnel. Goldman Sachs will not be under any obligation, however, to effect transactions on behalf of the Funds in accordance with such analysis and models.
     In addition, Goldman Sachs has no obligation to seek information or to make available to or share with the Funds any information, investment strategies, opportunities or ideas known to Goldman Sachs personnel or developed or used in connection with other clients or activities. Goldman Sachs and certain of its personnel, including the Investment Advisers’ personnel or other Goldman Sachs personnel advising or otherwise providing services to the Funds, may be in possession of information not available to all Goldman Sachs personnel, and such personnel may act on the basis of such information in ways that have adverse effects on the Funds.
     From time to time, Goldman Sachs may come into possession of material, non-public information or other information that could limit the ability of the Funds to buy and sell investments. The investment flexibility of the Funds may be constrained as a consequence. The Investment Advisers generally are not permitted to obtain or use material non-public information in effecting purchases and sales in public securities transactions for the Funds.

B-101


 

Potential Conflicts Relating to Goldman Sachs’ and the Investment Advisers’ Proprietary Activities and Activities On Behalf of Other Accounts
     The results of the investment activities of the Funds may differ significantly from the results achieved by Goldman Sachs for its proprietary accounts and from the results achieved by Goldman Sachs for other Client/GS Accounts. The Investment Advisers will manage the Funds and the other Client/GS Accounts they manage in accordance with their respective investment objectives and guidelines. However, Goldman Sachs may give advice, and take action, with respect to any current or future Client/GS Accounts that may compete or conflict with the advice the Investment Advisers may give to the Funds, or may involve a different timing or nature of action than with respect to the Funds.
     Transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs or Client/GS Accounts may adversely impact the Funds. Goldman Sachs and one or more Client/GS Accounts may buy or sell positions while the Funds are undertaking the same or a differing, including potentially opposite, strategy, which could disadvantage the Funds. For example, a Fund may buy a security and Goldman Sachs or Client/GS Accounts may establish a short position in that same security. That subsequent short sale may result in impairment of the price of the security which the Fund holds. Conversely, a Fund may establish a short position in a security and Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts may buy that same security. The subsequent purchase may result in an increase of the price of the underlying position in the short sale exposure of the Fund and such increase in price would be to the Fund’s detriment.
     In addition, transactions in investments by one or more Client/GS Accounts or Goldman Sachs may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of a Fund, particularly, but not limited to, in small capitalization, emerging market or less liquid strategies. This may occur when portfolio decisions regarding a Fund are based on research or other information that is also used to support portfolio decisions for other Client/GS Accounts, which could impact the timing and manner in which the portfolio decisions for the Fund and other Client/GS Accounts are implemented. When Goldman Sachs or a Client/GS Account implements a portfolio decision or strategy ahead of, or contemporaneously with, similar portfolio decisions or strategies for a Fund, market impact, liquidity constraints, or other factors could result in the Fund receiving less favorable trading results and the costs of implementing such portfolio decisions or strategies could be increased or the Fund could otherwise be disadvantaged. Goldman Sachs may, in certain cases, elect to implement internal policies and procedures designed to limit such consequences to Client/GS Accounts, which may cause a Fund to be unable to engage in certain activities, including purchasing or disposing of securities, when it might otherwise be desirable for it to do so.
     Conflicts may also arise because portfolio decisions regarding a Fund may benefit other Client/GS Accounts. For example, the sale of a long position or establishment of a short position by a Fund may impair the price of the same security sold short by (and therefore benefit) Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts, and the purchase of a security or covering of a short position in a security by a Fund may increase the price of the same security held by (and therefore benefit) Goldman Sachs or other Client/GS Accounts.
     The directors, officers and employees of Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through funds managed by Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers). As a result of differing trading and

B-102


 

investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by directors, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than positions taken for the Funds. To reduce the possibility that the Funds will be materially adversely affected by the personal trading described above, each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs, as each Fund’s Investment Adviser and distributor, has established policies and procedures that restrict securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. Each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs, as each Fund’s Investment Adviser and distributor has adopted a code of ethics (collectively, the “Codes of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Act and monitoring procedures relating to certain personal securities transactions by personnel of the Investment Advisers which the Investment Advisers deem to involve potential conflicts involving such personnel, Client/GS Accounts managed by the Investment Advisers and the Funds. The Codes require that personnel of the Investment Advisers comply with all applicable federal securities laws and with the fiduciary duties and anti-fraud rules to which the Investment Advisers are subject. The Codes of Ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090. The Codes of Ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained after paying a duplicating fee by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC 20549-0102, or by electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov.
     Clients of Goldman Sachs (including Client/GS Accounts) may have, as a result of receiving client reports or otherwise, access to information regarding the Investment Advisers’ transactions or views which may affect such clients’ transactions outside of accounts controlled by personnel of the Investment Advisers, and such transactions may negatively impact the Funds. The Funds may also be adversely affected by cash flows and market movements arising from purchase and sales transactions, as well as increases of capital in, and withdrawals of capital from, other Client/GS Accounts.
     The Investment Advisers’ management of the Funds may benefit Goldman Sachs. For example, the Funds may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, invest directly or indirectly in the securities of companies in which Goldman Sachs has an equity, debt or other interest. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may engage in investment transactions which may result in other Client/GS Accounts being relieved of obligations or otherwise divesting of investments or cause the Funds to have to divest certain investments. The purchase, holding and sale of investments by the Funds may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs’ or other Client/GS Accounts’ own investments in and its activities with respect to such companies.
     Goldman Sachs and its clients may pursue or enforce rights with respect to an issuer in which a Fund has invested, and those activities may have an adverse effect on the Fund. As a result, prices, availability, liquidity and terms of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted by the activities of Goldman Sachs or its clients, and transactions for the Fund may be impaired or effected at prices or terms that may be less favorable than would otherwise have been the case.
     Goldman Sachs may create, write, sell or issue, or act as placement agent or distributor of, derivative instruments with respect to the Funds or with respect to which the underlying securities, currencies or instruments may be those in which the Funds invest, or which may be otherwise based on the performance of the Funds. The structure or other characteristics of the derivative instruments may

B-103


 

have an adverse effect on the Funds. For example, the derivative instruments could represent leveraged investments in the Funds, and the leveraged characteristics of such investments could make it more likely, due to events of default or otherwise, that there would be significant redemptions of interests from the Funds more quickly than might otherwise be the case. Goldman Sachs, acting in commercial capacities in connection with such derivative instruments, may in fact cause such a redemption. This may have an adverse effect on the investment management, flexibility and diversification strategies of the Funds and on the amount of fees, expenses and other costs incurred directly or indirectly for the account of the Funds. Similarly, Goldman Sachs (including its personnel or Client/GS Accounts) may invest in the Funds, may hedge its derivative positions by buying or selling shares of the Funds, and reserves the right to redeem some or all of its investments at any time. These investments and redemptions may be made without notice to the shareholders.
Potential Conflicts in Connection with Investments in Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds
     To the extent permitted by applicable law, a Fund may invest all or some of its short term cash investments in any money market fund advised or managed by Goldman Sachs. In connection with any such investments, a Fund, to the extent permitted by the Act, will pay its share of all expenses (other than advisory and administrative fees) of a money market fund in which it invests which may result in a Fund bearing some additional expenses.
Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
     Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, may from time to time and without notice to investors in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection with a variety of services that it provides to the Funds in its administrative or other capacities. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Potential Conflicts That May Arise When Goldman Sachs Acts in a Capacity Other Than Investment Adviser to the Funds
     To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may enter into transactions and invest in futures, securities, options, or other instruments in which Goldman Sachs serves as the counterparty. A Fund may also enter into cross transactions in which Goldman Sachs acts on behalf of the Fund and for the other party to the transaction. Goldman Sachs may have a potentially conflicting division of responsibilities to both parties to a cross transaction. For example, Goldman Sachs may represent both a Fund and another Client/GS Account in connection with the purchase of a security by the Fund, and Goldman Sachs may receive compensation or other payments from either or both parties, which could influence the decision of Goldman Sachs to cause the Fund to purchase such security. A Fund will only consider engaging in a principal or cross transaction with Goldman Sachs or its affiliates on behalf of a Client/GS Account to the extent permitted by applicable law.
     Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, lender or advisor or in other commercial capacities for the Funds. It is anticipated that the commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, financial advisory fees, underwriting and placement fees, sales fees, financing and commitment fees, brokerage fees, other fees, compensation or profits, rates, terms and conditions charged by Goldman Sachs will be in its view commercially reasonable, although Goldman Sachs, including its sales personnel, will

B-104


 

have an interest in obtaining fees and other amounts that are favorable to Goldman Sachs and such sales personnel.
     Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs (and its personnel and other distributors) will be entitled to retain fees and other amounts that it receives in connection with its service to the Funds as broker, dealer, agent, lender, advisor or in other commercial capacities and no accounting to the Funds or their shareholders will be required, and no fees or other compensation payable by the Funds or their shareholders will be reduced by reason of receipt by Goldman Sachs of any such fees or other amounts.
     When Goldman Sachs acts as broker, dealer, agent, advisor or in other commercial capacities in relation to the Funds, Goldman Sachs may take commercial steps in its own interests, which may have an adverse effect on the Funds.
     The Funds will be required to establish business relationships with their counterparties based on their own credit standing. Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Advisers, will not have any obligation to allow its credit to be used in connection with the Funds’ establishment of their business relationships, nor is it expected that the Funds’ counterparties will rely on the credit of Goldman Sachs in evaluating the Funds’ creditworthiness.
Potential Conflicts in Connection with Brokerage Transactions and Proxy Voting
     Purchases and sales of securities for a Fund may be bunched or aggregated with orders for other Client/GS Accounts. The Investment Advisers and their affiliates, however, are not required to bunch or aggregate orders if portfolio management decisions for different accounts are made separately, or if they determine that bunching or aggregating is not required or is inconsistent with client direction.
     Prevailing trading activity frequently may make impossible the receipt of the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities purchased or sold. When this occurs, the various prices may be averaged, and the Funds will be charged or credited with the average price. Thus, the effect of the aggregation may operate on some occasions to the disadvantage of the Funds. In addition, under certain circumstances, the Funds will not be charged the same commission or commission equivalent rates in connection with a bunched or aggregated order.
     The Investment Advisers may select brokers (including, without limitation, affiliates of the Investment Advisers) that furnish the Investment Advisers, the Funds, other Client/GS Accounts or their affiliates or personnel, directly or through correspondent relationships, with research or other appropriate services which provide, in the Investment Advisers’ views, appropriate assistance to the Investment Advisers in the investment decision-making process (including with respect to futures, fixed-price offerings and over-the-counter transactions). Such research or other services may include, to the extent permitted by law, research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; proxy analysis; trade industry seminars; computer data bases; quotation equipment and services; and research-oriented computer hardware, software and other services and products. Research or other services obtained in this manner may be used in servicing any or all of the Funds and other Client/GS Accounts, including in connection with Client/GS

B-105


 

Accounts other than those that pay commissions to the broker relating to the research or other service arrangements. Such products and services may disproportionately benefit other Client/GS Accounts relative to the Funds based on the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Funds and such other Client/GS Accounts. For example, research or other services that are paid for through one client’s commissions may not be used in managing that client’s account. In addition, other Client/GS Accounts may receive the benefit, including disproportionate benefits, of economies of scale or price discounts in connection with products and services that may be provided to the Funds and to such other Client/GS Accounts.
     The Investment Advisers may endeavor to execute trades through brokers who, pursuant to such arrangements, provide research or other services in order to ensure the continued receipt of research or other services the Investment Advisers believes are useful in their investment decision-making processes.
     The Investment Advisers may from time to time choose not to engage in the above described “soft dollar arrangements” to varying degrees.
     The Investment Advisers have adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that they make on behalf of advisory clients, including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with the Investment Advisers’ fiduciary obligations to their clients. Nevertheless, notwithstanding such proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of the Investment Advisers may have the effect of favoring the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates provided that the Investment Advisers believe such voting decisions to be in accordance with its fiduciary obligations. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see the section of this Additional Statement entitled “Proxy Voting.”
Potential Regulatory Restrictions on Investment Adviser Activity
     From time to time, the activities of a Fund may be restricted because of regulatory requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. A client not advised by Goldman Sachs would not be subject to some of those considerations. There may be periods when the Investment Advisers may not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions, or may otherwise restrict or limit its advice in certain securities or instruments issued by or related to companies for which Goldman Sachs is performing investment banking, market making or other services or has proprietary positions. For example, when Goldman Sachs is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution of securities of, or advisory services for, a company, the Funds may be prohibited from or limited in purchasing or selling securities of that company. Similar situations could arise if Goldman Sachs personnel serve as directors of companies the securities of which the Funds wish to purchase or sell. However, if permitted by applicable law, the Funds may purchase securities or instruments that are issued by such companies or are the subject of an underwriting, distribution, or advisory assignment by Goldman Sachs, or in cases in which Goldman Sachs personnel are directors or officers of the issuer.
     The investment activities of Goldman Sachs for its proprietary accounts and for other accounts may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Funds. For example, in regulated industries,

B-106


 

in certain emerging or international markets, in corporate and regulatory ownership definitions, and in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount of investment by affiliated investors that may not be exceeded without the grant of a license or other regulatory or corporate consent or, if exceeded, may cause Goldman Sachs, the Funds or other Client/GS Accounts to suffer disadvantages or business restrictions. If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability of the Investment Advisers on behalf of clients (including the Funds) to purchase or dispose of investments, or exercise rights or undertake business transactions, may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, the Investment Advisers on behalf of clients (including the Funds) may limit purchases, sell existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting rights) when the Investment Advisers, in their sole discretion, deem it appropriate in light of potential regulatory restrictions on ownership or other impairments resulting from reaching investment thresholds.
Distributor and Transfer Agent
     Goldman Sachs, 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, serves as the exclusive distributor of shares of the Funds pursuant to a “best efforts” arrangement as provided by a distribution agreement with the Trust on behalf of each Fund. Shares of the Funds are offered and sold on a continuous basis by Goldman Sachs, acting as agent. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, each Fund is responsible for, among other things, the payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of any registration statement and prospectus covering the issue and sale of shares, and the registration and qualification of shares for sale with the SEC and in the various states, including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer. Each Fund will also pay the fees and expenses of preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses annually to existing shareholders and any notice, proxy statement, report, prospectus or other communication to shareholders of the Fund, printing and mailing confirmations of purchases of shares, any issue taxes or any initial transfer taxes, a portion of toll-free telephone service for shareholders, wiring funds for share purchases and redemptions (unless paid by the shareholder who initiates the transaction), printing and postage of business reply envelopes and a portion of the computer terminals used by both the Fund and the Distributor.
     The Distributor will pay for, among other things, printing and distributing prospectuses or reports prepared for its use in connection with the offering of the shares to variable annuity and variable insurance accounts and preparing, printing and mailing any other literature or advertising in connection with the offering of the shares to variable annuity and variable insurance accounts. The Distributor will pay all fees and expenses in connection with its qualification and registration as a broker or dealer under federal and state laws, a portion of the toll-free telephone service and of computer terminals, and of any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by each Fund.
     As agent, the Distributor currently offers shares of each Fund on a continuous basis to the separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies in all states in which such Fund may from time to time be registered or where permitted by applicable law. The underwriting agreements provide that the Distributor accepts orders for shares at net asset value without sales commission or load being charged. The Distributor has made no firm commitment to acquire shares of any Fund.

B-107


 

     Goldman Sachs, 71 South Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60606, serves as the Trust’s transfer agent. Under its transfer agency agreement with the Trust, Goldman Sachs has undertaken with the Trust with respect to each Fund to: (i) record the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares, (ii) provide purchase and redemption confirmations and quarterly statements, as well as certain other statements, (iii) provide certain information to the Trust’s custodian and the relevant sub-custodian in connection with redemptions, (iv) provide dividend crediting and certain disbursing agent services, (v) maintain shareholder accounts, (vi) provide certain state Blue Sky and other information, (vii) provide shareholders and certain regulatory authorities with tax related information, (viii) respond to shareholder inquires, and (ix) render certain other miscellaneous services. The fees charged for transfer agency services are calculated daily and payable monthly at an annual rate of 0.04% of the average daily net assets of each Fund.
     As compensation for the services rendered to the Trust by Goldman Sachs as transfer agent and the assumption by Goldman Sachs of the expenses related thereto, Goldman Sachs received fees net of waivers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 from the Funds then in existence as follows under the fee schedules then in effect:
                         
    2004     2003     2002  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 171,637     $ 67,440     $ 27,114  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    72,186       22,844       14,345  
Capital Growth Fund
    71,103       10,579       10,412  
Growth and Income Fund
    96,173       17,936       12,919  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    280,387       173,631       54,648  
International Equity Fund
    40,794       6,907       9,891  
Goldman Sachs voluntarily waived $0, $0 and $9,600 of transfer agent fees with respect to each such Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.
Expenses
     The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, is responsible for the payment of each Fund’s respective expenses. The expenses include, without limitation, the fees payable to the Investment Advisers, the fees and expenses of the Trust’s custodian and subcustodians, transfer agent fees and expenses, brokerage fees and commissions, filing fees for the registration or qualification of the Trust’s shares under federal or state securities laws, expenses of the organization of the Funds, fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with membership in investment company organizations including, but not limited to, the Investment Company Institute, taxes, interest, costs of liability insurance, fidelity bonds or indemnification, any costs, expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damages or other relief asserted against, the Trust for violation of any law, legal, tax and auditing fees and expenses (including the cost of legal and certain accounting services rendered by employees of Goldman Sachs and 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

B-108


 

distributing of the same to the Trust’s shareholders and regulatory authorities, any fees and expenses assumed by a Fund pursuant to its distribution and service plan, compensation and expenses of its “non-interested” Trustees, the fees and expenses of pricing services and extraordinary expenses, if any, incurred by the Trust. Except for fees and expenses under the distribution and service plan applicable to Service Shares, 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 its fees and/or voluntarily assume certain expenses of a Fund, which would have the effect of lowering that Fund’s overall expense ratio and increasing total return to investors at the time such amounts are waived or assumed, as the case may be.
     As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Investment Advisers voluntarily have agreed to reduce or limit certain “Other Expenses” (excluding management fees, distribution and service fees, transfer agency fees, taxes, interest, brokerage, and litigation, indemnification, shareholder meeting and other extraordinary expenses) for the following Funds to the extent such expenses exceed, on an annual basis, the following percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets:
         
    Other Expense  
    Limit  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
    0.44 %
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    0.11 %
Capital Growth Fund
    0.11 %
Growth and Income Fund
    0.11 %
Mid Cap Value Fund
    0.05 %
Growth Opportunities Fund
    0.00 %
Equity Index Fund
    0.06 %
International Equity Fund
    0.16 %
Government Income Fund
    0.00 %
Core Fixed Income Fund
    0.00 %
Money Market Fund
    0.00 %
     The expense limitation for the Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund may be discontinued or modified by the Investment Adviser at its discretion at any time.
     Fees and expenses borne by the Funds relating to legal counsel, registering shares of a Fund, holding meetings and communicating with shareholders may include an allocable portion of the cost of maintaining an internal legal and compliance department. Each Fund may also bear an allocable portion of the Investment Adviser’s costs of performing certain accounting services not being provided by a Fund’s Custodian.

B-109


 

     The Investment Advisers have contractually agreed to reimburse the following Funds as necessary to limit the total annual operating expenses to the following levels until June 2007:
         
Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity Fund
    0.81 %
Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund
    1.00 %
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Fund
    0.99 %
Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
    1.14 %
Goldman Sachs Equity Index Fund
    0.44 %
Goldman Sachs International Equity Fund
    1.22 %
Goldman Sachs Government Income Fund
    0.68 %
Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund
    0.54 %
Goldman Sachs Money Market Fund
    0.49 %
Reimbursement and Other Expense Reductions
     For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the amounts of certain “Other Expenses” of each Fund then in existence that were reduced or otherwise limited were as follows under the expense limitations that were then in effect:
                         
    Fiscal year ended     Fiscal year ended     Fiscal year ended  
    December 31, 2004     December 31, 2003     December 31, 2002  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    122,721       124,823       118,895  
Capital Growth Fund
    0       108,712       104,518  
Growth and Income Fund
    0       78,645       73,547  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    0       0       0  
International Equity Fund
    149,183       212,824       224,829  
     These Funds have entered into certain expense offset arrangements with the custodian resulting in a reduction on each Fund’s expenses. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 each Fund’s custody fees were reduced by the following approximate amounts under such arrangement:
                         
    2004     2003     2002  
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 945     $ 1,000     $ 1,000  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    126       1,000       1,000  
Capital Growth Fund
    565       1,000       1,000  
Growth and Income Fund
    2,334       1,000       1,000  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    2,745       3,000       1,000  
International Equity Fund
    349       1,000        
     For the year ended December 31, 2004, GSAM voluntarily made a one-time reimbursement of approximately $59,500 to the Growth and Income Fund for certain brokerage commissions, including interest, paid by the Growth and Income Fund over the course of several years.

B-110


 

     AFIMS had in place voluntary expense limitations with respect to the Predecessor Allmerica Funds. The voluntary expense limitations and the operating expenses incurred by the Predecessor Allmerica Funds during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 are as follows:
                 
    Percentage of Average  
    Daily Assets  
    Voluntary        
    Expense     Operating  
Predecessor Allmerica Fund   Limitations     Expenses*  
Select Capital Appreciation Fund1
    1.35 %     1.14 %
Equity Index Fund2
    0.60 %     0.50 %
Government Bond Fund3
    1.00 %     0.71 %
Select Investment Grade Income Fund4
    1.00 %     0.63 %
Money Market Fund5
    0.60 %     0.53 %
 
*   Including management fee waivers and reductions such as directed brokerage credits.
 
1   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Growth Opportunities Fund
 
2   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Equity Index Fund
 
3   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Government Income Fund
 
4   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Core Fixed Income Fund
 
5   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Money Market Fund
Custodian
     State Street, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, 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 and use depositories from time to time to hold certain securities and other instruments purchased by the Trust in foreign countries and to hold cash and currencies for the Trust.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     Ernst & Young LLP is the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. In addition to audit services, Ernst & Young LLP prepares the Funds’ federal and state tax returns, and provides assistance on certain non-audit matters.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
     The Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who charge a negotiated commission for their services. Increasingly, securities traded over-the-counter also involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Orders may be directed to any broker including, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs.

B-111


 

     In the over-the-counter market, most securities have historically traded on a “net” basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of a security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.
     In placing orders for portfolio securities of a Fund, the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser are generally required to give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable execution and net price available. This means that an Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser will seek to execute each transaction at a price and commission, if any, which provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably attainable in the circumstances. As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Section 28(e)”), the Fund may pay a broker who provides brokerage and research services to the Fund an amount of disclosed commission in excess of the commission which another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction. Such practice is subject to a good faith determination by the Trustees that such commission is reasonable in light of the services provided and to such policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time. While the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser generally seek reasonably competitive spreads or commissions, a Fund will not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or commission available. Within the framework of this policy, the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser will consider research and investment services provided by brokers or dealers who effect or are parties to portfolio transactions of a Fund, the Investment Advisers and their affiliates, the Sub-Adviser, or their other clients. Such research and investment services are those which brokerage houses customarily provide to institutional investors and include research reports on particular industries and companies; economic surveys and analyses; recommendations as to specific securities; research products including quotation equipment and computer related programs; advice concerning the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities and the availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities; analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and performance of accounts; services relating to effecting securities transactions and functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement); and other lawful and appropriate assistance to the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser in the performance of their decision-making responsibilities.
     Such services are used by the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser in connection with all of their investment activities, and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for a Fund may be used in managing other investment accounts. Conversely, brokers furnishing such services may be selected for the execution of transactions of such other accounts, whose aggregate assets may be larger than those of a Fund’s, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser in providing management services for the Trust. On occasion, a broker-dealer might furnish an Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser with a service which has a mixed use (i.e., the service is used both for investment and brokerage activities and for other activities). Where this occurs, an Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser will reasonably allocate the cost of the service, so that the portion or specific component which assists in investment and brokerage activities is obtained using portfolio commissions from the Funds or other managed accounts, and the portion or specific component which provides other assistance (for example, administrative or non-research assistance) is paid for by an Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser from its own funds.

B-112


 

     On occasions when an Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other investment company or advisory account for which such Investment Adviser acts as investment adviser or sub-investment adviser), the Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for such other customers in order to obtain the best net price and most favorable execution under the circumstances. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the applicable Investment Adviser or Sub-Adviser in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to such Fund and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price and size of the position obtainable for a Fund.
     Commission rates in the U.S. are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker based on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by the broker in the light of generally prevailing rates. The allocation of orders among brokers and the commission rates paid are reviewed periodically by the Trustees.
     Beginning January 1, 2005, certain Funds may participate in a commission recapture program. Under the program, participating broker-dealers will rebate a percentage of commissions earned as Fund portfolio transactions to the particular Fund from which they were generated. The rebated commissions are expected to be treated as realized capital gains of the Funds.
     Subject to the above considerations, the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser may use Goldman Sachs as a broker for a Fund. In order for Goldman Sachs to effect any portfolio transactions for each Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by Goldman Sachs must be reasonable. 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.

B-113


 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, each Fund then in existence paid brokerage commissions as follows. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.
                                         
            Total   Total           Brokerage
            Brokerage   Amount of   Amount of   Commissions
    Total   Commissions   Transactions   Transactions   Paid
    Brokerage   Paid to   on which   Effected through   to Brokers
    Commissions   Affiliated   Commissions   Brokers Providing   Providing
    Paid   Persons   Paid1   Research   Research
Fiscal Year Ended
                                       
December 31, 2004:
                                       
 
                                       
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 25,047     $ 0 (0 %)2   $ 72,532,583 (0 %)3   $ 0     $ 0  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    15,609       4 (0 %)2     30,054,733 (0 %)3     0       0  
Capital Growth Fund
    169,952       255 (0 %)2     162,253,266 (0 %)3     0       0  
Growth and Income Fund
    348,426       24,521 (7 %)2     283,660,817 (2 %)3     0       0  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    1,603,379       50,514 (3 %)2     1,154,644,991 (3 %)3     0       0  
International Equity Fund
    219,445       2,574 (1 %)2     131,465,973 (1 %)3     0       0  
 
1   The figures in the table report brokerage commissions only from securities transactions. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, Goldman Sachs and affiliated broker/dealers earned $6,229, $1,226, $255, $24,521, $50,514 and $4,584 in brokerage commissions from portfolio transactions, including futures transactions, executed on behalf of the CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Capital Growth Fund, Growth and Income Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund and International Equity Fund, respectively.
 
2   Percentage of total commissions paid.
 
3   Percentage of total amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions effected through Goldman Sachs and affiliated broker/dealers.

B-114


 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, each Fund then in existence paid brokerage commissions as follows. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.
                         
            Total     Total  
            Brokerage     Amount of  
    Total     Commissions     Transactions  
    Brokerage     Paid to     on which  
    Commissions     Affiliated     Commissions  
    Paid     Persons     Paid1  
Fiscal Year Ended
                       
December 31, 2003:
                       
 
                       
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 3,269     $ 0     $ 902,065,994  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    95,453       82,008       807,843,875  
Capital Growth Fund
    19,893       365       273,599,477  
Growth and Income Fund
    83,857       3,060       477,165,878  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    1,030,048       14,721       4,495,296,787  
International Equity Fund
    32,822       135       175,204,112  
 
1   The figures in the table report brokerage commissions only from securities transactions. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, Goldman Sachs and affiliated broker/dealers earned $3,050, $87,506, $365, $3,060, $14,721 and $512 in brokerage commissions from portfolio transactions, including futures transactions, executed on behalf of the CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Capital Growth Fund, Growth and Income Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund, and International Equity Fund, respectively.

B-115


 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, each Fund then in existence paid brokerage commissions as follows. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.
                         
            Total     Total  
            Brokerage     Amount of  
    Total     Commissions     Transactions  
    Brokerage     Paid to     on which  
    Commissions     Goldman     Commissions  
    Paid     Sachs1     Paid  
Fiscal Year Ended
                       
December 31, 2002:
                       
 
                       
CORE U.S. Equity Fund
  $ 9,476     $ 0     $ 127,309,849  
CORE Small Cap Equity Fund
    32,050       0       120,893,183  
Capital Growth Fund
    20,185       96       14,460,487  
Growth and Income Fund
    127,658       3,518       75,477,730  
Mid Cap Value Fund
    1,200,043       26,390       730,281,628  
International Equity Fund
    42,161       112       25,140,694  
 
1   The figures in the table report brokerage commissions only from securities transactions. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, Goldman Sachs earned $1,490, $350, $96, $3,518, $26,390, and $1,208 in brokerage commissions from portfolio transactions, including futures transactions, executed on behalf of the CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Capital Growth Fund, Growth and Income Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund, and International Equity Fund, respectively.
     Brokerage commissions for the Predecessor Allmerica Funds for the last three fiscal years were as follows:
                         
Predecessor Allmerica Fund   2004     2003     2002  
 
                       
Select Capital Appreciation Fund1
  $ 316,027     $ 505,088     $ 590,937  
Equity Index Fund2
    182,246       479,355       216,962  
 
1   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Growth Opportunities Fund. The differences in the amounts of brokerage commissions paid during the last three fiscal years for the Select Capital Appreciation Fund are due to repositioning and normal portfolio activity trading.
 
2   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Equity Index Fund.
     The Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Allmerica Select Investment Grade Income Fund and Allmerica Money Market Fund (the Predecessor Allmerica Funds to the Government Income Fund, Core Fixed Income Fund and Money Market Fund, respectively), did not incur brokerage commissions in any of these years.

B-116


 

     The Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund and Allmerica Equity Index Fund participated in a directed brokerage program whereby such Funds received credit for brokerage activity and applied those credits toward the payment of Fund expenses. These Funds entered into an agreement with certain brokers who rebated a portion of commissions as credits toward Fund expenses. The amounts earned during the last three fiscal years under these agreements were as follows:
                         
Predecessor Allmerica Fund   2004     2003     2002  
 
                       
Select Capital Appreciation Fund
  $ 32,064     $ 58,743     $ 37,059  
Equity Index Fund
    79,462       266,753       87,005  
     As of December 31, 2004, the Trust held the following amounts of securities of its regular broker-dealers, as defined in rule 10b-1 under the Act, or their parents ($ in thousands):
             
    Broker/Dealer   Amount
 
           
CORE U.S. Equity
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.   $ 5,911  
 
  JP Morgan Chase & Co.     14,520  
 
  Citigroup, Inc.     3,528  
 
  Bank of America Corp.     16,929  
 
           
Capital Growth
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.   $ 1,389  
 
  Morgan Stanley & Co.     1,407  
 
  Citigroup Global Markets     1,066  
 
  JP Morgan Chase & Co.     1,857  
 
           
Growth & Income
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.   $ 3,116  
 
  Bank of America Corp.     10,998  
 
  Citigroup Inc.     12,849  
 
  JP Morgan Chase & Co.     8,432  
 
  Bear Stearns & Co.     3,704  
 
           
Mid Cap Value
  Bear Stearns & Co.   $ 9,612  
 
           
International Equity
  Deutsche Boerse AG   $ 2,673  
 
  Credit Suisse First Boston     2,216  
     As of December 31, 2004, none of the Predecessor Allmerica Funds held securities of their regular broker-dealers.
NET ASSET VALUE
     General. In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Trust, the net asset value per share of each class of each Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net

B-117


 

assets attributable to each class of that Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class. All securities are valued on each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. New York time) or such later time as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially close. The term “Business Day” means any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading which is Monday through Friday except for holidays. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas (observed).
     The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than 4:00 p.m. New York Time. The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase, redemption and exchange transactions that were initially processed at a net asset value other than the Fund’s official closing net asset value that is subsequently adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders based on the official closing net asset value. The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC. In addition, each Fund may compute its net asset value as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.
     The value of all assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollar values at current exchange rates of such currencies against U.S. dollars last quoted by any major bank. If such quotations are not available, the rate of exchange will be determined in good faith by or under procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
     Generally, trading in securities on European, Asian and Far Eastern securities exchanges and on over—the—counter markets in these regions is substantially completed at various times prior to the close of business on each Business Day in New York (i.e., a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading). In addition, European, Asian or Far Eastern securities trading generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all Business Days in New York. Furthermore, trading takes place in various foreign markets on days which are not Business Days in New York and days on which the Funds’ net asset values are not calculated. Such calculation does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. The Funds’ investments are valued based on market quotations which may be furnished by a pricing service or provided by securities dealers or, in the case of foreign equity securities, prices provided by an independent fair value service (if available) that are intended to reflect more accurately the value of those securities at the time the Funds’ NAV is calculated. Fair value prices are used because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent fair value service does not provide a fair value for a particular security or if the value does not meet the established criteria for the Funds, the most recent closing price for such a security on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on such date.

B-118


 

     The proceeds received by each Fund and each other series of the Trust from the issue or sale of its shares, and all net investment income, realized and unrealized gain and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, will be specifically allocated to such Fund or particular series and constitute the underlying assets of that Fund or series. The underlying assets of each Fund will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in respect of such Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust. Expenses of the Trust with respect to the Funds and the other series of the Trust are generally allocated in proportion to the net asset values of the respective Funds or series except where allocations of expenses can otherwise be fairly made.
     The Trust has adopted a policy to handle certain NAV related errors occurring in the operation of the Funds, and under certain circumstances neither the Funds nor shareholders who purchase or sell shares during periods that errors accrue or occur may be recompensed in connection with the resolution of the error.
     Equity Funds. Portfolio securities of an Equity Fund for which accurate market quotations are available are valued as follows: (i) securities listed on any U.S. or foreign stock exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“NASDAQ”) will be valued at the last sale price or the official closing price on the exchange or system in which they are principally traded on the valuation date. If there is no sale on the valuation day, securities traded will be valued at the closing bid price, or if a closing bid price is not available, at either the exchange or system defined close price on the exchange or system in which such securities are principally traded. If the relevant exchange or system has not closed by the above-mentioned time for determining a Fund’s net asset value, the securities will be valued at the last sale price or official closing price, or if not available at the bid price at the time the net asset value is determined; (ii) over-the-counter securities not quoted on NASDAQ will be valued at the last sale price on the valuation day or, if no sale occurs, at the last bid price at the time net asset value is determined; (iii) equity securities for which no prices are obtained under sections (i) or (ii) including those for which a pricing service supplies no exchange quotation or a quotation that is believed by the portfolio manager/trader to be inaccurate, will be valued at their fair value in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees; (iv) fixed-income securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or more for which accurate market quotations are readily available will normally be valued according to dealer-supplied bid quotations or bid quotations from a recognized pricing service (e.g., Interactive Data Corp., Merrill Lynch, J.J. Kenny, Muller Data Corp., Bloomberg, EJV, Reuters or Standard & Poor’s); (v) fixed-income securities for which accurate market quotations are not readily available are valued by the Investment Adviser based on valuation models that take into account spread and daily yield changes on government securities in the appropriate market (i.e., matrix pricing); (vi) debt securities with a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued by the Investment Adviser at amortized cost, which the Trustees have determined to approximate fair value; and (vii) all other instruments, including those for which a pricing service supplies no exchange quotation or a quotation that is believed by the portfolio manager/trader to be inaccurate, will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
     Fixed Income Funds. For the purpose of calculating the net asset value of the Fixed Income Funds, 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-

B-119


 

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 inaccurate 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: (i) overnight repurchase agreements will be valued at cost; (ii) 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; (iii) 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; (iv) 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 dealer in such contracts); (v) 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 (vi) over-the-counter options will be valued by a broker identified by the portfolio manager/trader. If accurate market quotations are not readily available, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such quotations or prices do not accurately reflect fair value, 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.
     Money Market Fund. The Money Market Fund’s securities are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation in an effort to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, which the Board of Trustees has determined to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. This method involves valuing a security at cost on the date of acquisition and thereafter assuming a constant accretion of a discount or amortization of a premium to maturity, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Fund would receive if it sold the instrument. During such periods, the yield to an investor in the Fund may differ somewhat from that obtained in a similar investment company which uses available market quotations to value all of its portfolio securities. During periods of declining interest rates, the quoted yield on shares of the Fund may tend to be higher than a like computation made by a fund with identical investments utilizing a method of valuation based upon market prices and estimates of market prices for all of its portfolio instruments. Thus, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a somewhat higher yield if he or she purchased shares of the Fund on that day, than would result from investment in a fund utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in the Fund would receive less investment income. The converse would apply in a period of rising interest rates.
     The Trustees have established procedures designed to stabilize, to the extent reasonably possible, the Money Market Fund’s price per share as computed for the purpose of sales and redemptions at $1.00. Such procedures include review of the Fund by the Trustees, at such

B-120


 

intervals as they deem appropriate, to determine whether the Fund’s net asset value calculated by using available market quotations (or an appropriate substitute which reflects market conditions) deviates from $1.00 per share based on amortized cost, as well as review of methods used to calculate the deviation. If such deviation exceeds 1/2 of 1%, the Trustees will promptly consider what action, if any, will be initiated. In the event the Trustees determine that a deviation exists which may result in material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders, they will take such corrective action as they regard to be necessary and appropriate, including the sale of portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity; withholding part or all of dividends or payment of distributions from capital or capital gains; redeeming shares in kind; or establishing a net asset value per share by using available market quotations or equivalents. In addition, in order to stabilize the net asset value per share at $1.00, the Trustees have the authority (i) to reduce or increase the number of shares outstanding on a pro rata basis, and (ii) to offset each shareholder’s pro rata portion of the deviation between the net asset value per share and $1.00 from the shareholder’s accrued dividend account or from future dividends. The Fund may hold cash for the purpose of stabilizing its net asset value per share. Holdings of cash, on which no return is earned, would tend to lower the yield on the Fund’s shares.
     In order to continue to use the amortized cost method of valuation for the Fund’s investments, the Fund must comply with Rule 2a-7 under the Act.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
     Each Fund may from time to time quote or otherwise use yield and total return information in advertisements, shareholder reports or sales literature. Average annual total return and yield are computed pursuant to formulas specified by the SEC.
     Thirty-day yield is derived by dividing net investment income earned during the period by the product of the average daily number of shares outstanding and entitled to receive dividends during the period and the maximum public offering price per share on the last day of the such period. The results are compounded on a bond equivalent (semi-annual) basis and then annualized by assuming that yield is realized each month for twelve months and is reinvested every six months. Net investment income per 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.
     With respect to the Money Market Fund, the yield quotation is based on a hypothetical account having a balance of exactly one share at the beginning of a seven-day period. The yield of the Fund refers to the income generated by an investment in the Fund over a seven-day period (which period will be stated in the advertisement). This income is then annualized; that is, the amount of income generated by the investment during that week is assumed to be generated each week over a 52 week period and is shown as a percentage of the investment. The yield quotation is computed as follows: the net change, exclusive of capital changes and income other than investment income (i.e., realized gains and losses from the sale of securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation), in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the beginning of the base period is determined by dividing the net change

B-121


 

in account value by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period. This base period return is then multiplied by 365/7 with the resulting yield figure carried to the nearest 100th of 1%. Such yield quotation shall take into account all fees that are charged to the Money Market Fund.
     The Money Market Fund also may advertise a quotation of effective yield for a 7-calendar day period. Effective yield is computed by compounding the unannualized base period return determined as in the preceding paragraph by adding 1 to that return, raising the sum to the 365/7 power and subtracting one from the result, according to the following formula:
Effective Yield = [(base period return + 1)365/7] — 1
     The effective yield will be slightly higher than the yield because of the compounding effect of reinvestment.
     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.
     Year-by-year total return and cumulative total return for a specified period are each derived by calculating the percentage rate required to make a $1,000 investment (made at the maximum public offering price with all distributions reinvested) at the beginning of such period equal to the actual total value of such investment at the end of such period.
     Average annual total return (Before Taxes) for a specified period is derived by calculating the actual dollar amount of the investment return on a $1,000 investment made at the maximum public offering price applicable to the relevant class at the beginning of the period, and then calculating the annual compounded rate of return which would produce that amount, assuming a redemption at the end of the period. This calculation assumes a complete redemption of the investment. It also assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value on the reinvestment dates during the period.
     Each Fund’s performance will fluctuate, unlike bank deposits or other investments which pay a fixed yield for a stated period of time. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future return. Actual performance will depend on such variables as portfolio quality, the type of portfolio instruments acquired, portfolio expenses and other factors. Performance is one basis investors may use to analyze a Fund as compared to other funds and other investment vehicles. However, the performance of other funds and other investment vehicles may not be comparable because of the foregoing variables, and differences in the methods used in valuing their portfolio instruments, computing net asset value and determining performance.
     Occasionally, statistics may be used to specify Fund volatility or risk. Measures of volatility or risk are generally used to compare a Fund’s net asset value or performance relative to a market index. One measure of volatility is beta. Beta is the volatility of a Fund relative to the total market. A beta of more than 1.00 indicates volatility greater than the market, and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates volatility less than the market. Another measure of volatility or risk is standard deviation. Standard deviation is used to measure variability of net asset value or total

B-122


 

return around an average, over a specified period of time. The premise is that greater volatility connotes greater risk undertaken in achieving performance.
     A Fund’s performance data will be based on historical results and will not be intended to indicate future performance. A Fund’s total return yield and distribution rate will vary based on market conditions, portfolio expenses, portfolio investments and other factors. In addition to the Investment Adviser’s decisions regarding issuer/industry/country investment selection and allocation, other factors may affect Fund performance. These factors include, but are not limited to, Fund operating fees and expenses, portfolio turnover, and subscription and redemption cash flows affecting a Fund. The value of a Fund’s shares will fluctuate and an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than their original cost upon redemption. Performance may reflect expense limitations in effect. In their absence, performance would be reduced.
     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 a Fund will differ.
SHARES OF THE TRUST
     Each Fund is a series of Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, which was formed under the laws of the state of Delaware on September 16, 1997. The Trustees have authority under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust to create and classify shares of beneficial interests in separate series, without further action by shareholders. The Trustees also have authority to classify and reclassify any series or portfolio of shares into one or more classes. As of the date of this Additional Statement, the Trustees have classified shares in each Fund as a class of shares called Service Shares, and have also classified additional shares in the following Funds as a second class of shares called Institutional Shares: CORE U.S. Equity Fund, CORE Small Cap Equity Fund, Capital Growth Fund, Growth and Income Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund and International Equity Fund. Additional series and classes may be added in the future.
     Each Institutional Shares and Service Share of a Fund represents a proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the applicable class of the Fund. All expenses of a Fund are borne at the same rate by each class of shares, except that fees and expenses under distribution and service plans are borne exclusively by Service 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. In addition, the fees and expenses under the distribution and service plan for Service Shares may be subject to voluntary fee waivers or reimbursements, as discussed in the Funds’ Prospectus.
     It is possible that a participating insurance company or its affiliate may offer different classes of shares (i.e., Institutional Shares and Service Shares) to its customers and thus receive different compensation with respect to different classes of shares of each Fund. Dividends paid by each Fund, if any, with respect to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time on the same day and will be in the same amount, except for differences caused by the fact that the respective plan fees relating to a particular class will be borne exclusively by

B-123


 

that class. Similarly, the net asset value per share may differ depending upon the class of shares purchased.
     Certain aspects of the shares may be altered after advance notice to shareholders if it is deemed necessary in order to satisfy certain tax regulatory requirements.
     When issued for the consideration described in the Prospectus, shares are fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of liquidation, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the applicable class of the relevant Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. All shares are freely transferable and have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.
     Rule 18f-2 under the Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of the Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless the interests of each series in the matter are substantially identical or the matter does not affect any interest of such series. However, Rule 18f-2 exempts the selection of independent public accountants, the approval of principal distribution contracts and the election of trustees from the separate voting requirements of Rule 18f-2.
     The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and does not intend to hold such meetings. In the event that a meeting of shareholders is held, each share of the Trust will be entitled, as determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of the shareholders, either to one vote for each share or to one vote for each dollar of net asset value represented by such share on all matters presented to shareholders including the election of Trustees (this method of voting being referred to as “dollar based voting”). However, to the extent required by the Act or otherwise determined by the Trustees, series and classes of the Trust will vote separately from each other. Shareholders of the Trust do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of Trustees. Meetings of shareholders of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, may be called by the Trustees, certain officers or upon the written request of holders of 10% or more of the shares entitled to vote at such meetings. The Trustees will call a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees if, at any time, less than a majority of Trustees holding office at the time were elected by shareholders. The shareholders of the Trust will have voting rights only with respect to the limited number of matters specified in the Declaration of Trust and such other matters as the Trustees may determine or may be required by law.
     The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust unless the recipient is adjudicated (i) to be liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such person’s actions were in the best interest of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that, if any shareholder or former shareholder of any series is held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder’s acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholder’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives or general successors) shall be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, acting on behalf of any affected series, must, upon request by such shareholder, assume

B-124


 

the defense of any claim made against such shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the series.
     The Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust (i) by a majority of the affected shareholders at a meeting of shareholders of the Trust, series or class; or (ii) by a majority of the Trustees without shareholder approval if the Trustees determine, in their sole discretion, that such action is in the best interest of the Trust, such series, such class or their respective shareholders. The Trustees may consider such factors as they, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate in making such determination, including (i) the inability of the Trust or any series or class to maintain its assets at an appropriate size; (ii) changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust, series, or class affecting assets of the type in which it invests; or (iii) economic developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or series.
     The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Trustees without shareholder approval to cause the Trust, or any series thereof, to merge or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or sell or exchange all or substantially all of the property belonging to the Trust or any series thereof. In addition, the Trustees, without shareholder approval, may adopt a master-feeder structure by investing all or a portion of the assets of a series of the Trust in the securities of another open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective, restrictions and policies.
     The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust without a shareholder vote. However, shareholders of the Trust have the right to vote on any amendment (i) that would adversely affect the voting rights of shareholders; (ii) that is required by law to be approved by shareholders; (iii) that would amend the provisions of the Declaration of Trust regarding amendments; or (iv) that the Trustees determine to submit to shareholders.
     The Trustees may appoint separate Trustees with respect to one or more series or classes of the Trust’s shares (the “Series Trustees”). Series Trustees may, but are not required to, serve as Trustees of the Trust or any other series or class of the Trust. To the extent provided by the Trustees in the appointment of Series Trustees, the Series Trustees may have, to the exclusion of any other Trustees of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees under the Declaration of Trust with respect to such series or class, but may have no power or authority with respect to any other Series or Class.
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Growth and Income Fund: Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2479 (60.19%); The Ohio National Life Insurance Company for the Benefit of its Separate Accounts, One Financial Way, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5851 (20.15%); GE Life & Annuity Assurance Co., 6610 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230-1702 (12.06%).
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the CORE U.S. Equity Fund: IDS Life Insurance Co., Investment Accounting—Managed Assets, 1646 AXP Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474-0001 (67.45%); Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S.,

B-125


 

Birmingham, AL 35223-2479 (18.55%); The Ohio National Life Insurance Company for the Benefit of its Separate Accounts, One Financial Way, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5851 (5.07%).
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the CORE Small Cap Equity Fund: Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2479 (52.85%); IDS Life Insurance Co., Investment Accounting—Managed Assets, 1646 AXP Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474-0001 (28.54%).
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Capital Growth Fund: Protective Variable Life Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2488 (59.15%); The Ohio National Life Insurance Company for the Benefit of its Separate Accounts, One Financial Way, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5851 (10.28%); Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2479 (5.70%).
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Mid Cap Value Fund: IDS Life Insurance Co., Investment Accounting—Managed Assets, 1646 AXP Financial Center, Minneapolis, MN 55474-0001 (63.40%); GE Life & Annuity Assurance Co., 6610 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230-1702 (16.29%).
     As of September 30, 2005, the following entities owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the International Equity Fund: Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2479 (77.64%); Sun Life of Canada (U.S.), P.O. Box 9134, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-9134 (8.00%); Protective Variable Life Separate Account, 2801 Highway 280 S., Birmingham, AL 35223-2488 (6.46%).
Shareholder and Trustee Liability
     Under Delaware Law, the shareholders of the Funds are not generally subject to liability for the debts or obligations of the Trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that a series of the Trust will not be liable for the debts or obligations of any other series of the Trust. However, no similar statutory or other authority limiting statutory trust shareholder liability exists in other states. As a result, to the extent that a Delaware statutory trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction of courts of such other states, the courts may not apply Delaware law and may thereby subject the Delaware statutory trust shareholders to liability. To guard against this risk, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of a series. Notice of such disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a series of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the relevant Series for all loss suffered by a shareholder as a result of an obligation of the series. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a series shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any judgment thereon. In view of the above, the risk of personal liability of shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust is remote.

B-126


 

     In addition to the requirements under Delaware law, the Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders of a series may bring a derivative action on behalf of the series only if the following conditions are met: (a) shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under Delaware law who hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the series, or 10% of the outstanding shares of the class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees will be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Series for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.
     The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
TAXATION
     Shares of the Funds are offered to separate accounts that fund variable annuity contracts and variable insurance policies issued by participating insurance companies. See the prospectus for such contracts for a discussion of the special taxation of insurance companies with respect to the Separate Accounts, the variable annuity contracts, variable insurance policies, and the holders thereof.
     The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal income, and certain state and local, tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares in each Fund of the Trust. 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 each Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this Additional Statement, which are subject to change.
General
     The following is only a summary of certain additional tax considerations generally affecting each Fund that are not described in the Prospectus. The discussions below and in the Prospectus are not intended as substitutes for careful tax planning.
     The holders of variable life insurance policies or annuity contracts should not be subject to tax with respect to distributions made on, or redemptions of, Fund shares, assuming that the variable life insurance policies and annuity contracts qualify under the Code, as life insurance or annuities, respectively, and that the shareholders are treated as owners of the Fund shares. Thus, this summary does not describe the tax consequences to a holder of a life insurance policy or annuity contract as a result of the ownership of such policies or contracts. Policy or contract holders must consult the prospectuses of their respective policies or contracts for information

B-127


 

concerning the federal income tax consequences of owning such policies or contracts. This summary also does not describe the tax consequences applicable to the owners of the Fund shares because the Fund shares will be sold only to insurance companies. Thus, purchasers of Fund shares must consult their own tax advisers regarding the federal, state, and local tax consequences of owning Fund shares.
     Each Fund is a separate taxable entity. Each of the Funds intends to qualify for each taxable year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1 of the Code.
     There are certain tax requirements that all Funds must follow in order to avoid federal taxation. In its efforts to adhere to these requirements, the Funds may have to limit their investment activities in some types of instruments. Qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code requires, among other things, that (i) a Fund derive at least 90% of its gross income 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 or net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “90% gross income test”); and (ii) such Fund diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of such Fund’s total (gross) assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S. Government Securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of such Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total (gross) assets is invested in the securities of (i) any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (ii) two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or (iii) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. For purposes of the 90% gross income test, income that a Fund earns from equity interests in certain entities that are not treated as corporations (e.g., partnerships or trusts) for U.S. tax purposes will generally have the same character for such Fund as in the hands of such an entity; consequently, a Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in such entities that earn fee income, rental income, or other nonqualifying income. In addition, future Treasury regulations could provide that qualifying income under the 90% gross income test will not include gains from foreign currency transactions that are not directly related to a Fund’s principal business of investing in stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities. Using foreign currency positions or entering into foreign currency options, futures and forward or swap contracts for purposes other than hedging currency risk with respect to securities in a Fund’s portfolio or anticipated to be acquired may not qualify as “directly-related” under these tests.
     If a Fund complies with such provisions, then in any taxable year in which such Fund 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 accrued original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, any net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign exchange gains and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain,” as defined below, and is reduced by deductible expenses), and at least 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest

B-128


 

income (if any) over certain disallowed deductions, such Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, if a Fund retains any investment company taxable income or “net capital gain” (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) 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 the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of net capital gain. Each Fund intends to distribute for each taxable year to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net capital gain and any net 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 International Equity Fund and may therefore make it more difficult for such a Fund to satisfy the distribution requirements described above, as well as the excise tax distribution requirements described below. However, each 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 a 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 rate without any deduction for dividends paid, and its distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits.
     As of December 31, 2004, the following Funds had capital loss carryforwards for U.S. federal tax purposes.
                 
            Years of  
    Amount     Expiration  
 
               
CORE US Equity Fund
    14,471,666       2009  
 
    27,610,289       2010  
 
    2,163,043       2011  
Capital Growth Fund
    7,813,202       2008  
 
    13,983,325       2009  
 
    6,239,358       2010  
 
    1,064,803       2011  
Growth and Income Fund
  $ 20,932,445       2009  
 
    5,509,772       2010  
International Equity Fund
    17,055,611       2008  
 
    27,159,909       2009  
 
    8,409,296       2010  
 
    609,034       2011  

B-129


 

     As of May 31, 2005, the following Predecessor Allmerica Funds had capital loss carryforwards which are expected to be available for use by the Goldman Fund into which the Predecessor Allmerica Fund reorganized:
         
Predecessor Fund   Amount  
 
 
       
Predecessor Allmerica Select Growth Fund1
  $ 7,368,931  
Predecessor Allmerica Select Core Equity Fund2
  $ 32,155,026  
Predecessor Allmerica Select International Equity Fund3
  $ 4,194,101  
 
1.   Reorganized into the Capital Growth Fund
 
2.   Reorganized into the CORE U.S. Equity Fund
 
3.   Reorganized into the International Equity Fund
     For federal income tax purposes, each 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.
     Each Fund intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Under Code Section 817(h), a variable life insurance or annuity contract will not be treated as a life insurance policy or annuity contract, respectively, under the Code, unless the segregated asset account upon which such contract or policy is based is “adequately diversified.” A segregated asset account will be adequately diversified if it satisfies one of two alternative tests set forth in the Treasury Regulations. Specifically, the Treasury Regulations provide that, except as permitted by the “safe harbor” discussed below, as of the end of each calendar quarter (or within 30 days thereafter) no more than 55% of the segregated asset account’s total assets may be represented by any one investment, no more than 70% by any two investments, no more than 80% by any three investments and no more than 90% by any four investments. For this purpose, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment, and each U.S. Government agency and instrumentality is considered a separate issuer. As a safe harbor, a segregated asset account will be treated as being adequately diversified if the diversification requirements under Subchapter M are satisfied and no more than 55% of the value of the account’s total assets are cash and cash items, U.S. Government Securities and securities of other regulated investment companies. In addition, a segregated asset account with respect to a variable life insurance contract is treated as adequately diversified to the extent of its investment in securities issued by the United States Treasury.
     For purposes of these diversification tests, a segregated asset account investing in shares of a regulated investment company generally will be entitled to “look through” the regulated investment company to its pro rata portion of the regulated investment company’s assets, provided that the shares of such regulated investment company are held only by insurance companies and certain fund managers (a “Closed Fund”). Each Fund intends to be a Closed Fund.
     If the segregated asset account upon which a variable contract is based is not “adequately diversified” under the foregoing rules for each calendar quarter, then (a) the variable contract is not treated as a life insurance contract or annuity contract under the Code for all subsequent

B-130


 

periods during which such account is not “adequately diversified” and (b) the holders of such contract must include as ordinary income the “income on the contract” for each taxable year. Further, the income on a life insurance contract for all prior taxable years is treated as received or accrued during the taxable year of the policyholder in which the contract ceases to meet the definition of a “life insurance contract” under the Code. The “income on the contract” is, generally, the excess of (i) the sum of the increase in the net surrender value of the contract during the taxable year and the cost of the life insurance protection provided under the contract during the year, over (ii) the premiums paid under the contract during the taxable year. In addition, if a Fund did not constitute a Closed Fund, the holders of the contracts and annuities which invest in the Fund through a segregated asset account might be treated as owners of Fund shares and might be subject to tax on distributions made by the Fund.
     In order to avoid a 4% federal excise tax, each Fund may be required to 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 all taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the previous year that were not distributed for such year and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. However, the excise tax does not apply to a Fund whose only shareholders during the year generally are segregated asset accounts and tax-exempt investors.
     Certain of the Funds will be subject to foreign taxes on their income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) from foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases.
     Investments in lower-rated securities may present special tax issues for a Fund to the extent actual or anticipated defaults may be more likely with respect to such securities. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount, or market discount; when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities; how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income; and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by a Fund, in the event it invests in such securities, in order to seek to eliminate or minimize any adverse tax consequences.
State and Local
     Each Fund may be subject to state or local taxes in jurisdictions in which such Fund may be deemed to be doing business. In addition, in those states or localities which have income tax laws, the treatment of such Fund and its shareholders under such laws may differ from their treatment under federal income tax laws, and investment in such Fund may have tax consequences for shareholders different from those of a direct investment in such Fund’s portfolio securities.
PROXY VOTING
     The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has delegated the voting of portfolio securities to the Investment Advisers and Sub-Adviser. The Investment Advisers have adopted policies and

B-131


 

procedures (the “Policy”) for the voting of proxies on behalf of client accounts for which the Investment Advisers have voting discretion, including the Funds. Under the Policy, the Investment Advisers’ guiding principles in performing proxy voting are to make decisions that: (i) favor proposals that tend to maximize a company’s shareholder value; and (ii) are not influenced by conflicts of interest. These principles reflect the Investment Advisers’ belief that sound corporate governance will create a framework within which a company can be managed in the interests of its shareholders.
     The principles and positions reflected in the Policy are designed to guide the Investment Advisers in voting proxies, and not necessarily in making investment decisions. Senior management of the Investment Advisers will periodically review the Policy to ensure that it continues to be consistent with the Investment Advisers’ guiding principles.
     Public Equity Investments. To implement these guiding principles for investments in publicly-traded equities, the Investment Advisers follow proxy voting guidelines (the “Guidelines”) developed by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), except in certain circumstances, which are generally described below. The Guidelines embody the positions and factors the Investment Advisers generally consider important in casting proxy votes. They address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among others, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, and various shareholder proposals. Attached as Appendix B is a summary of the Guidelines.
     ISS has been retained to review proxy proposals and make voting recommendations in accordance with the Guidelines. While it is the Investment Advisers’ policy generally to follow the Guidelines and recommendations from ISS, the Investment Advisers’ portfolio management teams (“Portfolio Management Teams”) retain the authority on any particular proxy vote to vote differently from the Guidelines or a related ISS recommendation, in keeping with their different investment philosophies and processes. Such decisions, however, remain subject to a review and approval process, including a determination that the decision is not influenced by any conflict of interest. In forming their views on particular matters, the Portfolio Management Teams are also permitted to consider applicable regional rules and practices, including codes of conduct and other guides, regarding proxy voting, in addition to the Guidelines and recommendations from ISS.
     In addition to assisting the Investment Advisers in developing substantive proxy voting positions, ISS also updates and revises the Guidelines on a periodic basis, and the revisions are reviewed by the Investment Advisers to determine whether they are consistent with the Investment Advisers’ guiding principles. ISS also assists the Investment Advisers in the proxy voting process by providing operational, recordkeeping and reporting services.
     The Investment Advisers are responsible for reviewing its relationship with ISS and for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the various services provided by ISS. The Investment Advisers may hire other service providers to replace or supplement ISS with respect to any of the services the Investment Advisers currently receives from ISS.
     The Investment Advisers have implemented procedures that are intended to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions. These procedures include the

B-132


 

Investment Advisers’ use of ISS as an independent third party, a review and approval process for individual decisions that do not follow ISS’s recommendations, and the establishment of information barriers between the Investment Advisers and other businesses within The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
     Fixed Income and Private Investments. Voting decisions with respect to fixed income securities and the securities of privately held issuers generally will be made by a Fund’s managers based on their assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.
     Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available on or through the Funds’ website at http://www.gs.com/funds and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
PAYMENTS TO INTERMEDIARIES
     The Investment Advisers, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments to participating insurance companies and other financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) from time to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Funds. These payments (“Additional Payments”) are made out of the Investment Advisers,’ Distributor’s and/or their affiliates own assets, and are not an additional charge to the Funds or their shareholders. The Additional Payments are in addition to the fees paid by the Funds described in the Funds’ Prospectuses and this Additional Statement.
     These Additional Payments are intended to compensate Intermediaries for, among other things: marketing shares of the Funds, which may consist of payments relating to Funds included on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to time sponsored by the Intermediaries; access to the Intermediaries’ registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; “finders” or “referral fees” for directing investors to the Funds; marketing support fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of Fund shares (which may include promotions in communications with the Intermediaries’ customers, registered representatives and salespersons); and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Funds. In addition, the Investment Advisers, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make Additional Payments (including through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the transfer agent, shareholder administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds. The Additional Payments made by the Investment Advisers, Distributor and their affiliates may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based on the number of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary; may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be calculated on another basis. Furthermore, the Investment Advisers, Distributor and/or their affiliates may, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of shares, as well as sponsor various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions. The Investment Advisers, Distributor and their affiliates may also pay for the travel expenses, meals, lodging and entertainment of Intermediaries and their salespersons and guests in connection with educational, sales and promotional programs subject to applicable NASD regulations. The amount of these Additional Payments (excluding payments made through sub-

B-133


 

transfer agency and networking agreements) is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the Intermediaries. The Additional Payments are negotiated based on a range of factors, including but not limited to, ability to attract and retain assets, target markets, customer relationships, quality of service and industry reputation.
     For the calendar year ended December 31, 2004, the Investment Advisers, Distributor and their affiliates made Additional Payments out of their own assets to approximately 15 Intermediaries. During the calendar year ended December 31, 2004, the Investment Advisers, Distributor and their affiliates paid to Intermediaries approximately $6.7 million in Additional Payments (including payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) with respect to all of the funds of the Trust (including the Funds included in this Additional Statement).
     The Additional Payments made by the Investment Advisers, Distributor and/or their affiliates may be different for different Intermediaries and may vary with respect to the type of fund sold by the Intermediary. In addition, the Additional Payment arrangements may include breakpoints in compensation which provide that the percentage rate of compensation varies as the dollar value of the amount sold or invested through an Intermediary increases. The presence of these Additional Payments, the varying fee structure and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered representative or salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. Shareholders should contact their participating insurance company or other Intermediary for more information about the payments they receive and any potential conflicts of interest.
     Please contact your Intermediary if you have a question about whether your Intermediary receives the Additional Payments described above. For additional questions, please contact Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-621-2550.
OTHER INFORMATION
Selective Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
     The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Investment Advisers have adopted a policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts between the interests of Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policy provides that neither a Fund nor its Investment Advisers, Distributor or any agent, or any employee thereof (“Fund Representative”) will disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings information to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, “portfolio holdings information” means the Fund’s actual portfolio holdings, as well as nonpublic information about its trading strategies or pending transactions. Under the policy, neither a Fund nor any Fund Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. A Fund Representative may provide portfolio holdings information to third parties if such information has been included in the Fund’s public filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Funds’

B-134


 

publicly accessible website. Information posted on the Fund’s website may be separately provided to any person commencing the day after it is first published on the Funds’ website.
     Portfolio holdings information that is not filed with the SEC or posted on the publicly available website may be provided to third parties only if the third party recipients are required to keep all portfolio holdings information confidential and are prohibited from trading on the information they receive. Disclosure to such third parties must be approved in advance by the Investment Adviser’s legal or compliance department. Disclosure to providers of auditing, custody, proxy voting and other similar services for the Funds, as well as rating and ranking organizations, will generally be permitted; however, information may be disclosed to other third parties (including, without limitation, individuals, institutional investors, and intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund,) only upon approval by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, who must first determine that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and check with the Fund Transfer Agent to ascertain whether the third party has been identified as an excessive trader. In general, each recipient of non-public portfolio holdings information must sign a confidentiality and non-trading agreement, although this requirement will not apply when the recipient is otherwise subject to a duty of confidentiality. In accordance with the policy, the identity of those recipients who receive non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis is as follows: the Investment Advisers and their affiliates, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, the Funds’ custodian, the Funds’ legal counsel- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, the Funds’ financial printer- Bowne, the Funds’ proxy voting service- ISS and Elkins/McSherry LLC. These entities are obligated to keep such information confidential. Third party providers of custodial or accounting services to the Funds may release non-public portfolio holdings information of the Funds only with the permission of Fund Representatives. From time to time portfolio holdings information may be provided to broker-dealers solely in connection with a Fund seeking portfolio securities trading suggestions. In providing this information reasonable precautions, including limitations on the scope of the portfolio holdings information disclosed, are taken to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed information. All marketing materials prepared by the Trust’s principal underwriter is reviewed by Goldman Sachs’ Compliance department for consistency with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy.
     The Equity Funds currently intend to publish on the Trust’s website (http://www.gs.com/funds) complete portfolio holdings for each Equity Fund as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a fifteen calendar day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Equity Funds intend to publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a ten calendar day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The Fixed Income Funds currently intend to publish complete portfolio holdings on their website as of the end of each fiscal quarter, subject to a thirty calendar day lag, and to post selected holdings information monthly on a ten calendar day lag. The Money Market Fund publishes its holdings as of the end of each month subject to a thirty calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. A Fund may publish on the website complete portfolio holdings information more frequently if it has a legitimate business purpose for doing so.
     Under the policy, Fund Representatives will initially supply the Board of the Trustees with a list of third parties who receive portfolio holdings information pursuant to any ongoing arrangement. In addition, the Board is to receive information, on a quarterly basis, regarding any

B-135


 

other disclosures of non-public portfolio holdings information that were permitted during the preceding quarter. In addition, the Board of Trustees is to approve at its meetings a list of Fund Representatives who are authorized to disclose portfolio holdings information under the policy. As of the date of this Additional Statement, only certain officers of the Trust as well as certain senior members of the compliance and legal groups of the Investment Adviser have been approved by the Board of Trustees to authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information.
Miscellaneous
     Each Fund will redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Each Fund, however, reserves the right to pay redemptions exceeding $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of the Fund at the time of redemption by a distribution in kind of securities (instead of cash) from such Fund. The securities distributed in kind would be readily marketable and would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating the Fund’s net asset value per share. See “Net Asset Value.” If a shareholder receives redemption proceeds in kind, the shareholder should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of the securities received in the redemption.
     The right of a shareholder to redeem shares and the date of payment by each Fund may be suspended for more than seven days for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than the customary weekends or holidays, or when trading on such Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC; or during any emergency, as determined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or for such other period as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of such Fund. (The Trust may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)
     As stated in the Funds’ Prospectuses, the Trust may authorize Intermediaries 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 Intermediaries or institutions may enter into sub-transfer agency agreements with the Trust or Goldman Sachs with respect to their services.
     In the interest of economy and convenience, the Trust does not issue certificates representing the Funds’ shares. Instead, the Transfer Agent maintains a record of each shareholder’s ownership. Each shareholder receives confirmation of purchase and redemption orders from the Transfer Agent. Fund shares and any dividends and distributions paid by the Funds are reflected in account statements from the Transfer Agent.
     The Funds’ Prospectuses and this Additional Statement do not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act with respect to the securities offered by the Prospectuses. Certain portions of the Registration Statement have been omitted from the Prospectuses and this Additional Statement pursuant to the rules and

B-136


 

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 Funds’ 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.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
     The audited financial statements and related report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for each of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds, contained in each such Fund’s 2004 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference. The audited financial statements and related report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Investment Grade Income Fund and Predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund, contained in each such Predecessor Allmerica Funds’ 2004 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference. The financial statements in each Fund’s Annual Report have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. No other parts of any Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The unaudited financial statements for each of the CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Small Cap Equity, Capital Growth, Growth and Income, Mid Cap Value and International Equity Funds, contained in each such Fund’s 2005 Semi-Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference. The unaudited financial statements for the Predecessor Allmerica Select Capital Appreciation Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Equity Index Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Government Bond Fund, Predecessor Allmerica Investment Grade Income Fund and Predecessor Allmerica Money Market Fund, contained in each such Predecessor Allmerica Funds’ 2005 Semi-Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Annual Reports may be obtained upon request and without charge by writing Goldman, Sachs & Co., P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling Goldman, Sachs & Co., at the telephone number on the back cover of the Funds’ Prospectuses.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
     Distribution and Service Plan. As described in the Funds’ Prospectus for Service Shares, the Trust has adopted, on behalf of Service Shares of each Fund, a distribution and service plan (the “Plan”). See “Shareholder Guide — Distribution Services and Fees” in the Prospectus. The fees payable under the Plan are subject to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, and finance distribution and other services that are provided to investors in the Funds and enable the Funds to offer investors the choice of investing in Service Shares when investing in the Funds. In addition, fees payable under the Plan may be used to assist the Funds in reaching and maintaining asset levels that are efficient for the Funds’ operations and investments.

B-137


 

     The Plan for each Fund was approved on August 4, 2005 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, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of approving the Plan.
     The compensation for distribution services payable under the Plan to Goldman Sachs may not exceed 0.25% per annum of a Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Service Shares of such Fund. Under the Plan, 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.
     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 sold by Goldman Sachs as distributor to entities which provide financing for payments to participating insurance companies in respect of sales of Service Shares. To the extent such fees are not paid to such dealers, Goldman Sachs may retain such fees as compensation for its services and expenses of distributing the Funds’ Service Shares.
     Under the Plan, Goldman Sachs, as distributor of each Fund’s Service 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 June 30, 2006, 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 without approval of a majority of the outstanding Service Shares of the affected Fund, but may be amended without shareholder approval to increase materially the amount of non-distribution compensation. All material amendments of the 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 any Fund without payment of any penalty by a vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the Service Shares of the affected Fund. 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 will be committed to the discretion of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust. The Trustees of the Trust have determined that in their judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Funds and their Service Shareholders.

B-138


 

     The following table shows activities for which payments were made and the dollar amounts paid by the Predecessor Allmerica Funds for activities under the Predecessor Allmerica Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
                 
Predecessor Allmerica Fund   Compensation     Other:  
    to Sales     Customer  
    Personnel     Service  
Select Capital Appreciation Fund1
  $ 225,951     $ 209,213  
Equity Index Fund2
    475,907       440,654  
Government Bond Fund3
    120,615       111,681  
Select Investment Grade Income Fund4
    363,945       336,986  
Money Market Fund5
    247,427       229,099  
 
1   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Growth Opportunities Fund
 
2   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Equity Index Fund
 
3   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Government Income Fund
 
4   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Core Fixed Income Fund
 
5   Predecessor Allmerica Fund to the Money Market Fund

B-139


 

APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
Short-Term Credit Ratings
     A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:
     “A-1” — Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate 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 & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
     Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay Foreign Currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign Currency issuer ratings are also

1-A


 

distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
     Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or individual short-term debt instruments. These obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Moody’s for short-term obligations:
     “P-1” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
     “P-2” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
     “P-3” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
     “NP” — Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
     Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) short-term ratings apply to time horizons of less than 12 months for most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities, and thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:
     “F1” — Securities possess the highest credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments 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. This designation indicates a capacity for meeting financial commitments which is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
     “D” — Securities are in actual or imminent payment default.

2-A


 

     “NR” — This designation indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the issuer or issue in question.
     The following summarizes the ratings used by Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (“DBRS”) for commercial paper and short-term debt:
     “R-1 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality, and indicates an entity possessing an unquestioned ability to repay current liabilities as they fall due. Entities rated in this category normally maintain strong liquidity positions, conservative debt levels and profitability that is both stable and above average. Companies achieving an “R-1 (high)” rating are normally leaders in structurally sound industry segments with proven track records, sustainable positive future results and no substantial qualifying negative factors. Given the extremely tough definition which DBRS has established for the “R-1 (high)” category, few entities are strong enough to achieve this rating.
     “R-1 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality and, in most cases, ratings in this category differ from “R-1 (high)” credits by only a small degree. Given the extremely tough definition which DBRS has established for the “R-1 (high)” category, entities rated “R-1 (middle)” are also considered strong credits which typically exemplify above average strength in key areas of consideration for timely repayment of short-term liabilities.
     “R-1 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of satisfactory credit quality. The overall strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt and profitability ratios are not normally as favorable as with higher rating categories, but these considerations are still respectable. Any qualifying negative factors which exist are considered manageable, and the entity is normally of sufficient size to have some influence in its industry.
     “R-2 (high)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The ability to repay obligations as they mature remains acceptable, although the overall strength and outlook for key liquidity, debt, and profitability ratios are not as strong as credits rated in the “R-1 (low)” category. Relative to the latter category, other shortcomings often include areas such as stability, financial flexibility, and the relative size and market position of the entity within its industry.
     “R-2 (middle)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. Relative to the “R-2 (high)” category, entities rated “R-2 (middle)” typically have some combination of higher volatility, weaker debt or liquidity positions, lower future cash flow capabilities, or hold a weaker industry position. Ratings in this category would also be more vulnerable to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
     “R-2 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be of only just adequate credit quality, one step up from being speculative. While not yet defined as speculative, the “R-2 (low)” category signifies that although, repayment is still expected, the certainty of repayment could be impacted by a variety of possible adverse developments, many of which would be outside of the issuer’s control. Entities in this area often have limited access to capital markets and may also have limitations in securing alternative sources of liquidity, particularly during periods of weak economic conditions.

3-A


 

     “R-3 (high),” “R-3 (middle),” “R-3 (low)” — Short-term debt rated “R-3” is speculative, and within the three subset grades, the capacity for timely payment ranges from mildly speculative to doubtful. “R-3” credits tend to have weak liquidity and debt ratios, and the future trend of these ratios is also unclear. Due to its speculative nature, companies with “R-3” ratings would normally have very limited access to alternative sources of liquidity. Earnings and cash flow would typically be very unstable, and the level of overall profitability of the entity is also likely to be low. The industry environment may be weak, and strong negative qualifying factors are also likely to be present.
     “D” — Short-term debt rated “D” implies the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment or the issuer has made it clear that it will be missing such a payment in the near future. In some cases, DBRS may not assign a “D” rating under a bankruptcy announcement scenario, as allowances for grace periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once assigned, the “D” rating will continue as long as the missed payment continues to be in arrears, and until such time as the rating is suspended, discontinued, or reinstated by DBRS.
Long-Term Credit Ratings
     The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:
     “AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
     “AA” — An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
     “A” — An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
     “BBB” — An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
     Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC,” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
     “BB” — An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
     “B” — An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB,” but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse

4-A


 

business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
     “CCC” — An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
     “CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
     “C” — A subordinated debt or preferred stock obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “C” rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. A “C” rating will also be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.
     “D” — An obligation rated “D” is in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payment 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.
     “N.R.” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
     Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay Foreign Currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign Currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
     The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:
     “Aaa” — Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.
     “Aa” — Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

5-A


 

     “A” — Obligations rated “A” are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
     “Baa” — Obligations rated “Baa” are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
     “Ba” — Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.
     “B” — Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
     “Caa” — Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
     “Ca” — Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
     “C” — Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
     Note: 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 that generic rating category.
     The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:
     “AAA” — Securities considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. “AAA” 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” — Securities considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
     “A” — Securities considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
     “BBB” — Securities considered to be investment grade and of good credit quality. “BBB” 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.

6-A


 

     “BB” — Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
     “B” — Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
     “CCC,” “CC” and “C” — Securities have high default risk. Default is a real possibility, and capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. “C” ratings signal imminent default.
     “DDD,” “DD” and “D” — Securities are in default. The ratings of obligations in these categories are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor.
     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 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 of repaying all obligations.
     Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” category or to categories below “CCC”.
     “NR” indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the issuer or issue in question.
     The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:
     “AAA” — Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality, with exceptionally strong protection for the timely repayment of principal and interest. Earnings are considered stable, the structure of the industry in which the entity operates is strong, and the outlook for future profitability is favorable. There are few qualifying factors present which would detract from the performance of the entity. The strength of liquidity and coverage ratios is unquestioned and the entity has established a creditable track record of superior performance. Given the extremely high standard which DBRS has set for this category, few entities are able to achieve a “AAA” rating.
     “AA” — Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality, and protection of interest and principal is considered high. In many cases, it differs from long-term debt rated “AAA” only to a small degree. Given the extremely restrictive definition DBRS has for the “AAA” category, entities rated “AA” are also considered to be strong credits which typically exemplify above-average strength in key areas of consideration and are unlikely to be significantly affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

7-A


 

     “A” — Long-term debt rated “A” is of satisfactory credit quality. Protection of interest and principal is still substantial, but the degree of strength is less than with “AA” rated entities. While “A” is a respectable rating, entities in this category are considered to be more susceptible to adverse economic conditions and have greater cyclical tendencies than higher-rated securities.
     “BBB” — Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. Protection of interest and principal is considered acceptable, but the entity is fairly susceptible to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions, or there may be other adverse conditions present which reduce the strength of the entity and its rated securities.
     “BB” — Long-term debt rated “BB” is defined to be speculative and non investment-grade, where the degree of protection afforded interest and principal is uncertain, particularly during periods of economic recession. Entities in the “BB” range typically have limited access to capital markets and additional liquidity support. In many cases, deficiencies in critical mass, diversification and competitive strength are additional negative considerations.
     “B” — Long-term debt rated “B” is highly speculative and there is a reasonably high level of uncertainty as to the ability of the entity to pay interest and principal on a continuing basis in the future, especially in periods of economic recession or industry adversity.
     “CCC”, CC” and “C” —Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is very highly speculative and is in danger of default of interest and principal. The degree of adverse elements present is more severe than long-term debt rated “B.” Long-term debt rated below “B” often has characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default. In practice, there is little difference between these categories, with “CC” and “C” normally used for lower ranking debt of companies for which the senior debt is rated in the “CCC” to “B” range.
     “D” Long-term debt rated “D” implies the issuer has either not met a scheduled payment of interest or principal or that the issuer has made it clear that it will miss such a payment in the near future. In some cases, DBRS may not assign a “D” rating under a bankruptcy announcement scenario, as allowances for grace periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once assigned, the “D” rating will continue as long as the missed payment continues to be in arrears, and until such time as the rating is suspended, discontinued or reinstated by DBRS.
     (“high”, “low”) — Each rating category is denoted by the subcategories “high” and “low”. The absence of either a “high” or “low” designation indicates the rating is in the “middle” of the category. The “AAA” and “D” categories do not utilize “high”, “middle”, and “low” as differential grades.
Municipal Note Ratings
     A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes due in three years or less. Notes maturing beyond three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for municipal notes:

8-A


 

     “SP-1” — The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
     “SP-2” — The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
     “SP-3” — The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
     Moody’s uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3”. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated “SG”, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for these short-term obligations:
     “MIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
     “MIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
     “MIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
     “SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
     In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned; a long- or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” rating.
     When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated “NR”, e.g., “Aaa/NR” or “NR/VMIG-1”.
     VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
     “VMIG-1” — This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

9-A


 

     “VMIG-2” — This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
     “VMIG-3” — This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
     “SG” — This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
     Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term credit ratings.
About Credit Ratings
A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a financial obligation inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, information or based on other circumstances.
Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not as statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.
Fitch credit ratings are an opinion on the ability of an entity or a securities issue to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, or repayment of principal, on a timely basis. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of getting their money back in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch credit ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of any payments of any security. The ratings are based on information from issuers, other obligors, underwriters, their experts and other sources Fitch believes to be reliable. Fitch does not audit or verify the truth or accuracy of such information. Ratings may be changed or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or the unavailability of, information or for other reasons.
DBRS credit ratings are not buy, hold or sell recommendations, but rather the result of qualitative and quantitative analysis focusing solely on the credit quality of the issuer and its underlying obligations.

10-A


 

APPENDIX B
ISS PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY
The following is a summary of certain of the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines, which form the substantive basis of the Investment Advisers’ Policy on Proxy Voting (“Policy”) with respect to public equity investments. Unlike the abbreviated nature of this summary, the actual ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines address additional voting matters and provide more discussion regarding the factors that may determine ISS’s position on a matter. The Investment Advisers may diverge from the ISS guidelines and a related ISS recommendation on any particular proxy vote or in connection with any individual investment decision.
1. Auditors
Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:
  An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent,
 
  Fees for non-audit services are excessive, or
 
  There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position.
2. Board of Directors
a. Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
Votes on director nominees should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, examining, among other factors, the following factors: composition of the board and key board committees, attendance at board meetings, corporate governance provisions and takeover activity, long-term company performance relative to a market index, and whether the chairman is also serving as a CEO.
b. Classification/Declassification of the Board
Vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board.
Vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.
c. Independent Chairman (Separate Chairman/CEO)
Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring the position of chairman to be filled by an independent director unless there are compelling reasons to recommend against the proposal.

1-B


 

d. Majority of Independent Directors/Establishment of Committees
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that a majority or more of directors be independent unless the board composition already meets the proposed threshold by ISS’s definition of independence.
Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking that board audit, compensation, and/or nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors if they currently do not meet that standard.
3. Shareholder Rights
a. Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by written consent.
Vote FOR proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written consent.
b. Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings
Vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings.
Vote FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management.
c. Supermajority Vote Requirements
Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote.
Vote FOR proposals to lower supermajority vote requirements.
d. Cumulative Voting
Vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
Vote proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting on a CASE-BY-CASE basis relative to the company’s other governance provisions.
e. Confidential Voting
Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that corporations adopt confidential voting, use independent vote tabulators and use independent inspectors of election, as long as the proposal includes a provision for proxy contests as follows: In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents will not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.

2-B


 

Vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.
4. Proxy Contests
a. Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections
Votes in a contested election of directors must be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering the factors that include, among others, the long-term financial performance, management’s track record, qualifications of director nominees (both slates), and an evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders.
b. Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses
Vote CASE-BY-CASE. Where ISS recommends in favor of the dissidents, ISS also recommends voting for reimbursing proxy solicitation expenses.
5. Poison Pills
Vote FOR shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill to shareholder vote or redeem it.
6. Mergers and Acquisitions
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions based on such features, among others, as the fairness opinion, pricing, prospects of the combined company, and the negotiating process.
7. Reincorporation Proposals
Proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, giving consideration to both financial and corporate governance concerns, including the reasons for reincorporating, a comparison of the governance provisions, and a comparison of the jurisdictional laws. Vote FOR reincorporation when the economic factors outweigh any neutral or negative governance changes.
8. Capital Structure
a. Common Stock Authorization
Votes on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis using a model developed by ISS.
Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting rights.

3-B


 

Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a company’s shares are in danger of being de-listed or if a company’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.
b. Dual-class Stock
Vote AGAINST proposals to create a new class of common stock with superior voting rights.
Vote FOR proposals to create a new class of non-voting or sub-voting common stock if:
  It is intended for financing purposes with minimal or no dilution to current shareholders
 
  It is not designed to preserve the voting power of an insider or significant shareholder
9. Executive and Director Compensation
Votes with respect to equity based compensation plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. The ISS methodology for reviewing compensation plans primarily focuses on the transfer of shareholder wealth (the dollar cost of pay plans to shareholders instead of simply focusing on voting power dilution). Using the expanded compensation data disclosed under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules, ISS will value every award type. ISS will include in its analyses an estimated dollar cost for the proposed plan and all continuing plans. This cost, dilution to shareholders’ equity, will also be expressed as a percentage figure for the transfer of shareholder wealth, and will be considered along with dilution to voting power. Once ISS determines the estimated cost of the plan, ISS compares it to a company-specific dilution cap. Vote AGAINST equity plans that explicitly permit repricing of underwater stock options without shareholder approval.
a. Management Proposals Seeking Approval to Reprice Options
Votes on management proposals seeking approval to reprice options are evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis giving consideration to the following:
  Historic trading patterns
 
  Rationale for the repricing
 
  Value-for-value exchange
 
  Option vesting
 
  Term of the option
 
  Exercise price
 
  Participation
b. Employee Stock Purchase Plans
Votes on employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Vote FOR employee stock purchase plans where all of the following apply:
  Purchase price is at least 85 percent of fair market value;
 
  Offering period is 27 months or less; and

4-B


 

  Potential voting power dilution is ten percent or less.
Vote AGAINST employee stock purchase plans where any of the opposite conditions obtain.
c. Shareholder Proposals on Compensation
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director pay information and shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote. Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking to set absolute levels on compensation or otherwise dictate the amount or form of compensation.
Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for all other shareholder proposals regarding executive and director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level versus peers, pay level versus industry, and long-term corporate outlook.
10. Social and Environmental Issues
These issues cover a wide range of topics, including consumer and public safety, environment and energy, general corporate issues, labor standards and human rights, military business, and workplace diversity.
Generally, ISS votes CASE-BY-CASE on such proposals. However, there are certain specific topics where ISS generally votes FOR the proposal (e.g., proposals seeking a report on a company’s animal welfare standards) or AGAINST the proposal (e.g., reports on foreign military sales or offsets).

5-B


 

APPENDIX C
STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS PROXY VOTING POLICY
Introduction
State Street Global Advisors (“SSgA”) seeks to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients. In the ordinary course, this entails voting proxies in a way which SSgA believes will maximize the monetary value of each portfolio’s holdings. SSgA takes the view that this will benefit our direct clients (e.g. investment funds) and, indirectly, the ultimate owners and beneficiaries of those clients (e.g. fund shareholders).
Oversight of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of the SSgA Investment Committee. The SSgA Investment Committee reviews and approves amendments to the SSgA Proxy Voting Policy and delegates authority to vote in accordance with this policy to Proxy Voting Services. SSgA retains the final authority and responsibility for voting. In addition to voting proxies, SSgA:
  1)   provides the client with this written proxy policy, upon request;
 
  2)   matches proxies received with holdings as of record date;
 
  3)   reconciles holdings as of record date and rectifies any discrepancies;
 
  4)   generally applies its proxy voting policy consistently and keeps records of votes for each client;
 
  5)   documents the reason(s) for voting for all non-routine items; and
 
  6)   keeps records of such proxy voting available for inspection by the client or governmental agencies.
Process
The SSgA Principal — Manager of Corporate Actions is responsible for monitoring corporate actions. As stated above, oversight of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of the SSgA Investment Committee, which retains oversight responsibility for all investment activities of all State Street Corporation investment firms.
In order to facilitate our proxy voting process, SSgA retains a firm with expertise in the proxy voting and corporate governance fields to assist in the due diligence process. The Manager of Corporate Actions is responsible, working with this firm, for ensuring that proxies are submitted in a timely manner.
All proxies received on behalf of SSgA clients are forwarded to our proxy voting firm. If (i) the request falls within one of the guidelines listed below, and (ii) there are no special circumstances relating to that company or proxy which come to our attention (as discussed below), the proxy is voted according to our guidelines.
However, from time to time, proxy votes will be solicited which (i) involve special circumstances and require additional research and discussion or (ii) are not directly addressed by our policies. These proxies are identified through a number of methods, including but not limited to notification from our

1-C


 

third party proxy voting specialist, concerns of clients, review by internal proxy specialists, and questions from consultants.
In instances of special circumstances or issues not directly addressed by our policies, the Chairman of the Investment Committee is consulted for a determination of the proxy vote. The first determination is whether there is a material conflict of interest between the interests of our client and those of SSgA. If the Manager of Corporate Actions and the Chairman of the Investment Committee determine that there is a material conflict, the process detailed below under “Potential Conflicts” is followed. If there is no material conflict, we examine each of the issuer’s proposals in detail in seeking to determine what vote would be in the best interests of our clients. At this point, the Chairman of the Investment Committee makes a voting decision based on maximizing the monetary value of each portfolios’ holdings. However, the Chairman of the Investment Committee may determine that a proxy involves the consideration of particularly significant issues and present the proxy to the entire Investment Committee for a decision on voting the proxy.
SSgA also endeavors to show sensitivity to local market practices when voting proxies of non-U.S. issuers. SSgA votes in all markets where it is feasible to do so. Note that certain custodians utilized by our clients do not offer proxy voting in every foreign jurisdiction. In such a case, SSgA will be unable to vote such a proxy.
Voting
For most issues and in most circumstances, we abide by the following general guidelines. However, as discussed above, in certain circumstances, we may determine that it would be in the best interests of our clients to deviate from these guidelines.
Management Proposals
I. Generally, SSgA votes in support of shareholders on the following ballot items, which are fairly common shareholder-sponsored initiatives:
    Elections of directors who do not appear to have been remiss in the performance of their oversight responsibilities and who do not simultaneously serve on an unreasonable (as determined by SSgA) (other than those affiliated with the issues) number of other boards
 
    Approval of auditors
 
    Directors’ and auditors’ compensation
 
    Directors’ liability and indemnification
 
    Discharge of board members and auditors
 
    Financial statements and allocation of income
 
    Authorization of share repurchase programs
 
    General updating of or corrective amendments to charter

2-C


 

    Change in Corporation Name
 
    Elimination of cumulative voting
II. Generally, SSgA votes in support of management on the following items, which have potentially substantial financial or best-interest impact:
    Capitalization changes which eliminate other classes of stock and voting rights
 
    Changes in capitalization authorization for stock splits, stock dividends, and other specified needs which are no more than 50% of the existing authorization for U.S. companies and no more than 100% of existing authorization for non-U.S. companies
 
    Elimination of pre-emptive rights for share issuance of less than a given percentage (country specific — ranging from 5% to 20%) of the outstanding shares
 
    Elimination of “poison pill” rights
 
    Stock purchase plans with an exercise price of not less that 85% of fair market value
 
    Stock option plans which are incentive based and not excessive
 
    Other stock-based plans which are appropriately structured
 
    Reductions in super-majority vote requirements
 
    Adoption of anti-“greenmail” provisions
III. Generally, SSgA votes against management on the following items, which have potentially substantial financial or best interest impact:
    Capitalization changes that add “blank check” classes of stock or classes that dilute the voting interests of existing shareholders which are contrary to the best interest of existing shareholders
 
    Anti-takeover and related provisions that serve to prevent the majority of shareholders from exercising their rights or effectively deter appropriate tender offers and other offers
 
    Amendments to bylaws which would require super-majority shareholder votes to pass or repeal certain provisions
 
    Elimination of Shareholders’ Right to Call Special Meetings
 
    Establishment of classified boards of directors
 
    Reincorporation in a state which has more stringent anti-takeover and related provisions

3-C


 

    Shareholder rights plans that allow the board of directors to block appropriate offers to shareholders or which trigger provisions preventing legitimate offers from proceeding
 
    Excessive compensation
 
    Change-in-control provisions in non-salary compensation plans, employment contracts, and severance agreements which benefit management and would be costly to shareholders if triggered
 
    Adjournment of Meeting to Solicit Additional Votes
 
    “Other business as properly comes before the meeting” proposals which extend “blank check” powers to those acting as proxy
 
    Proposals requesting re-election of insiders or affiliated directors who serve on audit, compensation, and nominating committees.
IV. SSgA evaluates Mergers and Acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. Consistent with our proxy policy, we support management in seeking to achieve their objectives for shareholders. However, in all cases, SSgA uses its discretion in order to maximize shareholder value. SSgA generally votes as follows:
    Against offers with potentially damaging consequences for minority shareholders because of illiquid stock, especially in some non-US markets
 
    For offers that concur with index calculators’ treatment and our ability to meet our clients’ return objectives for passive funds
 
    For proposals to restructure or liquidate closed end investment funds in which the secondary market price is substantially lower than the net asset value
Shareholder Proposals
Traditionally, shareholder proposals have been used to encourage management and other shareholders to address socio-political issues. SSgA believes that it is inappropriate to use client assets to attempt to affect such issues. Thus, we examine shareholder proposals primarily to determine their economic impact on shareholders.
  I.   Generally SSgA votes in support of shareholders on the following ballot items, which are fairly common shareholder-sponsored initiatives:
 
    Requirements that auditors attend the annual meeting of shareholders
 
    The establishment of annual elections of the board of directors unless the board is composed by a majority of independent directors, the board’s key committees (auditing, nominating and

4-C


 

      compensation) are composed of independent directors, and there are no other material governance issues or performance issues
    Mandates requiring a majority of independent directors on the Board of Directors and the audit, nominating, and compensation committees
 
    Mandates that amendments to bylaws or charters have shareholder approval
 
    Mandates that shareholder-rights plans be put to a vote or repealed
 
    Establishment of confidential voting
 
    Expansions to reporting of financial or compensation-related information, within reason
 
    Repeals of various anti-takeover related provisions
 
    Reduction or elimination of super-majority vote requirements
 
    Repeals or prohibitions of “greenmail” provisions
 
    “Opting-out” of business combination provisions
 
    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer does not have an independent compensation committee
 
  II.   In light of recent events surrounding corporate auditors and taking into account corporate governance provisions released by the SEC, NYSE, and NASDAQ, SSgA generally votes in support of shareholders on the following ballot items, which are fairly common shareholder-sponsored initiatives:
 
    Disclosure of Auditor and Consulting relationships when the same or related entities are conducting both activities
 
    Establishment of selection committee responsible for the final approval of significant management consultant contract awards where existing firms are already acting in an auditing function
 
    Mandates that Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committee members should all be independent directors
 
    Mandates giving the Audit Committee the sole responsibility for the selection and dismissal of the auditing firm and any subsequent result of audits are reported to the audit committee
 
  III.   SSgA votes against shareholders on the following initiatives, which are fairly common shareholder-sponsored initiatives:
 
    Limits to tenure of directors

5-C


 

    Requirements that candidates for directorships own large amounts of stock before being eligible to be elected
 
    Restoration of cumulative voting in the election of directors
 
    Requirements that the company provide costly, duplicative, or redundant reports; or reports of a non-business nature
 
    Restrictions related to social, political, or special interest issues which affect the ability of the company to do business or be competitive and which have significant financial or best-interest impact
 
    Proposals which require inappropriate endorsements or corporate actions
 
    Requiring the company to expense stock options unless already mandated by FASB (or similar body) under regulations that supply a common valuation model
 
    Proposal asking companies to adopt full tenure holding periods for their executives
 
    Proposals requiring the disclosure of executive retirement benefits if the issuer has an independent compensation committee
Shareholder Activism
We at SSgA agree entirely with the United States Department of Labor’s position that “where proxy voting decisions may have an effect on the economic value of the plan’s underlying investment, plan fiduciaries should make proxy voting decisions with a view to enhancing the value of the shares of stock” (IB 94-2). Our proxy voting policy and procedures are designed to ensure that our clients receive the best possible returns on their investments. We meet directly with corporation representatives and participate in conference calls and third-party inquiries in order to ensure our processes are as fully informed as possible.
Through our membership in the Council of Institutional Investors as well as our contact with corporate pension plans, public funds, and unions, we are also able to communicate extensively with other shareholders regarding events and issues relevant to individual corporations, general industry, and current shareholder concerns.
In addition, SSgA monitors “target” lists of underperforming companies prepared by various shareholder groups, including: California Public Employee Retirement System, The City of New York - Office of the Comptroller, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Council of Institutional Investors. Companies, so identified, receive an individual, systematic review by the Corporate Governance Subcommittee of SSgA’s Investment Committee.
As an active shareholder, SSgA’s role is to ensure that corporate policies serve the best interests of the corporation’s investor-owners. Though we do not seek involvement in the day-to-day operations of an organization, we recognize the need for conscientious oversight of and input into management decisions that may affect a company’s value. To that end, our monitoring of corporate management and

6-C


 

industry events is substantially more detailed than that of the typical voter. We have demonstrated our willingness to vote against management-sponsored initiatives and to support shareholder proposals when appropriate. To date we have not filed proposals or initiated letter-writing or other campaigns, but have used our active participation in the corporate governance process—especially the proxy voting process—as the most effective means by which to communicate our and our clients’ legitimate shareholder concerns. Should an issue arise in conjunction with a specific corporation that cannot be satisfactorily resolved through these means, we shall consider other approaches.
Through the consistent, conscientious execution of our responsibilities as both fiduciary and shareholder, SSgA is able to promote the best interests of its fellow shareholders and its clients. The SSgA Proxy Voting Policy provides for this active, informed participation in the management of those corporations in which we hold shares.
Potential Conflicts
As discussed above under Process, from time to time, SSgA will review a proxy which presents a potential material conflict. For example, SSgA or its affiliates may provide services to a company whose management is soliciting proxies, or to another entity which is a proponent of a particular proxy proposal. Another example could arise when SSgA has business or other relationships with participants involved in proxy contests, such as a candidate for a corporate directorship.
As a fiduciary to its clients, SSgA takes these potential conflicts very seriously. While SSgA’s only goal in addressing any such potential conflict is to ensure that proxy votes are cast in the clients’ best interests and are not affected by SSgA’s potential conflict, there are a number of courses SSgA may take. The final decision about which course to follow shall be made by the Investment Committee.
When the matter falls clearly within one of the proposals enumerated above, casting a vote which simply follows SSgA’s pre-determined policy would eliminate SSgA’s discretion on the particular issue and hence avoid the conflict.
In other cases, where the matter presents a potential material conflict and is not clearly within one of the enumerated proposals, or is of such a nature that SSgA believes more active involvement is necessary, the Chairman of the Investment Committee shall present the proxy to the Investment Committee, who will follow one of two courses of action. First, SSgA may employ the services of a third party, wholly independent of SSgA, its affiliates and those parties involved in the proxy issue, to determine the appropriate vote.
Second, in certain situations the Investment Committee may determine that the employment of a third party is unfeasible, impractical or unnecessary. In such situations, the Investment Committee shall make a decision about the voting of the proxy. The basis for the voting decision, including the basis for the determination that the decision is in the best interests of SSgA’s clients, shall be formalized in writing as a part of the minutes to the Investment Committee. As stated above, which action is appropriate in any given scenario would be the decision of the Investment Committee in carrying out its duty to ensure that the proxies are voted in the clients’, and not SSgA’s, best interests.

7-C


 

APPENDIX D
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 helped create them. Profitability is crucial to our future.

1-D


 

     We consider our size an asset that we try hard to preserve. We want to be big enough to undertake the largest project that any of our clients could contemplate, yet small enough to maintain the loyalty, the intimacy and the esprit de corps that we all treasure and that contribute greatly to our success.
     We constantly strive to anticipate the rapidly changing needs of our clients and to develop new services to meet those needs. We know that the world of finance will not stand still and that complacency can lead to extinction.
     We regularly receive confidential information as part of our normal client relationships. To breach a confidence or to use confidential information improperly or carelessly would be unthinkable.
     Our business is highly competitive, and we aggressively seek to expand our client relationships. However, we must always be fair to competitors and must never denigrate other firms.
     Integrity and honesty are the heart of our business. We expect our people to maintain high ethical standards in everything they do, both in their work for the firm and in their personal lives.

2-D


 

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 97 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
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management increases assets under management by 100% over 1996
 
   
 
  Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 7000

3-D


 

     
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
 
   
 
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management launches the Goldman Sachs Internet Tollkeeper Fund; becomes the year’s second most successful new fund launch
 
   
2000
  Goldman Sachs CORESM Tax-Managed Equity Fund launches
 
   
 
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management has total assets under management of $298.5 billion
 
   
2001
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management reaches $100 billion in money market assets
 
   
 
  Goldman Sachs Asset Management has total assets under management of $306 billion
 
   
 
  Goldman Sachs acquires Spear, Leeds and Kellogg
 
   
2002
  Advises and services the wealth management needs of 45% of the Forbes 400*
 
   
2004
  Goldman Sachs acquires The Ayco Company, L.P., one of the oldest and largest financial planning firms in the United States
 
   
 
  Goldman Sachs combines its Australian operations with Australian securities firm JBWere, one of the most respected and oldest (having been founded in 1840) financial institutions in the region, to form Goldman Sachs JBWere
 
*   Source: Forbes.com September 2002

4-D


 

PART C — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23.   Exhibits
                 
 
  (a)     (1 )   Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 16, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (1) of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) on September 18, 1997 (Accession No. 0000950130-97-004157) (the Initial Registration Statement”).
 
               
 
        (2 )   Amendment No. 1 dated October 21, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(2) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on December 23, 1997 (Accession No. 0000950130-97-005710) (“Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1”).
 
               
 
        (3 )   Amendment No. 2 dated January 22, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on February 26, 1999 (Accession No.0000950130-99-001075) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 2”).
 
               
 
        (4 )   Amendment No. 3 dated April 28, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on January 31, 2000 (Accession No. 0000950130-00-000305)(“Post-Effective Amendment No. 3”).
 
               
 
        (5 )   Amendment No. 4 dated February 3, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on April 13, 2000 (Accession No. 0000950130-00-002070) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 4”).
 
               
 
        (6 )   Amendment No. 5 dated August 1, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on April 13, 2001 (Accession No. 0000950109-01-500531) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 5”).

1


 

                 
 
        (7 )   Amendment No. 6 dated April 25, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on April 29, 2002 (Accession No. 0000950123-02-004328) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 6”).
 
               
 
        (8 )   Amendment No. 7 dated August 1, 2002 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on April 15, 2003 (Accession No. 0000950123-03-004261) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 7”).
 
               
 
  (b)     (1 )   By-Laws of Registrant dated September 16, 1997 are incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (2) of the Initial Registration Statement.
 
               
 
        (2 )   Amendment No. 1 dated August 1, 2002 to the By-Laws is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Amended and Restated By-Laws dated October 30, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
 
               
 
        (4 )   Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated By-Laws, dated November 4, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on February 23, 2005 (Accession No. 0000950123-05-002150) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 9”).
 
               
 
  (c)           Article II, Section 10, Article IV, Section 4, Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article IX, Section 8, Section 9, and Section 12 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit (a)(1) and Article III of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit (b)(3).
 
               
 
  (d)     (1 )   Management Agreement among Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International on behalf of the Growth and Income, CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Large Cap Growth, CORE Small Cap Equity, Mid Cap Equity, Capital Growth, International Equity, Global Income and High Yield Funds is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (5) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1.

2


 

                 
 
        (2 )   Amended Annex A to Management Agreement among Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International on behalf of the Growth and Income, CORE U.S. Equity, CORE Large Cap Growth, CORE Small Cap Equity, Mid Cap Equity, Capital Growth, International Equity, Global Income, High Yield, CORE Large Cap Value, CORE International Equity, Short Duration Government and Internet Tollkeeper Funds is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on April 15, 2004 (Accession No. 0000950123-04-004626) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 8”).
 
               
 
        (4 )   Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Registrant relating to the CORE U.S. Equity Fund is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(4) of the Post Effective Amendment No. 12 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on August 22, 2005 (Accession No. 0000950123-05-010196).
 
               
 
  (e)           Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. dated February 3, 2000 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
  (f)           Not Applicable.
 
               
 
  (g)     (1 )   Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated December 31, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 of the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (No. 333-35883 and 811-08361) filed with the Commission on November 18, 1998 (Accession No. 0000950130-98-005579) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 1”).
 
               
 
        (2 )   Letter Agreement relating to Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated January 21, 2000 (Internet Tollkeeper Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated December 31, 1997 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6.

3


 

                 
 
        (4 )   Amendment dated August 1, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated December 31, 1997 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
 
               
 
  (h)     (1 )   Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. dated October 21, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (9)(a) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1.
 
               
 
        (2 )   Letter Agreement relating to Transfer Agency Agreement between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (Internet Tollkeeper Fund) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Form of Participation Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (9)(b) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1.
 
               
 
        (4 )   Amendment dated August 1, 2002 to the Transfer Agency Agreement dated October 21, 1997 between Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
 
               
 
  (i)     (1 )   Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Goldman Sachs Growth and Income, Goldman Sachs CORE U.S. Equity, Goldman Sachs CORE Large Cap Growth, Goldman Sachs CORE Small Cap Equity, Goldman Sachs Capital Growth, Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Equity, Goldman Sachs International Equity, Goldman Sachs Global Income and Goldman Sachs High Yield Funds is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (10)(a) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1.
 
               
 
        (2 )   Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Goldman Sachs CORE Large Cap Value Fund, Goldman Sachs CORE International Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Short Duration Government Fund, Goldman Sachs Conservative Strategy Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Balanced Strategy Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Strategy Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Growth Strategy Portfolio and Goldman Sachs Aggressive Growth Strategy Portfolio is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (i)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Opinion and consent of counsel relating to the Goldman Sachs Internet Tollkeeper Fund is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (i)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
  (j)     (1 )   Consent of Counsel.
 
               
 
  (j)     (2 )   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 
               
 
  (j)     (3 )   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
               
 
  (k)           Not Applicable.

4


 

                 
 
  (l)           Purchase Agreement between Registrant and The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. dated December 12, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (13) of Pre-Effective Amendment No 1.
 
               
 
  (m)           Not Applicable.
 
               
 
  (n)           None.
 
               
 
  (o)           Not Applicable.
 
               
 
  (p)     (1 )   Code of Ethics – Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, dated April 23, 1997, as amended November 4, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9.
 
               
 
        (2 )   Code of Ethics – Goldman, Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, effective January 23, 1991, as revised November 4, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 9.
 
               
 
  (q)     (1 )   Powers of Attorney of Messrs. Bakhru, Grip, Perlowski, Ford, McNulty, Shuch, Smart, Springer and Strubel and Mmes. McPherson are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1.
 
               
 
        (2 )   Power of Attorney for Patrick T. Harker is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.
 
               
 
        (3 )   Powers of Attorney dated August 2, 2001 on behalf of Gary Black, Wilma J. Smelcer and Kaysie P. Uniacke are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 6.
 
               
 
        (4 )   Power of Attorney dated March 26, 2003 on behalf of James McNamara is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
 
               
 
        (5 )   Power of Attorney dated October 30, 2003 on behalf of John P. Coblentz, Jr. is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.
Item 24.   Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with Registrant
Not applicable.

5


 

Item 25.   Indemnification
                       Article IV of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, a Delaware business trust (incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 23(a)(1) hereto), provides for indemnification of the Trustees and officers of the Trust, subject to certain limitations.
                       The Management Agreement provides that the applicable Investment Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgement or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Investment Adviser or from reckless disregard by the Investment Adviser of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement. The Management Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 23(d)(1).
                       Section 9 of the Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 23(e)) and Section 7 of the Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 23(h)(1)) provide that the Registrant will indemnify Goldman, Sachs & Co. against certain liabilities.
                       Mutual fund and trustees and officers liability policies purchased jointly by the Registrant, Goldman Sachs Trust, Trust for Credit Unions and The Commerce Funds insure such persons and their respective trustees, partners, officers and employees, subject to the policies’ coverage limits and exclusions and varying deductibles, against loss resulting from claims by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

6


 

Item 26.   Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM LP”) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and serve as investment advisers to the Registrant. Set forth below are the names, businesses and business addresses of certain managing directors of GSAM LP and GSAMI who are engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature.
               
Name and Position with   Name and Address of Other   Connection with
the Investment Advisers     Company     Other Company  
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
       
Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
Managing Director-
GSAM LP
  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director
 
 
Managing Director
 
       
Robert J. Hurst
Managing Director-
GSAM LP
  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
  Vice Chairman and Director
 
 
 
Managing Director
 
       
Lloyd C. Blankfein
Managing Director-
GSAM LP
  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
  President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director
 
 
Managing Director

7


 

Item 27.   Principal Underwriter.
(a) Goldman, Sachs & Co. or an affiliate or a division thereof currently serves as distributor of the units of Trust for Credit Unions, for shares of Goldman Sachs Trust and for shares of Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust. Goldman, Sachs & Co., or a division thereof currently serves as administrator and distributor of the units or shares of The Commerce Funds.
(b) Set forth below is certain information pertaining to the Managing Directors of Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Registrant’s principal underwriter, who are members of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s Management Committee. None of the members of the management committee holds a position or office with the Registrant.
GOLDMAN SACHS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
         
Name and Principal    
Business Address     Position with Goldman, Sachs & Co.  
         
         
Lloyd C. Blankfein (1)
  Managing Director
Alan M. Cohen (5)
  Managing Director
Gary D. Cohn (1)
  Managing Director
Christopher A. Cole (1)
  Managing Director
Mario Draghi (3)
  Managing Director
J. Michael Evans (5)
  Managing Director
Edward C. Forst (1)
  Managing Director
Richard A. Friedman (1)
  Managing Director
Richard J. Gnodde (8)
  Managing Director
Suzanne M. Nora Johnson (5)
  Managing Director
Robert S. Kaplan (1)
  Managing Director
Scott B. Kapnick (3)
  Managing Director
Kevin W. Kennedy (1)
  Managing Director
Peter S. Kraus (5)
  Managing Director
Masanori Mochida (6)
  Managing Director
Thomas K. Montag (5)
  Managing Director
Gregory K. Palm (1)
  General Counsel and Managing Director
Henry M. Paulson, Jr. (1)
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
John F.W. Rogers (1)
  Managing Director
Eric S. Schwartz (5)
  Managing Director
Michael S. Sherwood (7)
  Managing Director
David M. Solomon (5)
  Managing Director
Esta Stecher (5)
  General Counsel and Managing Director
David A. Viniar (4)
  Managing Director
John S. Weinberg (1)
  Managing Director
Peter A. Weinberg (3)
  Managing Director
Jon Winkelried (3)
  Managing Director
 
(1)   85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
 
(2)   32 Old Slip, New York, NY 10005

8


 

(3)   Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BB, England
 
(4)   10 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10005
 
(5)   One New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004
 
(6)   12-32, Akasaka I-chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-6006, Japan
 
(7)   River Court, 120 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2QQ, England
 
(8)   Cheung Kong Center, 68th Floor, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong, China
 
(c)   Not Applicable.
Item 28.   Location of Accounts and Records
                       The Declaration of Trust, By-laws and minute books of the Registrant and certain investment adviser records are in the physical possession of GSAM LP, 32 Old Slip, New York, New York 10005. All other accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained under Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder are in the physical possession of State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 1713, Boston, Massachusetts 02105 except for certain transfer agency and underwriting records which are maintained by Goldman, Sachs & Co., 71 South Wacker, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
Item 29.   Management Services
                       Not Applicable.
Item 30.   Undertakings
                       Not Applicable.

9


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 26th of October, 2005.
         
  GOLDMAN SACHS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Registrant
 
 
  By:   /s/ Howard B. Surloff    
          Howard B. Surloff   
          Secretary   
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to Registrant’s Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
               
Name     Title     Date  
               
*Kaysie P. Uniacke
  Kaysie P. Uniacke
  President (Chief Executive Officer)
and Trustee
  October 26, 2005
 
       
*John M. Perlowski
  John M. Perlowski
  Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer
and Principal Financial Officer)
  October 26, 2005
 
       
*Mary Patterson McPherson
  Mary Patterson McPherson
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*Ashok N. Bakhru
  Ashok N. Bakhru
  Chairman and Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*Alan A. Shuch
  Alan A. Shuch
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*Wilma J. Smelcer
  Wilma J. Smelcer
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*Richard P. Strubel
  Richard P. Strubel
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*Patrick T. Harker
  Patrick T. Harker
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
*John P. Coblentz, Jr.
  John P. Coblentz, Jr.
  Trustee   October 26, 2005
 
       
By:/s/ Howard B. Surloff
      Howard B. Surloff,
      Attorney-In-Fact
       
*Pursuant to a power of attorney previously filed.

10


 

CERTIFICATE
     The undersigned Secretary for Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”) hereby certifies that the Board of Trustees of the Trust duly adopted the following resolution at a meeting of the Board held on June 16, 2005.
          RESOLVED, that the Trustees and Officers of the Trusts who may be required to execute any amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement be, and each hereby is, authorized to execute a power of attorney appointing Peter Bonanno, James A. Fitzpatrick, Christopher Keller, James McNamara, John W. Perlowski, and Howard B. Surloff jointly and severally, their attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution, for said Trustees and Officers in any and all capacities to sign the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 of the Trusts and any and all amendments to such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trustees and Officers hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or caused to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: October 26, 2005
         
     
  /s/ Howard B. Surloff      
  Howard B. Surloff,   
  Secretary   
 

11


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
 
   
(j)(1)
  Consent of Counsel
 
   
(j)(2)
  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
   
(j)(3)
  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

12