Goldman Sachs Trust

Name and Title

Fund Responsibility

Years
Primarily
Responsible

Five Year Employment History

Ben Barber

Managing Director

Head Of Municipals

Portfolio Manager

Since

2019

Mr. Barber is the Head of the Municipals team. Mr. Barber joined the Investment Adviser in 1999 as a portfolio manager, and prior to that, he managed high yield municipal and municipal bond funds at Franklin Templeton for eight years.

Scott Diamond

Managing Director

Portfolio Manager

Since

2019

Mr. Diamond is a portfolio manager on the U.S. Municipals team. Mr. Diamond joined the Investment Adviser in 2002 as a portfolio manager.

485APOS 1 d672389d485apos.htm GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST Goldman Sachs Trust

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2018

1933 Act Registration No. 033-17619

1940 Act Registration No. 811-05349

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER


		*THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933*		☒
		Pre-Effective Amendment No.		☐
		Post-Effective Amendment No. 713		☒

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER


		*THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940*		☒
		Amendment No. 714		☒

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

71 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (312) 655-4400

CAROLINE L. KRAUS, ESQ.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

STEPHEN H. BIER, ESQ.

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the registration statement

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

☐	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

☐	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

☐	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☐	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

☒	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

☐	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

☐	this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Title of Securities Being Registered:

Class R6 Shares of the Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Preliminary Prospectus dated December 14, 2018

Subject to Completion

Prospectus

GOLDMAN SACHS MUNICIPAL INCOME COMPLETION FUND

[ ], 2019

⬛

Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund

∎

Class R6 Shares: [ ]

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

LOGO

Table of Contents


Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund – Summary		1

Investment Management Approach		5

Risks of the Fund		8

Service Providers		13

Distributions		16

Shareholder Guide		17

How To Buy Shares	17

How To Sell Shares	21

Taxation		24

Appendix A Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques		26

Appendix B Financial Highlights		38

LOGO

Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund—Summary

Investment Objective

The Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund (the “Fund”) seeks a high level of current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.


	Class R6
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees¹		[	]%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		None
Other Expenses²		[	]%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		[	]%
Expense Limitation³		([ ]	)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Limitation		[	]%

The Fund does not pay a management fee to the Investment Adviser under the Management Agreement between Goldman Sachs Trust and the Investment Adviser. However, the Fund is used exclusively to implement municipal investment strategies for separately managed account clients of the Investment Adviser that participate in certain “wrap-fee” programs, including those sponsored by investment advisers and broker-dealers unaffiliated with the Fund or the Investment Adviser. Participants in these programs pay a “wrap” fee to the sponsor of the program. You should read carefully the wrap-program brochure provided to you by the sponsor or your investment adviser. The brochure is required to include information about the fees charged to you by the sponsor and the fees paid by the sponsor to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. You pay no additional fees or expenses to purchase shares of the Fund.

The “Other Expenses” have been estimated to reflect expenses expected to be incurred during the first fiscal year. “Other Expenses” include an estimated interest expense of [ ]%. Interest expense is borne by the Fund. Excluding the estimated interest expense, Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses are expected to be [ ]%.

Expense Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class R6 Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class R6 Shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the Example incorporates the expense limitation for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:



	1 Year		3 Years
Class R6 Shares	$	[ ]	$	[ ]

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (i.e., “turns over” its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund’s performance. Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of the Prospectus, there is no portfolio turnover information quoted for the Fund.

Principal Strategy

The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) (“Net Assets”) in 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”), the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes). The Fund may invest up to 100% of its Net Assets in private activity bonds, the interest on which (including the Fund’s distributions of such interest) may be a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax. 100% of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Fund may invest without limitation in Municipal Securities that, at the time of purchase, are non-investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Non-investment grade securities are securities rated BB+, Ba1 or below by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality. The Fund may purchase the securities of issuers that are in default.

The Fund may, without limitation, use derivatives instead of buying and selling fixed income securities directly to manage duration, to gain exposure to individual securities or to gain exposure to a credit or asset-backed index. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may include futures contracts (including interest rate futures and treasury futures), options (including options on futures contracts, swaps, bonds, and indexes), and swaps (including credit default, index, total return, and interest rate swaps).

The Fund may focus its investments in issuers within the same state or economic sector. The portfolio management team uses a multi-faceted approach when evaluating whether to add or maintain exposure to any individual position. A top-down approach is used to assess broad macro trends while a bottom-up analysis is used to determine relative value between individual securities. Individual securities will be considered for purchase or sale based on credit profile, risk, structure, pricing, and portfolio impact, as well as duration management, restructuring, opportunistic trading and tax loss harvesting.

The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies (specifically, registered money market funds) to manage uninvested cash in the Fund.

Under normal interest rate conditions, the Fund’s duration is expected to range between two and eight years. “Duration” is a measure of a debt security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer the duration of the Fund (or an individual debt security), the more sensitive its market price to changes in interest rates. For example, if market interest rates increase by 1%, the market price of a debt security with a positive duration of 3 will generally decrease by approximately 3%. Conversely, a 1% decline in market interest rates will generally result in an increase of approximately 3% of that security’s market price.

Principal Risks of the Fund

Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any government agency. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Investments in the Fund involve substantial risks which prospective investors should consider carefully before investing.

Credit/Default Risk. An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities held by the Fund (which may have a low credit rating) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal or default on any other obligation. Additionally, the credit quality of securities may deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Fund’s liquidity and cause significant net asset value (“NAV”) deterioration. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund’s investments in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund’s use of futures contracts (including interest rate futures and treasury futures), options (including options on futures contracts, swaps, bonds, and indexes), swaps (including credit default, index, total return, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments may result in losses. These instruments, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other instruments, may be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of underlying instruments may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Certain derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligation. The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with investments in more traditional securities and instruments.

Geographic and Sector Risk. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its total assets in certain issuers within the same state, geographic region or economic sector, an adverse economic, business, political, environmental or other development affecting that state, region or sector may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so focused.

Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments held by the Fund will generally decline in value. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term fixed income securities or instruments. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

Large Shareholder Transactions Risk. The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell portfolio securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity. Similarly, large Fund share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. These transactions may also accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders if such sales of investments resulted in gains, and may also increase transaction costs. In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may make investments that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value. Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. To meet redemption requests, the Fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions. Liquidity risk may be the result of, among other things, the reduced number and capacity of traditional market participants to make a market in fixed income securities or the lack of an active market. The potential for liquidity risk may be magnified by a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where investor redemptions from fixed income mutual funds may be higher than normal, potentially causing increased supply in the market due to selling activity.

Market Risk. The value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions throughout the world due to increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets.

Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal Securities are subject to credit/default risk, interest rate risk and certain additional risks. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of similar projects (such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities), industrial development bonds, or in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, private activity bonds and moral obligation bonds).

Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are considered speculative and are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific issuer developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less liquidity. The Fund may purchase the securities of issuers that are in default.

State/Territory Specific Risk. The Fund’s investments in municipal obligations of issuers located in a particular state or U.S. territory may be adversely affected by political, economic, and regulatory developments within that state or U.S. territory. Such developments may affect the financial condition of a state’s or territory’s political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and public authorities and heighten the risks associated with investing in bonds issued by such parties, which could, in turn, adversely affect the Fund’s income, NAV, liquidity, and/or ability to preserve or realize capital appreciation.

Tax Risk. Any proposed or actual changes in income tax rates or the tax-exempt status of interest income from Municipal Securities can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of Municipal Securities. Such changes may affect the Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of Municipal Securities at desirable yield and price levels.

Performance

Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of the Prospectus, there is no performance information quoted for the Fund.

Portfolio Management

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is the investment adviser for the Fund (the “Investment Adviser” or “GSAM”).

Portfolio Managers: Ben Barber, Managing Director, Head of Municipals, has managed the Fund since 2019; Scott Diamond, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2019.

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

A client agreement to open an account typically may be obtained by contacting the Wrap Program Sponsor. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment in the Fund.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions of interest on municipal obligations generally are not subject to federal income tax; however the Fund may distribute taxable dividends, including distributions of short-term capital gains, and long-term capital gains. In addition, interest on certain obligations may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. To the extent that the Fund’s distributions are derived from interest on obligations that are not exempt from applicable state and local taxes, such distributions will be subject to such state and local taxes.

Investment Management Approach


		INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund (the “Fund”) seeks a high level of current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax


		PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its Net Assets in Municipal Securities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes). The Fund may invest up to 100% of its Net Assets in private activity bonds, the interest on which (including the Fund’s distributions of such interest) may be a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax. 100% of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

The Fund may invest without limitation in Municipal Securities that, at the time of purchase, are non-investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Non-investment grade securities are securities rated BB+, Ba1 or below by a NRSRO, or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality. The Fund may purchase the securities of issuers that are in default.

The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies (specifically, registered money market funds) to manage uninvested cash in the Fund.

Under normal interest rate conditions, the Fund’s duration is expected to range between two and eight years.

The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes (and to the extent that it is permitted to invest in the following), the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”), commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“Standard & Poor’s”), P-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or having a comparable credit rating by another NRSRO (or if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements, non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other investment companies and cash items. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.

GSAM’s Municipal Fixed Income Investing Philosophy:

Fixed income markets are constantly evolving and are highly diverse. Our municipal fixed income management process is deeply rooted in a philosophy of disciplined “bottom up” research which seeks to recognize tactical opportunities, pricing mismatches and strategic trends. As a result of market inefficiencies, we believe our market access and expertise has historically been an important driver of risk-adjusted returns. Our process emphasizes:

⬛

In-depth security research

⬛

Tax efficiency and after-tax income

⬛

Yield Curve Strategies

⬛

Disciplined Risk Management

With every fixed income portfolio, the Investment Adviser applies a team approach that emphasizes risk management and capitalizes on GSAM’s extensive research capabilities.

Under normal interest rate conditions, the Fund’s duration is expected to range between two and eight years. The Fund’s duration approximates its price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, suppose that interest rates in one day fall by 1% which, in turn, causes yields on every bond in the market to fall by the same amount. In this example, the price of a bond with a duration of 3 years may be expected to rise approximately 3% and the price of a bond with a 5 year duration may be expected to rise approximately 5%. The converse is also true. Suppose interest rates in one day rise by 1% which, in turn, causes yields on every bond in the market to rise by the same amount. In this second example, the price of a bond with a duration of 3 years may be expected to fall approximately 3% and the price of a bond with a 5 year duration may be expected to fall approximately 5%. The longer the duration of a bond, the more sensitive the bond’s price is to changes in interest rates. In computing portfolio duration, the Fund will estimate the duration of obligations that are subject to prepayment or redemption by the issuer, taking into account the influence of interest rates on prepayments and coupon flows. This method of computing duration is known as “option-adjusted” duration. The Fund will not be limited as to its maximum weighted average portfolio maturity or the maximum stated maturity or the maximum stated maturity with respect to individual securities unless otherwise noted.

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 calculating maturity, the Fund may determine the maturity of a variable or floating rate obligation according to its interest rate reset date, or the date principal can be recovered on demand, rather than the date of ultimate maturity. Similarly, to the extent that a fixed income obligation has a call, refunding or redemption provision, the date on which the instrument is expected to be called, refunded, or redeemed may be considered to be its maturity date. There is no guarantee that the expected call, refund or redemption will occur, and the Fund’s average maturity may lengthen beyond the Investment Adviser’s expectations should the expected call, refund or redemption not occur.


		OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES

Although the Fund’s principal investment strategies are described in the Fund’s Summary—Principal Strategy section of the Prospectus, the following tables identify some of the investment techniques that may (but are not required to) be used by the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Numbers in these tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Fund’s annual/semi-annual report (when available). For more information about these and other investment practices and securities, see Appendix A.

The Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings for the Fund as of the end of each fiscal quarter subject to a thirty day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, the Fund publishes on its website selected portfolio holdings information as of the end of each month subject to a ten day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. This information will be available on the website until the date on which the Fund files its next quarterly portfolio holdings report on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In addition, a description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT APPROACH


10		Percent of total assets (italic type)
10		Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)
•		No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund



		Municipal Income Completion Fund
Investment Practices

Borrowings		33¹⁄₃

Credit, Interest Rate and Total Return Swaps		•

Financial Futures Contracts and Options on Futures		•

Illiquid Investments*		15

Interest Rate Floors, Caps and Collars		•

Options**		•

Repurchase Agreements		•

Standby Commitments and Tender Option Bonds		•

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments		•

Investment Company Securities (including ETFs)***		10

*	Illiquid investments are any investments which cannot be disposed of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which the Fund values the instrument.

**	The Fund may sell call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and securities indices in which they invest.

***	This percentage limitation does not apply to the Fund’s investments in investment companies (including ETFs) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the terms of an SEC exemptive order or SEC exemptive rule.



		Municipal Income Completion Fund
Investment Securities

Asset-Backed Securities		•

Convertible Securities		•

Corporate Debt Obligations and Trust Preferred Securities		•

Floating and Variable Rate Obligations		•

Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities		•

Structured Securities		•

Taxable Municipal Securities		20

Tax-Free Municipal Securities		80+¹

Temporary Investments		•²

U.S. Government Securities		•

¹	The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in municipal securities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax.

²	The Fund may invest no more than 20% of its Net Assets in taxable investments under normal market conditions. Under unusual conditions, taxable investments may exceed this percentage.

Risks of the Fund

Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of the Fund are discussed in the Summary section of the Prospectus. The following section provides additional information on the risks that apply to the Fund, which may result in a loss of your investment. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.


✓		Principal risk
•		Additional Risk



		Municipal Income Completion Fund

Call/Prepayment		•

Credit/Default		✓

Derivatives		✓

Distressed Debt		•

Extension		•

Floating and Variable Rate Obligations		•

Geographic and Sector		✓

Interest Rate		✓

Large Shareholder Transactions		✓

Liquidity		✓

Management		•

Market		✓

Municipal Securities		✓

NAV		•

Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities		✓

Regulatory (Volcker Rule)		•

State Specific		✓

Tax		✓

U.S. Government Securities		•

⬛

Call/Prepayment Risk—An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as an asset-backed security) earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates, when credit spreads change, or when an issuer’s credit quality improves. Under these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to recoup all of its initial investment and will also suffer from having to reinvest in lower yielding securities.

⬛

Credit/Default Risk—An issuer or guarantor of fixed income securities or instruments held by the Fund (which may have low credit ratings) may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal or default on any other obligation. This risk includes the risk of default on foreign letters of credit or guarantees that may back Municipal Securities. The credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio securities or instruments may meet the Fund’s credit quality requirements at the time of purchase but then deteriorate thereafter, and such a deterioration can occur rapidly. In certain instances, the downgrading or default of a single holding or guarantor of the Fund’s holding may impair the Fund’s liquidity and have the potential to cause significant deterioration in NAV. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund’s investments in non-investment grade fixed-income securities.

⬛

Derivatives Risk—The Fund’s use of futures contracts (including interest rate futures and treasury futures), options (including options on futures contracts, swaps, bonds, and indexes), swaps (including credit default, index, total return, and interest rate swaps) and other derivative instruments may result in losses. These instruments, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other instruments, may be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of the underlying instruments may produce disproportionate losses to the Fund. Certain derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party in the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligations, liquidity risk and risks arising from margin requirements, which include the risk that the

RISKS OF THE FUND

Fund will be required to pay additional margin or set aside additional collateral to maintain open derivative positions. Derivatives may be used for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with investments in more traditional securities and instruments, and there is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will achieve their intended result. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuation in securities prices, interest rates or other variables, the use of derivatives could result in losses, which in some cases may be significant. A lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivatives and the value of the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged could also result in losses. There is also a risk that the performance of the derivatives or other instruments used by the Investment Adviser to replicate the performance of a particular asset class may not accurately track the performance of that asset class. In addition, the Fund’s use of derivatives could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders which may result in the Fund realizing less tax-exempt income and more income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in derivative transactions, which may adversely impact the Fund’s after-tax return.

⬛

Distressed Debt Risk—When the Fund invests in obligations of financially troubled issuers (sometimes known as “distressed” securities), there exists the risk that the transaction involving such debt obligations will be unsuccessful, take considerable time or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security or obligation in exchange for the stressed and distressed debt obligations, the value of which may be less than the Fund’s purchase price of such debt obligations. Furthermore, if an anticipated transaction does not occur, the Fund may be required to sell its investment at a loss or hold its investment pending bankruptcy proceedings in the event the issuer files for bankruptcy.

⬛

Extension Risk—An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as an asset-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 the Fund will also suffer from the inability to reinvest in higher yielding securities.

⬛

Floating and Variable Rate Obligations Risk—Floating rate and variable rate obligations are debt instruments issued by companies or other entities with interest rates that reset periodically (typically, daily, month, quarterly, or semi-annually) in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. For floating and variable rate obligations, there may be a lag between an actual change in the underlying interest rate benchmark and the reset time for an interest payment of such an obligation, which could harm or benefit the Fund, depending on the interest rate environment or other circumstances. In a rising interest rate environment, for example, a floating or variable rate obligation that does not reset immediately would prevent the Fund from taking full advantage of rising interest rates in a timely manner. However, in a declining interest rate environment, the Fund may benefit from a lag due to an obligation’s interest rate payment not being immediately impacted by a decline in interest rates.

Certain floating and variable rate obligations have an interest rate floor feature, which prevents the interest rate payable by the security from dropping below a specified level as compared to a reference interest rate (the “reference rate”), such as LIBOR. Such a floor protects the Fund from losses resulting from a decrease in the reference rate below the specified level. However, if the reference rate is below the floor, there will be a lag between a rise in the reference rate and a rise in the interest rate payable by the obligation, and the Fund may not benefit from increasing interest rates for a significant amount of time.

⬛

Geographic and Sector Risk––If the Fund invests a significant portion of its total assets in securities of issuers within the same state, geographic region or economic sector, an adverse economic, business, political, environmental or other development affecting that state, region or sector may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if its investments were not so focused.

⬛

Interest Rate Risk—When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments held by the Fund (which may include inflation protected securities) will generally decline in value. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short-term fixed-income securities or instruments. A wide variety of market factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation and changes in general economic conditions. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

⬛

Large Shareholder Transactions Risk—The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions may cause the Fund to sell portfolio securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the Fund’s NAV and liquidity. Similarly, large Fund share purchases may adversely affect the Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required

to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would. These transactions may also accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders if such sales of investments resulted in gains, and may also increase transaction costs. In addition, a large redemption could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio.

⬛

Liquidity Risk—The Fund may invest to a greater degree in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that are less liquid than other investments. Also, the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

To the extent that the traditional dealer counterparties that engage in fixed income trading do not maintain inventories of bonds (which provide an important indication of their ability to “make markets”) that keep pace with the growth of the bond markets over time, relatively low levels of dealer inventories could lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Additionally, market participants other than the Fund may attempt to sell fixed income holdings at the same time as the Fund, which could cause downward pricing pressure and contribute to illiquidity.

To the extent the Fund holds non-investment grade fixed income securities, the Fund may be especially subject to the risk that during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities within a particular investment category may 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.

Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. While the Fund reserves the right to meet redemption requests through in-kind distributions, the Fund may instead choose to raise cash to meet redemption requests through sales of portfolio securities or permissible borrowings. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.

Certain shareholders, including clients of the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund’s shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund’s liquidity risk and may impact the Fund’s NAV.

⬛

Management Risk—A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results.

⬛

Market Risk—The value of the securities in which the Fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions throughout the world. Price changes may be temporary or last for extended periods. The Fund’s investments may be overweighted from time to time in one or more sectors or countries, which will increase the Fund’s exposure to risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those sectors or countries.

Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. In addition, governmental and quasi-governmental organizations have taken a number of unprecedented actions designed to support the markets. Such conditions, events and actions may result in greater market risk.

⬛

Municipal Securities Risk—Municipal securities are subject to call/prepayment risk, credit/default risk, extension risk, interest rate risk and certain additional risks. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of similar projects (such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities), industrial development bonds, or in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, private activity bonds and moral obligation bonds). Specific risks are associated with different types of municipal securities. With respect to general obligation bonds, the full faith, credit and taxing power of the municipality that issues a general obligation bond secures payment of interest and repayment of principal. Timely payments depend on the issuer’s credit quality, ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base. Certain of the municipalities in which the Fund invest may experience significant financial difficulties, which may lead to bankruptcy or default.

With respect to revenue bonds, payments of interest and principal are made only from the revenues generated by a particular facility, class of facilities or the proceeds of a special tax, or other revenue source, and depends on the money earned by that source. Private activity bonds are issued by municipalities and other public authorities to finance development of industrial facilities for use by a private enterprise. The private enterprise pays the principal and interest on the bond, and the issuer does not pledge

RISKS OF THE FUND

its full faith, credit and taxing power for repayment. If the private enterprise defaults on its payments, the Fund may not receive any income or get its money back from the investment. Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the state or municipality. Municipal notes are shorter term municipal debt obligations. They may provide interim financing in anticipation of, and are secured by, tax collection, bond sales or revenue receipts. If there is a shortfall in the anticipated proceeds, the notes may not be fully repaid and the Fund may lose money. In a municipal lease obligation, the issuer agrees to make payments when due on the lease obligation. The issuer will generally appropriate municipal funds for that purpose, but is not obligated to do so. Although the issuer does not pledge its unlimited taxing power for payment of the lease obligation, the lease obligation is secured by the leased property. However, if the issuer does not fulfill its payment obligation it may be difficult to sell the property and the proceeds of a sale may not cover the Fund’s loss.

⬛

NAV Risk—The net asset value of the Fund and the value of your investment will fluctuate.

⬛

Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities Risk—The Fund will invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) that are considered speculative. Non-investment grade fixed income securities and unrated securities of comparable credit quality are subject to the increased risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. These securities may be subject to greater price volatility due to such factors as specific issuer developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less liquidity.

⬛

Regulatory Risk (Volcker Rule)—Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules issued thereunder (also known as the “Volcker Rule”) prohibit banking entities, such as The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“Goldman”) and its affiliates, including the Investment Adviser, from engaging in certain trading activities involving their own capital (also known as “proprietary trading”). These prohibitions may include certain restrictions on the extent to which Goldman and/or its affiliates may own shares of the Fund. If Goldman or its affiliates own 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund longer than three years from the Fund’s launch date, the Fund may be subject to these proprietary trading restrictions, which include restrictions on the ability to purchase and sell securities on a short term basis. As of the date of the Prospectus, Goldman and/or its affiliates own more than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Reducing the seed capital in the Fund to address these trading restrictions may prevent the Fund from pursuing its investment objective, may restrict the Fund’s activities and may prevent the Fund from retaining enough capital to engage in certain investment strategies, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. In addition, if Goldman or its affiliates reduce their interest in the Fund, the Fund may be subject to transaction costs, losses and adverse tax consequences and may be forced to liquidate prematurely, among other things.

⬛

State/Territory Specific Risk—The Fund’s investments in municipal obligations of issuers located in a particular state or U.S. territory may be adversely affected by political, economic and regulatory developments within that state or U.S. territory. Such developments may affect the financial condition of a state’s or territory’s political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and public authorities and heighten the risks associated with investing in bonds issued by such parties, which could, in turn, adversely affect the Fund’s income, NAV, liquidity, and/or ability to preserve or realize capital appreciation. From time to time, the Fund may focus its investments in one or more state, territory, or geographic region, which will subject the Fund, to a greater extent than if it were not so focused, to the risks associated with that state, territory, or geographic region.

⬛

Tax Risk—The Fund may be adversely impacted by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from Municipal Securities is normally not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of Municipal Securities in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal and state income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from Municipal Securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of Municipal Securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of Municipal Securities at desirable yield and price levels. Additionally, these Fund would not be a suitable investment for IRAs, other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for other investors who are not sensitive to the federal, state or local income tax consequences of their investments.

⬛

U.S. Government Securities Risk—The U.S. government may not provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law. U.S. Government Securities issued by those agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored enterprises, including those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and the Federal Home Loan Banks, are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. 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 the Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including any legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that issuers of U.S. Government Securities will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been operating under conservatorship, with the Federal Housing Finance Administration (“FHFA”) acting as their conservator, since September 2008. The entities are

dependent upon the continued support of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and FHFA in order to continue their business operations. These factors, among others, could affect the future status and role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the value of their securities and the securities which they guarantee. Additionally, the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market values of their securities, which may fluctuate.

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

Service Providers


		INVESTMENT ADVISER

Investment Adviser

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”)

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

GSAM has been registered as an investment adviser with the SEC since 1990 and is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. Founded in 1869, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a publicly-held financial holding company and a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. As of [ ], 2018, GSAM, including its investment advisory affiliates, had assets under supervision of approximately $[ ] trillion.

The Investment Adviser provides day-to-day advice regarding the Fund’s portfolio transactions. The Investment Adviser makes the investment decisions for the Fund and places purchase and sale orders for the Fund’s portfolio transactions in U.S. markets. As permitted by applicable law, these orders may be directed to any executing brokers, dealers, futures commission merchants or other counterparties, including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. While the Investment Adviser is ultimately responsible for the management of the Fund, it is able to draw upon the research and expertise of its asset management affiliates for portfolio decisions and management with respect to certain portfolio securities. In addition, the Investment Adviser has access to the research and certain proprietary technical models developed by Goldman Sachs (subject to legal, internal, regulatory and Chinese Wall restrictions), and will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis in determining the appropriate allocations among categories of issuers and types of securities.

The Investment Adviser also performs the following additional services for the Fund (to the extent not performed by others pursuant to agreements with the Fund):

⬛

Supervises all non-advisory operations of the Fund

⬛

Provides personnel to perform necessary executive, administrative and clerical services to the Fund

⬛

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

⬛

Maintains the records of the Fund

⬛

Provides office space and all necessary office equipment and services

An investment in the Fund may be negatively impacted because of the operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third-party service providers or trading counterparties. The use of certain investment strategies that involve manual or additional processing, such as over-the-counter derivatives, increases these risks. Although the Fund attempts to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

From time to time, Goldman Sachs or its affiliates may invest “seed” capital in the Fund. These investments are generally intended to enable the Fund to commence investment operations and achieve sufficient scale. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may hedge the exposure of the seed capital invested in the Fund by, among other things, taking an offsetting position in the benchmark of the Fund.


		MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSE INFORMATION

Program Sponsor to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. You pay no additional fees or expenses to purchase shares of the Fund.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund in 2019 will be available in the [Fund’s annual report dated March 31, 2019].

[The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit “Other Expenses” (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to [ ]% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This arrangement will remain in effect through at least [ ], 2020, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. The expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so. A Fund’s “Other Expenses” may be further reduced by any custody fee credits received by the Fund.]


		FUND MANAGERS

U.S. Municipal Portfolio Management Team

The individuals jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are listed below. The Fund’s portfolio managers’ individual responsibilities may differ and may include, among other things, security selection, asset allocation, risk budgeting and general oversight of the management of the Fund’s portfolios.

For information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and portfolio manager ownership of securities in the Fund, see the SAI.


		DISTRIBUTOR AND TRANSFER AGENT

Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the “Distributor”) of the Fund’s shares. Goldman Sachs, 71 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.

The Fund does not pay a fee to Goldman Sachs for the transfer agency services it provides to the Fund.

From time to time, Goldman Sachs or any of its affiliates may purchase and hold shares of the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates reserve the right to redeem at any time some or all of the shares acquired for their own accounts.

ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER

ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS

The involvement of the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and their affiliates in the management of, or their interest in, other accounts and other activities of Goldman Sachs may present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund or limit the Fund’s investment activities. Goldman Sachs is a worldwide, full service investment banking, broker dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, financier, adviser, market maker, trader, prime broker, lender, agent and principal. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or

SERVICE PROVIDERS

for the accounts of its customers and has other direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loans and other markets in which the Fund directly and indirectly invests. Thus, it is likely that the Fund will have multiple business relationships with and will invest in, engage in transactions with, make voting decisions with respect to, or obtain services from entities for which Goldman Sachs performs or seeks to perform investment banking or other services. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds. Although the Fund does not pay a management fee to the Investment Adviser, the Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from their relationships with the Fund because the Fund is used as an investment option to implement certain municipal investment strategies for separately managed account clients of the Investment Adviser that participate in certain “wrap-fee” programs. Participants in these programs pay a “wrap” fee to the Wrap Program Sponsor, and the Wrap Program Sponsor pays a fee to the Investment Adviser. Although these fees are generally based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and the Investment Adviser would still receive significant compensation from the applicable Wrap Program Sponsor even if the “wrap” participant shareholders lose money. In addition, to the extent that the Fund invests in other Goldman Sachs Funds, the Investment Adviser and its affiliates would earn additional compensation from their relationships with such other Goldman Sachs Funds. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates engage in proprietary trading and advise accounts and funds which have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund and/or which engage in and compete for transactions in the same types of securities, currencies and instruments as the Fund. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will not have any obligation to make available any information regarding their proprietary activities or strategies, or the activities or strategies used for other accounts managed by them, for the benefit of the management of the Fund. The results of the Fund’s investment activities, therefore, may differ from those of Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and other accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and other accounts achieve significant profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. In addition, the Fund may enter into transactions in which Goldman Sachs or its other clients have an adverse interest. For example, the Fund may take a long position in a security at the same time that Goldman Sachs or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser take a short position in the same security (or vice versa). These and other transactions undertaken by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or Goldman Sachs advised clients may, individually or in the aggregate, adversely impact the Fund. Transactions by one or more Goldman Sachs advised clients or the Investment Adviser may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund’s activities may be limited because of regulatory restrictions applicable to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, and/or their internal policies designed to comply with such restrictions. As a global financial services firm, Goldman Sachs also provides a wide range of investment banking and financial services to issuers of securities and investors in securities. Goldman Sachs, its affiliates and others associated with it may create markets or specialize in, have positions in and effect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and may also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial services for those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may have business relationships with and purchase or distribute or sell services or products from or to distributors, consultants or others who recommend the Fund or who engage in transactions with or for the Fund. For more information about conflicts of interest, see the SAI.

The Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund’s portfolio investment transactions in accordance with applicable law.

Distributions

The Fund pays distributions from its investment income and from net realized capital gains. Your distributions will be reinvested automatically in the Fund.

The reinvestment of distributions in additional shares will not affect the tax treatment of such distributions, which will be treated as received by you and then used to purchase the shares.

Distributions from net investment income and distributions from net capital gains, if any, are declared and paid as follows:

In addition to the net investment income dividends declared daily and paid monthly, the Fund may also earn additional net investment income throughout the year. Any additional net investment income will be distributed annually as a declared event and paid to shareholders of record for such events.

From time to time a portion of the Fund’s distributions may constitute a return of capital for tax purposes, and/or may include amounts in excess of the Fund’s net investment income for the period calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

When shares of the Fund are purchased on your behalf, part of the NAV per share may be represented by undistributed income and/or realized gains that have previously been earned by the Fund. Therefore, subsequent distributions on such shares from such income and/or realized gains may be taxable to you even if the NAV of the shares is, as a result of the distributions, reduced below the cost of such shares and the distributions (or portions thereof) represent a return of a portion of the purchase price.

Shareholder Guide

The following section will provide you with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying and selling the Fund’s shares.

Important Notice:

The Fund is used exclusively to implement municipal investment strategies for separately managed account clients of the Investment Adviser that participate in certain “wrap-fee” programs. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by or on behalf of “wrap” account clients where the Investment Adviser has an agreement to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the wrap account with the Wrap Program Sponsor or directly with the client. The Investment Adviser may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on behalf of these client accounts. (See “Large Shareholder Transactions Risk” earlier in the Prospectus.) If you are no longer a client of the Investment Adviser (or propose to transfer your shares outside of the participating wrap program), you will be required to redeem your shares or your shares will be redeemed on your behalf. A redemption is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the potential tax consequences of investing in the Fund. None of Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”), the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from an involuntary redemption.


		HOW TO BUY SHARES

Shares Offering

Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through the Distributor. The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase shares and reserve the right to reject any purchase order in whole or in part.

How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?

Certain Wrap Program Sponsors have been authorized by the Trust to accept purchase or redemption orders on behalf of the Fund for their customers (“Authorized Institutions”), and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders. You should contact your Wrap Program Sponsor to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund (i.e., an Authorized Institution).

To open an account, contact your Wrap Program Sponsor or your investment adviser. The Investment Adviser will normally give purchase and redemption order instructions to the Wrap Program Sponsor or its agent (each, an “Intermediary”), and the Intermediary will, in turn, place the order with the Transfer Agent. Intermediaries are responsible for transmitting accepted orders and payments to the Transfer Agent within the time period agreed upon by them and will set times by which orders and payments must be received by them from their customers. The Trust, Transfer Agent, Investment Adviser and their affiliates will not be responsible for any loss in connection with orders that are not transmitted to the Transfer Agent by an Intermediary on a timely basis.

The Fund will be deemed to have received an order for purchase or redemption of Fund shares when the order is accepted in “proper form” by the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, by an Authorized Institution) on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund’s current NAV per share next determined after acceptance by the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, by an Authorized Institution). For purchases by check, the Fund will not accept checks drawn on foreign banks, third party checks, temporary checks, cash or cash equivalents; e.g., cashier’s checks, official bank checks, money orders, traveler’s cheques or credit card checks. In limited situations involving the transfer of retirement assets, the Fund may accept cashier’s checks or official bank checks.

What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?

There is no minimum initial investment in the Fund.

What Should I Know When Shares Are Held By An Intermediary?

If your shares of the Fund are held by an Intermediary on your behalf, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by your Intermediary, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your Intermediary to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account.

What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?

The Trust reserves the right to:

⬛

Refuse to open an account or require an Intermediary to refuse to open an account if you fail to (i) provide a taxpayer identification number, a Social Security Number or other government-issued identification (e.g., for an individual, a driver’s license or passport); or (ii) certify that such number or other information is correct (if required to do so under applicable law).

⬛

Reject or restrict any purchase order by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for any reason in its discretion.

⬛

Close the Fund to new investors from time to time and reopen any such Fund whenever it is deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser.

⬛

Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.

⬛

Modify the manner in which shares are offered.

Shares of the Fund are only registered for sale in the United States and certain of its territories. Generally, shares of the Fund will only be offered or sold to “U.S. persons” and all offerings or other solicitation activities will be conducted within the United States, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

The Fund may allow the Investment Adviser to purchase shares on your behalf with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations. The Fund may also allow your Intermediary to purchase shares on your behalf with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and operations and approved by the Investment Adviser.

In addition to the eligible investors described elsewhere in the Prospectus, Trustees of the Trust are also permitted to invest in the Fund.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase requests from any investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders.

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law.

Customer Identification Program. Federal law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information for certain investors, which will be reviewed solely for customer identification purposes, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), Social Security Number or taxpayer identification number or other information for each investor who opens an account directly with the Fund. Applications without the required information may not be accepted by the Fund. Throughout the life of your account, the Fund may request updated identifying information in accordance with its Customer Identification Program. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by applicable law or its Customer Identification Program, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an investment in the Fund; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an investor’s shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor’s identity or is unable to obtain all required information. The Fund and its agents will not be responsible for any loss or tax liability in an investor’s account or any tax liability resulting from the investor’s delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor’s shares pursuant to the Customer Identification Program.

How Are Shares Priced?

The price you pay when shares are purchased on your behalf is the Fund’s next-determined NAV per share after the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, an Authorized Institution) has received and accepted an order in proper form. The price you receive when

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE

shares are sold on your behalf is the Fund’s next-determined NAV per share after the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, an Authorized Institution) has received and accepted an order in proper form. Each class generally calculates its NAV as follows:

NAV =

(Value of Assets of the Class)

– (Liabilities of the Class)

Number of Outstanding Shares of the Class

The Fund’s investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value on the basis of quotations provided by pricing services or securities dealers. If accurate quotations are not readily available, if the Fund’s fund accounting agent is unable for other reasons to facilitate pricing of individual securities or calculate the Fund’s NAV, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may be determined in good faith under valuation procedures established by the Board of Trustees. Thus, such pricing may be based on subjective judgments and it is possible that the prices resulting from such valuation procedures may differ materially from the value realized on a sale. Cases where there is no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s investments include, among others, situations where a security or other asset or liability does not have a price source or a price is unavailable.

Equity securities listed on an exchange are generally valued at the last available sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded. To the extent the Fund invests in foreign equity securities, “fair value” prices will be provided by an independent third-party pricing (fair value) service in accordance with the fair value procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV.

Fixed income securities are generally valued on the basis of prices (including evaluated prices) and quotations provided by pricing services or securities dealers. Pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models, which utilize certain inputs and assumptions, including, but not limited to, yield or price with respect to comparable fixed income securities, to determine current value.

Investments in other open-end registered investment companies (if any), excluding investments in ETFs, are valued based on the NAV of those open-end registered investment companies (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectuses). Investments in ETFs will generally be valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the exchange on which they are principally traded.

In addition, the Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) determine to make an adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the time of determining the Fund’s NAV. Significant events that could affect a large number of securities in a particular market may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one or more single issuers in a market sector; significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or unscheduled market closings; equipment failures; natural or man-made disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; governmental actions or other developments; as well as the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or the securities markets even though not tied directly to the securities markets. Other significant events that could relate to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to: corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs; corporate announcements, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; ratings downgrades; bankruptcies; and trading limits or suspensions.

One effect of using an independent third-party pricing (fair value) service and fair valuation may be to reduce stale pricing arbitrage opportunities presented by the pricing of Fund shares. However, it involves the risk that the values used by the Fund to price its investments may be different from those used by other investment companies and investors to price the same investments.

Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:

⬛

NAV per share is generally calculated by the Fund’s fund accounting agent on each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) or such other times as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ market may officially close. This occurs after the determination, if any, of the income to be declared as a dividend. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed, although Fund shares may be priced on such days if the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the bond markets remain open for all or part of the day.

⬛

On any business day when the SIFMA recommends that the bond markets close early, the Fund reserves the right to close at or prior to the SIFMA recommended closing time. If the 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 on the next business day.

⬛

The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments) and redemption transactions that were processed at a NAV that is subsequently adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) share-holders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as adjusted.

⬛

The Trust reserves the right to advance the time by which purchase and redemption orders must be received for same business day credit as otherwise permitted by the SEC.

Consistent with industry practice, investment transactions not settling on the same day are recorded and factored into the Fund’s NAV on the business day following trade date (T+1). The use of T+1 accounting generally does not, but may, result in a NAV that differs materially from the NAV that would result if all transactions were reflected on their trade dates.

Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange and/or the bond markets is stopped at a time other than their regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the New York Stock Exchange and/or the bond markets do not open for business, the Trust may, but is not required to, open the Fund for purchase and redemption transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether the Fund is open for business during this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of the Prospectus.

Foreign securities may trade in their local markets on days the Fund is closed. As a result, if the Fund holds foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not purchase or redeem Fund shares.

The Fund relies on various sources to calculate its NAV. The ability of the Fund’s fund accounting agent to calculate the NAV per share of the Fund is subject to operational risks associated with processing or human errors, systems or technology failures, cyber-attacks and errors caused by third party service providers, data sources, or trading counterparties. Such failures may result in delays in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures. In addition, if the third party service providers and/or data sources upon which the Fund directly or indirectly relies to calculate its NAV or price individual securities are unavailable or otherwise unable to calculate the NAV correctly, it may be necessary for alternative procedures to be utilized to price the securities at the time of determining the Fund’s NAV.

When Will Shares Be Issued And Dividends Begin To Be Accrued?

Net investment income dividends that are declared daily and paid monthly will begin to be accrued as follows:

⬛

Shares Purchased by Federal Fund Wire:

⬛

If a purchase order is received in proper form before the Fund closes, shares will generally be issued and dividends will generally begin to accrue on the purchased shares on the day that the federal funds wire is received by The Northern Trust Company. Failure to provide payment on settlement date may result in a delay in accrual.

⬛

If a purchase order is placed through an Intermediary that settles through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”), the purchase order will begin accruing dividends on the NSCC settlement date.

⬛

Shares Purchased by Check:

⬛

If a purchase order is received in proper form before the Fund closes, shares will generally be issued and dividends will generally begin to accrue on the purchased shares no later than two business days after payment is received.

Other dividends or distributions will be distributed annually as a declared event and paid to shareholders of record on the record date for such events.

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE


		HOW TO SELL SHARES

Important Notice:

The Fund is used exclusively to implement municipal investment strategies for separately managed account clients of the Investment Adviser that participate in certain “wrap-fee” programs. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by or on behalf of “wrap” account clients where the Investment Adviser has an agreement to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the wrap account with the Wrap Program Sponsor or directly with the client. The Investment Adviser may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on behalf of these client accounts. (See “Large Shareholder Transactions Risk” earlier in the Prospectus.) If you are no longer a client of the Investment Adviser (or propose to transfer your shares outside of the participating wrap program), you will be required to redeem your shares or your shares will be redeemed on your behalf. A redemption is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the potential tax consequences of investing in the Fund. None of the Trust, the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from an involuntary redemption.

How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?

Generally, shares of the Fund may be sold (redeemed) only in separately managed accounts. The Investment Adviser may redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on behalf of its clients’ accounts. Redemption orders are generally based on instructions from the Investment Adviser. On any business day the Fund is open, the Fund will generally redeem its Shares upon request at their next-determined NAV per share after the Transfer Agent has received and accepted a redemption order in proper form, as described under “How To Buy Shares—How Can I Purchase Shares Of The Fund?” above. Redemptions may be requested by electronic trading platform, in writing or by telephone. The Fund will generally transfer redemption proceeds to your separately managed account.

What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?

The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss or tax liability you may incur in the event that the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may accept telephone redemption instructions from any person identifying himself or herself as your Intermediary. Your Intermediary may submit redemption requests by telephone on your behalf. Thus, you risk possible losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by your Intermediary.

In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs and DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. each employ reasonable procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. The following general policies are currently in effect:

⬛

Telephone requests are recorded.

⬛

Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your separately managed account.

⬛

The telephone redemption option does not apply to shares held in an account maintained and serviced by your Intermediary.

⬛

The telephone redemption option may be modified or terminated at any time without prior notice.

Note: It may be difficult to make telephone redemptions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.

How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?

By Wire: The Fund will transfer redemption proceeds to your separately managed account. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:

⬛

Redemption proceeds will normally be paid in federal funds up to two business days (or such other times in accordance with the requirements of your Intermediary) following receipt of a properly executed wire transfer redemption request. In certain circumstances, however (such as unusual market conditions or in cases of very large redemptions or excessive trading), it may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds.

⬛

Redemption requests may only be postponed or suspended for longer than seven days as permitted under Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) if (i) the New York Stock Exchange is closed for trading or trading is restricted; (ii) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by the Fund or the fair determination of the value of the Fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (iii) the SEC, by order or regulation, permits the suspension of the right of redemption.

⬛

If the shares that are being sold were paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.

⬛

If the Federal Reserve Bank is closed on the day that the redemption proceeds would ordinarily be wired, wiring the redemption proceeds may be delayed until the Federal Reserve Bank reopens.

⬛

None of the Trust, the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs assumes any responsibility for the performance of your bank or Intermediary in the transfer process. If a problem with such performance arises, you should deal directly with your bank or Intermediary.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?

The following generally applies to redemption requests:

⬛

Shares of the Fund earn dividends on the day shares are redeemed.

⬛

Additional documentation may be required when deemed appropriate by the Transfer Agent. A redemption request will not be in proper form until such additional documentation has been received.

The Trust reserves the right to:

⬛

Redeem your shares in the event your Wrap Program Sponsor’s relationship with Goldman Sachs or GSAM is terminated.

⬛

Subject to applicable law, redeem your shares in other circumstances determined by the Board of Trustees to be in the best interest of the Trust.

⬛

Pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash). If you receive redemption proceeds in-kind, you should expect to incur transaction costs upon the disposition of those securities. In addition, if you receive redemption proceeds in-kind, you will be subject to market gains or losses upon the disposition of those securities.

⬛

Charge an additional fee in the event a redemption is made via wire transfer.

⬛

Redeem your shares if you are no longer a client of the Investment Adviser (or propose to transfer your shares outside of the participating wrap program).

The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents and/or proceeds from the sale of portfolio holdings. In addition, under stressed market conditions, as well as for other temporary or emergency purposes, the Fund may distribute redemption proceeds in-kind (instead of cash), access a line of credit or overdraft facility, or borrow through other sources to meet redemption requests.

None of the Trust, the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs will be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account or tax liability resulting from an involuntary redemption.


		SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

What Types Of Reports Will I Be Sent Regarding My Investment?

If your shares of the Fund are held by an Intermediary on your behalf, Intermediaries are responsible for providing any communication from the Fund to shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act. They may charge additional fees not described in the Prospectus to their customers for such services.

If your shares of the Fund are held by an Intermediary on your behalf, the Intermediary will provide you with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement. If you hold shares of the Fund directly with the Fund, you will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a monthly account statement.

You will also receive an annual shareholder report containing audited financial statements and a semi-annual shareholder report. If you have consented to the delivery of a single copy of shareholder reports, prospectuses and other information to all shareholders who share the same mailing address with your account, you may revoke your consent at any time by contacting your Intermediary or Goldman Sachs Funds at the phone number or address found on the back cover of the Prospectus. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation. If your account is held through an Intermediary, please contact the Intermediary to revoke your consent.

SHAREHOLDER GUIDE


		RESTRICTIONS ON EXCESSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

Policies and Procedures on Excessive Trading Practices. In general, excessive, short-term (market timing) trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs, harm a mutual fund’s performance and result in dilution in the value of fund shares held by longer-term shareholders. Because the Fund is designed to be a component of “wrap” accounts that also invest, at the direction of the Investment Adviser, in individual securities and other investments, Fund shares may be purchased or redeemed on a frequent basis for rebalancing purposes or in order to invest new monies (including through dividend reinvestment) or to accommodate reductions in account size. The Fund is managed in a manner that is consistent with its role in the “wrap” accounts. Because all purchase and redemption orders are initiated by the Investment Adviser, “wrap” account clients are not in a position to effect purchase and redemption orders and are, therefore, unable to directly trade in Fund shares. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has not adopted a market timing policy for the Fund. However, the Trust and Goldman Sachs reserve the right to reject or restrict purchase requests from any investor. The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any loss resulting from rejected purchase orders.

Taxation

As with any investment, you should consider how your investment in the Fund will be taxed. The tax information below is provided as general information. More tax information is available in the SAI. You should consult your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund. Except as otherwise noted, the tax information provided assumes that you are a U.S. citizen or resident.

Unless your investment is through an IRA or other tax-advantaged account, you should carefully consider the possible tax consequences of Fund distributions and the sale of your Fund shares.


		DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its income. The Fund expect to distribute “exempt-interest dividends” attributable to tax-exempt interest earned by those Fund. Exempt-interest dividends are generally not subject to federal income tax, but may be subject to state or local taxes. However, investments in tax-exempt bonds can also result in the recognition of income or gain by the Fund, and thereby cause a portion of the Fund’s distributions to shareholders to be taxable. Thus, if the value of a bond appreciates while the Fund owns it (aside from the appreciation attributable to original issue discount on that bond), and the Fund then sells the bond at a gain, that gain will generally not be exempt from tax—whether or not the interest income on the bond is exempt. Gain recognized by the Fund on sales of appreciated bonds will generally be short-term or long-term capital gain depending on whether the Fund has held the bonds for more than one year, but “market discount” bonds can cause the Fund to recognize ordinary income. “Market discount” is a discount at which a bond is purchased that is attributable to a decline in the value of the bond after its original issuance. The market discount is then taken into account ratably over the bond’s remaining term to maturity, and the portion that accrues during the Fund’s holding period for the bond is generally treated as taxable ordinary income to the extent of any realized gain on the bond upon disposition or maturity. Distributions attributable to ordinary income and short-term capital gain recognized by the Fund are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, while distributions attributable to long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares.

Under current provisions of the Code, the maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds threshold amounts. The preferential rate described above also applies to certain qualifying dividend income, but Fund distributions will generally not qualify for that favorable treatment and also will generally not qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction because the Fund will be earning interest income rather than dividend income.

You should note that exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund may be a preference item when determining your federal alternative minimum tax liability. In addition, exempt-interest dividends of all of the Fund are taken into account in determining the taxable portion of social security or railroad retirement benefits. Any interest on indebtedness incurred by you to purchase or carry shares in the Fund will not be deductible for federal income tax purposes.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

If you buy shares of the Fund before it makes a taxable distribution, the distribution will be taxable to you even though it may actually be a return of a portion of your investment. This is known as “buying into a dividend.”


		SALES

Sales of Fund shares are taxable transactions for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. When your shares are sold, you will generally recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. Generally, this capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve months, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares

TAXATION

disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of (such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund). If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.


		OTHER INFORMATION

When you open your account, you should provide your Social Security Number or tax identification number on your account application. By law, the Fund must withhold 24% of your taxable distributions and any redemption proceeds if you do not provide your correct taxpayer identification number, or certify that it is correct, or if the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) instructs the Fund to do so.

The Fund is required to report to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B not only the gross proceeds of Fund shares you sell or redeem but also their cost basis. Cost basis will be calculated using the Fund’s default method of average cost, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different methodology. If you would like to use the average cost method of calculation, no action is required. To elect an alternative method, you should contact Goldman Sachs Funds at the address or phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus. If your shares of the Fund are held by an Intermediary on your behalf, contact your representative with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.

You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal income tax returns.

Non-U.S. investors are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax and may be subject to estate tax with respect to their Fund Shares. Under a provision recently made permanent by Congress, non-U.S. investors generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding on certain distributions of interest income and/or short-term capital gains that are designated by the Fund. It is expected that the Fund will generally make designations of short-term gains, to the extent permitted, but the Fund do not intend to make designations of any distributions attributable to interest income. Therefore, any distributions of interest income that are not exempt-interest dividends will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.

The Fund is required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends and, effective January 1, 2019, on redemption proceeds and certain capital gain dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.

Appendix A

Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques


		A. General Portfolio Risks

The Fund will be subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. These risks include, among others, interest rate risk, credit/default risk and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed income securities tends to increase (although some asset-backed securities will have less potential than other debt securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed income securities tends to decline. Credit/default risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its obligations, and the Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in asset-backed securities. For example, debtors have the option to prepay their loans. Therefore, the duration of an asset-backed security can either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding 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.

A rising interest rate environment could cause the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities to decrease, and fixed income markets to experience increased volatility in addition to heightened levels of liquidity risk. Additionally, decreases in the value of fixed income securities could lead to increased shareholder redemptions, which could impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. The risks associated with increasing interest rates are heightened given that interest rates are near historic lows, but may be expected to increase in the future with unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investment.

To the extent the Fund invests in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs) and partnerships, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such entities in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

To the extent the Fund’s net assets decrease or increase in the future due to price volatility or share redemption or purchase activity, the Fund’s expense ratio may correspondingly increase or decrease from the expense ratio disclosed in the Prospectus.

The Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for the Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders; and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to certain shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of the dollar amount of sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less.

The Fund may, from time to time, enter into arrangements with certain brokers or other counterparties that require the segregation of collateral. For operational, cost or other reasons, when setting up arrangements relating to the execution/clearing of trades, the Fund may choose to select a segregation model which may not be the most protective option available in the case of a default by a broker or counterparty.

The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks. Additional information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request. Among other things, the SAI describes certain fundamental investment restrictions that cannot be changed without shareholder approval. You should note, however, that all investment objectives and all investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental are non-fundamental, and may be changed without shareholder approval. If there is a change in the Fund’s investment objective, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.


		B. Other Portfolio Risks

Fundamental Policies. As a matter of fundamental policy, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Net Assets of the Fund (measured at the time of purchase) will be invested in Municipal Securities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes).

APPENDIX A

Credit/Default Risks. Debt securities purchased by the Fund may include U.S. Government Securities (including zero coupon bonds) and securities issued by state and municipal governmental entities, corporations, banks and other issuers. Some of these fixed income securities are described in the next section below. Further information is provided in the SAI.

Debt securities rated BBB—or higher by Standard & Poor’s, or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or having a comparable credit rating by another NRSRO are considered “investment grade.” Securities rated BBB– or Baa3 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.

The Fund may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (i.e., securities rated BB+ or Ba1 or below (or comparable unrated securities) commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities. Junk bonds are considered speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.

In some cases, junk bonds may be highly speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such bonds will present greater speculative risks than those associated with investment in investment grade bonds. Also, to the extent that the rating assigned to a security in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded by a rating organization, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.

See “Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities” in “Appendix A—Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques.”

Risks of Derivative Investments. The Fund may invest in derivative instruments including, without limitation, options, futures, options on futures, forwards, swaps, interest rate caps, floors and collars. Derivatives may be used for both hedging and non-hedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from derivative instruments can result from a lack of correlation between changes in the value of derivative instruments and the portfolio assets (if any) being hedged, the potential illiquidity of the markets for derivative instruments, the failure of the counterparty to perform its contractual obligations, or the risks related to leverage factors associated with such transactions. The Fund’s use of derivatives could also affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders which may result in the Fund realizing less tax-exempt income and more income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in derivative transactions, which may adversely impact the Fund’s after-tax return. Derivatives are also subject to risks arising from margin requirements, which include the risk that the Fund will be required to pay additional margin or set aside additional collateral to maintain open derivative positions and the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of the bankruptcy or other similar insolvency with respect to a broker or counterparty with whom the Fund has an open derivative position. Losses may also arise if the Fund receive cash collateral under the transaction and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and the Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty’s cash collateral. If cash collateral is not invested, the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss in the event of the insolvency of its custodian holding such collateral. The use of these management techniques also involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or other variables. Derivative instruments may be harder to value, subject to greater volatility and more likely subject to changes in tax treatment than other investments. For these reasons, the Investment Adviser’s attempts to hedge portfolio risk through the use of derivative instruments may not be successful, and the Investment Adviser may choose not to hedge portfolio risks. Using derivatives for non-hedging purposes presents greater risk of loss than derivatives used for hedging purposes.

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. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities which cannot be disposed of in seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which the Fund values the investment. Illiquid securities in which the Fund may invest include:

⬛

Domestic securities that are not readily marketable

⬛

Certain municipal leases and participation interests

⬛

Repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days

⬛

Certain over-the-counter options

⬛

Certain structured securities and swap transactions

⬛

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 (“144A Securities”).

Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists.

Investments purchased by the Fund, particularly debt securities and over-the-counter traded instruments, that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are becoming more and more complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the market or the economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be reasonably foreseen. With respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the instruments.

If one or more instruments in the Fund’s portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed its 15% limitation in illiquid instruments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause the investments in illiquid instruments to exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund must take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable. This requirement would not force the Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.

In cases where no clear indication of the value of the Fund’s portfolio instruments is available, the portfolio instruments will be valued at their fair value according to the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These cases include, among others, situations where a security or other asset or liability does not have a price source, or the secondary markets on which an investment has previously been traded are no longer viable, due to its lack of liquidity. For more information on fair valuation, please see “How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?”

Temporary Investment Risks. The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes (and to the extent that it is permitted to invest in the following), invest up to 100% of its total assets in:

⬛

U.S. Government Securities

⬛

Commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable rating by another NRSRO (or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality)

⬛

Certificates of deposit

⬛

Bankers’ acceptances

⬛

Repurchase agreements

⬛

Non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year

⬛

ETFs

⬛

Other investment companies

⬛

Cash items

The Fund may invest more than 20% of its Net Assets in taxable investments and cash items under unusual conditions. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.


		C. Portfolio Securities and Techniques

This section provides further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund, including their associated risks.

The Fund may purchase other types of securities or instruments similar to those described in this section if otherwise consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Further information is provided in the SAI, which is available upon request.

Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments issued by state and local government issuers. Municipal Securities in which the 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

APPENDIX A

District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest. The interest on tax-free Municipal Securities will normally be exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes but not necessarily exempt from federal alternative minimum tax or from state or local taxes). Because of their tax-exempt status, the yields and market values of Municipal Securities may be more adversely impacted by changes in tax rates and policies than taxable fixed income securities.

Municipal Securities include both “general” obligation 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. Other purposes for which Municipal Securities may be issued include refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses, and obtaining funds to lend to other public institutions and facilities. Municipal Securities in which the Fund may invest include private activity bonds, pre-refunded municipal securities and auction rate securities. Dividends paid by the Fund based on investments in private activity bonds will be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

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 the 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 the Fund’s duration. There is risk that the Fund will not be considered the owner of a tender option bond for federal income tax purposes, and thus will not be entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. 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 deterioration of the credit quality of these banks and financial institutions could, therefore, cause a loss to the Fund that invests in such 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 regulated by U.S. banking authorities, and are generally not bound by the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards applicable to U.S. banks.

The Fund may invest 25% or more of the value of its 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, the 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 (except where the non-governmental entities supplying the revenues from which such bonds or obligations are to be paid are in the same industry). The Fund’s investments in these Municipal Securities will subject the Fund to a greater extent to the risks of adverse economic, business or political developments affecting the particular state, industry or other area of investment.

The Fund may invest in Municipal Securities issued by municipalities, including U.S. territories, commonwealths and possessions, that may be, or may become, subject to significant financial difficulties. Factors contributing to such difficulties may include: lower property tax collections as a result of lower home values, lower sales tax revenue as a result of reduced consumer spending, lower income tax revenue as a result of higher unemployment rates, and budgetary constraints of local, state and federal governments upon which issuers of municipal securities may be relying for funding. Such securities may be considered below investment grade or may be subject to future credit downgrades due to concerns over potential default, insolvency or bankruptcy on the part of their issuers or any credit support provider. During the recent economic downturn, several municipalities have, in fact, filed for bankruptcy protection or have indicated that they may seek bankruptcy protection in the future. A credit downgrade or other adverse news about an issuer or any credit support provider could impact the market value and liquidity of the securities and consequently could negatively affect the performance of the Fund that holds such securities.

The Fund may own a large percentage of any one general assessment bond issuance. Therefore, the Fund may be adversely impacted if the issuing municipality fails to pay principal and/or interest on those bonds.

In purchasing Municipal Securities, the Fund intends to rely on opinions of bond counsel or counsel to the issuers for each issue as to the excludability of interest on such obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund will not undertake independent investigations concerning the tax-exempt status of such obligations, nor does it guarantee or represent that bond counsels’ opinions are correct. Bond counsels’ opinions will generally be based in part upon covenants by the issuers and related parties regarding continuing compliance with federal tax requirements. Tax laws contain numerous and complex requirements that must be satisfied on a continuing basis in order for bonds to be and remain tax-exempt. If the issuer of a bond or a user of a bond-financed facility fails to comply with such requirements at any time, interest on the bond could become taxable, retroactive to the date the obligation was issued. In that event, a portion of the Fund’s distributions attributable to interest the Fund received on such bond for the current year and for prior years could be characterized or recharacterized as taxable income.

U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by (i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or (iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components are traded independently. U.S. Government Securities may also include Treasury inflation-protected securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation.

U.S. 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 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 (i) 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 (ii) 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. Treasury obligations 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 be able or willing to repay the principal or interest rate when due, or provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises that issue U.S. Government Securities if it is not obligated to do so by law.

Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities also include home equity line of credit loans and other second lien mortgages. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the

APPENDIX A

pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Fund’s ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Fund’s recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the securities. In the event of a default, the Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed. The value of some asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. While asset-backed securities may be supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers, if any, will meet their obligations. Asset-backed securities may also be subject to increased volatility and may become illiquid and more difficult to value even when there is no default or threat of default due to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers and market conditions impacting asset-backed securities more generally.

Corporate Debt Obligations; Trust Preferred Securities and Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations, trust preferred securities and convertible securities. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures, commercial paper and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. 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. The Fund may also invest in other short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities.

Convertible securities are preferred stock or debt obligations that are convertible into common stock. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible securities have both equity and fixed income risk characteristics. Like all fixed income securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market price of the common stock underlying a convertible security exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the convertible security, like a fixed income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and thus may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock.

Structured Securities and Inverse Floaters. The Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, securities, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References. Investments in structured securities may provide exposure to certain securities or markets in situations where regulatory or other restrictions prevent direct investments in such issuers or markets.

The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of changes in the value of the Reference, effectively leveraging the Fund’s investments so that small changes in the value of the Reference may result in disproportionate gains or losses to the Fund. Consequently, structured securities may present a greater degree of market risk than many types of securities, and may be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities. Structured securities are also subject to the risk that the issuer of the structured securities may fail to perform its contractual obligations.

Certain issuers of structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.

Structured securities may also include 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.

Structured securities may also include credit linked notes. Credit linked notes are securities with embedded credit default swaps. An investor holding a credit linked note generally receives a fixed or floating coupon and the note’s par value upon maturity,

unless the referred credit defaults or declares bankruptcy, in which case the investor receives the amount recovered. In effect, investors holding credit linked notes receive a higher yield in exchange for assuming the risk of a specified credit event.

Floating and Variable Rate Obligations. The Fund may purchase floating and variable rate obligations. The value of these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels. The issuers or financial intermediaries providing demand features may support their ability to purchase the obligations by obtaining credit with liquidity supports. These may include lines of credit, which are conditional commitments to lend, and letters of credit, which will ordinarily be irrevocable both of which may be issued by domestic banks or foreign banks. The Fund may purchase variable or floating rate obligations from the issuers or may purchase certificates of participation, a type of floating or variable rate obligation, which are interests in a pool of debt obligations held by a bank or other financial institutions.

Floating and variable rate obligations may be transferable among financial institutions, but may not have the liquidity of conventional debt securities and are often subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Floating and variable rate obligations are not currently listed on any securities exchange or automatic quotation system. As a result, no active market may exist for some floating and variable rate obligations. To the extent a secondary market exists for other floating and variable rate obligations, such market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads, and extended trade settlement periods. The lack of a highly liquid secondary market for floating and variable rate obligations may have an adverse effect on the value of such obligations and may make it more difficult to value the obligations for purposes of calculating their respective net asset value.

For floating and variable rate obligations, there may be a lag between an actual change in the underlying interest rate benchmark and the reset time for an interest payment of such an obligation, which could harm or benefit the Fund, depending on the interest rate environment or other circumstances. In a rising interest rate environment, for example, a floating or variable rate obligation that does not reset immediately would prevent the Fund from taking full advantage of rising interest rates in a timely manner. However, in a declining interest rate environment, the Fund may benefit from a lag due to an obligation’s interest rate payment not being immediately impacted by a decline in interest rates.

Zero Coupon; Deferred Interest; Pay-In-Kind; and Capital Appreciation Bonds. The Fund 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.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying instrument during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument during the option period. The Fund may write (sell) call and put options and purchase put and call options on any securities and other instruments in which the Fund may invest or any index consisting of securities or other instruments in which it may invest.

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment risks. Options may be used for either hedging or cross-hedging purposes, or to seek to increase total return (which presents additional risk). The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to anticipate future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in market prices or determination of the correlation between the instruments or indices on which options are written and purchased and the instruments in the Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The use of options can also increase the Fund’s transaction costs. Options written or purchased by the Fund may be traded on either U.S. exchanges or over-the-counter. Over-the-counter options will present greater possibility of loss because of their greater illiquidity and credit risks.

Yield Curve Options. The Fund 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

APPENDIX A

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 one of the underlying securities remains constant, or if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.

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 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, securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Fund may engage in futures transactions on U.S. exchanges.

The Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase and sell futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options.

Futures contracts and related options present the following risks:

⬛

While the Fund may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in poorer overall performance than if the Fund had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions.

⬛

Because perfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position that is intended to be protected is impossible to achieve, the desired protection may not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to additional risk of loss.

⬛

The loss incurred by the Fund in entering into futures contracts and in writing call options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received.

⬛

Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV.

⬛

As a result of the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in substantial losses to the Fund.

⬛

Futures contracts and options on futures may be illiquid, and exchanges may limit fluctuations in futures contract prices during a single day.

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may purchase when-issued securities and make contracts to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. When-issued securities are securities that have been authorized, but not yet issued. When-issued securities are purchased in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price or yield to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction. A forward commitment involves entering into a contract to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond the customary settlement period.

The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although the Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, the Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate. When purchasing a security on a when-issued basis or entering into a forward commitment, the Fund must identify on its books liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” its obligations.

Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties approved by the Investment Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of their repurchase obligations. The collateral may consist of any type of security in which the Fund is eligible to invest directly. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. Government Securities may be subject to additional risks.

If the other party or “seller” defaults, the Fund might suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of the underlying securities and other collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Fund’s costs associated with delay and enforcement of the repurchase agreement. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy of the seller, the Fund could suffer additional losses if a court determines that the Fund’s interest in the collateral is not enforceable.

The Fund, together with other registered investment companies having advisory agreements with the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more repurchase agreements.

Borrowings and Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund can borrow money from banks and other financial institutions, and the Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements in amounts not exceeding one-third of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed).

Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by the Fund subject to the Fund’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price (including interest). 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.

Borrowings and reverse repurchase agreements involve leveraging. If the securities held by the 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 the 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 the 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. The Fund must identify on its books liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures to “cover” open positions with respect to its transactions in reverse repurchase agreements.

Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars. The Fund may enter into some or all of the following swap transactions and options agreements, including interest rate caps, floors and collars. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses on an underlying security or pool of securities. Credit swaps give one party to a transaction (the buyer of the credit swap) the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets or exposure to the performance of an index), or the right to receive a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Total return swaps give a party 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 based on an agreed upon interest rate. If the underlying asset in a total return swap declines in value over the term of the swap, the party may also be required to pay the dollar value of that decline to the counterparty.

The Fund 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 or to modify the terms of an existing 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 or modify an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms which generally entails a greater risk of loss than the Fund incurs in buying a swaption. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.

The Fund may enter into the transactions described above for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. As an example, when the Fund is the buyer of a credit default swap (commonly known as buying protection), it may make periodic payments to the seller of the credit default swap to obtain protection against a credit default on a specified underlying asset (or group of assets). If a default occurs, the seller of the credit default swap may be required to pay the Fund the notional amount of the credit default swap on a specified security (or group of securities). On the other hand, when the Fund is a seller of a credit default swap (commonly known as selling protection), in addition to the credit exposure the Fund has on the other assets held in its portfolio, the Fund is also subject to the credit exposure on the notional amount of the swap since, in the event of a credit default, the Fund may be required to pay the notional amount of the credit default swap on a specified security (or group of securities) to the buyer of the credit swap. The Fund will be the seller of a credit default swap only when the credit of the underlying asset is deemed by the Investment Adviser to meet the Fund’s minimum credit criteria at the time the swap is first entered into.

APPENDIX A

When the Fund writes (sells) credit swaps on individual securities or instruments, the Fund must identify on its books liquid assets equal to the full notional amount of the swaps while the positions are open.

The use of interest rate, mortgage, credit, 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 values and interest rates, or in its evaluation of the creditworthiness of swap counterparties and the issuers of the underlying assets, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment techniques were not used.

Currently, certain standardized swap transactions are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange trading. Although central clearing and exchange trading is expected to decrease counterparty risk and increase liquidity compared to bilaterally negotiated swaps, central clearing and exchange trading does not eliminate counterparty risk or illiquidity risk entirely. Depending on the size of the Fund and other factors, the margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by the Fund to support its obligations under a similar bilateral, uncleared swap. However, certain applicable regulators have adopted rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps which may result in the Fund and its counterparties posting higher amounts for uncleared swaps.

Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs such as iShares^SM, subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act, or exemptive relief thereunder. These statutory limitations include in certain circumstances a prohibition on any Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs’ shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs.

The use of ETFs is intended to help the Fund match the total return of the particular market segments or indices represented by those ETFs, although that may not be the result. Most ETFs are passively managed investment companies whose shares are purchased and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. In addition, an ETF may fail to accurately track the market segment or index that underlies its investment objective. The price of an ETF can fluctuate, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or a discount to their NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of an ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged.

Subject to applicable law and/or pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may invest in certain other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above or otherwise. Some of those investment companies may be funds for which the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser, administrator or distributor.

The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies, in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. Although the Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, the Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund.

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 speculative. 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 issuer developments, interest rate sensitivity, negative perceptions of the junk bond markets generally and less 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, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives 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 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular portfolio investments. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.

Downgraded Securities. After its purchase, a portfolio security may be assigned a lower rating or cease to be rated, which may affect the market value and liquidity of the security. If this occurs, the Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

Distressed Debt. The Fund that invests in distressed debt may risk holding the securities through bankruptcy proceedings. There are a number of significant risks inherent in the bankruptcy process. Many events in a bankruptcy are the product of contested matters and adversary proceedings and are beyond the control of the creditors. A bankruptcy filing by an issuer may adversely and permanently affect the issuer, and if the proceeding is converted to liquidation, the value of the issuer may not equal the liquidation value that was believed to exist at the time of the investment. The duration of a bankruptcy proceeding is difficult to predict, and a creditor’s return on investment can be adversely affected by delays until the plan of reorganization ultimately becomes effective. The administrative costs in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding are frequently high and would be paid out of the debtor’s estate prior to any return to creditors. Because the standards for classification of claims under bankruptcy law are vague, there exists the risk that the Fund’s influence with respect to the class of securities or other obligations it owns can be lost by increases in the number and amount of claims in the same class or by different classification and treatment. In the early stages of the bankruptcy process it is often difficult to estimate the extent of, or even to identify, any contingent claims that might be made. In addition, certain claims that have priority by law (for example, claims for taxes) may be substantial.

Equity Investments. After its purchase, a portfolio investment (such as a convertible debt obligation) may convert to an equity security. Alternatively, the Fund may acquire equity securities in connection with a restructuring or other similar event related to one or more of its investments. If this occurs, the Fund may continue to hold the investment (or make additional purchases of that equity investment) if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

APPENDIX A

Asset Segregation. As an investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund must identify on its books (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or SEC-staff approved or other appropriate measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments. In the case of swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments that do not cash settle, for example, the Fund must identify on its books liquid assets equal to the full notional amount of the instrument while the positions are open, to the extent there is not a permissible offsetting position or a contractual “netting” agreement with respect to swaps (other than credit default swaps where the Fund is the protection seller). However, with respect to certain swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments that are required to cash settle, the Fund may identify liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the instrument, if any, rather than its full notional amount. Forwards and futures contracts that do not cash settle may be treated as cash settled for asset segregation purposes when the Fund has entered into a contractual arrangement with a third-party futures commission merchant or other counterparty to off-set the Fund’s exposure under the contract and, failing that, to assign its delivery obligation under the contract to the counterparty. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future in its discretion, consistent with the Investment Company Act and SEC or SEC-staff guidance. By identifying assets equal to only its net obligations under certain instruments, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to identify assets equal to the full notional amount of the instrument.

Appendix B

Financial Highlights

Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of the Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.

Municipal Income Completion Fund Prospectus


		FOR MORE INFORMATION

Annual/Semi-Annual Report

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information

Additional information about the Fund and its policies is also available in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (i.e., is legally considered part of the Prospectus).

The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI are available free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs at 1-800-526-7384. You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the SAI at the Fund’s website: http://www.gsamfunds.com/mutualfunds.

From time to time, certain announcements and other information regarding the Fund may be found at http://www.gsamfunds.com/announcements-ind for individual investors or http://www.gsamfunds.com/announcements for advisers.

To obtain other information and for shareholder inquiries:


		Class R6
⬛ By telephone:		1-800-621-2550
⬛ By mail:		Goldman Sachs Funds P.O. Box 06050 Chicago, IL 60606
⬛ On the Internet:		SEC EDGAR database – http://www.sec.gov

Other information about the Fund is available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

[Marketing Code]

The Fund’s investment company registration number is 811-05349.

GSAM^® is a registered service mark of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DATED DECEMBER 14, 2018

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PART B

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DATED [ ], 2019


FUND	Class R6 Shares
GOLDMAN SACHS MUNICIPAL INCOME COMPLETION FUND		[	]

(A series of Goldman Sachs Trust)

Goldman Sachs Trust

71 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus for the Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund (the “Fund”), dated [ ], 2019, as it may be further amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus may be obtained without charge from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling the telephone numbers or writing to one of the addresses listed below, or from institutions (“Intermediaries”) acting on behalf of their customers.

The Fund’s Annual Report or Semi-Annual Report (when available) may be obtained upon request and without charge by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC toll free at 1-800-621-2550.

GSAM^® is a registered service mark of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


INTRODUCTION			B-4

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES			B-4

DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES			B-5

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS			B-37

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS			B-38

MANAGEMENT SERVICES			B-49

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST			B-54

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE			B-66

SHARES OF THE TRUST			B-67

NET ASSET VALUE			B-69

TAXATION			B-71

PROXY VOTING			B-78

OTHER INFORMATION			B-79

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS			B-82

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES			B-82

APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS			83-A

APPENDIX B GSAM PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY			89-B

GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.

Investment Adviser

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC

Distributor

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC

Transfer Agent

71 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Toll free (in U.S.): 800-621-2550.

B-2

INTRODUCTION

Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end, management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and was established by a Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997. The Trust is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust that was combined with the Trust on April 30, 1997. The following series of the Trust is described in this SAI: Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund (the “Fund”). The Trustees of the Trust have authority under the Declaration of Trust to create and classify shares into separate series and to classify and reclassify any series of shares into one or more classes without further action by shareholders. Pursuant thereto, the Trustees have created the Fund and other series.

The Fund is a diversified, open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”). The Fund is authorized to issue one class of shares: Class R6 Shares. The Trustees of the Trust may designate additional series and classes in the future from time to time. See “SHARES OF THE TRUST.”

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM” or the “Investment Adviser”), an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman Sachs”), serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. In addition, Goldman Sachs serves as the Fund’s distributor (the “Distributor”) and transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). [ ] serves as custodian for the Fund.

The following information relates to and supplements the description of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies contained in the Prospectus. See the Prospectus for a more complete description of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. Investing in the Fund entails certain risks, and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

All investment objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) (“Net Assets”) in tax exempt and municipal investments is a fundamental policy that may not be changed without shareholder approval. Additional information about the Fund, its policies, and the investment instruments it may hold is provided below.

The Fund’s share price will fluctuate with market and economic conditions, so that an investment in the Fund may be worth more or less when redeemed than when purchased. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program.

[The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and therefore is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA.]

The Fund is designed for investors who seek a high level of current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax.

The Fund is appropriate for investors who seek to 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 the political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities (“Municipal Securities”) and who are able to accept greater risk with the possibility of higher returns than investors in municipal money market funds. An example of an “eligible” investment for the Fund is an auction rate Municipal Security. These securities generally have higher yields than money market Municipal Securities, but are, in many cases, not eligible investments for municipal money market funds.

In addition, unlike a municipal money market fund, the Fund’s increased investment flexibility permits its portfolios to be more easily adjusted to reflect the shape of the current yield curve as well as to respond to anticipated developments that might affect the shape of the yield curve.

The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its Net Assets in Municipal Securities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes). The Fund may invest up to 100% of its Net Assets in private activity bonds, the interest on which (including the Fund’s distributions of such interest) may be a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax. 100% of the Fund’s portfolio will be invested in U.S. dollar-denominated securities.

B-3

Investors who wish to invest in Municipal Securities may find that a mutual fund structure offers some important advantages when compared to investing in individual Municipal Securities, including:

•

The ratings given to Municipal Securities by the rating organizations are difficult to evaluate. For example, some Municipal Securities with relatively low credit ratings have yields comparable to Municipal Securities with much higher ratings. The credit research professionals at Goldman Sachs closely follow market events and are well positioned to judge current and expected credit conditions of municipal issuers;

•

Because of the relative inefficiency of the secondary market in Municipal Securities, the value of an individual municipal security is often difficult to determine. As such, investors may obtain a wide range of different prices when asking for quotes from different dealers. In addition, a dealer may have a large inventory of a particular issue that it wants to reduce. Obtaining the best overall prices can require extensive negotiation, which is a function performed by the portfolio manager; and

•

Market expertise is also an important consideration for municipal investors, and because the Fund may take relatively large positions in different securities, the Fund may be able to obtain more favorable prices in the Municipal Securities market than investors with relatively small positions.

Return on and Risks of High Yield Securities. High yield bonds can deliver higher yields and total return than either investment grade corporate bonds or U.S. Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”) bonds. However, because these non-investment grade securities involve higher risks in return for higher income, they are best suited to long-term investors who are financially secure enough to withstand volatility and the risks associated with such investments. See “Description of Investment Securities and Practices—High Yield Securities.” Different types of fixed income securities may react differently to changes in the economy. High yield bonds, like stocks, tend to perform best when the economy is strong, inflation is low and companies experience healthy profits, which can lead to higher stock prices and higher credit ratings. Government bonds are likely to appreciate more in a weaker economy when interest rates are declining. In certain types of markets, adding some diversification in the high yield asset class may help to increase returns and decrease overall portfolio risk.

For high yield, non-investment grade securities, as for most investments, there is a direct relationship between risk and return. Along with their potential to deliver higher yields and greater capital appreciation than most other types of fixed income securities, high yield securities are subject to higher risk of loss, greater volatility and are considered predominantly speculative by traditional investment standards. The most significant risk associated with high yield securities is credit risk: the risk that the company issuing a high yield security may have difficulty in meeting its principal and/or interest payments on a timely basis. As a result, extensive credit research and diversification are essential factors in managing risk in the high yield arena. To a lesser extent, high yield bonds are also subject to interest rate risk: when interest rates increase, the value of fixed income securities tends to decline.

DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES

Asset Segregation

As an investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund must identify on its books (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or SEC-staff approved or other appropriate measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments. In the case of swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments that do not cash settle, for example, the Fund must identify on its books liquid assets equal to the full notional amount of the instrument while the positions are open, to the extent there is not a permissible offsetting position or a contractual “netting” agreement with respect to swaps (other than credit default swaps where the Fund is the protection seller). However, with respect to certain swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments that are required to cash settle, the Fund may identify liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the instrument, if any, rather than its full notional amount. Forwards and futures contracts that do not cash settle may be treated as cash settled for asset segregation purposes when the Fund has entered into a contractual arrangement with a third-party futures commission merchant (“FCM”) or other counterparty to off-set the Fund’s exposure under the contract and, failing that, to assign its delivery obligation under the contract to the counterparty. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future in its discretion, consistent with the Investment Company Act and SEC or SEC-staff guidance. By identifying assets equal to only its net obligations under certain instruments, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to identify assets equal to the full notional amount of the instrument.

B-4

Asset-Backed Securities

The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, assets such as motor vehicle installment sales, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables. Such assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose corporations. Payments or distributions of principal and interest may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present.

Such securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, the Fund’s ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. To the extent that the Fund invests in asset-backed securities, the values of the Fund’s portfolio securities will vary with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of asset-backed securities.

Asset-backed securities present certain additional risks because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles rather than residential real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit the loan servicers to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of vehicles involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in the underlying automobiles. Therefore, if the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, 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 these securities.

Combined Transactions

The Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (as applicable)(including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate and other swap transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and swap transactions (“component” transactions) as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Investment Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.

Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations

The Fund may invest in commercial paper and other short-term obligations payable in U.S. dollars and issued or guaranteed by U.S. corporations, non-U.S. corporations or other entities. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies.

Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common stock (or other securities) 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.

B-5

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value normally declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert the security into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party or permit the issuer to redeem the security. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective, which, in turn, could result in losses to the Fund. To the extent that the Fund holds a convertible security, or a security that is otherwise converted or exchanged for common stock (e.g., as a result of a restructuring), the Fund may, consistent with its investment objective, hold such common stock in its portfolio.

Corporate Debt Obligations

The Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations, including obligations of industrial, utility and financial issuers. Corporate debt obligations include bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of corporations to pay interest and repay principal. Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity.

Corporate debt obligations rated BBB or Baa are considered medium grade obligations with speculative characteristics, and adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances may weaken their issuers’ capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Medium to lower rated and comparable non-rated securities tend to offer higher yields than higher rated securities with the same maturities because the historical financial condition of the issuers of such securities may not have been as strong as that of other issuers. The price of corporate debt obligations will generally fluctuate in response to fluctuations in supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the price of corporate debt obligations will generally fluctuate in response to interest rate levels. Fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities subsequent to their acquisition will not affect cash income from such securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s NAV. Because medium to lower rated securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities, investors should consider carefully the relative risks associated with investment in securities which carry medium to lower ratings and in comparable unrated securities. In addition to the risk of default, there are the related costs of recovery on defaulted issues. The Investment Adviser will attempt to reduce these risks through portfolio diversification and by analysis of each issuer and its ability to make timely payments of income and principal, as well as broad economic trends and corporate developments.

The Investment Adviser employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of an issuer’s existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and pay dividends, sensitivity to economic conditions, operating history and current earnings trend. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in the Fund’s portfolio and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed. If after its purchase, a portfolio security is assigned a lower rating or ceases to be rated, the Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates

The 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 (as defined below), municipal securities or other types of securities in which the Fund 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

B-6

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 Fund will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. The Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial receipts and trust certificates.

Although under the terms of a custodial receipt or trust certificate the Fund would typically be authorized to assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, the Fund 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 Fund may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Fund 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 (“IRS”) has not ruled on the tax treatment of the interest or payments received on the derivative instruments and, accordingly, purchases of such instruments are based on the opinion of counsel to the sponsors of the instruments.

Distressed Debt

The Fund may invest in the securities and other obligations of financially troubled companies, including stressed, distressed and bankrupt issuers and debt obligations that are in covenant or payment default. In addition, investments of the Fund may become distressed or bankrupt following the Fund’s initial acquisition of the security. Historically, economic downturns or increases in interest rates have, under certain circumstances, resulted in a higher occurrence of default by the issuers of these instruments. Such investments generally trade significantly below par and are considered speculative. The repayment of defaulted obligations is subject to significant uncertainties. Defaulted obligations might be repaid only after lengthy workout or bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments. Typically such workout or bankruptcy proceedings result in only partial recovery of cash payments or an exchange of the defaulted obligation for other debt or equity securities of the issuer or its affiliates, which may in turn be illiquid or speculative.

In any investment involving stressed and distressed debt obligations, there exists the risk that the transaction involving such debt obligations will be unsuccessful, take considerable time or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security or obligation in exchange for the stressed and distressed debt obligations, the value of which may be less than the Fund’s purchase price of such debt obligations. Furthermore, if an anticipated transaction does not occur, the Fund may be required to sell its investment at a loss. Distressed investments may require active participation by the Investment Adviser in the restructuring of the Fund’s investment or other actions intended to protect the Fund’s investment; however, there may be situations where the Investment Adviser may determine to not so participate due to regulatory, tax or other considerations. In addition, the Fund may participate on creditors’ committees to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the Fund to additional expenses (including legal fees) and may make the Fund an “insider” of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws. This may result in increased litigation risks to the Fund or may restrict the Investment Adviser’s ability to dispose of the security.

There are a number of significant risks inherent in the bankruptcy process. Many events in a bankruptcy are the product of contested matters and adversary proceedings and are beyond the control of the creditors. A bankruptcy filing by an issuer may adversely and permanently affect the issuer, and if the proceeding is converted to a liquidation, the value of the issuer may not equal the liquidation value that was believed to exist at the time of the investment. The duration of a bankruptcy proceeding is difficult to predict, and a creditor’s return on investment can be adversely affected by delays until the plan of reorganization ultimately becomes effective. The administrative costs in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding are frequently high and would be paid out of the debtor’s estate prior to any return to creditors. Because the standards for classification of claims under bankruptcy law are vague, there exists the risk that

B-7

the Fund’s influence with respect to the class of securities or other obligations it owns can be lost by increases in the number and amount of claims in the same class or by different classification and treatment. In the early stages of the bankruptcy process it is often difficult to estimate the extent of, or even to identify, any contingent claims that might be made. In addition, certain claims that have priority by law (for example, claims for taxes) may be substantial.

Events Relating to the Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Markets and the Overall Economy

The unprecedented disruption in the residential mortgage-backed securities market (and in particular, the “subprime” residential mortgage market), the broader mortgage-backed securities market and the asset-backed securities market in 2008 and 2009 resulted in downward price pressures and increasing foreclosures and defaults in residential and commercial real estate. Concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the mortgage market and a depressed real estate market contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets going forward, and contributed to dramatic declines in the housing market, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, and significant asset write-downs by financial institutions. These conditions prompted a number of financial institutions to seek additional capital, to merge with other institutions and, in some cases, to fail or seek bankruptcy protection. Between 2008 and 2009, the market for Mortgage-Backed Securities (as well as other asset-backed securities) was particularly adversely impacted by, among other factors, the failure and subsequent sale of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to J.P. Morgan Chase, the merger of Bank of America Corporation and Merrill Lynch & Co., the insolvency of Washington Mutual Inc., the failure and subsequent bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., the extension of approximately $152 billion in emergency credit by the U.S. Treasury to American International Group Inc., and, as described above, the conservatorship and the control by the U.S. Government of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”). The global markets also saw an increase in volatility due to uncertainty surrounding the level and sustainability of sovereign debt of certain countries that are part of the European Union (“EU”), including Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy, as well as the sustainability of the EU itself. Concerns over the level and sustainability of the sovereign debt of the United States have aggravated this volatility. No assurance can be made that this uncertainty will not lead to further disruption of the credit markets in the United States or around the globe. These events, coupled with the general global economic downturn, have resulted in a substantial level of uncertainty in the financial markets, particularly with respect to mortgage-related investments.

These events may lead to further declines in income from, or the value of, real estate, including the real estate which secures the Mortgage-Backed Securities which may be held by the Fund. Additionally, a lack of credit liquidity, adjustments of mortgages to higher rates and decreases in the value of real property have occurred and may reoccur, and potentially prevent borrowers from refinancing their mortgages, which may increase the likelihood of default on their mortgage loans. These economic conditions, coupled with high levels of real estate inventory and elevated incidence of underwater mortgages, may also adversely affect the amount of proceeds the holder of a mortgage loan or mortgage-backed securities (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities in which the Fund may invest) would realize in the event of a foreclosure or other exercise of remedies. Moreover, even if such Mortgage-Backed Securities are performing as anticipated, the value of such securities in the secondary market may nevertheless fall or continue to fall as a result of deterioration in general market conditions for such Mortgage-Backed Securities or other asset-backed or structured products. Trading activity associated with market indices may also drive spreads on those indices wider than spreads on Mortgage-Backed Securities, thereby resulting in a decrease in value of such Mortgage-Backed Securities, including the Mortgage-Backed Securities which may be owned by the Fund.

The U.S. Government, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Treasury, the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and other governmental and regulatory bodies have taken or are considering taking actions to address the financial crisis. These actions include, but are not limited to, the enactment by the U.S. Congress of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd Frank Act”), which was signed into law on July 21, 2010 and imposes a new regulatory framework over the U.S. financial services industry and the consumer credit markets in general, and the promulgation of additional regulations in this area which could affect these securities. Given the broad scope, sweeping nature, and relatively recent enactment of some of these regulatory measures, the potential impact they could have on any of the asset-backed or Mortgage-Backed Securities which may be held by the Fund is unknown. There can be no assurance that these measures will not have an adverse effect on the value or marketability of any asset-backed or Mortgage-Backed Securities which may be held by the Fund. Furthermore, no assurance can be made that the U.S. Government or any U.S. regulatory body (or other authority or regulatory body) will not continue to take further legislative or regulatory action in response to the economic crisis or otherwise, and the effect of such actions, if taken, cannot be known.

B-8

Among its other provisions, the Dodd-Frank Act creates a liquidation framework under which the FDIC, may be appointed as receiver following a “systemic risk determination” by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury (in consultation with the President) for the resolution of certain nonbank financial companies and other entities, defined as “covered financial companies”, and commonly referred to as “systemically important entities”, in the event such a company is in default or in danger of default and the resolution of such a company under other applicable law would have serious adverse effects on financial stability in the United States, and also for the resolution of certain of their subsidiaries. No assurances can be given that this new liquidation framework would not apply to the originators of asset-backed securities, including Mortgage-Backed Securities, or their respective subsidiaries, including the issuers and depositors of such securities, although the expectation embedded in the Dodd-Frank Act is that the framework will be invoked only very rarely. Guidance from the FDIC indicates that such new framework will largely be exercised in a manner consistent with the existing bankruptcy laws, which is the insolvency regime that would otherwise apply to the sponsors, depositors and issuing entities with respect to asset-backed securities, including Mortgage-Backed Securities. The application of such liquidation framework to such entities could result in decreases or delays in amounts paid on, and hence the market value of, the Mortgage-Backed or asset-backed securities that may be owned by the Fund.

Delinquencies, defaults and losses on residential mortgage loans may increase substantially over certain periods, which may affect the performance of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Fund may invest. Mortgage loans backing non-agency Mortgage-Backed Securities are more sensitive to economic factors that could affect the ability of borrowers to pay their obligations under the mortgage loans backing these securities. In addition, housing prices and appraisal values in many states and localities over certain periods have declined or stopped appreciating. A continued decline or an extended flattening of those values may result in additional increases in delinquencies and losses on Mortgage-Backed Securities generally (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities that the Fund may invest in as described above).

The foregoing adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate may reduce the cash flow which the Fund, to the extent it invests in Mortgage-Backed Securities or other asset-backed securities, receives from such securities and increase the incidence and severity of credit events and losses in respect of such securities. In addition, interest rate spreads for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities are subject to widening and increased volatility due to these adverse changes in market conditions. In the event that interest rate spreads for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities widen following the purchase of such assets by the Fund, the market value of such securities is likely to decline and, in the case of a substantial spread widening, could decline by a substantial amount. Furthermore, adverse changes in market conditions may result in reduced liquidity in the market for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities (including the Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest) and increased unwillingness by banks, financial institutions and investors to extend credit to servicers, originators and other participants in the market for Mortgage-Backed and other asset-backed securities. As a result, the liquidity and/or the market value of any Mortgage-Backed or asset-backed securities that are owned by the Fund may experience further declines after they are purchased by the Fund.

Floating Rate Loans and Other Variable and Floating Rate Securities

The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the Fund may invest are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. Variable and floating rate obligations are debt instruments issued by companies or other entities with interest rates that reset periodically (typically, daily, monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually) in response to changes in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate is based. Moreover, 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. The value of these obligations is generally more stable than that of a fixed rate obligation in response to changes in interest rate levels, but they may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline.

Floating rate loans consist generally of obligations of companies or other entities (e.g., a U.S. or foreign bank, insurance company or finance company) (collectively, “borrowers”) incurred for a variety of purposes. Floating rate loans may be acquired by direct investment as a lender or as an assignment of the portion of a floating rate loan previously attributable to a different lender.

Floating rate loans may be obligations of borrowers who are highly leveraged. Floating rate loans may be structured to include both term loans, which are generally fully funded at the time of the making of the loan, and revolving credit facilities, which would require additional investments upon the borrower’s demand. A revolving credit facility may require a purchaser to increase its investment in a floating rate loan at a time when it would not otherwise have done so, even if the borrower’s condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid.

B-9

A floating rate loan offered as part of the original lending syndicate typically is purchased at par value. As part of the original lending syndicate, a purchaser generally earns a yield equal to the stated interest rate. In addition, members of the original syndicate typically are paid a commitment fee. In secondary market trading, floating rate loans may be purchased or sold above, at, or below par, which can result in a yield that is below, equal to, or above the stated interest rate, respectively. At certain times when reduced opportunities exist for investing in new syndicated floating rate loans, floating rate loans may be available only through the secondary market. There can be no assurance that an adequate supply of floating rate loans will be available for purchase.

Historically, floating rate loans have not been registered with the SEC or any state securities commission or listed on any securities exchange. As a result, the amount of public information available about a specific floating rate loan historically has been less extensive than if the floating rate loan were registered or exchange-traded. As a result, no active market may exist for some floating rate loans.

Purchasers of floating rate loans and other forms of debt obligations depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, the value of the obligation may be adversely affected. Floating rate loans and other debt obligations that are fully secured provide more protections than unsecured obligations in the event of failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Some floating rate loans and other debt obligations are not rated by any NRSRO. In connection with the restructuring of a floating rate loan or other debt obligation outside of bankruptcy court in a negotiated work-out or in the context of bankruptcy proceedings, equity securities or junior debt obligations may be received in exchange for all or a portion of an interest in the obligation.

From time to time, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates may borrow money from various banks in connection with their business activities. These banks also may sell floating rate loans to the Fund or acquire floating rate loans from the Fund, or may be intermediate participants with respect to floating rate loans owned by the Fund. These banks also may act as agents for floating rate loans that the Fund owns.

Agents. Floating rate loans typically are originated, negotiated, and structured by a bank, insurance company, finance company, or other financial institution (the “agent”) for a lending syndicate of financial institutions. The borrower and the lender or lending syndicate enter into a loan agreement. In addition, an institution (typically, but not always, the agent) holds any collateral on behalf of the lenders.

In a typical floating rate loan, the agent administers the terms of the loan agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to all lenders that are parties to the loan agreement. Purchasers will rely on the agent to use appropriate creditor remedies against the borrower. Typically, under loan agreements, the agent is given broad discretion in monitoring the borrower’s performance and is obligated to use the same care it would use in the management of its own property. Upon an event of default, the agent typically will enforce the loan agreement after instruction from the lenders. The borrower compensates the agent for these services. This compensation may include special fees paid on structuring and funding the floating rate loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. The typical practice of an agent or a lender in relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the borrower may involve a risk of fraud by the borrower.

If an agent becomes insolvent, or has a receiver, conservator, or similar official appointed for it by the appropriate bank or other regulatory authority, or becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding, the agent’s appointment may be terminated, and a successor agent would be appointed. If an appropriate regulator or court determines that assets held by the agent for the benefit of the purchasers of floating rate loans are subject to the claims of the agent’s general or secured creditors, the purchasers might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a floating rate loan or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. Furthermore, in the event of the borrower’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the borrower’s obligation to repay a floating rate loan may be subject to certain defenses that the borrower can assert as a result of improper conduct by the agent.

Loan Participation Interests. Purchasers of participation interests do not have any direct contractual relationship with the borrower. Purchasers rely on the lender who sold the participation interest not only for the enforcement of the purchaser’s rights against the borrower but also for the receipt and processing of payments due under the floating rate loan. For additional information, see the section “Loans and Loan Participations” below.

Liquidity. Floating rate loans may be transferable among financial institutions, but may not have the liquidity of conventional debt securities and are often subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans are not currently listed on any securities exchange or automatic quotation system. As a result, no active market may exist for some floating rate loans. To the extent a secondary market exists for other floating rate loans, such market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads, and extended trade settlement periods. The lack of a highly liquid secondary market for floating rate loans may have an adverse effect on the value of such loans and may make it more difficult to value the loans for purposes of calculating their respective NAV.

B-10

Extended Trade Settlement Periods. Because transactions in many floating rate loans are subject to extended trade settlement periods, the Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a period after the sale. As a result, sale proceeds related to the sale of floating rate loans may not be available to make additional investments or to meet the Fund’s redemption obligations for a period after the sale of the loans, and, as a result, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions, such as borrowing from its credit facility, if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations.

Collateral. Most floating rate loans are secured by specific collateral of the borrower and are senior to most other securities or obligations of the borrower. The collateral typically has a market value, at the time the floating rate loan is made, that equals or exceeds the principal amount of the floating rate loan. The value of the collateral may decline, be insufficient to meet the obligations of the borrower, or be difficult to liquidate. As a result, a floating rate loan may not be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value.

Floating rate loan collateral may consist of various types of assets or interests, including working capital assets, such as accounts receivable or inventory; tangible or intangible assets; or assets or other types of guarantees of affiliates of the borrower.

Generally, floating rate loans are secured unless (i) the purchaser’s security interest in the collateral is invalidated for any reason by a court, or (ii) the collateral is fully released with the consent of the agent bank and lenders or under the terms of a loan agreement as the creditworthiness of the borrower improves. Collateral impairment is the risk that the value of the collateral for a floating rate loan will be insufficient in the event that a borrower defaults. Although the terms of a floating rate loan generally require that the collateral at issuance have a value at least equal to 100% of the amount of such floating rate loan, the value of the collateral may decline subsequent to the purchase of a floating rate loan. In most loan agreements there is no formal requirement to pledge additional collateral. There is no guarantee that the sale of collateral would allow a borrower to meet its obligations should the borrower be unable to repay principal or pay interest or that the collateral could be sold quickly or easily.

In addition, most borrowers pay their debts from the cash flow they generate. If the borrower’s cash flow is insufficient to pay its debts as they come due, the borrower may seek to restructure its debts rather than sell collateral.

Borrowers may try to restructure their debts by filing for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws or negotiating a work-out. If a borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, access to the collateral may be limited by bankruptcy and other laws. In the event that a court decides that access to the collateral is limited or void, it is unlikely that purchasers could recover the full amount of the principal and interest due.

There may be temporary periods when the principal asset held by a borrower is the stock of a related company, which may not legally be pledged to secure a floating rate loan. On occasions when such stock cannot be pledged, the floating rate loan will be temporarily unsecured until the stock can be pledged or is exchanged for, or replaced by, other assets.

Some floating rate loans are unsecured. The claims of holders under unsecured loans are subordinated to claims of creditors holding secured indebtedness and possibly also to claims of other creditors holding unsecured debt. Unsecured loans have a greater risk of default than secured loans, particularly during periods of deteriorating economic conditions. If the borrower defaults on an unsecured floating rate loan, there is no specific collateral on which the purchaser can foreclose.

Floating Interest Rates. The rate of interest payable on floating rate loans and other floating or variable rate obligations is the sum of a base lending rate plus a specified spread. Base lending rates are generally the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the Prime Rate of a designated U.S. bank, the Federal Funds Rate, or another base lending rate used by commercial lenders. A borrower usually has the right to select the base lending rate and to change the base lending rate at specified intervals. The applicable spread may be fixed at time of issuance or may adjust upward or downward to reflect changes in credit quality of the borrower.

The interest rate on LIBOR-based floating rate loans/obligations is reset periodically at intervals ranging from 30 to 180 days, while the interest rate on Prime Rate- or Federal Funds Rate-based floating rate loans/obligations floats daily as those rates change. Investment in floating rate loans/obligations with longer interest rate reset periods can increase fluctuations in the floating rate loans’ values when interest rates change.

The yield on a floating rate loan/obligation will primarily depend on the terms of the underlying floating rate loan/obligation and the base lending rate chosen by the borrower. The relationship between LIBOR, the Prime Rate, and the Federal Funds Rate will vary as market conditions change.

B-11

Maturity. Floating rate loans typically will have a stated term of five to nine years. However, because floating rate loans are frequently prepaid, their average maturity is expected to be two to three years. The degree to which borrowers prepay floating rate loans, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, may be affected by general business conditions, the borrower’s financial condition, and competitive conditions among lenders. Prepayments cannot be predicted with accuracy. Prepayments of principal to the purchaser of a floating rate loan may result in the principal’s being reinvested in floating rate loans with lower yields.

Supply of Floating Rate Loans. The legislation of state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions may impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly with respect to highly leveraged transactions. The supply of floating rate loans may be limited from time to time due to a lack of sellers in the market for existing floating rate loans or the number of new floating rate loans currently being issued. As a result, the floating rate loans available for purchase may be lower quality or higher priced.

Restrictive Covenants. A borrower must comply with various restrictive covenants contained in the loan agreement. In addition to requiring the scheduled payment of interest and principal, these covenants may include restrictions on dividend payments and other distributions to stockholders, provisions requiring the borrower to maintain specific financial ratios, and limits on total debt. The loan agreement may also contain a covenant requiring the borrower to prepay the floating rate loan with any free cash flow. A breach of a covenant that is not waived by the agent (or by the lenders directly) is normally an event of default, which provides the agent or the lenders the right to call the outstanding floating rate loan.

Fees. Purchasers of floating rate loans may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions, and prepayment penalty fees. When a purchaser buys a floating rate loan, it may receive a facility fee; and when it sells a floating rate loan, it may pay a facility fee. A purchaser may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a floating rate loan or a prepayment penalty fee on the prepayment of a floating rate loan. A purchaser may also receive other fees, including covenant waiver fees and covenant modification fees.

Other Types of Floating Rate Debt Obligations. Floating rate debt obligations include other forms of indebtedness of borrowers such as notes and bonds, obligations with fixed rate interest payments in conjunction with a right to receive floating rate interest payments, and shares of other investment companies. These instruments are generally subject to the same risks as floating rate loans but are often more widely issued and traded.

Inverse Floating Rate Debt Obligations. The Fund 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 the Fund’s limitation on illiquid investments.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts

The Fund may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and may also purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. Government Securities), securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices. Financial futures contracts used by the Fund 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 LIBOR of a three-month deposit.

The Fund may engage in futures and related options transactions in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. The Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options.

B-12

Futures contracts entered into by mutual funds have historically been traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or 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 (“NFA”), SEC nor any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign exchange or boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign exchange or board of trade or any applicable foreign law. This is true even if the exchange is formally linked to a domestic market so that a position taken on the market may be liquidated by a transaction on another market. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs. For these reasons, the 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 CEA, the CFTC’s regulations and the rules of the NFA and any domestic exchange, including the right to use reparations proceedings before the CFTC and arbitration proceedings provided by the NFA 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 or currencies for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).

When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, the Fund can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, the Fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases. In addition, the Fund may enter into futures transactions to seek a closer correlation between the Fund’s overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund’s performance benchmark.

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities or currency will usually be liquidated in this manner, the Fund may instead make or take delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities or currency are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

Hedging Strategies Using Futures Contracts. When the Fund uses futures for hedging purposes, the Fund often seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities (or securities that the Fund proposes to acquire) or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio securities are quoted or denominated. The Fund may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by the Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for the Fund’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of a hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Investment Adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the Fund enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by attempting to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the Fund’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

On other occasions, the Fund may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This may be done, for example, when the Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices 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 the Fund the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, the Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

B-13

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset a decline in the value of the Fund’s assets. By writing a call option, the Fund becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. The writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that the Fund intends to purchase. However, the Fund becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by the Fund in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected. The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

Other Considerations. The 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 Code for maintaining its qualifications 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 identify on its books cash or liquid assets. The Fund may cover its transactions in futures contracts and related options by identifying on its books cash or liquid assets or by other means, in any manner permitted by applicable law. For more information about these practices, see “Description of Investment Securities and Practices – Asset Segregation.”

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 the 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 the Fund’s futures positions and portfolio positions may be impossible to achieve, particularly where futures contracts based on individual equity or corporate fixed income securities are currently not available. In the event of imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and the Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.

In addition, it is not possible for the 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 the Fund’s trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Adviser to analyze correctly the futures markets.

High Yield Securities

The Fund may invest in bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“Standard & Poor’s”) or Ba1 or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) (or comparable rated and unrated securities). These bonds are commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” are non-investment grade, and are considered speculative. The ability of issuers of high yield securities to make principal and interest payments may be questionable because such issuers are often less creditworthy or are highly leveraged. High yield securities are also issued by governmental issuers that may have difficulty in making all scheduled interest and principal payments. In some cases, high yield securities 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 in investment grade bonds (i.e., bonds rated AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard & 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 the 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 market values of high yield securities tend to reflect 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 high yield securities that are highly leveraged may not be able to make use of more traditional methods of financing. Their ability to service debt obligations may be more adversely affected by economic downturns or their inability to meet specific projected business forecasts than would be the case for issuers of 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 high yield 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 high yield securities is the supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the prices of investments 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 the Fund’s NAV.

B-14

The risk of loss from default for the holders of high yield securities is significantly greater than is the case for holders of other debt securities because such high yield securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to the rights of other creditors of the issuers of such securities. Investment by the Fund in already defaulted securities poses an 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 the Fund of its initial investment and any anticipated income or appreciation is uncertain. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery relating to the default in the payment of principal or interest on such securities or otherwise protect its interests. The Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy annual distribution obligations of the Fund in respect of accrued interest income on securities which are subsequently written off, even though the Fund has not received any cash payments of such interest.

The secondary market for high yield securities is concentrated in relatively few markets and is dominated by institutional investors, including mutual funds, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Accordingly, the secondary market for such securities may not be as liquid as and may be more volatile than the secondary market for higher-rated securities. In addition, the trading volume for high yield securities is generally lower than that of higher rated securities. The secondary market for high yield securities could contract under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. These factors may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Fund to dispose of particular portfolio investments when needed to meet its redemption requests or other liquidity needs. The Investment Adviser could find it difficult to sell these investments or may be able to sell the investments only at prices lower than if such investments were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the NAV of the Fund. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.

The adoption of new legislation could adversely affect the secondary market for high yield securities and the financial condition of issuers of these securities. The form of any future legislation, and the probability of such legislation being enacted, is uncertain.

Non-investment grade or high yield securities also present risks based on payment expectations. High yield securities frequently contain “call” or buy-back features which permit the issuer to call or repurchase the security from its holder. If an issuer exercises such a “call option” and redeems the security, the Fund may have to replace such security with a lower-yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. In addition, if the Fund experiences net redemptions of its shares, it may be forced to sell its higher-rated securities, resulting in a decline in the overall credit quality of its portfolio and increasing its exposure to the risks of high yield securities.

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 high yield 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. Investments in non-investment grade and comparable unrated obligations will be more dependent on the Investment Adviser’s credit analysis than would be the case with investments in investment-grade debt obligations. The Investment Adviser employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of an issuer’s existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debt and to pay dividends, sensitivity to economic conditions, operating history and current earnings trend. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in the Fund’s portfolios and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain non-investment grade and comparable unrated securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed. If after its purchase, a portfolio security is assigned a lower rating or ceases to be rated, the Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of highly leveraged issuers of junk bond investments 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 the Fund’s NAV to the extent it invests in such investments. In addition, the 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.

B-15

Interest Rate Swaps, Credit Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Equity Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars

The Fund may enter into interest rate, credit and total return swaps. The Fund may also enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions.

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. As examples, the Fund may enter into swap transactions for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in an economical way.

In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns, differentials in rates of return or some other amount earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or security, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. Bilateral swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. Cleared swaps are transacted through FCMs that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouse serving as a central counterparty similar to transactions in futures contracts. The Fund posts initial and variation margin by making payments to their clearing member FCMs.

Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive payments for floating rate payments based on interest rates at specified intervals in the future. Two types of interest rate swaps include “fixed-for-floating rate swaps” and “basis swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of payments based on a fixed interest rate for payments based on a floating interest rate index. By contrast, basis swaps involve the exchange of payments based on two different floating interest rate indices. 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 default swaps (also referred to as credit swaps) involve the exchange of a floating or fixed rate payment in return for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security or pool of securities. Loan credit default swaps are similar to credit default swaps on bonds, except that the underlying protection is sold on secured loans of a reference entity rather than a broader category of bonds or loans. Loan credit default swaps may be on single names or on baskets of loans, both tranched and untranched. The Fund may obtain exposure to Senior Loans through the use of derivative instruments including loan credit default swaps. Investments in loan credit default swaps involve many of the risks associated with investments in derivatives more generally. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. 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. Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, an equity swap contract may be structured as a total return swap, where a counterparty may agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in particular stocks (or a group of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In other cases, the counterparty and the Fund may each agree to pay the other the difference between the relative investment performances that would have been achieved if the notional amount of the equity swap contract had been invested in different stocks (or a group of stocks).

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 or modify an underlying swap or to modify the terms of an existing 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 or modify an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms, which generally entails a greater risk of loss than incurred in buying a swaption. 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.

B-16

A great deal of flexibility may be possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally the Fund will enter into interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and 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. Interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage and equity 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 equity swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage or equity swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.

In contrast, currency swaps usually involve the delivery of a gross payment stream in one designated currency in exchange for a 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. A credit swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that may, or may not, be currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the protection buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If a credit event occurs, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the Fund as seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.

As a result of recent regulatory developments, certain standardized swaps are currently subject to mandatory central clearing and some of these cleared swaps must be traded on an exchange or swap execution facility (“SEF”). A SEF is a trading platform in which multiple market participants can execute swap transactions by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants on the platform. Transactions executed on a SEF may increase market transparency and liquidity but may cause the Fund to incur increased expenses to execute swaps. Central clearing should decrease counterparty risk and increase liquidity compared to bilateral swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant’s swap. However, central clearing does not eliminate counterparty risk or illiquidity risk entirely. In addition, depending on the size of the Fund and other factors, the margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by the Fund to support its obligations under a similar bilateral swap. However, the CFTC and other applicable regulators have adopted rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps which may result in the Fund and its counterparties posting higher margin amounts for uncleared swaps. Requiring margin on uncleared swaps may reduce, but not eliminate, counterparty credit risk.

To the extent that the Fund’s exposure in a transaction involving a swap, swaption or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by identifying cash or liquid assets on the Fund’s books or is covered by other means in accordance with SEC or SEC staff-approved guidance or other appropriate measures, the Fund and the Investment Adviser believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Fund’s borrowing restrictions. For more information about these practices, see “Description of Investment Securities and Practices – Asset Segregation.”

The use of swaps and swaptions, 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. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of the Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if these investment instruments were not used.

In addition, these transactions can involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly because, in addition to general market risks, swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk, credit risk and pricing risk. Regulators also may impose limits on an entity’s or group of entities’ positions in certain swaps. However, certain risks are reduced (but not eliminated) if the Fund invests in cleared swaps. Because bilateral swap agreements are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap transactions may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Swaps and other derivatives may also be subject to pricing or “basis” risk, which exists when the price of a particular derivative diverges from the price of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions it may not be economically feasible to imitate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

B-17

Certain rules also require centralized reporting of detailed information about many types of cleared and uncleared swaps. This information is available to regulators and, to a more limited extent and on an anonymous basis, to the public. Reporting of swap data may result in greater market transparency, which may be beneficial to funds that use swaps to implement trading strategies. However, these rules place potential additional administrative obligations on these funds, and the safeguards established to protect anonymity may not function as expected.

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments which are traded in the interbank market. The Investment Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund’s transactions in swaps, swaptions, caps, floors and collars.

MMD Rate Locks

The Fund may purchase and sell Municipal Market Data AAA Cash Curve forward contracts, also known as “MMD rate locks.” The Fund may use these transactions for hedging purposes or, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, to enhance income or gain or to increase the Fund’s yield, for example, during periods of steep interest rate yield curves (i.e., wide differences between short term and long term interest rates).

An MMD rate lock permits the Fund to lock in a specified municipal interest rate for a portion of its portfolio to preserve a return on a particular investment, as a duration management technique, or to protect against any increase in the price of securities to be purchased at a later date. By using an MMD rate lock, the Fund can create a synthetic long or short position, allowing the Fund to select the most attractive part of the yield curve. An MMD rate lock is a forward contract between the Fund and an MMD rate lock provider pursuant to which the parties agree to make payments to each other on a notional amount, contingent upon whether the Municipal Market Data AAA General Obligations Scale is above or below a specified level on the expiration date of the contract. In connection with investments in MMD rate locks, there is a risk that municipal yields will move in the opposite direction than that anticipated by the Fund, which would cause the Fund to make payments to its counterparty in the transaction that could adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Municipal Securities

The Fund may invest in 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 Fund may revise its 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 the Fund’s investment objective and policies. The 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.

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.

B-18

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, including property tax collections, sales tax revenue, income tax revenue and local, state and federal government funding, or the assets collateralizing such obligations. Municipal securities and issuers of municipal securities may be more susceptible to downgrade, default, and bankruptcy as a result of recent periods of economic stress. During the recent economic downturn, several municipalities have filed for bankruptcy protection or have indicated that they may seek bankruptcy protection in the future. 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.

For the purpose of applying the 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, the Fund. 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.

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.

While the Fund, under normal market conditions, invests substantially all of its assets in Municipal Securities, the recognition of certain accrued market discount income (if the Fund acquires Municipal Securities or other obligations at a market discount), income from investments other than Municipal Securities and any capital gains generated from the disposition of investments, will result in taxable income. In addition to federal income tax, shareholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxes on distributions of such income received from the Fund.

From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on Municipal Securities. For example, under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, interest on certain private activity bonds must be included in an investor’s federal alternative minimum taxable income. The Trust cannot predict what legislation, if any, may be proposed in the future in Congress as regards the federal income tax status of interest on Municipal Securities or which proposals, if any, might be enacted. Such proposals, if enacted, might materially and adversely affect the tax treatment of Municipal Securities and the availability of Municipal Securities for investment by the Fund and the Fund’s liquidity and value. In such an event the Board of Trustees would reevaluate the Fund’s investment objective and policies.

B-19

[Special Risk Considerations Relating to California Municipal Obligations. The Fund may invest in municipal obligations of the State of California (“California” or, as used in this section, the “State”), its public authorities and local governments (“California Municipal Obligations”), and consequently may be affected by political and economic developments within California and by the financial condition of California’s political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and public authorities. Provisions of the California Constitution and State statutes that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities may impair the ability of California governmental issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations. Future federal and California political and economic developments, constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives as well as environmental events could have an adverse effect on the debt obligations of California issuers. Some of the significant financial considerations relating to investments in California Municipal Obligations are summarized below. The following section provides only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial condition of California that could, in turn, adversely affect the Fund’s investments in California Municipal Obligations. This information is based on information publicly available from State authorities and other sources available prior to July 30, 2018, and has not been independently verified. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State, and that there is no obligation on the part of California to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default in the absence of a specific guarantee or pledge provided by California. Furthermore, obligations of issuers of California Municipal Obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Accordingly, an insolvent municipality may file for bankruptcy, as allowed by Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code. This section provides a financially distressed municipality protection from its creditors while it develops and negotiates a plan for reorganizing its debts. The reorganization of a municipality’s debts may be accomplished by extending debt maturities, reducing the amount of principal or interest, refinancing the debt or other measures which may significantly affect the rights of creditors and the value of the securities issued by the municipality and the value of the Fund’s investments. As a result of continuing financial and economic difficulties, several California municipalities have filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9 or have indicated that they may seek such bankruptcy protection in the future. Additional municipal bankruptcy filings may occur in the future. Any such action could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments in the securities of those issuers or other issuers in California.

Certain California Municipal Obligations held by the Fund may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in substantial part on California state government revenues for the continuance of their operations and payment of their obligations. Whether and to what extent the California Legislature will continue to appropriate a portion of the State’s General Fund to counties, cities and their various entities, which depend upon State government appropriations, is not entirely certain. To the extent local entities do not receive money from the State government to pay for their operations and services, their ability to pay debt service on obligations held by the Fund may be impaired.

California Municipal Obligations, including certain tax-exempt securities, in which the Fund may invest may be obligations payable solely from the revenues of specific institutions, or may be secured by specific properties, which are subject to provisions of California law that could adversely affect the holders of such obligations. For example, the revenues of California health care institutions may be subject to State laws, and California law limits the remedies of a creditor secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property.

California’s economy, the largest state economy in the United States and one of the largest and most diverse in the world, has major components in high technology, trade, entertainment, manufacturing, government, tourism, construction and services. The relative proportion of the various components of the California economy closely resembles the make-up of the national economy; and as a result, economic developments that affect such industries may have a similar impact on the State and national economies.

In March 2004, voters approved Proposition 58, which amended the California State Constitution to require balanced budgets in the future, yet this has not prevented the State from enacting budgets that rely on borrowing. Proposition 58 also created the Budget Stabilization Account (“BSA”) as a secondary budgetary reserve and established the process for transferring General Fund revenues into the BSA.

Beginning with fiscal year 2015-16, the BSA provisions of Proposition 58 were superseded by Proposition 2. Proposition 2 provides for both paying down debt and other long-term liabilities, and saving for a rainy day by making specified deposits into the BSA. Proposition 2 takes into account California’s heavy dependence on the performance of the stock market and the resulting capital gains. Beginning in fiscal year 2015-16, California must calculate capital gains revenues in excess of 8% of General Fund tax revenues and add such amount to 1.5% of the General Fund tax revenues; half of this amount is used to service long-term debt, and the other half of this amount is deposited into the BSA. Proposition 2 also only allows withdrawals from the BSA for a disaster or if spending remains commensurate or below the highest level of spending in the preceding three years. Under current projections, Proposition 2 will result in a BSA balance of $14.7 billion by fiscal year 2021-22. The projected BSA deposit for fiscal year 2018-19 is $3.5 billion.

B-20

Overall, California’s real gross domestic product increased by 3.3% in 2016 and totaled $2.6 trillion at current prices, making it the sixth largest economy in the world. Nonfarm employment in California is forecast to grow by 1.5% in 2018 and 1.3% in 2019. The State’s unemployment rate fell from a high of 12.5% in December 2010 to 4.2% in May 2018. In comparison, the national unemployment rate was 3.8% in May 2018.

Personal income in California is estimated to have grown 4.1% in 2017 and projected to grow 5.2% in 2018 and 3.9% in 2019, as compared to falling by 3.7% in 2009 and the 3.9% average growth rate from 2002 to 2013. Taxable sales in California are estimated to have grown 4.4% in 2017 and projected to grow 4.7% in 2018 and 3.9% in 2019. On April 4, 2016, the Governor signed SB 3, which gradually increases the minimum wage in California (currently $10 per hour) to $15 per hour by 2023 (at the earliest) for all employees in California.

Revenue bonds represent both obligations payable from State revenue-producing enterprises and projects and conduit obligations payable from revenues paid by private users or local governments of facilities financed by such revenue bonds. Such enterprises and projects include transportation projects, various public works projects, public and private educational facilities (including the California State University and University of California systems), housing, health facilities, and pollution control facilities. State agencies and authorities had approximately $33.8 billion aggregate principal amount of revenue bonds and notes, which are non-recourse to the General Fund, outstanding as of June 30, 2017.

As of July 20, 2018, California’s general obligation bonds were assigned ratings of Aal, AA- and AA- by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, respectively. It should be recognized that these ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators. Such ratings reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies, from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may affect the market price of the State municipal obligations in which the Fund invests. As of February 1, 2018, California had outstanding approximately $73.1 billion in long-term general obligation bonds.

The Governor’s Budget, which was released in January 2018 and amended by the Revised Budget published in May 2018, projected the State to begin fiscal year 2018-19 with a General Fund balance of approximately $8.5 billion. The Governor’s Budget projects that the General Fund will receive $133.5 billion in revenues and transfers, an increase of $3.7 billion compared with revised estimates for fiscal year 2017-18. Against these revenues, the 2018-19 Governor’s Budget calls for approximately $137.6 billion in General Fund expenditures, an increase of $10.5 billion compared with adjusted estimates for fiscal year 2017-18.

The 2018 Budget Act was signed into law on June 27, 2018. The 2018 Budget Act projected the State to end fiscal year 2018-19 with a General Fund balance of approximately $3.1 billion. The Budget Act projects that the General Fund will receive $133.3 billion in revenues and transfers, an increase of $3.5 billion compared with estimates for fiscal year 2017-18. Against these revenues, the 2018 Budget Act calls for approximately $138.7 billion in General Fund expenditures, an increase of $11.6 billion from fiscal year 2017-18.

The State is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in governmental operations and which, if decided against the State, might require the State to make significant future expenditures or impair future revenue sources. Because of the prospective nature of these proceedings, it is not presently possible to predict the ultimate outcome of such proceedings, estimate the potential impact on the ability of the State to make debt service payments, or determine what impact, if any, such proceedings may have on the Fund’s investments in California Municipal Obligations.

Constitutional and statutory amendments as well as budget developments may affect the ability of California issuers to pay interest and principal on their obligations. The overall effect may depend upon whether a particular California tax-exempt security is a general or limited obligation bond and on the type of security provided for the bond. It is possible that measures affecting the taxing or spending authority of California or its political subdivisions may be approved or enacted in the future.

Special Risk Considerations Relating to Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations. The Fund may invest in municipal obligations of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“Puerto Rico” or, as used in this section, the “Commonwealth”), its public authorities and local governments (“Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations”), and consequently may be affected by political and economic developments within Puerto Rico and by the financial condition of Puerto Rico’s political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and public authorities.

B-21

Future federal and Puerto Rico political and economic developments, constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives as well as environmental events could have an adverse effect on the debt obligations of Puerto Rican issuers. Some of the significant financial considerations relating to investments in Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations are summarized below. The following section provides only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial condition of Puerto Rico that could, in turn, adversely affect the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations. This information is based on information publicly available from Commonwealth authorities and other sources available prior to July 30, 2018 and has not been independently verified.

Puerto Rico and its public corporations are not eligible for protection under Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code, which is the only chapter available to municipalities. Accordingly, in the event that Puerto Rico is unable to meet both the need to fund governmental services and its debt obligations, it may be required to take emergency measures, which may include measures to disburse public funds in accordance with legally established priority norms. The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) was signed into law on June 30, 2016, which allows Puerto Rico to restructure its outstanding debt obligations. It also establishes an oversight and management board (the “Oversight Board”) that is empowered to approve Puerto Rico’s fiscal plans and budgets. The budget process requires the Oversight Board, the Governor, and the Commonwealth’s Legislative Assembly to develop a compliant budget. The proposed budget is required to be consistent with a fiscal plan developed by the Oversight Board and the Governor. If the Governor and the Legislative Assembly fail to develop a budget that complies with the fiscal plan approved by the Oversight Board by the day before the first day of the fiscal year for which the budget is being developed, the Oversight Board shall submit a compliant budget to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly, and the Oversight Board’s budget is deemed approved and becomes effective. The Oversight Board is comprised of seven members appointed by the president who are nominated by a bipartisan selection process.

Following the natural disasters described below and the resulting impact on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and economy, the Oversight Board requested that Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities submit revised fiscal plans that took into the account the impact of the natural disasters. Puerto Rico submitted a fiscal plan that was certified by the Oversight Board in May 2018(“Fiscal Plan”). The Fiscal Plan provided for approximately $8.5 billion in general fund revenue against $8.6 billion in general fund appropriations. The Governor and Legislative Assembly submitted a proposed budget to the Oversight Board on June 1, 2018, but the Oversight Board unanimously determined on June 5, 2018 that the proposed budget was did not comply with the Fiscal Plan. The Oversight Board submitted a revised proposed budget for the Legislative Assembly’s and Governor’s consideration, and they had until June 18, 2018 to submit a compliant, adopted budget to the Oversight Board for certification. Following disagreements with the Commonwealth’s Legislative Assembly and Governor over the inclusion of certain government employee benefits, the Oversight Board approved its own version of the fiscal year 2019 budget, which was supposed to take effect on July 1, 2018 and provides for approximately $8.8 billion in General Fund allocations. The Governor and Legislative Assembly passed their own version of the fiscal year 2019 budget, and the Governor and the Legislative Assembly filed separate suits to enjoin the Oversight Board’s budget from taking effect. As of the date of this SAI, the litigation is ongoing. It is not presently possible to predict the extent of the impact that the budget litigation will have on Puerto Rico’s economy.

In 2017, pursuant to Title III of PROMESA, the Oversight Board filed petitions in federal court on behalf of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities, including the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”), the Employees Retirement System (“ERS”), the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority, and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Utility (“PREPA”), to begin proceedings to restructure their outstanding debt. As a result of these petitions, the ability of the creditors of Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities that have filed for Title III relief to take action with respect to outstanding obligations has been temporarily stayed. The judge assigned to oversee the Title III proceedings initiated a confidential mediation process administered by five federal judges. In addition, the judge has concurrently overseen legal proceedings related to the Title III petitions and mediation. With respect to the ongoing litigation between Puerto Rico and COFINA, agents for Puerto Rico and COFINA reached an agreement in principle on June 7, 2018 to share sales and use tax revenue and the Pledged Sales Tax Base Amount. The agreement in principle also addressed the restructuring of COFINA bonds. As of the date of this SAI, the mediation and certain related litigation is ongoing. It is not presently possible to predict the results of the petition, but the petition will have a significant impact on bondholders. If Puerto Rico is unable to restructure its debt, there could be negative impacts on Fund performance.

Puerto Rico’s economy is closely linked to that of the United States, as most of the external factors that affect Puerto Rico’s economy are determined by the policies and performance of the mainland economy. However, in recent years, Puerto Rico’s economy, which entered a recession in the fourth quarter of 2006, has lagged behind the U.S. economy. In fiscal year 2016, Puerto Rico’s gross national product grew by 0.9%, while the United States’ gross national product grew by 2.7%. In May 2018, the Oversight Board projected that Puerto Rico’s gross national product to decrease by 13.3% on a year-over-year basis, due, in part, to adverse effects from hurricanes that impacted Puerto Rico in 2017 (as discussed below).

B-22

Puerto Rico’s per capita income in 2016 was $18,485, which was far below the national average ($49,198 during the same period). As of May 2018, the Commonwealth’s civilian labor force consisted of approximately 1.09 million individuals. The unemployment rate in Puerto Rico was 9.6% as of May 2018, down from 10.5% in May 2017, but considerably higher than the national average of 3.8%.

Puerto Rico’s budget is also impacted by extensive unfunded pension obligations related to the Commonwealth’s three public retirement systems, the ERS, the Teachers Retirement System (“TRS”) and the Judiciary Retirement System (“JRS”), all of which are funded primarily through appropriations from the general fund. As of July 1 2016, the total actuarial liabilities for the ERS, TRS, and JRS were approximately $38.0 billion, $18.0 billion, and $700 million, respectively. The total annual benefits due from the ERS, TRS, and JRS for fiscal year 2018 total approximately $1.7 billion, $800,000, and $28 million, respectively. In 2017, the Legislative Assembly enacted laws to reform the operation and funding of Puerto Rico’s pension systems. Those laws required the ERS to sell its assets and transfer the proceeds to the general fund. In addition, employer contributions to the pension systems, which had been operating on as “pay-as-you-go” basis, were eliminated, and the general fund assumed any payments that the pension systems could not make. Puerto Rico may have to make additional contributions to the pension systems, which could result in reduced funding for other priorities, including payments on its outstanding debt obligations. Alternatively, Puerto Rico may be forced to raise revenue or issue additional debt. Either outcome could increase the pressure on Puerto Rico’s budget, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s investment in Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations.

An additional contributor to the Commonwealth’s significant budget deficits is a high level of debt, which the Commonwealth has needed in order to bridge budget gaps, but the servicing of which also exacerbates its ongoing fiscal difficulties. The Oversight Board reported in the Fiscal Plan that, as of May 30, 2018, Puerto Rico’s consolidated outstanding debt and pension liabilities have grown to over $120 billion, with more than $70 billion in financial debt and more than $50 billion in pension liabilities. The Fiscal Plan provided for debt service payments of approximately $2.4 billion for fiscal year 2019. However, on July 2, 2018, Puerto Rico failed to make a scheduled debt payment of approximately $516 million.

In September 2017, two successive hurricanes – Irma and Maria – caused severe damage to Puerto Rico. Hurricane Irma passed to the north of the island, but Hurricane Maria made direct landfall, and the damage caused by both storms is extensive. Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was severely damaged by high winds and substantial flooding, and more than 1 million people throughout the island were left without power. As of May 2018, power had not been completely restored throughout Puerto Rico. Current estimates suggest that Hurricane Maria caused approximately $80 billion in damage and is projected to cause a real decline in gross national product of 13.3% in 2018. Puerto Rico expects to receive over $60 billion in federal funding to invest in the recovery and rebuilding effort. In addition, while Puerto Rico’s population has trended downward every year since 2013, and the trend was accelerated after the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria displaced residents.

The damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria is expected to have substantially adverse effects on Puerto Rico’s economy. In addition to diverting funds to relief and recovery efforts, Puerto Rico is expected to lose revenue as a result of decreased tourism and general business operations. There can be no assurances that Puerto Rico will receive the necessary aid to rebuild from the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and it is not currently possible to predict the long-term impact that the Hurricanes will have on Puerto Rico’s economy. All of these developments have a material adverse effect on Puerto Rico’s finances and negatively impact the payment of principal and interest, the marketability, liquidity, and value of securities issued by Puerto Rico that are held by the Fund.

As of July 17, 2018, Puerto Rico’s general obligation debt was assigned a credit rating of Ca by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. In 2018, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Inc. discontinued their unenhanced ratings on Puerto Rico’s general obligation debt. These ratings represent non-investment grade status. The downgraded credit rating has adversely impacted the liquidity of Puerto Rico’s debt securities. There is no assurance that these ratings will continue for any given period of time or that they will not be revised or withdrawn entirely by the rating agency if, in the judgment of such rating agency, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of any such rating may have an adverse effect on the market prices of the securities issued by the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions, instrumentalities, and authorities.

In addition to the litigation described above, Puerto Rico is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in governmental operations and which, if decided against the Commonwealth, might require the Commonwealth to make significant future expenditures or impair future revenue sources. Because of the prospective nature of these proceedings, it is not presently possible to predict the ultimate outcome of such proceedings, estimate the potential impact on Puerto Rico’s ability to make debt service payments, or determine what impact, if any, such proceedings may have on the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico Municipal Obligations. ]

B-23

Municipal Leases, Certificates of Participation and Other Participation Interests. The Fund 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 difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover the Fund’s original investment. To the extent that the 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 Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. Other municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation acquired by the 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 the Fund.

The Fund may purchase participations in Municipal Securities held by a commercial bank or other financial institution. Such participations provide the Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying Municipal Securities. In addition, such participations generally provide the Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the 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 and construction loan notes. 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 Federal Housing Administration; 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. 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.

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.

B-24

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 often purchased at a price which represents a premium over their face value.

Private Activity Bonds. The Fund may 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. The Fund’s distributions of its interest income from private activity bonds may subject certain investors to the federal alternative minimum tax.

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 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 to be inadequate and the bond would not otherwise be readily marketable. The Fund intends to invest in tender option bonds the interest on which will, in the opinion of bond counsel, counsel for the issuer of interests therein or counsel selected by the Investment Adviser, be exempt from regular federal income tax. However, because there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such counsel’s opinion in any particular case, there is a risk that the Fund will not be considered the owner of such tender option bonds and thus will not be entitled to treat such interest as exempt from such tax. Additionally, the federal income tax treatment of certain other aspects of these investments, including the proper tax treatment of tender option bonds and the associated fees in relation to various regulated investment company tax provisions is unclear. The Fund intends to manage its portfolio in a manner designed to eliminate or minimize any adverse impact from the tax rules applicable to these investments.

Auction Rate Securities. The Fund 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. In certain market environments, auction failures may be more prevalent, which may adversely affect the liquidity and price of auction rate securities. Moreover, between auctions, there may be no secondary market for these securities, and sales conducted on a secondary market may not be on terms favorable to the seller. Thus, with respect to liquidity and price stability, auction rate securities may differ substantially from cash equivalents, notwithstanding the frequency of auctions and the credit quality of the security. The Fund will take the time remaining until the next scheduled auction date into account for the purpose of determining the auction rate securities’ duration.

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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

B-25

The 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 Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other fees paid by such closed-end funds in addition to the other expenses paid by the Fund.

Insurance. The Fund 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 the 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 the Fund.

The Fund 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 the Fund) subsequent to a bond’s original issuance and generally insures a particular bond for the remainder of its term. The Fund may purchase bonds which have already been insured under a secondary market insurance policy by a prior investor, or the Fund may directly purchase such a policy from insurers for bonds which are currently uninsured.

Standby Commitments. In order to enhance the liquidity of Municipal Securities, the Fund may acquire the right to sell a security to another party at a guaranteed price and date. Such a right to resell may be referred to as a “standby commitment” or liquidity put, depending on its characteristics. The aggregate price which the Fund pays for securities with standby commitments may be higher than the price which otherwise would be paid for the securities. Standby commitments may not be available or may not be available on satisfactory terms.

Standby commitments may involve letters of credit issued by domestic or foreign banks supporting the other party’s ability to purchase the security from the Fund. The right to sell may be exercisable on demand or at specified intervals, and may form part of a security or be acquired separately by the Fund. In considering whether a security meets the Fund’s quality standards, the Fund will look to the creditworthiness of the party providing the Fund with the right to sell as well as the quality of the security itself.

The Fund values Municipal Securities which are subject to standby commitments at amortized cost. The exercise price of the standby commitments is expected to approximate such amortized cost. No value is assigned to the standby commitments for purposes of determining the Fund’s NAV. The cost of a standby commitment is carried as unrealized depreciation from the time of purchase until it is exercised or expires. Because the value of a standby commitment is dependent on the ability of the standby commitment writer to meet its obligation to repurchase, the Fund’s policy is to enter into standby commitment transactions only with banks, brokers or dealers which present a minimal risk of default.

The Investment Adviser understands that the IRS has issued a favorable revenue ruling to the effect that, under specified circumstances, a registered investment company will be the owner of tax exempt municipal obligations acquired subject to a put option. The IRS has subsequently announced that it will not ordinarily issue advance ruling letters as to the identity of the true owner of property in cases involving the sale of securities or participation interests therein if the purchaser has the right to cause the security, or the participation interest therein, to be purchased by either the seller or a third party. The Fund intends to take the position that it is the owner of any Municipal Securities acquired subject to a standby commitment or acquired or held with certain other types of put rights and that tax exempt interest earned with respect to such Municipal Securities will be tax exempt in its hands. There is no assurance that standby commitments will be available to the Fund nor has the Fund assumed that such commitments would continue to be available under all market conditions.

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 the Fund’s portfolio are called prior to 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.

B-26

Tobacco Settlement Revenue Bonds. The Fund may each invest a portion of its assets in tobacco settlement revenue bonds. Tobacco settlement revenue bonds are municipal obligations that are backed entirely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement revenue bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. The MSA provides for annual payments in perpetuity by the manufacturers to the states in exchange for releasing all claims against the manufacturers and a pledge of no further litigation. Tobacco manufacturers pay into a master escrow trust based on their market share, and each state receives a fixed percentage of the payment as set forth in the MSA. A number of states have securitized the future flow of those payments by selling bonds pursuant to indentures or through distinct governmental entities created for such purpose. The principal and interest payments on the bonds are backed by the future revenue flow related to the MSA. Annual payments on the bonds, and thus risk to the Fund, are highly dependent on the receipt of future settlement payments to the state or its governmental entity.

The actual amount of future settlement payments is further dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. The initial and annual payments made by the tobacco companies will be adjusted based on a number of factors, the most important of which is domestic cigarette consumption. If the volume of cigarettes shipped in the U.S. by manufacturers participating in the settlement decreases significantly, payments due from them will also decrease. Demand for cigarettes in the U.S. could continue to decline due to price increases needed to recoup the cost of payments by tobacco companies. Demand could also be affected by: anti-smoking campaigns, tax increases, reduced advertising, enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors; elimination of certain sales venues such as vending machines; and the spread of local ordinances restricting smoking in public places. As a result, payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline. A market share loss by the MSA companies to non-MSA participating tobacco manufacturers would cause a downward adjustment in the payment amounts. A participating manufacturer filing for bankruptcy also could cause delays or reductions in bond payments. The MSA itself has been subject to legal challenges and has, to date, withstood those challenges.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices

Writing and Purchasing Call and Put Options on Securities and Securities Indices. The Fund may write (sell) call and put options on any securities in which it may invest or any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. The Fund may write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by the Fund obligates that Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised on or before the expiration date. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of a call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the security over a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”) or (ii) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the security over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the security and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the security determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the call option. The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In this case, the cost of entering into closing purchase transactions will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund. All call options written by the Fund are covered, which means that the Fund will own the securities subject to the option so long as the option is outstanding or such Fund will use the other methods described below. The Fund’s purpose in writing call options is to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, the Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security.

A put option written by the Fund obligates the Fund to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised on or before the expiration date. All put options written by the Fund would be covered, which means that such Fund will identify on its books cash or liquid assets with a value at least equal to the exercise price of the put option (less any margin on deposit) or will use the other methods described below. For more information about these practices, see “Description of Investment Securities and Practices – Asset Segregation.”

The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income for the Fund. However, in return for the option premium, the Fund accepts the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

B-27

In the case of a call option, the option may be “covered” if the 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 identified on the Fund’s books) upon conversion or exchange of other instruments held by it. A call option may also be covered if the 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 identifies liquid assets in the amount of the difference. A put option may also be covered if the Fund holds a put on the same security 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 identifies on its books liquid assets in the amount of the difference. The Fund may also cover options on securities by identifying cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin on deposit that is equal to the market value of the securities in the case of a call option. Identified cash or liquid assets may be quoted or denominated in any currency.

The Fund may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions.”

The Fund may also write (sell) call and put options on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

The Fund may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or if additional cash consideration is required, liquid assets in such amount are identified on the Fund’s books) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by it. The Fund may also cover call and put options by identifying cash or liquid assets, as permitted by applicable law, with a value, when added to any margin on deposit, that is equal to the market value of the underlying securities in the case of a call option or the exercise price in the case of a put option or by owning offsetting options as described above.

The writing of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of options to seek to increase total return involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The successful use of options for hedging purposes also depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in securities prices or determination of the correlation between the securities indices on which options are written and purchased and the securities in the Fund’s investment portfolio, the investment performance of the Fund will be less favorable than it would have been in the absence of such options transactions. The writing of options could increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and, therefore, associated brokerage commissions or spreads.

The Fund may also purchase put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. In addition, the Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.

The Fund may purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”), in the market value of securities or other instruments of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities or other instruments at a specified price during the option period. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle the Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities or other instruments at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of the Fund’s securities or other instruments. Put options may also be purchased by the Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities or other instruments which it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities or other instruments decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities or other instruments.

B-28

The Fund may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

Yield Curve Options. The Fund 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 Fund may purchase or write yield curve options for the same purposes as other options on securities. For example, the 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. The 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 the 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 identifies on its books cash or liquid assets sufficient to cover the Fund’s net liability under the two options. Therefore, the 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 a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to options it has written, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of the assets identified on its books to cover the position until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it will have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities.

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

There can be no assurance that higher trading activity, order flow or other unforeseen events will not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation or various exchanges inadequate. Such events have, in the past, resulted in the institution by an exchange of special procedures, such as trading rotations, restrictions on certain types of order or trading halts or suspensions with respect to one or more options. These special procedures may limit liquidity.

The Fund may purchase and sell both options that are traded on U.S. exchanges and options traded over-the-counter with broker-dealers and other types of institutions that 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 the broker-dealers or financial institutions participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations.

B-29

Transactions by the Fund in options will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options which the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment advisory clients of an Investment Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The use of options to seek to increase total return involves the risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of fluctuations in securities prices or interest rates. The successful use of options for hedging purposes also depends in part on the ability of the Investment Adviser to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities (or currency) markets. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of changes in securities prices or determination of the correlation between the securities or securities indices on which options are written and purchased and the securities in the Fund’s investment portfolio, the Fund may incur losses that it would not otherwise incur. The writing of options could increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and, therefore, associated brokerage commissions or spreads.

Pooled Investment Vehicles

The Fund may invest in securities of pooled investment vehicles, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by pooled investment vehicles in which it invests, in addition to the other expenses paid by the Fund. The Fund’s investments in pooled investment vehicles are subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Act, including in certain circumstances a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in the securities of all investment companies. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds (such as the Fund) to invest in their shares beyond these statutory limits, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to contractual arrangements between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Fund may rely on these exemptive orders in investing in ETFs. Moreover, subject to applicable law and/or pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, the Fund may invest in investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, for which the Investment Adviser, or any of its affiliates, serves as investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. Although the Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, the Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Additionally, to the extent that the Fund serves as an “underlying Fund” to another Goldman Sachs Fund, the Fund may invest a percentage of its assets in other investment companies only if those instruments are consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive orders obtained from the SEC.

ETFs are shares of pooled investment vehicles issuing shares which are traded like traditional equity securities on a stock exchange. An ETF represents a portfolio of securities or other assets, which is often designed to track a particular market segment or index. An investment in an ETF, like one in any pooled investment vehicle, carries the risks of its underlying securities or other assets. An ETF may fail to accurately track the returns of the market segment or index that it is designed to track, and the price of an ETF’s shares may fluctuate or lose money. In addition, because they, unlike other pooled investment vehicles, are traded on an exchange, ETFs are subject to the following risks: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to the ETF’s NAV; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iii) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting ETFs should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of the Fund’s shares could also be substantially and adversely affected.

Portfolio Maturity

Dollar-weighted average maturity is derived by multiplying the value of each investment by the time remaining to its maturity, adding these calculations, and then dividing the total by the value of the Fund’s portfolio. An obligation’s maturity is typically determined on a stated final maturity basis, although there are some exceptions. For example, if an issuer of an instrument takes advantage of a maturity-shortening device, such as a call, refunding, or redemption provision, the date on which the instrument is expected to be called, refunded, or redeemed may be considered to be its maturity date. There is no guarantee that the expected call, refund or redemption will occur and the Fund’s average maturity may lengthen beyond the Investment Adviser’s expectations should the expected call refund or redemption not occur. Similarly, in calculating its dollar-weighted average maturity, the Fund may determine the maturity of a variable or floating rate obligation according to the interest rate reset date, or the date principal can be recovered on demand, rather than the date of ultimate maturity.

B-30

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from yield disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for fixed income securities, or for other reasons. As a result of active management, it is anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will vary from year to 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 Fund to receive favorable tax treatment. The Fund is not restricted by policy with regard to portfolio turnover and will make changes in its investment portfolio from time to time as business and economic conditions as well as market prices may dictate.

Preferred Stock

The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default (such as a covenant default or filing of a bankruptcy petition) or other non-compliance by the issuer with the terms of the preferred stock. Often, however, on the occurrence of any such event of default or non-compliance by the issuer, preferred stockholders will be entitled to gain representation on the issuer’s board of directors or increase their existing board representation. In addition, preferred stockholders may be granted voting rights with respect to certain issues on the occurrence of any event of default.

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. 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.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties approved by the Investment Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of the repurchase obligation. The collateral may consist of any type of security in which the Fund is eligible to invest. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. Government Securities may be subject to additional risks. A repurchase agreement is an arrangement under which the Fund purchases securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the securities within a particular time and at a specified price. Custody of the securities is maintained by the Fund’s custodian (or sub-custodian). The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security subject to the repurchase agreement.

For purposes of the Act, and generally for tax purposes, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller of the security. For other purposes, it is not always clear whether a court would consider the security purchased by the Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the security before repurchase of the security under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of interest or a decline in value of the security. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the security, the Fund may be required to return the security to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and interest involved in the transaction.

Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the security. However, if the market value of the security subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the security to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the repurchase price. Certain repurchase agreements which provide for settlement in more than seven days can be liquidated before the nominal fixed term on seven days or less notice. Such repurchase agreements will be regarded as liquid instruments.

B-31

The Fund, together with other registered investment companies having management agreements with the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, may transfer uninvested cash balances into a single joint account, the daily aggregate balance of which will be invested in one or more repurchase agreements.

Restricted and Illiquid Securities

The Fund may purchase securities and other financial instruments that are not registered or that are offered in an exempt non-public offering (“Restricted Securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”), including securities eligible for resale to “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. However, the Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments, which include repurchase agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, certain SMBS, certain municipal leases, certain over-the-counter options, securities and other financial instruments that are not readily marketable, certain Senior Loans and Second Lien Loans, certain collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), bank obligations, non-investment grade securities and other credit instruments and Restricted Securities unless, based upon a review of the trading markets for specific investments, those investments are determined to be liquid. Those investment practices could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in the Fund to the extent that market demand for securities held by the Fund decreases such that previously liquid securities become illiquid. The Trustees have adopted guidelines and delegated to the Investment Adviser the function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities may reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, because the restriction makes 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.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may borrow money by entering into transactions called reverse repurchase agreements. Under these arrangements, the 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. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the possible risk that the value of portfolio securities the 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 the Fund’s outstanding shares.

When the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it identifies on its books cash or liquid assets that have a value equal to or greater than the repurchase price. The amount of cash or liquid assets so identified is then monitored continuously by the Investment Adviser to make sure that an appropriate value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the Act.

Structured Notes

The Fund may invest in structured notes. Structured notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate and/or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured notes is determined by reference to changes in the return, interest rate or value at maturity of a specific asset, reference rate or index (the “reference instrument”) or the relative change in two or more reference instruments. The terms of structured notes may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may also be increased or decreased, depending upon changes in the applicable reference instruments. Structured notes may be positively or negatively indexed, so that an increase in value of the reference instrument may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or value of the structured note at maturity. In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the structured note at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the reference instrument; therefore, the value of such note may be very volatile. Structured notes may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the reference instrument. Structured notes may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.

B-32

Taxable Investments

The Fund may invest in the taxable money market instruments and other taxable securities described in the foregoing sections. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective of providing income exempt from federal and/or applicable state or local taxes.

Temporary Investments

The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes (and to the extent that it is permitted to invest in the following), invest up to 100% of its total assets in: U.S. Government Securities; commercial paper rated at least A-2 by Standard & Poor’s, P-2 by Moody’s or having a comparable credit rating by another NRSRO (or if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality); certificates of deposit; bankers’ acceptances; repurchase agreements; non-convertible preferred stocks and non-convertible corporate bonds with a remaining maturity of less than one year; ETFs and other investment companies; and cash items. When the Fund’s assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.

Trust Preferred Securities

The Fund 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.

U.S. Government Securities

The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. Some U.S. Government Securities (such as U.S. 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) 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 U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises in the future, and the U.S. Government may be unable to pay debts when due.

U.S. Government Securities include (to the extent consistent with the Act) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. Government, or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may also include (to the extent consistent with the Act) participations in loans made to foreign governments or their agencies that are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. The secondary market for certain of these participations is extremely limited. In the absence of a suitable secondary market, such participations are regarded as illiquid.

The 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”). The 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.

Inflation-Protected Securities. The Fund may invest in inflation protected securities (“IPS”), those issued by the U.S. Treasury (“TIPS”) and other U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies and corporations (“CIPS”), which are securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The interest rate on IPS is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation. Although repayment of the greater of the adjusted or original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed, the market value of IPS is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.

B-33

The values of IPS generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates will decline, leading to an increase in the value of IPS. In contrast, if nominal interest rates were to increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates will rise, leading to a decrease in the value of IPS. If inflation is lower than expected during the period the Fund holds IPS, the Fund may earn less on the IPS than on a conventional bond. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in the currency exchange rates), investors in IPS may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds’ inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index for IPS will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.

Any increase in principal value of IPS caused by an increase in the consumer price index is taxable in the year the increase occurs, even though the Fund holding IPS will not receive cash representing the increase at that time. As a result, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements as a regulated investment company.

If the Fund invests in IPS, it will be required to treat as original issue discount any increase in the principal amount of the securities that occurs during the course of its taxable year. If the Fund purchases such IPS that are issued in stripped form either as stripped bonds or coupons, it will be treated as if it had purchased a newly issued debt instrument having original issue discount.

Because the Fund is required to distribute substantially all of its net investment income (including accrued original issue discount), the Fund’s investment in either zero coupon bonds or IPS may require the Fund to distribute to shareholders an amount greater than the total cash income it actually receives. Accordingly, in order to make the required distributions, the Fund may be required to borrow or liquidate securities.

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis beyond the customary settlement time. These transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. In addition, recently finalized rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) include mandatory margin requirements that require the Fund to post collateral in connection with its to be announced (“TBA”) transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to the Fund’s TBA counterparties. The required collateralization of TBA trades could increase the cost of TBA transactions to the Fund and impose added operational complexity. When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges. The Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or negotiate a commitment after entering into it. The Fund may also sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Fund may realize capital gains or losses in connection with these transactions. For purposes of determining the Fund’s duration, the maturity of when-issued or forward commitment securities for fixed-rate obligations will be calculated from the commitment date. The Fund is generally required to identify on its books cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price unless the Fund’s obligations are otherwise covered. Alternatively, the Fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities that it owns. Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date or if the value of the security to be sold increases prior to the settlement date.

B-34

Zero Coupon, Deferred Interest, Pay-in-Kind and Capital Appreciation Bonds

The Fund may invest in zero coupon, 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.

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.

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. Moreover, zero coupon, deferred interest, capital appreciation and PIK securities involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The valuation of such investments requires judgment regarding the collection of future payments. In addition, even though such securities do not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, the Fund is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally are required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax. Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the Fund. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable. See “TAXATION.”

Special Note Regarding Regulatory Changes and Market Events

Federal, state, and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the Fund or the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Future legislation or regulation or other governmental actions could limit or preclude the Fund’s abilities to achieve its investment objective or otherwise adversely impact an investment in the Fund.

In the aftermath of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the financial sector experienced reduced liquidity in credit and other fixed income markets, and an unusually high degree of volatility, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets were impacted, issuers that had exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets were particularly affected. The instability in the financial markets led the U.S. Government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 2010, provides for broad regulation of financial institutions, consumer financial products and services, broker-dealers, over-the-counter derivatives, investment advisers, credit rating agencies and mortgage lending.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

Special Note Regarding Operational, Cyber Security and Litigation Risks

B-35

The Fund is also susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks. In general, cyber-attacks result from deliberate attacks, but other events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting confidential information and other data that is maintained online or digitally for financial gain, denial-of-service attacks on websites causing operational disruption, and the unauthorized release of confidential information and other data. Cyber-attacks affecting the Fund or its investment adviser, sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediary or other third-party service provider may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders. These cyber-attacks have the ability to cause significant disruptions and impact business operations; to result in financial losses; to prevent shareholders from transacting business; to interfere with the Fund’s calculation of NAV and to lead to violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs and/or additional compliance costs. Similar to operational risk in general, the Fund and its service providers, including GSAM, have instituted risk management systems designed to minimize the risks associated with cyber security. However, there is a risk that these systems will not succeed (or that any remediation efforts will not be successful), especially because the Fund does not directly control the risk management systems of the service providers to the Fund, its trading counterparties or the issuers in which the Fund may invest. Moreover, there is a risk that cyber-attacks will not be detected.

The Fund may be subject to third-party litigation, which could give rise to legal liability. These matters involving the Fund may arise from its activities and investments and could have a materially adverse effect on the Fund, including the expense of defending against claims and paying any amounts pursuant to settlements or judgments. There can be no guarantee that these matters will not arise in the normal course of business. If the Fund was to be found liable in any suit or proceeding, any associated damages and/or penalties could have a materially adverse effect on the Fund’s finances, in addition to being materially damaging to their reputation.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Trust as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to the Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Fund. In addition, the policy of the Fund to invest under normal market conditions at least 80% of its Net Assets in Municipal Securities the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax (i.e., excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes) is a fundamental policy. The investment objective of the Fund and all other investment policies or practices of the Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the Act, a “majority” of the outstanding voting securities means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or the Fund.

For purposes of the following limitations (except for the asset coverage requirement with respect to borrowings, which is subject to different requirements under the Act), any limitation which involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, the Fund. In applying fundamental investment restriction number (1) below to derivative transactions or instruments, including, but not limited to, futures, swaps, forwards, options and structured notes, the Fund will look to the industry of the reference asset(s) and not to the counterparty or issuer. With respect to the Fund’s fundamental investment restriction number (2) below, in the event that asset coverage (as defined in the Act) at any time falls below 300%, the Fund, within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, will reduce the amount of its borrowings to the extent required so that the asset coverage of such borrowings will be at least 300%.

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:

(1)

Invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (for the purposes of this restriction, the U.S. Government, state and municipal governments and their agencies, authorities and instrumentalities are not deemed to be industries). 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. The Fund may invest 25% or more of the value of its 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 Securities. These Municipal Securities include (a) Municipal Securities, the interest on which is paid solely from revenues of 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; and (c) industrial development obligations;

B-36

(2)

Borrow money, except as permitted by the Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction.

The following interpretation applies to, but is not part of, this fundamental policy: In determining whether a particular investment in portfolio instruments or participation in portfolio transactions is subject to this borrowing policy, the accounting treatment of such instrument or participation shall be considered, but shall not by itself be determinative. Whether a particular instrument or transaction constitutes a borrowing shall be determined by the Board, after consideration of all of the relevant circumstances;

(3)

Make loans, except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations, loan interests and other interests or 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 or pursuant to an exemptive order granted under the Act; and (d) loans to affiliates of the Fund to the extent permitted by law;

(4)

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;

(5)

Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, although the Fund may purchase and sell securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein or that reflect the return of an index of real estate values, securities of issuers which invest or deal in real estate, securities of real estate investment trusts and mortgage-related securities and may hold and sell real estate it has acquired as a result of the ownership of securities;

(6)

Invest in physical commodities, except that the Fund may invest in currency and financial instruments and contracts in accordance with its investment objective and policies, including, without limitation, structured notes, futures contracts, swaps, options on commodities, currencies, swaps and futures, ETFs, investment pools and other instruments, regardless of whether such instrument is considered to be a commodity; and

(7)

Issue senior securities to the extent such issuance would violate applicable law.

The Fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment restriction or policy, invest some or all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof with substantially the same fundamental investment restrictions and policies as the Fund.

For purposes of the Fund’s industry concentration policy, the Investment Adviser may analyze the characteristics of a particular issuer and instrument and may assign an industry classification consistent with those characteristics. The Investment Adviser may, but need not, consider industry classifications provided by third parties, and the classifications applied to Fund investments will be informed by applicable law.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The Trust’s Leadership Structure

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Trustees are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and reviewing the actions of the Trust’s service providers. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise the Fund’s daily business operations. Trustees who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the Act are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” Trustees who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust are referred to as “Interested Trustees.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee. The Board has selected an Independent Trustee to act as Chair, whose duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and acting as a focal point to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of the Chair’s duties, the Chair will consult with the other Independent Trustees and the Fund’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chair may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

B-37

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least six times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet at least annually to review, among other things, investment management agreements, distribution agreements, transfer agency agreements and certain other agreements providing for the compensation (if any) of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates by the Fund, and to consider such other matters as they deem appropriate.

The Board has established five standing committees – Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance, Valuation and Contract Review Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Trustees to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “STANDING BOARD COMMITTEES,” below.

The Trustees have determined that the Trust’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Trustees to effectively perform their oversight responsibilities.

Trustees of the Trust

Information pertaining to the Trustees of the Trust as of [ ], 2019 is set forth below.

Independent Trustees

Name, Address and Age¹

Position(s)

Held with the

Trust

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time Served²

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of
Portfolios in Fund
Complex Overseen
by Trustee³

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee⁴

Jessica Palmer

Age: [69]

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Since 2018

(Trustee since 2007)

Ms. Palmer is retired. She was formerly Director, Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture (2011–2017); and Consultant, Citigroup Human Resources Department (2007–2008); Managing Director, Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking (previously, Salomon Smith Barney/Salomon Brothers) (1984–2006). Ms. Palmer was a Member of the Board of Trustees of Indian Mountain School (private elementary and secondary school) (2004–2009).

Chair of the Board of Trustees—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.

[103]

None

B-38


Name, Address and Age¹	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee³	Other Directorships Held by Trustee⁴
Kathryn A. Cassidy Age: [64]	Trustee	Since 2015	Ms. Cassidy is retired. Formerly, she was Advisor to the Chairman (May 2014–December 2014); and Senior Vice President and Treasurer (2008–2014), General Electric Company & General Electric Capital Corporation (technology and financial services companies). Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.	[103]	None

Diana M. Daniels Age: [69]	Trustee	Since 2007	Ms. Daniels is retired. Formerly, she was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, The Washington Post Company (1991–2006). Ms. Daniels is a Trustee Emeritus and serves as a Presidential Councillor of Cornell University (2013–Present); former Member of the Legal Advisory Board, New York Stock Exchange (2003–2006) and of the Corporate Advisory Board, Standish Mellon Management Advisors (2006–2007). Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.	[103]	None

Herbert J. Markley Age: [68]	Trustee	Since 2013	Mr. Markley is retired. Formerly, he was Executive Vice President, Deere & Company (an agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer) (2007–2009); and President, Agricultural Division, Deere & Company (2001–2007). Previously, Mr. Markley served as an Advisory Board Member of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (June 2013 – October 2013). Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.	[103]	None

Roy W. Templin Age: [58]	Trustee	Since 2013	Mr. Templin is retired. He is Director, Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (a designer and manufacturer of ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions) (2016–Present); and was formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors, Con-Way Incorporated (a transportation, logistics and supply chain management service company) (2014–2015); Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Whirlpool Corporation (an appliance manufacturer and marketer) (2004–2012). Previously, Mr. Templin served as an Advisory Board Member of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (June 2013 – October 2013). Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.	[103]	Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (a ceiling, wall and suspension systems solutions manufacturer)

B-39


Name, Address and Age¹	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee³	Other Directorships Held by Trustee⁴
Gregory G. Weaver Age: [67]	Trustee	Since 2015	Mr. Weaver is retired. He is Director, Verizon Communications Inc. (2015–Present); and was formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte & Touche LLP (a professional services firm) (2001–2005 and 2012–2014); and Member of the Board of Directors, Deloitte & Touche LLP (2006–2012). Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.	[103]	Verizon Communications Inc.

			Interested Trustee
Name, Address and Age¹	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee³	Other Directorships Held by Trustee⁴

James A. McNamara * Age: [56]	President and Trustee	Since 2007	Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2018–Present); Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2000–December 2017); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998–December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993–April 1998). President and Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.	[157]	None

Mr. McNamara is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he holds positions with Goldman Sachs and owns securities issued by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Mr. McNamara holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.

¹	Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York, 10282, Attn: Caroline Kraus.

Subject to such policies as may be adopted by the Board from time-to-time, 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 or shareholders, in accordance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust; or (c) the termination of the Trust. The Board has adopted policies which provide that (a) no Trustee shall hold office for more than 15 years and (b) a Trustee shall retire as of December 31st of the calendar year in which he or she reaches his or her 74th birthday, unless a waiver of such requirement shall have been adopted by a majority of the other Trustees. These policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder vote.

The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex includes certain other companies listed above for each respective Trustee. As of [ ], 2019, Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of [90] portfolios ([88] of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of [13] portfolios; Goldman Sachs Trust II consisted of [19] portfolios ([17] of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund, Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund, Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC, Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC each consisted of [one] portfolio; and Goldman Sachs ETF Trust consisted of [30] portfolios ([20] of which offered shares to the public).

⁴	This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e., “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the Act.

B-40

The significance or relevance of a Trustee’s particular experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills is considered by the Board on an individual basis. Experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills common to all Trustees include the ability to critically review, evaluate and discuss information provided to them and to interact effectively with the other Trustees and with representatives of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, other service providers, legal counsel and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, the capacity to address financial and legal issues and exercise reasonable business judgment, and a commitment to the representation of the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee’s charter contains certain other factors that are considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees to serve as Independent Trustees. Based on each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills, considered individually and with respect to the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of other Trustees, the Board has concluded that each Trustee should serve as a Trustee. Below is a brief discussion of the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of each individual Trustee as of [ ], 2019 that led the Board to conclude that such individual should serve as a Trustee.

Jessica Palmer. Ms. Palmer has served as a Trustee since 2007 and Chair of the Board since 2018. Ms. Palmer previously served as a Director of Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture, a not-for-profit organization. Ms. Palmer worked at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking (previously, Salomon Smith Barney/Salomon Brothers) for over 20 years, where she was a Managing Director. While at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking, Ms. Palmer was Head of Global Risk Management, Chair of the Global Commitment Committee, Co-Chair of International Investment Banking (New York) and Head of Fixed Income Capital Markets. Ms. Palmer was also a member of the Management Committee and Risk Management Operating Committee of Citigroup, Inc. Prior to that, Ms. Palmer was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in its international corporate finance department. Ms. Palmer was also Assistant Vice President of the International Division at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Ms. Palmer was also a member of the Board of Trustees of a private elementary and secondary school. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Palmer is experienced with financial and investment matters.

Kathryn A. Cassidy. Ms. Cassidy has served as a Trustee since 2015. Previously, Ms. Cassidy held several senior management positions at General Electric Company (“GE”) and General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECapital”) and its subsidiaries, where she worked for 35 years, most recently as Advisor to the Chairman of GECapital and Senior Vice President and Treasurer of GE and GECapital. As Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Ms. Cassidy led capital markets and treasury matters of multiple initial public offerings. Ms. Cassidy was responsible for managing global treasury operations, including global funding, hedging, derivative accounting and execution, cash and liquidity management, cash operations and treasury services, and global regulatory compliance and reporting for liquidity, derivatives, market risk and counterparty credit risk. Ms. Cassidy also serves as a Director of buildOn, a not-for-profit organization. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Cassidy is experienced with financial and investment matters.

Diana M. Daniels. Ms. Daniels has served as a Trustee since 2007. Ms. Daniels also serves as a Trustee Emeritus and Presidential Councillor of Cornell University. Ms. Daniels held several senior management positions at The Washington Post Company and its subsidiaries, where she worked for 29 years. While at The Washington Post Company, Ms. Daniels served as Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary to the Board of Directors and Secretary to the Audit Committee. Previously, Ms. Daniels served as Vice President and General Counsel of Newsweek, Inc. Ms. Daniels has also served as Vice Chair and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University and as a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of Standish Mellon Management Advisors and of the Legal Advisory Board of New York Stock Exchange. Ms. Daniels is also a member of the American Law Institute and of the Advisory Council of the Inter-American Press Association. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Daniels is experienced with legal, financial and investment matters.

Herbert J. (H.J.) Markley. Mr. Markley has served as a Trustee since 2013. Previously, Mr. Markley held several senior management positions at Deere & Company, where he worked for 35 years, including Executive Vice President of Worldwide Parts Service, Global Supply Management and Logistics, Enterprise Information Technology and Corporate Communications. Mr. Markley’s experience at Deere included managing manufacturing and engineering facilities, including the two largest manufacturing facilities and a joint venture with Hitachi. He later served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Human Resources where he helped to lay the foundation for a new human resources system, and as a President of the Agricultural Division, Deere’s largest business unit. In addition to his work with Deere, Mr. Markley has served on the Boards of Directors of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce, the First National Bank of Dubuque, the University of Dubuque and the Iowa Public Television Foundation as well as the Board of Overseers of the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Markley is experienced with financial and investment matters.

Roy W. Templin. Mr. Templin has served as a Trustee since 2013. Mr. Templin is a member of the Board of Directors of Armstrong World Industries, Inc., a ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions manufacturer, where he serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Audit Committee. Previously, Mr. Templin served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Con-Way Incorporated, a transportation, logistics and supply-chain management services company, prior to its sale to XPO Logistics, Inc. in 2015. Mr. Templin held a number of senior management positions at Whirlpool Corporation, an appliance manufacturer and marketer, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Corporate Controller there. At Whirlpool, Mr. Templin served on the Executive Committee and was responsible for all aspects of finance globally, including treasury, accounting, risk management, investor relations, internal auditing, tax and facilities. Prior to joining Whirlpool, Mr.

B-41

Templin served in several roles at Kimball International, a furniture and electronic assemblies manufacturer, including Vice President of Finance and Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Templin was also a Director of Corporate Finance for Cummins, Inc., a diesel engine manufacturer, a Director of Financial Development at NCR Corporation, a computer hardware and electronics company, and a member of the audit staff of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP). Mr. Templin is a certified public accountant, a certified management accountant and a member of the Institute of Management Accountants Accounting Honor Society Advisory Board. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Templin is experienced with accounting, financial and investment matters.

Gregory G. Weaver. Mr. Weaver has served as a Trustee since 2015. Mr. Weaver has been designated as the Board’s “audit committee financial expert” given his extensive accounting and finance experience. Mr. Weaver also serves as a Director of Verizon Communications Inc. Previously, Mr. Weaver was a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP for 30 years. He was the firm’s first chairman and chief executive officer from 2001–2005, and was elected to serve a second term (2012–2014). While serving as chairman at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Mr. Weaver led the audit and enterprise risk services practice, overseeing all operations, strategic positioning, audit quality, and talent matters. Mr. Weaver also served as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors for six years where he served on the Governance Committee and Partner Earnings and Benefits Committee and was chairman of the Elected Leaders Committee and Strategic Investment Committee. Mr. Weaver is also a Board member and Audit Committee chair of the YMCA of Westfield, New Jersey. Mr. Weaver has also served as President of the Council of Boy Scouts of America in Long Rivers, Connecticut, President of A Better Chance in Glastonbury, Connecticut, as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council and as a board member of the Stan Ross Department of Accountancy, Baruch College. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Weaver is experienced with accounting, financial and investment matters.

James A. McNamara. Mr. McNamara has served as a Trustee and President of the Trust since 2007 and has served as an officer of the Trust since 2001. Mr. McNamara is an Advisory Director to Goldman Sachs. Prior to retiring as Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in 2017, Mr. McNamara was head of Global Third Party Distribution at GSAM and was previously head of U.S. Third Party Distribution. Prior to that role, Mr. McNamara served as Director of Institutional Fund Sales. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. McNamara was Vice President and Manager at Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation. Based on the foregoing, Mr. McNamara is experienced with financial and investment matters.

Officers of the Trust

Information pertaining to the officers of the Trust as of [ ], 2019 is set forth below.

B-42


Name, Age and Address	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served¹	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Scott M. McHugh 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [47]	Treasurer, Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer	Since 2009 (Principal Financial Officer since 2013)	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2016 – Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (February 2007 – December 2015); Assistant Treasurer of certain mutual funds administered by DWS Scudder (2005 – 2007); and Director (2005 – 2007), Vice President (2000 – 2005), and Assistant Vice President (1998 – 2000), Deutsche Asset Management or its predecessor (1998 – 2007). Treasurer, Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

Joseph F. DiMaria 30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 Age: [50]	Assistant Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer	Since 2016 (Principal Accounting Officer since 2017)	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2015 – Present) and Vice President – Mutual Fund Administration, Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (May 2010 – October 2015).

			Assistant Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

Gazala Khan 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [49]	Chief Compliance Officer	Since 2009	Vice President, GSAM Compliance (June 2009 – Present). Chief Compliance Officer—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust.

Philip V. Giuca, Jr. 30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 Age: [56]	Assistant Treasurer	Since 1997	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2014 – Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992 – December 2013). Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

Peter W. Fortner 30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 Age: [60]	Assistant Treasurer	Since 2000	Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2000 – Present); and Principal Financial Officer, Commerce Bank Mutual Fund Complex (2008 – Present). Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

B-43


Name, Age and Address	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served¹	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Kenneth G. Curran 30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 Age: [54]	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 Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; and Goldman Sachs ETF Trust.

Allison Fracchiolla 30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 Age: [35]	Assistant Treasurer	Since 2014	Vice President, Goldman Sachs (January 2013 – Present). Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; and Goldman Sachs ETF Trust.

Jesse Cole 71 South Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 Age: [55]	Vice President	Since 1998	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2006 – Present); Vice President, GSAM (June 1998 – Present); and Vice President, AIM Management Group, Inc. (investment adviser) (April 1996 – June 1998). Vice President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.

Miriam L. Cytryn 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [60]	Vice President	Since 2008	Vice President, GSAM (2008 – Present); Vice President of Divisional Management, Investment Management Division (2007 – 2008); Vice President and Chief of Staff, GSAM US Distribution (2003 – 2007); and Vice President of Employee Relations, Goldman Sachs (1996 – 2003). Vice President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.

Rachel Schnoll 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [49]	Vice President	Since 2013	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2014 – Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2003 – 2013); and Associate, Goldman Sachs (1999 – 2002). Vice President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

Thomas J. Davis 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [55]	Vice President	Since 2015	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2008 – Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1995-2008); and Associate, Goldman Sachs (1990 – 1995). Vice President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; and Goldman Sachs ETF Trust.

B-44


Name, Age and Address	Position(s) Held with the Trust	Term of Office and Length of Time Served¹	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Caroline L. Kraus 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [41]	Secretary	Since 2012	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2016 – Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2006 – December 2015); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2012 – Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2006 – December 2011); and Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP (2002 – 2006). Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust (previously Assistant Secretary (2012)); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (previously Assistant Secretary (2012)); Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

David A. Fishman 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [54]	Assistant Secretary	Since 2001	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 2001 – Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (1997 – December 2001). Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.

Robert Griffith 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [44]	Assistant Secretary	Since 2011	Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2011 – Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (December 2014 – Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2011 – December 2014); Vice President and Counsel, Nomura Holding America, Inc. (2010 – 2011); and Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (2005 – 2010). Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (A) LLC; and Goldman Sachs Private Markets Fund 2018 (B) LLC.

Shaun Cullinan 200 West Street New York, NY 10282 Age: [39]	Assistant Secretary	Since 2018	Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2018 – Present); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2009 – 2017); Associate, Goldman Sachs (2006 – 2008); Analyst, Goldman Sachs (2004 – 2005). Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.

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 Audit Committee oversees the audit process and provides assistance to the Board with respect to fund accounting, tax compliance and financial statement matters. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selects and recommends annually to the Board 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, and Mr. Weaver serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held [five] meetings during the fiscal year ended [March 31, 2018].

B-45

The Governance and Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board in matters involving mutual fund governance, which includes making recommendations to the Board with respect to the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in governing the Fund and overseeing its management; (ii) select and nominate candidates for appointment or election to serve as Independent Trustees; and (iii) advise the Board on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee held [three] meetings during the fiscal year ended [March 31, 2018]. 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 Fund’s Prospectus and should be directed to the attention of the Goldman Sachs Trust Governance and Nominating Committee.

The Compliance Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the compliance processes: (i) of the Fund; and (ii) insofar as they relate to services provided to the Fund, of the Fund’s Investment Adviser, 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 with respect to compliance matters. The Compliance Committee met [five] times during the fiscal year ended [March 31, 2018]. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Compliance Committee.

The Valuation Committee is authorized to act for the Board in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities held by the Fund in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures. Messrs. McNamara and McHugh serve on the Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee met [12] times during the fiscal year ended [March 31, 2018].

The Contract Review Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the processes of the Board for reviewing and monitoring performance under the Fund’s investment management, distribution, transfer agency, and certain other agreements with the Fund’s Investment Adviser and its affiliates. The Contract Review Committee is also responsible for overseeing the Board’s processes for considering and reviewing performance under the operation of the Fund’s distribution, service, shareholder administration and other plans, and any agreements related to the plans, whether or not such plans and agreements are adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Contract Review Committee also provides appropriate assistance to the Board in connection with the Board’s approval, oversight and review of the Fund’s other service providers including, without limitation, the Fund’s custodian/fund accounting agent, sub-transfer agents, professional (legal and accounting) firms and printing firms. The Contract Review Committee met [four] times during the fiscal year ended [March 31, 2018]. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee.

Risk Oversight

The Board is responsible for the oversight of the activities of the Fund, including oversight of risk management. Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Fund is the responsibility of GSAM or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), subject to supervision by GSAM. The risks of the Fund include, but are not limited to, investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk. Each of GSAM and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management may differ from the Fund and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result, the Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate all of their occurrences or effects because some risks are simply beyond the control of the Fund or GSAM, its affiliates or other service providers.

The Board effectuates its oversight role primarily through regular and special meetings of the Board and Board committees. In certain cases, risk management issues are specifically addressed in presentations and discussions. For example, GSAM has an independent dedicated Market Risk Group that assists GSAM in managing investment risk. Representatives from the Market Risk Group regularly meet with the Board to discuss their analysis and methodologies. In addition, investment risk is discussed in the context of regular presentations to the Board on Fund strategy and performance. Other types of risk are addressed as part of presentations on related topics (e.g. compliance policies) or in the context of presentations focused specifically on one or more risks. The Board also receives reports from GSAM management on operational risks, reputational risks and counterparty risks relating to the Fund.

Board oversight of risk management is also performed by various Board committees. For example, the Audit Committee meets with both the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and GSAM’s internal audit group to review risk controls in place that support the Fund as well as test results, and the Compliance Committee meets with the CCO and representatives of GSAM’s compliance group to review testing results of the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures and other compliance issues. Board oversight of risk is also performed as needed between meetings through communications between GSAM and the Board. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight. The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Fund’s investments or activities.

B-46

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares

The following table shows the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund and other portfolios of the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex as of December 31, 2018, unless otherwise noted.


Name of Trustee	Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund¹	Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen By Trustee
Kathryn A. Cassidy	None	Over $100,000
Diana M. Daniels	None	Over $100,000
Herbert J. Markley	None	Over $100,000
James A. McNamara	None	Over $100,000
Jessica Palmer	None	Over $100,000
Roy W. Templin	None	Over $100,000
Gregory G. Weaver	None	Over $100,000

¹	Includes the value of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in the Fund.

As of [ ], 2019, the Fund had not commenced operations, and therefore the Trustees and Officers of the Trust did not own any of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of each class of the Fund.

Board Compensation

Each Independent Trustee is compensated with a unitary annual fee for his or her services as a Trustee of the Trust and as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee, Compliance Committee, Contract Review Committee, and Audit Committee. The Chair and “audit committee financial expert” receive additional compensation for their services. The Independent Trustees are also reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings. The Trust may also pay the reasonable incidental costs of a Trustee to attend training or other types of conferences relating to the investment company industry.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Trust for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018:

Trustee Compensation

Name of Trustee

Aggregate
Compensation
from the Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued
as Part of the Trust’s Expenses

Total Compensation From
Fund Complex (including
the Fund)^3*

Kathryn A. Cassidy

[

]

[

]

[

]

Diana M. Daniels

[

]

[

]

[

]

Herbert J. Markley

[

]

[

]

[

]

James A. McNamara¹

—

Jessica Palmer

[

]

[

]

[

]

Roy W. Templin

[

]

[

]

[

]

Gregory G. Weaver²

[

]

[

]

[

]

The Fund had not commenced operations as of March 31, 2018. Under current compensation arrangements, it is estimated that the Trustees would have received the following compensation from the Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019: Ms. Cassidy $[ ]; Ms. Daniels $[ ]; Mr. Markley $[ ]; Mr. McNamara $0; Ms. Palmer $[ ]; Mr. Templin $[ ]; and Mr. Weaver $[ ].

¹	Mr. McNamara is an Interested Trustee, and as such, receives no compensation from the Fund or the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

²	Includes compensation as “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

³	Represents fees paid to each Trustee during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 from the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

B-47

Miscellaneous

The Trust, the Investment Adviser 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 Fund.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

As stated in the Fund’s Prospectus, GSAM, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as Investment Adviser to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). GSAM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. See “Service Providers” in the Fund’s Prospectus for a description of the Investment Adviser’s duties to the Fund.

Founded in 1869, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a publicly-held financial holding company and a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. Goldman Sachs is a leader in developing portfolio strategies and in many fields of investing and financing, participating in financial markets worldwide and serving individuals, institutions, corporations and governments. Goldman Sachs is also among the principal market sources for current and thorough information on companies, industrial sectors, markets, economies and currencies, and trades and makes markets in a wide range of equity and debt securities 24 hours a day. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in countries throughout the world. It has trading professionals throughout the United States, as well as in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Seoul, Sao Paulo and other major financial centers around the world. The active participation of Goldman Sachs in the world’s financial markets enhances its ability to identify attractive investments. Goldman Sachs has agreed to permit the Fund to use the name “Goldman Sachs” or a derivative thereof as part of the Fund’s name for as long as the Fund’s Management Agreement (as described below) is in effect.

The Management Agreement provides that GSAM, in its capacity as Investment Adviser, may render similar services to others so long as the services under the Management Agreement are not impaired thereby. The Fund’s Management Agreement was most recently approved by the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to such agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the Act) of any party thereto (the “non-interested Trustees”), on [ ], 2019 with respect to the Fund. The Management Agreement was approved by the initial sole shareholder of the Fund prior to the Fund’s commencement of operations. A discussion regarding the Trustees’ basis for approving the Management Agreement for the Fund in 2019 will be available in the Fund’s semi-annual or annual report following its launch.

The Management Agreement will remain in effect until [ ], 2021, and will continue with respect to the Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Act). The Management Agreement is also terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Investment Adviser or by the Investment Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.

Unless required to be performed by others pursuant to agreements with the Fund, the Investment Adviser also performs certain administrative services for the Fund under the Management Agreement. Such administrative services include, subject to the general supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, (i) providing supervision of all aspects of the Fund’s non-investment operations; (ii) providing the Fund with personnel to perform such executive, administrative and clerical services as are reasonably necessary to provide effective

B-48

administration of the Fund; (iii) arranging for, at the Fund’s expense, the preparation of all of the Fund’s required tax returns, the preparation and submission of reports to existing shareholders, the periodic updating of the Fund’s prospectuses and statement of additional information, and the preparation of reports filed with the SEC and other regulatory authorities; (iv) maintaining all of the Fund’s records; and (v) providing the Fund with adequate office space and all necessary office equipment and services.

Portfolio Managers – Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers

The following table 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 (unless otherwise noted, the information below is provided as of [ ]).

For the portfolio managers listed below, the total number of accounts managed is a reflection of accounts within the strategy they oversee or manage, as well as accounts which participate in the sector in which they manage. There are multiple portfolio managers involved with each account.

B-49

Number of Accounts Managed and Total Assets by Account Type

Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee is
Performance Based

Registered Investment
Companies

Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts

Registered
Investment
Companies

Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts

Name of Portfolio
Manager

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Number
of
Accounts

Assets
Managed
(mm)

Ben Barber

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

Scott Diamond

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

[

]

Assets are preliminary, in millions.

B-50

Conflicts of Interest. The Investment Adviser’s portfolio managers are often responsible for managing the Fund as well as other accounts, including proprietary accounts, separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles, such as unregistered hedge funds. A portfolio manager may manage a separate account or other pooled investment vehicle which may have materially higher fee arrangements than the Fund and may also have a performance-based fee. The side-by-side management of these funds may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to cross trading, the allocation of investment opportunities and the aggregation and allocation of trades.

The Investment Adviser has a fiduciary responsibility to manage all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. The Investment Adviser seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and aggregate and then allocate securities to client accounts in a fair and timely manner. To this end, the Investment Adviser has developed policies and procedures designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side management. In addition, the Investment Adviser and the Fund have adopted policies limiting the circumstances under which cross-trades may be effected between the Fund and another client account. The Investment Adviser conducts periodic reviews of trades for consistency with these policies. For more information about conflicts of interests that may arise in connection with the portfolio managers’ management of the Fund’s investments and the investments of other accounts, see “POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”

Portfolio Managers — Compensation

Compensation for portfolio managers of the Investment Adviser is comprised of a base salary and discretionary variable compensation. The base salary is fixed from year to year. Year-end discretionary variable compensation is primarily a function of each portfolio manager’s individual performance and his or her contribution to overall team performance; the performance of the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs; the team’s net revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees, and for certain accounts, performance-based fees; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers may be rewarded, in part, for their delivery of investment performance, measured on a pre-tax basis, which is reasonably expected to meet or exceed the expectations of clients and fund shareholders in terms of: excess return over an applicable benchmark, peer group ranking, risk management and factors specific to certain funds such as yield or regional focus. Performance is judged over 1-, 3- and 5-year time horizons.

For compensation purposes, the benchmark for the Fund is the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond 1-10 Year Blend Index.

The discretionary variable compensation for portfolio managers is also significantly influenced by: (1) effective participation in team research discussions and process; and (2) management of risk in alignment with the targeted risk parameter and investment objective of the Fund. Other factors may also be considered including: (1) general client/shareholder orientation and (2) teamwork and leadership. Portfolio managers may receive equity-based awards as part of their discretionary variable compensation.

Other Compensation—In addition to base salary and discretionary variable compensation, the Investment Adviser has a number of additional benefits in place including (1) a 401k program that enables employees to direct a percentage of their pretax salary and bonus income into a tax-qualified retirement plan; and (2) investment opportunity programs in which certain professionals may participate subject to certain eligibility requirements.

Portfolio Managers – Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Securities in the Fund

The Fund was not in operation as of [ ], 2019. Consequently, the portfolio managers owned no securities issued by the Fund as of that date.

Distributor and Transfer Agent

Distributor. Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor of shares of the Fund pursuant to a “best efforts” arrangement as provided by a distribution agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are offered and sold on a continuous basis by Goldman Sachs, acting as agent. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, after the Fund’s Prospectus and periodic reports have been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders, Goldman Sachs will pay for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the offering to prospective investors. Goldman Sachs will also pay for other supplementary sales literature and advertising costs.

Transfer Agent. Goldman Sachs, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, serves as the Trust’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. Under its transfer agency agreement with the Trust, Goldman Sachs has undertaken with the Trust with respect to the 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 subcustodian in connection with redemptions; (iv) provide dividend crediting and certain disbursing agent services; (v) maintain shareholder accounts; (vi) provide certain state Blue Sky and other information; (vii) provide shareholders and certain regulatory authorities with tax-related information; (viii) respond to shareholder inquiries; and (ix) render certain other miscellaneous services. The Fund does not pay Goldman Sachs for the transfer agency services it provides to the Fund.

B-51

Expenses

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, is responsible for the payment of the Fund’s expenses. The expenses include, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the Trust’s custodian and subcustodians, transfer agent fees and expenses (if any), pricing service fees and expenses, brokerage fees and commissions, filing fees for the registration or qualification of the Trust’s shares under federal or state securities laws, expenses of the organization of the Trust, fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with membership in investment company organizations, including, but not limited to, the Investment Company Institute, taxes, interest, costs of liability insurance, fidelity bonds or indemnification, any costs, expenses or losses arising out of any liability of, or claim for damages or other relief asserted against, the Trust for violation of any law, legal, tax and auditing fees and expenses (including the cost of legal and certain accounting services rendered by employees of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates, with respect to the Trust), expenses of preparing and setting in type Prospectuses, SAIs, proxy material, reports and notices and the printing and distributing of the same to the Trust’s shareholders and regulatory authorities, shareholder expenses, compensation and expenses of its Independent Trustees, the fees and expenses of pricing services and extraordinary expenses, if any, incurred by the Trust.

Fees and expenses borne by the Fund relating to legal counsel, registering shares of the Fund, holding meetings and communicating with shareholders may include an allocable portion of the cost of maintaining an internal legal and compliance department. The Fund may also bear an allocable portion of the Investment Adviser’s costs of performing certain accounting services not being provided by the Trust’s custodian.

The imposition of operating expenses will have the effect of reducing the total return to investors. From time to time, the Investment Adviser may assume certain expenses of the Fund, which would have the effect of lowering the Fund’s overall expense ratio and increasing total return to investors at the time such amounts are assumed.

[The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit “Other Expenses” (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to [ ]% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This arrangement will remain in effect through at least [ ], 2020, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. The expense limitation may be modified or terminated by the Investment Adviser at its discretion and without shareholder approval after such date, although the Investment Adviser does not presently intend to do so. The Fund’s “Other Expenses” may be further reduced by any custody fee credits received by the Fund.]

Custodian and Sub-Custodians

[ ], is the custodian of the Fund’s portfolio securities and cash. [ ] also maintains the Fund’s accounting records. [ ] may appoint domestic and foreign sub-custodians and use depositories from time to time to hold 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

[ ] is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. In addition to audit services, [ ] prepares the Fund’s federal and state tax returns and provides assistance on certain non-audit matters.

B-52

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

General Categories of Conflicts Associated with the Funds

Goldman Sachs (which, for purposes of this “POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST” section, shall mean, collectively, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., the Investment Adviser and their affiliates, directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees) is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets. As such, it provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net-worth individuals. Goldman Sachs acts as an investment banker, research provider, investment adviser, financier, adviser, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent, principal and investor. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises clients in all markets and transactions and purchases, sells, holds and recommends a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products, for its own account and for the accounts of clients and of its personnel, through client accounts and the relationships and products it sponsors, manages and advises. Goldman Sachs has direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets, and the securities and issuers, in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. As a result, Goldman Sachs’ activities and dealings may affect the Fund in ways that may disadvantage or restrict the Fund and/or benefit Goldman Sachs or other Accounts. For purposes of this “POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST” section, “Funds” shall mean, collectively, the Fund and any of the other Goldman Sachs Funds, and “Accounts” shall mean Goldman Sachs’ own accounts, accounts in which personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest, accounts of Goldman Sachs’ clients, including separately managed accounts (or separate accounts), and investment vehicles that Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages or advises, including the Fund.

The following are descriptions of certain conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest that may be associated with the financial or other interests that the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs may have in transactions effected by, with, or on behalf of the Funds. In addition, the Investment Adviser’s activities on behalf of certain other entities that are not investment advisory clients of the Investment Adviser may create conflicts of interest between such entities, on the one hand, and Accounts (including the Funds), on the other hand, that are the same as or similar to the conflicts that arise between the Funds and other Accounts, as described herein. The conflicts herein do not purport to be a complete list or explanation of the conflicts associated with the financial or other interests the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs may have now or in the future. Additional information about potential conflicts of interest regarding the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs is set forth in the Investment Adviser’s Form ADV. A copy of Part 1 and Part 2A of the Investment Adviser’s Form ADV is available on the SEC’s website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).

The Sale of Fund Shares and the Allocation of Investment Opportunities

Sales Incentives and Related Conflicts Arising from Goldman Sachs’ Financial and Other Relationships with Intermediaries

Goldman Sachs and its personnel, including employees of the Investment Adviser, may receive benefits and earn fees and compensation for services provided to Accounts (including the Funds) and in connection with the distribution of the Funds. Any such fees and compensation may be paid directly or indirectly out of the fees payable to the Investment Adviser in connection with the management of such Accounts (including the Funds). Moreover, Goldman Sachs and its personnel, including employees of the Investment Adviser, may have relationships (both involving and not involving the Funds, and including without limitation placement, brokerage, advisory and board relationships) with distributors, consultants and others who recommend, or engage in transactions with or for, the Funds. Such distributors, consultants and other parties may receive compensation from Goldman Sachs or the Funds in connection with such relationships. As a result of these relationships, distributors, consultants and other parties may have conflicts that create incentives for them to promote the Funds.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs and the Funds may make payments to authorized dealers and other financial intermediaries and to salespersons to promote the Funds. These payments may be made out of Goldman Sachs’ assets or amounts payable to Goldman Sachs. These payments may create an incentive for such persons to highlight, feature or recommend the Funds.

B-53

Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds and Other Accounts

The Investment Adviser may manage or advise multiple Accounts (including Accounts in which Goldman Sachs and its personnel have an interest) that have investment objectives that are the same or similar to the Funds and that may seek to make or sell investments in the same securities or other instruments, sectors or strategies as the Funds. This creates potential conflicts, particularly in circumstances where the availability or liquidity of such investment opportunities is limited (e.g., in local and emerging markets, high yield securities, fixed income securities, regulated industries, small capitalization, direct or indirect investments in private investment funds, investments in master limited partnerships in the oil and gas industry and initial public offerings/new issues).

The Investment Adviser does not receive performance-based compensation in respect of its investment management activities on behalf of the Funds, but may simultaneously manage Accounts for which the Investment Adviser receives greater fees or other compensation (including performance-based fees or allocations) than it receives in respect of the Funds. The simultaneous management of Accounts that pay greater fees or other compensation and the Funds creates a conflict of interest as the Investment Adviser has an incentive to favor Accounts with the potential to receive greater fees when allocating resources, services, functions or investment opportunities among Accounts. For instance, the Investment Adviser may be faced with a conflict of interest when allocating scarce investment opportunities given the possibly greater fees from Accounts that pay performance-based fees. To address these types of conflicts, the Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures under which it will allocate investment opportunities in a manner that it believes is consistent with its obligations and fiduciary duties as an investment adviser. However, the availability, amount, timing, structuring or terms of an investment by the Funds may differ from, and performance may be lower than, the investments and performance of other Accounts.

To address these potential conflicts, the Investment Adviser has developed allocation policies and procedures that provide that the Investment Adviser’s personnel making portfolio decisions for Accounts will make investment decisions for, and allocate investment opportunities among, such Accounts consistent with the Investment Adviser’s fiduciary obligations. These policies and procedures may result in the pro rata allocation (on a basis determined by the Investment Adviser) of limited opportunities across eligible Accounts managed by a particular portfolio management team, but in other cases such allocation may not be pro rata.

Allocation-related decisions for the Funds and other Accounts may be made by reference to one or more factors. Factors may include: the Account’s portfolio and its investment horizons, objectives, guidelines and restrictions (including legal and regulatory restrictions affecting certain Accounts or affecting holdings across Accounts); client instructions; strategic fit and other portfolio management considerations, including different desired levels of exposure to certain strategies; the expected future capacity of the Funds and the applicable Accounts; limits on the Investment Adviser’s brokerage discretion; cash and liquidity needs and other considerations; the availability of other appropriate or substantially similar investment opportunities; and differences in benchmark factors and hedging strategies among Accounts. Suitability considerations, reputational matters and other considerations may also be considered.

In a case in which one or more Accounts are intended to be the Investment Adviser’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or to receive priority with respect to, a particular trading strategy, other Accounts (including the Funds) may not have access to such strategy or may have more limited access than would otherwise be the case. To the extent that such Accounts are managed by areas of Goldman Sachs other than the Investment Adviser, such Accounts will not be subject to the Investment Adviser’s allocation policies. Investments by such Accounts may reduce or eliminate the availability of investment opportunities to, or otherwise adversely affect, the Fund. Furthermore, in cases in which one or more Accounts are intended to be the Investment Adviser’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or receive priority with respect to, a particular trading strategy or type of investment, such Accounts may have specific policies or guidelines with respect to Accounts or other persons receiving the opportunity to invest alongside such Accounts with respect to one or more investments (“Co-Investment Opportunities”). As a result, certain Accounts or other persons will receive allocations to, or rights to invest in, Co-Investment Opportunities that are not available generally to the Funds.

In addition, in some cases the Investment Adviser may make investment recommendations to Accounts that make investment decisions independently of the Investment Adviser. In circumstances in which there is limited availability of an investment opportunity, if such Accounts invest in the investment opportunity at the same time as, or prior to, a Fund, the availability of the investment opportunity for the Fund will be reduced irrespective of the Investment Adviser’s policies regarding allocations of investments. In certain cases, persons or entities who do not have an Account with the Investment Adviser may receive allocations of opportunities from the Investment Adviser, and be included in the Investment Adviser’s allocation procedures as if they had an Account with the Investment Adviser, even though there is no investment advisory relationship between the Investment Adviser and such persons or entities.

The Investment Adviser may, from time to time, develop and implement new trading strategies or seek to participate in new trading strategies and investment opportunities. These strategies and opportunities may not be employed in all Accounts or employed pro rata among Accounts where they are used, even if the strategy or opportunity is consistent with the objectives of such Accounts.

B-54

Further, a trading strategy employed for a Fund that is similar to, or the same as, that of another Account may be implemented differently, sometimes to a material extent. For example, a Fund may invest in different securities or other assets, or invest in the same securities and other assets but in different proportions, than another Account with the same or similar trading strategy. The implementation of the Fund’s trading strategy will depend on a variety of factors, including the portfolio managers involved in managing the trading strategy for the Account, the time difference associated with the location of different portfolio management teams, and the factors described above and in Item 6 (“PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT—Side-by-Side Management of Advisory Accounts; Allocation of Opportunities”) of the Investment Adviser’s Form ADV.

During periods of unusual market conditions, the Investment Adviser may deviate from its normal trade allocation practices. For example, this may occur with respect to the management of unlevered and/or long-only Accounts that are typically managed on a side-by-side basis with levered and/or long-short Accounts.

The Investment Adviser and the Funds may receive notice of, or offers to participate in, investment opportunities from third parties for various reasons. The Investment Adviser in its sole discretion will determine whether a Fund will participate in any such investment opportunities and investors should not expect that the Fund will participate in any such investment opportunities unless the opportunities are received pursuant to contractual requirements, such as preemptive rights or rights offerings, under the terms of the Fund’s investments. Moreover, Goldman Sachs businesses outside of the Investment Adviser are under no obligation or other duty to provide investment opportunities to the Funds, and generally are not expected to do so. Further, opportunities sourced within particular portfolio management teams within the Investment Adviser may not be allocated to Accounts (including the Funds) managed by such teams or by other teams. Opportunities not allocated (or not fully allocated) to the Funds or other Accounts managed by the Investment Adviser may be undertaken by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser), including for Goldman Sachs Accounts, or made available to other Accounts or third parties, and the Funds will not receive any compensation related to such opportunities. Additional information about the Investment Adviser’s allocation policies is set forth in Item 6 (“PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT—Side-by-Side Management of Advisory Accounts; Allocation of Opportunities”) of the Investment Adviser’s Form ADV.

As a result of the various considerations above, there will be cases in which certain Accounts (including Accounts in which Goldman Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) receive an allocation of an investment opportunity at times that the Funds do not, or when the Funds receive an allocation of such opportunities but on different terms than other Accounts (which may be less favorable). The application of these considerations may cause differences in the performance of different Accounts that employ strategies the same or similar to those of the Funds.

Multiple Accounts (including the Funds) may participate in a particular investment or incur expenses applicable in connection with the operation or management of the Accounts, or otherwise may be subject to costs or expenses that are allocable to more than one Account (which may include, without limitation, research expenses, technology expenses, expenses relating to participation in bondholder groups, restructurings, class actions and other litigation, and insurance premiums). The Investment Adviser may allocate investment-related and other expenses on a pro rata or different basis.

Accounts will generally incur expenses with respect to the consideration and pursuit of transactions that are not ultimately consummated (“broken-deal expenses”). Examples of broken-deal expenses include (i) research costs, (ii) fees and expenses of legal, financial, accounting, consulting or other advisers (including the Investment Adviser or its affiliates) in connection with conducting due diligence or otherwise pursuing a particular non-consummated transaction, (iii) fees and expenses in connection with arranging financing for a particular non-consummated transaction, (iv) travel and entertainment costs, (v) deposits or down payments that are forfeited in connection with, or amounts paid as a penalty for, a particular non-consummated transaction and (vi) other expenses incurred in connection with activities related to a particular non-consummated transaction.

The Investment Adviser has adopted a policy relating to the allocation of broken-deal expenses among Accounts (including the Funds) and other potential investors. Pursuant to the policy, broken-deal expenses generally will be allocated among Accounts in the manner that the Investment Adviser determines to be fair and equitable, which may be pro rata or on a different basis.

Goldman Sachs’ Financial and Other Interests May Incentivize Goldman Sachs to Promote the Sale of Fund Shares

Goldman Sachs and its personnel have interests in promoting sales of Fund shares, and the compensation from such sales may be greater than the compensation relating to sales of interests in other Accounts. Therefore, Goldman Sachs and its personnel may have a financial interest in promoting Fund shares over interests in other Accounts.

B-55

Management of the Funds by the Investment Adviser

Considerations Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs has established certain information barriers and other policies to address the sharing of information between different businesses within Goldman Sachs. As a result of information barriers, the Investment Adviser generally will not have access, or will have limited access, to information and personnel in other areas of Goldman Sachs, and generally will not manage the Funds with the benefit of information held by such other areas. Goldman Sachs, due to its access to and knowledge of funds, markets and securities based on its prime brokerage and other businesses, may make decisions based on information or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to interests in investments of the kind held (directly or indirectly) by the Funds in a manner that may be adverse to the Funds, and will not have any obligation or other duty to share information with the Investment Adviser.

Information barriers also exist between certain businesses within the Investment Adviser, and the conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Goldman Sachs and the Investment Adviser will also apply to the businesses within the Investment Adviser. There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by certain portfolio management teams in the Investment Adviser, the Investment Adviser limits an activity or transaction for a Fund, including if the Fund is managed by a portfolio management team other than the team holding such information.

In addition, regardless of the existence of information barriers, Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation or other duty to make available for the benefit of the Funds any information regarding Goldman Sachs’ trading activities, strategies or views, or the activities, strategies or views used for other Accounts. Furthermore, to the extent that the Investment Adviser has access to fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models or other information developed by Goldman Sachs and its personnel, or other parts of the Investment Adviser, the Investment Adviser will not be under any obligation or other duty to effect transactions on behalf of Accounts (including the Funds) in accordance with such analysis and models. In the event Goldman Sachs elects not to share certain information with the Investment Adviser or personnel involved in decision-making for Accounts (including the Funds), the Funds may make investment decisions that differ from those they would have made if Goldman Sachs had provided such information, which may be disadvantageous to the Funds.

Different areas of the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs may take views, and make decisions or recommendations, that are different than other areas of the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs. Different portfolio management teams within the Investment Adviser may make decisions based on information or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to Accounts they advise in a manner that may be different than or adverse to the Funds. Such teams may not share information with the Funds’ portfolio management teams, including as a result of certain information barriers and other policies, and will not have any obligation or other duty to do so.

Goldman Sachs operates a business known as Goldman Sachs Securities Services (“GSS”), which provides prime brokerage, administrative and other services to clients which may involve investment funds (including pooled investment vehicles and private funds) in which one or more Accounts invest (“Underlying Funds”) or markets and securities in which Accounts invest. GSS and other parts of Goldman Sachs have broad access to information regarding the current status of certain markets, investments and funds and detailed information about fund operators that is not available to the Investment Adviser. In addition, Goldman Sachs may act as a prime broker to one or more Underlying Funds, in which case Goldman Sachs will have information concerning the investments and transactions of such Underlying Funds that is not available to the Investment Adviser. As a result of these and other activities, parts of Goldman Sachs may be in possession of information in respect of markets, investments, investment advisers that are affiliated or unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs and Underlying Funds, which, if known to the Investment Adviser, might cause the Investment Adviser to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in investments held by Accounts or acquire certain positions on behalf of Accounts, or take other actions. Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation or other duty to make any such information available to the Investment Adviser or personnel involved in decision-making for Accounts (including the Funds).

Valuation of the Funds’ Investments

The Investment Adviser, while not the primary valuation agent of the Funds, performs certain valuation services related to securities and assets held in the Funds. The Investment Adviser performs such valuation services in accordance with its valuation policies. The Investment Adviser may value an identical asset differently than another division or unit within Goldman Sachs values the asset, including because such other division or unit has information or uses valuation techniques and models that it does not share with, or that are different than those of, the Investment Adviser. This is particularly the case in respect of difficult-to-value assets. The Investment Adviser may also value an identical asset differently in different Accounts, including because different Accounts are subject

B-56

to different valuation guidelines pursuant to their respective governing agreements (e.g., in connection with certain regulatory restrictions applicable to different Accounts), different third -party vendors are hired to perform valuation functions for the Accounts, the Accounts are managed or advised by different portfolio management teams within the Investment Adviser that employ different valuation policies or procedures, or otherwise. The Investment Adviser will face a conflict with respect to valuations generally because of their effect on the Investment Adviser’s fees and other compensation. Furthermore, the application of particular valuation policies with respect to the Funds may result in improved performance of the Funds.

Goldman Sachs’ and the Investment Adviser’s Activities on Behalf of Other Accounts

Goldman Sachs engages in a variety of activities in the global financial markets. The extent of Goldman Sachs’ activities in the global financial markets, including without limitation in its capacity as an investment banker, research provider, investment adviser, financier, adviser, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty, agent, principal and investor, as well as in other capacities, may have potential adverse effects on the Funds.

The Investment Adviser provides advisory services to the Funds. The Investment Adviser’s decisions and actions on behalf of the Funds may differ from those on behalf of other Accounts. Advice given to, or investment or voting decisions made for, one or more Accounts may compete with, affect, differ from, conflict with, or involve timing different from, advice given to or investment decisions made for the Funds. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser), the clients it advises, and its personnel have interests in and advise Accounts that have investment objectives or portfolios similar to, related to or opposed to those of the Funds. Goldman Sachs may receive greater fees or other compensation (including performance-based fees) from such Accounts than it does from the Funds. In addition, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser), the clients it advises, and its personnel may engage (or consider engaging) in commercial arrangements or transactions with Accounts, and/or may compete for commercial arrangements or transactions in the same types of companies, assets securities and other instruments, as the Funds. Decisions and actions of the Investment Adviser on behalf of the Funds may differ from those by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) on behalf of other Accounts, including Accounts sponsored, managed or advised by the Investment Adviser. Advice given to, or investment or voting decisions made for, the Funds may compete with, affect, differ from, conflict with, or involve timing different from, advice given to, or investment or voting decisions made for, other Accounts, including Accounts sponsored, managed or advised by the Investment Adviser.

Transactions by, advice to and activities of Accounts (including with respect to investment decisions, voting and the enforcement of rights) may involve the same or related companies, securities or other assets or instruments as those in which the Funds invest, and such Accounts may engage in a strategy while a Fund is undertaking the same or a differing strategy, any of which could directly or indirectly disadvantage the Fund (including its ability to engage in a transaction or other activities) or the prices or terms at which the Fund’s transactions or other activities may be effected.

For example, Goldman Sachs may be engaged to provide advice to an Account that is considering entering into a transaction with a Fund, and Goldman Sachs may advise the Account not to pursue the transaction with the Fund, or otherwise in connection with a potential transaction provide advice to the Account that would be adverse to the Fund. Additionally, a Fund may buy a security and an Account may establish a short position in that same security or in similar securities. This short position may result in the impairment of the price of the security that the Fund holds or may be designed to profit from a decline in the price of the security. A Fund could similarly be adversely impacted if it establishes a short position, following which an Account takes a long position in the same security or in similar securities. In addition, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may make filings in connection with a shareholder class action lawsuit or similar matter involving a particular security on behalf of an Account (including a Fund), but not on behalf of a different Account (including a Fund) that holds or held the same security, or that is invested in or has extended credit to different parts of the capital structure of the same issuer.

To the extent a Fund engages in transactions in the same or similar types of securities or other investments as other Accounts, the Fund and other Accounts may compete for such transactions or investments, and transactions or investments by such other Accounts may negatively affect the transactions of the Fund (including the ability of the Fund to engage in such a transaction or investment or other activities), or the price or terms at which the Fund’s transactions or investments or other activities may be effected. In some cases, such adverse impacts may result from differences in the timing of transactions by Accounts relative to when a Fund executes transactions in the same securities. Moreover, a Fund, on the one hand, and Goldman Sachs or other Accounts, on the other hand, may vote differently on or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to the same security, which may be disadvantageous to the Fund. Accounts may also have different rights in respect of an investment with the same issuer, or invest in different classes of the same issuer that have different rights, including, without limitation, with respect to liquidity. The determination to exercise such rights by the Investment Adviser on behalf of such other Accounts may have an adverse effect on the Funds.

B-57

Goldman Sachs (including, as applicable, the Investment Adviser) and its personnel, when acting as an investment banker, research provider, investment adviser, financier, adviser, market maker, prime broker, derivatives dealer, lender, counterparty or investor, or in other capacities, may advise on transactions, make investment decisions or recommendations, provide differing investment views or have views with respect to research or valuations that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the interests and activities of the Funds. Shareholders may be offered access to advisory services through several different Goldman Sachs advisory businesses (including Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and the Investment Adviser). Different advisory businesses within Goldman Sachs manage Accounts according to different strategies and may also apply different criteria to the same or similar strategies and may have differing investment views in respect of an issuer or a security or other investment. Similarly, within the Investment Adviser, certain investment teams or portfolio managers may have differing or opposite investment views in respect of an issuer or a security, and the positions a Fund’s investment team or portfolio managers take in respect of the Fund may be inconsistent with, or adversely affected by, the interests and activities of the Accounts advised by other investment teams or portfolio managers of the Investment Adviser. Research, analyses or viewpoints may be available to clients or potential clients at different times. Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation or other duty to make available to the Funds any research or analysis prior to its public dissemination. The Investment Adviser is responsible for making investment decisions on behalf of the Funds, and such investment decisions can differ from investment decisions or recommendations by Goldman Sachs on behalf of other Accounts. Goldman Sachs, on behalf of one or more Accounts, may implement an investment decision or strategy ahead of, or contemporaneously with, or behind similar investment decisions or strategies made for the Funds (whether or not the investment decisions emanate from the same research analysis or other information). The relative timing for the implementation of investment decisions or strategies for Accounts (including Accounts sponsored, managed or advised by the Investment Adviser), on the one hand, and the Funds, on the other hand, may disadvantage the Funds. Certain factors, for example, market impact, liquidity constraints, or other circumstances, could result in the Funds receiving less favorable trading results or incurring increased costs associated with implementing such investment decisions or strategies, or being otherwise disadvantaged.

Subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser may cause the Funds to invest in securities, bank loans or other obligations of companies affiliated with or advised by Goldman Sachs or in which Goldman Sachs or Accounts have an equity, debt or other interest, or to engage in investment transactions that may result in other Accounts being relieved of obligations or otherwise divested of investments, which may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs’ or other Accounts’ investment in and activities with respect to such companies. Goldman Sachs may, in its discretion, recommend that the Funds have ongoing business dealings, arrangements or agreements with persons who are former employees of Goldman Sachs or are otherwise associated with an investor in an Account or a portfolio company or service provider of Goldman Sachs or an Account. The Funds may bear, directly or indirectly, the costs of such dealings, arrangements or agreements. These recommendations, and recommendations relating to continuing any such dealings, arrangements or agreements, may pose conflicts of interest due to Goldman Sachs’ relationships with such former employees or persons otherwise associated with an investor in an Account or a portfolio company or service provider of Goldman Sachs or an Account.

When the Investment Adviser wishes to place an order for different types of Accounts (including the Funds) for which aggregation is not practicable, the Investment Adviser may use a trade sequencing and rotation policy to determine which type of Account is to be traded first. Under this policy, each portfolio management team may determine the length of its trade rotation period and the sequencing schedule for different categories of clients within this period provided that the trading periods and these sequencing schedules are designed to be fair and equitable over time. The portfolio management teams currently base their trading periods and rotation schedules on the relative amounts of assets managed for different client categories (e.g., unconstrained client accounts, “wrap program” accounts, etc.) and, as a result, the Funds may trade behind other Accounts. Within a given trading period, the sequencing schedule establishes when and how frequently a given client category will trade first in the order of rotation. The Investment Adviser may deviate from the predetermined sequencing schedule under certain circumstances, and the Investment Adviser’s trade sequencing and rotation policy may be amended, modified or supplemented at any time without prior notice to clients.

Potential Conflicts Relating to Follow-On Investments

From time to time, the Investment Adviser may provide opportunities to Accounts (including potentially the Funds) to make investments in companies in which certain Accounts have already invested. Such follow-on investments can create conflicts of interest, such as the determination of the terms of the new investment and the allocation of such opportunities among Accounts (including the Funds). Follow-on investment opportunities may be available to the Funds notwithstanding that the Funds have no existing investment in the issuer, resulting in the assets of the Funds potentially providing value to, or otherwise supporting the investments of, other Accounts. Accounts (including the Funds) may also participate in releveraging, recapitalization, and similar transactions involving companies in which other Accounts have invested or will invest. Conflicts of interest in these and other transactions may arise between Accounts (including the Funds) with existing investments in a company and Accounts making subsequent investments in the company, which may have opposing interests regarding pricing and other terms. The subsequent investments may dilute or otherwise adversely affect the interests of the previously-invested Accounts (including the Funds).

B-58

Diverse Interests of Shareholders

The various types of investors in and beneficiaries of the Funds, including to the extent applicable the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, may have conflicting investment, tax and other interests with respect to their interests in the Funds. When considering a potential investment for a Fund, the Investment Adviser will generally consider the investment objectives of the Fund, not the investment objectives of any particular investor or beneficiary. The Investment Adviser may make decisions, including with respect to tax matters, from time to time that may be more beneficial to one type of investor or beneficiary than another, or to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates than to investors or beneficiaries unaffiliated with the Investment Adviser. In addition, Goldman Sachs may face certain tax risks based on positions taken by the Funds, including as a withholding agent. Goldman Sachs reserves the right on behalf of itself and its affiliates to take actions adverse to the Funds or other Accounts in these circumstances, including withholding amounts to cover actual or potential tax liabilities.

Selection of Service Providers

The Funds expect to engage service providers (including attorneys and consultants) that may also provide services to Goldman Sachs and other Accounts. The Investment Adviser intends to select these service providers based on a number of factors, including expertise and experience, knowledge of related or similar products, quality of service, reputation in the marketplace, relationships with the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs or others, and price. These service providers may have business, financial, or other relationships with Goldman Sachs (including its personnel), which may or may not influence the Investment Adviser’s selection of these service providers for the Funds. In such circumstances, there may be a conflict of interest between Goldman Sachs (acting on behalf of the Funds) and the Funds if the Funds determine not to engage or continue to engage these service providers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selection of service providers for the Funds will be conducted in accordance with the Investment Adviser’s fiduciary obligations to the Funds. The service providers selected by the Investment Adviser may charge different rates to different recipients based on the specific services provided, the personnel providing the services, the complexity of the services provided or other factors. As a result, the rates paid with respect to these service providers by a Fund, on the one hand, may be more or less favorable than the rates paid by Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, on the other hand. In addition, the rates paid by the Investment Adviser or the Funds, on the one hand, may be more or less favorable than the rates paid by other parts of Goldman Sachs or Accounts managed by other parts of Goldman Sachs, on the other hand. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) and/or Accounts may hold investments in companies that provide services to entities in which the Funds invest generally, and, subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser may refer or introduce such companies’ services to entities that have issued securities held by the Funds.

Investments in Goldman Sachs Funds

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Funds may invest in money market and other funds sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs. In connection with any such investments, a Fund, to the extent permitted by the Act, will pay all advisory, administrative or Rule 12b-1 fees applicable to the investment, and the fees paid to the Investment Adviser by the Funds will not be reduced by any fees payable by the Funds to Goldman Sachs as manager of such Funds (i.e., there could be “double fees” involved in making any such investment, which would not arise in connection with the direct allocation of assets by investors in the Funds to such Funds), other than in certain specified cases, including as may be required by applicable law. In such circumstances, as well as in all other circumstances in which Goldman Sachs receives any fees or other compensation in any form relating to the provision of services, no accounting or repayment to the Funds will be required.

Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource

Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, may from time to time and without notice to investors in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection with a variety of services that it provides to the Funds in its administrative or other capacities. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.

B-59

Distributions of Assets Other Than Cash

With respect to redemptions from the Funds, the Funds may, in certain circumstances, have discretion to decide whether to permit or limit redemptions and whether to make distributions in connection with redemptions in the form of securities or other assets, and in such case, the composition of such distributions. In making such decisions, the Investment Adviser may have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to redeeming investors and remaining investors.

Goldman Sachs May Act in a Capacity Other Than Investment Adviser to the Funds

Investments in Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure

Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or Accounts, on the one hand, and the Funds, on the other hand, may invest in or extend credit to different parts of the capital structure of a single issuer. As a result, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or Accounts may take actions that adversely affect the Funds. In addition, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may advise Accounts with respect to different parts of the capital structure of the same issuer, or classes of securities that are subordinate or senior to securities, in which the Funds invest. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may pursue rights, provide advice or engage in other activities, or refrain from pursuing rights, providing advice or engaging in other activities, on behalf of itself or other Accounts with respect to an issuer in which the Funds have invested, and such actions (or refraining from action) may have a material adverse effect on the Funds.

For example, in the event that Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or an Account holds loans, securities or other positions in the capital structure of an issuer that ranks senior in preference to the holdings of a Fund in the same issuer, and the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser), acting on behalf of itself or the Account, may seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring of the issuer, or terms in connection with the foregoing, that may have an adverse effect on or otherwise conflict with the interests of the Fund’s holdings in the issuer. In connection with any such liquidation, reorganization or restructuring, the Fund’s holdings in the issuer may be extinguished or substantially diluted, while Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or another Account may receive a recovery of some or all of the amounts due to them. In addition, in connection with any lending arrangements involving the issuer in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or an Account participates, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or the Account may seek to exercise its rights under the applicable loan agreement or other document, which may be detrimental to the Fund. In situations in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) holds positions in multiple parts of the capital structure of an issuer across Accounts (including the Funds), the Investment Adviser may not pursue actions or remedies that may be available to the Fund, as a result of legal and regulatory requirements or otherwise.

These potential issues are examples of conflicts that Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) will face in situations in which the Funds, and Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or other Accounts, invest in or extend credit to different parts of the capital structure of a single issuer. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) addresses these issues based on the circumstances of particular situations. For example, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may determine to rely on information barriers between different Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) business units or portfolio management teams. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may determine to rely on the actions of similarly situated holders of loans or securities rather than, or in connection with, taking such actions itself on behalf of the Funds.

As a result of the various conflicts and related issues described above and the fact that conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the interests of the Funds, the Funds could sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) and other Accounts (including Accounts sponsored, managed or advised by the Investment Adviser) achieve profits generally or with respect to particular holdings in the same issuer, or could achieve lower profits or higher losses than would have been the case had the conflicts described above not existed. The negative effects described above may be more pronounced in connection with transactions in, or the Funds’ use of, small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid strategies.

Principal and Cross Transactions

When permitted by applicable law and the Investment Adviser’s policies, the Investment Adviser, acting on behalf of the Funds, may enter into transactions in securities and other instruments with or through Goldman Sachs or in Accounts managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, and may (but is under no obligation or other duty to) cause the Funds to engage in transactions in which the Investment Adviser acts as principal on its own behalf (principal transactions), advises both sides of a transaction (cross transactions)

B-60

and acts as broker for, and receives a commission from, the Funds on one side of a transaction and a brokerage account on the other side of the transaction (agency cross transactions). There may be potential conflicts of interest, regulatory issues or restrictions contained in the Investment Adviser’s internal policies relating to these transactions which could limit the Investment Adviser’s determination to engage in these transactions for Accounts (including the Funds). In certain circumstances such as when Goldman Sachs is the only or one of a few participants in a particular market or is one of the largest such participants, such limitations may eliminate or reduce the availability of certain investment opportunities to Accounts (including the Funds) or impact the price or terms on which transactions relating to such investment opportunities may be effected.

Goldman Sachs will have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in such transactions. The Investment Adviser has developed policies and procedures in relation to such transactions and conflicts. Cross transactions may disproportionately benefit some Accounts relative to other Accounts, including the Funds, due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the Accounts. Principal, cross or agency cross transactions will be effected in accordance with fiduciary requirements and applicable law (which may include disclosure and consent).

Goldman Sachs May Act in Multiple Commercial Capacities

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs may act as broker, dealer, agent, counterparty, lender or advisor or in other commercial capacities for the Funds or issuers of securities held by the Funds. Goldman Sachs may be entitled to compensation in connection with the provision of such services and the Funds will not be entitled to any such compensation. Goldman Sachs will have an interest in obtaining fees and other compensation in connection with such services that are favorable to Goldman Sachs, and in connection with providing such services may take commercial steps in its own interest, or may advise the parties to which it is providing services, or take other actions, any of which may have an adverse effect on the Funds. For example, Goldman Sachs may require repayment of all or part of a loan from a company in which an Account (including a Fund) holds an interest, which could cause the company to default or be required to liquidate its assets more rapidly, which could adversely affect the value of the company and the value of the Funds invested therein. Goldman Sachs may also advise such a company to make changes to its capital structure the result of which would be a reduction in the value or priority of a security held (directly or indirectly) by one or more Funds. Actions taken or advised to be taken by Goldman Sachs in connection with other types of transactions may also result in adverse consequences for the Funds. Goldman Sachs may also provide various services to companies in which the Funds have an interest, or to the Funds, which may result in fees, compensation and remuneration as well as other benefits, to Goldman Sachs. Such fees, compensation and remuneration may be substantial. Providing services to the Funds and companies in which the Funds invest may enhance Goldman Sachs’ relationships with various parties, facilitate additional business development and enable Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and generate additional revenue.

Goldman Sachs’ activities on behalf of its clients may also restrict investment opportunities that may be available to the Funds. For example, Goldman Sachs is often engaged by companies as a financial advisor, or to provide financing or other services, in connection with commercial transactions that may be potential investment opportunities for the Funds. There may be circumstances in which the Funds are precluded from participating in such transactions as a result of Goldman Sachs’ engagement by such companies. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act for these companies in such circumstances, notwithstanding the potential adverse effect on the Funds. Goldman Sachs may also represent creditor or debtor companies in proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and equivalent non-U.S. bankruptcy laws) or prior to these filings. From time to time, Goldman Sachs may serve on creditor or equity committees. These actions, for which Goldman Sachs may be compensated, may limit or preclude the flexibility that the Funds may otherwise have to buy or sell securities issued by those companies, as well as certain other assets. Please also see “—Management of the Funds by the Investment Adviser—Considerations Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs” above and “—Potential Limitations and Restrictions on Investment Opportunities and Activities of Goldman Sachs and the Funds” below.

Subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser may cause the Funds to invest in securities, bank loans or other obligations of companies affiliated with or advised by Goldman Sachs or in which Goldman Sachs or Accounts have an equity, debt or other interest, or to engage in investment transactions that may result in Goldman Sachs or other Accounts being relieved of obligations or otherwise divested of investments. For example, subject to applicable law a Fund may acquire securities or indebtedness of a company affiliated with Goldman Sachs directly or indirectly through syndicate or secondary market purchases, or may make a loan to, or purchase securities from, a company that uses the proceeds to repay loans made by Goldman Sachs. These activities by a Fund may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs or other Accounts with respect to their investment in and activities relating to such companies. The Fund will not be entitled to compensation as a result of this enhanced profitability.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) may create, write, sell, issue, invest in or act as placement agent or distributor of derivative instruments related to the Funds, or with respect to underlying securities or assets of the Funds, or which may be otherwise based on or seek to replicate or hedge the performance of the Funds. Such derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may differ from and be adverse to the interests of the Funds.

B-61

Goldman Sachs may make loans to, or enter into margin, asset-based or other credit facilities or similar transactions with, clients, companies or individuals that may (or may not) be secured by publicly or privately held securities or other assets, including a client’s Fund shares as described above. Some of these borrowers may be public or private companies, or founders, officers or shareholders in companies in which the Funds (directly or indirectly) invest, and such loans may be secured by securities of such companies, which may be the same as, pari passu with, or more senior or junior to, interests held (directly or indirectly) by the Funds. In connection with its rights as lender, Goldman Sachs may act to protect its own commercial interest and may take actions that adversely affect the borrower, including by liquidating or causing the liquidation of securities on behalf of a borrower or foreclosing and liquidating such securities in Goldman Sachs’ own name. Such actions may adversely affect the Funds (e.g., if a large position in a security is liquidated, among the other potential adverse consequences, the value of such security may decline rapidly and the Funds may in turn decline in value or may be unable to liquidate their positions in such security at an advantageous price or at all). In addition, Goldman Sachs may make loans to shareholders or enter into similar transactions that are secured by a pledge of, or mortgage over, a shareholder’s Fund shares, which would provide Goldman Sachs with the right to redeem such Fund shares in the event that such shareholder defaults on its obligations. These transactions and related redemptions may be significant and may be made without notice to the shareholders.

Code of Ethics and Personal Trading

Each of the Funds and Goldman Sachs, as each Fund’s Investment Adviser and Distributor, has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Act designed to provide that personnel of the Investment Adviser, and certain additional Goldman Sachs personnel who support the Investment Adviser, comply with applicable federal securities laws and place the interests of clients first in conducting personal securities transactions. The Code of Ethics imposes certain restrictions on securities transactions in the personal accounts of covered persons to help avoid conflicts of interest. Subject to the limitations of the Code of Ethics, covered persons may buy and sell securities or other investments for their personal accounts, including investments in the Funds, and may also take positions that are the same as, different from, or made at different times than, positions taken (directly or indirectly) by the Funds. The Codes of Ethics are 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 electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov. Additionally, all Goldman Sachs personnel, including personnel of the Investment Adviser, are subject to firm-wide policies and procedures regarding confidential and proprietary information, information barriers, private investments, outside business activities and personal trading.

Proxy Voting by the Investment Adviser

The Investment Adviser has implemented processes designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing proxy voting decisions that it makes on behalf of advisory clients, including the Funds, and to help ensure that such decisions are made in accordance with its fiduciary obligations to its clients. Notwithstanding such proxy voting processes, proxy voting decisions made by the Investment Adviser in respect of securities held by the Funds may benefit the interests of Goldman Sachs and/or Accounts other than the Funds. For a more detailed discussion of these policies and procedures, see the section of this SAI entitled “PROXY VOTING.”

Potential Limitations and Restrictions on Investment Opportunities and Activities of Goldman Sachs and the Funds

The Investment Adviser may restrict its investment decisions and activities on behalf of the Funds in various circumstances, including as a result of applicable regulatory requirements, information held by the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs’ roles in connection with other clients and in the capital markets (including in connection with advice it may give to such clients or commercial arrangements or transactions that may be undertaken by such clients or by Goldman Sachs), Goldman Sachs’ internal policies and/or potential reputational risk in connection with Accounts (including the Funds). The Investment Adviser might not engage in transactions or other activities for, or enforce certain rights in favor of, one or more Funds due to Goldman Sachs’ activities outside the Funds (e.g., the Investment Adviser may refrain from making investments for the Funds that would cause Goldman Sachs to exceed position limits or cause Goldman Sachs to have additional disclosure obligations and may limit purchases or sales of securities in respect of which Goldman Sachs is engaged in an underwriting or other distribution) and regulatory requirements, policies and reputational risk assessments.

In addition, the Investment Adviser may restrict, limit or reduce the amount of a Fund’s investment, or restrict the type of governance or voting rights it acquires or exercises, where the Fund (potentially together with Goldman Sachs and other Accounts) exceeds a certain ownership interest, or possesses certain degrees of voting or control or has other interests. For example, such limitations may exist if a position or transaction could require a filing or license or other regulatory or corporate consent, which could,

B-62

among other things, result in additional costs and disclosure obligations for, or impose regulatory restrictions on, Goldman Sachs, including the Investment Adviser, or on other Accounts, or where exceeding a threshold is prohibited or may result in regulatory or other restrictions. In certain cases, restrictions and limitations will be applied to avoid approaching such threshold. Circumstances in which such restrictions or limitations may arise include, without limitation: (i) a prohibition against owning more than a certain percentage of an issuer’s securities; (ii) a “poison pill” that could have a dilutive impact on the holdings of the Fund should a threshold be exceeded; (iii) provisions that would cause Goldman Sachs to be considered an “interested stockholder” of an issuer; (iv) provisions that may cause Goldman Sachs to be considered an “affiliate” or “control person” of the issuer; and (v) the imposition by an issuer (through charter amendment, contract or otherwise) or governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization (through law, rule, regulation, interpretation or other guidance) of other restrictions or limitations.

When faced with the foregoing limitations, Goldman Sachs may avoid exceeding the threshold because exceeding the threshold could have an adverse impact on the ability of the Investment Adviser or Goldman Sachs to conduct its business activities. The Investment Adviser may also reduce a Fund’s interest in, or restrict a Fund from participating in, an investment opportunity that has limited availability or where Goldman Sachs has determined to cap its aggregate investment in consideration of certain regulatory or other requirements so that other Accounts that pursue similar investment strategies may be able to acquire an interest in the investment opportunity. The Investment Adviser may determine not to engage in certain transactions or activities which may be beneficial to the Funds because engaging in such transactions or activities in compliance with applicable law would result in significant cost to, or administrative burden on, the Investment Adviser or create the potential risk of trade or other errors.

The Investment Adviser generally is not permitted to use material non-public information in effecting purchases and sales in transactions for the Funds that involve public securities. The Investment Adviser may limit an activity or transaction (such as a purchase or sale transaction) which might otherwise be engaged in by the Funds, including as a result of information held by Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser or its personnel). For example, directors, officers and employees of Goldman Sachs may take seats on the boards of directors of, or have board of directors observer rights with respect to, companies in which Goldman Sachs invests on behalf of the Funds. To the extent a director, officer or employee of Goldman Sachs were to take a seat on the board of directors of, or have board of directors observer rights with respect to, a public company, the Investment Adviser (or certain of its investment teams) may be limited and/or restricted in its or their ability to trade in the securities of the company.

Different areas of Goldman Sachs may come into possession of material non-public information regarding an issuer of securities held by an Underlying Fund in which an Account invests. In the absence of information barriers between such different areas of Goldman Sachs, the Account may be prohibited, including by internal policies, from redeeming from such Underlying Fund during the period such material non-public information is held by such other part of Goldman Sachs, which period may be substantial. As a result, the Account may not be permitted to redeem from an Underlying Fund in whole or in part during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely affect the Account. Other investors in the Underlying Fund that are not subject to such restrictions may be able to redeem from the Underlying Fund during such periods.

The Investment Adviser operates a program reasonably designed to ensure compliance generally with economic and trade sanctions-related obligations applicable directly to its activities (although such obligations are not necessarily the same obligations that the Funds may be subject to). Such economic and trade sanctions may prohibit, among other things, transactions with and the provision of services to, directly or indirectly, certain countries, territories, entities and individuals. These economic and trade sanctions, and the application by the Investment Adviser of its compliance program in respect thereof, may restrict or limit the Funds’ investment activities.

The Investment Adviser may determine to limit or not engage at all in transactions and activities on behalf of the Funds for reputational or other reasons. Examples of when such determinations may be made include, but are not limited to, where Goldman Sachs is providing (or may provide) advice or services to an entity involved in such activity or transaction, where Goldman Sachs or an Account is or may be engaged in the same or a related activity or transaction to that being considered on behalf of the Funds, where Goldman Sachs or an Account has an interest in an entity involved in such activity or transaction, where there are political, public relations, or other reputational considerations relating to counterparties or other participants in such activity or transaction or where such activity or transaction on behalf of or in respect of the Funds could affect in tangible or intangible ways Goldman Sachs, the Investment Adviser, an Account or their activities.

In order to engage in certain transactions on behalf of a Fund, the Investment Adviser will also be subject to (or cause the Fund to become subject to) the rules, terms and/or conditions of any venues through which it trades securities, derivatives or other instruments. This includes, but is not limited to, where the Investment Adviser and/or the Fund may be required to comply with the rules of certain exchanges, execution platforms, trading facilities, clearinghouses and other venues, or may be required to consent to the jurisdiction of any such venues. The rules, terms and/or conditions of any such venue may result in the Investment Adviser and/or the Fund being subject to, among other things, margin requirements, additional fees and other charges, disciplinary procedures, reporting and recordkeeping, position limits and other restrictions on trading, settlement risks and other related conditions on trading set out by such venues.

B-63

From time to time, a Fund, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates and/or their service providers or agents may be required, or may determine that it is advisable, to disclose certain information about the Fund, including, but not limited to, investments held by the Fund, and the names and percentage interest of beneficial owners thereof (and the underlying beneficial owners of such beneficial owners), to third parties, including local governmental authorities, regulatory organizations, taxing authorities, markets, exchanges, clearing facilities, custodians, brokers and trading counterparties of, or service providers to, the Investment Adviser or the Fund. The Investment Adviser generally expects to comply with requests to disclose such information as it so determines including through electronic delivery platforms; however, the Investment Adviser may determine to cause the sale of certain assets for the Fund rather than make certain required disclosures, and such sale may be at a time that is inopportune from a pricing or other standpoint.

Goldman Sachs may become subject to additional restrictions on its business activities that could have an impact on the Funds’ activities. In addition, the Investment Adviser may restrict its investment decisions and activities on behalf of the Funds and not other Accounts, including Accounts sponsored, managed or advised by the Investment Adviser.

Brokerage Transactions

The Investment Adviser often selects U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers (including affiliates of the Investment Adviser) that furnish the Investment Adviser, the Funds, Investment Adviser affiliates and other Goldman Sachs personnel with proprietary or third-party brokerage and research services (collectively, “brokerage and research services”) that provide, in the Investment Adviser’s view, appropriate assistance to the Investment Adviser in the investment decision-making process. These brokerage and research services may be bundled with the trade execution, clearing or settlement services provided by a particular broker-dealer and, subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser may pay for such brokerage and research services with client commissions (or “soft dollars”). There may be instances or situations in which such practices are subject to restrictions under applicable law. For example, the EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (“MiFID II”) restricts EU domiciled investment advisers from receiving research and other materials that do not qualify as “acceptable minor non-monetary benefits” from broker-dealers unless the research or materials are paid for by the investment advisers from their own resources or from research payment accounts funded by and with the agreement of their clients.

Accounts may differ with regard to whether and to what extent they pay for brokerage and research services through commissions and, subject to applicable law, brokerage and research services may be used to service the Funds and any or all other Accounts throughout the Investment Adviser, including Accounts that do not pay commissions to the broker-dealer relating to the brokerage and research service arrangements. As a result, brokerage and research services (including soft dollar benefits) may disproportionately benefit other Accounts relative to the Funds based on the relative amount of commissions paid by the Funds and in particular those Accounts that do not pay for brokerage and research services or do so to a lesser extent, including in connection with the establishment of maximum budgets for research costs (and switching to execution-only pricing when maximums are met). The Investment Adviser does not attempt to allocate soft dollar benefits proportionately among clients or to track the benefits of brokerage and research services to the commissions associated with a particular Account or group of Accounts.

Aggregation of Orders by the Investment Adviser

The Investment Adviser follows policies and procedures pursuant to which it may combine or aggregate purchase or sale orders for the same security or other instrument for multiple Accounts (including Accounts in which Goldman Sachs or personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) (sometimes referred to as “bunching”), so that the orders can be executed at the same time and block trade treatment of any such orders can be elected when available. The Investment Adviser aggregates orders when the Investment Adviser considers doing so appropriate and in the interests of its clients generally and may elect block trade treatment when available. In addition, under certain circumstances orders for the Funds may be aggregated with orders for Accounts that contain Goldman Sachs assets.

When a bunched order or block trade is completely filled, or if the order is only partially filled, at the end of the day, the Investment Adviser generally will allocate the securities or other instruments purchased or the proceeds of any sale pro rata among the participating Accounts, based on the Funds’ relative sizes. If an order is filled at several different prices, through multiple trades (whether at a particular broker-dealer or among multiple broker-dealers), generally all participating Accounts will receive the average price and pay the average commission, however, this may not always be the case (due to, e.g., odd lots, rounding, market practice or constraints applicable to particular Accounts).

B-64

Although it may do so in certain circumstances, the Investment Adviser does not always bunch or aggregate orders for different Funds, elect block trade treatment or net buy and sell orders for the same Fund, if portfolio management decisions relating to the orders are made by separate portfolio management teams, if bunching, aggregating, electing block trade treatment or netting is not appropriate or practicable from the Investment Adviser’s operational or other perspective, or if doing so would not be appropriate in light of applicable regulatory considerations. For example, time zone differences, trading instructions, cash flows, separate trading desks or portfolio management processes may, among other factors, result in separate, non-aggregated, non-netted executions, with orders in the same instrument being entered for different Accounts at different times or, in the case of netting, buy and sell trades for the same instrument being entered for the same Account. The Investment Adviser may be able to negotiate a better price and lower commission rate on aggregated orders than on orders for Funds that are not aggregated, and incur lower transaction costs on netted orders than orders that are not netted. The Investment Adviser is under no obligation or other duty to aggregate or net for particular orders. Where orders for a Fund are not aggregated with other orders, or not netted against orders for the Fund or other Accounts, the Fund will not benefit from a better price and lower commission rate or lower transaction cost that might have been available had the orders been aggregated or netted. Aggregation and netting of orders may disproportionately benefit some Accounts relative to other Accounts, including a Fund, due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the Accounts. The Investment Adviser may aggregate orders of Accounts that are subject to MiFID II (“MiFID II Advisory Accounts”) with orders of Accounts not subject to MiFID II, including those that generate soft dollar commissions (including the Funds) and those that restrict the use of soft dollars. All Accounts included in an aggregated order with MiFID II Advisory Accounts pay (or receive) the same average price for the security and the same execution costs (measured by rate). However, MiFID II Advisory Accounts included in an aggregated order may pay commissions at “execution-only” rates below the total commission rates paid by Accounts included in the aggregated order that are not subject to MiFID II.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

The portfolio transactions for the Fund are generally effected at a net price without a broker’s commission (i.e., a dealer is dealing with the Fund as principal and receives compensation equal to the spread between the dealer’s cost for a given security and the resale price of such security). In certain foreign countries, debt securities are traded on exchanges at fixed commission rates. In connection with portfolio transactions, the Management Agreement provides that the Investment Adviser shall attempt to obtain the most favorable execution and net price available. The Management Agreement provides that, on occasions when an Investment Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other investment company or advisory account for which the Investment Adviser or an affiliate acts as Investment Adviser), the Fund, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for such other customers in order to obtain the best net price and most favorable execution. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Investment Adviser in the manner it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the size and price of the position obtainable for the Fund. The Management Agreement permits the Investment Adviser, in its discretion, to purchase and sell portfolio securities to and from dealers who provide the Trust with brokerage or research services in which dealers may execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Fund. Brokerage and research services furnished by firms through which the Fund effect its securities transactions may be used by the Investment Adviser in servicing other accounts and not all of these services may be used by the Investment Adviser in connection with the Fund generating the brokerage credits. Such research or other services may include research reports on companies, industries and securities; economic and financial data; financial publications; computer data bases; quotation equipment and services; and research-oriented computer hardware, software and other services. The Investment Adviser does not reimburse the Fund for the value such brokerage and research services.

Such services are used by the Investment Adviser in connection with all of its investment activities, and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for the Fund may be used in managing other investment accounts. Conversely, brokers furnishing such services may be selected for the execution of transactions of such other accounts, whose aggregate assets may be larger than those of the Fund’s, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by an Investment Adviser in providing management services for the Trust. The Investment Adviser may also participate in so-called “commission sharing arrangements” and “client commission arrangements” under which the Investment Adviser may execute transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to the Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser excludes from use under these arrangements those products and services that are not fully eligible under applicable law and regulatory interpretations– even as to the portion that would be eligible if accounted for separately.

The research services received as part of commission sharing and client commission arrangements will comply with Section 28(e) and may be subject to different legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which the Investment Adviser does business. Participating in commission sharing and client commission arrangements may enable the Investment Adviser to consolidate payments for research through one or more channels using accumulated client commissions or credits from transactions executed through a particular broker-dealer to obtain research provided by other firms. Such arrangements also help to ensure the continued receipt of research services while facilitating best execution in the trading process. The Investment Adviser believes such research services are useful in its investment decision-making process by, among other things, ensuring access to a variety of high quality research, access to individual analysts and availability of resources that the Investment Adviser might not be provided access to absent such arrangements.

B-65

The Fund is prohibited, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Act, from compensating a broker or dealer for any promotion or sale of Fund shares by directing to such broker or dealer the Trust’s portfolio transactions or by making any payment to such broker or dealer received or to be received (which payment may include commissions, mark-ups or mark-downs or other fees) from the Trust’s portfolio transactions effected through another broker or dealer. However, the Fund may direct portfolio transactions to a broker or dealer that promotes or sells shares of the Trust if the Trust’s Board of Trustees approves policies and procedures designed to ensure that the selection of such brokers is not influenced by considerations about the sale of Trust shares. Accordingly, the Trustees (including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested Trustees) have approved policies permitting the Trust to direct portfolio securities transactions to a broker or dealer that promotes or sells shares of the Trust subject to the prohibitions that: i) all persons responsible for selecting such brokers or dealers (including but not limited to trading desk personnel and portfolio managers) may not take into account in connection with their selections the promotion or sale of shares issued by the Trust or any other registered investment company, and ii) the Trust, the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as the Trust’s distributor may not enter into any agreement or understanding where the Trust or the Investment Adviser direct, or are expected to direct, portfolio transactions or any payment to a broker or dealer in consideration for the promotion or sale of shares of the Trust or any other registered investment company.

[The Fund may participate in a commission recapture program. Under the program, participating broker-dealers rebate a percentage of commissions earned on Fund portfolio transactions to the Fund from which the commissions were generated. The rebated commissions are expected to be treated as realized capital gains of the Fund.]

Subject to the above considerations, the Investment Adviser may use Goldman Sachs or an affiliate as a broker for the Fund. In order for Goldman Sachs or an affiliate, acting as agent, to effect securities or futures transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by Goldman Sachs or an affiliate must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities or futures contracts. Furthermore, the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 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. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.

Since the Fund is newly-organized, it did not pay brokerage commissions during the last three fiscal years.

SHARES OF THE TRUST

The Fund is a series of Goldman Sachs Trust, a Delaware statutory trust established by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997. The Fund’s fiscal year end is March 31.

The Trustees have authority under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust to create and classify shares of beneficial interest in separate series, without further action by shareholders. The Trustees also have authority to classify and reclassify any series of shares into one or more classes of shares. As of [ ], 2019, the Trustees have authorized the issuance of one class of shares of the Fund: Class R6 Shares. Additional series and classes may be added in the future.

Each Class R6 Share of the Fund represents a proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the class of the Fund and all expenses of the Fund are borne at the same rate by each class of shares. With limited exceptions, Class R6 Shares may only be exchanged for shares of the same or an equivalent class of another series. See “Shareholder Guide” in the Prospectus. In addition, the fees and expenses set forth below for Class R6 Shares may be subject to fee waivers or reimbursements, as discussed more fully in the Fund’s Prospectus.

Class R6 Shares may be purchased at NAV without a sales charge for accounts in the name of an investor or institution that is not compensated by the Fund for services provided to the institution’s customers.

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 Fund’s Prospectus, shares are fully paid and non-assessable. The Trustees may, however, cause shareholders, or shareholders of a particular series or class, to pay certain custodian, transfer agency, servicing or similar charges by setting off the same against declared but unpaid dividends or by reducing share ownership (or by both means). In the event of liquidation, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the applicable class of the Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. All shares are freely transferable and have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. The Trustees may require Shareholders to redeem Shares for any reason under terms set by the Trustees.

B-66

The Act requires that where more than one series of shares exists, each series must be preferred over all other series in respect of assets specifically allocated to such series. In addition, Rule 18f-2 under the Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of the Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series affected by such matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a series shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless the interests of each series in the matter are substantially identical or the matter does not affect any interest of such series. However, Rule 18f-2 exempts the selection of independent public accountants, the approval of principal distribution contracts and the election of trustees from the separate voting requirements of Rule 18f-2.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and does not intend to hold such meetings. In the event that a meeting of shareholders is held, each share of the Trust will be entitled, as determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of the shareholders, either to one vote for each share or to one vote for each dollar of NAV 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 the defense of any claim made against such shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the series.

The Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust (i) by a majority of the affected shareholders at a meeting of shareholders of the Trust, series or class; or (ii) by a majority of the Trustees without shareholder approval if the Trustees determine, in their sole discretion, that such action is in the best interest of the Trust, such series, such class or their respective shareholders. The Trustees may consider such factors as they, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate in making such determination, including (i) the inability of the Trust or any series or class to maintain its assets at an appropriate size; (ii) changes in laws or regulations governing the Trust, series or class or affecting assets of the type in which it invests; or (iii) economic developments or trends having a significant adverse impact on the business or operations of the Trust or series.

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Trustees, without shareholder approval, to cause the Trust, or any series thereof, to merge or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or sell or exchange all or substantially all of the property belonging to the Trust or any series thereof. In addition, the Trustees, without shareholder approval, may adopt a master-feeder structure by investing all or a portion of the assets of a series of the Trust in the securities of another open-end investment company with substantially the same investment objective, restrictions and policies.

The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to amend the Declaration of Trust without a shareholder vote. However, shareholders of the Trust have the right to vote on any amendment (i) that would adversely affect the voting rights of shareholders; (ii) that is required by law to be approved by shareholders; (iii) that would amend the provisions of the Declaration of Trust regarding amendments and supplements thereto; or (iv) that the Trustees determine to submit to shareholders.

The Trustees may appoint separate Trustees with respect to one or more series or classes of the Trust’s shares (the “Series Trustees”). Series Trustees may, but are not required to, serve as Trustees of the Trust or any other series or class of the Trust. To the extent provided by the Trustees in the appointment of Series Trustees, the Series Trustees may have, to the exclusion of any other Trustees of the Trust, all the powers and authorities of Trustees under the Declaration of Trust with respect to such series or class, but may have no power or authority with respect to any other series or class.

B-67

Shareholder and Trustee Liability

Under Delaware law, the shareholders of the Fund are not generally subject to liability for the debts or obligations of the Trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that a series of the Trust will not be liable for the debts or obligations of any other series of the Trust. However, no similar statutory or other authority limiting 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.

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 Fund for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

NET ASSET VALUE

In accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, the NAV per share of each class of the Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to each class of the Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class. All securities are generally 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. Eastern time) or such other time as the New York Stock Exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System (“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, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Fund shares may be priced on such days if the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the bond markets remain open for all or part of the day.

The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange is stopped at a time other than its regularly scheduled closing time. The Trust reserves the right to reprocess purchase (including dividend reinvestments), redemption and exchange transactions that were processed at a NAV that is subsequently adjusted, and to recover amounts from (or distribute amounts to) shareholders accordingly based on the official closing NAV, as adjusted. 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, the Fund may compute its NAV as of any time permitted pursuant to any exemption, order or statement of the SEC or its staff.

For the purpose of calculating the NAV per share of the Fund, investments are valued under valuation procedures established by the Trustees. Portfolio securities of the Fund for which accurate market quotations are readily available are generally valued as follows: (i) equity securities listed on any U.S. or foreign stock exchange or on the 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 or official closing price on the valuation date, equity securities will be valued at the last available bid price for long positions or the last available ask price for short positions at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time. If the relevant exchange or system has not closed by the above-mentioned time for determining the Fund’s NAV, 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 NAV is determined; (ii) over-the-counter equity 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 for long positions or the last ask price for short positions, at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time; (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 Investment Adviser to not represent fair value, will be valued through the use of broker quotes, if possible; (iv) fixed

B-68

income securities will be valued via electronic feeds from independent pricing services to the administrator using evaluated prices provided by a recognized pricing service and dealer-supplied quotations. Fixed income securities for which a pricing service either does not supply a quotation or supplies a quotation that is believed by the Investment Adviser to not represent fair value, will be valued through the use of broker quotes, if possible; (v) fixed income securities for which accurate market quotations are not readily available will be valued by the Investment Adviser based on Board-approved fair valuation policies that incorporate matrix pricing or valuation models, which utilize certain inputs and assumptions, including, but not limited to, yield or price with respect to comparable fixed income securities and various other factors; (vi) investments in open-end registered investment companies (excluding investments in ETFs) and investments in private funds are valued based on the NAV of those registered investment companies or private funds (which may use fair value pricing as discussed in their prospectus or offering memorandum); (vii) spot foreign exchange rates will be valued using a pricing service at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time, and forward foreign currency contracts will be valued by adding forward points provided by an independent pricing service to the spot foreign exchange rates and interpolating based upon maturity dates of each contract or by using outright forward rates, where available (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 ask quotations supplied by at least one dealer in such contracts); (viii) exchange-traded futures contracts will be valued at the last published settlement price on the exchange where they are principally traded (or, if a sale occurs after the last published settlement price but before the NAV calculation time, at the last sale price at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time); (ix) exchange-traded options contracts with settlement prices will be valued at the last published settlement price on the exchange where they are principally traded (or, if a sale occurs after the last published settlement price but before the NAV calculation time, at the last sale price at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time); (x) exchange-traded options contracts without settlement prices will be valued at the midpoint of the bid and ask prices on the exchange where they are principally traded (or, in the absence of two-way trading, at the last bid price for long positions and the last ask price for short positions at the time closest to, but no later than, the NAV calculation time); (xi) over-the-counter derivatives, including, but not limited to, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, total return index swaps, put/call option combos, total return basket swaps, index volatility and FX variance swaps, will be valued at their fair market value as determined using counterparty supplied valuations, an independent pricing service or valuation models which use market data inputs supplied by an independent pricing service; and (xii) all other instruments, including those for which a pricing service supplies no exchange quotation/price or a quotation that is believed by the Investment Adviser to be inaccurate, will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Securities may also be valued at fair value in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees where the Fund’s fund accounting agent is unable for other reasons to facilitate pricing of individual securities or calculate the Fund’s NAV, or if the Investment Adviser believes that such quotations do not accurately reflect fair value. Fair values determined in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board of Trustees may be based on subjective judgments and it is possible that the prices resulting from such valuation procedures may differ materially from the value realized on a sale.

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 as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally, but not always, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). If such quotations are not available, the rate of exchange will be determined in good faith 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 Fund’s NAV is not calculated. Such calculation does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. For investments in foreign equity securities, “fair value” prices will be provided by an independent third-party pricing (fair value) service (if available), in accordance with fair value procedures approved by the Trustees. Fair value prices are used because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. If the independent third-party pricing (fair value) service does not provide a fair value for a particular security or if the value does not meet the established criteria for the Fund, the most recent closing price for such a security on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on such date.

The Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (but need not) determine to make an adjustment to the previous closing prices of either domestic or foreign securities in light of significant events, to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the time of determining the Fund’s NAV. Significant events that could affect a large number of securities in a particular market may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one or more single issuers in a market sector; significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or unscheduled market closings; equipment failures; natural or manmade disasters or acts of God; armed conflicts; governmental actions or other developments; as well as the same or similar events which may affect specific issuers or the securities markets even though not tied directly to the securities markets. Other significant events that could relate to a single issuer may include, but are not limited to: corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs; corporate announcements, including those relating to earnings, products and regulatory news; significant litigation; ratings downgrades; bankruptcies; and trading limits or suspensions.

B-69

In general, fair value represents a good faith approximation of the current value of an asset and may be used when there is no public market or possibly no market at all for an asset. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures or by other investors. The fair value of an asset may not be the price at which that asset is ultimately sold.

The proceeds received by the Fund and each other series of the Trust from the issue or sale of its shares, and all net investment income, realized and unrealized gain and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, will be specifically allocated to the Fund or particular series and constitute the underlying assets of that Fund or series. The underlying assets of the Fund will be segregated on the books of account, and will be charged with the liabilities in respect of the Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust. Expenses of the Trust with respect to the Fund and the other series of the Trust are generally allocated in proportion to the NAVs of the Fund or series except where allocations of expenses can otherwise be fairly made.

The Fund relies on various sources to calculate its NAV. The ability of the Fund’s fund accounting agent to calculate the NAV per share of each share class of the Fund is subject to operational risks associated with processing or human errors, systems or technology failures, cyber attacks and errors caused by third-party service providers, data sources, or trading counterparties. Such failures may result in delays in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures. In addition, if the third-party service providers and/or data sources upon which the Fund directly or indirectly relies to calculate its NAV or price individual securities are unavailable or otherwise unable to calculate the NAV correctly, it may be necessary for alternative procedures to be utilized to price the securities at the time of determining the Fund’s NAV.

Errors and Corrective Actions

The Investment Adviser will report to the Board of Trustees any material breaches of investment objective, policies or restrictions and any material errors in the calculation of the NAV of the Fund or the processing of purchases and redemptions. Depending on the nature and size of an error, corrective action may or may not be required. Corrective action may involve a prospective correction of the NAV only, correction of any erroneous NAV and compensation to the Fund, or correction of any erroneous NAV, compensation to the Fund and reprocessing of individual shareholder transactions. The Trust’s policies on errors and corrective action limit or restrict when corrective action will be taken or when compensation to the Fund or its shareholders will be paid, and not all mistakes will result in compensable errors. As a result, neither the Fund nor its shareholders who purchase or redeem shares during periods in which errors accrue or occur may be compensated in connection with the resolution of an error. Shareholders will generally not be notified of the occurrence of a compensable error or the resolution thereof absent unusual circumstances. As discussed in more detail under “NET ASSET VALUE,” the Fund’s portfolio securities may be priced based on quotations for those securities provided by pricing services. There can be no guarantee that a quotation provided by a pricing service will be accurate.

TAXATION

The following is a summary of the principal U.S. federal income, and certain state and local, tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. This summary does not address special tax rules applicable to certain classes of investors, such as tax exempt entities, insurance companies and financial institutions. Each prospective shareholder is urged to consult his or her own tax adviser with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in the Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on [ ], which are subject to change. Future changes in tax laws may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders.

General

The Fund is a separate taxable entity. The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify for each taxable year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code. To qualify as such, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements relating to the sources of its income, diversification of its assets and distribution of its income to shareholders. As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income or excise tax on any net investment income and net realized capital gains that are distributed to its shareholders in accordance with certain timing requirements of the Code.

B-70

There are certain tax requirements that the Fund must follow in order to avoid federal taxation. In its efforts to adhere to these requirements, the Fund may have to limit its investment activities in some types of instruments. Qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code requires, among other things, that (i) the Fund derive at least 90% of its gross income (including tax exempt interest) for its taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or securities, or foreign currencies, income from certain publicly traded partnerships or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies (the “90% gross income test”); and (ii) the 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 its total (gross) assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S. Government Securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total (gross) assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

For purposes of the 90% gross income test, income that the Fund earns from equity interests in certain entities that are not treated as corporations or as qualified publicly traded partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (e.g., partnerships or trusts) will generally have the same character for the Fund as in the hands of such an entity; consequently, the Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in any such entities that earn fee income, rental income, or other nonqualifying income.

If the Fund complies with the provisions described above, then in any taxable year in which the Fund distributes, in compliance with the Code’s timing and other requirements, an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable accrued original issue discount and market discount income, any net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign exchange gains and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain,” as defined below, and is reduced by deductible expenses), plus 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income (if any) over certain disallowed deductions, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. If, instead, the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. Because there are some uncertainties regarding the computation of the amounts deemed distributed to Fund shareholders for these purposes — including, in particular, uncertainties regarding the portion, if any, of amounts paid in redemption of Fund shares that should be treated as such distributions — there can be no assurance that the Fund will avoid corporate-level tax in each year.

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 the principal business of the Fund in 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 contracts for purposes other than hedging currency risk with respect to securities held by the Fund or anticipated to be acquired may not qualify as “directly related” under these tests.

The Fund generally intends to distribute for each taxable year to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (if any), net capital gain and any net tax exempt interest. Exchange control or other foreign laws, regulations or practices may restrict repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales by foreign investors such as the Fund, and may therefore make it more difficult for the Fund to satisfy the distribution requirements described above, as well as the excise tax distribution requirements described below. However, the Fund generally expects to be able to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy such requirements from new investors, the sale of securities or other sources. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be taxed on all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain at corporate rates, without any deduction for dividends paid, and its distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits.

If 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 (1) if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of that undistributed amount, and (2) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds those liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by the amount of any such undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by the Fund on that amount of net capital gain.

Capital loss carryforwards of the Fund will generally be able to be carried forward indefinitely. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. In order to avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Fund must distribute or be deemed to have distributed by December 31 of each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of 98% of its taxable ordinary income (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) for such year, 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year) and 100% of any taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which the Fund did not pay federal income tax. The Fund anticipates that it will generally make timely distributions of income and capital gains in compliance with these requirements so that they will generally not be required to pay the excise tax.

B-71

The Fund may purchase Municipal Securities together with the right to resell the securities to the seller at an agreed-upon price or yield within a specified period prior to the maturity date of the securities. Such a right to resell is commonly known as a “put” and is also referred to as a “standby commitment.” The Fund may pay for a standby commitment either separately, in cash, or in the form of a higher price for the securities that are acquired subject to the standby commitment, thus increasing the cost of securities and reducing the yield otherwise available. Additionally, the Fund may purchase beneficial interests in Municipal Securities held by trusts, custodial arrangements or partnerships and/or combined with third-party puts and other types of features such as interest rate swaps; those investments may require the Fund to pay “tender fees” or other fees for the various features provided.

The IRS has issued a revenue ruling to the effect that, under specified circumstances, a regulated investment company will be the owner of tax exempt municipal obligations acquired subject to a put option. The IRS has also issued private letter rulings to certain taxpayers (which do not serve as precedent for other taxpayers) to the effect that tax exempt interest received by a regulated investment company with respect to such obligations will be tax exempt in the hands of the company and may be distributed to its shareholders as exempt-interest dividends. The IRS has subsequently announced that it will not ordinarily issue advance ruling letters as to the identity of the true owner of property in cases involving the sale of securities or participation interests therein if the purchaser has the right to cause the security, or the participation interest therein, to be purchased by either the seller or a third party. The Fund intends to take the position that it is the owner of any municipal obligations acquired subject to a standby commitment or other third party put and that tax exempt interest earned with respect to such municipal obligations will be tax exempt in its hands. There is no assurance that the IRS will agree with such position in any particular case. Additionally, the federal income tax treatment of certain other aspects of these investments, including the treatment of tender fees paid by the Fund, in relation to various regulated investment company tax provisions is unclear.

Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains and losses. Certain of the futures contracts, forward contracts and options held by the Fund will be required to be “marked-to-market” for federal income tax purposes that is treated as having been sold at their fair market value on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. These provisions may require the Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash. Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of these futures contracts, forward contracts or options will (except for certain foreign currency options, forward contracts, and futures contracts) be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. As a result of certain hedging transactions entered into by the Fund, that Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures or forward contracts and options or underlying securities or foreign currencies to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by the Fund and the characterization of gains or losses as long-term or short-term may be changed. The tax provisions described above applicable to options, futures and forward contracts may affect the amount, timing, and character of the Fund’s distributions to shareholders. Certain tax elections may be available to the Fund to mitigate some of the unfavorable consequences described in this paragraph.

Section 988 of the Code contains special tax rules applicable to certain foreign currency transactions and instruments that may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized by the Fund. Under these rules, foreign exchange gain or loss realized by the Fund with respect to foreign currencies and certain futures and options thereon, foreign currency-denominated debt instruments, foreign currency forward contracts, and foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss, although in some cases elections may be available that would alter this treatment. If a net foreign exchange loss treated as ordinary loss under Section 988 of the Code were to exceed the Fund’s investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year, the resulting loss would not be deductible by the Fund or its shareholders in future years. Net loss, if any, from certain foreign currency transactions or instruments could exceed net investment income otherwise calculated for accounting purposes with the result being either no dividends being paid or a portion of the Fund’s dividends being treated as a return of capital for tax purposes, nontaxable to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares and, once such basis is exhausted, generally giving rise to capital gains.

The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) from foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations and it meets the distribution requirements described above, such Fund will generally qualify to file an election with the IRS pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund would be required to (i) include in ordinary gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) their pro rata shares of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund that are treated as income taxes under U.S. tax regulations (which excludes, for example, stamp taxes, securities transaction taxes, and similar taxes) even though not actually received by such shareholders; and (ii) treat such respective pro rata portions as foreign income taxes paid by them. It is not expected that the Fund will be eligible to make this election.

B-72

If the Fund makes this election, its shareholders may then deduct such pro rata portions of qualified foreign taxes in computing their taxable incomes, or, alternatively, use them as foreign tax credits, subject to applicable limitations, against their U.S. federal income taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize deductions for federal income tax purposes will not, however, be able to deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, although such shareholders will be required to include their shares of such taxes in gross income if the Fund makes the election referred to above.

If a shareholder chooses to take a credit for the foreign taxes deemed paid by such shareholder as a result of any such election by the Fund, the amount of the credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against which such credit is taken which the shareholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the shareholder’s entire taxable income) bears to his or her entire taxable income. For this purpose, distributions from long-term and short-term capital gains or foreign currency gains by the Fund will generally not be treated as income from foreign sources. This foreign tax credit limitation may also be applied separately to certain specific categories of foreign-source income and the related foreign taxes. As a result of these rules, and certain other limitations, which have different effects depending upon each shareholder’s particular tax situation, certain shareholders may not be able to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate shares of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

Shareholders who are not liable for U.S. federal income taxes, including tax exempt shareholders, will ordinarily not benefit from this election. Each year, if any, that the Fund files the election described above, its shareholders will be notified of the amount of (i) each shareholder’s pro rata share of qualified foreign income taxes paid by the Fund; and (ii) the portion of Fund dividends which represents income from each foreign country.

If the Fund acquires stock (including, under proposed regulations, an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (“passive foreign investment companies”) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and additional interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or gain from the sale of such stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. Certain elections may, if available, ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but any such election would require the Fund to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash. The Fund may limit and/or manage their holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize their tax liability or maximize their return from these investments.

If the Fund invests in certain REITs or in REMIC residual interests, a portion of the Fund’s income may be classified as “excess inclusion income.” A shareholder that is otherwise not subject to tax may be taxable on their share of any such excess inclusion income as “unrelated business taxable income”. In addition, tax may be imposed on the Fund on the portion of any excess inclusion income allocable to any shareholders that are classified as disqualified organizations.

The Fund’s investment in zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities, capital appreciation bonds or other securities bearing original issue discount or, if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently, market discount, as well as any “mark-to-market” gain from certain options, futures or forward contracts, as described above, will generally cause it to realize income or gain prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities or contracts. In order to obtain cash to enable it to distribute this income or gain, maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid federal income or excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities earlier than it might otherwise have done.

Investment in lower-rated securities may present special tax issues for the 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 the 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 payment 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 the Fund, if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to eliminate or minimize any adverse tax consequences.

The application of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the application of certain other tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with certain investment practices such as dollar rolls, or investments in certain derivatives, including interest rate swaps, floors, cap and collars, currency swaps, total return swaps, mortgage swaps, index swaps, forward contracts and structured notes. As a result, the Fund may therefore be required to limit its investments in such transactions and it is also possible that the IRS may not agree with the Fund’s tax treatment of such transactions. In addition, the tax treatment of derivatives, and certain other investments, may be affected by future legislation, Treasury Regulations and guidance issued by the IRS that could affect the timing, character and amount of the Fund’s income and gains and distributions to shareholders.

B-73

Taxable U.S. Shareholders – Distributions

The Fund expects to qualify to pay “exempt-interest dividends,” as defined in the Code. To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, the applicable Fund must, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, have at least 50% of the value of its total assets invested in Municipal Securities whose interest is excluded from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. In purchasing Municipal Securities, the Fund intends to rely on opinions of bond counsel or counsel to the issuers for each issue as to the excludability of interest on such obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund will not undertake independent investigations concerning the tax exempt status of such obligations, nor does it guarantee or represent that bond counsels’ opinions are correct. Bond counsels’ opinions will generally be based in part upon covenants by the issuers and related parties regarding continuing compliance with federal tax requirements. Tax laws not only limit the purposes for which tax exempt bonds may be issued and the supply of such bonds, but also contain numerous and complex requirements that must be satisfied on a continuing basis in order for bonds to be and remain tax exempt. If the issuer of a bond or a user of a bond-financed facility fails to comply with such requirements at any time, interest on the bond could become taxable, retroactive to the date the obligation was issued. In that event, a portion of the Fund’s distributions attributable to interest the Fund received on such bond for the current year and for prior years could be characterized or recharacterized as taxable income. The availability of tax exempt obligations and the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by restrictive federal income tax legislation enacted in recent years or by similar, future legislation. If the Fund satisfies the applicable requirements, dividends paid by the Fund which are attributable to tax exempt interest on Municipal Securities and designated by the Fund as exempt-interest dividends in a written notice to its shareholders after the close of its taxable year may be treated by shareholders as items of interest excludable from their gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. Exempt-interest dividends the Fund receives from other regulated investment companies, including exempt-interest dividends on auction rate preferred securities of such companies held by the Fund, are treated as interest on Municipal Securities and may be distributed by the Fund as exempt-interest dividends. The recipient of tax exempt income is required to report such income on his or her federal income tax return. The Code provides that interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible to the extent attributable to exempt-interest dividends.

Although all or a substantial portion of the dividends paid by the Fund may be excluded by shareholders of the Fund from their gross income for federal income tax purposes, the Fund may purchase private activity bonds, the interest from which (including the Fund’s distributions attributable to such interest) may be a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (individual). All exempt-interest dividends from the Fund, whether or not attributable to private activity bond interest, will be taken into account in determining the extent to which a shareholder’s Social Security or certain railroad retirement benefits are taxable.

The Fund is not intended to constitute a balanced investment program and are not designed for investors seeking capital appreciation or maximum tax exempt income irrespective of fluctuations in principal. Shares of the Fund would not be suitable for tax exempt institutions, retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code, H.R. 10 plans and individual retirement accounts since such institutions, plans and accounts are generally tax exempt and, therefore, would not gain any additional benefit from the Fund’s dividends being tax exempt. The same is generally true for non-U.S. persons, because they are generally exempt from U.S. tax on interest income. In addition, the Fund may not be an appropriate investment for persons or entities that are “substantial users” of facilities financed by private activity bonds or “related persons” thereof. “Substantial user” is defined under U.S. Treasury Regulations to include a non-exempt person which regularly uses a part of such facilities in its trade or business and whose gross revenues derived with respect to the facilities financed by the issuance of bonds are more than 5% of the total revenues derived by all users of such facilities, which occupies more than 5% of the usable area of such facilities or for which such facilities or a part thereof were specifically constructed, reconstructed or acquired. “Related persons” include certain related natural persons, affiliated corporations, partnerships and its partners and an S corporation and its shareholders. A shareholder is advised to consult his or her tax adviser with respect to whether exempt-interest dividends retain the exclusion under Section 103(a) if such shareholder would be treated as a “substantial user” under Section 147(a)(1) with respect to some or all of the tax exempt obligations held by the Fund.

Distributions from investment company taxable income, including distributions reinvested in additional shares, as defined above, are generally taxable to shareholders who are subject to tax as ordinary income. However, under current law, distributions to noncorporate shareholders attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and certain foreign corporations will generally be taxed at the long-term capital gain rate (described below), as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the noncorporate shareholders must have owned their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund’s ex-dividend date. Distributions from the Fund generally will not qualify for taxation at the lower rate because the Fund generally will be earning interest rather than dividend income. Taxable distributions include distributions from the Fund that are attributable to (i) taxable income, including but not limited to dividends, taxable bond interest, recognized market discount income, original issue discount income accrued with respect to taxable bonds, income from repurchase agreements, income from dollar rolls, income from interest rate, currency, total return swaps, options on swaps, caps, floors and collars, and a portion of the discount from

B-74

certain stripped tax exempt obligations or their coupons; or (ii) capital gains from the sale of securities or other investments (including from the disposition of rights to when-issued securities prior to issuance) or from options, futures or certain forward contracts. Any portion of such taxable distributions that is attributable to the Fund’s net capital gain, as defined above, may be designated by the Fund as a “capital gain dividend,” taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time their shares of the Fund have been held. The maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts.

It is expected that distributions made by the Fund will ordinarily not qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporations because qualifying distributions may be made only from the Fund’s dividend income that it receives from stock in U.S. domestic corporations. The Fund does not intend to purchase stock of domestic corporations other than in limited instances, distributions from which may in rare cases qualify as dividends for this purpose. The dividends-received deduction, if available, is reduced to the extent the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under the federal income tax law and is eliminated if the shares are deemed to have been held for less than a minimum period, generally 46 days. Receipt of certain distributions qualifying for the deduction may result in reduction of the tax basis of the corporate shareholder’s shares.

Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first reduce a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and, after the shareholder’s basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital gains to a shareholder who holds his or her shares as capital assets.

Shareholders receiving a distribution in the form of newly issued shares will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of cash that they would have received had they elected to receive cash and will have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount.

After the close of each calendar year, the Fund will inform shareholders of the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions for such year, including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as tax exempt or as capital gain, the portion, if any, that should be treated as a tax preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax and the foreign tax credits, if any, associated with such dividends. Shareholders who have not held shares of the Fund for the Fund’s full taxable year may have designated as tax exempt or as a tax preference item a percentage of distributions which is not equal to the actual amount of tax exempt income or tax preference item income earned by the Fund during the period of their investment in the Fund.

All distributions, whether received in shares or in cash, as well as redemptions and exchanges, must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a U.S. federal income tax return.

Under recent tax legislation, individuals and certain other noncorporate entities are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to taxable income from MLPs as well as taxable ordinary dividends from REITs. Currently, there is not a regulatory mechanism for regulated investment companies such as the Fund to pass through the 20% deduction to shareholders. As a result, in comparison, investors investing directly in MLPs or REITs would generally be eligible for the 20% deduction for such taxable income from these investments while investors investing in REITs or MLPs held indirectly if any through the Fund would not be eligible for the 20% deduction for their share of such taxable income.

Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain prohibited transactions is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for more information.

Taxable U.S. Shareholders – Sale of Shares

When a shareholder’s shares are sold, redeemed or otherwise disposed of in a transaction that is treated as a sale for tax purposes, the shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares and the cash, or fair market value of any property, received. (To aid in computing that tax basis, a shareholder should generally retain its account statements for the period that it holds shares.) If the shareholder holds the shares as a capital asset at the time of sale, the character of the gain or loss should be capital, and treated as long-term if the shareholder’s holding period is more than one year and short-term otherwise, subject to the rules below. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with reference to their particular circumstances to determine whether a redemption (including an exchange) or other disposition of Fund shares is properly treated as a sale for tax purposes, as is assumed in this discussion.

B-75

Certain special tax rules may apply to a shareholder’s capital gains or losses on Fund shares. If a shareholder receives a capital gain dividend with respect to shares and such shares have a tax holding period of six months or less at the time of a sale or redemption of such shares, then any loss the shareholder realizes on the sale or redemption will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of such capital gain dividend. Additionally, any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a tax holding period of six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of any distributions treated as exempt-interest dividends with respect to such shares. All or a portion of any sales load paid upon the purchase of shares of the Fund will generally not be taken into account in determining gain or loss on the redemption or exchange of such shares within 90 days after their purchase to the extent the redemption proceeds are reinvested, or the exchange is effected, on or before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the original stock is disposed of without payment of an additional sales load pursuant to the reinvestment or exchange privilege. The load not taken into account will be added to the tax basis of the newly acquired shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

Medicare Tax

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

The Fund will be required to report to the IRS all taxable distributions, as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt recipients, i.e., certain corporations and certain other investors distributions to which are exempt from the information reporting provisions of the Code. Under the backup withholding provisions of Code Section 3406 and applicable Treasury regulations, all such reportable distributions and proceeds may be subject to backup withholding of federal income tax at the current specified rate of 24% in the case of exempt recipients that fail to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to withholding, non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and with certain required certifications or if the IRS or a broker notifies the Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest or dividend income. However, any taxable distributions from a Tax Exempt Fund will not be subject to backup withholding if the Fund reasonably estimates that at least 95% of its distributions will be exempt-interest dividends. The Fund may refuse to accept an application that does not contain any required taxpayer identification number or certification that the number provided is correct. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, including distributions reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. If a shareholder does not have a TIN, it should apply for one immediately by contacting the local office of the Social Security Administration or the IRS. Backup withholding could apply to payments relating to a shareholder’s account while it is awaiting receipt of a TIN. Special rules apply for certain entities. For example, for an account established under a Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act, the TIN of the minor should be furnished. Investors should consult their tax advisers about the applicability of the backup withholding provisions.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

The discussion above relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law as it applies to “U.S. persons” subject to tax under such law.

Except as discussed below, distributions to shareholders who, as to the United States, are not “U.S. persons,” (i.e., are nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, fiduciaries of foreign trusts or estates, foreign partnerships or other non-U.S. investors) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% on distributions treated as ordinary income unless the tax is reduced or eliminated pursuant to a tax treaty or the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the shareholder; but distributions of net capital gain (the excess of any net long-term capital gains over any net short-term capital losses) including amounts retained by the Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains, to such a non-U.S. shareholder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless the distributions are effectively connected with the shareholder’s trade or business in the United States or, in the case of a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the shareholder is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Non-U.S. shareholders may also be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on deemed income resulting from any election by the Global Income Fund, Local Emerging Markets Debt Fund or Emerging Markets Debt Fund to treat qualified foreign taxes it pays as passed through to shareholders (as described above), but they may not be able to claim a U.S. tax credit or deduction with respect to such taxes.

B-76

Under a provision recently made permanent by Congress, non-U.S. shareholders generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding on certain distributions of interest income and/or short-term capital gains that are designated by the Fund. It is expected that the Fund will generally make designations of short-term gains, to the extent permitted, but the Fund does not intend to make designations of any distributions attributable to interest income. Therefore, all distributions of interest income will be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors.

Any capital gain realized by a non-U.S. shareholder upon a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax unless the gain is effectively connected with the shareholder’s trade or business in the U.S., or in the case of a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the shareholder is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met.

Non-U.S. persons who fail to furnish the Fund with the proper IRS Form W-8 (i.e., W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8IMY or W-8EXP), or an acceptable substitute, may be subject to backup withholding at a 24% rate on dividends (including capital gain dividends) and on the proceeds of redemptions and exchanges. Also, non-U.S. shareholders of the Fund may be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their Fund shares.

The Fund is required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends and (effective January 1, 2019) redemption proceeds and certain capital gain dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.

Each shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consult his or her tax adviser regarding the U.S. and non-U.S. tax consequences of ownership of shares of, and receipt of distributions from, the Fund.

State and Local Taxes

The Fund may be subject to state or local taxes in certain jurisdictions in which the Fund may be deemed to be doing business. A state income (and possibly local income and/or intangible property) tax exemption is generally available to the extent (if any) the Fund’s distributions are derived from interest on (or, in the case of intangible property taxes, the value of its assets is attributable to) certain U.S. Government obligations and/or tax exempt municipal obligations issued by or on behalf of the particular state or a political subdivision thereof, provided in some states that certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations and/or reporting requirements are satisfied. In addition, in those states or localities which have income tax laws, the treatment of the Fund and its shareholders under such laws may differ from their treatment under federal income tax laws, and investment in the Fund may have tax consequences for shareholders different from those of a direct investment in the Fund’s portfolio securities. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers concerning these matters.

PROXY VOTING

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has delegated the voting of portfolio securities to the Investment Adviser. For client accounts for which the Investment Adviser has voting discretion, the Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures (the “Proxy Voting Policy”) for the voting of proxies. Under the Proxy Voting Policy, the Investment Adviser’s guiding principles in performing proxy voting are to make decisions that favor proposals that in the Investment Adviser’s view tend to maximize a company’s shareholder value and are not influenced by conflicts of interest. To implement these guiding principles for investments in publicly-traded equities, the Investment Adviser has developed customized proxy voting guidelines (the “Guidelines”) that it generally applies when voting on behalf of client accounts. Attached as Appendix B is a summary of the Guidelines. These Guidelines address a wide variety of individual topics, including, among other matters, shareholder voting rights, anti-takeover defenses, board structures, the election of directors, executive and director compensation, reorganizations, mergers, issues of corporate social responsibility and various shareholder proposals. The Guidelines embody the positions and factors the Investment Adviser generally considers important in casting proxy votes.

The Proxy Voting Policy, including the Guidelines, is reviewed periodically to ensure that it continues to be consistent with the Investment Adviser’s guiding principles.

The Investment Adviser has retained a third-party proxy voting service (“Proxy Service”), currently Institutional Shareholder Services, to assist in the implementation and administration of certain proxy voting-related functions including, without limitation, operational, recordkeeping and reporting services. The Proxy Service also prepares a written analysis and recommendation (a “Recommendation”) of each proxy vote that reflects the Proxy Service’s application of the Guidelines to particular proxy issues. While it is the Investment Adviser’s policy generally to follow the Guidelines and Recommendations from the Proxy Service, the Investment Adviser’s portfolio management teams (“Portfolio Management Teams”) may on certain proxy votes seek approval to diverge from the Guidelines or a Recommendation by following an “override” process. Such decisions are subject to a review and approval process,

B-77

including a determination that the decision is not influenced by any conflict of interest. A Portfolio Management Team that receives approval through the override process to cast a proxy vote that diverges from the Guidelines and/or a Recommendation may vote differently than other Portfolio Management Teams that did not seek to override that vote. In forming their views on particular matters, the Portfolio Management Teams are also permitted to consider applicable regional rules and practices, including codes of conduct and other guides, regarding proxy voting, in addition to the Guidelines and Recommendations. The Investment Adviser may hire other service providers to replace or supplement the Proxy Service with respect to any of the services the Investment Adviser currently receives from the Proxy Service.

GSAM conducts periodic due diligence meetings with the Proxy Service which include, but are not limited to, a review of the Proxy Service’s general organizational structure, new developments with respect to research and technology, work flow improvements and internal due diligence with respect to conflicts of interest.

From time to time, the Investment Adviser may face regulatory, compliance, legal or logistical limits with respect to voting securities that it may purchase or hold for client accounts, which can affect the Investment Adviser’s ability to vote such proxies, as well as the desirability of voting such proxies. Among other limits, federal, state and foreign regulatory restrictions or company specific ownership limits, as well as legal matters related to consolidated groups, may restrict the total percentage of an issuer’s voting securities that the Investment Adviser can hold for clients and the nature of the Investment Adviser’s voting in such securities. The Investment Adviser’s ability to vote proxies may also be affected by, among other things: (i) late receipt of meeting notices; (ii) requirements to vote proxies in person: (iii) restrictions on a foreigner’s ability to exercise votes; (iv) potential difficulties in translating the proxy; (v) requirements to provide local agents with unrestricted powers of attorney to facilitate voting instructions; and (vi) requirements that investors who exercise their voting rights surrender the right to dispose of their holdings for some specified period in proximity to the shareholder meeting.

The Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing its proxy voting decisions that the Investment Adviser makes on behalf of a client account. These policies and procedures include the Investment Adviser’s use of the Guidelines and Recommendations from the Proxy Service, the override approval process previously discussed, and the establishment of information barriers between the Investment Adviser and other businesses within The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Notwithstanding such proxy voting policies and procedures, actual proxy voting decisions of the Investment Adviser may have the effect of benefitting the interests of other clients or businesses of other divisions or units of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates.

Voting decisions with respect to fixed income securities and the securities of privately held issuers generally will be made by the Fund’s managers based on their assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available on or through the Fund’s website at www.gsamfunds.com without charge and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

OTHER INFORMATION

Selective Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Investment Adviser have adopted a policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts between the interests of shareholders and its service providers. The policy provides that neither the Fund nor its Investment Adviser, Distributor or any agent, or any employee thereof (“Fund Representative”) will disclose the 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 the 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 and proxy voting services; rating and ranking organizations; lenders and other third-party service providers that may obtain access to such information in the performance of their contractual duties

B-78

to the Fund 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. 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 its recipients who receive non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis is as follows: the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Fund’s custodian, the Fund’s legal counsel—Dechert LLP, the Fund’s financial printer—Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc., and the Fund’s proxy voting service—ISS. In addition, the Fund may provide non-public portfolio holdings information to Standard & Poor’s to allow the Fund to be rated by it. These entities are obligated to keep such information confidential. Third-party providers of custodial or accounting services to the Fund may release non-public portfolio holdings information of the Fund only with the permission of Fund Representatives. From time to time portfolio holdings information may be provided to broker-dealers, prime brokers, FCMs or derivatives clearing merchants in connection with the Fund’s portfolio trading activities. In addition, the Fund provides certain broker-dealers with non-public portfolio holdings information so that these broker-dealers may provide the Fund with more tailored trading suggestions, thereby facilitating more effective portfolio management. Complete portfolio holdings information is provided to these select broker-dealers at least quarterly with no lag required between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. As of [ ], 2019, the broker-dealers receiving this information were as follows: [ ]. In providing this information, reasonable precautions (including, but not limited to a non-disclosure agreement), including limitations on the scope of the portfolio holdings information disclosed, are taken to avoid any potential misuse of the disclosed information. All marketing materials prepared by the Trust’s principal underwriter are reviewed by Goldman Sachs’ Compliance department for consistency with the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy.

The Fund currently intends to publish on the Trust’s website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each fiscal quarter, subject to a thirty calendar day lag, and to post selected holdings information monthly subject to a ten calendar day lag. The Fund may publish on the website complete portfolio holdings information more frequently if it has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. In addition, certain portfolio statistics and other information (other than portfolio holdings information) may be available on a daily basis by calling 1-800-621-2550.

Under the policy, Fund Representatives will initially supply the Board of the Trustees with a list of third parties who receive portfolio holdings information pursuant to any ongoing arrangement. In addition, the Board is to receive information, on a quarterly basis, regarding any other disclosures of non-public portfolio holdings information that were permitted during the preceding quarter. In addition, the Board of Trustees is to approve at its meetings a list of Fund Representatives who are authorized to disclose portfolio holdings information under the policy. As of [ ], 2019, 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.

Disclosure of Current NAV Per Share

The Fund’s current NAV per share is available through the Fund’s website at www.GSAMFUNDS.com or by contacting the Fund at 1-800-621-2550.

Miscellaneous

The Fund reserves the right to pay redemptions by making in-kind distributions of the Fund’s investments (instead of cash). The securities distributed in-kind would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating the Fund’s NAV 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. In addition, if you receive redemption proceeds in-kind, you will be subject to market gains or losses upon the disposition of those securities.

The right of a shareholder to redeem shares and the date of payment by the Fund may be suspended for more than seven days for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than the customary weekends or holidays, or when trading on such Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC; or during any emergency, as determined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or for such other period as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund. (The Trust may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

As stated in the Prospectus, the Fund is used exclusively to implement municipal investment strategies for separately managed account clients of the Investment Adviser that participate in certain “wrap-fee” programs. Shares of the Fund may be purchased only by or on behalf of “wrap” account clients where the Investment Adviser has an agreement to serve as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the wrap account with the wrap program sponsor (typically a registered investment adviser, bank or broker-dealer) or directly with the client. The Investment Adviser may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on behalf of these client accounts. In addition, purchase and redemption orders are generally based on instructions from the Investment Adviser.

B-79

Certain wrap program sponsors have been authorized by the Trust to accept purchase or redemption orders on behalf of the Fund for their customers (“Authorized Institutions”), and if approved by the Fund, may designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders. You should contact your wrap program sponsor to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund (i.e., an Authorized Institution).

In the interest of economy and convenience, the Trust does not issue certificates representing the Fund’s shares. Instead, the Transfer Agent maintains a record of each shareholder’s ownership. Each shareholder receives confirmation of purchase and redemption orders from the Transfer Agent. Fund shares and any distributions paid by the Fund are reflected in account statements from the Transfer Agent.

The Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all the information included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act with respect to the securities offered by the Prospectus. Certain portions of the Registration Statement have been omitted from the Prospectus and this SAI pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Registration Statement including the exhibits filed therewith may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C.

Statements contained in the Prospectus or in this SAI as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which the Prospectus and this SAI form a part, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.

Large Trade Notifications

The Transfer Agent may from time to time receive notice that an Intermediary has received a purchase, redemption or exchange order for a large trade in the Fund’s shares. The Fund may determine to enter into portfolio transactions in anticipation of that order, even though the order may not have been processed at the time the Fund entered into such portfolio transactions. This practice provides for a closer correlation between the time shareholders place large trade orders and the time the Fund enters into portfolio transactions based on those orders, and may permit the Fund to be more fully invested in investment securities, in the case of purchase orders, and to more orderly liquidate its investment positions, in the case of redemption orders. The Intermediary may not, however, ultimately process the order. In this case, (i) if the Fund enters into portfolio transactions in anticipation of an order for a large redemption of Fund shares; or (ii) if the Fund enters into portfolio transactions in anticipation of an order for a large purchase of Fund shares and such portfolio transactions occur on the date on which the Intermediary indicated that such order would occur, the Fund will bear any borrowing, trading overdraft or other transaction costs or investment losses resulting from such portfolio transactions. Conversely, the Fund would benefit from any earnings and investment gains resulting from such portfolio transactions.

Line of Credit

The Fund intends to participate in a $770,000,000 committed, unsecured revolving line of credit facility together with other funds of the Trust and registered investment companies having management agreements with GSAM or its affiliates. This facility is to be used for temporary emergency purposes or to allow for an orderly liquidation of securities to meet redemption requests. The interest rate on borrowings is based on the federal funds rate. The facility also requires a fee to be paid by the Fund based on the amount of the commitment that has not been utilized.

Corporate Actions

From time to time, the issuer of a security held in the Fund’s portfolio may initiate a corporate action relating to that security. Corporate actions relating to equity securities may include, among others, an offer to purchase new shares, or to tender existing shares, of that security at a certain price. Corporate actions relating to debt securities may include, among others, an offer for early redemption of the debt security, or an offer to convert the debt security into stock. Certain corporate actions are voluntary, meaning that the Fund may only participate in the corporate action if it elects to do so in a timely fashion. Participation in certain corporate actions may enhance the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio.

In cases where the Fund or its Investment Adviser receives sufficient advance notice of a voluntary corporate action, the Investment Adviser will exercise its discretion, in good faith, to determine whether the Fund will participate in that corporate action. If the Fund or its Investment Adviser does not receive sufficient advance notice of a voluntary corporate action, the Fund may not be able to timely elect to participate in that corporate action. Participation or lack of participation in a voluntary corporate action may result in a negative impact on the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio.

B-80

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A copy of the Fund’s Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report (when available) may be obtained upon request and without charge by writing Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, at the telephone number on the back cover of the Fund’s Prospectus.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

The Fund had not commenced operations as of [ ], 2019, and except as noted below, the Trust does not know of any persons who own of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Fund’s shares as of that date. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation whose principal office is located at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, has provided an initial investment in the Fund. For so long as The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a greater than 25% interest in the Fund, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. may be deemed be a “control person” of the Fund for purposes of the Act.

B-81

APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

Short-Term Credit Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about 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 S&P Global Ratings for short-term issues:

“A-1” – A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments on these obligations is extremely strong.

“A-2” – A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory.

“A-3” – A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

“B” – A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

“C” – A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

“D” – A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Ratings – S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

“P-1” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-2” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

“P-3” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

“NP” – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation ratings are based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

“F1” – Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

1-A

“F2” – Securities possess good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

“F3” – Securities possess fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

“B” – Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

“C” – Securities possess high short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

“RD” – Restricted Default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

“D” – Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

“NR” – This designation indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issuer or issue.

“WD” – This designation indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.

DBRS^® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The “R-1” and “R-2” rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

“R-1 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

“R-1 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

“R-1 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

“R-2 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

“R-2 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

“R-2 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

“R-3” – Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

“R-4” – Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

“R-5” – Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

“D” – Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

2-A

Long-Term Credit Ratings

The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P Global Ratings for long-term issues:

“AAA” – An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments 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 weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments 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 commitments on the obligation.

“CC” – An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

“C” – An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

“D” – An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

“NR” – This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P Global Ratings does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Plus (+) or minus (-) – The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. 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, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

“Aa” – Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

“A” – Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

“Baa” – Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

3-A

“Ba” – Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative 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 speculative 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 and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.” The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:

“AAA” – Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

“AA” – Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

“A” – Securities considered to be of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

“BBB” – Securities considered to be of good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

“BB” – Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

“B” – Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

“CCC” – A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

“CC” – A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

“C” – A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss..

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” category or to categories below “CCC”.

“NR” – Denotes that Fitch does not publicly rate the associated issue or issuer.

“WD” – Indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and is no longer maintained by Fitch.

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of the claims. All rating categories other than “AAA” and “D” also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

“AAA” – Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

“AA” – Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

4-A

“A” – Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.” May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

“BBB” – Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

“BB” – Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative , non-investment grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

“B” – Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” – Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

“D” – A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

Municipal Note Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

Note rating symbols are as follows:

“SP-1” – A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

“SP-2” – A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits 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” – A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels – “MIG-1” through “MIG-3”—while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG.” 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 risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

5-A

“VMIG-1” – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

“VMIG-2” – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

“VMIG-3” – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

“SG” – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

Fitch uses the same ratings for municipal securities as described above for other short-term credit ratings.

About Credit Ratings

An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about 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 opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign financial, bank, insurance and public finance entities (including supranational and sub-national entities) and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are forward-looking opinions about credit risk which reflect the creditworthiness of an issuer, rated entity, and/or security. Credit ratings are not statements of fact. While historical statistics and performance can be important considerations, credit ratings are not based solely on such; they include subjective considerations and involve expectations for future performance that cannot be guaranteed. To the extent that future events and economic conditions do not match expectations, credit ratings assigned to issuers and/or securities can change. Credit ratings are also based on approved and applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”), which are periodically updated and when material changes are deemed necessary, this may also lead to rating changes.

Credit ratings typically provide an opinion on the risk that investors may not be repaid in accordance with the terms under which the obligation was issued. In some cases, credit ratings may also include consideration for the relative ranking of claims and recovery, should default occur. Credit ratings are meant to provide opinions on relative measures of risk and are not based on expectations of any specific default probability, nor are they meant to predict such.

The data and information on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS, although DBRS conducts a reasonableness review of information received and relied upon in accordance with its Methodologies and policies.

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market but there are a limited number of rating categories for the possible slight risk differentials that exist across the rating spectrum and DBRS does not assert that credit ratings in the same category are of “exactly” the same quality.

6-A

APPENDIX B

Effective February 2018

GSAM PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY

The following is a summary of the material GSAM Proxy Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), which form the substantive basis of GSAM’s Policy and Procedures on Proxy Voting for Investment Advisory Clients (the “Policy”). As described in the main body of the Policy, one or more GSAM Portfolio Management Teams may diverge from the Guidelines and a related Recommendation on any particular proxy vote or in connection with any individual investment decision in accordance with the Policy.


A.	US proxy items:
1.	Operational Items	page 2-B
2.	Board of Directors	page 2-B
3.	Executive Compensation	page 4-B
4.	Director Nominees and Proxy Access	page 6-B
5.	Shareholder Rights and Defenses	page 7-B
6.	Mergers and Corporate Restructurings	page 7-B
7.	State of Incorporation	page 7-B
8.	Capital Structure	page 8-B
9.	Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues	page 8-B

B.	Non-U.S. proxy items:

1.	Operational Items	page 11-B
2.	Board of Directors	page 12-B
3.	Compensation	page 13-B
4.	Board Structure	page 14-B
5.	Capital Structure	page 14-B
6.	Mergers and Corporate Restructurings & Other	page 15-B
7.	Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues	page 16-B

1-B

A. U.S. Proxy Items

The following section is a summary of the Guidelines, which form the substantive basis of the Policy with respect to U.S. public equity investments.

1.	Operational Items

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply within the last year:

•

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

•

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

•

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; or material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

•

Fees for non-audit services are excessive (generally over 50% or more of the audit fees).

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit or limit their auditors from engaging in non-audit services or asking for audit firm rotation.

2.	Board of Directors

The board of directors should promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; the board should consist of a majority of independent directors and should be held accountable for actions and results related to their responsibilities.

When evaluating board composition, GSAM believes a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration.

Classification of Directors

Where applicable, the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Listing Standards definition is to be used to classify directors as inside directors, affiliated outside directors, or independent outside directors.

Additionally, GSAM will consider compensation committee interlocking directors to be affiliated (defined as CEOs who sit on each other’s compensation committees).

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

•

Attend less than 75% of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse;

•

Sit on more than five public operating and/or holding company boards;

•

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own--withhold only at their outside boards.

Other items considered for an AGAINST vote include specific concerns about the individual or the company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities, sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, the presence of inappropriate related party transactions, or other issues related to improper business practices.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from inside directors and affiliated outside directors (per the Classification of Directors above) in the case of operating and/or holding companies when:

•

The inside director or affiliated outside director serves on the Audit, Compensation or Nominating Committees; and

•

The company lacks an Audit, Compensation or Nominating Committee so that the full board functions as such committees and inside directors or affiliated outside directors are participating in voting on matters that independent committees should be voting on.

2-B

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from members of the appropriate committee (or only the independent chairman or lead director as may be appropriate in situations such as where there is a classified board and members of the appropriate committee are not up for re-election or the appropriate committee is comprised of the entire board ) for the below reasons. Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.

•

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

•

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company;

•

At the previous board election, any director received more than 50% withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the underlying issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote (members of the Nominating or Governance Committees);

•

The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast for the previous two consecutive years (a management proposal with other than a FOR recommendation by management will not be considered as sufficient action taken); an adopted proposal that is substantially similar to the original shareholder proposal will be deemed sufficient; (vote against members of the committee of the board that is responsible for the issue under consideration). If GSAM did not support the shareholder proposal in both years, GSAM will still vote against the committee member(s).

•

The average board tenure exceeds 15 years, and there has not been a new nominee in the past 5 years.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

•

The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (generally over 50% or more of the audit fees);

•

The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor and there is not clear evidence that the situation has been remedied;

•

There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm; or

•

No members of the Audit Committee hold sufficient financial expertise.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if poor accounting practices, which rise to a level of serious concern are identified, such as fraud, misapplication of GAAP and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures.

Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether negative vote recommendations are warranted against the members of the Audit Committee who are responsible for the poor accounting practices, or the entire board.

See section 3 on executive and director compensation for reasons to withhold from members of the Compensation Committee.

In limited circumstances, GSAM may vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from all nominees of the board of directors (except from new nominees who should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis and except as discussed below) if:

•

The company’s poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature for two or more years. Vote against/withhold every year until this feature is removed; however, vote against the poison pill if there is one on the ballot with this feature rather than the director;

•

The board adopts or renews a poison pill without shareholder approval, does not commit to putting it to shareholder vote within 12 months of adoption (or in the case of an newly public company, does not commit to put the pill to a shareholder vote within 12 months following the IPO), or reneges on a commitment to put the pill to a vote, and has not yet received a withhold/against recommendation for this issue;

•

The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

•

If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

Shareholder proposal regarding Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

GSAM will generally recommend a vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, if the company satisfies 3 of the 4 following criteria:

3-B

•

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

•

Two-thirds independent board;

•

All independent “key” committees (audit, compensation and nominating committees); or

•

Established, disclosed governance guidelines.

Shareholder proposal regarding board declassification

GSAM will generally vote FOR proposals requesting that the board adopt a declassified structure in the case of operating and holding companies.

Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals

GSAM will vote FOR proposals requesting that the board adopt majority voting in the election of directors provided it does not conflict with the state law where the company is incorporated. GSAM also looks for companies to adopt a post-election policy outlining how the company will address the situation of a holdover director.

Cumulative Vote Shareholder Proposals

GSAM will generally support shareholder proposals to restore or provide cumulative voting in the case of operating and holding companies unless:

•

The company has adopted (i) majority vote standard with a carve-out for plurality voting in situations where there are more nominees than seats and (ii) a director resignation policy to address failed elections.

3.	Executive Compensation

Pay Practices

Good pay practices should align management’s interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of compensation criteria is preferred; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident and retroactive performance target changes without proper disclosure is not viewed favorably. Compensation practices should allow a company to attract and retain proven talent. Some examples of poor pay practices include: abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure, egregious employment contracts, excessive severance and/or change in control provisions, repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/stock appreciation rights without prior shareholder approval, and excessive perquisites. A company should also have an appropriate balance of short-term vs. long-term metrics and the metrics should be aligned with business goals and objectives.

If the company maintains problematic or poor pay practices, generally vote:

•

AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals; or

•

AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

•

If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from compensation committee members.

Equity Compensation Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Evaluation takes into account potential plan cost, plan features and grant practices. While a negative combination of these factors could cause a vote AGAINST, other reasons to vote AGAINST the equity plan could include the following factors:

•

The plan permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciation rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval; or

•

There is more than one problematic material feature of the plan, which could include one of the following: unfavorable change-in-control features, presence of gross ups and options reload.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay, MSOP) Management Proposals

Vote FOR annual frequency and AGAINST all proposals asking for any frequency less than annual.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for an advisory vote on executive compensation. For U.S. companies, consider the following factors in the context of each company’s specific circumstances and the board’s disclosed rationale for its practices. In general more than one factor will need to be present in order to warrant a vote AGAINST.

4-B

Pay-for-Performance Disconnect:

•

GSAM will consider there to be a disconnect based on a quantitative assessment of the following: CEO pay vs. TSR (“Total Shareholder Return”) and peers, CEO pay as a percentage of the median peer group or CEO pay vs. shareholder return over time.

Additional Factors Considered Include:

•

Board’s responsiveness if company received 70% or less shareholder support in the previous year’s MSOP vote;

•

Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure;

•

Egregious employment contracts;

•

Excessive perquisites or excessive severance and/or change in control provisions;

•

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options without prior shareholder approval;

•

Excessive pledging or hedging of stock by executives;

•

Egregious pension/SERP (supplemental executive retirement plan) payouts;

•

Extraordinary relocation benefits;

•

Internal pay disparity;

•

Lack of transparent disclosure of compensation philosophy and goals and targets, including details on short-term and long-term performance incentives; and

•

Long-term equity-based compensation is 100% time-based.

Other Compensation Proposals and Policies

Employee Stock Purchase Plans — Non-Qualified Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on nonqualified employee stock purchase plans taking into account the following factors:

•

Broad-based participation;

•

Limits on employee contributions;

•

Company matching contributions; and

•

Presence of a discount on the stock price on the date of purchase.

Option Exchange Programs/Repricing Options

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals seeking approval to exchange/reprice options, taking into consideration:

•

Historic trading patterns—the stock price should not be so volatile that the options are likely to be back “in-the-money” over the near term;

•

Rationale for the re-pricing;

•

If it is a value-for-value exchange;

•

If surrendered stock options are added back to the plan reserve;

•

Option vesting;

•

Term of the option—the term should remain the same as that of the replaced option;

•

Exercise price—should be set at fair market or a premium to market;

•

Participants—executive officers and directors should be excluded.

Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.

Other Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Frequency on Pay)

Vote FOR annual frequency.

5-B

Stock retention holding period

Vote FOR shareholder proposals asking for a policy requiring that senior executives retain a significant percentage of shares acquired through equity compensation programs if the policy requests retention for two years or less following the termination of their employment (through retirement or otherwise) and a holding threshold percentage of 50% or less.

Also consider:

•

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place and the terms/provisions of awards already granted.

Elimination of accelerated vesting in the event of a change in control

Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking a policy eliminating the accelerated vesting of time-based equity awards in the event of a change-in-control.

Performance-based equity awards and pay-for-superior-performance proposals

Generally support unless there is sufficient evidence that the current compensation structure is already substantially performance-based. GSAM considers performance-based awards to include awards that are tied to shareholder return or other metrics that are relevant to the business.

Say on Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERP)

Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking for shareholder votes on SERP.

4.	Director Nominees and Proxy Access

Voting for Director Nominees (Management or Shareholder)

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors of operating and holding companies in contested elections, considering the following factors:

•

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

•

Management’s track record;

•

Background of the nomination, in cases where there is a shareholder nomination;

•

Qualifications of director nominee(s);

•

Strategic plan related to the nomination and quality of critique against management;

•

Number of boards on which the director nominee already serves; and

•

Likelihood that the board will be productive as a result.

Proxy Access

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder or management proposals asking for proxy access.

GSAM may support proxy access as an important right for shareholders of operating and holding companies and as an alternative to costly proxy contests and as a method for GSAM to vote for directors on an individual basis, as appropriate, rather than voting on one slate or the other. While this could be an important shareholder right, the following factors will be taken into account when evaluating the shareholder proposals:

•

The ownership thresholds, percentage and duration proposed (GSAM generally will not support if the ownership threshold is less than 3%);

•

The maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year (GSAM generally will not support if the proportion of directors is greater than 25%); and

•

Other restricting factors that when taken in combination could serve to materially limit the proxy access provision.

GSAM will take the above factors into account when evaluating proposals proactively adopted by the company or in response to a shareholder proposal to adopt or amend the right. A vote against governance committee members could result if provisions exist that materially limit the right to proxy access.

Reimbursing Proxy Solicitation Expenses

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses. When voting in conjunction with support of a dissident slate, vote FOR the reimbursement of all appropriate proxy solicitation expenses associated with the election.

6-B

5.	Shareholders Rights and Defenses

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

In the case of operating and holding companies, generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, unless:

•

The company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower; and

•

The company has a history of strong governance practices.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

In the case of operating and holding companies, generally vote FOR management proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings.

In the case of operating and holding companies, generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower if the company currently does not give shareholders the right to call special meetings. However, if a company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of at least 25%, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to further reduce the threshold.

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations

In the case of operating and holding companies, vote CASE-BY-CASE on advance notice proposals, giving support to proposals that allow shareholders to submit proposals/nominations reasonably close to the meeting date and within the broadest window possible, recognizing the need to allow sufficient notice for company, regulatory and shareholder review.

Poison Pills

Vote FOR shareholder proposals requesting that the company submit its poison pill to a shareholder vote or redeem it, unless the company has:

•

a shareholder-approved poison pill in place; or

•

adopted a policy concerning the adoption of a pill in the future specifying certain shareholder friendly provisions.

Vote FOR shareholder proposals calling for poison pills to be put to a vote within a time period of less than one year after adoption.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

6.	Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:

•

Valuation;

•

Market reaction;

•

Strategic rationale;

•

Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

•

Presence of conflicts of interest; and

•

Governance profile of the combined company.

7.	State of Incorporation

Reincorporation Proposals

GSAM may support management proposals to reincorporate as long as the reincorporation would not substantially diminish shareholder rights. GSAM may not support shareholder proposals for reincorporation unless the current state of incorporation is substantially less shareholder friendly than the proposed reincorporation, there is a strong economic case to reincorporate or the company has a history of making decisions that are not shareholder friendly.

7-B

Exclusive venue for shareholder lawsuits

Generally vote FOR on exclusive venue proposals, taking into account:

•

Whether the company has been materially harmed by shareholder litigation outside its jurisdiction of incorporation, based on disclosure in the company’s proxy statement;

•

Whether the company has the following good governance features:

•

Majority independent board;

•

Independent key committees;

•

An annually elected board;

•

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

•

The absence of a poison pill, unless the pill was approved by shareholders; and/or

•

Separate Chairman CEO role or, if combined, an independent chairman with clearly delineated duties.

8.	Capital Structure

Common and Preferred Stock Authorization

Generally vote FOR proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance.

Generally vote FOR proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock, as long as there is a commitment to not use the shares for anti-takeover purposes.

9.	Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues

Overall Approach

GSAM recognizes that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors can affect investment performance, expose potential investment risks and provide an indication of management excellence and leadership. When evaluating ESG proxy issues, GSAM balances the purpose of a proposal with the overall benefit to shareholders.

Shareholder proposals considered under this category could include, among others, reports on:

1)	employee labor and safety policies;

2)	impact on the environment of the company’s production or manufacturing operations;

3)	societal impact of products manufactured;

4)	risks throughout the supply chain or operations including labor practices, animal treatment practices within food production and conflict minerals; and

5)	overall board structure, including diversity.

When evaluating environmental and social shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

•

The company’s current level of publicly available disclosure, including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

•

If the company has implemented or formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard;

•

Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;

•

Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company’s business;

•

The degree to which the company’s stated position on the issues raised in the proposal could affect its reputation or sales, or leave it vulnerable to a boycott or selective purchasing;

•

Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;

•

What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;

•

Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;

•

Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;

•

Whether the company has material fines or violations in the area and if so, if appropriate actions have already been taken to remedy going forward;

•

Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

8-B

Environmental Sustainability, climate change reporting

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to environmental sustainability, or how the company may be impacted by climate change. The following factors will be considered:

•

The company’s current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

•

If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines or a similar standard within a specified time frame;

•

If the company’s current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and

•

If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s environmental performance.

Establishing goals or targets for emissions reduction

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals that call for the adoption of Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) reduction goals from products and operations, taking into account:

•

Overly prescriptive requests for the reduction in GHG emissions by specific amounts or within a specific time frame;

•

Whether the industry is a material contributor to global GHG emissions and company disclosure is lacking;

•

Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers;

•

Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions;

•

The feasibility of reduction of GHGs given the company’s product line and current technology; and

•

Whether the company already provides meaningful disclosure on GHG emissions from its products and operations.

Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives

GSAM generally believes that it is the role of boards and management to determine the appropriate level of disclosure of all types of corporate political activity. When evaluating these proposals, GSAM considers the prescriptive nature of the proposal and the overall benefit to shareholders along with a company’s current disclosure of policies, practices and oversight.

Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:

•

There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company’s political contributions or trade association spending; and

•

The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

Vote AGAINST proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company’s policies with respect to political contributions, lobbying and trade association spending as long as:

•

There is no significant potential threat or actual harm to shareholders’ interests;

•

There are no recent significant controversies or litigation related to the company’s political contributions or governmental affairs; and

•

There is publicly available information to assess the company’s oversight related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

GSAM generally will vote AGAINST proposals asking for detailed disclosure of political contributions or trade association or lobbying expenditures.

Vote AGAINST proposals barring the company from making political contributions. Businesses are affected by legislation at the federal, state, and local level and barring political contributions can put the company at a competitive disadvantage.

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

A company should have a clear, public Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement and/or diversity policy. Generally vote FOR proposals seeking to amend a company’s EEO statement or diversity policies to additionally prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Labor and Human Rights Standards

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor and/or human rights standards and policies, or on the impact of its operations on society, unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:

9-B

•

The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

•

Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;

•

Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;

•

Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;

•

Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;

•

Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;

•

The scope of the request; and

•

Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.

10-B

B. Non-U.S. Proxy Items

The following section is a broad summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to non-U.S. public equity investments. Applying these guidelines is subject to certain regional and country-specific exceptions and modifications and is not inclusive of all considerations in each market.

1.	Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

•

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

•

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the re-election of auditors and proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

•

There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;

•

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

•

Name of the proposed auditor has not been published;

•

The auditors are being changed without explanation;

•

Non-audit-related fees are substantial or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees; or

•

The appointment of external auditors if they have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Appointment of Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or re-election of statutory auditors, unless:

•

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

•

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

•

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

•

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently low without adequate explanation; or

•

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternative

Vote FOR most stock (scrip) dividend proposals.

Vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its annual general meeting.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5% unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

11-B

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2.	Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees taking into consideration the following:

•

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

•

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or

•

There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or

•

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

•

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards; or

•

There are reservations about:

•

Director terms

•

Bundling of proposals to elect directors

•

Board independence

•

Disclosure of named nominees

•

Combined Chairman/CEO

•

Election of former CEO as Chairman of the board

•

Overboarded directors

•

Composition of committees

•

Director independence

•

Number of directors on the board

•

Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or

•

Repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed); or

•

Unless there are other considerations which may include sanctions from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues related to improper business practice, failure to replace management, or egregious actions related to service on other boards.

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis in contested elections of directors, e.g., the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

•

Company performance relative to its peers;

•

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

•

Independence of board candidates;

•

Experience and skills of board candidates;

•

Governance profile of the company;

•

Evidence of management entrenchment;

•

Responsiveness to shareholders;

•

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

•

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.

Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.

Classification of directors

Executive Director

•

Employee or executive of the company;

12-B

•

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

•

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

•

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

•

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

•

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

•

Government representative;

•

Currently provides (or a relative provides) professional services to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

•

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);

•

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

•

Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

•

Relative of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

•

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

•

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

•

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

•

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered; and

•

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

•

No material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.

Employee Representative

•

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

•

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

•

Any legal issues (e.g., civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

•

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders may bring legal action against the company or its directors; or

•

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis where a vote against other agenda items are deemed inappropriate.

3.	Compensation

Director Compensation

Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.

Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

13-B

Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.

Compensation Plans

Vote compensation plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.

4.	Board Structure

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

Chairman CEO combined role (for applicable markets)

•

Two-thirds independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;

•

A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

•

Fully independent key committees; and/or

•

Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.

5.	Capital Structure

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances:

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100% over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20% of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances:

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100% over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30% of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

•

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

•

The increase would leave the company with less than 30% of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

14-B

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50% of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

GSAM will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs taking into account whether:

•

The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;

•

There is clear evidence of historical abuse;

•

There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;

•

Pricing provisions and safeguards in the share repurchase program are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

6.	Mergers and Corporate Restructurings and Other

Reorganizations/Restructurings

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following based on publicly available information:

•

Valuation;

•

Market reaction;

•

Strategic rationale;

•

Management’s track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

•

Presence of conflicts of interest; and

•

Governance profile of the combined company.

15-B

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Related-Party Transactions

Vote related-party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

•

The parties on either side of the transaction;

•

The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

•

The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

•

The views of independent directors (where provided);

•

The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

•

Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

•

The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

7.	Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Issues

Please refer to page 8-B for our current approach to these important topics.

16-B

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits



(a)	(1)	Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 14, 1997)

	(2)	Amendment No. 1 dated April 24, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 16, 1997)

	(3)	Amendment No. 2 dated July 21, 1997 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 16, 1997)

	(4)	Amendment No. 3 dated October 21, 1997 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(5)	Amendment No. 4 dated January 28, 1998 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(6)	Amendment No. 5 dated January 28, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 1, 1998)

	(7)	Amendment No. 6 dated July 22, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 1, 1998)

	(8)	Amendment No. 7 dated November 3, 1998 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998)

	(9)	Amendment No. 8 dated January 22, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 12, 1999)

	(10)	Amendment No. 9 dated April 28, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 16, 1999)

	(11)	Amendment No. 10 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 16, 1999)

	(12)	Amendment No. 11 dated July 27, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 16, 1999)

	(13)	Amendment No. 12 dated October 26, 1999 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 22, 1999)



		(14)		Amendment No. 13 dated February 3, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)

		(15)		Amendment No. 14 dated April 26, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 3, 2000)

		(16)		Amendment No. 15 dated August 1, 2000 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 22, 2000)

		(17)		Amendment No. 16 dated January 30, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 72 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 13, 2001)

		(18)		Amendment No. 17 dated April 25, 2001 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2001)

		(19)		Amendment No. 18 dated July 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 11, 2002)

		(20)		Amendment No. 19 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 11, 2002)

		(21)		Amendment No. 20 dated August 1, 2002 to Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 11, 2002)

		(22)		Amendment No. 21 dated January 29, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 19, 2003)

		(23)		Amendment No. 22 dated July 31, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 12, 2003)

		(24)		Amendment No. 23 dated October 30, 2003 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 12, 2003)

		(25)		Amendment No. 24 dated May 6, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 relating to the Registrant’s acquisition of the Golden Oak^® Family of Funds, SEC File No. 333-117561, filed July 22, 2004)

		(26)		Amendment No. 25 dated April 21, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2004)

		(27)		Amendment No. 26 dated November 4, 2004 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2004)



		(28)		Amendment No. 27 dated February 10, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 17, 2005)

		(29)		Amendment No. 28 dated May 12, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 7, 2005)

		(30)		Amendment No. 29 dated June 16, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 7, 2005)

		(31)		Amendment No. 30 dated August 4, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1977 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 7, 2005)

		(32)		Amendment No. 31 dated November 2, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 26, 2006)

		(33)		Amendment No. 32 dated December 31, 2005 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2005)

		(34)		Amendment No. 33 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 26, 2006)

		(35)		Amendment No. 34 dated March 16, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 26, 2006)

		(36)		Amendment No. 35 dated May 11, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 18, 2006)

		(37)		Amendment No. 36 dated June 15, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 23, 2006)

		(38)		Amendment No. 37 dated August 10, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2006)

		(39)		Amendment No. 38 dated November 9, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2006)

		(40)		Amendment No. 39 dated December 14, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 12, 2007)

		(41)		Amendment No. 40 dated December 14, 2006 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 12, 2007)



		(42)		Amendment No. 41 dated February 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 12, 2007)

		(43)		Amendment No. 42 dated March 15, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 12, 2007)

		(44)		Amendment No. 43 dated May 10, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 12, 2007)

		(45)		Amendment No. 44 dated June 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 162 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 14, 2007)

		(46)		Amendment No. 45 dated June 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 27, 2007)

		(47)		Amendment No. 46 dated November 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 27, 2007)

		(48)		Amendment No. 47 dated November 8, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 27, 2007)

		(49)		Amendment No. 48 dated December 13, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 18, 2008)

		(50)		Amendment No. 49 dated June 19, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 205 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2008)

		(51)		Amendment No. 50 dated August 14, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 27, 2008)

		(52)		Amendment No. 51 dated August 25, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2009)

		(53)		Amendment No. 52 dated November 13, 2008 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2009)

		(54)		Amendment No. 53 dated May 21, 2009 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 24, 2009)



		(55)		Amendment No. 54 dated November 19, 2009 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 24, 2009)

		(56)		Amendment No. 55 dated February 11, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 242 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2010)

		(57)		Amendment No. 56 dated May 20, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 249 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 30, 2010)

		(58)		Amendment No. 57 dated June 17, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 249 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 30, 2010)

		(59)		Amendment No. 58 dated November 18, 2010 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 3, 2010)

		(60)		Amendment No. 59 dated January 5, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 270 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2011)

		(61)		Amendment No. 60 dated February 10, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 270 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2011)

		(62)		Amendment No. 61 dated February 10, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 270 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2011)

		(63)		Amendment No. 62 dated June 16, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2011)

		(64)		Amendment No. 63 dated August 18, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 12, 2011)

		(65)		Amendment No. 64 dated September 27, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 16, 2011)

		(66)		Amendment No. 65 dated October 20, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 16, 2011)

		(67)		Amendment No. 66 dated December 15, 2011 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2011)



		(68)		Amendment No. 67 dated April 19, 2012 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 321 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 27, 2012)

		(69)		Amendment No. 68 dated August 16, 2012 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 24, 2012)

		(70)		Amendment No. 69 dated December 13, 2012 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 346 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 28, 2013)

		(71)		Amendment No. 70 dated February 12, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 348 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2013)

		(72)		Amendment No. 71 dated April 18, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 355 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2013)

		(73)		Amendment No. 72 dated June 13, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2013)

		(74)		Amendment No. 73 dated August 15, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 12, 2013)

		(75)		Amendment No. 74 dated September 19, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 368 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 26, 2013)

		(76)		Amendment No. 75 dated October 17, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 369 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 25, 2013)

		(77)		Amendment No. 76 dated November 8, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 375 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 13, 2013)

		(78)		Amendment No. 77 dated December 19, 2013 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 376 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 26, 2013)

		(79)		Amendment No. 78 dated February 11, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 393 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 21, 2014)



		(80)		Amendment No. 79 dated April 10, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 414 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 25, 2014)

		(81)		Amendment No. 80 dated August 14, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

		(82)		Amendment No. 81 dated October 16, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 432 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 17, 2014)

		(83)		Amendment No. 82 dated December 17, 2014 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 433 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2014)

		(84)		Amendment No. 83 dated February 12, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 441 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2015)

		(85)		Amendment No. 84 dated April 16, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 455 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2015)

		(86)		Amendment No. 85 dated June 11, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 464 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 17, 2015)

		(87)		Amendment No. 86 dated August 13, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, SEC File No. 333-206459, filed August 18, 2015)

		(88)		Amendment No. 87 dated October 15, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 504 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 30, 2015)

		(89)		Amendment No. 88 dated December 17, 2015 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 511 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 17, 2015)

		(90)		Amendment No. 89 dated February 11, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 526 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 26, 2016)

		(91)		Amendment No. 90 dated April 14, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 551 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2016)

		(92)		Amendment No. 91 dated May 23, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 573 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2016)



		(93)		Amendment No. 92 dated June 16, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 573 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2016)

		(94)		Amendment No. 93 dated August 18, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 577 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2016)

		(95)		Amendment No. 94 dated December 14, 2016 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 582 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 22, 2016)

		(96)		Amendment No. 95 dated February 16, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 595 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2017)

		(97)		Amendment No. 96 dated April 19, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 610 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 27, 2017)

		(98)		Amendment No. 97 dated June 15, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 618 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 16, 2017)

		(99)		Amendment No. 98 dated August 17, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)

		(100)		Amendment No. 99 dated October 12, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 629 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 13, 2017)

		(101)		Amendment No. 100 dated December 13, 2017 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 634 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 15, 2017)

		(102)		Amendment No. 101 dated February 15, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 652 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2018)

		(103)		Amendment No. 102 dated June 14, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 700 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 15, 2018)

		(104)		Amendment No. 103 dated October 11, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (filed herewith)

		(105)		Amendment No. 104 dated December 13, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (filed herewith)



(b)	Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated April 19, 2017 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 610 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 27, 2017)

(c)	Instruments defining the rights of holders of Registrant’s shares of beneficial interest (Article II, Section 10, Article IV, Section 3, Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article IX, Section 8 and Section 9 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated by reference as Exhibit (a)(1) and Article III of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws incorporated by reference as Exhibit (b))

(d)	(1)	Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Short Duration Government Fund, and Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(2)	Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs High Quality Floating Rate Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Adjustable Rate Government Fund), and Goldman Sachs Funds Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(3)	Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Short Duration Tax-Free Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(4)	Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(5)	Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Funds Management L.P. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 25, 1998)

	(6)	Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 between Registrant, on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 1998)

	(7)	Amended Annex A dated September 25, 2007 to the Management Agreement dated January 1, 1998 on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 195 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 29, 2008)

	(8)	Amended Annex A dated February 15, 2018 to the Management Agreement dated April 30, 1997 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Funds Management L.P. and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 699 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 30, 2018)

	(9)	Sub-Advisory Agreement effective October 1, 2014 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Dividend Assets Capital, LLC, on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 441 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2015)



		(10)		Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs Short-Duration Tax-Free Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 13, 2003)

		(11)		Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to certain of the Goldman Sachs Fixed Income, Equity, Specialty and Money Market Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 13, 2003)

		(12)		Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 13, 2003)

		(13)		Assumption Agreement dated April 26, 2003 between Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 13, 2003)

		(14)		Assumption Agreement dated September 1, 2017 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management International and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Asia Equity Fund and Goldman Sachs N-11 Equity Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 626 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 15, 2017)

		(15)		Assumption Agreement dated November 1, 2017 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management International and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (with respect to the Goldman Sachs International Equity ESG Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Focused International Equity Fund) and Goldman Sachs International Equity Income Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 633 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 30, 2017)

		(16)		Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs Equity Growth Strategy (formerly, Goldman Sachs Aggressive Growth Strategy), Goldman Sachs Balanced Strategy, Goldman Sachs Growth and Income Strategy and Goldman Sachs Growth Strategy Portfolios (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 17, 2005)

		(17)		Amended and Restated Fee Reduction Commitment dated June 15, 2017 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs Short Duration Tax-Free Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 620 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2017)

		(18)		Amended and Restated Fee Reduction Commitment dated June 15, 2017 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs High Quality Floating Rate Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Ultra-Short Duration Government Fund and Goldman Sachs Adjustable Rate Government Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 620 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2017)



	(19)	Amended and Restated Fee Reduction Commitment dated June 15, 2017 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs Short Duration Government Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 620 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2017)

	(20)	Fee Reduction Commitment dated July 1, 2008 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs Core Fixed Income Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 217 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2009)

	(21)	Management Agreement dated August 14, 2014 between Registrant, on behalf of Goldman Sachs Long Short Fund, and GS Investment Strategies, LLC (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

(e)	(1)	Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 12, 2003)

	(2)	Amended Exhibit A dated August 17, 2017 to the Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)

(f)	Not applicable

(g)	(1)	Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991, between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1995)

	(2)	Fee schedule relating to the Custodian Agreement between Registrant on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed October 16, 1997)

	(3)	Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company on behalf of Goldman Sachs Capital Growth Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998)

	(4)	Fee schedule dated April 12, 1999 relating to Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Strategic Growth and Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 16, 1999)

	(5)	Fee schedule dated October 1, 1999 relating to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 1, 1999)

	(6)	Fee schedule dated January 12, 2000 relating to Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs U.S. Tax-Managed Equity Fund (formerly, CORE Tax-Managed Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)



		(7)		Fee schedule dated January 6, 2000 relating to Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs High Yield Municipal Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)

		(8)		Fee schedule dated April 14, 2000 relating to Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Enhanced Income Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 3, 2000)

		(9)		Additional Portfolio Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)

		(10)		Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)

		(11)		Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 23, 2000)

		(12)		Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2001)

		(13)		Amendment dated July 2, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2001)

		(14)		Amendment dated August 1, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 15, 2002)

		(15)		Amendment dated August 1, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 15, 2002)

		(16)		Letter Amendment dated May 15, 2002 to the Custodian Contract dated April 6, 1990 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 11, 2002)

		(17)		Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 19, 2007)

		(18)		Letter Amendment dated August 26, 2003 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Debt Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)



		(19)		Letter Amendment dated October 28, 2003 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs U.S. Mortgages Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(20)		Letter Amendment dated February 8, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(21)		Letter Amendment dated March 14, 2007 to Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Satellite Strategies Portfolio) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(22)		Letter Amendment dated April 23, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Equity Income Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Strategic International Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(23)		Letter Amendment dated May 2, 2007 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Small Cap Growth Insights Fund and Goldman Sachs Small Cap Value Insights Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Growth Fund and Goldman Sachs Structured Small Cap Value Fund, respectively)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(24)		Letter Amendment dated August 10, 2007 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Inflation Protected Securities Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(25)		Letter Amendment dated September 12, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Small Cap Insights Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(26)		Letter Amendment dated September 12, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Equity Insights Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Structured Emerging Markets Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(27)		Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Enhanced Dividend Global Equity Portfolio) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(28)		Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Tax-Advantaged Global Equity Portfolio) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)



		(29)		Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Tax-Managed Equity Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Structured International Tax-Managed Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(30)		Letter Amendment dated September 18, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Equity Dividend and Premium Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(31)		Letter Amendment dated October 4, 2007 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Local Emerging Markets Debt Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(32)		Letter Amendment dated November 28, 2007 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Tracker Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 218 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2009)

		(33)		Letter Amendment dated September 17, 2009 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs International Equity Insights Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Structured International Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 24, 2009)

		(34)		Letter Amendment dated November 19, 2009 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Blue Chip Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs U.S. Equity Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 24, 2009)

		(35)		Letter Amendment dated November 19, 2009 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Alternative Premia Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Dynamic Allocation Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 28, 2009)

		(36)		Letter Amendment dated August 11, 2009 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Technology Opportunities Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Technology Tollkeeper Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 24, 2009)

		(37)		Letter Amendment dated June 30, 2010 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Strategic Income Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 249 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 30, 2010)

		(38)		Letter Amendment dated December 31, 2010 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs N-11 Equity Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 270 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 16, 2011)



		(39)		Letter Amendment dated February 14, 2011 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs High Yield Floating Rate Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 277 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 5, 2011)

		(40)		Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 279 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 28, 2011)

		(41)		Letter Amendment dated January 31, 2012 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 311 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2012)

		(42)		Letter Amendment dated December 14, 2011 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Managed Futures Strategy Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 312 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 27, 2012)

		(43)		Letter Amendment dated February 2, 2012 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Short Duration Income Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 313 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2012)

		(44)		Letter Amendment dated March 6, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs MLP Energy Infrastructure Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 353 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17618, filed March 25, 2013)

		(45)		Letter Amendment dated May 6, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Total Emerging Markets Income Fund (formerly, the Goldman Sachs Dynamic Emerging Markets Debt Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 360 to the Registrant’s registration statement. SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 29, 2013)

		(46)		Letter Amendment dated October 1, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-189529, filed October 25, 2013)

		(47)		Letter Amendment dated November 4, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Strategic Macro Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Macro Strategies Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 375 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 13, 2013)

		(48)		Letter Amendment dated December 11, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Small/Mid Cap Value Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 387 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 30, 2014)



		(49)		Letter Amendment dated December 5, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Short-Term Conservative Income Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Limited Maturity Obligations Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 395 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2014)

		(50)		Letter Amendment dated January 8, 2014 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Long Short Credit Strategies Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 408 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 21, 2014)

		(51)		Letter Amendment dated June 16, 2014 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Tactical Tilt Overlay Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Tactical Tilt Implementation Fund)) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 424 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 24, 2014)

		(52)		Letter Amendment to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-197328, filed August 26, 2014)

		(53)		Letter Amendment dated August 14, 2014 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Long Short Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

		(54)		Letter Amendment dated December 17, 2014 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Global Managed Beta Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 18, 2015)

		(55)		Letter Amendment dated August 13, 2015 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Multi-Asset Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Global Absolute Return Fund) and Goldman Sachs Focused Value Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 494 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 31, 2015)

		(56)		Letter Amendment dated September 8, 2015 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-MMA, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed November 25, 2015)

		(57)		Letter Amendment dated June 10, 2015 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-MMRA, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed November 25, 2015)

		(58)		Letter Amendment dated June 10, 2015 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Multi-Manager Global Equity Fund, Goldman Sachs Multi-Manager Real Assets Strategy Fund, Multi-Manager International Equity Fund and Multi-Manager U.S. Dynamic Equity Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed November 25, 2015)



		(59)		Letter Amendment dated December 2, 2013 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-FIMS, Ltd.) (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity-FIMS Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 514 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2015)

		(60)		Letter Amendment dated June 17, 2014 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-TTIF, Ltd.) (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity TTIF Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 514 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2015)

		(61)		Letter Amendment dated June 11, 2015 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-ARM, Ltd.) (formerly, Cayman Commodity-GARF, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 514 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2015)

		(62)		Amendment dated April 22, 2015 to the Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference from Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed August 7, 2015)

		(63)		Amendment dated October 20, 2015 to the Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Financial Square Federal Instruments Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 518 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 15, 2016)

		(64)		Amendment dated January 6, 2016 to the Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Investor Money Market Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 523 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 29, 2016)

		(65)		Amendment dated March 1, 2016 to the Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund and Goldman Sachs Investor Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 559 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 20, 2016)

		(66)		Letter Amendment dated May 31, 2016 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Strategic Factor Allocation Fund), (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 568 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 27, 2016)

		(67)		Letter Amendment dated May 31, 2016 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-MMA II, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed November 18, 2016)

		(68)		Letter Amendment dated November 30, 2016 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs GQG Partners International Opportunities Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed February 28, 2017)



		(69)		Letter Amendment dated August 16, 2017 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Tactical Exposure Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)

		(70)		Letter Amendment dated August 16, 2017 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Cayman Commodity-TEX, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)

		(71)		Letter Amendment dated June 27, 2016 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Global Infrastructure Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 638 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 22, 2017)

		(72)		Amendment dated July 16, 2015 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Global Real Estate Securities Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 638 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 22, 2017)

		(73)		Letter Amendment dated September 20, 2017 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs MLP & Energy Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 638 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 22, 2017)

		(74)		Amendment dated June 13, 2016 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Hedge Industry VIP ETF) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed December 22, 2017)

		(75)		Letter Amendment dated August 19, 2016 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Trust II and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Target Date 2020 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2025 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2030 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2035 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2040 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2045 Portfolio, Goldman Sachs Target Date 2050 Portfolio and Goldman Sachs Target Date 2055 Portfolio) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 (identified as Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on the facing page) to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed December 18, 2017)

		(76)		Amendment dated August 29, 2016 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Treasury Access 0-1 Year ETF) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed December 22, 2017)

		(77)		Amendment dated April 5, 2017 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF, Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed December 22, 2017)



	(78)	Amendment dated May 10, 2017 to the Custodian Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed December 22, 2017)

	(79)	Amendment dated March 12, 2018 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 699 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 30, 2018)

	(80)	Letter Amendment dated April 6, 2018 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Target Date 2060 Portfolio) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Goldman Sachs Trust II’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-185659, filed October 24, 2018)

(h)	(1)	First Amendment dated July 18, 1994 to Amended and Restated Wiring Agreement dated January 25, 1994 among Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.), State Street Bank and Trust Company and The Northern Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File. No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2009)

	(2)	Amended and Restated Wiring Agreement dated January 25, 1994 among Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.), State Street Bank and Trust Company and The Northern Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File. No. 33-17619, filed July 28, 2009)

	(3)	Letter Agreement dated June 20, 1987 regarding use of checking account between Registrant and The Northern Trust Company (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 2, 1998)

	(4)	Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement dated August 9, 2007 between Registrant and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 10, 2007)

	(5)	Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement Fee Schedule dated April 12, 2018 between Registrant and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 663 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 16, 2018)

	(6)	Form of Retail Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Class A Shares of Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds, Goldman Sachs Domestic Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs International Equity Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998)

	(7)	Form of Retail Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust – TPA Assistance Version relating to the Class A Shares of Goldman Sachs Asset Allocation Portfolios, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds, Goldman Sachs Domestic Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs International Equity Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 198 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 28, 2008)

	(8)	Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Administrative Class, Service Class and Cash Management Class of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds (formerly, Goldman Sachs Institutional Liquid Assets Portfolios) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998)



		(9)		Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Institutional Shares, Select Shares, Preferred Shares, Capital Shares, Administration Shares and Service Shares of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 1998)

		(10)		Form of Supplemental Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Class A Shares and Service Shares of Goldman Sachs Equity and Fixed Income Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 198 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 28, 2008)

		(11)		Form of Service Agreement on behalf of Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Institutional Class, Select Class, Preferred Class, Capital Class, Administration Class, Premier Class, Service Class, Resource Class and Cash Management Class, as applicable, of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds, Goldman Sachs Domestic Equity Funds, Goldman Sachs International Equity Funds and Goldman Sachs Fund of Funds Portfolios (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2010)

		(12)		Goldman Sachs Trust Select Class Select Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

		(13)		Goldman Sachs Trust Administration Shares Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2010)

		(14)		Goldman Sachs Trust Preferred Class Preferred Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

		(15)		Goldman Sachs Trust Administration Class Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

		(16)		Goldman Sachs Trust Service Class Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

		(17)		Goldman Sachs Trust Capital Administration Class Capital Administration Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

		(18)		Goldman Sachs Trust Service Shares Service Plan and Shareholder Administration Plan amended and restated as of December 16, 2010 (on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 29, 2010)

		(19)		Mutual Funds Service Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 19, 2007)



		(20)		Goldman Sachs Trust Cash Management Shares Service Plan dated February 11, 2010 (on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010)

		(21)		Goldman Sachs Trust Premier Shares Service Plan and Administration Plan dated February 11, 2010 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010)

		(22)		Goldman Sachs Trust Resource Shares Service Plan dated February 11, 2010 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010)

		(23)		Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Money Market Funds (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 279 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 28, 2011)

		(24)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Strategic Macro Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Macro Strategies Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

		(25)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-FIMS, Ltd. (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity-FIMS Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 375 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 13, 2013)

		(26)		Fee Waiver Agreement dated April 30, 2014 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2014)

		(27)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-CSF, Ltd. (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity Fund, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2014)

		(28)		Fee Waiver Agreement dated April 30, 2014 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Tracker Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2014)

		(29)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-ART, Ltd. (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity-ART Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2014)

		(30)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Tactical Tilt Overlay Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Tactical Tilt Implementation Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

		(31)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-TTIF, Ltd. (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity TTIF Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 424 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 24, 2014)



		(32)		Securities Lending and Services Agreement between State Street Bank and Trust Company and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Long Short Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 430 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2014)

		(33)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Alternative Premia Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Dynamic Allocation Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 18, 2015)

		(34)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-DAF, Ltd. (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity-DAF Fund Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 18, 2015)

		(35)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Multi-Asset Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 495 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 1, 2015)

		(36)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-ARM, Ltd. (formerly, Cayman Commodity-GARF, Ltd.) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 495 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 1, 2015)

		(37)		Amendment dated October 20, 2015 to the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Goldman Sachs ETF Trust’s registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed February 8, 2016)

		(38)		Amendment dated January 6, 2016 to the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 523 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed January 29, 2016)

		(39)		Amendment dated March 1, 2016 to the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (Goldman Sachs Financial Square Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund and Goldman Sachs Investor Tax-Exempt Money Market Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 559 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 20, 2016)

		(40)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Managed Futures Strategy Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 573 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2016)

		(41)		Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-MFS, Ltd. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 573 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2016)

		(42)		Fee Waiver Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to Goldman Sachs Tactical Exposure Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)



	(43)	Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-TEX, Ltd. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 624 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 24, 2017)

(i)	Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP (to be filed)

(j)	Not applicable

(k)	Not applicable

(l)	Not applicable

(m)	(1)	Class A Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of May 5, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 23, 2004)

	(2)	Class C Distribution and Service Plan amended and restated as of February 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 24, 2004)

	(3)	Class R Distribution and Service Plan dated November 8, 2007 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 27, 2007)

	(4)	Cash Management Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated February 11, 2010 (on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010)

	(5)	Resource Shares Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated February 11, 2010 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 245 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed May 14, 2010)

	(6)	Class T Distribution and Service Plan dated February 16, 2017 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 595 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2017)

(n)	Plan in Accordance with Rule 18f-3, amended and restated as of June 14, 2018 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 706 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 14, 2018)

(p)	(1)	Code of Ethics — Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs Trust II, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc., Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit, LLC, Goldman Sachs MLP & Energy Renaissance Fund and Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund dated December 11, 2017 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 651 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 13, 2018)

	(2)	Code of Ethics — Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (formerly, Goldman, Sachs & Co.), Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies LLC and GS Investment Strategies, LLC dated January 23, 1991, effective February 6, 2012 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 355 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 30, 2013)



	(3)	Code of Ethics — Dividend Assets Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 618 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 16, 2017)

(q)	(1)	Powers of Attorney for James A. McNamara, Scott M. McHugh, Joseph F. DiMaria, Kathryn A. Cassidy, Diana M. Daniels, Herbert J. Markley, Jessica Palmer, Roy W. Templin and Gregory G. Weaver (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 700 to the Registrant’s registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 15, 2018)

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

Goldman Sachs Tactical Tilt Overlay Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-TTIF, Ltd. (the “TTIF Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The TTIF Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Tactical Tilt Overlay Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Goldman Sachs Absolute Return Tracker Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-ART, Ltd. (the “ART Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The ART Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Absolute Return Tracker Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-CSF, Ltd. (the “CSF Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Commodity Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Commodity Strategy Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Goldman Sachs Alternative Premia Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-AP, Ltd. (the “AP Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The AP Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Alternative Premia Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Goldman Sachs Managed Futures Strategy Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-MFS, Ltd. (the “MFS Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The MFS Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Managed Futures Strategy Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Goldman Sachs Tactical Exposure Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-TEX, Ltd. (the “TEX Subsidiary”), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The TEX Subsidiary’s financial statements will be included on a consolidated basis in the Tactical Exposure Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

Item 30. Indemnification

Article IV of the Declaration of Trust of Goldman Sachs Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, provides for indemnification of the Trustees, officers and agents of the Trust, subject to certain limitations. The Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1).

The Management Agreements provide that the applicable Investment Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Investment Adviser or from reckless disregard by the Investment Adviser of its obligations or duties under the Management Agreements. Section 7 of the Management Agreements on behalf of Goldman Sachs Short Duration Government Fund provides that Goldman Sachs Short Duration Government Fund will indemnify the Adviser against certain liabilities; provided, however, that such indemnification does not apply to any loss by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its obligation under the Management Agreements. The Management Agreements are incorporated by reference as Exhibits (d)(1) through (d)(6) and (d)(19).

Section 8 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Investment Adviser”) and Dividend Assets Capital, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) with respect to Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (the “Fund”) provides that the Sub-Adviser will not be liable for any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses) suffered by the Investment Adviser or the Trust as a result of any error of judgment by the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Fund, except that the Sub-Adviser will remain liable for, and will indemnify the Trust, the Investment Adviser and their affiliated persons against, any losses suffered (a) as a result of the willful misconduct, bad faith, or negligence by the Sub-Adviser; (b) as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature or other materials pertaining to the Fund, or any material fact omitted therefrom, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by the Sub-Adviser; or (c) as a result of the failure of the Sub-Adviser to execute portfolio transactions according to the requirements of applicable law. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is incorporated by reference as Exhibit (d)(9).

Section 9 of the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman Sachs dated April 30, 1997, as amended, and Section 7 of the Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC dated August 9, 2007 provides that the Registrant will indemnify Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC against certain liabilities. Copies of the Distribution Agreement and the Transfer Agency Agreement are incorporated by reference as Exhibits (e)(1) and (h)(4) respectively, to the Registrant’s Registration Statement.

Mutual fund and trustees and officers liability policies purchased jointly by the Registrant and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust 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.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisers

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (“GSAMI”) are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and serve as investment advisers to the Registrant. GSAM and GSAMI are engaged in the investment advisory business. GSAM and GSAMI are part of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a public company that is a bank holding company, financial holding company and a worldwide, full-service financial services organization. GSAM Holdings LLC is the general partner and principal owner of GSAM. Information about the officers and partners of GSAM and officers and directors of GSAMI is included in their Forms ADV filed with the Commission (registration numbers 801-37591 and 801-38157, respectively) and is incorporated herein by reference.

Dividend Assets Capital, LLC (“DAC”) serves as sub-adviser to Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund. DAC is primarily engaged in the investment management business. Information about the officers and directors of DAC is included in its Form ADV filed with the Commission (registration number 801-62643) and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

(a)

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or an affiliate or a division thereof currently serves as distributor for shares of Goldman Sachs Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust and Goldman Sachs Trust II. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 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. LLC, 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. LLC
David M. Solomon (1)		Chief Executive Officer
John E. Waldron (1)		President and Chief Operating Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Stephen Scherr (1)		Chief Financial Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Richard A. Friedman (1)		Global Head of Merchant Banking Division
Richard J. Gnodde (2)		Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs International
Gwen R. Libstag (1)		Head of the Conflicts Resolution Group
Masanori Mochida (4)		President and Representative Director of Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.
Timothy J. O’Neill (1)		Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Global Co-Head of Investment Management Division
Gregory K. Palm (1)		General Counsel, Co-Head of the Legal Department, Partner and Executive Vice President, Secretary of the Corporation
John F.W. Rogers (1)		Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff, Secretary to Board of Directors
Steven H. Strongin (1)		Head of Global Investment Research Division
Paul M. Russo (1)		Global Co-Chief Operating Officer of Equities Franchise
Alison J. Mass (1)		Global Head of the Financial and Strategic Investors Group in the Investment Banking Division
Eric S. Lane (1)		Global Co-Head of Investment Management Division
Ashok Varadhan (1)		Global Co-Head of Securities Division
R. Martin Chavez (1)		Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Global Co-Head of the Securities Division
Kenneth W. Hitchner (6)		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs in Asia Pacific Ex-Japan
Michael D. Daffey (3)		Global Co-Chief Operating Officer of Equities Franchise
Sarah E. Smith (1)		Executive Vice President, Head of Global Compliance
Justin G. Gmelich (1)		Chief Operating Officer of the FICC franchise
Gregg R. Lemkau (1)		Co-Head of Investment Banking Division
Marc Nachmann (2)		Co-Head of Investment Banking Division
James P. Esposito (3)		Global Co-Head of Securities Division
Sheila H. Patel (3)		Chief Executive Officer of International Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Global Co-Head of GSAM Client Business
Laurence Stein (1)		Chief Administrative Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Julian C. Salisbury (1)		Head of the Global Special Situations Group
Russell W. Horwitz (1)		Secretary
Dan Dees (7)		Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division
Robin A. Vince (1)		Chief Risk Officer of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Dane E. Holmes (1)		Head of Human Capital Management and Head of Pine Street, the firm’s leadership development group for Partners and select Managing Directors
Dina H. Powell (1)		Partner in Investment Banking Division
Karen P. Seymour (1)		General Counsel, Co-Head of the Legal Department, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary of the Corporation
Stephanie E. Cohen (1)		Chief Strategy Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(1)	200 West Street, New York, NY 10282

(2)	Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BB, England

(3)	River Court, 120 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2QQ, England

(4)	10-1, Roppongi 6-chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-6147, Japan

(5)	7 Finance Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China 100033

(6)	Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong, China

(7)	2121 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Amended and Restated By-laws and minute books of the Registrant and certain investment adviser records are in the physical possession of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282. All other accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained under Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules promulgated thereunder are in the physical possession of State Street Bank and Trust Company, State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, Bank of New York Mellon, One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, except for certain transfer agency records which are maintained by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

Item 34. Management Services

Not applicable

Item 35. Undertakings

Not applicable

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. 713 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City and State of New York on the 14^th day of December, 2018.


GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
(A Delaware statutory trust)

By:		/s/ Caroline L. Kraus Caroline L. Kraus,
		Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to said Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.


Name	Title	Date
¹James A. McNamara James A. McNamara	President (Chief Executive Officer) and Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Scott M. McHugh Scott M. McHugh	Treasurer, Senior Vice President and Principal Financial Officer	December 14, 2018

¹Joseph F. DiMaria Joseph F. DiMaria	Principal Accounting Officer	December 14, 2018

¹Jessica Palmer Jessica Palmer	Chair and Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Kathryn A. Cassidy Kathryn A. Cassidy	Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Diana M. Daniels Diana M. Daniels	Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Herbert J. Markley Herbert J. Markley	Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Roy W. Templin Roy W. Templin	Trustee	December 14, 2018

¹Gregory G. Weaver Gregory G. Weaver	Trustee	December 14, 2018

By:

/s/ Caroline L. Kraus

Caroline L. Kraus,

Attorney-In-Fact

¹	Pursuant to powers of attorney previously filed.

CERTIFICATE

The undersigned Secretary for Goldman Sachs Trust (the “Trust”) hereby certifies that the Board of Trustees of the Trust duly adopted the following resolution at a meeting of the Board held on June 13-14, 2018.

RESOLVED, that the Trustees and Officers of the Trust who may be required to execute any amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement be, and each hereby is, authorized to execute a power of attorney appointing James A. McNamara, Caroline L. Kraus, and Robert Griffith, jointly and severally, their attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution, for said Trustees and Officers in any and all capacities to sign the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 of the Trust and any and all amendments to such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, the Trustees and Officers hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or may have caused to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated December 14, 2018

/s/ Caroline L. Kraus

Caroline L. Kraus,

Secretary

EXHIBIT INDEX



(a)(104)		Amendment No. 103 dated October 11, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997

(a)(105)		Amendment No. 104 dated December 13, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997