# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000822977
**File Stem:** 0001193125-23-051175
**Filing Date:** 2023-2
**Character Count:** 1857262
**Document Hash:** a6607a327a1cfbfe35a8d51da26c8c5a
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-23-051175.hdr.sgml**: 20230228

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-23-051175

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 485BPOS

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 27

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230228

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230227

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20230228

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000822977
- **IRS NUMBER:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1031

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 485BPOS
- **SEC ACT:** 1940 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 811-05349
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23677266

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 71  SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
- **STREET 2:** C/O GOLDMAN SACHS & CO
- **CITY:** CHICAGO
- **STATE:** IL
- **ZIP:** 60606
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 3126554400

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 200 WEST STREET
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10282

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** GOLDMAN SACHS SHORT INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19910711

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** SHORT INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19900104
**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000822977
- **IRS NUMBER:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1031

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 485BPOS
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 033-17619
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23677265

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 71  SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
- **STREET 2:** C/O GOLDMAN SACHS & CO
- **CITY:** CHICAGO
- **STATE:** IL
- **ZIP:** 60606
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 3126554400

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 200 WEST STREET
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10282

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** GOLDMAN SACHS SHORT INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19910711

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** SHORT INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19900104

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund (Series ID: S000009342)

| Class ID   | Class Name      | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000025613 | Institutional   | GSBIX           |
| C000025615 | Class A         | GSBFX           |
| C000025617 | Class C         | GSBCX           |
| C000091959 | Investor Shares | GKIRX           |
| C000161511 | Class R6 Shares | GSBUX           |
| C000201720 | Class P Shares  | GGKPX           |

### Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (Series ID: S000036119)

| Class ID   | Class Name      | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000110562 | Class A         | GSRAX           |
| C000110563 | Class C         | GSRCX           |
| C000110564 | Institutional   | GSRLX           |
| C000110565 | Investor Shares | GSRIX           |
| C000110566 | Class R         | GSRRX           |
| C000198933 | Class R6 Shares | GSRFX           |
| C000201721 | Class P Shares  | GMHPX           |

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? Goldman Sachs Trust

**As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2023**

**1933 Act Registration No. 033-17619**

**1940 Act Registration No. 811-05349**

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**United States**

**Securities and Exchange Commission**

**Washington, D.C. 20549** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Form N-1A**<br> **Registration Statement**<br>|  |
| ***UNDER*** |  |
| ***THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933*** | **☒** |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Pre-Effective Amendment No. ___** | **☐** |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Post-Effective Amendment No. 883** | **☒** |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **and/or** |  |
| **REGISTRATION STATEMENT** |  |
| ***UNDER*** |  |
| ***THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940*** | **☒** |
| **Amendment No. 884** | **☒** |
| **(Check appropriate box or boxes)** |  |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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**GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST**

**(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)** 

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**71 South Wacker Drive**

**Chicago, Illinois 60606**

**(Address of Principal Executive Offices)**

**Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (312) 655-4400**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

**CAROLINE L. KRAUS, ESQ.**

**Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC**

**200 West Street**

**New York, New York 10282**

**(Name and Address of Agent for Service)** 

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

***Copies to:*** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **STEPHEN H. BIER, ESQ.**<br> **Dechert LLP**<br> **1095 Avenue of the Americas**<br> **New York, NY 10036**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **BRENDEN P. CARROLL, ESQ.**<br> **Dechert LLP**<br> **1900 K Street, NW** <br> **Washington, DC 20006**<br>|

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| |
|:---|
| **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) |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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☐ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

☒ on February 28, 2023 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If appropriate, check the following box: <br> ☐ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| |
|:---|
| **Title of Securities Being Registered:** |
| Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor, Class P and Class R6 Shares of the Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund. <br> Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor, Class P, Class R and Class R6 Shares of the Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund. |

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Prospectus

**February 28, 2023**

![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**GOLDMAN SACHS DIVIDEND FOCUS FUNDS**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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.

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

◼

Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund

◼

Class A Shares: GSBFX

◼

Class C Shares: GSBCX

◼

Institutional Shares: GSBIX

◼

Investor Shares: GKIRX

◼

Class R6 Shares: GSBUX

◼

Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund

◼

Class A Shares: GSRAX

◼

Class C Shares: GSRCX

◼

Institutional Shares: GSRLX

◼

Investor Shares: GSRIX

◼

Class R Shares: GSRRX

◼

Class R6 Shares: GSRFX

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**Table of Contents**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| [Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund—Summary](#xx_cc1dced0-ace0-471f-bdd6-216044c73881_1) | 1 |
| [Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund—Summary](#xx_8d7a48da-f36d-43ea-9613-10ec661b4a4b_1) | 8 |
| [Investment Management Approach](#xx_1185dfb5-1b12-4596-a9d9-6ad993d0e84f_1) | 16 |
| [Risks of the Fund](#xx_c4768020-202c-424b-8a8e-8901eae8f6bc_1) | 25 |
| [Service Providers](#xx_80e75cad-81b6-4821-b409-f45f74f06182_1) | 36 |
| [Distributions](#xx_b57b9c31-0a48-4842-ab05-210eaaf32be2_1) | 41 |
| [Shareholder Guide](#xx_475eafa7-8243-4c59-83ee-b6e36c77fd52_1) | 42 |
| [How To Buy Shares](#xx_475eafa7-8243-4c59-83ee-b6e36c77fd52_1) | 42  |
| [How To Sell Shares](#xx_475eafa7-8243-4c59-83ee-b6e36c77fd52_10) | 51  |
| [Taxation](#xx_9f073fd3-8681-4273-b18f-b46d14822fe6_1) | 58 |
| [Appendix A](#xx_075d6d0a-02bb-4689-b0cf-21d7d719e644_1) |  |
| [Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques](#xx_075d6d0a-02bb-4689-b0cf-21d7d719e644_1) | 60 |
| [Appendix B](#xx_fe3fdab7-bc4f-4af6-943d-07ec353c1c91_1) |  |
| [Financial Highlights](#xx_fe3fdab7-bc4f-4af6-943d-07ec353c1c91_1) | 78 |
| [Appendix C](#xx_73a7a353-3163-4c71-8336-2ec3d2b42717_1) |  |
| [Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts](#xx_73a7a353-3163-4c71-8336-2ec3d2b42717_1) | 89 |

---

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![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund—Summary** 

Investment Objective<br>

The Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund (the "Fund") seeks to provide income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund<br>

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you invest at least $50,000, in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares" beginning on page 47 and in Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts on page 89 of the Prospectus and "Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends" beginning on page B-129 of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

**Shareholder Fees** 

**(fees paid directly from your investment)** 

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Class A** | **Class C** | **Institutional** | **Investor** | **Class R6** |
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering <br> price)<br>| 5.50% |  |  |  |  |
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lower of original <br> purchase price or sale proceeds)<sup>1</sup> <br>|  | 1.00% |  |  |  |

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**Annual Fund Operating Expenses** 

**(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)** 

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Class A** | **Class C** | **Institutional** | **Investor** | **Class R6** |
| Management Fees | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.51% | 0.51% |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 0.75% |  |  |  |
| Other Expenses | 0.17% | 0.42% | 0.09% | 0.17% | 0.08% |
| Service Fees |  | 0.25% |  |  |  |
| All Other Expenses | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.09% | 0.17% | 0.08% |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses<sup>2</sup> | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses** | 0.96% | 1.71% | 0.63% | 0.71% | 0.62% |
| Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation<sup>3</sup> | (0.15%) | (0.15%) | (0.15%) | (0.15%) | (0.15%) |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense** <br> **Limitation**<br>| 0.81% | 1.56% | 0.48% | 0.56% | 0.47% |

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<sup>1</sup>

*A contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.* 

<sup>2</sup>

*The "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" do not correlate to the ratio of total expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights, which reflect the operating expenses of the Fund and do not include "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses."* 

<sup>3</sup>

*The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee of 0.44% as an annual percentage of daily net assets; (ii) waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to any management fees it earns as an investment adviser to the affiliated funds in which the Fund invests; and (iii) reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of the Fund's average daily net assets. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.* 

Expense Example<br>

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

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The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor and/or Class R6 Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor and/or 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 any applicable fee waiver and/or expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **1 Year** | **3 Years** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** |
| Class A Shares | $628 | $825 | $1038 | $1650 |
| Class C Shares | $259 | $524 | $914 | $2007 |
| Institutional Shares | $49 | $187 | $336 | $772 |
| Investor Shares | $57 | $212 | $380 | $868 |
| Class R6 Shares | $48 | $183 | $331 | $760 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Class C Shares – Assuming no redemption | $159 | $524 | $914 | $2007 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Portfolio Turnover<br>

The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (*i.e*., "turns over" its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 was 25% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Strategy<br>

The Fund seeks to provide income through investments in fixed income securities (bonds) and high dividend paying equities, preferred equities and other similar securities (stocks). The Fund also seeks to provide income by writing call options. The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation primarily through equity securities. The percentage of the portfolio invested in equity and fixed income securities will vary from time to time as the Investment Adviser evaluates such securities' relative attractiveness based on, among other factors, income opportunities, market valuations, economic growth and inflation prospects. The Fund has a baseline allocation to fixed income securities of 60% and to equity securities of 40%. In seeking to meet its investment objective, the Fund has the flexibility to opportunistically tilt the allocation to fixed income and equity securities up to 15% above or below the baseline allocation, measured at the time of investment.

*Equity Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 55% of its total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that collateral) ("Total Assets") measured at the time of purchase in equity investments, which include, among others, U.S. common stocks, preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies ("emerging countries")), as well as master limited partnerships ("MLPs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and affiliated and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). With respect to the equity portion of the Fund's portfolio, the Investment Adviser employs a value investment philosophy and seeks to identify quality businesses selling at compelling valuations. The Investment Adviser expects that equity investments will be weighted in favor of companies which pay dividends or other current income. While the Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, the Investment Adviser will typically favor equity securities of large-cap companies.

*Fixed Income Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 75% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in fixed income investments. The Fund's fixed income investments may include, among others:

◼

Securities issued by corporations, banks and other issuers, including non-investment grade securities

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises ("U.S. Government Securities")

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities and foreign corporations or other entities.

The Fund may also seek to obtain exposure to these investments through investments in affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs.

The Fund's investments in foreign fixed income securities may include securities of foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries) and securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

The Fund may invest in both non-investment grade and investment grade fixed income securities. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's"), or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical

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rating organization ("NRSRO") (or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), at the time of investment. Non-investment grade securities may include, among others, non-investment grade bonds, non-investment grade floating rate loans and other floating or variable rate obligations. With respect to the fixed income portion of its portfolio, the Fund does not maintain a fixed target duration.

*Other Investments.* The Fund may invest without limit in non-U.S. equity and non-U.S. fixed income securities.

In addition to direct investments in equity and fixed income securities, the Fund may invest in derivatives, including credit default swaps (including credit default index swaps or "CDX"), total return swaps and futures, which can be used for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. The Fund may also utilize various interest rate-related derivatives, including futures and swaps, to manage the duration of its fixed income positions. Additionally, the Fund may hedge its nondollar investments back to the U.S. dollar through the use of foreign currency derivatives, including currency futures and forward foreign currency contracts, or invest in such instruments for speculative purposes.

The Fund seeks to generate additional cash flow and may reduce volatility by the sale of call options on the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index or other regional stock market indices (or related ETFs).

The Fund expects that, under normal circumstances, it will sell put and call options in an amount up to 12% of the value of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund expects to sell put and call options that are "out of the money." As the seller of these options, the Fund will receive cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market price of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the call option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the option's underlier (*e.g.*, a security or an index-linked instrument) at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a put option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is below the current market price of the underlier. Conversely, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the option's underlier at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a call option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is above the current market price of the underlier. The Fund expects to sell out-of-the-money put and call options with the same underliers and expiration dates in what is referred to as a "strangle" strategy.

Generally, a sold "strangle" position would realize gains from collected premiums when its underlier has a market price that is between the exercise prices of the associated put and call options. Losses may be experienced to the extent that the underlier has a market price that is either below the exercise price of the put option (subtracting any premiums from the exercise price) or above the exercise price of the call option (adding any premiums to the exercise price), *i.e.*, if the strangle position expires "in the money."

The Fund expects to use total return swaps to gain exposure to the above-described option strategy. Income realized with respect to this strategy is generally expected to be characterized as ordinary income, which the Fund may periodically distribute to shareholders. The Fund's transactions in swaps will be subject to special tax rules, which could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. As a result of these rules, the Fund's investment in total return swaps is expected to result in the Fund realizing more ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than if the Fund did not invest in such swaps.

During periods in which the U.S. equity markets are generally unchanged or falling, or in a modestly rising market where the income from premiums exceeds the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price, a diversified portfolio receiving premiums from its call option writing strategy may outperform the same portfolio without such an options strategy. However, in rising markets where the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price exceeds the income from premiums, a portfolio with a call writing strategy could significantly underperform the same portfolio without the options.

The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes.

The Investment Adviser employs a fundamental investment process that may integrate environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors alongside traditional fundamental factors. No one factor or consideration is determinative in the fundamental investment process.

The Fund's benchmarks are the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index.

Principal Risks of the Fund<br>

**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. The Fund's principal risks are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.**

***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. Additionally, the credit quality of securities may deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Fund's liquidity and cause significant deterioration in net asset value ("NAV"). These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in connection with the Fund's investments in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

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***Derivatives Risk.*** The Fund's use of options, futures, swaps (including credit default swaps and total return swaps) and other derivative instruments may result in losses, including due to adverse market movements. These instruments, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other assets and instruments, may increase market exposure and be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of the underlying assets or 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. 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.

***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk.*** The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

***Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk.*** Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund's investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries.

***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

***Investment Style Risk.*** Different investment styles (*e.g*., "growth", "value" or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Value Value Stocks are those believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers, due to market, company-specific, or other factors.

***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, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

***Loan-Related Investments Risk.*** In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (*e.g.*, interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment. Many loan investments are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and certain loan investments may be or become illiquid or less liquid and more difficult to value, particularly in the event of a downgrade of the loan or the borrower. There is less readily available, reliable information about most loan investments than is the case for many other types of securities. Substantial increases in interest rates may cause an increase in loan obligation defaults. With respect to loan participations, the Fund may not always have direct recourse against a borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and/or interest; may be subject to greater delays, expenses and risks than if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the borrower;

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and may be regarded as the creditor of the agent lender or counterparty (rather than the borrower), subjecting the Fund to the creditworthiness of that lender as well. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

The market for loan obligations may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Because transactions in many 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 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. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, the Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available).

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a business entity, and are typically secured with specific collateral, but are nevertheless usually rated below investment grade. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower. Second lien loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

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

***Market Risk.*** The market 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. Events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also significantly impact the Fund and its investments.

***Master Limited Partnership Risk.*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and lower market liquidity. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

Investments in securities of an MLP also include tax-related risks. For example, to the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests.

***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.

***Option Writing Risk.*** Writing (selling) options may limit the opportunity to profit from an increase or decrease in the market value of a reference security in exchange for up-front cash (the premium) at the time of selling the option. In a sharp rising or falling market, the Fund could significantly underperform the market or other portfolios without an option writing strategy. The Fund could also experience a sudden, significant permanent loss due to dramatic movements in the market value of reference security, which may far exceed the premiums received for writing the option. Such significant losses could cause significant deteriorations in the Fund's NAV. Furthermore, the premium received from the Fund's option writing strategies may not fully protect it against market movements because the Fund will continue to bear the risk of movements in the value of its portfolio investments.

***Other Investments Risk.*** By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

***REIT Risk***. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

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***Stock Risk.*** Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

Performance<br>

The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund's Institutional Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor and Class R6 Shares compare to those of broad-based securities market indices. Because the Fund invests in both equity and fixed income securities, the Fund shows its performance against both the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index (which shows how the Fund's performance compares to an index of large cap value equities) and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (which shows how the Fund's performance compares to an index of high yield fixed income securities). The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost at <u>www.gsamfunds.com/performance</u> or by calling the appropriate phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus.

**CALENDAR YEAR (INSTITUTIONAL)**

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![](g440223ibf_12.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **During the periods shown in the chart above:** | **Returns** | **Quarter ended** |
| Best Quarter Return | 11.39% | June 30, 2020 |
| Worst Quarter Return | -12.68% | March 31, 2020 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** |  |  |  |  |
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** | **1 Year** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Inception**<br> **Date**<br>|
| **Class A Shares** |  |  |  | 10/12/1994 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -14.50% | 3.26% | 4.88% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions | -15.71% | 1.78% | 3.36% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -8.40% | 2.03% | 3.25% |  |
| **Class C Shares** |  |  |  | 8/15/1997 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -11.09% | 3.67% | 4.69%\* |  |
| **Institutional Shares** |  |  |  | 8/15/1997 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -9.22% | 4.82% | 5.88% |  |
| **Investor Shares** |  |  |  | 8/31/2010 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -9.29% | 4.70% | 5.75% |  |
| **Class R6 Shares** |  |  |  | 7/31/2015 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -9.25% | 4.82% | 5.88%\*\* |  |
| Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -7.54% | 6.66% | 10.29% |  |
| ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -10.53% | 2.32% | 3.94% |  |
| S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -18.11% | 9.42% | 12.56% |  |

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*\**

*Class C Shares automatically convert into Class A Shares eight years after the purchase date. The 10-Year performance for Class C Shares does not reflect the conversion to Class A Shares after the first eight years of performance.*

*\*\**

*Class R6 Shares commenced operations on July 31, 2015. Prior to that date, the performance of Class R6 Shares shown in the table above is that of Institutional Shares. Performance has not been adjusted to reflect the lower expenses of Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares would have had higher returns because: (i) Institutional Shares and Class R6 Shares represent interests in the same portfolio of securities; and (ii) Class R6 Shares have lower expenses.*

The after-tax returns are for Class A Shares only. The after-tax returns for Class C, Institutional, Investor and Class R6 Shares, will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

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Portfolio Management<br>

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

*Portfolio Managers:* Ashish Shah, Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, has managed the Fund since 2019; Ron Arons, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2013; Charles "Brook" Dane, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2016; Neill Nuttall, Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer, MAS, has managed the Fund since 2021; and Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2022; and Kevin Martens, Vice President, has managed the Fund since 2022.

Buying and Selling Fund Shares<br>

The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $1,000,000 for individual, certain wrap account sponsors or certain institutional investors, alone or in combination with other assets under the management of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. There is no minimum for initial purchases of Investor, Class R and Class R6 Shares, except for certain institutional investors who purchase Class R6 Shares directly with the Fund's transfer agent for which the minimum initial investment is $5,000,000. Those share classes with a minimum initial investment requirement do not impose it on certain employee benefit plans, and Institutional Shares do not impose it on certain investment advisers investing on behalf of other accounts.

The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for certain employee benefit plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional, Investor, Class R or Class R6 shareholders.

You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain intermediaries that have a relationship with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC ("Goldman Sachs"), including banks, trust companies, brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions ("Intermediaries").

Tax Information<br>

For important tax information, please see "Tax Information" on page 15 of the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

For important information about financial intermediary compensation, please see "Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries" on page 15 of the Prospectus.

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![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund—Summary** 

Investment Objective<br>

The Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund<br>

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of Class A Shares if you invest at least $50,000, in Goldman Sachs Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in "Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares" beginning on page 47 and in Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts on page 89 of the Prospectus and "Other Information Regarding Maximum Sales Charge, Purchases, Redemptions, Exchanges and Dividends" beginning on page B-129 of the Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

**Shareholder Fees** 

**(fees paid directly from your investment)** 

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Class A** | **Class C** | **Institutional** | **Investor** | **Class R** | **Class R6** |
| Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a <br> percentage of offering price)<br>| 5.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
| Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the <br> lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds)<sup>1</sup> <br>|  | 1.00% |  |  |  |  |

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**Annual Fund Operating Expenses** 

**(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)** 

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Class A** | **Class C** | **Institutional** | **Investor** | **Class R** | **Class R6** |
| Management Fees | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 0.75% |  |  | 0.50% |  |
| Other Expenses | 0.28% | 0.53% | 0.16% | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| Service Fees |  | 0.25% |  |  |  |  |
| All Other Expenses | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.16% | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.15% |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses** | 1.28% | 2.03% | 0.91% | 1.03% | 1.53% | 0.90% |
| Fee Waivers and Expense Limitation<sup>2</sup> | (0.26%) | (0.26%) | (0.22%) | (0.26%) | (0.26%) | (0.22%) |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and** <br> **Expense Limitation**<br>| 1.02% | 1.77% | 0.69% | 0.77% | 1.27% | 0.68% |

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<sup>1</sup>

*A contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.* 

<sup>2</sup>

*The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.65% as an annual percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets; and (ii) reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Additionally, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC ("Goldman Sachs"), the Fund's transfer agent, has agreed to waive a portion of its transfer agency fee (a component of "Other Expenses") equal to 0.04% as an annual percentage rate of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, Investor, and Class R Shares of the Fund. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.* 

Expense Example<br>

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

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The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor, Class R and/or Class R6 Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor, Class R and/or 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 any applicable fee waiver and/or expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **1 Year** | **3 Years** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** |
| Class A Shares | $648 | $909 | $1190 | $1989 |
| Class C Shares | $280 | $612 | $1069 | $2338 |
| Institutional Shares | $70 | $268 | $482 | $1099 |
| Investor Shares | $79 | $302 | $543 | $1236 |
| Class R Shares | $129 | $458 | $810 | $1801 |
| Class R6 Shares | $69 | $265 | $477 | $1088 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Class C Shares – Assuming no redemption | $180 | $612 | $1069 | $2338 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Portfolio Turnover<br>

The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (*i.e*., "turns over" its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Strategy<br>

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) ("Net Assets") in equity investments of dividend-paying U.S. and foreign companies with market capitalizations of at least $500 million.

10/10 Equity Investments

The Investment Adviser's Quantitative Investment Strategies ("QIS") team manages the Fund's equity investments, including investments that meet the 10/10 Test described below (the "10/10 Sleeve"). The Fund will generally invest in common and preferred stocks as well as real estate investment trusts ("REITs") that have paid dividends over the previous 10 years or more and have increased their dividends per share by approximately 10% or more per year, on average, over a 10-year trailing period (the "10/10 Test"). For purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period. Once a company's stock is purchased by the Fund, if the stock's average annual dividend growth rate declines below approximately 10% per year over a 10-year trailing period, or the company has more than one year-over-year decrease in dividends per share over a 10-year trailing period, the position will generally be sold. The QIS team uses a systematic, rules-based approach, in combination with a qualitative overlay, to select the stocks in which the Fund invests. The Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models, at the discretion of the portfolio managers.

MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investments

The Investment Adviser's Energy Infrastructure & Renewables team manages the Fund's investments in master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and energy infrastructure companies (the "MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve"). The Fund may invest in MLPs and energy infrastructure companies irrespective of the 10/10 Test. The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally consist of 15% of the Fund's Net Assets but will not exceed 20% of Net Assets measured at the time of purchase.

The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally invest in traditional or alternative midstream (energy infrastructure) businesses, which include businesses that are engaged in the treatment, gathering, compression, processing, transportation, transmission, fractionation, storage, terminalling, wholesale marketing, liquefaction/regasification of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products or other energy sources as well as businesses engaged in owning, storing and transporting alternative energy sources, such as renewables (wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass) and alternative fuels (ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel).

The Fund's benchmark is the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index.

Principal Risks of the Fund<br>

**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. The Fund's principal risks are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.** 

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***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. Additionally, the credit quality of securities may deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Fund's liquidity and cause significant deterioration in net asset value ("NAV"). These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

***Energy Sector Risk*.** The Fund invests in companies in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, business, social, political, environmental, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. The energy sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. MLPs, energy infrastructure companies and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others: fluctuations in commodity prices and/or interest rates; increased governmental or environmental regulation; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; declines in domestic or foreign production; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Energy companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, particular energy products (such as oil and natural gas), which may result in overproduction or underproduction. Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

During periods of heightened volatility, energy producers that are burdened with debt may seek bankruptcy relief. Bankruptcy laws may permit the revocation or renegotiation of contracts between energy producers and MLPs/energy infrastructure companies, which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of MLPs/energy infrastructure companies to pay distributions to their investors, including the Fund, which in turn could impact the ability of the Fund to pay dividends and dramatically impact the value of the Fund's investments.

Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves or other commodities may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk.*** The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

***Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk.*** Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund's investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries.

***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

***Investment Style Risk.*** Different investment styles (e.g., "growth," "value" or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund's quantitative style and emphasis on companies with rising dividend payments could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ a different investment style. Securities that pay high dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay high dividends. Additionally, a sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause a company to reduce or eliminate its dividend.

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***Infrastructure Company Risk.*** Infrastructure companies are susceptible to various factors that may negatively impact their businesses or operations, including costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental, governmental and other regulations, rising interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of general economic conditions throughout the world, surplus capacity and depletion concerns, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel and other natural resources at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies, unfavorable tax laws or accounting policies and high leverage. Infrastructure companies will also be affected by innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete and natural or man-made disasters.

***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, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

***Management Risk***. A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results. The Investment Adviser attempts to execute a complex strategy for the Fund using proprietary quantitative models. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends, and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues). There is no guarantee that the Investment Adviser's use of these quantitative models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative money managers may amplify losses.

***Market Risk.*** The market 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. Events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also significantly impact the Fund and its investments.

***Master Limited Partnership Risk.*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and lower market liquidity. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

***Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk***. Investments in mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.

***Other Investments Risk.*** By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

***REIT Risk***. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

***Stock Risk.*** Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

***Tax Risk.*** MLPs are generally treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. This would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and could result in a reduction in the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in

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respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

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Performance<br>

The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund's Class A Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Class A, Class C, Institutional, Investor, Class R and Class R6 Shares compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. Prior to the close of business on June 30, 2020, Dividend Assets Capital, LLC ("DAC"), a sub-adviser, was responsible for managing the Fund's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve. Prior to the close of business on March 30, 2018, DAC was also responsible for managing the Fund's 10/10 Sleeve. Accordingly, the performance information set forth below for periods prior to those respective dates reflects DAC's management of the MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve and the 10/10 Sleeve, as applicable. Past performance of the Fund, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information for the Fund is available at no cost at www.gsamfunds.com/performance or by calling the appropriate phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus.

The bar chart (including "Best Quarter" and "Worst Quarter" information) does not reflect the sales loads applicable to Class A Shares. If the sales loads were reflected, returns would be less. Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the periods shown.

**CALENDAR YEAR (CLASS A)**

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![](g440223rdg_14.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **During the periods shown in the chart above:** | **Returns** | **Quarter ended** |
| Best Quarter Return | 22.50% | June 30, 2020 |
| Worst Quarter Return | -27.00% | March 31, 2020 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** |  |  |  |  |
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** | **1 Year** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Inception**<br> **Date**<br>|
| **Class A Shares** |  |  |  | 3/23/2004 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -12.13% | 7.76% | 9.38% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions | -15.27% | 2.98% | 6.34% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -5.61% | 5.04% | 6.97% |  |
| **Class C Shares** |  |  |  | 4/14/2005 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -8.58% | 8.17% | 9.17%\* |  |
| **Institutional Shares** |  |  |  | 3/21/2007 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -6.73% | 9.34% | 10.40% |  |
| **Investor Shares** |  |  |  | 2/27/2012 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -6.81% | 9.24% | 10.26% |  |
| **Class R Shares** |  |  |  | 2/27/2012 |
| Returns | -7.29% | 8.70% | 9.71% |  |
| **Class R6 Shares** |  |  |  | 2/28/2018 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -6.73% | 9.34%\*\* | 10.40%\*\* |  |
| S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -18.11% | 9.42% | 12.56% |  |

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*\**

*Class C Shares automatically convert into Class A Shares eight years after the purchase date. The 10-Year performance for Class C Shares does not reflect the conversion to Class A Shares after the first eight years of performance.* 

*\*\**

*Class R6 Shares commenced operations on February 28, 2018. Prior to that date, the performance of Class R6 Shares shown in the table above is that of Institutional Shares. Performance has not been adjusted to reflect the lower expenses of Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares would have had higher returns because: (i) Institutional Shares and Class R6 Shares represent interests in the same portfolio of securities; and (ii) Class R6 Shares have lower expenses.* 

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The after-tax returns are for Class A Shares only. The after-tax returns for Class C, Institutional, Investor and Class R6 Shares, and returns for Class R Shares (which are offered exclusively to employee benefit plans), will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Portfolio Management<br>

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

*Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions Group:* Siwen Wu, Vice President, has managed the Fund since 2021.

*GSAM Quantitative Investment Strategies Team (10/10 Sleeve Portfolio Managers):* Monali Vora, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2018; and Aron Kershner, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2018.

*GSAM Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team(MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve Portfolio Manager)*: Kyri Loupis, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2020.

Buying and Selling Fund Shares<br>

The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is, generally, $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is, generally, $1,000,000 for individual or certain institutional investors, alone or in combination with other assets under the management of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. There is no minimum for initial purchases of Investor, Class R and Class R6 Shares, except for certain institutional investors who purchase Class R6 Shares directly with the Fund's transfer agent for which the minimum initial investment is $5,000,000. Those share classes with a minimum initial investment requirement do not impose it on certain employee benefit plans, and Institutional Shares do not impose it on certain investment advisers investing on behalf of other accounts.

The minimum subsequent investment for Class A and Class C shareholders is $50, except for certain employee benefit plans, for which there is no minimum. There is no minimum subsequent investment for Institutional, Investor, Class R or Class R6 shareholders.

You may purchase and redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on any business day through certain intermediaries that have a relationship with Goldman Sachs, including banks, trust companies, brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions ("Intermediaries").

Tax Information<br>

For important tax information, please see "Tax Information" on page 15 of the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

For important information about financial intermediary compensation, please see "Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries" on page 15 of the Prospectus.

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Dividend Focus Funds –

Additional Summary Information

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tax Information<br>

The Funds' distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal from such arrangements.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

If you purchase a Fund through an Intermediary, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Intermediary and your salesperson to recommend a Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Intermediary's website for more information.

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Investment Management Approach

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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVEs<br>

The Income Builder Fund seeks to provide income and capital appreciation. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income. Each Fund's investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days notice.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES<br>

Income Builder Fund

The Fund seeks to provide income through investments in fixed income securities (bonds) and high dividend paying equities, preferred equities and other similar securities (stocks). The Fund also seeks to provide income by writing call options. The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation primarily through equity securities. The percentage of the portfolio invested in equity and fixed income securities will vary from time to time as the Investment Adviser evaluates such securities' relative attractiveness based on, among other factors, income opportunities, market valuations, economic growth and inflation prospects. The Fund has a baseline allocation to fixed income securities of 60% and to equity securities of 40%. In seeking to meet its investment objective, the Fund has the flexibility to opportunistically tilt the allocation to fixed income and equity securities up to 15% above or below the baseline allocation, measured at the time of investment.

*Equity Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 55% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in equity investments, which include, among others, U.S. common stocks, preferred stocks and ADRs of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries), as well as MLPs, REITs and affiliated and unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs. The Investment Adviser expects that equity investments will be weighted in favor of companies which pay dividends or other current income. While the Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, the Investment Adviser will typically favor equity securities of large-cap companies.

*Fixed Income Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 75% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in fixed income investments. The Fund's fixed income investments may include, among others:

◼

Securities issued by corporations, banks and other issuers, including non-investment grade securities

◼

U.S. Government Securities

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities and foreign corporations or other entities.

The Fund may also seek to obtain exposure to these investments through investments in affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs.

The Fund's investments in foreign fixed income securities may include securities of foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries) and securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

The Fund may invest in both non-investment grade and investment grade fixed income securities. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor's, or Moody's, or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO (or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), at the time of investment. Non-investment grade securities may include, among others, non-investment grade bonds, non-investment grade floating rate loans and other floating or variable rate obligations. With respect to the fixed income portion of its portfolio, the Fund does not maintain a fixed target duration.

*Other Investments.* The Fund may invest without limit in non-U.S. equity and non-U.S. fixed income securities.

In addition to direct investments in equity and fixed income securities the Fund may invest in derivatives, including credit default swaps (including CDX), total return swaps and futures, which can be used for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. The Fund may also utilize various interest rate-related derivatives, including futures and swaps, to manage the duration of its fixed income positions. Additionally, the Fund may hedge its non-dollar investments back to the U.S. dollar through the use of foreign currency derivatives including currency futures and forward foreign currency contracts or invest in such instruments for speculative purposes.

The Fund seeks to generate additional cash flow and may reduce volatility by the sale of call options on the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index or other regional stock market indices (or related ETFs).

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Investment Management Approach

The Fund expects that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will sell put and call options in an amount that is up to 12% of the value of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund expects to sell put and call options that are "out of the money." As the seller of these options, the Fund will receive cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market price of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the call option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the option's underlier (*e.g.*, a security or an index-linked instrument) at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a put option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is below the current market price of the underlier. Conversely, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the option's underlier at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a call option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is above the current market price of the underlier. The Fund expects to sell out-of-the-money put and call options with the same underliers and expiration dates in what is referred to as a "strangle" strategy. Generally, a sold "strangle" position would realize gains from collected premiums when its underlier has a market price that is between the exercise prices of the associated put and call options. Losses may be experienced to the extent that the underlier has a market price that is either below the exercise price of the put option (subtracting any premiums from the exercise price) or above the exercise price of the call option (adding any premiums to the exercise price), *i.e.*, if the strangle position expires "in the money."

The Fund expects to use total return swaps to gain exposure to the above-described option strategy. Income realized with respect to this strategy is generally expected to be characterized as ordinary income, which the Fund may periodically distribute to shareholders. The Fund's transactions in swaps will be subject to special tax rules, which could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. As a result of these rules, the Fund's investment in total return swaps is expected to result in the Fund realizing more ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than if the Fund did not invest in such swaps. Depending upon the type of index call option, the purchaser of a call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index 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 index over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium and makes no payments to the purchaser. 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.

During periods in which the equity markets are generally unchanged or falling, a diversified portfolio with a call option writing strategy may outperform the same portfolio without the options because of the premiums received from writing call options. Similarly, in a modestly rising market (where the income from premiums exceeds the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price) such a portfolio may outperform the same portfolio without the options. However, in other rising markets (where the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price exceeds the income from premiums), a portfolio with a call writing strategy could significantly underperform the same portfolio without the options.

The returns to the options strategy will be characterized as capital gains or losses. These will be aggregated with realized capital gains and losses from the equity portfolio to determine the Fund's net capital gain or loss. The Fund generally will not make a distribution of capital gain unless it ends the year with an overall net capital gain. This means that it is possible the Fund will make no distribution of capital gains in some years even if the options strategy, by itself, generated a gain. If these gains were more than offset by losses from stock transactions, then the gain from the options strategy will remain in the Fund, and add to the Fund's net asset value, but will not be distributed in that year. See "Taxation-Distributions" below.

It is anticipated that the calls will typically be written against the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (or against ETFs linked to the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index) or against other regional stock market indices. The goal of the call writing is to generate an amount of premium that, when annualized and added to the Fund's expected dividend yield, provides an attractive level of cash flow. Call writing, however, entails certain risks. For more information, see "Risks of the Funds" and "Appendix A—Other Portfolio Risks—Risks of Writing Index Call Options."

The Investment Adviser anticipates generally using index call options with expirations of one month or less. Outstanding call options will be rolled forward upon expiration, so that there will generally be some options outstanding.

The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes.

The Fund's benchmarks are the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is an unmanaged index of common stock prices that measures the performance of those Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the large-cap value segment. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are included and that the represented companies continue to reflect value characteristics. The ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index contains all securities in the ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield Index rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody's, S&P and Fitch, but caps issuer exposure at 2%. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not

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exceed 2%. Issuers that exceed the limit are reduced to 2% and the face value of each of their bonds is adjusted on a pro-rata basis. Similarly, the face values of all other issuers that fall below the 2% cap are increased on a pro-rata basis. In the event there are fewer than 50 issuers in the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index, each is equally weighted and the face values of their respective bonds are increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

GSAM US Equity Team's Investment Philosophy:

The following describes GSAM's Value investment philosophy as it relates to the equity portion of the Fund.

***Through intensive, firsthand fundamental research our portfolio team seeks to identify quality businesses selling at compelling valuations.*** 

***1. Businesses represent compelling value when:*** 

◼

Market uncertainty exists.

◼

Their economic value is not recognized by the market.

***2. By quality, we mean companies that have:*** 

◼

Sustainable operating or competitive advantage.

◼

Excellent stewardship of capital.

◼

Capability to earn above their cost of capital.

◼

Strong or improving balance sheets and cash flow.

***3. The Investment Adviser may consider ESG factors as part of the fundamental research and stock selection process.*** 

The GSAM US Equity team may integrate ESG factors alongside traditional fundamental factors as part of its fundamental research process to seek to assess overall business quality and valuation, as well as potential risks. Traditional fundamental factors that the GSAM US Equity team may consider include, but are not limited to, cash flows, balance sheet leverage, return on invested capital, industry dynamics, earnings quality and profitability. ESG factors that the GSAM US Equity team may consider include, but are not limited to, carbon intensity and emissions profiles, workplace health and safety, community impact, governance practices and stakeholder relations, employee relations, board structure, transparency and management incentives. The identification of a risk related to an ESG factor will not necessarily exclude a particular security or sector that, in the GSAM US Equity team's view, is otherwise suitable and attractively priced for investment, and the GSAM US Equity team may invest in a security or sector without integrating ESG factors or considerations into its fundamental investment process. The relevance of specific traditional fundamental factors and ESG factors to the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. The GSAM US Equity team may utilize data sources provided by third-party vendors and/or engage directly with issuers when assessing the above factors.

The GSAM US Equity team employs a fundamental investment process that considers a wide range of factors, and no one factor or consideration is determinative.

As stakeholders, the Funds have a vested interest in helping the companies in which they invest unlock value by improving corporate practices and being thoughtful stewards of capital. As part of its focus on long-term, active ownership, the Investment Adviser may, in certain circumstances, use proxy voting and engagement as some of the tools available to encourage positive corporate decision making and productive change, where possible.

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

On How We Select Securities:

Our investment process is as follows:

***Step 1: Research Prioritization.*** Each sector portfolio manager uses multiple industry/specific valuation metrics to identify real economic value and company potential. The initial universe of equity securities is narrowed down by valuation, profitability and business characteristics, which helps us narrow down to a smaller universe of monitored stocks.

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Investment Management Approach

***Step 2: Rigorous Analysis of Business Fundamentals.*** We then conduct in-depth company research by rebuilding, analyzing and forecasting financial statements, and testing assumptions through meetings with management, competitors, customers and suppliers. For each company, we derive the valuation rationale through probability weighted price targets accounting for various upside and downside risk scenarios. We assess overall business quality, focusing on a company's free cash flow, cost structure, return on invested capital and management quality.

***Step 3: Portfolio Construction.*** A sector portfolio manager, who also acts as the industry research analyst, recommends a stock as a "buy idea" for the Fund. While team feedback is a key input, the sector portfolio manager responsible for that industry makes the final buy/sell decision and is ultimately held accountable. This helps to identify the final securities for the Fund.

Sell Discipline:

As active managers, we believe it is critical to have a clearly defined sell discipline in order to avoid becoming too attached to any single investment. Our sell discipline requires continuous review of the Fund. The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes. In addition, the Investment Adviser may also sell a position in order to meet shareholder redemptions. Business quality, conservative valuation, and thoughtful portfolio construction are the key elements of our value approach.

Fixed Income Investment Philosophy:

Our process:

◼

*Combines diversified sources of return by employing multiple strategies* 

◼

*Takes a global perspective to seek relative value opportunities* 

◼

*Considers a wide range of factors as part of the fundamental investment process, which may include environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors* 

◼

*Employs focused specialist teams to seek to identify short-term mis-pricings and incorporate long-term views* 

◼

*Emphasizes a risk-aware approach as we view management as both an offensive and defensive tool*

GSAM Fixed Income implements this overall philosophy through an investment process that seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns by using a diverse set of investment strategies and revolves around four key elements:

***1. Developing a long-term risk budget***—Lead portfolio managers (the "Portfolio Team") set the strategic direction of a Fund by establishing a "risk budget." The "risk budget" for the Funds is the range the portfolio managers will allow the Funds to deviate from their respective benchmarks with respect to sector allocations, country allocations, securities selection and, to a lesser extent, duration. Following analysis of risk and return objectives, they allocate the overall risk budget to each component strategy to seek to optimize potential return.

***2. Fundamental investment process***—As part of its fundamental investment process, the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may integrate ESG factors alongside traditional fundamental factors to seek to: (i) determine whether a particular fixed income security and/or sector is suitable and attractively priced for investment and (ii) assess their potential impact on the credit quality and spreads of a particular fixed income security. Traditional fundamental factors that the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may consider include, but are not limited to, leverage, earnings, enterprise value, industry trends and macroeconomic factors. ESG factors that the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may consider include, but are not limited to, physical risk (e.g., wildfires, floods, droughts and rising sea levels), carbon intensity and emissions profiles, workplace health and safety, cyber risk, social unrest and equity, governance practices and stakeholder relations, employee relations, board structure and management incentives. The identification of a risk related to an ESG factor will not necessarily exclude a particular fixed income security and/or sector that, in the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team's view, is otherwise suitable and attractively priced for investment, and the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may invest in a security or sector without integrating ESG factors or considerations into its fundamental investment process. The relevance of specific traditional fundamental factors and ESG factors to the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. The Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may utilize data sources provided by third-party vendors and/or engage directly with issuers when assessing the above factors.

***3. Generating investment views and strategies***—Our Top-down and Bottom-up Strategy Teams (collectively, "Strategy Teams") generate investment ideas within their areas of specialization. The Top-down Strategy Teams are responsible for Cross-Sector, Duration, Country and Currency decisions. Concurrently, Bottom-up Strategy Teams, comprised of sector specialists, formulate sub-sector allocation and security selection decisions.

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***4. Constructing the portfolios***—The Portfolio and Strategy Teams construct the Fund's fixed income portfolio through a collaborative process in which the Portfolio Team oversees the overall portfolio while the Strategy Teams actively manage the securities and strategies within their areas of specialization. This process enables the Portfolio Team to build a diversified portfolio consisting of the ideas of the individual Strategy Teams, consistent with the Fund's overall risk and return objectives.

The Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team employs a fundamental investment process that considers a wide range of factors, and no one factor or consideration is determinative.

Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in equity investments of dividend-paying U.S. and foreign companies with market capitalizations of at least $500 million. Shareholders will be provided with sixty days' notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.

<u>10/10 Equity Investments</u> 

The QIS team manages the Fund's 10/10 Sleeve. The Fund will generally invest in common and preferred stocks as well as REITs that meet the 10/10 Test. For purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period. Once a company's stock is purchased by the Fund, if the stock's average annual dividend growth rate declines below approximately 10% per year over a 10-year trailing period, or the company has more than one year-over-year decrease in dividends per share over a 10-year trailing period, the position will generally be sold. The QIS team uses a systematic, rules-based approach, in combination with a qualitative overlay, to select the stocks in which the Fund invests. The Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models, at the discretion of the portfolio managers.

<u>MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investments</u> 

The Investment Adviser's Energy Infrastructure & Renewables team manages the Fund's investments in master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and energy infrastructure companies (the "MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve"). The Fund may invest in MLPs and energy infrastructure companies irrespective of the 10/10 Test. The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally consist of 15% of the Fund's Net Assets but will not exceed 20% of Net Assets measured at the time of purchase.

The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally invest in traditional or alternative midstream (energy infrastructure) businesses, which include businesses that are engaged in the treatment, gathering, compression, processing, transportation, transmission, fractionation, storage, terminalling, wholesale marketing, liquefaction/regasification of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products or other energy sources as well as businesses engaged in owning, storing and transporting alternative energy sources, such as renewables (wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass) and alternative fuels (ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel).

The Fund's investments in derivatives, other investment companies, including ETFs, and other instruments are counted towards the Fund's 80% investment policy to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the investments included within that policy.

The Fund's benchmark is the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index. The S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index is a U.S. stock market index based on the market capitalization of 500 large companies having common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.

Rising Dividend Growth Fund Team's Investment Philosophy

*GSAM's 10/10 Investment Philosophy and Process:* 

Under normal conditions, the QIS team generally seeks to invest in companies that:

◼

Have paid dividends at an increasing rate of 10% per year, on average, over a 10-year trailing period (for purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period)

◼

Have paid those dividends for a minimum of 10 consecutive years

The 10/10 Test is designed to select stocks based on dividend growth and dividend stability. The starting universe of stocks comprises approximately 3,000 U.S. listed stocks (excluding MLPs and ADRs). The universe construction begins by looking at U.S. listed stocks with a market cap greater than $500 million.

Having identified the universe of stocks that meet the 10/10 Test, the QIS team then selects the stocks in which the Fund invests. Stock selection is generally based on dividend stability and earnings quality as well as liquidity constraints. Finally, the QIS team constructs the Fund's portfolio using an optimizer which can incorporate additional considerations, including, but not limited to, risk levels, transaction costs and taxes. The QIS team's investment selection process relies on a systematic rules-based approach in combination with a qualitative overlay.

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Investment Management Approach

As a result of the qualitative overlay, the Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, the QIS team's views regarding the stability of an issuer's dividend as a result of corporate actions (*e.g.,* reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs), industry events and/or trading liquidity. The QIS team also evaluates sector exposures within the 10/10 Sleeve based on the sector exposures of the Fund's benchmark.

In addition, the QIS team may, at its discretion, make changes to its quantitative techniques from time to time based on the team's proprietary research.

*The Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investment Philosophy*:

In managing the Fund's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve, GSAM generally seeks to invest in companies that:

◼

Are committed to distributing cash flow to shareholders/unitholders

◼

Are high quality companies with sustainable business and financial models

◼

Demonstrate an ability to manage their business and thrive through various economic and commodity cycles

Under normal conditions, GSAM selects stocks for the Fund by seeking companies with strong cash flow per share and earnings per share growth potential, and generally places special emphasis on those companies that it believes demonstrate:

◼

High dividend or distribution coverage

◼

Strong balance sheet and liquidity

◼

Cash flow resiliency through various commodity cycles given diversified/critical asset ownership, customer quality and contractual protections

◼

Effective management that operates within a strong corporate governance framework

Each Fund

Each Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, each 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 Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's"), P-2 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or having a comparable rating from 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 a Fund's assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.** 

References in the Prospectus to the Funds' benchmarks are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted are not an indication of how a Fund is managed.

ADDITIONAL FEES AND EXPENSES INFORMATION<br>

Differences in the "Expense Limitation" ratios across a Fund's share classes are the result of, among other things, the effect of mathematical rounding on the daily accrual of expense reimbursement, particularly, in respect to share classes with small amounts of assets.

Differences in the "Other Expenses" ratios across a Fund's share classes are the result of, among other things, contractual differences in transfer agency fees and/or the effect of mathematical rounding on the daily accrual of certain expenses, particularly, in respect to share classes with small amounts of assets.

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION<br>

The below is additional information that relates to the "Performance" section of each Fund's summary section.

Note that the "Best Quarter" and "Worst Quarter" figures shown in the "Performance" section of each Fund's Summary section are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.

These definitions apply to the after-tax returns shown in the "Performance" section of each Fund's Summary section.

***Average Annual Total Returns Before Taxes.*** These returns do not reflect taxes on distributions on a Fund's Shares nor do they show how performance can be impacted by taxes when shares are redeemed (sold) by you.

***Average Annual Total Returns After Taxes on Distributions.*** These returns assume that taxes are paid on distributions on a Fund's Class A Shares (*i.e.*, dividends and capital gains) but do not reflect taxes that may be incurred upon redemption (sale) of the Class A Shares at the end of the performance period.

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***Average Annual Total Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares.*** These returns reflect taxes paid on distributions on a Fund's Class A Shares and taxes applicable when the shares are redeemed (sold).

***Note on Tax Rates.*** The after-tax performance figures are calculated using the historically highest individual federal marginal income tax rates at the time of the distributions and do not reflect state and local taxes. In calculating the federal income taxes due on redemptions, capital gains taxes resulting from a redemption are subtracted from the redemption proceeds and the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from the redemption are added to the redemption proceeds. Under certain circumstances, the addition of the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from redemptions may cause the Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares to be greater than the Returns After Taxes on Distributions or even the Returns Before Taxes.

OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES<br>

Although each 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 Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The tables also highlight the differences and similarities among the Funds in their use of these techniques and other investment practices and investment securities. Numbers in these tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds' annual/semiannual reports. For more information about these and other investment practices and securities, see Appendix A.

The Income Builder Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a thirty day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The Income Builder Fund may, at its discretion, publish these holdings earlier, if deemed necessary by the Fund. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings 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. In addition, the Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, a description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Funds' SAI.

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Investment Management Approach

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| *10* Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral) (italic type)<br> 10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)<br> • No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund<br> — Not permitted<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income**<br> **Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| **Investment Practices** |  |  |
| Borrowings | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* |
| Credit, Currency, Equity, Index, Interest Rate, Total Return and Mortgage Swaps and Options on Swaps | •  | •  |
| Cross Hedging of Currencies | •  | •  |
| Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates | •  | •  |
| Foreign Currency Transactions (including forward contracts) | •  | •  |
| Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures) | •  | •  |
| Illiquid Investments\* | 15 | 15 |
| Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs") | •  | •  |
| Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars | •  | *—* |
| Investment Company Securities (including ETFs)<sup>1</sup> <br>| *10* | *10* |
| Mortgage Dollar Rolls | •  | •  |
| Options on Foreign Currencies<sup>2</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Options on Securities and Securities Indices<sup>3</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights | •  | •  |
| Repurchase Agreements | •  | •  |
| Reverse Repurchase Agreements (for investment purposes) | •  | *—* |
| Securities Lending | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* |
| Short Sales Against the Box | *25* | 25 |
| Unseasoned Companies | •  | •  |
| When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments | •  | •  |

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*\**

*Illiquid investments are any investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.* 

*1* 

*This percentage limitation does not apply to a Fund's investments in investment companies (including ETFs) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the Investment Company Act or rules, regulations or exemptive relief thereunder.* 

*2* 

*Each Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.* 

*3* 

*Each Fund may sell call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and other instruments in which a Fund may invest or any index consisting of securities or other instruments in which it may invest.* 

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| *10* Percent of total assets (italic type)<br> 10 Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)<br> • No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund<br> — Not permitted<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income**<br> **Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| **Investment Securities** |  |  |
| American, European and Global Depositary Receipts | •  | •  |
| Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Bank Obligations<sup>5</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Collateralized Loan Obligations | •  |  |
| Convertible Securities<sup>6</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Corporate Debt Obligations<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Equity Investments | *25-55* | *80+* |
| Emerging Country Securities | •  | •  |
| Fixed Income Securities | *45-75* | *20* |
| Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | •  | *—* |
| Foreign Government Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •<sup>6</sup> <br>| •  |
| Foreign Securities | •  | •  |
| Loan Participations and Loan Assignments | •  |  |
| Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs") | •  | 20 |
| Municipal Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  |  |
| Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities<sup>4,7</sup> <br>| •<sup>6</sup> | *20* |
| Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights | •  |  |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") | •  | •  |
| Second Lien Loans | •  |  |
| Senior Loans | •  |  |
| Structured Securities (which may include equity or credit linked notes) | •  | •  |
| Temporary Investments | •  | •  |
| U.S. Government Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Yield Curve Options and Inverse Floating Rate Securities | •  |  |

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*4* 

*Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.* 

*5* 

*Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities. Each Fund may invest in bank obligations issued by U.S. or foreign banks.* 

*6* 

*The Income Builder Fund has no minimum credit rating for convertible debt securities. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund uses the same credit rating criteria for convertible and non-convertible debt securities.* 

*7* 

*May be rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's, Ba1 or lower by Moody's or have a comparable credit rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.*

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Risks of the Fund

Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund (which, for the remainder of this Prospectus, refers to one or more of the Funds offered in this Prospectus). 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 sections 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 risks applicable to the Fund are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ✓ Principal Risk<br> • Additional Risk<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| Call/Prepayment | •  | •  |
| Contingent Convertible Instruments | •  |  |
| Credit/Default | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cybersecurity | •  | •  |
| Depositary Receipts | •  |  |
| Derivatives | ✓ | •  |
| Dividend-Paying Investments Risk | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emerging Countries | ✓ | ✓ |
| Energy Sector | •  | ✓ |
| ESG Integration | •  |  |
| Extension | •  | •  |
| Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | •  |  |
| Foreign | ✓ | ✓ |
| Foreign Custody | •  |  |
| Geographic | •  | •  |
| Infrastructure risk |  | ✓ |
| Interest Rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investment Style | ✓ | ✓ |
| IPO | •  | •  |
| Large Shareholder Transactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Liquidity | •  | •  |
| Loan-Related Investments | ✓ |  |
| Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Market | ✓ | ✓ |
| Master Limited Partnership | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mid-Cap and Small-Cap | •  | ✓ |
| Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities | •  | •  |
| NAV | •  | •  |
| Non-Hedging Foreign Currency Trading | •  | •  |
| Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities | ✓ | •  |
| Option Writing Risk | ✓ |  |
| Other Investments | ✓ | ✓ |
| REIT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sovereign Default | •  | •  |
| Stock | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swaps Risk | •  |  |
| Tax |  | ✓ |
| U.S. Government Securities | •  | •  |

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◼

***Call/Prepayment Risk*—**An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-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.

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◼

***Contingent Convertible Instruments Risk***—Contingent convertible securities ("CoCos") are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain "triggers." The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution's continued viability as a going-concern. CoCos' unique equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuing banking institution and its regulatory requirements. Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, among others, loss absorption risk, risk as subordinated instruments, and risk that its market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors.

◼

***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. 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 holdings may impair the Fund's liquidity and have the potential to cause significant deterioration in NAV. These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in connection with the Fund's investments in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

◼

***Cybersecurity Risk***—The Fund may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from 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 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. Cyber-attacks affecting the Fund or its Investment Adviser, custodian, Transfer Agent, or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders.

◼

***Depositary Receipts Risk***—Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), and Taiwanese Depositary Receipts ("TDRs") (collectively "Depositary Receipts"). To the extent the Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do not have a contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack of information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary Receipts is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. The issuers of Depositary Receipts may discontinue issuing new Depositary Receipts and withdraw existing Depositary Receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund's performance.

◼

***Derivatives Risk—***The Fund's use of derivatives and other similar instruments (collectively referred to in this paragraph as "derivatives") may result in losses, including due to adverse market movements. Derivatives, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other assets and instruments, may increase market exposure and be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of the underlying assets or 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, or lacks the capacity or authority to fulfill, its contractual obligations, liquidity risk, which includes the risk that the Fund will not be able to close its derivatives position when it is advantageous to do so, and 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. 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, currency prices 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. In addition, there is 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. Derivatives are also subject to liquidity risk and risks arising from margin requirements. There is also risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuation in securities prices, interest rates, currency prices or other variables.

------

Risks of the Fund

The use of derivatives is also subject to operational and legal risks. Operational risks generally refer to risks related to potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls, and human error. Legal risks generally refer to risks of loss resulting from insufficient documentation or legality or enforceability of a contract.

◼

***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk***—The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ a different investment style. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. For example, in response to the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19), the U.S. Government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March 2020, which established loan programs for certain issuers impacted by COVID-19. Among other conditions, borrowers under these loan programs are generally restricted from paying dividends. The adoption of new legislation could further limit or restrict the ability of issuers to pay dividends. To the extent that dividend-paying securities are concentrated in only a few market sectors, the Fund may be subject to the risks of volatile economic cycles and/or conditions or developments that may be particular to a sector to a greater extent than if its investments were diversified across different sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. A sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause an issuer to abruptly reduce or eliminate its dividend. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

◼

***Emerging Countries Risk—***Investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries are subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities. The securities markets of most emerging countries are less liquid, developed and efficient, are subject to greater price volatility, and have smaller market capitalizations. In addition, emerging markets and frontier countries may have more or less government regulation and generally do not impose as extensive and frequent accounting, auditing, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries. As a result, there could be less information available about issuers in emerging and frontier market countries, which could negatively affect the Investment Adviser's ability to evaluate local companies or their potential impact on the Fund's performance. Further, investments in securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries involve the risk of loss resulting from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, substantial economic, political and social disruptions and the imposition of sanctions or exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions). The legal remedies for investors in emerging and frontier markets may be more limited than the remedies available in the U.S., and the ability of U.S. authorities (*e.g.*, SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. These risks are not normally associated with investments in more developed countries. For more information about these risks, please see Appendix A.

◼

***Energy Sector Risk***—The Fund invests in companies in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, business, social, political, environmental, regulatory or other occurrences affecting that sector. The energy sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. At times, the performance of these investments may lag the performance of other sectors or the market as a whole. MLPs, energy infrastructure companies and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others: fluctuations in commodity prices and/or interest rates; increased governmental or environmental regulation; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; declines in domestic or foreign production; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Energy companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, particular energy products (such as oil and natural gas), which may result in overproduction or underproduction. Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

During periods of heightened volatility, energy producers that are burdened with debt may seek bankruptcy relief. Bankruptcy laws may permit the revocation or renegotiation of contracts between energy producers and MLPs/energy infrastructure companies, which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of MLPs/energy infrastructure companies to pay distributions to their investors, including the Fund, which in turn could impact the ability of the Fund to pay dividends and dramatically impact the value of such Fund's investments.

MLPs may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and the substances they handle. Changes in existing laws, regulations or enforcement policies governing the energy sector could significantly increase the compliance costs of MLPs. Certain MLPs could, from time to time, be held responsible for implementing remediation measures, the cost of which may not be recoverable from insurance. The Fund will select its investments in MLPs from the current small pool of issuers. Demand for investment opportunities in MLPs that operate energy-related businesses may exceed supply, which could make it difficult to operate the Fund.

◼

***ESG Integration Risk***—The Investment Adviser employs a fundamental investment process that may integrate ESG factors with traditional fundamental factors. The relevance and weightings of specific ESG factors to or within the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies and no one factor or consideration is determinative. When integrating ESG

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factors into the investment process, the Investment Adviser may rely on third-party data that it believes to be reliable, but it does not guarantee the accuracy of such third-party data. ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which may adversely impact the investment process. Moreover, ESG information, whether from an external and/or internal source, is, by nature and in many instances, based on a qualitative and subjective assessment. An element of subjectivity and discretion is therefore inherent to the interpretation and use of ESG data. The process for conducting ESG assessments and implementation of ESG views in client/fund portfolios, including the format and content of such analysis and the tools and/or data used to perform such analysis, may also vary among the Investment Adviser's portfolio management teams. While the Investment Adviser believes that the integration of material ESG factors into the Fund's investment process has the potential to identify financial risks and contribute to the Fund's long-term performance, ESG factors may not be considered for each and every investment decision, and there is no guarantee that the integration of ESG factors will result in better performance. Investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. Moreover, the current lack of common standards may result in different approaches to integrating ESG factors. As a result, the Fund may invest in companies that do not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The Investment Adviser's approach to ESG integration may evolve and develop over time, both due to a refinement of investment decision-making processes to address ESG factors and risks, and because of legal and regulatory developments.

◼

***Extension Risk***—An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-backed security) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to reinvest in higher yielding securities.

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***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, monthly, 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 the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). 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.

At the end of 2021, certain LIBORs were discontinued, but the most widely used LIBORs may continue to be provided on a representative basis until June 30, 2023. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any pricing adjustments to the Fund's investments resulting from a substitute reference rate may adversely affect the Fund's performance and/or NAV.

SOFR is a measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by the U.S. Treasury securities, and is based on directly observable U.S. Treasury-backed repurchase transactions.

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***Foreign Risk***—When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to risk of loss not typically associated with U.S. issuers. Loss may result because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; less liquid, developed or efficient trading markets, greater volatility and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. Loss may also result from, among other things, deteriorating economic and business conditions in other countries, including the United States, regional and global conflicts, the imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), foreign taxes, confiscation of assets and property, trade restrictions (including tariffs), expropriations and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, higher transaction costs, difficulty enforcing contractual obligations or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country's currency, and

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Risks of the Fund

increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. The Fund or the Investment Adviser may determine not to invest in, or may limit its overall investment in, a particular issuer, country or geographic region due to, among other things, heightened risks regarding sanctions, repatriation restrictions, confiscation of assets and property, expropriation or nationalization. Geopolitical developments in certain countries in which the Fund may invest have caused, or may in the future cause, significant volatility in financial markets. These and other geopolitical developments, including ongoing regional armed conflict in Europe and elsewhere, could negatively impact the value of the Fund's investments.

The Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in emerging countries. For more information about these risks, see Appendix A.

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***Foreign Custody Risk***—The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund's custodian (each a "Foreign Custodian"). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund's ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging countries are very often under-developed and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.

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***Geographic Risk—***If the Fund focuses its investments in securities of issuers located in a particular country or geographic region, the Fund may be subjected, to a greater extent than if its investments were less focused, to the risks of volatile economic cycles and/or conditions and developments that may be particular to that country or region, such as: adverse securities markets; adverse exchange rates; adverse social, political, regulatory, economic, business, environmental or other developments; or natural disasters.

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***Infrastructure Company Risk—***Infrastructure companies are susceptible to various factors that may negatively impact their businesses or operations, including costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental, governmental and other regulations, rising interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of general economic conditions throughout the world, surplus capacity and depletion concerns, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel and other natural resources at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies, unfavorable tax laws or accounting policies and high leverage.

Infrastructure companies will also be affected by innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete, significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company's products, inexperience with and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment, increased susceptibility to terrorist attacks and natural or man-made disasters and other natural risks (including earthquakes, floods, lightning, hurricanes, tsunamis and wind). Infrastructure companies also face operating risks, including the risk of fire, explosions, leaks, mining and drilling accidents or other catastrophic events.

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***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the markets in which the Fund invests.

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***Investment Style Risk***—Different investment styles (e.g., "growth," "value," or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Examples of different investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor

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perceptions of the issuing company's growth of earnings potential. Growth companies are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors.

Within the "growth" investment style, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund places an emphasis on companies with rising dividend payments, which may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not have the same strategy. Securities that pay high dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay high dividends. Additionally, a sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause a company to reduce or eliminate its dividend.

The Rising Dividend Growth Fund also employs a "quantitative" style, and may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.

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***IPO Risk—***The market value of shares issued in an IPO may fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about a company's business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential, and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. Investments in IPO shares, which are subject to market risk and liquidity risk, involve greater risks than investments in shares of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time.

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***Large Shareholder Transactions Risk***—The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders, such as other funds, institutional investors (including those trading by use of non-discretionary mathematical formulas), financial intermediaries (who may make investment decisions on behalf of underlying clients and/or include the Fund in their investment model), individuals, accounts and Goldman Sachs affiliates, purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

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***Liquidity Risk—***The Fund may invest in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes, that are less liquid than other investments and/or that may become illiquid or 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 and more difficult to sell at the desired times and prices. 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.

Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a willing buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities' resale. In addition, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries in which the Fund may invest, or all securities within a particular investment category in which the Fund may invest, may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events (including periods of rapid interest rate changes), or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Liquidity risk is heightened during these periods.

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 decreased liquidity.

Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period stated in the Fund's prospectus or without significant dilution to remaining investors' interests because of unusual market conditions, declining prices of the securities sold, 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 and prices, such sales may adversely affect the Fund's NAV and dilute remaining investors' interests.

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Risks of the Fund

Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund's shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund's liquidity risk and may impact the Fund's NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, funds of funds, discretionary advisory clients, accounts or Goldman Sachs affiliates and other shareholders, whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.

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***Loan-Related Investments Risk—***In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment. Many loan investments are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and certain loan investments may be or become illiquid or less liquid and more difficult to value, particularly in the event of a downgrade of the loan or the borrower. There is less readily available, reliable information about most loan investments than is the case for many other types of securities, and the Investment Adviser relies primarily on its own evaluation of a borrower's credit quality rather than on any available independent sources. The ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a loan investment may be impaired by the lack of an active trading market for certain loans or adverse market conditions limiting liquidity. Loan obligations are not traded on an exchange, and purchasers and sellers rely on certain market makers, such as the administrative agent for the particular loan obligation, to trade that loan obligation. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for loan obligations, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, the Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available). The Fund may also hold a larger position in cash and cash items to limit the impact of extended trade settlement periods, which may adversely impact the Fund's performance. Substantial increases in interest rates may cause an increase in loan obligation defaults.

Affiliates of the Investment Adviser may participate in the primary and secondary market for loans. Because of limitations imposed by applicable law, the presence of such affiliates in the loan markets may restrict the Fund's ability to acquire certain loans, affect the timing of such acquisition, or affect the price at which the loan is acquired.

With respect to loan participations, the Fund may not always have direct recourse against a borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and/or interest; may be subject to greater delays, expenses and risks than if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the borrower; and may be regarded as the creditor of the agent lender (rather than the borrower), subjecting the Fund to the creditworthiness of that lender as well and the ability of the lender to enforce appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a business entity, and are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. Nevertheless, senior loans are usually rated below investment grade. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for subordinated unsecured loans or debt, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral. Second lien loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

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***Management Risk***—A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results. The Investment Adviser attempts to execute a complex strategy for the Rising Dividend Growth Fund using proprietary quantitative models. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends, the speed that market conditions change and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues). The use of proprietary quantitative models could be adversely impacted by unforeseeable software or hardware malfunction and other technological failures, power loss, software bugs, malicious code such as "worms," viruses or system crashes or various other events or circumstances within or beyond the control of the Investment Adviser. Certain of these events or circumstances may be difficult to detect.

Models that have been formulated on the basis of past market data may not be predictive of future price movements. Models may not be reliable if unusual or disruptive events cause market movements, the nature or size of which are inconsistent with the historical performance of individual markets and their relationship to one another or to other macroeconomic events. Models also

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rely heavily on data that may be licensed from a variety of sources, and the functionality of the models depends, in part, on the accuracy of voluminous data inputs. There is no guarantee that the Investment Adviser's use of these quantitative models will result in effective investment decisions for the Rising Dividend Growth Fund. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative money managers may amplify losses.

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***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. Furthermore, local, regional and global events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also adversely impact issuers, markets and economies, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. The Fund could be negatively impacted if the value of a portfolio holding were harmed by such political or economic conditions or events. 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.

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***Master Limited Partnership Risk***—Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price, resulting from regulatory changes or other reasons. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Investment in those MLPs may restrict the Fund's ability to take advantage of other investment opportunities. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

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

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***Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk—***The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies often have narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of a Fund's portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks become.

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***Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk—***Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to credit/default, interest rate and certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if the Fund holds mortgage-backed securities, it may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. Due to these risks, asset-backed securities may become more volatile in certain interest rate environments.

The Fund's investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-backed securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. Asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral comparable to that of mortgage assets, resulting in additional credit risk.

The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. Government (see "U.S. Government Securities Risk"). To the extent that the Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers are supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. There can be

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Risks of the Fund

no assurance that the private insurers can meet their obligations under the policies. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages or during periods of rising interest rates. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages.

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

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***Non-Hedging Foreign Currency Trading Risk—***The Fund may engage in forward foreign currency transactions for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. The Fund's Investment Adviser may purchase or sell foreign currencies through the use of forward contracts based on the Investment Adviser's judgment regarding the direction of the market for a particular foreign currency or currencies. In pursuing this strategy, the Investment Adviser seeks to profit from anticipated movements in currency rates by establishing "long" and/or "short" positions in forward contracts on various foreign currencies. Foreign exchange rates can be extremely volatile and a variance in the degree of volatility of the market or in the direction of the market from the Investment Adviser's expectations may produce significant losses to the Fund. Some of the transactions may also be subject to interest rate risk.

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***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.

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***Option Writing Risk***—When the Fund writes (sells) a call or put option, it receives up-front cash (the premium) at the time of selling the option but limits its opportunity to profit from an increase or decrease, respectively, in the market value of the reference security beyond the exercise price of the option. In a sharp rising or falling market, the Fund could significantly underperform the market or other portfolios without an option writing strategy. The Fund could also experience a sudden, significant permanent loss due to dramatic movements in the market value of a reference security, which may far exceed the premiums received for writing the option. Such significant losses could cause significant deteriorations in the Fund's NAV. The premium received from the Fund's option strategies may not fully protect it against market movements. Cash received from premiums will enhance return in moderately rising or falling markets, but the Fund will continue to bear the risk of movements in the value of the investments held in its portfolio. The benefit from writing an option is limited to the amount of premium received.

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***Other Investments Risk*** — By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

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***REIT Risk***— Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are also subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. REITs may also fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income or may fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

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***Sovereign Default Risk—***The issuer of non-U.S. sovereign debt held by the Fund or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay the principal or interest when due. This may result from political or social factors, the general economic environment of a country or levels of borrowing rates, foreign debt, or foreign currency exchange rates.

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***Economic Risk***—The risks associated with the general economic environment of a country. These can encompass, among other things, low quality and growth rate of Gross Domestic Product ("GDP"), high inflation or deflation, high government deficits as a percentage of GDP, weak financial sector, overvalued exchange rate, and high current account deficits as a percentage of GDP.

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***Political Risk***—The risks associated with the general political and social environment of a country. These factors may include among other things government instability, poor socioeconomic conditions, corruption, lack of law and order, lack of democratic accountability, poor quality of the bureaucracy, internal and external conflict, the imposition of international sanctions, and religious and ethnic tensions. High political risk can impede the economic welfare of a country.

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***Repayment Risk***—A country may be unable to pay its external debt obligations in the immediate future. Repayment risk factors may include but are not limited to high foreign debt as a percentage of GDP, high borrowing rates (which may increase in market environments where interest rates are rising), high foreign debt service as a percentage of exports, low foreign exchange reserves as a percentage of short-term debt or exports, and an unsustainable exchange rate structure.

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***Stock Risk—***Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future. Stock prices may fluctuate from time to time in response to the activities of individual companies and in response to general market and economic conditions. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments, and the stock prices of such companies may suffer a decline in response.

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***Swaps Risk—***The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniquesand risk analyses different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund's transactions in swaps may be significant. These transactions can result in sizeable realized and unrealized capital gains and losses relative to the gains and losses from the Fund's direct investments in securities and short sales.

Transactions in swaps can involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in securities directly since, in addition to general market risks, swaps may be leveraged and 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, which are transacted through a futures commission merchant and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty. Because uncleared, bilateral swap agreements are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, these swaps may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty. Many swaps are complex and 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 initiate 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.

The value of swaps can be very volatile, and a variance in the degree of volatility or in the direction of securities prices from the expectations of the Fund's Investment Adviser may produce significant losses in the Fund's investments in swaps. In addition, a perfect correlation between a swap and a security position may be impossible to achieve. As a result, the Investment Adviser's use of swaps may not be effective in fulfilling the Investment Adviser's investment strategies and may contribute to losses that would not have been incurred otherwise.

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***Tax Risk***—Much of the benefit that the Fund may derive from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which the Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

◼

***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

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Risks of the Fund

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 Agency ("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 its associated risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the investment risks discussed in this section and in Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.

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Service Providers

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

INVESTMENT ADVISER<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Investment Adviser** | **Fund** |
| Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. ("GSAM")<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Income Builder <br> Rising Dividend Growth<br>|

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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 December 31, 2022, GSAM, including its investment advisory affiliates, had assets under supervision of approximately $2.3 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 the U.S. and foreign 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.

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Service Providers

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES<br>

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

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Contractual** <br> **Management Fee**<br> **Annual Rate**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Average Daily**<br> **Net Assets**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Actual Rate** <br> **For the Fiscal** <br> **Year Ended** <br> **October 31, 2022\***<br>|
| Income Builder | 0.54% | First $1 Billion | 0.41% |
|  | 0.49% | Next $1 Billion |  |
|  | 0.46% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.45% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.44% | Over $8 Billion |  |
| Rising Dividend Growth | 0.75% | First $1 Billion | 0.67% |
|  | 0.68% | Next $1 Billion |  |
|  | 0.64% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.63% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.62% | Over $8 Billion |  |

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*\**

*The Actual Rate may not correlate to the Contractual Management Fee Annual Rate as a result of management fee waivers that may be in effect from time to time.*

The Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee of 0.44% and 0.65% as an annual percentage of the average daily net assets of the Income Builder Fund and Rising Dividend Growth Fund, respectively, through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

In addition to the management fee waiver described above, the Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its advisory fee, including fees earned as the Investment Adviser to any of the affiliated funds in which the Funds invest from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund's annual report dated October 31, 2022.

The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of average daily net assets for each Fund through at least February 28, 2024, 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 and transfer agency fee credits received by the Fund.

FUND MANAGERS<br>

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, development and maintenance of quantitative models and processes in combination with a qualitative overlay, asset allocation, risk budgeting and general oversight of the management of the Fund's portfolios.

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Income Builder Fund

Goldman Sachs Fundamental Equity Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Kevin Martens** <br> **Vice President**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2022**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Martens joined the Investment Adviser in 2015. He is a** <br> **portfolio manager on the Fundamental Equity U.S. Equity** <br> **Team.**<br>|
| **Charles "Brook" Dane** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Value Equity)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2016**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Dane is a portfolio manager on the US Equity Team.** <br> **Before joining the Investment Adviser, Mr. Dane was a Senior** <br> **Vice President at Putnam Investments. Prior to that, he was** <br> **an Associate at Dane, Falb, Stone & Co.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Ashish Shah** <br> **Managing Director,** <br> **Co-Chief Investment Officer,** <br> **Global Fixed Income**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Credit)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2019**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Shah is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed** <br> **Income, Global Head of Corporate Credit and Head of the** <br> **Cross-Sector Strategy within Fixed Income. Mr. Shah joined** <br> **the Investment Adviser in 2018. Mr. Shah was previously at** <br> **AllianceBernstein from 2010 to 2018, where he was most** <br> **recently the Head of Fixed Income and Chief Investment** <br> **Officer of Global Credit.**<br>|
| **Ron Arons** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Credit)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2013**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Arons joined the Investment Adviser as a fixed income** <br> **portfolio manager in 2010.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions ("MAS") Group

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Neill Nuttall** <br> **Managing Director, Co-Chief** <br> **Investment Officer**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2021**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Nuttall is a Managing Director and the Co-Chief** <br> **Investment Officer in the MAS Group in GSAM. He joined the** <br> **Investment Adviser in 2014.**<br>|
| **Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2022**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mrs. Wilson-Elizondo is a Managing Director in the MAS** <br> **Group in GSAM. Prior to joining the InvestmentAdviser in** <br> **2021, Mrs. Wilson-Elizondo was the Deputy Head of Global** <br> **Credit and a Managing Director at MacKay Shields LLC which** <br> **she joined in 2015.**<br>|

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Rising Dividend Growth Fund

GSAM Quantitative Investment Strategies ("QIS") Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Monali Vora, CFA** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2018**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Ms. Vora is a member of the Customized Beta Strategies** <br> **team. Prior to working in the Customized Beta Strategies** <br> **team, she spent six years as a member of the QIS Equity** <br> **Portfolio team. Ms. Vora joined the Investment Adviser in** <br> **2000.**<br>|
| **Aron Kershner** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2018**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Kershner is a Portfolio Manager on the QIS team and** <br> **joined the Investment Adviser in 2005.**<br>|

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Service Providers

GSAM Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Kyri Loupis** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2020**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Loupis joined the Investment Adviser in 2009 and is a** <br> **portfolio manager and head of the Energy Infrastructure &** <br> **Renewables team.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions ("MAS") Group

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Siwen Wu** <br> **Vice President**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth** <br> **Fund (Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2021**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Wu is a Vice President in the MAS Group. He is a portfolio** <br> **manager focused on multi-asset investment funds,** <br> **institutional clients and alternative risk premiastrategies.** <br> **Mr. Wu joined the firm in 2011.**<br>|

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Each Fund

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<br>

Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the "Distributor") of the Fund's shares. Goldman Sachs, P.O. Box 806395, Chicago, IL 60680-4125, also serves as the Fund's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.

For its transfer agency services, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a transfer agency fee equal, on an annualized basis, to 0.03% of average daily net assets with respect to Class R6 Shares, 0.04% of average daily net assets with respect to the Institutional Shares, 0.12% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C, and Investor Shares of the Income Builder Fund, and 0.16% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shares of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund.

Goldman Sachs has agreed to waive a portion of its transfer agency fee (a component of "Other Expenses") equal to 0.04% as an annual percentage rate of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shares, as applicable, of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date, Goldman Sachs may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees. 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp; ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER <br> ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS<br>

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 will present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund and will, under certain circumstances, 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 individuals. As such, it acts as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, investment banker, underwriter, research provider, administrator, financier, adviser, market maker, trader, prime broker, derivatives dealer, clearing agent, lender, counterparty, agent , principal, distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated investment funds (including pooled investment vehicles and private funds) in which one or more accounts, including the Fund, invest. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates advise and deal with clients and third parties in all markets and transactions and purchase, sell, hold and recommend a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for their own accounts or for the accounts of their customers and have other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loans and other markets in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. Thus, it is expected 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 and its affiliates perform or seek to perform investment banking or other services. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds (as defined below). The Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although management fees paid by the Fund to the Investment Adviser and certain other

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fees paid to the Investment Adviser's affiliates are based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and the Investment Adviser and its affiliates will still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. 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, will likely 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 and its affiliates or their 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 and its affiliates or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates 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 Advisers may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund's activities will, under certain circumstances, 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 and its affiliates also provide 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 are expected to create markets or specialize in, have positions in and/or effect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and will likely also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial services for one or more of those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are expected to 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 section entitled "Potential Conflicts of Interest" in the SAI.

The Fund, will from time to time, 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.

Under a securities lending program approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund has retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as a securities lending agent for the Fund to the extent that the Fund engages in the securities lending program. For these services, the lending agent would receive a fee from the Fund, including a fee based on the returns earned on the Fund's investment of the cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. The Board of Trustees periodically reviews reports on portfolio securities loan transactions for which an affiliated lending agent has acted as lending agent.

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Distributions

The Fund pays distributions from its investment income and from net realized capital gains. You may choose to have distributions paid in:

◼

Cash

◼

Additional shares of the same class of the same Fund

◼

Shares of the same or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund. Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.

You may indicate your election on your account application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone, in some instances, to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Intermediary) at any time before the record date for a particular distribution. If you do not indicate any choice, your distributions will be reinvested automatically in the Fund. If cash distributions are elected with respect to the Fund's distributions from net investment income, then cash distributions must also be elected with respect to the net short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund's distributions.

The election to reinvest 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 from net capital gains are normally declared and paid as follows:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Income**<br> **Distributions**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Capital Gains**<br> **Distributions**<br>|
| Income Builder | Monthly | Annually |
| Rising Dividend Growth | Quarterly | Annually |

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In addition to the net investment income dividends declared and paid monthly or quarterly as applicable, a 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. In addition, a Fund may occasionally make a distribution at a time when it is not normally made.

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

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Shareholder Guide

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

How To Buy Shares<br>

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?

You may purchase shares of the Fund through certain intermediaries that have a relationship with Goldman Sachs, including banks, trust companies, brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions ("Intermediaries"). Certain Intermediaries have been authorized by Goldman Sachs Trust (the "Trust") to accept purchase, redemption or exchange 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 Intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund (*i.e*., an Authorized Institution). In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to your Intermediary the information in the account application.

**The decision as to which class to purchase depends on the amount you invest, the intended length of the investment and your personal situation. You should contact your Intermediary to discuss which share class option is right for you.** 

**Note: Intermediaries may receive different compensation for selling different share classes.** 

To open an account, contact your Intermediary. Customers of an Intermediary will normally give their order instructions to the 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, redemption or exchange 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 (adjusted for any applicable sales charge) next determined after acceptance by the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, by an Authorized Institution). For shareholders that place trades directly with the Fund's Transfer Agent, proper form generally means that specific trade details and customer identifying information must be received by the Transfer Agent at the time an order is submitted. Intermediaries of the Fund may have different requirements regarding what constitutes proper form for trade instructions. Please contact your Intermediary for more information.

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.

Investor and Class R Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Investor and Class R Shares generally are available only to Section 401(k), 403(b), 457, profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and non-qualified pension plans or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans that are sponsored by one or more employers (including governmental or church employers) or employee organizations ("Employee Benefit Plans"). Investor Shares may also be sold to accounts established under a fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by an Intermediary that has entered into a contractual relationship with Goldman Sachs to offer such shares through such programs ("Eligible Fee-Based Program"). Investor and Class R Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), SEPs and SARSEPs; except that Investor Shares are available to such accounts or plans to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program. Employee Benefit Plans and Eligible Fee-Based Programs must purchase Investor or Class R Shares through an Intermediary using a plan level or omnibus account.

Employee Benefit Plans generally may open an account and purchase Investor and/or Class R Shares through Intermediaries, financial planners, Employee Benefit Plan administrators and other financial intermediaries. Investor and/or Class R Shares may not be available through certain Intermediaries.

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Shareholder Guide

Class R6 Shares are generally available to the following investors who purchase shares of the Fund through certain Intermediaries that have a contractual relationship with Goldman Sachs, including banks, trust companies, brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions, using a plan level or omnibus account, unless otherwise noted below.

◼

Investors who purchase Class R6 Shares through an Eligible Fee-Based Program;

◼

Employee Benefit Plans;

◼

Registered investment companies or bank collective trusts investing directly with the Transfer Agent;

◼

Institutional investors, including companies, foundations, endowments, municipalities, trusts and other entities, investing at least $5,000,000 directly with the Transfer Agent; and

◼

Other investors at the discretion of the Trust's officers.

Class R6 Shares may not be available through certain Intermediaries. For the purposes of Class R6 Shares eligibility, the term "Intermediary" does not include Goldman Sachs or its affiliates and Class R6 Shares will not be available to clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management, The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware or The Ayco Company, L.P.

What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?

For each of your accounts investing in Class A or Class C Shares, the following investment minimums must be met:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Initial** | **Additional\*** |
| Regular Accounts | $1000 | $50 |
| Employee Benefit Plans | No Minimum | No Minimum |
| Uniform Gift/Transfer to Minors Accounts (UGMA/UTMA) | $250 | $50 |
| Individual Retirement Accounts and Coverdell ESAs | $250 | $50 |
| Automatic Investment Plan Accounts | $250 | $50 |

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*\**

*No minimum additional investment requirements are imposed with respect to investors trading through Intermediaries who aggregate shares in omnibus or similar accounts (e.g., employee benefit plan accounts, wrap program accounts or traditional brokerage house accounts). A maximum purchase limitation of $1,000,000 in the aggregate normally applies to purchases of Class C Shares across all Goldman Sachs Funds ($250,000 in the case of the Income Builder Fund).* 

For Institutional Shares, the minimum initial investment is $1,000,000 for individual or Institutional Investors, alone or in combination with other assets under the management of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, except that no initial minimum will be imposed on (i) Employee Benefit Plans that hold their Institutional Shares through plan-level or omnibus accounts; or (ii) investment advisers investing for accounts for which they receive asset-based fees where the investment adviser or its Intermediary purchases Institutional Shares through an omnibus account. For this purpose, "Institutional Investors" shall include "wrap" account sponsors (provided they have an agreement covering the arrangement with the Distributor); corporations; qualified non-profit organizations, charitable trusts, foundations and endowments; any state, county or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof; and banks, trust companies or other depository institutions investing for their own account or on behalf of their clients.

No minimum amount is required for initial purchases in Investor, Class R and Class R6 Shares (except as provided below) or additional investments in Institutional, Investor, Class R or Class R6 Shares.

For Class R6 Shares, the minimum initial investment is $5,000,000 for institutional investors, including companies, foundations, endowments, municipalities, trusts and other entities who purchase Class R6 Shares directly with the Transfer Agent.

The minimum investment requirement for Class A, Class C and Institutional Shares may be waived for (i) Goldman Sachs, its affiliates (including the Trust) or their respective Trustees, officers, partners, directors or employees (including retired employees and former partners), as well as certain individuals related to such investors, including spouses or domestic partners, minor children including those of their domestic partners, other family members residing in the same household, and/or financial dependents, provided that all of the above are designated as such with an Intermediary or the Fund's Transfer Agent; (ii) advisory clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and accounts for which The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. acts in a fiduciary capacity (i.e., as agent or trustee); (iii) certain mutual fund "wrap" programs at the discretion of the Trust's officers; and (iv) other investors at the discretion of the Trust's officers. No minimum amount is required for additional investments in such accounts.

What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares Through An Intermediary?

If shares of the Fund are held in an account maintained and serviced by your Intermediary, 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 purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of

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shares from an account with one Intermediary to an account with another Intermediary involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your Intermediary. If your Intermediary's relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Intermediary, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.

Intermediaries that invest in shares on behalf of their customers may charge brokerage commissions or other fees directly to their customer accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact your Intermediary for information regarding such charges, as these fees, if any, may affect the return such customers realize with respect to their investments.

The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Intermediaries and other persons to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, except that the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates do not make such payments on behalf of Class R6 Shares. These payments are made out of the Investment Adviser's, Distributor's and/or their affiliates' own assets, and are not an additional charge to the Fund. The payments are in addition to the distribution and service fees and sales charges described in the Prospectus. Such payments are intended to compensate Intermediaries and other persons for, among other things: marketing shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may consist of payments relating to the Fund's inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs sponsored by the recipients; access to the Intermediaries' registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; marketing support; the provision of analytical or other data to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates relating to sales of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds; the support or purchase of technology platforms/software; and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, including provision of consultative services to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates relating to marketing and/or sale of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, sponsor various trainings and educational programs. The payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Intermediaries and other persons for sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative, shareholder processing, and/or recordkeeping services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through the recipients. In addition, certain Intermediaries may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports, economic analysis, and portfolio analysis, portfolio construction and similar tools and software. In certain cases, the Intermediaries may not pay for these products or services or may only pay for a portion of the total cost of these products or services. Please refer to the "Payments to Others (Including Intermediaries)" section of the SAI for more information about these and similar payments and services.

The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by an Intermediary and other persons may differ for different Intermediaries and other persons. The presence of these and similar payments, receipt of these services and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered representative, salesperson or other person to highlight, feature or recommend Fund based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should contact your Intermediary, or any other person that provides services to you, for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.

You may be required to pay a commission directly to a broker or financial intermediary for effecting transactions in Institutional Shares. In addition to Institutional Shares, the Fund also offers other classes of shares to investors. These other share classes are subject to different fees and expenses (which affect performance) and are entitled to different services than Institutional Shares. Information regarding these other share classes is included in the Prospectus for the applicable share class and may also be obtained from your Intermediary or from Goldman Sachs by calling the number on the back cover of the Prospectus.

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 or exchange order by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent redemption might be, of a size that would disrupt the management of the Fund.

◼

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

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Shareholder Guide

◼

Provide for, modify or waive the minimum investment requirements.

◼

Modify the manner in which shares are offered.

◼

Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.

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 ("Securities Act").

The Fund may allow you to purchase shares through an Intermediary with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund's investment policies and operations and approved by the Investment Adviser.

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

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law. For IRA accounts escheated to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will generally be treated as a taxable distribution to you; federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may apply to your Roth IRA as well.

***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 their Customer Identification Program. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by applicable law or their Customer Identification Program, the Fund reserve the right to: (i) place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an investment in the Fund; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that the Fund are unable to verify an investor's identity or are 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 resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares pursuant to their Customer Identification Program.

How Are Shares Priced?

The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund's next-determined NAV per share (as adjusted for any applicable sales charge) after the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, an Authorized Institution) has received and accepted your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund's next-determined NAV per share (adjusted for any applicable CDSCs) after the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, an Authorized Institution) has received and accepted your order in proper form, with the redemption proceeds reduced by any applicable charges (e.g., CDSCs). Each class generally calculates its NAV as follows:

NAV = (Value of Assets of the Class) – (Liabilities of the Class) <br> 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 sources. 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 approved 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.

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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. Pricing services generally value fixed income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but the Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots.

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 arbi-trage 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 of each share class 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. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed, although the Income Builder 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 Income Builder 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), redemption and exchange 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 one or more Funds for purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether the Fund is open for business during this situation, please call the appropriate phone number located on the back cover of 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 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

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Shareholder Guide

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.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of <br> Class A Shares<br>

What Is The Offering Price Of Class A Shares?

***The offering price of Class A Shares of the Fund is the next determined NAV per share plus an initial sales charge paid to Goldman Sachs at the time of purchase of shares.*** The sales charge varies depending upon the amount you purchase. In some cases, described below, the initial sales charge may be eliminated altogether, and the offering price will be the NAV per share. The current sales charges and commissions paid to Intermediaries for Class A Shares of the Fund are as follows:

Income Builder Fund

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Purchase**<br> **(including sales charge, if any)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Sales Charge as** <br> **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Sales Charge** <br> **as Percentage** <br> **of Net Amount** <br> **Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Maximum Dealer** <br> **Allowance as** <br> **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price\***<br>|
| Less than $50,000 | 5.50% | 5.82% | 5.00% |
| $50,000 up to (but less than) $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | 4.00 |
| $100,000 up to (but less than) $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.99 | 3.00 |
| $250,000 or more | 0.00\*\* | 0.00\*\* | \*\*\*  |

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Rising Dividend Growth Fund

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Amount of Purchase**<br> **(including sales charge, if any)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Sales Charge as** <br> **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Sales Charge** <br> **as Percentage** <br> **of Net Amount** <br> **Invested**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Maximum Dealer** <br> **Allowance as** <br> **Percentage of** <br> **Offering Price\***<br>|
| Less than $50,000 | 5.50% | 5.82% | 5.00% |
| $50,000 up to (but less than) $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.99 | 4.00 |
| $100,000 up to (but less than) $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.90 | 3.00 |
| $250,000 up to (but less than) $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.83 | 2.25 |
| $500,000 up to (but less than) $1 million | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 |
| $1 million or more | 0.00\*\* | 0.00\*\* | \*\*\*  |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

*\**

*Dealer's allowance may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be reallowed to Intermediaries. Intermediaries to whom substantially the entire sales charge is reallowed may be deemed to be "underwriters" under the Securities Act.* 

*\*\**

*No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase of Class A Shares of $250,000 or more with respect to the Income Builder Fund, and $1 million or more with respect to the Rising Dividend Growth Fund, but a CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed in the event of certain redemptions within 18 months. For more information about Class A Shares' CDSCs, please see "What Else Do I Need to Know About Class A Shares' CDSC?" below.* 

*\*\*\**

*The Distributor may pay a one-time commission to Intermediaries who initiate or are responsible for purchases of $250,000 or more with respect to the Income Builder Fund, and $1 million or more with respect to the Rising Dividend Growth Fund, of shares of the Fund equal to 1.00% of the amount under $3 million, 0.50% of the next $2 million, and 0.25% thereafter. In instances where this one-time commission is not paid to a particular Intermediary (including Goldman Sachs' Private Wealth Management Unit), the CDSC on Class A Shares, generally, will be waived. The Distributor may also pay, with respect to all or a portion of the amount purchased, a commission in accordance with the foregoing schedule to Intermediaries who initiate or are responsible for purchases by Employee Benefit Plans investing in the Fund which satisfy the criteria set forth below in "When Are Class A Shares Not Subject To A Sales Load?" or $250,000 or more (in the case of the Income Builder Fund), and $1 million or more (in the case of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund) by certain "wrap" accounts. Purchases by such plans will be made at NAV with no initial sales charge, but if shares are redeemed within 18 months, a CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed upon the plan, the plan sponsor or the third-party administrator. In addition, Intermediaries will remit to the Distributor such payments received in connection with "wrap" accounts in the event that shares are redeemed within 18 months.* 

***Different Intermediaries may impose different sales charges. These variations are described in Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts.*** 

You should note that the actual sales charge that appears in your mutual fund transaction confirmation may differ slightly from the rate disclosed above in the Prospectus due to rounding calculations.

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As indicated in the preceding chart, and as discussed further below and in the section titled "How Can The Sales Charge On Class A Shares Be Reduced?" and in Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts, you may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to pay reduced sales charges on your purchases of Class A Shares or have those charges waived entirely. To take advantage of these discounts, your Intermediary must notify the Fund's Transfer Agent at the time of your purchase order that a discount may apply to your current purchases. You may also be required to provide appropriate documentation to receive these discounts, including:

(i) Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held in all accounts (e.g., retirement accounts) of the shareholder at all Intermediaries; or

(ii) Information or records regarding shares of the Fund or other Goldman Sachs Funds held at any Intermediary by related parties of the shareholder, such as members of the same family or household.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Class A Shares' CDSC?

Purchases of $250,000 or more of Class A Shares of the Income Builder Fund and $1 million or more of Class A Shares of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund will be made at NAV with no initial sales charge. However, if you redeem shares within 18 months after the beginning of the month in which the purchase was made, a CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed. The CDSC may not be imposed if your Intermediary agrees with the Distributor to return all or an applicable prorated portion of its commission to the Distributor. The CDSC is waived on redemptions in certain circumstances. See "In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?" below and, if you hold shares through an Intermediary, see Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts.

When Are Class A Shares Not Subject To A Sales Load?

Class A Shares of the Fund may be sold at NAV without payment of any sales charge to the following individuals and entities:

◼

Goldman Sachs, its affiliates or their respective officers, partners, directors or employees (including retired employees and former partners), any partnership of which Goldman Sachs is a general partner, any Trustee or officer of the Trust and designated family members of any of these individuals;

◼

Qualified employee benefit plans of Goldman Sachs;

◼

Trustees or directors of investment companies for which Goldman Sachs or an affiliate acts as sponsor;

◼

Any employee or registered representative of any Intermediary (or such Intermediaries' affiliates and subsidiaries) or their respective spouses or domestic partners, children and parents;

◼

Banks, trust companies or other types of depository institutions;

◼

Any state, county or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof, which is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares of the Fund;

◼

Employee Benefit Plans, other than Employee Benefit Plans that purchase Class A Shares through brokerage relationships in which sales charges are customarily imposed. Under such circumstances, Plans will be assessed sales charges as described further in "Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable To the Purchase of Class A Shares";

◼

Investors who purchase Class A Shares through an omnibus account sponsored by an Intermediary that has an agreement with the Distributor covering such investors to offer Class A Shares without charging an initial sales charge;

◼

Insurance company separate accounts that make the Fund available as an underlying investment in certain group annuity contracts;

◼

"Wrap" accounts for the benefit of clients of broker-dealers, financial institutions or financial planners, provided they have entered into an agreement with GSAM specifying aggregate minimums and certain operating policies and standards;

◼

Investment advisers investing for accounts for which they receive asset-based fees;

◼

Accounts over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;

◼

Shareholders who roll over distributions from any tax-qualified Employee Benefit Plan or tax-sheltered annuity to an IRA which invests in the Goldman Sachs Funds if the tax-qualified Employee Benefit Plan or tax-sheltered annuity receives administrative services provided by certain third party administrators that have entered into a special service arrangement with Goldman Sachs relating to such plan or annuity;

◼

State sponsored 529 college savings plans;

◼

Investors that purchase Class A Shares through the GS Retirement Plan Plus and Goldman Sachs 401(k) Programs;

◼

Former shareholders of certain funds who (i) received shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund in connection with a reorganization of an acquired fund into a Goldman Sachs Fund, (ii) had previously qualified for purchases of Class A Shares of the acquired funds without the imposition of a sales load under the guidelines of the applicable acquired fund family, and (iii) as of August 24, 2012 held their Goldman Sachs Fund shares directly with the Goldman Sachs Funds' Transfer Agent, as long as they continue to hold the shares directly at the Transfer Agent; or

◼

Investors who purchase Class A Shares in accounts that are no longer associated with an Intermediary and held direct at the Transfer Agent, including retirement accounts.

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Shareholder Guide

**You must certify eligibility for any of the above exemptions on your account application and notify your Intermediary and the Fund if you no longer are eligible for the exemption. You may be eligible for different or additional exemptions based on your Intermediary; see Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts.** 

The Fund will grant you an exemption subject to confirmation of your eligibility by your Intermediary. You may be charged a fee by your Intermediary.

How Can The Sales Charge On Class A Shares Be Reduced?

◼

***Right of Accumulation:*** When buying Class A Shares in Goldman Sachs Funds, your current aggregate investment determines the initial sales load you pay. You may qualify for reduced sales charges when the current market value of holdings across Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares, plus new purchases, reaches $50,000 or more. Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares of any of the Goldman Sachs Funds may be combined under the Right of Accumulation. If the Fund's Transfer Agent is properly notified, the "Amount of Purchase" in the chart in the section "What Is The Offering Price Of Class A Shares?" will be deemed to include all Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares of the Goldman Sachs Funds that were held at the time of purchase by any of the following persons: (i) you, your spouse or domestic partner, your parents and your children; and (ii) any trustee, guardian or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account. This includes, for example, any Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares held at an Intermediary other than the one handling your current purchase. For purposes of applying the Right of Accumulation, shares of the Fund and any other Goldman Sachs Funds purchased by an existing client of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management or GS Ayco Holding LLC will be combined with Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares and other assets held by all other Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management accounts or accounts of GS Ayco Holding LLC, respectively. In addition, under some circumstances, Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares of the Fund and Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners, directors, officers or employees of certain organizations may be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for the Right of Accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. To qualify for a reduced sales load, you or your Intermediary must notify the Fund's Transfer Agent at the time of investment that a quantity discount is applicable. If you do not notify your Intermediary at the time of your current purchase or a future purchase that you qualify for a quantity discount, you may not receive the benefit of a reduced sales charge that might otherwise apply. Use of this option is subject to a check of appropriate records.

In some circumstances, other Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares may be aggregated with your current purchase under the Right of Accumulation as described in the SAI. For purposes of determining the "Amount of Purchase," all Class A Shares and/or Class C Shares currently held will be valued at their current market value.

◼

***Statement of Intention:*** You may obtain a reduced sales charge by means of a written Statement of Intention which expresses your non-binding commitment to invest (not counting reinvestments of dividends and distributions) in the aggregate $50,000 or more within a period of 13 months in Class A Shares of one or more of the Goldman Sachs Funds. Any investments you make during the period will receive the discounted sales load based on the full amount of your investment commitment. Purchases made during the previous 90 days may be included; however, capital appreciation does not apply toward these combined purchases. If the investment commitment of the Statement of Intention is not met prior to the expiration of the 13-month period, the entire amount will be subject to the higher applicable sales charge unless the failure to meet the investment commitment is due to the death of the investor. By selecting the Statement of Intention, you authorize the Transfer Agent to escrow and redeem Class A Shares in your account to pay this additional charge if the Statement of Intention is not met. You must, however, inform the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Intermediary) that the Statement of Intention is in effect each time shares are purchased. Each purchase will be made at the public offering price applicable to a single transaction of the dollar amount specified on the Statement of Intention. The SAI has more information about the Statement of Intention, which you should read carefully.

**Different Intermediaries may have different policies regarding Rights of Accumulation and Statements of Intention. These variations are described in Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts.** 

Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase Of Class C Shares<br>

What Is The Offering Price Of Class C Shares?

You may purchase Class C Shares of the Fund at the next determined NAV without paying an initial sales charge. However, if you redeem Class C Shares within 12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% will normally be deducted from the redemption proceeds. In connection with purchases by Employee Benefit Plans, where Class C Shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed upon the plan sponsor or third party administrator. Class C Shares acquired in exchange for shares subject to a CDSC will be subject to the CDSC, if any, of the shares originally held. No CDSC is imposed in connection with an exchange of Class C Shares at the time of such exchange. When Class C Shares are exchanged for Class C Shares of another fund, the period of time that such shares will be subject to a CDSC (if any) will be measured as of the date of the original purchase. With respect to such shares held by Employee Benefit Plans, the CDSC may be imposed on the plan sponsor or third party administrator.

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***Different Intermediaries may impose different sales charges. These variations are described in "Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts."*** 

Proceeds from the CDSC are payable to the Distributor and may be used in whole or in part to defray the Distributor's expenses related to providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the sale of Class C Shares, including the payment of compensation to Intermediaries. A commission equal to 1% of the amount invested is normally paid by the Distributor to Intermediaries.

What Should I Know About The Automatic Conversion Of Class C Shares?

Class C Shares of the Fund will automatically convert into Class A Shares (which bear lower distribution and service (12b-1) fees and do not bear additional personal and account maintenance services fees) of the same Fund on or about the fifteenth day of the last month of the quarter that is eight years after the purchase date. No sales charges or other charges will apply in connection with any conversion.

If you acquire Class C Shares of the Fund by exchange from Class C Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund, your Class C Shares will convert into Class A Shares of such Fund based on the date of the initial purchase. If you acquire Class C Shares through reinvestment of distributions, your Class C Shares will convert into Class A Shares based on the date of the initial purchase of the shares on which the distribution was paid.

Shareholders will not recognize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes upon the conversion of Class C Shares for Class A Shares of the same Fund. The automatic conversion of Class C Shares to Class A Shares will not apply to shares held through group retirement plan recordkeeping platforms of certain Intermediaries who hold such shares in an omnibus account and do not track participant level share lot aging to facilitate such a conversion.

New employee benefit plans are not eligible to purchase Class C Shares. Employee benefit plans which had this share class of the Fund available to participants on or before September 18, 2018, may continue to open accounts for new participants in such share class of the Fund and purchase additional shares in existing participant accounts.

If you purchased your shares through an Intermediary, it is the responsibility of your Intermediary to work with the Transfer Agent to effect the conversion and to ensure that Class C Shares are automatically converted after the appropriate period of time. In addition, if your shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, you may be able to exchange your Class C Shares for Class A Shares without the payment of a sales charge prior to the automatic conversion subject to the policies and procedures of the Intermediary through whom you have purchased your shares. Please contact your Intermediary with questions regarding your eligibility to exchange Class C Shares for Class A Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase Of <br> Class A and C Shares<br>

What Else Do I Need To Know About The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares?

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The CDSC is based on the lesser of the NAV of the shares at the time of redemption or the original offering price (which is the original NAV).

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No CDSC is charged on shares acquired from reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions.

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No CDSC is charged on the per share appreciation of your account over the initial purchase price.

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When counting the number of months since a purchase of Class A or Class C Shares was made, all purchases made during a month will be combined and considered to have been made on the first day of that month.

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To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell shares, the Fund will first sell any shares in your account that do not carry a CDSC and then the shares in your account that have been held the longest.

In What Situations May The CDSC On Class A Or C Shares Be Waived Or Reduced?

The CDSC on Class A and Class C Shares that are subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced if the redemption relates to:

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Mandatory retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries from Employee Benefit Plans;

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Hardship withdrawals by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;

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The separation from service by a participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;

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Excess contributions distributed from an Employee Benefit Plan;

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Distributions from a qualified Employee Benefit Plan invested in the Goldman Sachs Funds which are being rolled over to an IRA in the same share class of a Goldman Sachs Fund;

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The death or disability (as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) of a shareholder, participant or beneficiary in an Employee Benefit Plan;

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Satisfying the minimum distribution requirements of the Code;

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Shareholder Guide

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Establishing "substantially equal periodic payments" as described under Section 72(t)(2) of the Code;

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Redemption proceeds which are to be reinvested in accounts or non-registered products over which GSAM or its advisory affiliates have investment discretion;

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A systematic withdrawal plan. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares;

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Redemptions or exchanges of Fund shares held through an Employee Benefit Plan using the Fund as part of a qualified default investment alternative or "QDIA"; or

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Other redemptions, at the discretion of the Trust's officers, relating to shares purchased through Employee Benefit Plans.

**You may be eligible for different or additional exemptions based on your Intermediary; see "Appendix C—Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts."** 

How To Sell Shares<br>

How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?

Generally, Shares may be sold (redeemed) only through Intermediaries. Customers of an Intermediary will normally give their redemption instructions to the Intermediary, and the Intermediary will, in turn, place the order with the Transfer Agent. On any business day the Fund is open, the Fund will generally redeem its Shares upon request at their next-determined NAV per share (subject to any applicable CDSC) after the Transfer Agent (or, if applicable, the Authorized Institution) 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 (through your Intermediary), in writing or by telephone (unless the Intermediary opts out of the telephone redemption privilege on the account application). You should contact your Intermediary to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with your Intermediary. In the alternative, your Intermediary may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent).

When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?

Generally, a redemption request must be in writing and signed by an authorized person with a Medallion signature guarantee if:

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A request is made in writing to redeem Class A, Class C, Investor or Class R Shares in an amount over $50,000 via check;

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You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or

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You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.

A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot provide a Medallion signature guarantee. The written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the designated Intermediary to verify instructions. Additional documentation may be required.

What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?

The Trust, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss or tax liability you may incur in the event that the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may accept telephone redemption instructions from any person identifying himself or herself as the owner of an account or the owner's registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Thus, you risk possible losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by you.

In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone, Goldman Sachs and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C") each employ reasonable procedures specified by the Trust to confirm that such instructions are genuine. The following general policies are currently in effect:

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Telephone requests are recorded.

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Proceeds of telephone redemption requests will be sent to your address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (unless you provide written instructions and a Medallion signature guarantee indicating another address or account).

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For the 30-day period following a change of address, telephone redemptions will only be filled by a wire transfer to the authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (see immediately preceding bullet point). In order to receive the redemption by check during this time period, the redemption request must be in the form of a written, Medallion signature guaranteed letter.

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The telephone redemption option does not apply to Shares held in an account maintained and serviced by your Intermediary. If your Shares are held in an account with an Intermediary, you should contact your registered representative of record, who may make telephone redemptions on your behalf.

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

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The Fund may allow redemptions via check up to $50,000 in Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shares requested via telephone.

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

How Are Redemption Proceeds Paid?

***By Wire:*** You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with your Intermediary or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with your Intermediary. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:

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Redemption proceeds will normally be paid in federal funds, between one and 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.

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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.

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If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or purchased by Automated Clearing House ("ACH"), the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.

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

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To change the bank wiring instructions designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.

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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.

***By Check:*** You may elect to receive your redemption proceeds by check. Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the address of record within two business days (or such other times in accordance with the requirements of your Intermediary) following receipt of a properly executed redemption request, except in certain circumstances (such as those set forth above with respect to wire transfer redemption requests). If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check or ACH, the Fund will pay you when your check or ACH has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?

The following generally applies to redemption requests:

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

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Intermediaries are responsible for the timely transmittal of redemption requests by their customers to the Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of redemption requests, Intermediaries may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. Intermediaries may also require additional documentation from you.

The Trust reserves the right to:

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Redeem your shares in the event your Intermediary's relationship with Goldman Sachs is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another Intermediary or in the event that the Fund is no longer an option in your Employee Benefit Plan or no longer available through your Eligible Fee-Based Program.

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Redeem your shares if your account balance is below the required Fund minimum. The Fund will not redeem your shares on this basis if the value of your account falls below the minimum account balance solely as a result of market conditions. The Fund will give you 60 days prior written notice to allow you to purchase sufficient additional shares of the Fund in order to avoid such redemption. Different rules may apply to investors who have established brokerage accounts with Goldman Sachs in accordance with the terms and conditions of their account agreements.

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Shareholder Guide

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Redeem your shares in the case of actual or suspected threatening conduct or actual or suspected fraudulent, suspicious or illegal activity by you or any other individual associated with your account.

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

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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.

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Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends, distributions or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to receive by check should your check remain uncashed for more than 180 days. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks. Your check will be reinvested in your account at the NAV on the day of the reinvestment. When reinvested, those amounts are subject to the risk of loss like any Fund investment. If you elect to receive distributions in cash and a check remains uncashed for more than 180 days, your cash election may be changed automatically to reinvest and your future dividend and capital gains distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the NAV as of the date of payment of the distribution. This provision may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts, accounts with a non-U.S. address or closed accounts. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if a check remains uncashed.

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

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.

Can I Reinvest Redemption Proceeds In The Same Or Another Goldman Sachs Fund?

You may redeem shares of the Fund and reinvest a portion or all of the redemption proceeds in the same share class of another Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV. To be eligible for this privilege, you must have held the shares you want to redeem for at least 30 days and you must reinvest the share proceeds within 90 days after you redeem. You should obtain and read the applicable prospectus before investing in any other Goldman Sachs Fund.

You may reinvest redemption proceeds as follows:

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If you pay a CDSC upon redemption of Class A or Class C Shares and then reinvest in Class A or Class C Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund as described above, your account will be credited with the amount of the CDSC you paid. The reinvested shares will, however, continue to be subject to a CDSC. The holding period of the shares acquired through reinvestment will include the holding period of the redeemed shares for purposes of computing the CDSC payable upon a subsequent redemption.

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The reinvestment privilege may be exercised at any time in connection with transactions in which the proceeds are reinvested at NAV in a tax-sheltered Employee Benefit Plan. In other cases, the reinvestment privilege may be exercised once per year upon receipt of a written request.

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You may be subject to tax as a result of a redemption. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of a redemption and reinvestment.

Can I Exchange My Investment From One Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?

You may exchange shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund at NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC, if applicable, at the time of exchange for certain shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days' written notice. You should contact your Intermediary to arrange for exchanges of shares of the Fund for shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund.

You should keep in mind the following factors when making or considering an exchange:

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You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.

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Currently, the Fund does not impose any charge for exchanges although the Fund may impose a charge in the future.

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The exchanged shares of the new Goldman Sachs Fund may later be exchanged for shares of the same class of the original Fund held at the next determined NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge or CDSC. However, if additional shares of the new Goldman Sachs Fund were purchased after the initial exchange, and that Fund's shares do not impose a sales charge or CDSC, then the applicable sales charge or CDSC of the original Fund's shares will be imposed upon the exchange of those shares.

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When you exchange shares subject to a CDSC, no CDSC will be charged at that time. However, for purposes of determining the amount of CDSC applicable to those shares acquired in the exchange, the length of time you have owned the shares will be measured from the date you acquired the original shares subject to a CDSC, and the amount and terms of the CDSC will be those applicable to the original shares acquired and will not be affected by a subsequent exchange.

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Eligible investors may exchange certain classes of shares for another class of shares of the same Fund. For further information, contact your Intermediary.

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All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. Exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund need not meet the traditional minimum investment requirement for that Fund if the entire balance of the original Fund account is exchanged.

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Exchanges are available only in states where exchanges may be legally made.

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

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Goldman Sachs and SS&C may use reasonable procedures described above in "How To Sell Shares—What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?" in an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.

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Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only to an identically registered account.

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Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds or certain share classes of Goldman Sachs Funds that are closed to new investors may be restricted.

For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the exchange. Exchanges within Employee Benefit Plan accounts will not result in capital gains or loss for federal or state income tax purposes. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.

Shareholder Services<br>

Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Investments Made On A Regular Basis?

You may be able to make automatic investments in Class A and Class C Shares through your bank via ACH transfer or via bank draft or through your Intermediary each month. The minimum dollar amount for this service is $250 for the initial investment and $50 per month for additional investments. Forms for this option are available online at www.gsamfunds.com and from your Intermediary, or you may check the appropriate box on the account application.

Can My Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?

You may elect to cross-reinvest distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs Fund in shares of the same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.

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Shares will be purchased at NAV.

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You may elect cross-reinvestment into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.

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You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund's minimum initial investment requirement is met.

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You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which distributions are invested.

Can I Arrange To Have Automatic Exchanges Made On A Regular Basis?

You may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of Class A or Class C Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.

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Shares will be purchased at NAV if a sales charge had been imposed on the initial purchase.

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You may elect to exchange into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.

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Shares subject to a CDSC acquired under this program may be subject to a CDSC at the time of redemption from the Goldman Sachs Fund into which the exchange is made depending upon the date and value of your original purchase.

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Automatic exchanges are made monthly on the 15th day of each month or the first business day thereafter.

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Minimum dollar amount: $50 per month.

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You cannot make automatic exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund's minimum initial investment requirement is met.

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You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which automatic exchanges are made.

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An exchange is considered a redemption and a purchase and therefore may be a taxable transaction.

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Can I Have Systematic Withdrawals Made On A Regular Basis?

You may redeem from your Class A or Class C Share account systematically via check or ACH transfer or through your Intermediary in any amount of $50 or more.

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It is normally undesirable to maintain a systematic withdrawal plan at the same time that you are purchasing additional Class A or Class C Shares because of the sales charges that are imposed on certain purchases of Class A Shares and because of the CDSCs that are imposed on certain redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares.

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Checks are normally mailed within two business days after your selected systematic withdrawal date of either the 15th or 25th of the month. ACH payments may take up to three business days to post to your account after your selected systematic withdrawal date between, and including, the 3rd and 26th of the month.

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Each systematic withdrawal is a redemption and therefore may be a taxable transaction.

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The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under the systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. The Fund reserves the right to limit such redemptions, on an annual basis, to 12% each of the value of your Class C Shares and 10% of the value of your Class A Shares.

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

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.

You will be provided with a printed confirmation of each transaction in your account and a quarterly account statement if you invest in Class A, Class C, Investor or Class R Shares and a monthly account statement if you invest in Institutional, Service or Class R6 Shares. If your account is held through your Intermediary, you will receive this information from your Intermediary.

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 appropriate 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.

Distribution and Service Fees<br>

What Are The Different Distribution And/Or Service Fees Paid By The Fund's Shares?

The Trust has adopted distribution and service plans (each a "Plan") under which Class A, Class C and Class R Shares bear distribution and/or service fees paid to Goldman Sachs, some of which Goldman Sachs may pay to Intermediaries. Intermediaries seek distribution and/or servicing fee revenues to, among other things, offset the cost of servicing small and medium sized plan investors and providing information about the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plans exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these arrangements. Goldman Sachs generally receives and pays the distribution and service fees on a quarterly basis.

Under the Plans, Goldman Sachs is entitled to a monthly fee from the Fund for distribution services equal, on an annual basis, to 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributed to Class A, Class C and Class R Shares, respectively. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of such charges.

The distribution fees are subject to the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act, and may be used (among other things) for:

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Compensation paid to and expenses incurred by Intermediaries, Goldman Sachs and their respective officers, employees and sales representatives;

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Commissions paid to Intermediaries;

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Allocable overhead;

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Telephone and travel expenses;

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Interest and other costs associated with the financing of such compensation and expenses;

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Printing of prospectuses for prospective shareholders;

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Preparation and distribution of sales literature or advertising of any type; and

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All other expenses incurred in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class A, Class C and Class R Shares.

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In connection with the sale of Class C Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.75% distribution fee as an ongoing commission to Intermediaries after the shares have been held for one year. Goldman Sachs normally begins accruing the annual 0.25% and 0.50% distribution fees for the Class A and Class R Shares, respectively, as ongoing commissions to Intermediaries, immediately. Goldman Sachs generally pays the distribution fee on a quarterly basis.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Class C Personal And Account Maintenance <br> Services And Fees<br>

Under the Class C Plan, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributed to Class C Shares. This fee is for personal and account maintenance services, and may be used to make payments to Goldman Sachs, Intermediaries and their officers, sales representatives and employees for responding to inquiries of, and furnishing assistance to, shareholders regarding ownership of their shares or their accounts or similar services not otherwise provided on behalf of the Fund. If the fees received by Goldman Sachs pursuant to the Plan exceed its expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from this arrangement.

In connection with the sale of Class C Shares, Goldman Sachs normally begins paying the 0.25% ongoing service fee to Intermediaries after the shares have been held for one year.

Restrictions on Excessive Trading Practices<br>

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

As a deterrent to excessive trading, many foreign equity securities held by the Goldman Sachs Funds are priced by an independent pricing service using fair valuation. For more information on fair valuation, please see "How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?"

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of "round trip" transactions in a shareholder's account. A "round trip" includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.

Goldman Sachs may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs' judgment, will be uniform.

Fund shares may be held through omnibus arrangements maintained by Intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs and other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are netted against one another. The identity of individual investors whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these Intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund's market

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Shareholder Guide

timing policies. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund's ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these Intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder financial information requested as part of the Fund's surveillance process. The netting effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate market timing activities. In addition, those investors who engage in market timing and other excessive trading activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can be no assurance that the Fund and Goldman Sachs will be able to identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by an Intermediary or by certain customers of the Intermediary. Intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by Intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If an Intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust's excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.

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Taxation

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

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

DISTRIBUTIONS<br>

The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income. Distributions you receive from the Fund are generally subject to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax purposes, the Fund's distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income, while any distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable 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 qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual's income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the non-corporate shareholder must own their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund's distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activity or high portfolio turnover rate. The Income Builder Fund's income or loss each year from writing index call options will, generally, be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.

Distributions in excess of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of your investment to the extent of your basis in the shares, and generally as capital gain thereafter. A return of capital, which for tax purposes is treated as a return of your investment, reduces your basis in shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition of shares. A distribution will reduce the Fund's NAV per share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an economic standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

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.

The Fund's transactions in derivatives (such as futures contracts and swaps) will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund's securities and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. The Fund's use of derivatives is expected to result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not use derivatives.

Because of the Income Builder Fund's practice of writing S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index, other regional indices or related ETF call options, and the Fund's use of total return swaps relating to options, the possibility exists that an overlap between the Fund's equity investments and the components of the indices if substantial enough, might cause a deferral of the Fund's recognition of losses for tax purposes or a reduction in the amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for the favorable tax rate applicable to dividends. The Fund intends to manage its investments in a manner designed to avoid these adverse tax results to the extent reasonably practicable, but there is no assurance that the Fund will accomplish this objective at all times.

Although distributions are generally treated as taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund's dividends paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of a Fund's securities lending activities or by a high portfolio turnover rate. Character and tax status of all distributions will be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar year.

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign securities. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income.

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Taxation

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

SALES AND EXCHANGES<br>

Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. Generally, this capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period for the shares exceeds one year, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of that Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of that Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

OTHER INFORMATION<br>

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, for shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, 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 account is held with an Intermediary, 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 will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund and may be subject to estate tax with respect to their Fund shares. However, withholding is generally not required on properly designated distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains. Designated distributions of certain qualified interest income and short-term capital gains paid to non-U.S. investors are generally not subject to withholding. Although this designation will generally be made by the Fund for distributions of long-term and short-term capital gains, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income will generally be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors. More information about U.S. taxation and non-U.S. investors is included in the SAI.

The Funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive 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.

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Appendix A

Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques

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A. General Portfolio Risks<br>

The Funds will be subject to the risks associated with equity investments. "Equity investments" may include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in REITs, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar enterprises, MLPs, common shares and preferred shares of energy infrastructure companies, other investment companies (including ETFs), warrants, stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. In general, the values of equity investments fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and in response to general market and economic conditions. Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets have experienced substantial price volatility. To the extent a 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.

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

To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed income securities, that Fund will also be subject to the risks associated with its fixed income securities. These risks include interest rate risk, credit/default risk and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed income securities tends to increase (although many mortgage-related securities will have less potential than other debt securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed income securities tends to decline. Credit/default risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in adjustable rate mortgage loans ("ARMs"), mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to decrease. In losses to investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.

A rising interest rate environment could cause the value of a 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 a Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund's investments.

The Funds may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of comparable credit quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.

The Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to 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 a Fund's portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See "Financial Highlights" in Appendix B for a statement of the Funds' historical portfolio turnover rates.

The Funds 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, a 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.

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Appendix A

The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their associated risks. Additional information is provided in the 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 a Fund's investment objective, you should consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.

B. Other Portfolio Risks<br>

***Risks of Writing Index Call Options.*** When the Income Builder Fund writes (sell) S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (or other index or related ETF) call options, respectively, it foregoes the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the value of the relevant index above the exercise price (plus the premium received) of the option, but the Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the relevant index. As the seller of the index call options, the Income Builder Fund receives cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of an index call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index 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 index over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium and makes no payments to the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index 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.

There is no assurance that a liquid market will be available at all times for the Fund to write call options or to enter into closing purchase transactions. In addition, the premiums the Fund receives for writing call options may decrease as a result of a number of factors, including a reduction in interest rates generally, a decline in stock market volumes or a decrease in the price volatility of the underlying securities. For more information see "Portfolio Securities and Techniques—Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies."

***Risks of Investing in Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs").*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Funds to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Investment in those MLPs may restrict a Fund's ability to take advantage of other investment opportunities. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs could enhance or harm the overall performance of a Fund.

MLPs are subject to various risks related to the underlying operating companies they control, including dependence upon specialized management skills and the risk that those operating companies may lack or have limited operating histories. The success of a Fund's investments in an MLP will vary depending on the underlying industry represented by the MLP's portfolio. Certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon their parent or sponsor entities for the majority of their revenues. If the parent or sponsor entities fail to make payments or satisfy their obligations to an MLP, the revenues and cash flows of that MLP and ability of that MLP to make distributions to unit holders such as a Fund would be adversely affected.

Certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon a limited number of customers for substantially all of their revenue. Similarly, certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon a limited number of suppliers of goods or services to continue their operations. The loss of those customers or suppliers could have a material adverse effect on an MLP's results of operations and cash flow, and on its ability to make distributions to unit holders such as a Fund.

***Tax Risk.*** Much of the benefit that the Fund may derive from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which the Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

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To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

***Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.*** Each Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities. Mid- and small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Mid- and small-capitalization companies include "unseasoned" issuers that do not have an established financial history; often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Mid- and small-capitalization companies may be operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these companies may face intense competition, including competition from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.

***Risks of Foreign Investments.*** The Funds may make foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in exchange control regulations (e.g., currency blockage). A decline in the exchange rate of the currency (i.e., weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S. dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In addition, if the currency in which a Fund receives dividends, interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S. dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such dividends.

Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals may adversely affect a Fund's foreign holdings or exposures.

Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct such transactions.

Foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than

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Appendix A

securities of comparable domestic issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such countries, and risks of political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those countries.

Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to social, political or market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Fund holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets.

If a Fund focuses its investments in one or a few countries and currencies, the Fund may be subjected to greater risks than if the Fund's assets were not geographically focused.

Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside the United States, Prices of ADRs are quoted in U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.

***Risk of Sovereign Debt.*** Investment in sovereign debt obligations by a Fund involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate issuers. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, and a Fund may have limited recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. Periods of economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market prices of sovereign debt, and in turn a Fund's NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.

A sovereign debtor's willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor's policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.

***Risks of Emerging Countries.*** The Funds may invest in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries. The risks of foreign investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe, and Central and South America. A Fund's purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging countries may be constrained by limitations relating to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. Such limitations may be computed based on the aggregate trading volume by or holdings of a Fund, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their respective clients and other service providers. A Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached.

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or increase the administrative costs of such investments. For example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer's outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that may be purchased by a Fund. The repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales from certain emerging countries is subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental consents, which may make it difficult for a Fund to invest in such emerging countries. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for such repatriation. In situations where a country restricts direct investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and other countries), a Fund may invest in such countries through other investment funds in such countries.

Emerging market countries may have more or less government regulation and generally do not impose as extensive and frequent accounting, auditing, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries. The degree of cooperation between issuers in emerging and frontier market countries with foreign and U.S. financial regulators may vary significantly. Accordingly, regulators may not have sufficient access to audit and oversee issuers, and there could be less information available about issuers in certain emerging market countries. As a result, the Investment Adviser's ability to evaluate local companies or their potential impact on the Fund's performance could be inhibited.

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Many emerging countries have experienced currency devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners, trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.

Many emerging countries are subject to a substantial degree of economic, political and social instability. Governments of some emerging countries are authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a result of military coups, while governments in other emerging countries have periodically used force to suppress civil dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection, among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. Investing in emerging countries involves greater risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested. As an example, in the past some Eastern European governments have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and many claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that similar expropriations will not occur in other countries.

A Fund's investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.

Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve a Fund's delivery of securities before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition, significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems may make it more difficult for a Fund to value its portfolio securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the Fund's inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.

The creditworthiness of the local securities firms used by a Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of its responsibilities.

The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Fund's investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most Western European countries). A Fund's investments in emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of a particular investment, or investments generally, in such countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult to value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.

A Fund's use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund's currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by those techniques.

***Foreign Custody Risk.*** A Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund's custodian (each a "Foreign Custodian"). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on a Fund's ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.

***Risks of Derivative Investments.*** The Funds may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, forwards, options, futures, options on futures, swaps, structured securities and other derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Derivatives may be used for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from 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. Derivatives are also subject to risks arising from margin requirements, which include the risk that a Fund will be required to pay additional margin or set aside additional collateral to maintain open derivative positions and the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of the bankruptcy or other similar insolvency with respect to a broker or counterparty with whom a Fund has an open derivative position. Losses may also arise if the Funds receive cash

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Appendix A

collateral under the transactions and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty's cash collateral. If cash collateral is not invested, a 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, currency prices 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 portfolios 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 non-hedging purposes.

Derivative mortgage-backed securities (such as principal-only ("POs"), interest-only ("IOs") or inverse floating rate securities) are particularly exposed to call and extension risks. Small changes in mortgage prepayments can significantly impact the cash flow and the market value of these securities. In general, the risk of faster than anticipated prepayments adversely affects IOs, super floaters and premium priced mortgage-backed securities. The risk of slower than anticipated prepayments generally adversely affects POs, floating-rate securities subject to interest rate caps, support tranches and discount priced mortgage-backed securities. In addition, particular derivative securities may be leveraged such that their exposure (i.e., price sensitivity) to interest rate and/or prepayment risk is magnified.

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 Investments.*** Each Fund may not acquire any "illiquid investment" if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. An "illiquid investment" is an investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. In determining whether an investment is an illiquid investment, the Investment Adviser will take into account actual or estimated daily transaction volume of an investment, group of related investments or asset class and other relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations. In addition, in determining the liquidity of an investment, the Investment Adviser must determine whether trading varying portions of a position in a particular portfolio investment or asset class, in sizes that a Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect its liquidity, and if so, the Fund must take this determination into account when classifying the liquidity of that investment or asset class.

Investments purchased by a Fund that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. If one or more investments in a Fund's portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed the 15% limitation in illiquid investments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause a Fund to exceed this limit, the Fund must take steps to bring its illiquid investments that are assets to or below 15% of its net assets within a reasonable period of time. This requirement would not force a 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 a 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 "Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?"

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

The Income Builder also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys, which are applied at the time of purchase. For this purpose, the Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch, Inc. Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if they are determined by the Investment Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the Fund's credit rating requirements.

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. For the purpose of determining compliance with any credit rating requirement, each Fund assigns a security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by an NRSRO if the security is rated by more than one NRSRO. Therefore, a

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security will be deemed to have met a rating requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at least one such rating organization even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more other rating organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.

A security satisfies a Fund's minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking (for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies a Fund's minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of a Fund and its shareholders.

The Funds may invest in fixed income securities rated BB+ or Ba1 or below (or comparable unrated securities) which are commonly referred to as "junk bonds." Junk bonds are considered speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.

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

***Risks of Initial Public Offerings.*** The Funds may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about a company's business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential, and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. Investments in IPO shares, which are subject to market risk and liquidity risk, involve greater risks than investments in shares of companies that have tracked publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When a Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

***Temporary Investment Risks.*** Each 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

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

***Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.*** Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of a Fund's shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in a Fund may impact the Fund's liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force a Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund's brokerage and tax costs.

C. Portfolio Securities and Techniques<br>

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

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Appendix A

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

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

***Foreign Currency Transactions.*** The Funds may, to the extent consistent with their investment policies, purchase or sell foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, a Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between the Fund's overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund's performance benchmark. The Funds may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which presents additional risk.

The Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in a currency different from that in which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into U.S. dollars at a later date (e.g., the Investment Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate against the U.S. dollar).

The Funds may, from time to time, engage in non-deliverable forward transactions to manage currency risk or to gain exposure to a currency without purchasing securities denominated in that currency. A non-deliverable forward is a transaction that represents an agreement between a Fund and a counterparty (usually a commercial bank) to pay the other party the amount that it would cost based on current market rates as of the termination date to buy or sell a specified (notional) amount of a particular currency at an agreed upon foreign exchange rate on an agreed upon future date. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction, but the Fund may be delayed or prevented from obtaining payments owed to it pursuant to non-deliverable forward transactions. Such non-deliverable forward transactions will be settled in cash.

Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, a Fund's NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund's NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

Certain forward foreign currency exchange contracts and other currency transactions are not exchange traded or cleared. The market in such forward foreign currency exchange contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by the other party to such instruments than is available for currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will default on its obligations. Because these contracts are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

A Fund is not required to post cash collateral with its counterparties in certain foreign currency transactions. Accordingly, a Fund may remain more fully invested (and more of the Fund's assets may be subject to investment and market risk) than if it were required to post collateral with its counterparties (which is the case with certain transactions). Where a Fund's counterparties are not required to post cash collateral with the Fund, the Fund will be subject to additional counterparty risk.

***Structured Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, 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

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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 a Fund's investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.

Structured securities are considered hybrid instruments because they are derivative instruments the value of which depends on, or is derived from or linked to, the value of an underlying asset, interest rate index or commodity. Commodity-linked notes are hybrid instruments because the principal and/or interest payments on those notes is linked to the value of the individual commodities, futures contracts or the performance of one or more commodity indices.

Structured securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a "cap" or "floor" on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note's term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of a Fund's investment objective and policies.

The Income Builder Fund may invest in 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.

***Inverse Floaters.*** The Income Builder Fund may invest in inverse floating rate debt securities ("inverse floaters"). The interest rate on inverse floaters resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher the degree of leverage of an inverse floater, the greater the volatility of its market value.

***REITs.*** Each Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of the REITs' managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally associated with investments in real estate including possible declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, these risks may be heightened. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.

***Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies.*** A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying instrument during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument during the option period. A Fund may write (sell) call and put options and purchase put and call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on foreign currencies.

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

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Appendix A

***Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts.*** Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. A swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market. A futures contract may be based on particular securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Funds may engage in futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.

Each Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment policies purchase and sell futures contracts, purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts and enter into swaps on futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in securities prices or, to the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates. Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options.

Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:

◼

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

◼

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

◼

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

◼

Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of a 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 a Fund.

◼

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

◼

Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

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

The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.

***Repurchase Agreements.*** Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. Each 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. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. Government Securities may be subject to additional risks.

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

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

***Lending of Portfolio Securities.*** The Funds may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including registered and unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, and from which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be

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subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers' collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 <sup>1</sup>∕3% of the value of the total assets of a Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations regarding a Fund's investments described elsewhere in the Prospectus.

A Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund or its agent, or becomes insolvent.

***Short Sales Against-the-Box.*** The Funds may make short sales against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same issuer as the securities sold short.

***Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.*** Each Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer's earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.

Warrants and other rights are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

***Other Investment Companies.*** Each Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act or rules, regulations or exemptive relief thereunder. These statutory limitations include in certain circumstances a prohibition on a Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of a Fund's total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies.

Subject to applicable law and/or pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, a Fund may invest in certain other investment companies (including ETFs and money market funds) and business development companies beyond the statutory limits described above or otherwise provided that certain conditions are met. 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.

Additionally, to the extent that any Fund serves as an "acquired fund" to another Goldman Sachs Fund or unaffiliated investment company, the Fund's ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds may be limited and, under these circumstances, the Fund's investments in other investment companies and private funds will be consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive rules adopted by or exemptive orders obtained from the SEC. For example, to the extent the Fund serves as an acquired fund in a fund of funds arrangement in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act, the Fund would be prohibited from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the securities of an investment company or private fund if, after such purchase or acquisition, the aggregate value of the Fund's investments in such investment companies and private funds would exceed 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets, subject to limited exceptions (including for investments in money market funds).

The use of ETFs is generally intended to help a 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 generally 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 a 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.

A 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 Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund.

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Appendix A

***Unseasoned Companies.*** Each Fund may invest in companies which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than three years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.

***Corporate Debt Obligations and Trust Preferred Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations and 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. Each Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt obligations include securities issued by banks and other financial institutions and supranational entities (i.e., the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).

***Bank Obligations.*** Each Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.

***U.S. Government Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by (i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or (iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components 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 Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will be able or willing to repay the principal or interest 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.

***Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.*** Each Fund may invest in custodial receipts and trust certificates representing interests in securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust certificates may not be considered obligations of the U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial receipts and trust certificates.

***Mortgage-Backed Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities. mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property. Mortgage-backed securities can be backed by either fixed rate mortgage loans or ARMs, and may be issued by either a governmental or nongovernmental entity. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities may expose a Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.

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The Fund may invest in privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities that represent interests in pools of mortgage loans that are issued by trusts formed by originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans (or represent interests in custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These originators and institutions include commercial banks, savings and loans associations, credit unions, savings banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, investment banks or special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The pools underlying privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities consist of mortgage loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust creating a first lien on commercial, residential, residential multi-family and mixed residential/commercial properties. These mortgage-backed securities typically do not have the same credit standing as U.S. government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.

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

Mortgage-backed securities may include multiple class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit ("REMIC") pass-through or participation certificates. A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment and invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an investor with a specified interest in the cash flow from a pool of underlying mortgages or of other mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued in multiple classes each with a specified fixed or floating interest rate and a final scheduled distribution rate. In many cases, payments of principal are applied to the CMO classes in the order of their respective stated maturities, so that no principal payments will be made on a CMO class until all other classes having an earlier stated maturity date are paid in full.

Sometimes, however, CMO classes are "parallel pay," i.e., payments of principal are made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed security whose price can be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other types of mortgage-related obligations, and under certain interest rate and payment scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless of their credit quality.

To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in pools of mortgage-backed securities sponsored by the same sponsor or serviced by the same servicer, it may be subject to additional risks. Servicers of mortgage-related pools collect payments on the underlying mortgage assets for pass-through to the pool on a periodic basis. Upon insolvency of the servicer, the pool may be at risk with respect to collections received by the servicer but not yet delivered to the pool.

Mortgaged-backed securities also include stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS"), which are derivative multiple class mortgage-backed securities. SMBS are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all of the interest payments and the other that receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Funds to the extent they invest in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.

***Asset-Backed Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, a Fund's ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Fund's recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the securities. In the event of a default, a Fund may suffer a loss if

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Appendix A

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 the prevailing interest rates. There is no guarantee that private guarantors or insurers of an asset-backed security, 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.

***Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in 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, a Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective may depend to a greater extent on the Investment Adviser's judgment concerning the creditworthiness of issuers than funds which invest in higher-rated securities. Issuers of non-investment grade fixed income securities may not be able to make use of more traditional methods of financing and their ability to service debt obligations may be affected more adversely than issuers of higher-rated securities by economic downturns, specific corporate or financial developments or the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business forecasts. Negative publicity about the junk bond market and investor perceptions regarding lower rated securities, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may depress the prices for such securities.

A holder's risk of loss from default is significantly greater for non-investment grade fixed income securities than is the case for holders of other debt securities because such non-investment grade securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to the rights of other creditors of the issuers of such securities. Investment by a Fund in defaulted securities poses additional risk of loss should nonpayment of principal and interest continue in respect of such securities. Even if such securities are held to maturity, recovery by a Fund of its initial investment and any anticipated income or appreciation is uncertain.

The secondary market for non-investment grade fixed income securities is concentrated in relatively few market makers and is dominated by institutional investors, including mutual funds, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Accordingly, the secondary market for such securities is not as liquid as, and is more volatile than, the secondary market for higher-rated securities. In addition, market trading volume for high yield fixed income securities is generally lower and the secondary market for such securities could shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse market or economic conditions, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. The lack of sufficient market liquidity may cause a Fund to incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and then only at a substantial drop in price. These factors may have an adverse effect on the market price and a Fund's ability to dispose of particular portfolio investments. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.

Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of non-investment grade securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the conditions of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.

***Borrowings.*** Each Fund can borrow money from banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes.

***Mortgage Dollar Rolls.*** The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A mortgage dollar roll involves the sale by a Fund of securities for delivery in the current month. The Fund simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund loses the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold. However, the Fund benefits to the extent of any difference between (a) the price received for the securities sold and (b) the lower forward price for the future purchase and/or fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold. Unless the benefits of a mortgage dollar roll exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the roll, the use of this technique will diminish the Fund's performance.

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Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls depends upon the Investment Adviser's ability to predict correctly interest rates and mortgage prepayments. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its prediction, a Fund may experience a loss. The Funds do not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and does not treat them as borrowings.

***Yield Curve Options.*** The Income Builder 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 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.

***Reverse Repurchase Agreements.*** The Income Builder Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. 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. 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.

***Municipal Securities.*** The Income Builder 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 participating interests in such securities) issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest.

Municipal securities include both "general" and "revenue" bonds and may be issued to obtain funds for various purposes. General obligations are secured by the issuer's pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power. Revenue obligations are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities.

Municipal securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. 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, municipal leases, certificates of participation, pre-funded municipal securities and auction rate securities. Dividends paid by the Fund based on investments in municipal securities will be taxable.

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

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Appendix A

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. 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.

***Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Equity Swaps, Index Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars.*** Each Fund may enter into swap transactions and option agreements, including (in the case of the Income Builder Fund) interest rate caps, floors and collars. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Credit swaps (also referred to as credit default 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. Credit swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors (for example, the Nth default within a basket, or defaults by a particular combination of issuers within the basket, may trigger a payment obligation). Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties' respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. 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. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or an index) for another payment stream. An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or disadvantageous. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index.

A 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 Funds may enter into the transactions described above, as applicable, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. As an example, when a 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 a 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 a 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 default swap.

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The use of interest rate, mortgage, credit, currency, index, total return and equity 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, interest rates and currency exchange 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund and its counterparties posting higher amounts for uncleared swaps.

***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, a Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

***Loan-Related Investments.*** The Income Builder Fund may invest in loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments. A loan participation is an interest in a loan to a U.S. or foreign company or other borrower (the "borrower") which is administered and sold by a financial intermediary. The Fund may only invest in loans to issuers in whose obligations it may otherwise invest. Loan interests may take the form of a direct or co-lending relationship with the borrower, an assignment of an interest in the loan by a co-lender or another participant, or a participation in the seller's share of the loan. When the Fund acts as co-lender in connection with a loan interest or when it acquires certain interests, the Fund will have direct recourse against the borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and interest. In cases where the Fund lacks direct recourse, it will look to an agent for the lenders (the "agent lender") to enforce appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. In these cases, 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 (such as commercial paper) of such borrower.

An assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the purchaser's rights can be more restricted than those of the assigning institution, and, in any event, the Fund may not be able to unilaterally enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. A participation typically results in a contractual relationship only with the institution participating out the interest, not with the borrower. In purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

The market for loan obligations may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Because transactions in many 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 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. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, a Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available).

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancings and to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes. Senior loans typically have a stated term of between five and nine years, and have rates of interest which typically are redetermined daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium or credit spread. Longer interest rate reset periods generally increase fluctuations in the Fund's net asset value as a result of changes in market interest rates. As a result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should increase, and as short-term interest rates decrease, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should decrease. Second lien loans have the same characteristics as senior loans except that such loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans. Accordingly, the risks associated with second lien loans are higher than the risk of loans with first priority over the collateral. In the event of default on a second lien loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. It is possible that no collateral value would remain for the second priority lien holder and therefore result in a loss of investment to the Fund. Second lien loans typically have

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Appendix A

adjustable floating rate interest payments. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

***Equity Investments.*** After its purchase, a portfolio investment (such as a convertible debt obligation) may convert to an equity security. Alternatively, a 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, a 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.

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Appendix B

Financial Highlights

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five years (or less if the Fund has been in operation for less than five years). Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the Fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's most recent annual report (available upon request).

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $26.97 | $23.40 | $23.67 | $21.67 | $22.72 |
| Net investment income <sup>(a)</sup> | 0.83 | 0.81 | 0.73 | 0.82 | 0.80 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.47) | 3.58 | (0.21) | 2.02 | (1.02) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.64) | 4.39 | 0.52 | 2.84 | (0.22) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.86) | (0.82) | (0.76) | (0.84) | (0.80) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.03) |  | (0.03) |
| Total distributions | (1.79) | (0.82) | (0.79) | (0.84) | (0.83) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $22.54 | $26.97 | $23.40 | $23.67 | $21.67 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (10.34)% | 18.90% | 2.29% | 13.34% | (1.03)% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $524002 | $505134 | $328039 | $314951 | $309719 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.79% | 0.79% | 0.92% | 0.95% | 0.97% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.92% | 0.92% | 0.98% | 1.00% | 1.02% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 3.42% | 3.07% | 3.15% | 3.63% | 3.54% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $26.47 | $22.98 | $23.26 | $21.31 | $22.35 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.64 | 0.60 | 0.55 | 0.64 | 0.62 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.41) | 3.51 | (0.21) | 1.98 | (1.00) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.77) | 4.11 | 0.34 | 2.62 | (0.38) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.68) | (0.62) | (0.60) | (0.67) | (0.64) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.02) |  | (0.02) |
| Total distributions | (1.61) | (0.62) | (0.62) | (0.67) | (0.66) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $22.09 | $26.47 | $22.98 | $23.26 | $21.31 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (10.99)% | 18.01% | 1.57% | 12.44% | (1.74)% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $243523 | $368881 | $380590 | $463483 | $475897 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 1.54% | 1.54% | 1.67% | 1.70% | 1.72% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 1.67% | 1.67% | 1.73% | 1.75% | 1.77% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 2.64% | 2.32% | 2.41% | 2.88% | 2.79% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $27.64 | $23.96 | $24.21 | $22.15 | $23.20 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.94 | 0.91 | 0.84 | 0.93 | 0.90 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.57) | 3.67 | (0.21) | 2.06 | (1.03) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.63) | 4.58 | 0.63 | 2.99 | (0.13) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.94) | (0.90) | (0.85) | (0.93) | (0.89) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.03) |  | (0.03) |
| Total distributions | (1.87) | (0.90) | (0.88) | (0.93) | (0.92) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $23.14 | $27.64 | $23.96 | $24.21 | $22.15 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (10.02)% | 19.29% | 2.68% | 13.76% | (0.63)% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $993214 | $1061582 | $669848 | $609414 | $680661 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.46% | 0.46% | 0.56% | 0.57% | 0.58% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.59% | 0.59% | 0.62% | 0.61% | 0.63% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 3.75% | 3.40% | 3.52% | 4.03% | 3.93% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $27.55 | $23.89 | $24.14 | $22.09 | $23.14 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.91 | 0.89 | 0.81 | 0.89 | 0.87 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.55) | 3.65 | (0.21) | 2.05 | (1.03) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.64) | 4.54 | 0.60 | 2.94 | (0.16) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.92) | (0.88) | (0.82) | (0.89) | (0.86) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.03) |  | (0.03) |
| Total distributions | (1.85) | (0.88) | (0.85) | (0.89) | (0.89) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $23.06 | $27.55 | $23.89 | $24.14 | $22.09 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (10.09)% | 19.22% | 2.53% | 13.59% | (0.77)% |
| Net assets value, end of year (in 000s) | $421142 | $355534 | $256919 | $263228 | $239226 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.54% | 0.54% | 0.67% | 0.70% | 0.72% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.73% | 0.75% | 0.77% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 3.68% | 3.32% | 3.40% | 3.87% | 3.79% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $27.64 | $23.95 | $24.21 | $22.15 | $23.20 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.94 | 0.92 | 0.83 | 0.93 | 0.85 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.58) | 3.67 | (0.21) | 2.06 | (0.98) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.64) | 4.59 | 0.62 | 2.99 | (0.13) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.94) | (0.90) | (0.85) | (0.93) | (0.89) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.03) |  | (0.03) |
| Total distributions | (1.87) | (0.90) | (0.88) | (0.93) | (0.92) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $23.13 | $27.64 | $23.95 | $24.21 | $22.15 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (10.05)% | 19.35% | 2.70% | 13.72% | (0.62)% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $39187 | $25215 | $65293 | $10486 | $130 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.45% | 0.46% | 0.54% | 0.56% | 0.57% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.61% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 3.76% | 3.44% | 3.51% | 3.96% | 3.72% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** | **Class A Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $13.87 | $9.81 | $11.18 | $19.56 | $22.54 |
| Net investment income <sup>(a)</sup> | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.09 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.71) | 4.44 | (0.23) | 0.78 | 1.25 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.64) | 4.49 | (0.15) | 0.88 | 1.34 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.19) | (0.39) | (0.24) | (0.22) | (0.28) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (4.04) |
| Total distributions | (1.36) | (0.43) | (1.22) | (9.26) | (4.32) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $11.87 | $13.87 | $9.81 | $11.18 | $19.56 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (4.99)% | 46.88% | (1.80)% | 10.41% | 6.27% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $240085 | $255730 | $167765 | $208416 | $297772 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 1.03% | 1.03% | 1.09% | 1.15% | 1.17% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 1.28% | 1.27% | 1.29% | 1.27% | 1.20% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.55% | 0.42% | 0.81% | 0.86% | 0.42% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** | **Class C Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $14.13 | $9.99 | $11.36 | $19.71 | $22.69 |
| Net investment income (loss)<sup>(a)</sup> | (0.02) | (0.03) | —<sup>(b)</sup> | 0.01 | (0.07) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.72) | 4.52 | (0.23) | 0.80 | 1.26 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.74) | 4.49 | (0.23) | 0.81 | 1.19 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.08) | (0.31) | (0.16) | (0.12) | (0.13) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (4.04) |
| Total distributions | (1.25) | (0.35) | (1.14) | (9.16) | (4.17) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $12.14 | $14.13 | $9.99 | $11.36 | $19.71 |
| **Total return**<sup>(c)</sup> | (5.65)% | 45.74% | (2.50)% | 9.55% | 5.49% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $41110 | $75965 | $108840 | $194302 | $348220 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 1.78% | 1.78% | 1.84% | 1.90% | 1.92% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 2.02% | 2.03% | 2.03% | 2.02% | 1.95% |
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets | (0.15)% | (0.23)% | 0.03% | 0.12% | (0.33)% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(d)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Amount is less than $0.005 per share.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(d)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** | **Institutional Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $14.72 | $10.38 | $11.76 | $20.08 | $23.02 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.15 | 0.18 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.74) | 4.70 | (0.24) | 0.83 | 1.28 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.63) | 4.80 | (0.12) | 0.98 | 1.46 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.23) | (0.42) | (0.28) | (0.26) | (0.36) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (4.04) |
| Total distributions | (1.40) | (0.46) | (1.26) | (9.30) | (4.40) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $12.69 | $14.72 | $10.38 | $11.76 | $20.08 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (4.62)% | 47.16% | (1.47)% | 10.85% | 6.75% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $108367 | $130706 | $97358 | $191509 | $425555 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.72% | 0.72% | 0.78% | 0.80% | 0.78% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.90% | 0.90% | 0.90% | 0.88% | 0.81% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.87% | 0.75% | 1.10% | 1.25% | 0.83% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** | **Investor Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $14.69 | $10.36 | $11.75 | $20.07 | $23.01 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.14 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.75) | 4.69 | (0.25) | 0.83 | 1.29 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.64) | 4.78 | (0.14) | 0.97 | 1.43 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.22) | (0.41) | (0.27) | (0.25) | (0.33) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (4.04) |
| Total distributions | (1.39) | (0.45) | (1.25) | (9.29) | (4.37) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $12.66 | $14.69 | $10.36 | $11.75 | $20.07 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (4.70)% | 47.09% | (1.55)% | 10.73% | 6.56% |
| Net assets value, end of year (in 000s) | $64950 | $71231 | $64328 | $105498 | $227158 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.78% | 0.78% | 0.84% | 0.90% | 0.92% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 1.02% | 1.02% | 1.03% | 1.02% | 0.95% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.81% | 0.71% | 1.04% | 1.13% | 0.68% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** | **Class R6 Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $14.71 | $10.37 | $11.76 | $20.08 | $20.18 |
| Net investment income<sup>(b)</sup> | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.02 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.74) | 4.70 | (0.25) | 0.85 | 0.29 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.63) | 4.80 | (0.13) | 0.99 | 0.31 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.23) | (0.42) | (0.28) | (0.27) | (0.28) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (0.13) |
| Total distributions | (1.40) | (0.46) | (1.26) | (9.31) | (0.41) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $12.68 | $14.71 | $10.37 | $11.76 | $20.08 |
| **Total return**<sup>(c)</sup> | (4.62)% | 47.22% | (1.47)% | 10.78% | 1.54% |
| Net assets, end of period (in 000s) | $2738 | $3063 | $1868 | $2240 | $10 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.76% | 0.80% | 0.77%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.89% | 0.89% | 0.90% | 0.89% | 0.80%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.87% | 0.75% | 1.11% | 1.19% | 0.16%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(e)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Commenced operations on February 28, 2018.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the period and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total returns for periods* *less than one full year are not annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(d)* *Annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(e)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Class R Shares** | **Class R Shares** | **Class R Shares** | **Class R Shares** | **Class R Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | **2018** |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of year | $13.79 | $9.76 | $11.13 | $19.51 | $22.49 |
| Net investment income<sup>(a)</sup> | 0.04 | 0.02 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.69) | 4.42 | (0.24) | 0.78 | 1.25 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.65) | 4.44 | (0.18) | 0.85 | 1.29 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.16) | (0.37) | (0.21) | (0.19) | (0.23) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (4.04) |
| Total distributions | (1.33) | (0.41) | (1.19) | (9.23) | (4.27) |
| Net asset value, end of year | $11.81 | $13.79 | $9.76 | $11.13 | $19.51 |
| **Total return**<sup>(b)</sup> | (5.10)% | 46.38% | (2.01)% | 10.08% | 6.07% |
| Net assets, end of year (in 000s) | $1346 | $1357 | $1131 | $2575 | $3484 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 1.28% | 1.28% | 1.35% | 1.40% | 1.42% |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 1.52% | 1.52% | 1.53% | 1.52% | 1.45% |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.31% | 0.19% | 0.57% | 0.61% | 0.18% |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(c)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the year, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the year and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

------

Appendix C

Additional Information About Sales Charge Variations, Waivers and Discounts

The availability of certain sales charge variations, waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through an Intermediary. Intermediaries may impose different sales charges and have unique policies and procedures regarding the availability of sales charge waivers and/or discounts (including based on account type), which differ from those described in the Prospectus and are disclosed below. All sales charges and sales charge variations, waivers and discounts available to investors, other than those set forth below, are described in the Prospectus. To the extent an Intermediary notifies the Investment Adviser or Distributor of its intention to impose sales charges or have sales charge waivers and/or discounts that differ from those described in the Prospectus, such information provided by that Intermediary will be disclosed in this Appendix.

**In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your Intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying you for sales charge waivers or discounts. Please contact your Intermediary with questions regarding your eligibility for applicable sales charge variations, waivers and discounts or for additional information regarding your Intermediary's policies for implementing particular sales charge variations, waivers and discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular Intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase shares directly from the Fund or through another Intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts.** 

In addition to different sales charge variations, waivers and discounts, Intermediaries may have different share class exchange privileges that vary from those described in the Prospectus. You should contact your Intermediary to understand the exchange privileges available to you.

The information provided below for a particular Intermediary is reproduced based on information provided by that Intermediary. An Intermediary's administration and implementation of its particular policies with respect to any variations, waivers and/or discounts is neither supervised nor verified by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Distributor.

MERRILL LYNCH<br>

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's prospectus or SAI.

Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan

◼

Shares purchased by a 529 Plan (does not include 529 Plan units or 529-specific share classes or equivalents)

◼

Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program

◼

Shares exchanged due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch's policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

◼

Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch's platform

◼

Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable)

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)

◼

Shares exchanged from Class C (*i.e*., level-load) shares of the same fund pursuant to Merrill Lynch's policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

◼

Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members

◼

Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund's investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in the prospectus

◼

Eligible shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement). Automated transactions (i.e. systematic purchases and withdrawals) and purchases made after shares are automatically sold to pay Merrill Lynch's account maintenance fees are not eligible for reinstatement

CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch

◼

Death or disability of the shareholder

------

◼

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's prospectus

◼

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code

◼

Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch

◼

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

◼

Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to A and C shares only)

◼

Shares received through an exchange due to the holdings moving from a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program to a Merrill Lynch brokerage (non-advisory) account pursuant to Merrill Lynch's policies relating to sales load discounts and waivers

Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

◼

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus

◼

Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts as described in the Fund's prospectus will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts (including 529 program holdings, where applicable) within the purchaser's household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

◼

Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL<br>

Effective June 30, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's prospectus or SAI.

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Ameriprise Financial

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.

◼

Shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial investment advisory program (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).

◼

Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Ameriprise Financial's platform (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).

◼

Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that waiver will also apply to such exchanges.

◼

Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.

◼

Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor's spouse, advisor's lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor's lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., Rights of Reinstatement).

MORGAN STANLEY WEALTH MANAGEMENT<br>

Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's Prospectus or SAI.

------

Appendix C

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans

◼

Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley's account linking rules

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund

◼

Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account

◼

Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's share class conversion program

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.

&nbsp;&nbsp; RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC., RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND EACH ENTITY'S AFFILIATES <br> ("RAYMOND JAMES")<br>

Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's Prospectus or SAI.

Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Raymond James

◼

Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.

◼

Shares purchased within the same fund family through a systematic reinvestment of capital gains and dividend distributions.

◼

Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).

◼

A Shareholder in the Fund's Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.

CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares Available at Raymond James

◼

Death or disability of the shareholder.

◼

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's Prospectus.

◼

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the Fund's Prospectus.

◼

Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.

◼

Shares acquired through a Right of Reinstatement.

Front-End Load Discounts Available at Raymond James: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent

◼

Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus.

◼

Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser's household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

◼

Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within the Fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT LLC<br>

Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase Fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC ("Janney") brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Fund's Prospectus or SAI.

------

Front-End Sales Charge\* Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Janney

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).

◼

Shares purchased by employees and registered representatives of Janney or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Janney.

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within ninety (90) days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e., right of reinstatement).

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans.

◼

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

◼

Class C Shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A Shares of the same fund pursuant to Janney's policies and procedures.

CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Janney

◼

Shares sold upon the death or disability of the shareholder.

◼

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's Prospectus.

◼

Shares purchased in connection with a return of excess contributions from an IRA account.

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and other retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the Fund's Prospectus.

◼

Shares sold to pay Janney fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Janney.

◼

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

◼

Shares exchanged into the same share class of a different fund.

Front-End Sales Charge\* Discounts Available at Janney: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and/or Letters of Intent

◼

Breakpoints as described in the Fund's Prospectus.

◼

Rights of accumulation ("ROA"), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser's household at Janney. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

◼

Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Janney may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

*\**

*Also referred to as an "initial sales charge."* 

EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ("Edward Jones")<br>

Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones

*The following information has been provided by Edward Jones:* 

Effective on or after March 1, 2021, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as "shareholders") purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as "breakpoints") and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional information ("SAI") or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder's responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of Goldman Sachs Funds, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.

Breakpoints

◼

Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.

Rights of Accumulation ("ROA")

◼

The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A Shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except certain money market funds and any assets held in group retirement plans) of Goldman Sachs Funds held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations ("pricing

------

Appendix C

groups"). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Money market funds are included only if such shares were sold with a sales charge at the time of purchase or acquired in exchange for shares purchased with a sales charge.

◼

The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.

◼

ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).

Letter of Intent ("LOI")

◼

Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid. Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.

◼

If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.

Sales Charge Waivers

Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:

◼

Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate's life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures.

◼

Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account.

◼

Shares exchanged into Class A Shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.

◼

Exchanges from Class C Shares to Class A Shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC") Waivers

If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:

◼

The death or disability of the shareholder.

◼

Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.

◼

Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.

◼

Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.

◼

Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.

◼

Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.

◼

Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.

Other Important Information Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones

Minimum Purchase Amounts

◼

Initial purchase minimum: $250

◼

Subsequent purchase minimum: none

------

Minimum Balances

◼

Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:

◼

A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform

◼

A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform

◼

An account with an active systematic investment plan or letter of intent (LOI)

Exchanging Share Classes

◼

At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to change a share class to Class A shares of the same fund at NAV.

OPPENHEIMER & CO. INC.<br>

Effective May 1, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ("OPCO") platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at OPCO

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan

◼

Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan

◼

Shares purchased through a OPCO affiliated investment advisory program

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)

◼

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Restatement).

◼

A shareholder in the Fund's Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of OPCO

◼

Employees and registered representatives of OPCO or its affiliates and their family members

◼

Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund's investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in this prospectus

CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares available at OPCO

◼

Death or disability of the shareholder

◼

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's prospectus

◼

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching the qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations as described in the prospectus

◼

Shares sold to pay OPCO fees but only if the transaction is initiated by OPCO

◼

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

◼

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.

◼

Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser's household at OPCO. Eligible fund family assets not held at OPCO may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. ("BAIRD")<br>

Effective June 15, 2020, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Baird

◼

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing share of the same fund

------

Appendix C

◼

Share purchase by employees and registers representatives of Baird or its affiliate and their family members as designated by Baird

◼

Shares purchase from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same accounts, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as rights of reinstatement)

◼

A shareholder in the Fund's Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares of the fund if the shares are no longer subject to CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Baird

◼

Employer-sponsored retirement plans or charitable accounts in a transactional brokerage account at Baird, including 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans. For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs

CDSC Waivers on Class A and C Shares Available at Baird

◼

Shares sold due to death or disability of the shareholder

◼

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's Prospectus

◼

Shares bought due to returns of excess contributions from an IRA Account

◼

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 72 as described in the Fund's prospectus

◼

Shares sold to pay Baird fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Baird

◼

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement

Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations

◼

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus

◼

Rights of accumulations which entitles shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser's household at Baird. Eligible fund family assets not held at Baird may be included in the rights of accumulations calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets

◼

Letters of Intent (LOI) allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family through Baird, over a 13-month period of time

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Dividend Focus Funds Prospectus

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

FOR MORE INFORMATION<br>

Annual/Semi-Annual Report

Additional information about the Fund's investments is or will be available in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund's annual report 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 and the SAI are available free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-526-7384. You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual reports and the SAI at the Fund's website: 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:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | Institutional & Class R6 | Class A, C, Investor & R |
| ◼ By telephone: | 1-800-621-2550 | 1-800-526-7384 |
| ◼ By mail: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs Funds<br> P.O. Box 806395<br> Chicago, IL 60680-4125<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs Funds <br> P.O. Box 219711 <br> Kansas City, MO 64121<br>|
| ◼ 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.

![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

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

GSAM<sup>®</sup> is a registered service mark of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

------

Prospectus

**February 28, 2023**

![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**GOLDMAN SACHS DIVIDEND FOCUS FUNDS**

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.

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

◼

Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund

◼

Class P Shares: GGKPX

◼

Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund

◼

Class P Shares: GMHPX

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**Table of Contents**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| [Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund—Summary](#xx_99d85f1e-01eb-4aaf-bf9a-4c541bd972d6_1) | 1 |
| [Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund—Summary](#xx_61f34ab8-e777-42cf-acec-537256131b7f_1) | 7 |
| [Investment Management Approach](#xx_8c152727-b638-4824-b50a-b030d4cc068a_1) | 13 |
| [Risks of the Fund](#xx_27c0bd06-6abb-4b16-b9ad-9057fb0e83bc_1) | 22 |
| [Service Providers](#xx_af391790-7728-4420-ae26-91ee9ae5438f_1) | 33 |
| [Distributions](#xx_1f4546fa-953f-4cc6-919a-428247071520_1) | 38 |
| [Shareholder Guide](#xx_d19a9540-4501-4b10-a947-6256759dc82c_1) | 39 |
| [How To Buy Shares](#xx_d19a9540-4501-4b10-a947-6256759dc82c_1) | 39  |
| [How To Sell Shares](#xx_d19a9540-4501-4b10-a947-6256759dc82c_5) | 43  |
| [Taxation](#xx_007144ce-f8bf-4f96-a6d8-cdfc27dcf9ee_1) | 48 |
| [Appendix A](#xx_590015d0-2309-4661-af09-b03e093b96a1_1) |  |
| [Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques](#xx_590015d0-2309-4661-af09-b03e093b96a1_1) | 50 |
| [Appendix B](#xx_5f566488-950f-4be1-a9a8-29a80ebc637d_1) |  |
| [Financial Highlights](#xx_5f566488-950f-4be1-a9a8-29a80ebc637d_1) | 68 |

---

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![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund—Summary** 

Investment Objective<br>

The Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund (the "Fund") seeks to provide income and capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund<br>

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

**Annual Fund Operating Expenses** 

**(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Class P** |
| Management Fees | 0.51% |
| Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees |  |
| Other Expenses | 0.08% |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses<sup>1</sup> | 0.03% |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses** | 0.62% |
| Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation<sup>2</sup> | (0.15%) |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation** | 0.47% |

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<sup>1</sup>

*The "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" do not correlate to the ratio of total expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights, which reflect the operating expenses of the Fund and do not include "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses."* 

<sup>2</sup>

*The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee of 0.44% as an annual percentage of daily net assets; (ii) waive a portion of its management fee in an amount equal to any management fees it earns as an investment adviser to the affiliated funds in which the Fund invests; and (iii) reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of the Fund's average daily net assets. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.* 

Expense Example<br>

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 P Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class P 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 any applicable fee waiver and/or expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **1 Year** | **3 Years** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** |
| Class P Shares | $48 | $183 | $331 | $760 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Portfolio Turnover<br>

The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (*i.e*., "turns over" its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 was 25% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Strategy<br>

The Fund seeks to provide income through investments in fixed income securities (bonds) and high dividend paying equities, preferred equities and other similar securities (stocks). The Fund also seeks to provide income by writing call options. The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation primarily through equity securities. The percentage of the portfolio invested in equity and fixed income securities

------

will vary from time to time as the Investment Adviser evaluates such securities' relative attractiveness based on, among other factors, income opportunities, market valuations, economic growth and inflation prospects. The Fund has a baseline allocation to fixed income securities of 60% and to equity securities of 40%. In seeking to meet its investment objective, the Fund has the flexibility to opportunistically tilt the allocation to fixed income and equity securities up to 15% above or below the baseline allocation, measured at the time of investment.

*Equity Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 55% of its total assets (not including securities lending collateral and any investment of that collateral) ("Total Assets") measured at the time of purchase in equity investments, which include, among others, U.S. common stocks, preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers in countries with emerging markets or economies ("emerging countries")), as well as master limited partnerships ("MLPs"), real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and affiliated and unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). With respect to the equity portion of the Fund's portfolio, the Investment Adviser employs a value investment philosophy and seeks to identify quality businesses selling at compelling valuations. The Investment Adviser expects that equity investments will be weighted in favor of companies which pay dividends or other current income. While the Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, the Investment Adviser will typically favor equity securities of large-cap companies.

*Fixed Income Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 75% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in fixed income investments. The Fund's fixed income investments may include, among others:

◼

Securities issued by corporations, banks and other issuers, including non-investment grade securities

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises ("U.S. Government Securities")

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities and foreign corporations or other entities.

The Fund may also seek to obtain exposure to these investments through investments in affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs.

The Fund's investments in foreign fixed income securities may include securities of foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries) and securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

The Fund may invest in both non-investment grade and investment grade fixed income securities. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's"), or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or have a comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") (or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), at the time of investment. Non-investment grade securities may include, among others, non-investment grade bonds, non-investment grade floating rate loans and other floating or variable rate obligations. With respect to the fixed income portion of its portfolio, the Fund does not maintain a fixed target duration.

*Other Investments.* The Fund may invest without limit in non-U.S. equity and non-U.S. fixed income securities.

In addition to direct investments in equity and fixed income securities, the Fund may invest in derivatives, including credit default swaps (including credit default index swaps or "CDX"), total return swaps and futures, which can be used for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. The Fund may also utilize various interest rate-related derivatives, including futures and swaps, to manage the duration of its fixed income positions. Additionally, the Fund may hedge its nondollar investments back to the U.S. dollar through the use of foreign currency derivatives, including currency futures and forward foreign currency contracts, or invest in such instruments for speculative purposes.

The Fund seeks to generate additional cash flow and may reduce volatility by the sale of call options on the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index or other regional stock market indices (or related ETFs).

The Fund expects that, under normal circumstances, it will sell put and call options in an amount up to 12% of the value of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund expects to sell put and call options that are "out of the money." As the seller of these options, the Fund will receive cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market price of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the call option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the option's underlier (*e.g.*, a security or an index-linked instrument) at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a put option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is below the current market price of the underlier. Conversely, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the option's underlier at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a call option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is above the current market price of the underlier. The Fund expects to sell out-of-the-money put and call options with the same underliers and expiration dates in what is referred to as a "strangle" strategy.

Generally, a sold "strangle" position would realize gains from collected premiums when its underlier has a market price that is between the exercise prices of the associated put and call options. Losses may be experienced to the extent that the underlier has a market price that is either below the exercise price of the put option (subtracting any premiums from the exercise price) or above the exercise price of the call option (adding any premiums to the exercise price), *i.e.*, if the strangle position expires "in the money."

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The Fund expects to use total return swaps to gain exposure to the above-described option strategy. Income realized with respect to this strategy is generally expected to be characterized as ordinary income, which the Fund may periodically distribute to shareholders. The Fund's transactions in swaps will be subject to special tax rules, which could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. As a result of these rules, the Fund's investment in total return swaps is expected to result in the Fund realizing more ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than if the Fund did not invest in such swaps.

During periods in which the U.S. equity markets are generally unchanged or falling, or in a modestly rising market where the income from premiums exceeds the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price, a diversified portfolio receiving premiums from its call option writing strategy may outperform the same portfolio without such an options strategy. However, in rising markets where the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price exceeds the income from premiums, a portfolio with a call writing strategy could significantly underperform the same portfolio without the options.

The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes.

The Investment Adviser employs a fundamental investment process that may integrate environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors alongside traditional fundamental factors. No one factor or consideration is determinative in the fundamental investment process.

The Fund's benchmarks are the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index.

Principal Risks of the Fund<br>

**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. The Fund's principal risks are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.**

***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. Additionally, the credit quality of securities may deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Fund's liquidity and cause significant deterioration in net asset value ("NAV"). These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in connection with the Fund's investments in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

***Derivatives Risk.*** The Fund's use of options, futures, swaps (including credit default swaps and total return swaps) and other derivative instruments may result in losses, including due to adverse market movements. These instruments, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other assets and instruments, may increase market exposure and be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of the underlying assets or 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. 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.

***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk.*** The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

***Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk.*** Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other

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instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund's investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries.

***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

***Investment Style Risk.*** Different investment styles (*e.g*., "growth", "value" or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Value Value Stocks are those believed to be undervalued in comparison to their peers, due to market, company-specific, or other factors.

***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, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

***Loan-Related Investments Risk.*** In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (*e.g.*, interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment. Many loan investments are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and certain loan investments may be or become illiquid or less liquid and more difficult to value, particularly in the event of a downgrade of the loan or the borrower. There is less readily available, reliable information about most loan investments than is the case for many other types of securities. Substantial increases in interest rates may cause an increase in loan obligation defaults. With respect to loan participations, the Fund may not always have direct recourse against a borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and/or interest; may be subject to greater delays, expenses and risks than if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the borrower; and may be regarded as the creditor of the agent lender or counterparty (rather than the borrower), subjecting the Fund to the creditworthiness of that lender as well. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

The market for loan obligations may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Because transactions in many 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 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. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, the Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available).

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a business entity, and are typically secured with specific collateral, but are nevertheless usually rated below investment grade. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower. Second lien loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

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

***Market Risk.*** The market 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. Events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also significantly impact the Fund and its investments.

------

***Master Limited Partnership Risk.*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and lower market liquidity. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

Investments in securities of an MLP also include tax-related risks. For example, to the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests.

***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.

***Option Writing Risk.*** Writing (selling) options may limit the opportunity to profit from an increase or decrease in the market value of a reference security in exchange for up-front cash (the premium) at the time of selling the option. In a sharp rising or falling market, the Fund could significantly underperform the market or other portfolios without an option writing strategy. The Fund could also experience a sudden, significant permanent loss due to dramatic movements in the market value of reference security, which may far exceed the premiums received for writing the option. Such significant losses could cause significant deteriorations in the Fund's NAV. Furthermore, the premium received from the Fund's option writing strategies may not fully protect it against market movements because the Fund will continue to bear the risk of movements in the value of its portfolio investments.

***Other Investments Risk.*** By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

***REIT Risk***. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

***Stock Risk.*** Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

Performance<br>

The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund's Class P Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Class P Shares compare to those of broad-based securities market indices. Because the Fund invests in both equity and fixed income securities, the Fund shows its performance against both the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index (which shows how the Fund's performance compares to an index of large cap value equities) and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (which shows how the Fund's performance compares to an index of high yield fixed income securities). The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost at <u>https://www.gsam.com/content/dam/gsam/pdfs/us/en/fund-resources/monthly-highlights/retail-fund-facts.pdf?sa=n&rd=n</u> or by calling the appropriate phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus.

Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the periods shown.

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**CALENDAR YEAR (CLASS P)**

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![](g440223imga6ccf22e1.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **During the periods shown in the chart above:** | **Returns** | **Quarter ended** |
| Best Quarter Return | 11.39% | June 30, 2020 |
| Worst Quarter Return | -12.68% | March 31, 2020 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** |  |  |  |
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** | **1 Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since**<br> **Inception**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Inception**<br> **Date**<br>|
| **Class P Shares** |  |  | 4/16/2018 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -9.22% | 5.24% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions | -10.57% | 3.62% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -5.25% | 3.53% |  |
| Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -7.54% | 7.42% |  |
| ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -10.53% | 2.58% |  |
| S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -18.11% | 9.86% |  |

---

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Portfolio Management<br>

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

*Portfolio Managers:* Ashish Shah, Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed Income, has managed the Fund since 2019; Ron Arons, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2013; Charles "Brook" Dane, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2016; Neill Nuttall, Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer, MAS, has managed the Fund since 2021; and Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2022; and Kevin Martens, Vice President, has managed the Fund since 2022.

Buying and Selling Fund Shares<br>

The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for initial or subsequent investments in Class P Shares.

You may purchase and redeem (sell) Class P Shares of the Fund on any business day through the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management business unit, The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware, The Ayco Company, L.P. or with certain intermediaries that are authorized to offer Class P Shares.

Tax Information<br>

For important tax information, please see "Tax Information" on page 12 of the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

For important information about financial intermediary compensation, please see "Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries" on page 12 of the Prospectus.

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![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

**Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund—Summary** 

Investment Objective<br>

The Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (the "Fund") seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund<br>

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

**Annual Fund Operating Expenses** 

**(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  | **Class P** |
| Management Fees | 0.75% |
| Other Expenses | 0.15% |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses** | 0.90% |
| Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation<sup>1</sup> | (0.22%) |
| **Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Limitation** | 0.68% |

---

<sup>1</sup>

*The Investment Adviser has agreed to (i) waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee rate of 0.65% as an annual percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets; and (ii) reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of the Fund's average daily net assets. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.* 

Expense Example<br>

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 P Shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Class P 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 any applicable fee waiver and/or expense limitation arrangements for only the first year). Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **1 Year** | **3 Years** | **5 Years** | **10 Years** |
| Class P Shares | $69 | $265 | $477 | $1088 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Portfolio Turnover<br>

The Fund pays transaction costs when it buys and sells securities or instruments (*i.e*., "turns over" its portfolio). A high rate of portfolio turnover may result in increased transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, which must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains for taxable shareholders. These costs are not reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, but are reflected in the Fund's performance. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Strategy<br>

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) ("Net Assets") in equity investments of dividend-paying U.S. and foreign companies with market capitalizations of at least $500 million.

10/10 Equity Investments

------

The Investment Adviser's Quantitative Investment Strategies ("QIS") team manages the Fund's equity investments, including investments that meet the 10/10 Test described below (the "10/10 Sleeve"). The Fund will generally invest in common and preferred stocks as well as real estate investment trusts ("REITs") that have paid dividends over the previous 10 years or more and have increased their dividends per share by approximately 10% or more per year, on average, over a 10-year trailing period (the "10/10 Test"). For purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period. Once a company's stock is purchased by the Fund, if the stock's average annual dividend growth rate declines below approximately 10% per year over a 10-year trailing period, or the company has more than one year-over-year decrease in dividends per share over a 10-year trailing period, the position will generally be sold. The QIS team uses a systematic, rules-based approach, in combination with a qualitative overlay, to select the stocks in which the Fund invests. The Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models, at the discretion of the portfolio managers.

MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investments

The Investment Adviser's Energy Infrastructure & Renewables team manages the Fund's investments in master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and energy infrastructure companies (the "MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve"). The Fund may invest in MLPs and energy infrastructure companies irrespective of the 10/10 Test. The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally consist of 15% of the Fund's Net Assets but will not exceed 20% of Net Assets measured at the time of purchase.

The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally invest in traditional or alternative midstream (energy infrastructure) businesses, which include businesses that are engaged in the treatment, gathering, compression, processing, transportation, transmission, fractionation, storage, terminalling, wholesale marketing, liquefaction/regasification of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products or other energy sources as well as businesses engaged in owning, storing and transporting alternative energy sources, such as renewables (wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass) and alternative fuels (ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel).

The Fund's benchmark is the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index.

Principal Risks of the Fund<br>

**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. The Fund's principal risks are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.**

***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. Additionally, the credit quality of securities may deteriorate rapidly, which may impair the Fund's liquidity and cause significant deterioration in net asset value ("NAV"). These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

***Energy Sector Risk*.** The Fund invests in companies in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, business, social, political, environmental, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. The energy sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. MLPs, energy infrastructure companies and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others: fluctuations in commodity prices and/or interest rates; increased governmental or environmental regulation; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; declines in domestic or foreign production; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Energy companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, particular energy products (such as oil and natural gas), which may result in overproduction or underproduction. Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

During periods of heightened volatility, energy producers that are burdened with debt may seek bankruptcy relief. Bankruptcy laws may permit the revocation or renegotiation of contracts between energy producers and MLPs/energy infrastructure companies, which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of MLPs/energy infrastructure companies to pay distributions to their investors, including the Fund, which in turn could impact the ability of the Fund to pay dividends and dramatically impact the value of the Fund's investments.

Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves or other commodities may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk.*** The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

------

***Foreign and Emerging Countries Risk.*** Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protections; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. The imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), confiscations, trade restrictions (including tariffs) and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, may also result in losses. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. For example, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country and increase market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. These risks are more pronounced in connection with the Fund's investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries.

***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

***Investment Style Risk.*** Different investment styles (e.g., "growth," "value" or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions and investor sentiment. The Fund's quantitative style and emphasis on companies with rising dividend payments could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ a different investment style. Securities that pay high dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay high dividends. Additionally, a sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause a company to reduce or eliminate its dividend.

***Infrastructure Company Risk.*** Infrastructure companies are susceptible to various factors that may negatively impact their businesses or operations, including costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental, governmental and other regulations, rising interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of general economic conditions throughout the world, surplus capacity and depletion concerns, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel and other natural resources at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies, unfavorable tax laws or accounting policies and high leverage. Infrastructure companies will also be affected by innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete and natural or man-made disasters.

***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, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

***Management Risk***. A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results. The Investment Adviser attempts to execute a complex strategy for the Fund using proprietary quantitative models. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends, and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues). There is no guarantee that the Investment Adviser's use of these quantitative models will result in effective investment decisions for the Fund. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative money managers may amplify losses.

***Market Risk.*** The market 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. Events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also significantly impact the Fund and its investments.

------

***Master Limited Partnership Risk.*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and lower market liquidity. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

***Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk***. Investments in mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. These securities may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity, and these issuers often face greater business risks.

***Other Investments Risk.*** By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

***REIT Risk***. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

***Stock Risk.*** Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future.

***Tax Risk.*** MLPs are generally treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. This would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and could result in a reduction in the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

Performance<br>

The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing: (a) changes in the performance of the Fund's Class P Shares from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Class P Shares compare to those of a broad-based securities market index. Prior to the close of business on June 30, 2020, Dividend Assets Capital, LLC ("DAC"), a sub-advisor, was responsible for managing the Fund's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve. Accordingly, the performance information set forth below for periods prior to this date reflects DAC's management of the MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve. The Fund's past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost at <u>https://www.gsam.com/content/dam/gsam/pdfs/us/en/fund-resources/monthly-highlights/retail-fund-facts.pdf</u> or by calling the appropriate phone number on the back cover of the Prospectus.

Performance reflects applicable fee waivers and/or expense limitations in effect during the periods shown.

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**CALENDAR YEAR (CLASS P)**

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![](g440223imgcdbf39572.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **During the periods shown in the chart above:** | **Returns** | **Quarter ended** |
| Best Quarter Return | 22.58% | June 30, 2020 |
| Worst Quarter Return | -26.89% | March 31, 2020 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** |  |  |  |
| <br> AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN<br>**For the period ended December 31, 2022** | **1 Year** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since**<br> **Inception**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Inception**<br> **Date**<br>|
| **Class P Shares** |  |  | 4/16/2018 |
| Returns Before Taxes | -6.72% | 9.98% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions | -9.94% | 4.93% |  |
| Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -2.41% | 6.72% |  |
| S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) | -18.11% | 9.86% |  |

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After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold Fund Shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Portfolio Management<br>

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

*Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions Group:* Siwen Wu, Vice President, has managed the Fund since 2021.

*GSAM Quantitative Investment Strategies Team (10/10 Sleeve Portfolio Managers):* Monali Vora, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2018; and Aron Kershner, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2018.

*GSAM Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team(MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve Portfolio Manager)*: Kyri Loupis, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2020.

Buying and Selling Fund Shares<br>

The Fund does not impose minimum purchase requirements for initial or subsequent investments in Class P Shares.

You may purchase and redeem (sell) Class P Shares of the Fund on any business day through the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management business unit, The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware, The Ayco Company, L.P. or with certain intermediaries that are authorized to offer Class P Shares.

Tax Information<br>

For important tax information, please see "Tax Information" on page 12 of the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

For important information about financial intermediary compensation, please see "Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries" on page 12 of the Prospectus.

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Dividend Focus Funds –

Additional Summary Information

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tax Information<br>

The Funds' distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may become taxable upon withdrawal from such arrangements.

&nbsp;&nbsp; Payments to Broker-Dealers and <br> Other Financial Intermediaries<br>

If you purchase a Fund through an Intermediary, the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the Intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the Intermediary and your salesperson to recommend a Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your Intermediary's website for more information.

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Investment Management Approach

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVEs<br>

The Income Builder Fund seeks to provide income and capital appreciation. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income. Each Fund's investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days notice.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES<br>

Income Builder Fund

The Fund seeks to provide income through investments in fixed income securities (bonds) and high dividend paying equities, preferred equities and other similar securities (stocks). The Fund also seeks to provide income by writing call options. The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation primarily through equity securities. The percentage of the portfolio invested in equity and fixed income securities will vary from time to time as the Investment Adviser evaluates such securities' relative attractiveness based on, among other factors, income opportunities, market valuations, economic growth and inflation prospects. The Fund has a baseline allocation to fixed income securities of 60% and to equity securities of 40%. In seeking to meet its investment objective, the Fund has the flexibility to opportunistically tilt the allocation to fixed income and equity securities up to 15% above or below the baseline allocation, measured at the time of investment.

*Equity Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 55% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in equity investments, which include, among others, U.S. common stocks, preferred stocks and ADRs of U.S. and foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries), as well as MLPs, REITs and affiliated and unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs. The Investment Adviser expects that equity investments will be weighted in favor of companies which pay dividends or other current income. While the Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization, the Investment Adviser will typically favor equity securities of large-cap companies.

*Fixed Income Investments.* The Fund may invest up to 75% of its Total Assets measured at the time of purchase in fixed income investments. The Fund's fixed income investments may include, among others:

◼

Securities issued by corporations, banks and other issuers, including non-investment grade securities

◼

U.S. Government Securities

◼

Securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or any of their political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities and foreign corporations or other entities.

The Fund may also seek to obtain exposure to these investments through investments in affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including ETFs.

The Fund's investments in foreign fixed income securities may include securities of foreign issuers (including issuers in emerging countries) and securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar.

The Fund may invest in both non-investment grade and investment grade fixed income securities. Non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor's, or Moody's, or have a comparable rating by another NRSRO (or, if unrated, determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality), at the time of investment. Non-investment grade securities may include, among others, non-investment grade bonds, non-investment grade floating rate loans and other floating or variable rate obligations. With respect to the fixed income portion of its portfolio, the Fund does not maintain a fixed target duration.

*Other Investments*. The Fund may invest without limit in non-U.S. equity and non-U.S. fixed income securities.

In addition to direct investments in equity and fixed income securities the Fund may invest in derivatives, including credit default swaps (including CDX), total return swaps and futures, which can be used for both hedging purposes and to seek to increase total return. The Fund may also utilize various interest rate-related derivatives, including futures and swaps, to manage the duration of its fixed income positions. Additionally, the Fund may hedge its non-dollar investments back to the U.S. dollar through the use of foreign currency derivatives including currency futures and forward foreign currency contracts or invest in such instruments for speculative purposes.

The Fund seeks to generate additional cash flow and may reduce volatility by the sale of call options on the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index or other regional stock market indices (or related ETFs).

------

The Fund expects that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will sell put and call options in an amount that is up to 12% of the value of the Fund's portfolio. The Fund expects to sell put and call options that are "out of the money." As the seller of these options, the Fund will receive cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market price of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the call option. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell the option's underlier (e.g., a security or an index-linked instrument) at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a put option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is below the current market price of the underlier. Conversely, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the option's underlier at an agreed-upon exercise price prior to the option's expiration, and a call option is "out of the money" when this exercise price is above the current market price of the underlier. The Fund expects to sell out-of-the-money put and call options with the same underliers and expiration dates in what is referred to as a "strangle" strategy. Generally, a sold "strangle" position would realize gains from collected premiums when its underlier has a market price that is between the exercise prices of the associated put and call options. Losses may be experienced to the extent that the underlier has a market price that is either below the exercise price of the put option (subtracting any premiums from the exercise price) or above the exercise price of the call option (adding any premiums to the exercise price), i.e., if the strangle position expires "in the money."

The Fund expects to use total return swaps to gain exposure to the above-described option strategy. Income realized with respect to this strategy is generally expected to be characterized as ordinary income, which the Fund may periodically distribute to shareholders. The Fund's transactions in swaps will be subject to special tax rules, which could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. As a result of these rules, the Fund's investment in total return swaps is expected to result in the Fund realizing more ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than if the Fund did not invest in such swaps. Depending upon the type of index call option, the purchaser of a call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index 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 index over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium and makes no payments to the purchaser. 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.

During periods in which the equity markets are generally unchanged or falling, a diversified portfolio with a call option writing strategy may outperform the same portfolio without the options because of the premiums received from writing call options. Similarly, in a modestly rising market (where the income from premiums exceeds the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price) such a portfolio may outperform the same portfolio without the options. However, in other rising markets (where the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over its exercise price exceeds the income from premiums), a portfolio with a call writing strategy could significantly underperform the same portfolio without the options.

The returns to the options strategy will be characterized as capital gains or losses. These will be aggregated with realized capital gains and losses from the equity portfolio to determine the Fund's net capital gain or loss. The Fund generally will not make a distribution of capital gain unless it ends the year with an overall net capital gain. This means that it is possible the Fund will make no distribution of capital gains in some years even if the options strategy, by itself, generated a gain. If these gains were more than offset by losses from stock transactions, then the gain from the options strategy will remain in the Fund, and add to the Fund's net asset value, but will not be distributed in that year. See "Taxation-Distributions" below.

It is anticipated that the calls will typically be written against the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (or against ETFs linked to the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index) or against other regional stock market indices. The goal of the call writing is to generate an amount of premium that, when annualized and added to the Fund's expected dividend yield, provides an attractive level of cash flow. Call writing, however, entails certain risks. For more information, see "Risks of the Funds" and "Appendix A—Other Portfolio Risks—Risks of Writing Index Call Options."

The Investment Adviser anticipates generally using index call options with expirations of one month or less. Outstanding call options will be rolled forward upon expiration, so that there will generally be some options outstanding.

The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons, including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes.

The Fund's benchmarks are the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is an unmanaged index of common stock prices that measures the performance of those Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the large-cap value segment. The Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index is completely reconstituted annually to ensure new and growing equities are included and that the represented companies continue to reflect value characteristics. The ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index contains all securities in the ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield Index rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody's, S&P and Fitch, but caps issuer exposure at 2%. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not

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Investment Management Approach

exceed 2%. Issuers that exceed the limit are reduced to 2% and the face value of each of their bonds is adjusted on a pro-rata basis. Similarly, the face values of all other issuers that fall below the 2% cap are increased on a pro-rata basis. In the event there are fewer than 50 issuers in the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index, each is equally weighted and the face values of their respective bonds are increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

GSAM US Equity Team's Investment Philosophy:

The following describes GSAM's Value investment philosophy as it relates to the equity portion of the Fund.

***Through intensive, firsthand fundamental research our portfolio team seeks to identify quality businesses selling at compelling valuations.*** 

***1. Businesses represent compelling value when:*** 

◼

Market uncertainty exists.

◼

Their economic value is not recognized by the market.

***2. By quality, we mean companies that have:*** 

◼

Sustainable operating or competitive advantage.

◼

Excellent stewardship of capital.

◼

Capability to earn above their cost of capital.

◼

Strong or improving balance sheets and cash flow.

***3. The Investment Adviser may consider ESG factors as part of the fundamental research and stock selection process.*** 

The GSAM US Equity team may integrate ESG factors alongside traditional fundamental factors as part of its fundamental research process to seek to assess overall business quality and valuation, as well as potential risks. Traditional fundamental factors that the GSAM US Equity team may consider include, but are not limited to, cash flows, balance sheet leverage, return on invested capital, industry dynamics, earnings quality and profitability. ESG factors that the GSAM US Equity team may consider include, but are not limited to, carbon intensity and emissions profiles, workplace health and safety, community impact, governance practices and stakeholder relations, employee relations, board structure, transparency and management incentives. The identification of a risk related to an ESG factor will not necessarily exclude a particular security or sector that, in the GSAM US Equity team's view, is otherwise suitable and attractively priced for investment, and the GSAM US Equity team may invest in a security or sector without integrating ESG factors or considerations into its fundamental investment process. The relevance of specific traditional fundamental factors and ESG factors to the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. The GSAM US Equity team may utilize data sources provided by third-party vendors and/or engage directly with issuers when assessing the above factors.

The GSAM US Equity team employs a fundamental investment process that considers a wide range of factors, and no one factor or consideration is determinative.

As stakeholders, the Funds have a vested interest in helping the companies in which they invest unlock value by improving corporate practices and being thoughtful stewards of capital. As part of its focus on long-term, active ownership, the Investment Adviser may, in certain circumstances, use proxy voting and engagement as some of the tools available to encourage positive corporate decision making and productive change, where possible.

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

On How We Select Securities:

Our investment process is as follows:

***Step 1: Research Prioritization.*** Each sector portfolio manager uses multiple industry/specific valuation metrics to identify real economic value and company potential. The initial universe of equity securities is narrowed down by valuation, profitability and business characteristics, which helps us narrow down to a smaller universe of monitored stocks.

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***Step 2: Rigorous Analysis of Business Fundamentals.*** We then conduct in-depth company research by rebuilding, analyzing and forecasting financial statements, and testing assumptions through meetings with management, competitors, customers and suppliers. For each company, we derive the valuation rationale through probability weighted price targets accounting for various upside and downside risk scenarios. We assess overall business quality, focusing on a company's free cash flow, cost structure, return on invested capital and management quality.

***Step 3: Portfolio Construction.*** A sector portfolio manager, who also acts as the industry research analyst, recommends a stock as a "buy idea" for the Fund. While team feedback is a key input, the sector portfolio manager responsible for that industry makes the final buy/sell decision and is ultimately held accountable. This helps to identify the final securities for the Fund.

Sell Discipline:

As active managers, we believe it is critical to have a clearly defined sell discipline in order to avoid becoming too attached to any single investment. Our sell discipline requires continuous review of the Fund. The Investment Adviser may decide to sell a position for various reasons including valuation and price considerations, readjustment of the Investment Adviser's outlook based on subsequent events, the Investment Adviser's ongoing assessment of the quality and effectiveness of management, if new investment ideas offer the potential for better risk/reward profiles than existing holdings, or for risk management purposes. In addition, the Investment Adviser may also sell a position in order to meet shareholder redemptions. Business quality, conservative valuation, and thoughtful portfolio construction are the key elements of our value approach.

Fixed Income Investment Philosophy:

Our process:

◼

*Combines diversified sources of return by employing multiple strategies* 

◼

*Takes a global perspective to seek relative value opportunities* 

◼

*Considers a wide range of factors as part of the fundamental investment process, which may include environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors* 

◼

*Employs focused specialist teams to seek to identify short-term mis-pricings and incorporate long-term views* 

◼

*Emphasizes a risk-aware approach as we view management as both an offensive and defensive tool*

GSAM Fixed Income implements this overall philosophy through an investment process that seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns by using a diverse set of investment strategies and revolves around four key elements:

***1. Developing a long-term risk budget***—Lead portfolio managers (the "Portfolio Team") set the strategic direction of a Fund by establishing a "risk budget." The "risk budget" for the Funds is the range the portfolio managers will allow the Funds to deviate from their respective benchmarks with respect to sector allocations, country allocations, securities selection and, to a lesser extent, duration. Following analysis of risk and return objectives, they allocate the overall risk budget to each component strategy to seek to optimize potential return.

***2. Fundamental investment process***—As part of its fundamental investment process, the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may integrate ESG factors alongside traditional fundamental factors to seek to: (i) determine whether a particular fixed income security and/or sector is suitable and attractively priced for investment and (ii) assess their potential impact on the credit quality and spreads of a particular fixed income security. Traditional fundamental factors that the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may consider include, but are not limited to, leverage, earnings, enterprise value, industry trends and macroeconomic factors. ESG factors that the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may consider include, but are not limited to, physical risk (e.g., wildfires, floods, droughts and rising sea levels), carbon intensity and emissions profiles, workplace health and safety, cyber risk, social unrest and equity, governance practices and stakeholder relations, employee relations, board structure and management incentives. The identification of a risk related to an ESG factor will not necessarily exclude a particular fixed income security and/or sector that, in the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team's view, is otherwise suitable and attractively priced for investment, and the Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may invest in a security or sector without integrating ESG factors or considerations into its fundamental investment process. The relevance of specific traditional fundamental factors and ESG factors to the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies. The Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team may utilize data sources provided by third-party vendors and/or engage directly with issuers when assessing the above factors.

***3. Generating investment views and strategies***—Our Top-down and Bottom-up Strategy Teams (collectively, "Strategy Teams") generate investment ideas within their areas of specialization. The Top-down Strategy Teams are responsible for Cross-Sector, Duration, Country and Currency decisions. Concurrently, Bottom-up Strategy Teams, comprised of sector specialists, formulate sub-sector allocation and security selection decisions.

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Investment Management Approach

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

***4. Constructing the portfolios***—The Portfolio and Strategy Teams construct the Fund's fixed income portfolio through a collaborative process in which the Portfolio Team oversees the overall portfolio while the Strategy Teams actively manage the securities and strategies within their areas of specialization. This process enables the Portfolio Team to build a diversified portfolio consisting of the ideas of the individual Strategy Teams, consistent with the Fund's overall risk and return objectives.

The Fixed Income Portfolio Management Team employs a fundamental investment process that considers a wide range of factors, and no one factor or consideration is determinative.

Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Net Assets in equity investments of dividend-paying U.S. and foreign companies with market capitalizations of at least $500 million. Shareholders will be provided with sixty days' notice in the manner prescribed by the SEC before any change in the Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its Net Assets in the particular type of investment suggested by its name.

<u>10/10 Equity Investments</u> 

The QIS team manages the Fund's 10/10 Sleeve. The Fund will generally invest in common and preferred stocks as well as REITs that meet the 10/10 Test. For purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period. Once a company's stock is purchased by the Fund, if the stock's average annual dividend growth rate declines below approximately 10% per year over a 10-year trailing period, or the company has more than one year-over-year decrease in dividends per share over a 10-year trailing period, the position will generally be sold. The QIS team uses a systematic, rules-based approach, in combination with a qualitative overlay, to select the stocks in which the Fund invests. The Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models, at the discretion of the portfolio managers.

<u>MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investments</u> 

The Investment Adviser's Energy Infrastructure & Renewables team manages the Fund's investments in master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and energy infrastructure companies (the "MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve"). The Fund may invest in MLPs and energy infrastructure companies irrespective of the 10/10 Test. The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally consist of 15% of the Fund's Net Assets but will not exceed 20% of Net Assets measured at the time of purchase.

The MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve will generally invest in traditional or alternative midstream (energy infrastructure) businesses, which include businesses that are engaged in the treatment, gathering, compression, processing, transportation, transmission, fractionation, storage, terminalling, wholesale marketing, liquefaction/regasification of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, refined products or other energy sources as well as businesses engaged in owning, storing and transporting alternative energy sources, such as renewables (wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass) and alternative fuels (ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel).

The Fund's investments in derivatives, other investment companies, including ETFs, and other instruments are counted towards the Fund's 80% investment policy to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the investments included within that policy.

The Fund's benchmark is the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index. The S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index is a U.S. stock market index based on the market capitalization of 500 large companies having common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.

Rising Dividend Growth Fund Team's Investment Philosophy

*GSAM's 10/10 Investment Philosophy and Process:* 

Under normal conditions, the QIS team generally seeks to invest in companies that:

◼

Have paid dividends at an increasing rate of 10% per year, on average, over a 10-year trailing period (for purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period)

◼

Have paid those dividends for a minimum of 10 consecutive years

The 10/10 Test is designed to select stocks based on dividend growth and dividend stability. The starting universe of stocks comprises approximately 3,000 U.S. listed stocks (excluding MLPs and ADRs). The universe construction begins by looking at U.S. listed stocks with a market cap greater than $500 million.

Having identified the universe of stocks that meet the 10/10 Test, the QIS team then selects the stocks in which the Fund invests. Stock selection is generally based on dividend stability and earnings quality as well as liquidity constraints. Finally, the QIS team constructs the Fund's portfolio using an optimizer which can incorporate additional considerations, including, but not limited to, risk levels, transaction costs and taxes. The QIS team's investment selection process relies on a systematic rules-based approach in combination with a qualitative overlay.

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As a result of the qualitative overlay, the Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, the QIS team's views regarding the stability of an issuer's dividend as a result of corporate actions (e.g., reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs), industry events and/or trading liquidity. The QIS team also evaluates sector exposures within the 10/10 Sleeve based on the sector exposures of the Fund's benchmark.

In addition, the QIS team may, at its discretion, make changes to its quantitative techniques from time to time based on the team's proprietary research.

*The Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investment Philosophy:* 

In managing the Fund's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve, GSAM generally seeks to invest in companies that:

◼

Are committed to distributing cash flow to shareholders/unitholders

◼

Are high quality companies with sustainable business and financial models

◼

Demonstrate an ability to manage their business and thrive through various economic and commodity cycles

Under normal conditions, GSAM selects stocks for the Fund by seeking companies with strong cash flow per share and earnings per share growth potential, and generally places special emphasis on those companies that it believes demonstrate:

◼

High dividend or distribution coverage

◼

Strong balance sheet and liquidity

◼

Cash flow resiliency through various commodity cycles given diversified/critical asset ownership, customer quality and contractual protections

◼

Effective management that operates within a strong corporate governance framework

Each Fund

Each Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, political or other conditions. For temporary defensive purposes, each 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 Ratings Services ("Standard & Poor's"), P-2 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or having a comparable rating from 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 a Fund's assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.** 

References in the Prospectus to the Funds' benchmarks are for informational purposes only, and unless otherwise noted are not an indication of how a Fund is managed.

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION<br>

The below is additional information that relates to the "Performance" section of each Fund's summary section.

Note that the "Best Quarter" and "Worst Quarter" figures shown in the "Performance" section of each Fund's Summary section are applicable only to the time period covered by the bar chart.

These definitions apply to the after-tax returns shown in the "Performance" section of each Fund's Summary section.

***Average Annual Total Returns Before Taxes.*** These returns do not reflect taxes on distributions on a Fund's Shares nor do they show how performance can be impacted by taxes when shares are redeemed (sold) by you.

***Average Annual Total Returns After Taxes on Distributions.*** These returns assume that taxes are paid on distributions on a Fund's Class P Shares (*i.e*., dividends and capital gains) but do not reflect taxes that may be incurred upon redemption (sale) of the Class P Shares at the end of the performance period.

***Average Annual Total Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares.*** These returns reflect taxes paid on distributions on a Fund's Class P Shares and taxes applicable when the shares are redeemed (sold).

***Note on Tax Rates.*** The after-tax performance figures are calculated using the historically highest individual federal marginal income tax rates at the time of the distributions and do not reflect state and local taxes. In calculating the federal income taxes due on redemptions, capital gains taxes resulting from a redemption are subtracted from the redemption proceeds and the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from the redemption are added to the redemption proceeds. Under certain circumstances, the addition of the tax benefits from capital losses resulting from redemptions may cause the Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares to be greater than the Returns After Taxes on Distributions or even the Returns Before Taxes.

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Investment Management Approach

OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND SECURITIES<br>

Although each 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 Funds in seeking to achieve their investment objectives. The tables also highlight the differences and similarities among the Funds in their use of these techniques and other investment practices and investment securities. Numbers in these tables show allowable usage only; for actual usage, consult the Funds' annual/semiannual reports. For more information about these and other investment practices and securities, see Appendix A.

The Income Builder Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar quarter subject to a thirty day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The Income Builder Fund may, at its discretion, publish these holdings earlier, if deemed necessary by the Fund. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund publishes on its website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) complete portfolio holdings 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. In addition, the Funds publish on their website month-end top ten holdings subject to a fifteen calendar-day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, a description of the Funds' policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds' portfolio holdings is available in the Funds' SAI.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| *10* Percent of total assets (including securities lending collateral) (italic type)<br> 10 Percent of net assets (excluding borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)<br> • No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund<br> — Not permitted<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income**<br> **Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| **Investment Practices** |  |  |
| Borrowings | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* |
| Credit, Currency, Equity, Index, Interest Rate, Total Return and Mortgage Swaps and Options on Swaps | •  | •  |
| Cross Hedging of Currencies | •  | •  |
| Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates | •  | •  |
| Foreign Currency Transactions (including forward contracts) | •  | •  |
| Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts (including index futures) | •  | •  |
| Illiquid Investments\* | 15 | 15 |
| Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs") | •  | •  |
| Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars | •  | *—* |
| Investment Company Securities (including ETFs)<sup>1</sup> <br>| *10* | *10* |
| Mortgage Dollar Rolls | •  | •  |
| Options on Foreign Currencies<sup>2</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Options on Securities and Securities Indices<sup>3</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights | •  | •  |
| Repurchase Agreements | •  | •  |
| Reverse Repurchase Agreements (for investment purposes) | •  | *—* |
| Securities Lending | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* | *33* <sup>1</sup>*∕3* |
| Short Sales Against the Box | *25* | 25 |
| Unseasoned Companies | •  | •  |
| When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments | •  | •  |

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*\**

*Illiquid investments are any investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.* 

<sup>1</sup>

*This percentage limitation does not apply to a Fund's investments in investment companies (including ETFs) where a higher percentage limitation is permitted under the Investment Company Act or rules, regulations or exemptive relief thereunder.* 

<sup>2</sup>

*Each Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on foreign currencies.* 

<sup>3</sup>

*Each Fund may sell call and put options and purchase call and put options on securities and other instruments in which a Fund may invest or any index consisting of securities or other instruments in which it may invest.* 

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Investment Management Approach

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| *10* Percent of total assets (italic type)<br> 10 Percent of net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) (roman type)<br> • No specific percentage limitation on usage; limited only by the objectives and strategies of the Fund<br> — Not permitted<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income**<br> **Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| **Investment Securities** |  |  |
| American, European and Global Depositary Receipts | •  | •  |
| Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Bank Obligations<sup>5</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Collateralized Loan Obligations | •  |  |
| Convertible Securities<sup>6</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Corporate Debt Obligations<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Equity Investments | *25-55* | *80+* |
| Emerging Country Securities | •  | •  |
| Fixed Income Securities | *45-75* | *20* |
| Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | •  | *—* |
| Foreign Government Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •<sup>6</sup> <br>| •  |
| Foreign Securities | •  | •  |
| Loan Participations and Loan Assignments | •  |  |
| Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs") | •  | 20 |
| Municipal Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  |  |
| Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities<sup>4,7</sup> <br>| •<sup>6</sup> | *20* |
| Preferred Stock, Warrants and Rights | •  |  |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs") | •  | •  |
| Second Lien Loans | •  |  |
| Senior Loans | •  |  |
| Structured Securities (which may include equity or credit linked notes) | •  | •  |
| Temporary Investments | •  | •  |
| U.S. Government Securities<sup>4</sup> <br>| •  | •  |
| Yield Curve Options and Inverse Floating Rate Securities | •  |  |

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*4*

*Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities.* 

*5*

*Limited by the amount the Fund invests in fixed income securities. Each Fund may invest in bank obligations issued by U.S. or foreign banks.* 

*6*

*The Income Builder Fund has no minimum credit rating for convertible debt securities. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund uses the same credit rating criteria for convertible and non-convertible debt securities.* 

*7*

*May be rated BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's, Ba1 or lower by Moody's or have a comparable credit rating by another NRSRO at the time of investment.*

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Risks of the Fund

Loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund (which, for the remainder of this Prospectus, refers to one or more of the Funds offered in this Prospectus). 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 sections 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 risks applicable to the Fund are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure. The Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| ✓ Principal Risk<br> • Additional Risk<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Income Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Rising**<br> **Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| Call/Prepayment | •  | •  |
| Contingent Convertible Instruments | •  |  |
| Credit/Default | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cybersecurity | •  | •  |
| Depositary Receipts | •  |  |
| Derivatives | ✓ | •  |
| Dividend-Paying Investments Risk | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emerging Countries | ✓ | ✓ |
| Energy Sector | •  | ✓ |
| ESG Integration | •  |  |
| Extension | •  | •  |
| Floating and Variable Rate Obligations | •  |  |
| Foreign | ✓ | ✓ |
| Foreign Custody | •  |  |
| Geographic | •  | •  |
| Infrastructure risk |  | ✓ |
| Interest Rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investment Style | ✓ | ✓ |
| IPO | •  | •  |
| Large Shareholder Transactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Liquidity | •  | •  |
| Loan-Related Investments | ✓ |  |
| Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Market | ✓ | ✓ |
| Master Limited Partnership | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mid-Cap and Small-Cap | •  | ✓ |
| Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities | •  | •  |
| NAV | •  | •  |
| Non-Hedging Foreign Currency Trading | •  | •  |
| Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities | ✓ | •  |
| Option Writing Risk | ✓ |  |
| Other Investments | ✓ | ✓ |
| REIT | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sovereign Default | •  | •  |
| Stock | ✓ | ✓ |
| Swaps Risk | •  |  |
| Tax |  | ✓ |
| U.S. Government Securities | •  | •  |

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***Call/Prepayment Risk*—**An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-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.

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Risks of the Fund

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***Contingent Convertible Instruments Risk***—Contingent convertible securities ("CoCos") are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain "triggers." The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution's continued viability as a going-concern. CoCos' unique equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuing banking institution and its regulatory requirements. Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, among others, loss absorption risk, risk as subordinated instruments, and risk that its market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors.

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***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. 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 holdings may impair the Fund's liquidity and have the potential to cause significant deterioration in NAV. These risks are heightened in market environments where interest rates are rising as well as in connection with the Fund's investments in non-investment grade fixed income securities.

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***Cybersecurity Risk***—The Fund may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from 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 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. Cyber-attacks affecting the Fund or its Investment Adviser, custodian, Transfer Agent, or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders.

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***Depositary Receipts Risk***—Foreign securities may trade in the form of depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), and Taiwanese Depositary Receipts ("TDRs") (collectively "Depositary Receipts"). To the extent the Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do not have a contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there may be an increased possibility that the Fund would not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack of information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary Receipts is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. The issuers of Depositary Receipts may discontinue issuing new Depositary Receipts and withdraw existing Depositary Receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund's performance.

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***Derivatives Risk—***The Fund's use of derivatives and other similar instruments (collectively referred to in this paragraph as "derivatives") may result in losses, including due to adverse market movements. Derivatives, which may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other assets and instruments, may increase market exposure and be illiquid or less liquid, volatile, difficult to price and leveraged so that small changes in the value of the underlying assets or 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, or lacks the capacity or authority to fulfill, its contractual obligations, liquidity risk, which includes the risk that the Fund will not be able to close its derivatives position when it is advantageous to do so, and 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. 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, currency prices 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. In addition, there is 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. Derivatives are also subject to liquidity risk and risks arising from margin requirements. There is also risk of loss if the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of the timing or level of fluctuation in securities prices, interest rates, currency prices or other variables.

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The use of derivatives is also subject to operational and legal risks. Operational risks generally refer to risks related to potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls, and human error. Legal risks generally refer to risks of loss resulting from insufficient documentation or legality or enforceability of a contract.

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***Dividend-Paying Investments Risk***—The Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ a different investment style. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. For example, in response to the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19), the U.S. Government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March 2020, which established loan programs for certain issuers impacted by COVID-19. Among other conditions, borrowers under these loan programs are generally restricted from paying dividends. The adoption of new legislation could further limit or restrict the ability of issuers to pay dividends. To the extent that dividend-paying securities are concentrated in only a few market sectors, the Fund may be subject to the risks of volatile economic cycles and/or conditions or developments that may be particular to a sector to a greater extent than if its investments were diversified across different sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. A sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause an issuer to abruptly reduce or eliminate its dividend. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

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***Emerging Countries Risk—***Investments in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries are subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign securities. The securities markets of most emerging countries are less liquid, developed and efficient, are subject to greater price volatility, and have smaller market capitalizations. In addition, emerging markets and frontier countries may have more or less government regulation and generally do not impose as extensive and frequent accounting, auditing, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries. As a result, there could be less information available about issuers in emerging and frontier market countries, which could negatively affect the Investment Adviser's ability to evaluate local companies or their potential impact on the Fund's performance. Further, investments in securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries involve the risk of loss resulting from problems in share registration, settlement or custody, substantial economic, political and social disruptions and the imposition of sanctions or exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions). The legal remedies for investors in emerging and frontier markets may be more limited than the remedies available in the U.S., and the ability of U.S. authorities (*e.g.*, SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. These risks are not normally associated with investments in more developed countries. For more information about these risks, see Appendix A.

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***Energy Sector Risk***—The Fund invests in companies in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, business, social, political, environmental, regulatory or other occurrences affecting that sector. The energy sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. At times, the performance of these investments may lag the performance of other sectors or the market as a whole. MLPs, energy infrastructure companies and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others: fluctuations in commodity prices and/or interest rates; increased governmental or environmental regulation; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; declines in domestic or foreign production; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Energy companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, particular energy products (such as oil and natural gas), which may result in overproduction or underproduction. Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.

During periods of heightened volatility, energy producers that are burdened with debt may seek bankruptcy relief. Bankruptcy laws may permit the revocation or renegotiation of contracts between energy producers and MLPs/energy infrastructure companies, which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of MLPs/energy infrastructure companies to pay distributions to their investors, including the Fund, which in turn could impact the ability of the Fund to pay dividends and dramatically impact the value of such Fund's investments.

MLPs may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their businesses and the substances they handle. Changes in existing laws, regulations or enforcement policies governing the energy sector could significantly increase the compliance costs of MLPs. Certain MLPs could, from time to time, be held responsible for implementing remediation measures, the cost of which may not be recoverable from insurance. The Fund will select its investments in MLPs from the current small pool of issuers. Demand for investment opportunities in MLPs that operate energy-related businesses may exceed supply, which could make it difficult to operate the Fund.

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***ESG Integration Risk***—The Investment Adviser employs a fundamental investment process that may integrate ESG factors with traditional fundamental factors. The relevance and weightings of specific ESG factors to or within the fundamental investment process varies across asset classes, sectors and strategies and no one factor or consideration is determinative. When integrating ESG

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Risks of the Fund

factors into the investment process, the Investment Adviser may rely on third-party data that it believes to be reliable, but it does not guarantee the accuracy of such third-party data. ESG information from third-party data providers may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which may adversely impact the investment process. Moreover, ESG information, whether from an external and/or internal source, is, by nature and in many instances, based on a qualitative and subjective assessment. An element of subjectivity and discretion is therefore inherent to the interpretation and use of ESG data. The process for conducting ESG assessments and implementation of ESG views in client/fund portfolios, including the format and content of such analysis and the tools and/or data used to perform such analysis, may also vary among the Investment Adviser's portfolio management teams. While the Investment Adviser believes that the integration of material ESG factors into the Fund's investment process has the potential to identify financial risks and contribute to the Fund's long-term performance, ESG factors may not be considered for each and every investment decision, and there is no guarantee that the integration of ESG factors will result in better performance. Investors can differ in their views of what constitutes positive or negative ESG characteristics. Moreover, the current lack of common standards may result in different approaches to integrating ESG factors. As a result, the Fund may invest in companies that do not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The Investment Adviser's approach to ESG integration may evolve and develop over time, both due to a refinement of investment decision-making processes to address ESG factors and risks, and because of legal and regulatory developments.

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***Extension Risk***—An issuer could exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage-backed security) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease, and the Fund will also suffer from the inability to reinvest in higher yielding securities.

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***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, monthly, 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 the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). 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.

At the end of 2021, certain LIBORs were discontinued, but the most widely used LIBORs may continue to be provided on a representative basis until June 30, 2023. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any pricing adjustments to the Fund's investments resulting from a substitute reference rate may adversely affect the Fund's performance and/or NAV.

SOFR is a measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by the U.S. Treasury securities, and is based on directly observable U.S. Treasury-backed repurchase transactions.

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***Foreign Risk***—When the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to risk of loss not typically associated with U.S. issuers. Loss may result because of more or less foreign government regulation; less public information; less stringent investor protection; less stringent accounting, corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure standards; and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Fund invests. Loss may also result from, among other things, deteriorating economic and business conditions in other countries, including the United States, regional and global conflicts, the imposition of sanctions, exchange controls (including repatriation restrictions), foreign taxes, confiscation of assets and property, trade restrictions (including tariffs), expropriations and other government restrictions by the United States and other governments, higher transaction costs, difficulty enforcing contractual obligations or from problems in share registration, settlement or custody. The type and severity of sanctions and other similar measures, including counter sanctions and other retaliatory actions, that may be imposed could vary broadly in scope, and their impact is impossible to predict. These types of measures may include, but are not limited to, banning a sanctioned country from global payment systems that facilitate cross-border payments, restricting the settlement of securities transactions by certain investors, and freezing the assets of particular countries, entities, or persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, downgrades in the credit ratings of the sanctioned country or companies located in or economically tied to the sanctioned country, devaluation of the sanctioned country's currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in the sanctioned country and throughout the world. Sanctions

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and other similar measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in the sanctioned country and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. The Fund or the Investment Adviser may determine not to invest in, or may limit its overall investment in, a particular issuer, country or geographic region due to, among other things, heightened risks regarding sanctions, repatriation restrictions, confiscation of assets and property, expropriation or nationalization. Geopolitical developments in certain countries in which the Fund may invest have caused, or may in the future cause, significant volatility in financial markets. These and other geopolitical developments, including ongoing regional armed conflict in Europe and elsewhere, could negatively impact the value of the Fund's investments.

The Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign risks will normally be greatest when the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in emerging countries. For more information about these risks, see Appendix A.

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***Foreign Custody Risk***—The Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund's custodian (each a "Foreign Custodian"). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on the Fund's ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging countries are very often under-developed and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.

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***Geographic Risk—***If the Fund focuses its investments in securities of issuers located in a particular country or geographic region, the Fund may be subjected, to a greater extent than if its investments were less focused, to the risks of volatile economic cycles and/or conditions and developments that may be particular to that country or region, such as: adverse securities markets; adverse exchange rates; adverse social, political, regulatory, economic, business, environmental or other developments; or natural disasters.

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***Infrastructure Company Risk—***Infrastructure companies are susceptible to various factors that may negatively impact their businesses or operations, including costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental, governmental and other regulations, rising interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of general economic conditions throughout the world, surplus capacity and depletion concerns, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel and other natural resources at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies, unfavorable tax laws or accounting policies and high leverage.

Infrastructure companies will also be affected by innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete, significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company's products, inexperience with and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment, increased susceptibility to terrorist attacks and natural or man-made disasters and other natural risks (including earthquakes, floods, lightning, hurricanes, tsunamis and wind). Infrastructure companies also face operating risks, including the risk of fire, explosions, leaks, mining and drilling accidents or other catastrophic events.

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***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. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Funds with longer average portfolio durations will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than funds with a shorter average portfolio duration. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund.

It is difficult to predict the magnitude, timing or direction of interest rate changes and the impact these changes will have on the markets in which the Fund invests.

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***Investment Style Risk***—Different investment styles (e.g., "growth," "value," or "quantitative") tend to shift in and out of favor depending upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. The Fund may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles. Examples of different investment styles include growth and value investing. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor

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Risks of the Fund

perceptions of the issuing company's growth of earnings potential. Growth companies are often expected by investors to increase their earnings at a certain rate. When these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately even if earnings showed an absolute increase. Also, since growth companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Growth oriented funds will typically underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks are those that are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse business developments or other factors.

Within the "growth" investment style, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund places an emphasis on companies with rising dividend payments, which may cause the Fund to underperform other funds that do not have the same strategy. Securities that pay high dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such companies to underperform companies that do not pay high dividends. Additionally, a sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause a company to reduce or eliminate its dividend.

The Rising Dividend Growth Fund also employs a "quantitative" style, and may outperform or underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles.

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***IPO Risk—***The market value of shares issued in an IPO may fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about a company's business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential, and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. Investments in IPO shares, which are subject to market risk and liquidity risk, involve greater risks than investments in shares of companies that have traded publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time.

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***Large Shareholder Transactions Risk***—The Fund may experience adverse effects when certain large shareholders, such as other funds, institutional investors (including those trading by use of non-discretionary mathematical formulas), financial intermediaries (who may make investment decisions on behalf of underlying clients and/or include the Fund in their investment model), individuals, accounts and Goldman Sachs affiliates, purchase or redeem large amounts of shares of the Fund. Such large shareholder redemptions, which may occur rapidly or unexpectedly, 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 or otherwise maintains 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.

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***Liquidity Risk—***The Fund may invest in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes, that are less liquid than other investments and/or that may become illiquid or 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 and more difficult to sell at the desired times and prices. 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.

Illiquidity can be caused by a drop in overall market trading volume, an inability to find a willing buyer, or legal restrictions on the securities' resale. In addition, during certain periods, the liquidity of particular issuers or industries in which the Fund may invest, or all securities within a particular investment category in which the Fund may invest, may shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political events (including periods of rapid interest rate changes), or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Liquidity risk is heightened during these periods.

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 decreased liquidity.

Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period stated in the Fund's prospectus or without significant dilution to remaining investors' interests because of unusual market conditions, declining prices of the securities sold, 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 and prices, such sales may adversely affect the Fund's NAV and dilute remaining investors' interests.

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Certain shareholders, including clients or affiliates of the Investment Adviser and/or other funds managed by the Investment Adviser, may from time to time own or control a significant percentage of the Fund's shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their shares of the Fund may further increase the Fund's liquidity risk and may impact the Fund's NAV. These shareholders may include, for example, institutional investors, funds of funds, discretionary advisory clients, accounts or Goldman Sachs affiliates and other shareholders, whose buy-sell decisions are controlled by a single decision-maker.

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***Loan-Related Investments Risk—***In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment. Many loan investments are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and certain loan investments may be or become illiquid or less liquid and more difficult to value, particularly in the event of a downgrade of the loan or the borrower. There is less readily available, reliable information about most loan investments than is the case for many other types of securities, and the Investment Adviser relies primarily on its own evaluation of a borrower's credit quality rather than on any available independent sources. The ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a loan investment may be impaired by the lack of an active trading market for certain loans or adverse market conditions limiting liquidity. Loan obligations are not traded on an exchange, and purchasers and sellers rely on certain market makers, such as the administrative agent for the particular loan obligation, to trade that loan obligation. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for loan obligations, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, the Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available). The Fund may also hold a larger position in cash and cash items to limit the impact of extended trade settlement periods, which may adversely impact the Fund's performance. Substantial increases in interest rates may cause an increase in loan obligation defaults.

Affiliates of the Investment Adviser may participate in the primary and secondary market for loans. Because of limitations imposed by applicable law, the presence of such affiliates in the loan markets may restrict the Fund's ability to acquire certain loans, affect the timing of such acquisition, or affect the price at which the loan is acquired.

With respect to loan participations, the Fund may not always have direct recourse against a borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and/or interest; may be subject to greater delays, expenses and risks than if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the borrower; and may be regarded as the creditor of the agent lender (rather than the borrower), subjecting the Fund to the creditworthiness of that lender as well and the ability of the lender to enforce appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a business entity, and are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. Nevertheless, senior loans are usually rated below investment grade. Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans, they are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for subordinated unsecured loans or debt, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral. Second lien loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

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***Management Risk***—A strategy used by the Investment Adviser may fail to produce the intended results. The Investment Adviser attempts to execute a complex strategy for the Rising Dividend Growth Fund using proprietary quantitative models. Investments selected using these models may perform differently than expected as a result of the factors used in the models, the weight placed on each factor, changes from the factors' historical trends, the speed that market conditions change and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (including, for example, data problems and/or software issues). The use of proprietary quantitative models could be adversely impacted by unforeseeable software or hardware malfunction and other technological failures, power loss, software bugs, malicious code such as "worms," viruses or system crashes or various other events or circumstances within or beyond the control of the Investment Adviser. Certain of these events or circumstances may be difficult to detect.

Models that have been formulated on the basis of past market data may not be predictive of future price movements. Models may not be reliable if unusual or disruptive events cause market movements, the nature or size of which are inconsistent with the historical performance of individual markets and their relationship to one another or to other macroeconomic events. Models also

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Risks of the Fund

rely heavily on data that may be licensed from a variety of sources, and the functionality of the models depends, in part, on the accuracy of voluminous data inputs. There is no guarantee that the Investment Adviser's use of these quantitative models will result in effective investment decisions for the Rising Dividend Growth Fund. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative money managers may amplify losses.

◼

***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. Furthermore, local, regional and global events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, social unrest, natural disasters, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, supply chain disruptions, sanctions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health threats could also adversely impact issuers, markets and economies, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. The Fund could be negatively impacted if the value of a portfolio holding were harmed by such political or economic conditions or events. 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.

◼

***Master Limited Partnership Risk***—Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price, resulting from regulatory changes or other reasons. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Investment in those MLPs may restrict the Fund's ability to take advantage of other investment opportunities. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns.

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

◼

***Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Risk—***The securities of mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Both mid-capitalization and small-capitalization companies often have narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of the Fund's portfolio. Generally, the smaller the company size, the greater these risks become.

◼

***Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk—***Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to credit/default, interest rate and certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if the Fund holds mortgage-backed securities, it may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. Due to these risks, asset-backed securities may become more volatile in certain interest rate environments.

The Fund's investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-backed securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. Asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral comparable to that of mortgage assets, resulting in additional credit risk.

The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. Government (see "U.S. Government Securities Risk"). To the extent that the Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers are supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. There can be

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no assurance that the private insurers can meet their obligations under the policies. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to the Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages or during periods of rising interest rates. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages.

◼

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

◼

***Non-Hedging Foreign Currency Trading Risk—***The Fund may engage in forward foreign currency transactions for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. The Fund's Investment Adviser may purchase or sell foreign currencies through the use of forward contracts based on the Investment Adviser's judgment regarding the direction of the market for a particular foreign currency or currencies. In pursuing this strategy, the Investment Adviser seeks to profit from anticipated movements in currency rates by establishing "long" and/or "short" positions in forward contracts on various foreign currencies. Foreign exchange rates can be extremely volatile and a variance in the degree of volatility of the market or in the direction of the market from the Investment Adviser's expectations may produce significant losses to the Fund. Some of the transactions may also be subject to interest rate risk.

◼

***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.

◼

***Option Writing Risk***—When the Fund writes (sells) a call or put option, it receives up-front cash (the premium) at the time of selling the option but limits its opportunity to profit from an increase or decrease, respectively, in the market value of the reference security beyond the exercise price of the option. In a sharp rising or falling market, the Fund could significantly underperform the market or other portfolios without an option writing strategy. The Fund could also experience a sudden, significant permanent loss due to dramatic movements in the market value of a reference security, which may far exceed the premiums received for writing the option. Such significant losses could cause significant deteriorations in the Fund's NAV. The premium received from the Fund's option strategies may not fully protect it against market movements. Cash received from premiums will enhance return in moderately rising or falling markets, but the Fund will continue to bear the risk of movements in the value of the investments held in its portfolio. The benefit from writing an option is limited to the amount of premium received.

◼

***Other Investments Risk*** — By investing in pooled investment vehicles (including investment companies and ETFs), partnerships and REITs indirectly through the Fund, investors will incur a proportionate share of the expenses of the other pooled investment vehicles, partnerships and REITs held by the Fund (including operating costs and investment management fees) in addition to the fees and expenses regularly borne by the Fund. In addition, the Fund will be affected by the investment policies, practices and performance of such investments in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund invests therein.

◼

***REIT Risk***— Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are also subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. REITs may also fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income or may fail to maintain their exemptions from investment company registration. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

◼

***Sovereign Default Risk—***The issuer of non-U.S. sovereign debt held by the Fund or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay the principal or interest when due. This may result from political or social factors, the general economic environment of a country or levels of borrowing rates, foreign debt, or foreign currency exchange rates.

◼

***Economic Risk***—The risks associated with the general economic environment of a country. These can encompass, among other things, low quality and growth rate of Gross Domestic Product ("GDP"), high inflation or deflation, high government deficits as a percentage of GDP, weak financial sector, overvalued exchange rate, and high current account deficits as a percentage of GDP.

◼

***Political Risk***—The risks associated with the general political and social environment of a country. These factors may include among other things government instability, poor socioeconomic conditions, corruption, lack of law and order, lack of democratic accountability, poor quality of the bureaucracy, internal and external conflict, the imposition of international sanctions, and religious and ethnic tensions. High political risk can impede the economic welfare of a country.

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Risks of the Fund

◼

***Repayment Risk***—A country may be unable to pay its external debt obligations in the immediate future. Repayment risk factors may include but are not limited to high foreign debt as a percentage of GDP, high borrowing rates (which may increase in market environments where interest rates are rising), high foreign debt service as a percentage of exports, low foreign exchange reserves as a percentage of short-term debt or exports, and an unsustainable exchange rate structure.

◼

***Stock Risk—***Stock prices have historically risen and fallen in periodic cycles. U.S. and foreign stock markets have experienced periods of substantial price volatility in the past and may do so again in the future. Stock prices may fluctuate from time to time in response to the activities of individual companies and in response to general market and economic conditions. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments, and the stock prices of such companies may suffer a decline in response.

◼

***Swaps Risk—***The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniquesand risk analyses different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund's transactions in swaps may be significant. These transactions can result in sizeable realized and unrealized capital gains and losses relative to the gains and losses from the Fund's direct investments in securities and short sales.

Transactions in swaps can involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in securities directly since, in addition to general market risks, swaps may be leveraged and 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, which are transacted through a futures commission merchant and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty. Because uncleared, bilateral swap agreements are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, these swaps may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap counterparty. Many swaps are complex and 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 initiate 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.

The value of swaps can be very volatile, and a variance in the degree of volatility or in the direction of securities prices from the expectations of the Fund's Investment Adviser may produce significant losses in the Fund's investments in swaps. In addition, a perfect correlation between a swap and a security position may be impossible to achieve. As a result, the Investment Adviser's use of swaps may not be effective in fulfilling the Investment Adviser's investment strategies and may contribute to losses that would not have been incurred otherwise.

◼

***Tax Risk—***Much of the benefit that the Fund may derive from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which the Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

◼

***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

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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 Agency ("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 its associated risks, is provided in Appendix A. You should consider the investment risks discussed in this section and in Appendix A. Both are important to your investment choice.

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Service Providers

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

INVESTMENT ADVISER<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Investment Adviser** | **Fund** |
| Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. ("GSAM")<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; Income Builder <br> Rising Dividend Growth<br>|

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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 December 31, 2022, GSAM, including its investment advisory affiliates, had assets under supervision of approximately $2.3 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 the U.S. and foreign 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.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES<br>

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

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Contractual** <br> **Management Fee**<br> **Annual Rate**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Average Daily**<br> **Net Assets**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Actual Rate** <br> **For the Fiscal** <br> **Year Ended** <br> **October 31, 2022\***<br>|
| Income Builder | 0.54% | First $1 Billion | 0.41% |
|  | 0.49% | Next $1 Billion |  |
|  | 0.46% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.45% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.44% | Over $8 Billion |  |
| Rising Dividend Growth | 0.75% | First $1 Billion | 0.67% |
|  | 0.68% | Next $1 Billion |  |
|  | 0.64% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.63% | Next $3 Billion |  |
|  | 0.62% | Over $8 Billion |  |

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*\**

*The Actual Rate may not correlate to the Contractual Management Fee Annual Rate as a result of management fee waivers that may be in effect from time to time.*

The Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of its management fee in order to achieve an effective net management fee of 0.44% and 0.65% as an annual percentage of the average daily net assets of the Income Builder Fund and Rising Dividend Growth Fund, respectively, through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangement without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

In addition to the management fee waiver described above, the Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its advisory fee, including fees earned as the Investment Adviser to any of the affiliated funds in which the Funds invest from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such waivers in the future, consistent with the terms of any fee waiver arrangements in place.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the Management Agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund's annual report dated October 31, 2022.

The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, service fees, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to 0.004% of average daily net assets for each Fund through at least February 28, 2024, 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 and transfer agency fee credits received by the Fund.

FUND MANAGERS<br>

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, development and maintenance of quantitative models and processes in combination with a qualitative overlay, asset allocation, risk budgeting and general oversight of the management of the Fund's portfolio.

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Service Providers

Income Builder Fund

Goldman Sachs Fundamental Equity Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Kevin Martens** <br> **Vice President**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2022**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Martens joined the Investment Adviser in 2015. He is a** <br> **portfolio manager on the Fundamental Equity U.S. Equity** <br> **Team.**<br>|
| **Charles "Brook" Dane** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Value Equity)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2016**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Dane is a portfolio manager on the US Equity Team.** <br> **Before joining the Investment Adviser, Mr. Dane was a Senior** <br> **Vice President at Putnam Investments. Prior to that, he was** <br> **an Associate at Dane, Falb, Stone & Co.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Ashish Shah** <br> **Managing Director,** <br> **Co-Chief Investment Officer,** <br> **Global Fixed Income**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Credit)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2019**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Shah is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Global Fixed** <br> **Income, Global Head of Corporate Credit and Head of the** <br> **Cross-Sector Strategy within Fixed Income. Mr. Shah joined** <br> **the Investment Adviser in 2018. Mr. Shah was previously at** <br> **AllianceBernstein from 2010 to 2018, where he was most** <br> **recently the Head of Fixed Income and Chief Investment** <br> **Officer of Global Credit.**<br>|
| **Ron Arons** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Credit)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2013**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Arons joined the Investment Adviser as a fixed income** <br> **portfolio manager in 2010.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions ("MAS") Group

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Neill Nuttall** <br> **Managing Director, Co-Chief** <br> **Investment Officer**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2021**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Nuttall is a Managing Director and the Co-Chief** <br> **Investment Officer in the MAS Group in GSAM. He joined the** <br> **Investment Adviser in 2014.**<br>|
| **Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Income Builder Fund**<br> **(Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2022**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mrs. Wilson-Elizondo is a Managing Director in the MAS** <br> **Group in GSAM. Prior to joining the InvestmentAdviser in** <br> **2021, Mrs. Wilson-Elizondo was the Deputy Head of Global** <br> **Credit and a Managing Director at MacKay Shields LLC which** <br> **she joined in 2015.**<br>|

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Rising Dividend Growth Fund

GSAM Quantitative Investment Strategies ("QIS") Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Monali Vora, CFA** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2018**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Ms. Vora is a member of the Customized Beta Strategies** <br> **team. Prior to working in the Customized Beta Strategies** <br> **team, she spent six years as a member of the QIS Equity** <br> **Portfolio team. Ms. Vora joined the Investment Adviser in** <br> **2000.**<br>|
| **Aron Kershner** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2018**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Kershner is a Portfolio Manager on the QIS team and** <br> **joined the Investment Adviser in 2005.**<br>|

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GSAM Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Kyri Loupis** <br> **Managing Director**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2020**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Loupis joined the Investment Adviser in 2009 and is a** <br> **portfolio manager and head of the Energy Infrastructure &** <br> **Renewables team.**<br>|

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Goldman Sachs Multi-Asset Solutions ("MAS") Group

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Title** | **Fund Responsibility** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Years**<br> **Primarily** <br> **Responsible**<br>| **Five Year Employment History** |
| **Siwen Wu** <br> **Vice President**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Portfolio Manager—**<br> **Rising Dividend Growth** <br> **Fund (Asset Allocation)**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br> **2021**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Mr. Wu is a Vice President in the MAS Group. He is a portfolio** <br> **manager focused on multi-asset investment funds,** <br> **institutional clients and alternative risk premiastrategies.** <br> **Mr. Wu joined the firm in 2011.**<br>|

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Each Fund

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<br>

Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, serves as the exclusive distributor (the "Distributor") of the Fund's shares. Goldman Sachs, P.O. Box 806395, Chicago, IL 60680-4125, also serves as the Fund's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") and, as such, performs various shareholder servicing functions.

For its transfer agency services, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a transfer agency fee equal, on an annualized basis, to 0.03% of average daily net assets with respect to Class P Shares.

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

&nbsp;&nbsp; ACTIVITIES OF GOLDMAN SACHS AND ITS AFFILIATES AND OTHER <br> ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY GOLDMAN SACHS<br>

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 will present conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund and will, under certain circumstances, 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 individuals. As such, it acts as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, investment banker, underwriter, research provider, administrator, financier, adviser, market maker, trader, prime broker, derivatives dealer, clearing agent, lender, counterparty, agent , principal, distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated investment funds (including pooled investment vehicles and private funds) in which one or more accounts, including the Fund, invest. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates advise and deal with clients and third parties in all markets and transactions and purchase, sell, hold and recommend a broad array of investments, including securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for their own accounts or for the accounts of their customers and have other direct and indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loans and other markets in which the Fund may directly and indirectly invest. Thus, it is expected 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 and its affiliates perform or seek to perform investment banking or other services. The Investment Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates are the managers of the Goldman Sachs Funds (as defined below). The Investment Adviser and its affiliates earn fees from this and other relationships with the Fund. Although management fees paid by the Fund to the Investment Adviser and certain other fees paid to the Investment Adviser's affiliates are based on asset levels, the fees are not directly contingent on Fund performance, and the Investment Adviser and its affiliates will still receive significant compensation from the Fund even if shareholders lose money. 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

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Service Providers

Fund. The results of the Fund's investment activities, therefore, will likely 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 and its affiliates or their 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 and its affiliates or other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates 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 Advisers may have the effect of diluting or otherwise disadvantaging the values, prices or investment strategies of the Fund. The Fund's activities will, under certain circumstances, 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 and its affiliates also provide 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 are expected to create markets or specialize in, have positions in and/or effect transactions in, securities of issuers held by the Fund, and will likely also perform or seek to perform investment banking and financial services for one or more of those issuers. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are expected to 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 section entitled "Potential Conflicts of Interest" in the SAI.

The Fund, will from time to time, 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.

Under a securities lending program approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund has retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as a securities lending agent for the Fund to the extent that the Fund engages in the securities lending program. For these services, the lending agent would receive a fee from the Fund, including a fee based on the returns earned on the Fund's investment of the cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. The Board of Trustees periodically reviews reports on portfolio securities loan transactions for which an affiliated lending agent has acted as lending agent.

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Distributions

The Fund pays distributions from its investment income and from net realized capital gains. You may choose to have distributions paid in:

◼

Cash

◼

Additional shares of the same class of the same Fund

◼

Shares of the same or an equivalent class of another fund managed by the Investment Adviser and/or certain of its advisory affiliates (each, a "Goldman Sachs Fund"). Special restrictions may apply. See the SAI.

You may indicate your election on your account application. Any changes may be submitted in writing or via telephone, in some instances, to the Transfer Agent (either directly or through your Intermediary) at any time before the record date for a particular distribution. If you do not indicate any choice, your distributions will be reinvested automatically in the Fund. If cash distributions are elected with respect to the Fund's distributions from net investment income, then cash distributions must also be elected with respect to the net short-term capital gains component, if any, of the Fund's distributions.

The election to reinvest 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 from net capital gains are normally declared and paid as follows:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Investment**<br> **Income**<br> **Distributions**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp; **Capital Gains**<br> **Distributions**<br>|
| Income Builder | Monthly | Annually |
| Rising Dividend Growth | Quarterly | Annually |

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In addition to the net investment income dividends declared and paid monthly or quarterly as applicable, 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. In addition, the Fund may occasionally make a distribution at a time when it is not normally made.

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

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Shareholder Guide

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

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| |
|:---|
| **Important Notice:** |
| Class P Shares generally are available to the following investors: |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ◼Clients of the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management business unit ("GS PWM") that custody their positions at <br> Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC ("Goldman Sachs");<br>|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ◼Clients of The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. or The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware (collectively, the <br> "Trust Companies") that custody their positions at Goldman Sachs;<br>|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ◼Clients of The Ayco Company, L.P. ("Ayco") that either custody their positions at Goldman Sachs or with certain <br> intermediaries that are authorized to offer Class P Shares ("Authorized Institutions") (such clients of GS PWM, the Trust <br> Companies, and Ayco are collectively referred to herein as "GS Clients"); or<br>|
| ◼Other investors at the discretion of Goldman Sachs Trust's (the "Trust") officers. |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You may only purchase Class P Shares in accordance with the eligibility criteria described above. If you are a GS Client and <br> propose to transfer your shares to another institution for any reason, or if you are no longer a GS Client, you may be required to <br> redeem your shares of the Fund, or at the discretion of the Trust's officers, you may be able hold Class P Shares through another <br> institution, which must be an Authorized Institution and the basis on which you hold such Class P Shares may be limited to hold <br> and redeem only. If available in such circumstances, in the alternative you may be able to choose to exchange your shares of the <br> Fund for a different share class offered by the Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund, which may be offered in another <br> Prospectus. There is no guarantee that a different share class offered by the Fund will be available to clients of the institution to <br> which you intend to transfer your shares or that an option to exchange will be made available. Moreover, the shares you receive <br> in any exchange are subject to different (and possibly higher) fees and expenses (which affect performance). Information <br> regarding these other share classes may be obtained from the institution to which you intend to transfer your shares or from the <br> Transfer Agent by calling the number on the back cover of the Prospectus.<br>|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A redemption is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. You <br> should consult your tax adviser concerning the potential tax consequences of investing in Class P Shares. None of the Trust, the <br> Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution will be responsible for any loss in <br> an investor's account or tax liability resulting from a redemption or exchange of Class P Shares. For more information about <br> exchanges, please see "How to Sell Shares—Can I Exchange My Investment From One Goldman Sachs Fund To Another <br> Goldman Sachs Fund."<br>|

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

How To Buy Shares<br>

Shares Offering

Shares of the Fund are continuously offered through Goldman Sachs, acting in its capacity as the Fund's distributor (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?

If you are a GS Client, you may purchase shares of the Fund through Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, and Authorized Institutions have been authorized by the Trust to accept purchase, redemption or exchange orders on behalf of the Fund for GS Clients. In order to make an initial investment in the Fund you must furnish to Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution the information in the account application.

To open an account, contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, and Authorized Institutions will normally give order instructions on behalf of GS Clients to Goldman Sachs, acting in its capacity as the Fund's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent"). Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution, as applicable, is 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 GS Clients. 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 on a timely basis.

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The Fund will be deemed to have received an order for purchase, redemption or exchange of Fund shares when the order is accepted in "proper form" by any of the Transfer Agent, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution, as applicable, on a business day, and the order will be priced at the Fund's current NAV per share next determined after acceptance by any of the Transfer Agent, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution, as applicable. Proper form generally means that specific trade details and customer identifying information must be received by the Transfer Agent at the time an order is submitted. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco and Authorized Institutions may have different requirements regarding what constitutes proper form for trade instructions. Please contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution for more information.

What Is My Minimum Investment In The Fund?

No minimum amount is required for initial purchases or additional investments in Class P Shares.

What Should I Know When I Purchase Shares?

All recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution, as applicable, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Since the Fund will have no record of your transactions, you should contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution, as applicable, to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning your account or to obtain information about your account. If you transfer your shares, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust, the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco and an Authorized Institution will not be responsible for any loss in an investor's account or tax liability resulting from a redemption.

Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, and Authorized Institutions that invest in shares on behalf of GS Clients may charge fees directly to the GS Clients' accounts in connection with their investments. You should contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution for information regarding such charges, as these fees, if any, may affect the return that GS Clients realize with respect to their investments.

The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments or provide services to Authorized Institutions to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. These payments are made out of the Investment Adviser's, Distributor's and/or their affiliates' own assets, and are not an additional charge to the Fund. Such payments are intended to compensate Authorized Institutions for, among other things: marketing shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, which may consist of payments relating to the Fund's inclusion on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs sponsored by Authorized Institutions; access to Authorized Institutions' registered representatives, advisors or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; marketing support; the provision of analytical or other data to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates relating to sales of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds; the support or purchase of technology platforms/software; and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds, including provision of consultative services to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates relating to marketing and/or sale of shares of the Fund and other Goldman Sachs Funds. The payments may also, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, sponsor various trainings and educational programs. The payments by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, which are in addition to the fees paid for these services by the Fund, may also compensate Authorized Institutions for subaccounting, sub-transfer agency, administrative and/or shareholder processing services. These additional payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The amount of these additional payments is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through Authorized Institutions. In addition, certain Authorized Institutions may have access to certain services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates, including research reports, economic analysis, and portfolio analysis, portfolio construction and similar tools and software. In certain cases, Authorized Institutions may not pay for these products or services or may only pay for a portion of the total cost of these products or services. Please refer to the "Payments to Others (Including Intermediaries)" section of the SAI for more information about these payments and services.

The payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates and the services provided by each of Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution may differ. The presence of these payments, receipt of these services and the basis on which Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution compensates its registered representatives, advisors or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular registered representative, advisor or salesperson to highlight, feature or recommend Funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. You should contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution for more information about the payments it receives and any potential conflicts of interest.

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Shareholder Guide

What Else Should I Know About Share Purchases?

The Trust reserves the right to:

◼

Require Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution 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 or exchange order by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) for any reason in its discretion. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trust may reject or restrict purchase and exchange orders by a particular purchaser (or group of related purchasers) when a pattern of frequent purchases, sales or exchanges of shares of the Fund is evident, or if purchases, sales or exchanges are, or a subsequent redemption might be, of a size that would disrupt the management of the Fund.

◼

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.

◼

Modify the sales charge rate applicable to future purchases of shares.

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 ("Securities Act").

The Fund may allow you to purchase shares through Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution with securities instead of cash if consistent with the Fund's investment policies and operations and approved by the Investment Adviser.

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

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states (to which your account may be subject) require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including shares of the Fund) to the appropriate state if no activity occurs in an account for a period of time specified by state law. For IRA accounts escheated to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will generally be treated as a taxable distribution to you; federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may apply to your Roth IRA as well.

***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 their Customer Identification Program. After accepting an application, to the extent permitted by applicable law or their Customer Identification Program, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) place limits on transactions in any account until the identity of the investor is verified; (ii) refuse an investment in the Fund; or (iii) involuntarily redeem an investor's shares and close an account in the event that the Fund is unable to verify an investor's identity or are 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 resulting from the investor's delay in providing all required information or from closing an account and redeeming an investor's shares pursuant to their Customer Identification Program.

How Are Shares Priced?

The price you pay when you buy shares is the Fund's next-determined NAV per share after any of the Transfer Agent, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution, as applicable, has received and accepted your order in proper form. The price you receive when you sell shares is the Fund's next-determined NAV per share after any of the Transfer Agent, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution, as applicable, has received and accepted your order in proper form. Each class generally calculates its NAV as follows:

NAV = (Value of Assets of the Class) – (Liabilities of the Class) <br> 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 sources. 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

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procedures approved 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. Pricing services generally value fixed income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but the Fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots.

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 of each share class 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. Fund shares will generally not be priced on any day the New York Stock Exchange is closed, although the Income Builder 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 Income Builder 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), 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.

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 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***

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Shareholder Guide

***Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open. To learn whether 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 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.

How To Sell Shares<br>

How Can I Sell Shares Of The Fund?

Generally, Shares may be sold (redeemed) only through Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco and Authorized Institutions will normally give redemption instructions on behalf of GS Clients to the Transfer Agent. 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 any of the Transfer Agent, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution, as applicable, 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 (unless Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or an Authorized Institution opts out of the telephone redemption privilege on the account application). You should contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution, to discuss redemptions and redemption proceeds. The Fund may transfer redemption proceeds to an account with Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution. In the alternative, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution may request that redemption proceeds be sent to you by check or wire (if the wire instructions are designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent).

When Do I Need A Medallion Signature Guarantee To Redeem Shares?

Generally, a redemption request must be in writing and signed by an authorized person with a Medallion signature guarantee if:

◼

You would like the redemption proceeds sent to an address that is not your address of record; or

◼

You would like the redemption proceeds sent to a domestic bank account that is not designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent.

A Medallion signature guarantee must be obtained from a bank, brokerage firm or other financial intermediary that is a member of an approved Medallion Guarantee Program or that is otherwise approved by the Trust. A notary public cannot provide a Medallion signature guarantee. The written request may be confirmed by telephone with both the requesting party and the designated Authorized Institution to verify instructions. Additional documentation may be required.

What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?

The Trust and Goldman Sachs will not be liable for any loss or tax liability you may incur in the event that the Trust accepts unauthorized telephone redemption requests that the Trust reasonably believes to be genuine. The Trust may accept telephone redemption instructions from any person identifying himself or herself as the owner of an account or the owner's registered representative where the owner has not declined in writing to use this service. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution may submit redemption requests by telephone on your behalf. Thus, you risk possible losses if a telephone redemption is not authorized by you.

In an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent redemption and exchange requests by telephone, the Transfer Agent and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. ("SS&C") 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 address of record or authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (unless you provide written instructions and a Medallion signature guarantee indicating another address or account).

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◼

For the 30-day period following a change of address, telephone redemptions will only be filled by a wire transfer to the authorized account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent (see immediately preceding bullet point). In order to receive the redemption by check during this time period, the redemption request must be in the form of a written, Medallion signature guaranteed letter.

◼

The telephone redemption option does not apply to Shares held in an account maintained and serviced by your Authorized Institution. If your Shares are held in an account with an Authorized Institution, you should contact your registered representative of record, who may make telephone redemptions on your behalf.

◼

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:*** You may arrange for your redemption proceeds to be paid as federal funds to an account with Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution or to a domestic bank account designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. In addition, redemption proceeds may be transmitted through an electronic trading platform to an account with Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution. The following general policies govern wiring redemption proceeds:

◼

Redemption proceeds will normally be paid in federal funds, between one and two business days (or such other times in accordance with the requirements of Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco, or your Authorized Institution) 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 you are selling Shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.

◼

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

◼

To change the bank wiring instructions designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent, you must send written instructions signed by an authorized person designated in the current records of the Transfer Agent. A Medallion signature guarantee may be required if you are requesting a redemption in conjunction with the change.

◼

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

***By Check:*** You may elect to receive your redemption proceeds by check. Redemption proceeds paid by check will normally be mailed to the address of record within two business days (or such other times in accordance with the requirements of your Authorized Institution) following receipt of a properly executed redemption request, except in certain circumstances (such as those set forth above with respect to wire transfer redemption requests). If you are selling shares you recently paid for by check, the Fund will pay you when your check has cleared, which may take up to 15 days.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Redemptions?

The following generally applies to redemption requests:

◼

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.

◼

Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco and Authorized Institutions are responsible for the timely transmittal of redemption requests by GS Clients to the Transfer Agent. In order to facilitate the timely transmittal of redemption requests, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco and Authorized Institutions may set times by which they must receive redemption requests. Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or Authorized Institutions may also require additional documentation from you.

◼

As disclosed above, if you are a GS Client and propose to transfer your shares to another institution for any reason, you may be required to either redeem your shares of the Fund or if available, you may be able to choose to exchange your shares of the Fund for a different share class offered by the Fund, which may be offered in another Prospectus.

The Trust reserves the right to:

◼

Redeem your shares in the event any of Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution is no longer authorized to offer Class P Shares.

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Shareholder Guide

◼

Redeem your shares in the case of actual or suspected threatening conduct or actual or suspected fraudulent, suspicious or illegal activity by you or any other individual associated with your account.

◼

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.

◼

Reinvest any amounts (e.g., dividends, distributions or redemption proceeds) which you have elected to receive by check should your check remain uncashed for more than 180 days. No interest will accrue on amounts represented by uncashed checks. Your check will be reinvested in your account at the NAV on the day of the reinvestment. When reinvested, those amounts are subject to the risk of loss like any Fund investment. If you elect to receive distributions in cash and a check remains uncashed for more than 180 days, your cash election may be changed automatically to reinvest and your future dividend and capital gains distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the NAV as of the date of payment of the distribution. This provision may not apply to certain retirement or qualified accounts, accounts with a non-U.S. address or closed accounts. Your participation in a systematic withdrawal program may be terminated if a check remains uncashed.

◼

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

◼

Terminate your account if you are no longer a GS Client, or otherwise no longer eligible to invest in Class P Shares of the Fund.

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, Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution will be responsible for any loss in an investor's account or tax liability resulting from an involuntary redemption.

Can I Exchange My Investment From One Goldman Sachs Fund To Another Goldman Sachs Fund?

You may exchange your shares at NAV at the time of exchange for Class P Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. The exchange privilege may be materially modified or withdrawn at any time upon 60 days' written notice. You should contact Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution to arrange for the exchange of your shares for Class P Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund. If you propose to transfer your Class P Shares to another institution for any reason, you may be required to either redeem your shares of the Fund or if available, you may be able to choose to exchange your shares of the Fund for a different share class offered by the Fund or another Goldman Sachs Fund, which may be offered in another Prospectus. For more information, please see "How to Sell Shares—What Else Do I Need to Know About Redemptions?" The shares you receive in any exchange are subject to different (and possibly higher) fees and expenses (which affect performance).

You should keep in mind the following factors when making or considering an exchange:

◼

You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange. You should be aware that not all Goldman Sachs Funds may offer all share classes.

◼

Currently, the Fund does not impose any charge for exchanges, although the Fund may impose a charge in the future.

◼

All exchanges which represent an initial investment in a Goldman Sachs Fund must satisfy the minimum initial investment requirement of that Fund. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Trust. Exchanges into a Goldman Sachs Fund need not meet the traditional minimum investment requirement for that Fund if the entire balance of the original Fund account is exchanged.

◼

Exchanges are available only in states where exchanges may be legally made.

◼

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

◼

The Transfer Agent and SS&C may use reasonable procedures described above in "How To Sell Shares—What Do I Need To Know About Telephone Redemption Requests?" in an effort to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent telephone exchange requests.

◼

Normally, a telephone exchange will be made only to an identically registered account.

◼

Exchanges into Goldman Sachs Funds or certain share classes of Goldman Sachs Funds that are closed to new investors may be restricted.

For federal income tax purposes, an exchange from one Goldman Sachs Fund to another is treated as a redemption of the shares surrendered in the exchange, on which you may be subject to tax, followed by a purchase of shares received in the exchange. You should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.

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Shareholder Services<br>

Can My Distributions From The Fund Be Invested In Other Goldman Sachs Funds?

You may elect to cross-reinvest distributions paid by a Goldman Sachs Fund in shares of the same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds.

◼

Shares will be purchased at NAV.

◼

You may elect cross-reinvestment into an identically registered account or a similarly registered account provided that at least one name on the account is registered identically.

◼

You cannot make cross-reinvestments into a Goldman Sachs Fund unless that Fund's minimum initial investment requirement is met.

◼

You should obtain and read the prospectus of the Goldman Sachs Fund into which distributions are invested.

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

Each of Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution is 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 GS Clients for such services.

Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or an Authorized Institution will provide you 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 Goldman Sachs, the Trust Companies, Ayco or your Authorized Institution. The Fund will begin sending individual copies to you within 30 days after receipt of your revocation.

Restrictions on Excessive Trading Practices<br>

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

As a deterrent to excessive trading, many foreign equity securities held by the Goldman Sachs Funds are priced by an independent pricing service using fair valuation. For more information on fair valuation, please see "How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?"

Pursuant to the policy adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, Goldman Sachs has developed criteria that it uses to identify trading activity that may be excessive. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of "round trip" transactions in a shareholder's account. A "round trip" includes a purchase or exchange into the Fund followed or preceded by a redemption or exchange out of the same Fund. If the Fund detects that a shareholder has completed two or more round trip transactions in a single Fund within a rolling 90-day period, the Fund may reject or restrict subsequent purchase or exchange orders by that shareholder permanently. In addition, the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permanently reject or restrict purchase or exchange orders by a shareholder if the Fund detects other trading activity that is deemed to be disruptive to the management of the Fund or otherwise harmful to the Fund. For purposes of these transaction surveillance procedures, the Fund may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control, or influence. A shareholder that has been restricted from participation in the Fund pursuant to this policy will be allowed to apply for re-entry after one year. A shareholder applying for re-entry must provide assurances acceptable to the Fund that the shareholder will not engage in excessive trading activities in the future.

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Shareholder Guide

Goldman Sachs may modify its surveillance procedures and criteria from time to time without prior notice regarding the detection of excessive trading or to address specific circumstances. Goldman Sachs will apply the criteria in a manner that, in Goldman Sachs' judgment, will be uniform.

Fund shares may be held through omnibus arrangements maintained by Intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, investment advisers and insurance companies. In addition, Fund shares may be held in omnibus Employee Benefit Plans, Eligible Fee-Based Programs and other group accounts. Omnibus accounts include multiple investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where the purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by the investors are netted against one another. The identity of individual investors whose purchase and redemption orders are aggregated are ordinarily not tracked by the Fund on a regular basis. A number of these Intermediaries may not have the capability or may not be willing to apply the Fund's market timing policies. While Goldman Sachs may monitor share turnover at the omnibus account level, the Fund's ability to monitor and detect market timing by shareholders in these omnibus accounts may be limited in certain circumstances, and certain of these Intermediaries may charge the Fund a fee for providing certain shareholder financial information requested as part of the Fund's surveillance process. The netting effect makes it more difficult to identify, locate and eliminate market timing activities. In addition, those investors who engage in market timing and other excessive trading activities may employ a variety of techniques to avoid detection. There can be no assurance that the Fund and Goldman Sachs will be able to identify all those who trade excessively or employ a market timing strategy, and curtail their trading in every instance. If necessary, the Trust may prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by an Intermediary or by certain customers of the Intermediary. Intermediaries may also monitor their customers' trading activities in the Fund. The criteria used by Intermediaries to monitor for excessive trading may differ from the criteria used by the Fund. If an Intermediary fails to cooperate in the implementation or enforcement of the Trust's excessive trading policies, the Trust may take certain actions including terminating the relationship.

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Taxation

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

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

DISTRIBUTIONS<br>

The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income. Distributions you receive from the Fund are generally subject to federal income tax, and may also be subject to state or local taxes. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash. For federal tax purposes, the Fund's distributions attributable to net investment income and short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income, while any distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable 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 qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual's income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Fund distributions to noncorporate shareholders attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. and certain qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed at the long-term capital gain rate, as long as certain other requirements are met. For these lower rates to apply, the non-corporate shareholder must own their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date. The amount of the Fund's distributions that would otherwise qualify for this favorable tax treatment will be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activity or high portfolio turnover rate. The Income Builder Fund's income or loss each year from writing index call options will, generally, be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.

Distributions in excess of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of your investment to the extent of your basis in the shares, and generally as capital gain thereafter. A return of capital, which for tax purposes is treated as a return of your investment, reduces your basis in shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition of shares. A distribution will reduce the Fund's NAV per share and may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain even though, from an economic standpoint, the distribution may constitute a return of capital.

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.

The Fund's transactions in derivatives (such as futures contracts and swaps) will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund's securities and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to you. The Fund's use of derivatives is expected to result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not use derivatives.

Because of the Income Builder Fund's practice of writing S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index, other regional indices or related ETF call options, and the Fund's use of total return swaps relating to options, the possibility exists that an overlap between the Fund's equity investments and the components of the indices if substantial enough, might cause a deferral of the Fund's recognition of losses for tax purposes or a reduction in the amount of the Fund's distributions that qualify for the favorable tax rate applicable to dividends. The Fund intends to manage its investments in a manner designed to avoid these adverse tax results to the extent reasonably practicable, but there is no assurance that the Fund will accomplish this objective at all times.

Although distributions are generally treated as taxable to you in the year they are paid, distributions declared in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. A percentage of the Fund's dividend paid to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. This percentage may, however, be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities or by a high portfolio turnover rate. Character and tax status of all distributions will be available to shareholders after the close of each calendar year.

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes on income or gain from certain foreign securities. In general, the Fund may deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income.

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Taxation

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

SALES AND EXCHANGES<br>

Your sale of Fund shares is a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes, and may also be subject to state and local taxes. For tax purposes, the exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Goldman Sachs Fund is the same as a sale. When you sell your shares, you will generally recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your adjusted tax basis in the shares and the amount received. Generally, this capital gain or loss is long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period for the shares exceeds one year, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of that Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of that Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

OTHER INFORMATION<br>

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, for shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, 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 account is held with an Intermediary, 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 will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax with respect to dividends received from the Fund and may be subject to estate tax with respect to their Fund shares. However, withholding is generally not required on properly designated distributions to non-U.S. investors of long-term capital gains. Designated distributions of certain qualified interest income and short-term capital gains paid to non-U.S. investors are generally not subject to withholding. Although this designation will generally be made by the Fund for distributions of long-term and short-term capital gains, the Fund does not anticipate making any qualified interest income designations. Therefore, all distributions of interest income will generally be subject to withholding when paid to non-U.S. investors. More information about U.S. taxation and non-U.S. investors is included in the SAI.

The Funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive 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.

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Appendix A

Additional Information on Portfolio Risks, Securities and Techniques

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A. General Portfolio Risks<br>

The Funds will be subject to the risks associated with equity investments. "Equity investments" may include common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in REITs, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar enterprises, MLPs, common shares and preferred shares of energy infrastructure companies, other investment companies (including ETFs), warrants, stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments (such as swaps and futures contracts) that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. In general, the values of equity investments fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and in response to general market and economic conditions. Accordingly, the values of the equity investments that a Fund holds may decline over short or extended periods. The stock markets tend to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when prices generally decline. This volatility means that the value of your investment in the Funds may increase or decrease. In recent years, certain stock markets have experienced substantial price volatility. To the extent a 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.

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

To the extent that a Fund invests in fixed income securities, that Fund will also be subject to the risks associated with its fixed income securities. These risks include interest rate risk, credit/default risk and call/extension risk. In general, interest rate risk involves the risk that when interest rates decline, the market value of fixed income securities tends to increase (although many mortgage-related securities will have less potential than other debt securities for capital appreciation during periods of declining rates). Conversely, when interest rates increase, the market value of fixed income securities tends to decline. Credit/default risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor could default on its obligations, and a Fund will not recover its investment. Call risk and extension risk are normally present in adjustable rate mortgage loans ("ARMs"), mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by home mortgages can either shorten (call risk) or lengthen (extension risk). In general, if interest rates on new mortgage loans fall sufficiently below the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on existing outstanding mortgage loans, the rate of prepayment would be expected to decrease. In losses to investors. The same would be true of asset-backed securities such as securities backed by car loans.

A rising interest rate environment could cause the value of a 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 a Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund's investments.

The Funds may invest in non-investment grade fixed income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), which are rated below investment grade (or determined to be of comparable credit quality, if not rated) at the time of purchase and are therefore considered speculative. Because non-investment grade fixed income securities are issued by issuers with low credit ratings, they pose a greater risk of default than investment grade securities.

The Investment Adviser will not consider the portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in making investment decisions for a Fund. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by a Fund and its shareholders, and is also likely to result in higher short-term capital gains taxable to 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 a Fund's portfolio securities, excluding securities having a maturity at the date of purchase of one year or less. See "Financial Highlights" in Appendix B for a statement of the Funds' historical portfolio turnover rates.

The Funds 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, a 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.

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Appendix A

The following sections provide further information on certain types of securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Funds, including their associated risks. Additional information is provided in the 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 a Fund's investment objective, you should consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of your then current financial position and needs.

B. Other Portfolio Risks<br>

***Risks of Writing Index Call Options.*** When the Income Builder Fund writes (sell) S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (or other index or related ETF) call options, respectively, it foregoes the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the value of the relevant index above the exercise price (plus the premium received) of the option, but the Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the relevant index. As the seller of the index call options, the Income Builder Fund receives cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of an index call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index 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 index over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium and makes no payments to the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index 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.

There is no assurance that a liquid market will be available at all times for the Fund to write call options or to enter into closing purchase transactions. In addition, the premiums the Fund receives for writing call options may decrease as a result of a number of factors, including a reduction in interest rates generally, a decline in stock market volumes or a decrease in the price volatility of the underlying securities. For more information see "Portfolio Securities and Techniques—Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies."

***Risks of Investing in Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs").*** Investments in securities of an MLP involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements and may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Funds to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price. Investment in those MLPs may restrict a Fund's ability to take advantage of other investment opportunities. MLPs are generally considered interest-rate sensitive investments. During periods of interest rate volatility, these investments may not provide attractive returns. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of MLPs could enhance or harm the overall performance of a Fund.

MLPs are subject to various risks related to the underlying operating companies they control, including dependence upon specialized management skills and the risk that those operating companies may lack or have limited operating histories. The success of a Fund's investments in an MLP will vary depending on the underlying industry represented by the MLP's portfolio. Certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon their parent or sponsor entities for the majority of their revenues. If the parent or sponsor entities fail to make payments or satisfy their obligations to an MLP, the revenues and cash flows of that MLP and ability of that MLP to make distributions to unit holders such as a Fund would be adversely affected.

Certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon a limited number of customers for substantially all of their revenue. Similarly, certain MLPs in which a Fund may invest depend upon a limited number of suppliers of goods or services to continue their operations. The loss of those customers or suppliers could have a material adverse effect on an MLP's results of operations and cash flow, and on its ability to make distributions to unit holders such as a Fund.

***Tax Risk.*** Much of the benefit that the Fund may derive from its investment in equity securities of MLPs is a result of MLPs generally being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which the Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

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To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in an amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Code to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

***Risks of Investing in Mid-Capitalization and Small-Capitalization Companies.*** Each Fund may, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies involve greater risk and portfolio price volatility than investments in larger capitalization stocks. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility of these investments are the less certain growth prospects of smaller firms and the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities. Mid- and small-capitalization companies may be thinly traded and may have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or in small lots over an extended period of time. In addition, these securities are subject to the risk that during certain periods the liquidity of particular issuers or industries, or all securities in particular investment categories, will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic or market conditions, or adverse investor perceptions whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Mid- and small-capitalization companies include "unseasoned" issuers that do not have an established financial history; often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may depend on or use a few key personnel for management; and may be susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Mid- and small-capitalization companies may be operating at a loss or have significant variations in operating results; may be engaged in a rapidly changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence; may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, to finance expansion or to maintain their competitive position; and may have substantial borrowings or may otherwise have a weak financial condition. In addition, these companies may face intense competition, including competition from companies with greater financial resources, more extensive development, manufacturing, marketing, and other capabilities, and a larger number of qualified managerial and technical personnel. Transaction costs for these investments are often higher than those of larger capitalization companies. Investments in mid- and small-capitalization companies may be more difficult to price precisely than other types of securities because of their characteristics and lower trading volumes.

***Risks of Foreign Investments.*** The Funds may make foreign investments. Foreign investments involve special risks that are not typically associated with U.S. dollar denominated or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign investments may be affected by changes in currency rates, changes in foreign or U.S. laws or restrictions applicable to such investments and changes in exchange control regulations (e.g., currency blockage). A decline in the exchange rate of the currency (i.e., weakening of the currency against the U.S. dollar) in which a portfolio security is quoted or denominated relative to the U.S. dollar would reduce the value of the portfolio security. In addition, if the currency in which a Fund receives dividends, interest or other payments declines in value against the U.S. dollar before such income is distributed as dividends to shareholders or converted to U.S. dollars, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to pay such dividends.

Certain foreign markets may rely heavily on particular industries or foreign capital and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals may adversely affect a Fund's foreign holdings or exposures.

Brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs relating to investment in international securities markets generally are more expensive than in the United States. In addition, clearance and settlement procedures may be different in foreign countries and, in certain markets, such procedures have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, thus making it difficult to conduct such transactions.

Foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer. In addition, there is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the United States, and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and securities of many foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than

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Appendix A

securities of comparable domestic issuers. Furthermore, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividend or interest payments (or, in some cases, capital gains distributions), limitations on the removal of funds or other assets from such countries, and risks of political or social instability or diplomatic developments which could adversely affect investments in those countries.

Certain foreign investments may become less liquid in response to social, political or market developments or adverse investor perceptions, or become illiquid after purchase by the Fund, particularly during periods of market turmoil. Certain foreign investments may become illiquid when, for instance, there are few, if any, interested buyers and sellers or when dealers are unwilling to make a market for certain securities. When a Fund holds illiquid investments, its portfolio may be harder to value, especially in changing markets.

If a Fund focuses its investments in one or a few countries and currencies, the Fund may be subjected to greater risks than if the Fund's assets were not geographically focused.

Investments in foreign securities may take the form of sponsored and unsponsored ADRs, Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs"), or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers. ADRs, GDRs and EDRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a bank or other depository. ADRs and certain GDRs are traded in the United States. GDRs may be traded in either the United States or in foreign markets. EDRs are traded primarily outside the United States, Prices of ADRs are quoted in U.S. dollars. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.

***Risk of Sovereign Debt.*** Investment in sovereign debt obligations by a Fund involves risks not present in debt obligations of corporate issuers. The issuer of the debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt, and a Fund may have limited recourse to compel payment in the event of a default. Periods of economic uncertainty may result in the volatility of market prices of sovereign debt, and in turn a Fund's NAV, to a greater extent than the volatility inherent in debt obligations of U.S. issuers.

A sovereign debtor's willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor's policy toward international lenders, and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject.

***Risks of Emerging Countries.*** The Funds may invest in securities of issuers located in, or otherwise economically tied to, emerging countries. The risks of foreign investment are heightened when the issuer is located in an emerging country. Emerging countries are generally located in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Central Europe, and Central and South America. A Fund's purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging countries may be constrained by limitations relating to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. Such limitations may be computed based on the aggregate trading volume by or holdings of a Fund, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates and their respective clients and other service providers. A Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached.

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees which may limit investment in such countries or increase the administrative costs of such investments. For example, certain Asian countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer's outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals. In addition, certain countries may restrict or prohibit investment opportunities in issuers or industries deemed important to national interests. Such restrictions may affect the market price, liquidity and rights of securities that may be purchased by a Fund. The repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales from certain emerging countries is subject to restrictions such as the need for governmental consents, which may make it difficult for a Fund to invest in such emerging countries. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for such repatriation. In situations where a country restricts direct investment in securities (which may occur in certain Asian and other countries), a Fund may invest in such countries through other investment funds in such countries.

Emerging market countries may have more or less government regulation and generally do not impose as extensive and frequent accounting, auditing, financial and other reporting requirements as the securities markets of more developed countries. The degree of cooperation between issuers in emerging and frontier market countries with foreign and U.S. financial regulators may vary significantly. Accordingly, regulators may not have sufficient access to audit and oversee issuers, and there could be less information available about issuers in certain emerging market countries. As a result, the Investment Adviser's ability to evaluate local companies or their potential impact on the Fund's performance could be inhibited.

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Many emerging countries have experienced currency devaluations and substantial (and, in some cases, extremely high) rates of inflation. Other emerging countries have experienced economic recessions. These circumstances have had a negative effect on the economies and securities markets of such emerging countries. Economies in emerging countries generally are dependent heavily upon commodity prices and international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be affected adversely by the economies of their trading partners, trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.

Many emerging countries are subject to a substantial degree of economic, political and social instability. Governments of some emerging countries are authoritarian in nature or have been installed or removed as a result of military coups, while governments in other emerging countries have periodically used force to suppress civil dissent. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization, and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection, among other factors, have also led to social unrest, violence and/or labor unrest in some emerging countries. Unanticipated political or social developments may result in sudden and significant investment losses. Investing in emerging countries involves greater risk of loss due to expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested. As an example, in the past some Eastern European governments have expropriated substantial amounts of private property, and many claims of the property owners have never been fully settled. There is no assurance that similar expropriations will not occur in other countries.

A Fund's investment in emerging countries may also be subject to withholding or other taxes, which may be significant and may reduce the return to the Fund from an investment in issuers in such countries.

Settlement procedures in emerging countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the United States and may involve a Fund's delivery of securities before receipt of payment for their sale. In addition, significant delays may occur in certain markets in registering the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems may make it more difficult for a Fund to value its portfolio securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, to have a portion of its assets uninvested or to incur losses due to the failure of a counterparty to pay for securities the Fund has delivered or the Fund's inability to complete its contractual obligations because of theft or other reasons.

The creditworthiness of the local securities firms used by a Fund in emerging countries may not be as sound as the creditworthiness of firms used in more developed countries. As a result, the Fund may be subject to a greater risk of loss if a securities firm defaults in the performance of its responsibilities.

The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain emerging countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in those countries may make a Fund's investments in such countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in countries with more developed securities markets (such as the United States, Japan and most Western European countries). A Fund's investments in emerging countries are subject to the risk that the liquidity of a particular investment, or investments generally, in such countries will shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse economic, market or political conditions or adverse investor perceptions, whether or not accurate. Because of the lack of sufficient market liquidity, a Fund may incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and only then at a substantial drop in price. Investments in emerging countries may be more difficult to value precisely because of the characteristics discussed above and lower trading volumes.

A Fund's use of foreign currency management techniques in emerging countries may be limited. The Investment Adviser anticipates that a significant portion of the Fund's currency exposure in emerging countries may not be covered by those techniques.

***Foreign Custody Risk.*** A Fund may hold foreign securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund's custodian (each a "Foreign Custodian"). Some Foreign Custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on a Fund's ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.

***Risks of Derivative Investments.*** The Funds may invest in derivative instruments including without limitation, forwards, options, futures, options on futures, swaps, structured securities and other derivatives relating to foreign currency transactions. Derivatives may be used for both hedging and nonhedging purposes (that is, to seek to increase total return), although suitable derivative instruments may not always be available to the Investment Adviser for these purposes. Losses from 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. Derivatives are also subject to risks arising from margin requirements, which include the risk that a Fund will be required to pay additional margin or set aside additional collateral to maintain open derivative positions and the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of the bankruptcy or other similar insolvency with respect to a broker or counterparty with whom a Fund has an open derivative position. Losses may also arise if the Funds receive cash

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Appendix A

collateral under the transactions and some or all of that collateral is invested in the market. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund may be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the counterparty's cash collateral. If cash collateral is not invested, a 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, currency prices 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 portfolios 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 non-hedging purposes.

Derivative mortgage-backed securities (such as principal-only ("POs"), interest-only ("IOs") or inverse floating rate securities) are particularly exposed to call and extension risks. Small changes in mortgage prepayments can significantly impact the cash flow and the market value of these securities. In general, the risk of faster than anticipated prepayments adversely affects IOs, super floaters and premium priced mortgage-backed securities. The risk of slower than anticipated prepayments generally adversely affects POs, floating-rate securities subject to interest rate caps, support tranches and discount priced mortgage-backed securities. In addition, particular derivative securities may be leveraged such that their exposure (i.e., price sensitivity) to interest rate and/or prepayment risk is magnified.

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 Investments.*** Each Fund may not acquire any "illiquid investment" if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. An "illiquid investment" is an investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. In determining whether an investment is an illiquid investment, the Investment Adviser will take into account actual or estimated daily transaction volume of an investment, group of related investments or asset class and other relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations. In addition, in determining the liquidity of an investment, the Investment Adviser must determine whether trading varying portions of a position in a particular portfolio investment or asset class, in sizes that a Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect its liquidity, and if so, the Fund must take this determination into account when classifying the liquidity of that investment or asset class.

Investments purchased by a Fund that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. If one or more investments in a Fund's portfolio become illiquid, the Fund may exceed the 15% limitation in illiquid investments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause a Fund to exceed this limit, the Fund must take steps to bring its illiquid investments that are assets to or below 15% of its net assets within a reasonable period of time. This requirement would not force a 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 a 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 "Shareholder Guide—How To Buy Shares—How Are Shares Priced?"

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

The Income Builder also has credit rating requirements for the securities it buys, which are applied at the time of purchase. For this purpose, the Fund relies only on the ratings of the following NRSROs: Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch, Inc. Unrated securities may be purchased by the Fund if they are determined by the Investment Adviser to be of a credit quality consistent with the Fund's credit rating requirements.

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. For the purpose of determining compliance with any credit rating requirement, each Fund assigns a security, at the time of purchase, the highest rating by an NRSRO if the security is rated by more than one NRSRO. Therefore, a

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security will be deemed to have met a rating requirement if it receives the minimum required rating from at least one such rating organization even though it has been rated below the minimum rating by one or more other rating organizations, or if unrated by such rating organizations, the security is determined by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.

A security satisfies a Fund's minimum rating requirement regardless of its relative ranking (for example, plus or minus) within a designated major rating category (for example, BBB or Baa). If a security satisfies a Fund's minimum rating requirement at the time of purchase and is subsequently downgraded below that rating, the Fund will not be required to dispose of the security. If a downgrade occurs, the Investment Adviser will consider which action, including the sale of the security, is in the best interest of a Fund and its shareholders.

The Funds may invest in fixed income securities rated BB+ or Ba1 or below (or comparable unrated securities) which are commonly referred to as "junk bonds." Junk bonds are considered speculative and may be questionable as to principal and interest payments.

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

***Risks of Initial Public Offerings.*** The Funds may invest in IPOs. An IPO is a company's first offering of stock to the public. IPO risk is the risk that the market value of IPO shares will fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about a company's business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential, and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs. Investments in IPO shares, which are subject to market risk and liquidity risk, involve greater risks than investments in shares of companies that have tracked publicly on an exchange for extended periods of time. IPO shares are subject to market risk and liquidity risk. When a Fund's asset base is small, a significant portion of the Fund's performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the Fund. As the Fund's assets grow, the effect of the Fund's investments in IPOs on the Fund's performance probably will decline, which could reduce the Fund's performance. Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, a Fund may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund's portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

***Temporary Investment Risks.*** Each 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:

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U.S. Government Securities

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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)

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Certificates of deposit

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Bankers' acceptances

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Repurchase agreements

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

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ETFs

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Other investment companies

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Cash items

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

***Risks of Large Shareholder Redemptions.*** Certain funds, accounts, individuals or Goldman Sachs affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of a Fund's shares. Redemptions by these funds, accounts or individuals of their holdings in a Fund may impact the Fund's liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force a Fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the Fund's brokerage and tax costs.

C. Portfolio Securities and Techniques<br>

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

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Appendix A

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

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

***Foreign Currency Transactions.*** The Funds may, to the extent consistent with their investment policies, purchase or sell foreign currencies on a cash basis or through forward contracts. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. A Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, a Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between the Fund's overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of the Fund's performance benchmark. The Funds may also enter into such transactions to seek to increase total return, which presents additional risk.

The Funds may also engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in a currency different from that in which the hedged security is denominated or quoted. A Fund may hold foreign currency received in connection with investments in foreign securities when, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, it would be beneficial to convert such currency into U.S. dollars at a later date (e.g., the Investment Adviser may anticipate the foreign currency to appreciate against the U.S. dollar).

The Funds may, from time to time, engage in non-deliverable forward transactions to manage currency risk or to gain exposure to a currency without purchasing securities denominated in that currency. A non-deliverable forward is a transaction that represents an agreement between a Fund and a counterparty (usually a commercial bank) to pay the other party the amount that it would cost based on current market rates as of the termination date to buy or sell a specified (notional) amount of a particular currency at an agreed upon foreign exchange rate on an agreed upon future date. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction, but the Fund may be delayed or prevented from obtaining payments owed to it pursuant to non-deliverable forward transactions. Such non-deliverable forward transactions will be settled in cash.

Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time, causing, along with other factors, a Fund's NAV to fluctuate (when the Fund's NAV fluctuates, the value of your shares may go up or down). Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by the intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

Certain forward foreign currency exchange contracts and other currency transactions are not exchange traded or cleared. The market in such forward foreign currency exchange contracts, currency swaps and other privately negotiated currency instruments offers less protection against defaults by the other party to such instruments than is available for currency instruments traded on an exchange. Such contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will default on its obligations. Because these contracts are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or could force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

A Fund is not required to post cash collateral with its counterparties in certain foreign currency transactions. Accordingly, a Fund may remain more fully invested (and more of the Fund's assets may be subject to investment and market risk) than if it were required to post collateral with its counterparties (which is the case with certain transactions). Where a Fund's counterparties are not required to post cash collateral with the Fund, the Fund will be subject to additional counterparty risk.

***Structured Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in structured securities. Structured securities are securities whose value is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, 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

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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 a Fund's investments in structured securities may be subject to the limits applicable to investments in other investment companies.

Structured securities are considered hybrid instruments because they are derivative instruments the value of which depends on, or is derived from or linked to, the value of an underlying asset, interest rate index or commodity. Commodity-linked notes are hybrid instruments because the principal and/or interest payments on those notes is linked to the value of the individual commodities, futures contracts or the performance of one or more commodity indices.

Structured securities include, but are not limited to, equity linked notes. An equity linked note is a note whose performance is tied to a single stock, a stock index or a basket of stocks. Equity linked notes combine the principal protection normally associated with fixed income investments with the potential for capital appreciation normally associated with equity investments. Upon the maturity of the note, the holder generally receives a return of principal based on the capital appreciation of the linked securities. Depending on the terms of the note, equity linked notes may also have a "cap" or "floor" on the maximum principal amount to be repaid to holders, irrespective of the performance of the underlying linked securities. For example, a note may guarantee the repayment of the original principal amount invested (even if the underlying linked securities have negative performance during the note's term), but may cap the maximum payment at maturity at a certain percentage of the issuance price or the return of the underlying linked securities. Alternatively, the note may not guarantee a full return on the original principal, but may offer a greater participation in any capital appreciation of the underlying linked securities. The terms of an equity linked note may also provide for periodic interest payments to holders at either a fixed or floating rate. The secondary market for equity linked notes may be limited, and the lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make these securities difficult to dispose of and to value. Equity linked notes will be considered equity securities for purposes of a Fund's investment objective and policies.

The Income Builder Fund may invest in 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.

***Inverse Floaters.*** The Income Builder Fund may invest in inverse floating rate debt securities ("inverse floaters"). The interest rate on inverse floaters resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest. The higher the degree of leverage of an inverse floater, the greater the volatility of its market value.

***REITs.*** Each Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate related loans. The value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or securing mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are dependent upon the ability of the REITs' managers, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and the qualification of the REITs under applicable regulatory requirements for favorable income tax treatment. REITs are also subject to risks generally associated with investments in real estate including possible declines in the value of real estate, general and local economic conditions, environmental problems and changes in interest rates. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, these risks may be heightened. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses, including management fees, paid by a REIT in which it invests.

***Options on Securities, Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies.*** A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying instrument during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument during the option period. A Fund may write (sell) call and put options and purchase put and call options on any securities in which the Fund may invest or on any securities index consisting of securities in which it may invest. A Fund may also, to the extent consistent with its investment policies, purchase and sell (write) put and call options on foreign currencies.

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

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Appendix A

***Futures Contracts and Options and Swaps on Futures Contracts.*** Futures contracts are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified financial instrument or currency at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. A swap on a futures contract provides an investor with the ability to gain economic exposure to a particular futures market. A futures contract may be based on particular securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other financial instruments and indices. The Funds may engage in futures transactions on both U.S. and foreign exchanges.

Each Fund may to the extent consistent with its investment policies purchase and sell futures contracts, purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts and enter into swaps on futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in securities prices or, to the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, currency exchange rates. Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options.

Futures contracts and related options and swaps present the following risks:

◼

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

◼

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

◼

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

◼

Futures markets are highly volatile and the use of futures may increase the volatility of a 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 a Fund.

◼

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

◼

Foreign exchanges may not provide the same protection as U.S. exchanges.

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

The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines before the settlement date. Conversely, the sale of securities on a forward commitment basis involves the risk that the value of the securities sold may increase before the settlement date. Although a Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the securities for its portfolio, a Fund may dispose of when-issued securities or forward commitments prior to settlement if the Investment Adviser deems it appropriate.

***Repurchase Agreements.*** Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon date and price. Each 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. Repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. Government Securities may be subject to additional risks.

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

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

***Lending of Portfolio Securities.*** The Funds may engage in securities lending. Securities lending involves the lending of securities owned by a Fund to financial institutions such as certain broker-dealers including, as permitted by the SEC, Goldman Sachs. The borrowers are required to secure their loans continuously with cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or letters of credit in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Cash collateral may be invested by a Fund in short-term investments, including registered and unregistered investment pools managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, and from which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may receive fees. To the extent that cash collateral is so invested, such collateral will be

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subject to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund will be responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrowers' collateral. If the Investment Adviser determines to make securities loans, the value of the securities loaned may not exceed 33 <sup>1</sup>∕3% of the value of the total assets of a Fund (including the loan collateral). Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations regarding a Fund's investments described elsewhere in the Prospectus.

A Fund may lend its securities to increase its income. A Fund may, however, experience delay in the recovery of its securities or incur a loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund or its agent, or becomes insolvent.

***Short Sales Against-the-Box.*** The Funds may make short sales against-the-box. A short sale against-the-box means that at all times when a short position is open the Fund will own an equal amount of securities sold short, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, an equal amount of the securities of the same issuer as the securities sold short.

***Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights.*** Each Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer's earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock.

Warrants and other rights are options to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price at any time during the life of the warrant or right. The holders of warrants and rights have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.

***Other Investment Companies.*** Each Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act or rules, regulations or exemptive relief thereunder. These statutory limitations include in certain circumstances a prohibition on a Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of a Fund's total assets in securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all investment companies.

Subject to applicable law and/or pursuant to an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or under an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC, a Fund may invest in certain other investment companies (including ETFs and money market funds) and business development companies beyond the statutory limits described above or otherwise provided that certain conditions are met. 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.

Additionally, to the extent that any Fund serves as an "acquired fund" to another Goldman Sachs Fund or unaffiliated investment company, the Fund's ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds may be limited and, under these circumstances, the Fund's investments in other investment companies and private funds will be consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive rules adopted by or exemptive orders obtained from the SEC. For example, to the extent the Fund serves as an acquired fund in a fund of funds arrangement in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act, the Fund would be prohibited from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the securities of an investment company or private fund if, after such purchase or acquisition, the aggregate value of the Fund's investments in such investment companies and private funds would exceed 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets, subject to limited exceptions (including for investments in money market funds).

The use of ETFs is generally intended to help a 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 generally 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 a 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.

A 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 Funds do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment objective, policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund.

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Appendix A

***Unseasoned Companies.*** Each Fund may invest in companies which (together with their predecessors) have operated less than three years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.

***Corporate Debt Obligations and Trust Preferred Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations and 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. Each Fund may invest in corporate debt obligations issued by U.S. and certain non-U.S. issuers which issue securities denominated in the U.S. dollar (including Yankee and Euro obligations). In addition to obligations of corporations, corporate debt obligations include securities issued by banks and other financial institutions and supranational entities (i.e., the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, etc.).

***Bank Obligations.*** Each Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.

***U.S. Government Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government Securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. U.S. Government Securities may be supported by (i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; (ii) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (iii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the issuer; or (iv) only the credit of the issuer. U.S. Government Securities also include Treasury receipts, zero coupon bonds and other stripped U.S. Government Securities, where the interest and principal components 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 Securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will be able or willing to repay the principal or interest 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.

***Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates.*** Each Fund may invest in custodial receipts and trust certificates representing interests in securities held by a custodian or trustee. The securities so held may include U.S. Government Securities or other types of securities in which a Fund may invest. The custodial receipts or trust certificates may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For certain securities laws purposes, custodial receipts and trust certificates may not be considered obligations of the U.S. government or other issuer of the securities held by the custodian or trustee. If for tax purposes a Fund is not considered to be the owner of the underlying securities held in the custodial or trust account, the Fund may suffer adverse tax consequences. As a holder of custodial receipts and trust certificates, a Fund will bear its proportionate share of the fees and expenses charged to the custodial account or trust. Each Fund may also invest in separately issued interests in custodial receipts and trust certificates.

***Mortgage-Backed Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities. mortgage-backed securities represent direct or indirect participations in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property. Mortgage-backed securities can be backed by either fixed rate mortgage loans or ARMs, and may be issued by either a governmental or nongovernmental entity. The value of some mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. The value of these securities may also fluctuate in response to the market's perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Early repayment of principal on mortgage- or asset-backed securities may expose a Fund to the risk of earning a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal.

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The Fund may invest in privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities that represent interests in pools of mortgage loans that are issued by trusts formed by originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans (or represent interests in custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These originators and institutions include commercial banks, savings and loans associations, credit unions, savings banks, mortgage bankers, insurance companies, investment banks or special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The pools underlying privately-issued mortgage pass-through securities consist of mortgage loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust creating a first lien on commercial, residential, residential multi-family and mixed residential/commercial properties. These mortgage-backed securities typically do not have the same credit standing as U.S. government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.

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

Mortgage-backed securities may include multiple class securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit ("REMIC") pass-through or participation certificates. A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment and invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. CMOs provide an investor with a specified interest in the cash flow from a pool of underlying mortgages or of other mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued in multiple classes each with a specified fixed or floating interest rate and a final scheduled distribution rate. In many cases, payments of principal are applied to the CMO classes in the order of their respective stated maturities, so that no principal payments will be made on a CMO class until all other classes having an earlier stated maturity date are paid in full.

Sometimes, however, CMO classes are "parallel pay," i.e., payments of principal are made to two or more classes concurrently. In some cases, CMOs may have the characteristics of a stripped mortgage-backed security whose price can be highly volatile. CMOs may exhibit more or less price volatility and interest rate risk than other types of mortgage-related obligations, and under certain interest rate and payment scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in certain of these securities regardless of their credit quality.

To the extent a Fund concentrates its investments in pools of mortgage-backed securities sponsored by the same sponsor or serviced by the same servicer, it may be subject to additional risks. Servicers of mortgage-related pools collect payments on the underlying mortgage assets for pass-through to the pool on a periodic basis. Upon insolvency of the servicer, the pool may be at risk with respect to collections received by the servicer but not yet delivered to the pool.

Mortgaged-backed securities also include stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS"), which are derivative multiple class mortgage-backed securities. SMBS are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all of the interest payments and the other that receives substantially all of the principal payments from a pool of mortgage loans. The market value of SMBS consisting entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on SMBS that receive all or most of the interest from mortgage loans are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other mortgage-backed securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped. Throughout 2008, the market for mortgage-backed securities began experiencing substantially, often dramatically, lower valuations and greatly reduced liquidity. Markets for other asset-backed securities have also been affected. These instruments are increasingly subject to liquidity constraints, price volatility, credit downgrades and unexpected increases in default rates and, therefore, may be more difficult to value and more difficult to dispose of than previously. These events may have an adverse effect on the Funds to the extent they invest in mortgage-backed or other fixed income securities or instruments affected by the volatility in the fixed income markets.

***Asset-Backed Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities whose principal and interest payments are collateralized by pools of assets such as auto loans, credit card receivables, leases, installment contracts and personal property. Asset-backed securities may also include home equity line of credit loans and other second-lien mortgages. Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. During periods of declining interest rates, prepayment of loans underlying asset-backed securities can be expected to accelerate. Accordingly, a Fund's ability to maintain positions in such securities will be affected by reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments, and its ability to reinvest the returns of principal at comparable yields is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets. Some asset-backed securities have only a subordinated claim or security interest in collateral. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Fund's recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the securities. In the event of a default, a Fund may suffer a loss if

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Appendix A

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 the prevailing interest rates. There is no guarantee that private guarantors or insurers of an asset-backed security, 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.

***Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities.*** Each Fund may invest in 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, a Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective may depend to a greater extent on the Investment Adviser's judgment concerning the creditworthiness of issuers than funds which invest in higher-rated securities. Issuers of non-investment grade fixed income securities may not be able to make use of more traditional methods of financing and their ability to service debt obligations may be affected more adversely than issuers of higher-rated securities by economic downturns, specific corporate or financial developments or the issuer's inability to meet specific projected business forecasts. Negative publicity about the junk bond market and investor perceptions regarding lower rated securities, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may depress the prices for such securities.

A holder's risk of loss from default is significantly greater for non-investment grade fixed income securities than is the case for holders of other debt securities because such non-investment grade securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to the rights of other creditors of the issuers of such securities. Investment by a Fund in defaulted securities poses additional risk of loss should nonpayment of principal and interest continue in respect of such securities. Even if such securities are held to maturity, recovery by a Fund of its initial investment and any anticipated income or appreciation is uncertain.

The secondary market for non-investment grade fixed income securities is concentrated in relatively few market makers and is dominated by institutional investors, including mutual funds, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Accordingly, the secondary market for such securities is not as liquid as, and is more volatile than, the secondary market for higher-rated securities. In addition, market trading volume for high yield fixed income securities is generally lower and the secondary market for such securities could shrink or disappear suddenly and without warning as a result of adverse market or economic conditions, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer. The lack of sufficient market liquidity may cause a Fund to incur losses because it will be required to effect sales at a disadvantageous time and then only at a substantial drop in price. These factors may have an adverse effect on the market price and a Fund's ability to dispose of particular portfolio investments. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in its portfolio.

Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of non-investment grade securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the conditions of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.

***Borrowings.*** Each Fund can borrow money from banks and other financial institutions in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes.

***Mortgage Dollar Rolls.*** The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A mortgage dollar roll involves the sale by a Fund of securities for delivery in the current month. The Fund simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund loses the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold. However, the Fund benefits to the extent of any difference between (a) the price received for the securities sold and (b) the lower forward price for the future purchase and/or fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold. Unless the benefits of a mortgage dollar roll exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the roll, the use of this technique will diminish the Fund's performance.

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Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls depends upon the Investment Adviser's ability to predict correctly interest rates and mortgage prepayments. If the Investment Adviser is incorrect in its prediction, a Fund may experience a loss. The Funds do not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and does not treat them as borrowings.

***Yield Curve Options.*** The Income Builder 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 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.

***Reverse Repurchase Agreements.*** The Income Builder Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. 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. 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.

***Municipal Securities.*** The Income Builder 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 participating interests in such securities) issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest.

Municipal securities include both "general" and "revenue" bonds and may be issued to obtain funds for various purposes. General obligations are secured by the issuer's pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power. Revenue obligations are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities.

Municipal securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. 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, municipal leases, certificates of participation, pre-funded municipal securities and auction rate securities. Dividends paid by the Fund based on investments in municipal securities will be taxable.

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

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Appendix A

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. 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.

***Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Equity Swaps, Index Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars.*** Each Fund may enter into swap transactions and option agreements, including (in the case of the Income Builder Fund) interest rate caps, floors and collars. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Credit swaps (also referred to as credit default 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. Credit swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors (for example, the Nth default within a basket, or defaults by a particular combination of issuers within the basket, may trigger a payment obligation). Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties' respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. 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. Equity swaps allow the parties to a swap agreement to exchange the dividend income or other components of return on an equity investment (for example, a group of equity securities or an index) for another payment stream. An equity swap may be used by a Fund to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of securities in circumstances in which direct investment may be restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise deemed impractical or disadvantageous. Index swaps allow one party or both parties to a swap agreement to receive one or more payments based off of the return, performance or volatility of an index or of certain securities which comprise the index.

A 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 Funds may enter into the transactions described above, as applicable, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. As an example, when a 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 a 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 a 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 default swap.

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The use of interest rate, mortgage, credit, currency, index, total return and equity 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, interest rates and currency exchange 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund and its counterparties posting higher amounts for uncleared swaps.

***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, a Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

***Loan-Related Investments.*** The Income Builder Fund may invest in loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments. A loan participation is an interest in a loan to a U.S. or foreign company or other borrower (the "borrower") which is administered and sold by a financial intermediary. The Fund may only invest in loans to issuers in whose obligations it may otherwise invest. Loan interests may take the form of a direct or co-lending relationship with the borrower, an assignment of an interest in the loan by a co-lender or another participant, or a participation in the seller's share of the loan. When the Fund acts as co-lender in connection with a loan interest or when it acquires certain interests, the Fund will have direct recourse against the borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and interest. In cases where the Fund lacks direct recourse, it will look to an agent for the lenders (the "agent lender") to enforce appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. In these cases, 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 (such as commercial paper) of such borrower.

An assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a lender under the credit agreement with respect to the debt obligation; however, the purchaser's rights can be more restricted than those of the assigning institution, and, in any event, the Fund may not be able to unilaterally enforce all rights and remedies under the loan and with regard to any associated collateral. A participation typically results in a contractual relationship only with the institution participating out the interest, not with the borrower. In purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement against the borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the debt obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of both the borrower and the institution selling the participation. Investors in loans, such as the Fund, may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws, although they may be entitled to certain contractual remedies.

The market for loan obligations may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. Because transactions in many 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 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. During periods of heightened redemption activity or distressed market conditions, a Fund may seek to obtain expedited trade settlement, which will generally incur additional costs (although expedited trade settlement will not always be available).

Senior loans hold the most senior position in the capital structure of a borrower, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and stockholders of the borrower. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancings and to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes. Senior loans typically have a stated term of between five and nine years, and have rates of interest which typically are redetermined daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium or credit spread. Longer interest rate reset periods generally increase fluctuations in the Fund's net asset value as a result of changes in market interest rates. As a result, as short-term interest rates increase, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should increase, and as short-term interest rates decrease, interest payable to the Fund from its investments in senior loans should decrease. Second lien loans have the same characteristics as senior loans except that such loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus lower in priority of payment to senior loans. Accordingly, the risks associated with second lien loans are higher than the risk of loans with first priority over the collateral. In the event of default on a second lien loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. It is possible that no collateral value would remain for the second priority lien holder and therefore result in a loss of investment to the Fund. Second lien loans typically have

------

Appendix A

adjustable floating rate interest payments. Generally, loans have the benefit of restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets or impose other obligations. To the extent a loan does not have certain covenants (or has less restrictive covenants), an investment in the loan will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with loan investments.

***Equity Investments.*** After its purchase, a portfolio investment (such as a convertible debt obligation) may convert to an equity security. Alternatively, a 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, a 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.

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Appendix B

Financial Highlights

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the past five years (or less if the Fund has been in operation for less than five years). Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the Fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's most recent annual report (available upon request).

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund** |
|  | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $27.64 | $23.96 | $24.21 | $22.15 | $22.95 |
| Net investment income<sup>(b)</sup> | 0.94 | 0.91 | 0.84 | 0.94 | 0.45 |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (3.57) | 3.68 | (0.21) | 2.05 | (0.71) |
| Total from investment operations | (2.63) | 4.59 | 0.63 | 2.99 | (0.26) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.94) | (0.91) | (0.85) | (0.93) | (0.51) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (0.93) |  |  |  |  |
| Distributions to shareholders from return of capital |  |  | (0.03) |  | (0.03) |
| Total distributions | (1.87) | (0.91) | (0.88) | (0.93) | (0.54) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $23.14 | $27.64 | $23.96 | $24.21 | $22.15 |
| **Total return**<sup>(c)</sup> | (10.05)% | 19.31% | 2.70% | 13.77% | (1.18)% |
| Net assets, end of period (in 000s) | $43595 | $52764 | $16404 | $13919 | $16122 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.55% | 0.56% | 0.58%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.61% | 0.61% | 0.58%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 3.75% | 3.38% | 3.51% | 4.04% | 3.60%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(e)</sup> | 25% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 42% |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Commenced operations on April 16, 2018.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the period and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total returns for periods* *less than one full year are not annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(d)* *Annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(e)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

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Appendix B

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** | **Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund** |
|  | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** | **Class P Shares** |
|  | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | **Year Ended October 31,** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
|  | **2022** | **2021** | **2020** | **2019** | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Period Ended** <br>**October 31, 2018**<sup>(a)</sup> |
| **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** | **Per Share Data** |
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $14.72 | $10.38 | $11.76 | $20.08 | $20.21 |
| Net investment income (loss)<sup>(b)</sup> | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.12 | 0.15 | (0.04) |
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (0.74) | 4.71 | (0.24) | 0.84 | 0.25 |
| Total from investment operations | (0.63) | 4.80 | (0.12) | 0.99 | 0.21 |
| Distributions to shareholders from net investment income | (0.23) | (0.42) | (0.28) | (0.27) | (0.21) |
| Distributions to shareholders from net realized gains | (1.17) | (0.04) | (0.98) | (9.04) | (0.13) |
| Total distributions | (1.40) | (0.46) | (1.26) | (9.31) | (0.34) |
| Net asset value, end of period | $12.69 | $14.72 | $10.38 | $11.76 | $20.08 |
| **Total return**<sup>(c)</sup> | (4.62)% | 47.17% | (1.46)% | 10.86% | 1.03% |
| Net assets, end of period (in 000s) | $15404 | $14747 | $7791 | $21171 | $41067 |
| Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | 0.71% | 0.71% | 0.77% | 0.79% | 0.77%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of total expenses to average net assets | 0.90% | 0.89% | 0.89% | 0.87% | 0.81%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | 0.87% | 0.70% | 1.10% | 1.24% | (0.37)%<sup>(d)</sup> |
| Portfolio turnover rate<sup>(e)</sup> | 50% | 38% | 43% | 45% | 101% |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(a)* *Commenced operations on April 16, 2018.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(b)* *Calculated based on the average shares outstanding methodology.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(c)* *Assumes investment at the NAV at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, a complete redemption of the investment at the* *NAV at the end of the period and no sales or redemption charges (if any). Total returns would be reduced if a sales or redemption charge was taken into* *account. Returns do not reflect the impact of taxes to shareholders relating to Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total returns for periods* *less than one full year are not annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(d)* *Annualized.* 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*(e)* *The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short term investments* *and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher.* 

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Dividend Focus Funds Prospectus (Class P Shares)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

FOR MORE INFORMATION<br>

Annual/Semi-Annual Report

Additional information about the Fund's investments is or will be available in the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund's annual report 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 and the SAI are available free upon request by calling Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-526-7384. You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual reports and the SAI at the Fund's website: www.gsam.com/content/gsam/us/en/advisors/fund-center/summary-prospectuses.html.

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:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| ◼ By telephone: | 1-800-621-2550 |
| ◼ By mail: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs Funds<br> P.O. Box 806395<br> Chicago, IL 60680-4125<br>|
| ◼ 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.

![](g440223gsamhorizlogo.gif)

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

GSAM<sup>®</sup> is a registered service mark of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

DIVFOPRO-23P

------

**PART B** 

**STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION**

**DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2023** 

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| | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **FUND** | **CLASS A**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **CLASS C**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **INSTITUTIONAL**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **INVESTOR**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **CLASS R**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **CLASS R6**<br> **SHARES**<br>| **CLASS P**<br> **SHARES**<br>|
| GOLDMAN SACHS<br> INCOME BUILDER<br> FUND<br>| GSBFX | GSBCX | GSBIX | GKIRX |  | GSBUX | GGKPX |
| GOLDMAN SACHS<br> RISING DIVIDEND<br> GROWTH FUND<br>| GSRAX | GSRCX | GSRLX | GSRIX | GSRRX | GSRFX | GMHPX |

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**(Dividend Focus Funds of Goldman Sachs Trust)** 

71 South Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606

This Statement of Additional Information (the "SAI") is not a prospectus. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses for the Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund and Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund (the "Funds") dated February 28, 2023, as they may be further amended and/or supplemented from time to time (the "Prospectuses"), and which may be obtained without charge from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling the applicable telephone number, or writing to one of the addresses, listed below or from institutions ("Intermediaries") acting on behalf of their customers.

The audited financial statements and related report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, for each Fund contained in the Funds' 2022 Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference in the section "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS." No other portions of the Funds' Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The Funds' Annual Report may be obtained upon request and without charge by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC toll free at 1-800-526-7384 (for Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shareholders) or 1-800-621-2550 (for Institutional, Class R6 and Class P Shareholders).

GSAM<sup>®</sup> is a registered service mark of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| <u>[INTRODUCTION](#xx_5dd5f020-b2c6-4525-bf74-345824246220_1)</u> | B-4 |
| <u>[INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES](#xx_5dd5f020-b2c6-4525-bf74-345824246220_1)</u> | B-4 |
| <u>[DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES](#xx_96892e4b-4b61-4f33-b6d8-01d932070fd7_1)</u> | B-9 |
| <u>[INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS](#xx_665b302d-000c-4f33-8a6b-3c2d07b2d3e3_1)</u> | B-55 |
| <u>[TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_1)</u> | B-57 |
| <u>[MANAGEMENT SERVICES](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_13)</u> | B-69 |
| <u>[POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_21)</u> | B-77 |
| <u>[PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_39)</u> | B-95 |
| <u>[NET ASSET VALUE](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_42)</u> | B-98 |
| <u>[SHARES OF THE TRUST](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_44)</u> | B-100 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>[TAXATION](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_48)</u> | B-104 |
| <u>[FINANCIAL STATEMENTS](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_54)</u> | B-110 |
| <u>[PROXY VOTING](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_54)</u> | B-110 |
| <u>[PAYMENTS TO OTHERS (INCLUDING INTERMEDIARIES)](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_55)</u> | B-111 |
| <u>[OTHER INFORMATION](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_66)</u> | B-122 |
| <u>[DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_70)</u> | B-126 |
| <u>[OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES,REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_73)</u><br> <u>[AND DIVIDENDS](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_73)</u><br>| B-129 |
| <u>[CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES](#xx_73e4d3b2-6db8-4573-aed4-897a7d517439_75)</u> | B-131 |
| <u>[APPENDIX A DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS](#xx_197e2dec-d992-44c8-a995-3f601be56a68_1)</u> | 1-A |
| <u>[APPENDIX B GSAM PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY](#xx_8073a584-f85d-404a-8fb2-1bfac1c79281_toc-app_1)</u> | 1-B |
| <u>[APPENDIX C STATEMENT OF INTENTION](#xx_6d5282c6-6e87-41ac-93c2-0e3d6fa39ded_1)</u> | 1-C |

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**GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P**.

Investment Adviser

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

**GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC**

Distributor

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

**GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC**

Transfer Agent

P.O. Box 806395

Chicago, Illinois 60680-4125

**Toll-free (in U.S.)** 

**800-621-2550 (for Institutional, Class R6 and Class P Shareholders) or 800-526-7384 (for Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shareholders)**

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**INTRODUCTION** 

Goldman Sachs Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and was established by a Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997. The Trust is a successor to a Massachusetts business trust that was combined with the Trust on April 30, 1997. The following series of the Trust are described in this SAI: Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund ("Income Builder Fund") and Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund ("Rising Dividend Growth Fund") (each also a "Fund," and collectively referred to herein as the "Funds").

Effective February 27, 2012, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund, a series of Dividend Growth Trust (the "Predecessor Fund"), was reorganized into the Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund. The Predecessor Fund was the accounting survivor in the reorganization.

The Trustees of the Trust have authority under the Declaration of Trust to create and classify shares into separate series and to classify and reclassify any series or portfolio of shares into one or more classes without further action by shareholders, and have created the Funds and other series pursuant thereto. Additional series may be added in the future from time to time. The Income Builder Fund currently offers six classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R6, Institutional and Class P Shares. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund currently offers seven classes of Shares: Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R, Class R6, Institutional and Class P Shares. 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 Funds (the "Investment Adviser"). In addition, Goldman Sachs serves as the Funds' distributor (the "Distributor") and transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent"). State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") serves as the custodian to the Funds. The following information relates to and supplements the description of each Fund's investment policies contained in the Prospectuses. See the Prospectuses for a more complete description of the Funds' investment objectives and policies. Investing in the Funds entails certain risks, and there is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its objective. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectuses.

**INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES** 

Each Fund has a distinct investment objective and policies. Each Fund is a diversified open-end management company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"). The investment objective and policies of each Fund, and the associated risks of each Fund, are discussed in the Funds' Prospectuses, which should be read carefully before an investment is made. All investment objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed without shareholder approval. However, shareholders will be provided with sixty (60) days' notice in the manner prescribed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") before any change in the Rising Dividend Growth Fund's policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes (measured at the time of purchase) in the particular type of investment suggested by its name. Additional information about the Funds, their policies, and the investment instruments they may hold is provided below.

Each Fund's share price will fluctuate with market, economic and, to the extent applicable, foreign exchange conditions, so that an investment in either of the Funds may be worth more or less when redeemed than when purchased. A Fund should not be relied upon as a complete investment program. The Investment Adviser, on behalf of the Rising Dividend Growth 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 Investment Adviser has claimed temporary relief from registration as a CPO under the CEA for the Income Builder Fund and therefore is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA.

The following discussion supplements the information in the Prospectuses.

**General Information Regarding The Income Builder Fund** 

The Investment Adviser may purchase for the Fund common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited

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liability companies and similar enterprises, master limited partnerships ("MLPs"), shares of other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds ("ETFs")), warrants and stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities ("equity investments").

The Investment Adviser utilizes first-hand fundamental research, including visiting company facilities to assess operations and to meet decision-makers, in choosing the Fund's securities. The Investment Adviser may also use macro analysis of numerous economic and valuation variables to anticipate changes in company earnings and the overall investment climate. The Investment Adviser is able to draw on the research and market expertise of the Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Department and other affiliates of the Investment Adviser, as well as information provided by other securities dealers. Equity investments in the Fund's portfolio will generally be sold when the Investment Adviser believes that the market price fully reflects or exceeds the investments' fundamental valuation or when other more attractive investments are identified.

The Fund seeks to provide income and capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to provide income through investments in fixed income securities (bonds) and high dividend paying equities, preferred equities and other similar securities (stocks). The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation primarily through equity securities.

The Fund is intended to provide a foundation on which an investor can build an investment portfolio or to serve as the core of an investment program, depending on the investor's goals. The Fund is designed for investors who seek a combination of long-term capital growth and current income in a single investment. The Fund offers a portfolio of equity and fixed income securities intended to provide less volatility than a portfolio completely invested in equity investments and greater diversification than a portfolio invested in only one asset class. The Fund may be appropriate for people who seek capital appreciation but are concerned about the volatility typically associated with a fund that invests solely in stocks and other equity investments.

***Value Orientated Strategy (Equity Portion of Fund).*** The Fund's equity portion is managed using a value oriented approach. The Investment Adviser evaluates securities using fundamental analysis and intends to purchase equity investments that are, in its view, underpriced relative to a combination of such companies' long-term earnings prospects, growth rate, free cash flow and/or dividend-paying ability. Consideration will be given to the business quality of the issuer. Factors positively affecting the Investment Adviser's view of that quality include the competitiveness and degree of regulation in the markets in which the company operates, the existence of a management team with a record of success, the position of the company in the markets in which it operates, the level of the company's financial leverage and the sustainable return on capital invested in the business. The Investment Adviser may also consider environmental, social, and governance factors as part of the fundamental research and stock selection process. The Fund may also purchase securities of companies that have experienced difficulties and that, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, are available at attractive prices. For this portion of the Fund, the benchmark is the Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index.

***Fixed Income Strategies Designed to Maximize Return and Manage Risk.*** GSAM's approach to managing the fixed income portion of the Fund's portfolio seeks to provide high returns relative to a market benchmark, ICE BofAML BB-B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (the "Index"), while also seeking to provide high current income. This approach emphasizes (i) sector allocation strategies which enable GSAM to tactically overweight or underweight one sector of the fixed income market (i.e., mortgages, corporate bonds, U.S. Treasuries, non-dollar bonds, emerging market debt) versus another; (ii) individual security selection based on identifying relative value (fixed income securities inexpensive relative to others in their sector); and (iii) strategies based on GSAM's expectation of the direction of interest rates or the spread between short-term and long-term interest rates such as yield curve strategy.

The Index contains all securities in The ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield Index rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), S&P Global Ratings ("Standard & Poor's") and Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch"), but caps issuer exposure at 2%. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Issuers that exceed the limit are reduced to 2% and the face value of each of their bonds is adjusted on a pro-rata basis. Similarly, the face values of all other issuers that fall below the 2% cap are increased on a pro-rata basis. In the event there are fewer than 50 issuers in the Index, each is equally weighted and the face values of their respective bonds are increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the Index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month.

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Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

GSAM seeks to manage fixed income portfolio risk in a number of ways. These include diversifying the fixed income portion of the Fund's portfolio among various types of fixed income securities and utilizing sophisticated quantitative models to understand how the fixed income portion of the portfolio will perform under a variety of market and economic scenarios. In addition, GSAM uses extensive credit analysis to select and to monitor any investment-grade or non-investment grade bonds that may be included in the Fund's portfolio. In employing this and other investment strategies, the GSAM team has access to extensive fundamental research and analysis available through Goldman Sachs and a broad range of other sources.

A number of investment strategies will be used in selecting fixed income securities for the Fund's portfolio. GSAM's fixed income investment philosophy is to actively manage the portfolio within a risk-controlled framework. The Investment Adviser focuses on seeking to add value through sector selection, security selection and yield curve strategies – with less emphasis on managing the portfolio around a narrow duration band.

The Investment Adviser may use derivative instruments to manage the duration of the Fund's fixed income investment portfolio. These derivative instruments include financial futures contracts and swap transactions, as well as other types of derivatives, and can be used to shorten and lengthen the duration of the Fund's fixed income investment portfolio. The Fund's investments in derivative instruments, including financial futures contracts and swaps, can be significant. These transactions can result in sizeable realized and unrealized capital gains and losses relative to the gains and losses from the Fund's investments in bonds and other securities.

Interest rates, fixed income securities prices, the prices of futures and other derivatives, and currency exchange rates can be volatile, and a variance in the degree of volatility or in the direction of the market from the Investment Adviser's expectations may produce losses in the Fund's investments in derivatives. In addition, a perfect correlation between a derivatives position and a fixed income security position is generally impossible to achieve. As a result, the Investment Adviser's use of derivatives may not be effective in fulfilling the Investment Adviser's investment strategies and may contribute to losses that would not have been incurred otherwise.

***Market Sector Selection***. Market sector selection is the underweighting or overweighting of one or more market sectors (i.e., U.S. Treasuries, U.S. Government agency securities, corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities). GSAM may decide to overweight or underweight a given market sector or subsector (e.g., within the corporate sector, industrials, financial issuers and utilities) for the fixed income portion of the Fund's portfolio based on, among other things, expectations of future yield spreads between different sectors or subsectors.

***Issuer Selection.*** Issuer selection is the purchase and sale of fixed income corporate securities based on a corporation's current and expected credit standing. This strategy focuses on four types of corporate issuers. Selection of securities from the first type of issuers – those with low but stable credit – is intended to enhance total returns by providing incremental yield. Selecting securities from the second type of issuers –those with low and intermediate but improving credit quality – is intended to enhance total returns in two stages. Initially, these securities are expected to provide incremental yield. Eventually, price appreciation is expected to occur relative to alternative securities as credit quality improves, the credit ratings of nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations are upgraded, and credit spreads narrow. Securities from the third type of issuers – issuers with deteriorating credit quality – will be avoided, because total returns are typically enhanced by avoiding the widening of credit spreads and the consequent relative price depreciation. Finally, total returns can be enhanced by focusing on securities that are rated differently by different rating organizations. If the securities are trading in line with the higher published quality rating while GSAM concurswith the lower published quality rating, the securities would generally be sold and future potential price deterioration avoided. On the other hand, if the securities are trading in line with the lower published quality rating while the higher published quality rating is considered more realistic, the securities may be purchased in anticipation of the expected market re-evaluation and relative price appreciation.

***Yield Curve Strategy.*** Yield curve strategy consists of overweighting or underweighting different maturity sectors relative to a benchmark to take advantage of the shape of the yield curve. Three alternative maturity sector selections are available: a "barbell" strategy in which short and long maturity sectors are overweighted while intermediate maturity sectors are underweighted; a "bullet"

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strategy in which, conversely, short-and long-maturity sectors are underweighted while intermediate-maturity sectors are overweighted; and a "neutral yield curve" strategy in which the maturity distribution mirrors that of a benchmark.

***Call Writing***. The Fund seeks to generate additional cash flow and may reduce volatility by the sale of call and put options. It is anticipated that the calls and puts will typically be written against the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index (or against ETFs linked to the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index) or against other regional stock market indices. The goal of the Fund's call and put writing is to generate an amount of premium that, when annualized and added to the Fund's expected dividend yield, provides an attractive level of cash flow. The Investment Adviser anticipates generally writing call and put options with expirations of one month or less.

**General Information Regarding The Rising Dividend Growth Fund** 

The Investment Adviser's Quantitative Investment Strategies ("QIS") team may purchase for the Fund common stocks, preferred stocks, interests in REITs, convertible debt obligations, convertible preferred stocks, equity interests in trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and similar enterprises, shares of other investment companies (including ETFs), warrants, stock purchase rights and synthetic and derivative instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. The QIS team uses a systematic, rules-based approach, in combination with a qualitative overlay, to select securities in which the Fund invests. The Investment Adviser's Energy Infrastructure & Renewables team manages the Fund's investments in master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and energy infrastructure companies (the "MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve").

**The QIS Team's 10/10 Investment Philosophy** 

Under normal conditions, the QIS team generally seeks to invest in companies that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Have paid dividends at an increasing rate of 10% per year, on average, over a 10-year trailing period (for purposes of this determination, issuers must have increased dividends by 5% or more on a year-over-year basis for at least 5 distinct calendar years over the 10-year trailing period)

• Have paid those dividends for a minimum of 10 consecutive years

The 10/10 Test is designed to select stocks based on dividend growth and dividend stability. The starting universe of stocks comprises approximately 3,000 U.S. listed stocks (excluding MLPs, Energy and Infrastructure Equities, and ADRs). The universe construction begins by looking at U.S. listed stocks with a market cap greater than $500 million.

Having identified the universe of stocks that meet the 10/10 Test, the QIS team then selects the stocks in which the Fund invests. Stock selection is generally based on dividend stability and earnings quality as well as liquidity constraints. Finally, the QIS team constructs the Fund's portfolio using an optimizer which can incorporate additional considerations including, but not limited to, risk levels, transaction costs and taxes. The QIS team's investment selection process relies on a systematic rules-based approach in combination with a qualitative overlay.

As a result of the qualitative overlay, the Fund may invest in stocks other than those generated by the QIS team's proprietary models for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, the QIS team's views regarding the stability of an issuer's dividend as a result of corporate actions (e.g., reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs), industry events and/or trading liquidity. The QIS team also evaluates sector exposures within the 10/10 Sleeve based on the sector exposures of the Fund's benchmark.

In addition, the QIS team may, at its discretion, make changes to its quantitative techniques from time to time based on the team's proprietary research.

**The Energy Infrastructure & Renewables Team's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Investment Philosophy** 

In managing the Fund's MLP & Energy Infrastructure Sleeve, GSAM generally seeks to invest in companies that:

• Are committed to distributing cash flow to shareholders/unitholders

• Are high quality companies with sustainable business and financial models

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Demonstrate an ability to manage their business and thrive through various economic and commodity cycles

Under normal conditions, GSAM selects stocks for the Fund by seeking companies with strong cash flow per share and earnings per share growth potential, and generally places special emphasis on those companies that it believes demonstrate:

• High dividend or distribution coverage

• Strong balance sheet and liquidity

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Cash flow resiliency through various commodity cycles given diversified/critical asset ownership, customer quality and contractual protections

• Effective management that operates within a strong corporate governance framework

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**DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES AND PRACTICES** 

The investment securities and practices and related risks applicable to each Fund (which, for the remainder of this section, refers to one or more of the Funds offered in this SAI) are presented below in alphabetical order, and not in the order of importance or potential exposure.

**Asset-Backed Securities** 

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

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

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

Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are subject to certain additional risks. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if a Fund holds mortgage-backed securities, it may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of a Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. A Fund's investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-backed securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. A Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by the U.S. Government (see "U.S. Government Securities Risk"). To the extent that a Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers, the Fund may be subject to additional risks. Timely payment of interest and principal of non-governmental issuers are supported by various forms of private insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance purchased by the issuer. There can be no assurance that the private insurers can meet their obligations under the policies. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of a mortgage-backed security and could result in losses to a Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of mortgage pools that include

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subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages.

**Bank Obligations** 

The Funds may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers' acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation. Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of this industry.

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

**Collateralized Loan Obligations and Other Collateralized Debt Obligations** 

The Income Builder Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs") and other similarly structured investments. A CLO is an asset-backed security whose underlying collateral is a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign floating rate and fixed rate senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. In addition to the normal risks associated with loan- and credit-related securities discussed elsewhere in the Prospectus (e.g., loan-related investments risk, interest rate risk and default risk), investments in CLOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to, the risk that: (i) distributions from the collateral may not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Fund may invest in tranches of CLOs that are subordinate to other tranches; (iv) the structure and complexity of the transaction and the legal documents could lead to disputes among investors regarding the characterization of proceeds; and (v) the CLO's manager may perform poorly. CLOs may charge management and other administrative fees, which are in addition to those of a Fund.

CLOs issue classes or "tranches" that offer various maturity, risk and yield characteristics. Losses caused by defaults on underlying assets are borne first by the holders of subordinate tranches. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine and subordinated/equity, according to their degree of risk. If there are defaults or the CLO's collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those of subordinated/equity tranches. The riskiest portion is the "equity" tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the collateral and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Because it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than its underlying collateral and may be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity and mezzanine tranches, more senior tranches of CLOs can experience losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of more subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CLO securities as a class. A Fund's investments in CLOs principally consist of senior tranches and, to a lesser extent, mezzanine tranches.

Typically, CLOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CLOs may have limited independent pricing transparency. However, an active dealer market may exist for CLOs that qualify under the Rule 144A "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. These and other factors discussed in the section below, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in CLOs.

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The Fund may also invest in collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"), which are structured similarly to CLOs, but are backed by pools of assets that are debt securities (rather than being limited only to loans), typically including bonds, other structured finance securities (including other asset-backed securities and other CDOs) and/or synthetic instruments. Like CLOs, the risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type and quality of the collateral securities and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invests. CDOs collateralized by pools of asset-backed securities carry the same risks as investments in asset-backed securities directly, including losses with respect to the collateral underlying those asset-backed securities. In addition, certain CDOs may not hold their underlying collateral directly, but rather, use derivatives such as swaps to create "synthetic" exposure to the collateral pool. Such CDOs entail the risks associated with derivative instruments.

**Commercial Paper and Other Short-Term Corporate Obligations** 

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

***Contingent Convertible Instruments Risk***. Contingent convertible securities ("CoCos") are a form of hybrid debt security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain "triggers." The triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution's continued viability as a going-concern. CoCos' unique equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuing banking institution and its regulatory requirements. Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, among others, loss absorption risk, risk as subordinated instruments, and risk that its market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors.

**Loss absorption risk.** CoCos have no stated maturity and have fully discretionary coupons. This means coupons can potentially be cancelled at the banking institution's discretion or at the request of the relevant regulatory authority in order to help the bank absorb losses.

**Subordinated instruments**. CoCos will, in the majority of circumstances, be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. Accordingly, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion having occurred, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos, such as the Funds, against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos shall generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. In addition, if the CoCos are converted into the issuer's underlying equity securities following a conversion event (i.e., a "trigger"), each holder will be subordinated due to their conversion from being the holder of a debt instrument to being the holder of an equity instrument.

**Market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors**. The value of CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors including, without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer's applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the financial markets in general.

**Convertible Securities** 

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

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

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security's worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value normally declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on the convertible security's investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security's governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to convert the security into the underlying common stock, sell it to a third party, or permit the issuer to redeem the security. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on a Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective, which, in turn, could result in losses to the Fund. To the extent that a 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.

In evaluating a convertible security, the Investment Adviser will give primary emphasis to the attractiveness of the underlying common stock. Convertible debt securities are equity investments for purposes of each Fund's investment policies.

**Corporate Debt Obligations** 

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

Another factor which causes fluctuations in the prices of fixed income securities is the supply and demand for similarly rated securities. In addition, the prices of fixed income securities fluctuate in response to the general level of interest rates. Fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities subsequent to their acquisition will not affect cash income from such securities but will be reflected in each Fund's net asset value ("NAV").

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 each 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 a Fund's portfolio and evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain corporate debt obligations whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed. If after its purchase, a portfolio security is

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assigned a lower rating or ceases to be rated, a Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

**Custodial Receipts and Trust Certificates** 

Each Funds 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 securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises ("U.S. Government Securities"), municipal securities or other types of securities in which the Funds may invest. The custodial receipts or trust certificates are underwritten by securities dealers or banks and may evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on the underlying securities, or, in some cases, the payment obligation of a third party that has entered into an interest rate swap or other arrangement with the custodian or trustee. For purposes of certain securities laws, 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.

**Derivatives and Similar Instruments** 

The Funds may invest in derivatives and similar instruments discussed elsewhere in this SAI. The use of derivatives and similar instruments may pose risks in addition to and greater than those associated with investing directly in securities, currencies or other assets and instruments and may result in losses due to adverse market movements. Pursuant to Rule 18f-4 under the Act, a Fund's use of derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations is subject to a value-at-risk ("VaR") leverage limit and reporting and certain other requirements. The Trust has also adopted and implemented a derivatives risk management program (the "DRMP") to, among other things, manage the risks associated with the use of derivatives and these other transactions for series of the Trust that do not qualify as "limited derivatives users" under Rule 18f-4 (each, a "Full Compliance Fund"). The Board of Trustees has approved the designation of personnel from GSAM to administer the DRMP for the Full Compliance Funds. With respect to series of the Trust that qualify as "limited derivatives users" under Rule 18f-4 (each, an "LDU Fund"), the Trust has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to manage an LDU Fund's derivatives risks. An LDU Fund is also subject to the derivatives exposure threshold set forth in Rule 18f-4.

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Similar to bank borrowings, derivatives and similar instruments may result in leverage. Borrowing and the use of derivatives and similar instruments may magnify the potential for gains and losses in excess of the initial amount invested. Mutual funds can borrow money from banks and other financial institutions, subject to certain asset coverage limits. The amount of indebtedness from bank borrowings may not exceed one-third of a Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed). If a Fund uses reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, the Fund must either aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of indebtedness associated with any bank borrowings, if applicable, when calculating a Fund's asset coverage ratio or treat all such transactions as derivatives transactions subject to the leverage limits under Rule 18f-4.

In addition, under Rule 18f-4, a Fund is permitted to invest in a security on a when-issued or forward-settling basis, or with a non-standard settlement cycle, and the transaction will be deemed not to involve a "senior security," provided that (i) the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and (ii) the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date). A Fund may otherwise engage in such transactions that do not meet these conditions so long as the Fund treats any such transaction as a "derivatives transaction" for purposes of compliance with Rule 18f-4. Furthermore, under Rule 18f-4, a Fund will be permitted to enter into an unfunded commitment agreement, and such unfunded commitment agreement will not be subject to the limits on borrowings as described above, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all such agreements as they come due.

These requirements may limit the ability of a Fund to use derivatives, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, delayed-settlement securities and unfunded commitment agreements as part of its investment strategies.

From time to time, a Fund may enter into derivatives or other similar transactions that require the Fund to pledge margin or collateral to a counterparty through a margin/collateral account for and on behalf of the counterparty. For operational, cost or other reasons, when setting up these arrangements, a Fund may select a margin/collateral account model or naming convention that may not be the most protective option available in the case of a default or bankruptcy by a counterparty or that may delay the Fund from exercising its rights under the arrangement. In the event of default or bankruptcy by a counterparty, the margin or collateral may be subject to legal proceedings and a Fund may be delayed in taking possession of any margin or collateral to which the Fund is legally entitled.

**Dividend-Paying Investments** 

A Fund's investments in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes but employ a different investment style. Securities that pay dividends, as a group, can fall out of favor with the market, causing such securities to underperform securities that do not pay dividends. Depending upon market conditions and political and legislative responses to such conditions, dividend-paying securities that meet a Fund's investment criteria may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors. For example, in response to the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19), the U.S. Government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March 2020, which established loan programs for certain issuers impacted by COVID-19. Among other conditions, borrowers under these loan programs are generally restricted from paying dividends. The adoption of new legislation could further limit or restrict the ability of issuers to pay dividends. To the extent that dividend-paying securities are concentrated in only a few market sectors, a Fund may be subject to the risks of volatile economic cycles and/or conditions or developments that may be particular to a sector to a greater extent than if its investments were diversified across different sectors. In addition, issuers that have paid regular dividends or distributions to shareholders may not continue to do so at the same level or at all in the future. A sharp rise in interest rates or an economic downturn could cause an issuer to abruptly reduce or eliminate its dividend. This may limit the ability of the Fund to produce current income.

**Foreign Securities** 

Each Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers, including securities quoted or denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

Investments in foreign securities may offer potential benefits not available from investments solely in U.S. dollar-denominated or quoted securities of domestic issuers. Such benefits may include the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear, in the

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opinion of the Investment Adviser, to offer the potential for better long term growth of capital and income than investments in U.S. securities, the opportunity to invest in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the United States and the opportunity to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign securities markets that do not necessarily move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. Investing in the securities of foreign issuers also involves, however, certain special risks, including those discussed in the Fund's Prospectuses and those set forth below, which are not typically associated with investing in U.S. dollar-denominated securities or quoted securities of U.S. issuers. Many of these risks are more pronounced for investments in emerging economies.

With respect to investments in certain foreign countries, there exist certain economic, political and social risks, including the risk of adverse political developments, nationalization, military unrest, social instability, war and terrorism, confiscation without fair compensation, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the movement of funds and other assets between different countries, or diplomatic developments, any of which could adversely affect a Fund's investments in those countries. Governments in certain foreign countries continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and dividend payments.

From time to time, certain of the companies in which a Fund may invest may operate in, or have dealings with, countries subject to sanctions or embargos imposed by the U.S. Government and the United Nations and/or countries identified by the U.S. Government as state sponsors of terrorism. For example, the United Nations Security Council has imposed certain sanctions relating to Iran and Sudan and both countries are embargoed countries by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In addition, from time to time, certain of the companies in which a Fund may invest may engage in, or have dealings with countries or companies that engage in, activities that may not be considered socially and/or environmentally responsible. Such activities may relate to human rights issues (such as patterns of human rights abuses or violations, persecution or discrimination), impacts to local communities in which companies operate and environmental sustainability. For a description of the Investment Adviser's approach to responsible and sustainable investing, please see GSAM's Statement on Responsible and Sustainable Investing at https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/sustainability-reporting/gsam-statement.pdf.

As a result, a company may suffer damage to its reputation if it is identified as a company which engages in, or has dealings with countries or companies that engage in, the above referenced activities. As an investor in such companies, a Fund would be indirectly subject to those risks.

The Investment Adviser is committed to complying fully with sanctions in effect as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information and any other applicable sanctions that may be enacted in the future with respect to Sudan or any other country.

Many countries throughout the world are dependent on a healthy U.S. economy and are adversely affected when the U.S. economy weakens or its markets decline. Additionally, many foreign country economies are heavily dependent on international trade and are adversely affected by protective trade barriers and economic conditions of their trading partners. Protectionist trade legislation enacted by those trading partners could have a significant adverse effect on the securities markets of those countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

Investments in foreign securities often involve currencies of foreign countries. Accordingly, a Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. A Fund may be subject to currency exposure independent of their securities positions. To the extent that a Fund is fully invested in foreign securities while also maintaining net currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk.

Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or anticipated changes in interest rates and other complex factors, as seen from an international perspective. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. To the extent that a portion of a Fund's total assets, adjusted to

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reflect the Fund's net position after giving effect to currency transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries. A Fund's net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

Because foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company. Volume and liquidity in most foreign securities markets are less than in the United States and securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. The securities of foreign issuers may be listed on foreign securities exchanges or traded in foreign over-the-counter markets. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although each Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed and unlisted companies than in the United States, and the legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States. For example, there may be no comparable provisions under certain foreign laws to insider trading and similar investor protections that apply with respect to securities transactions consummated in the United States. Mail service between the United States and foreign countries may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of a Fund's assets are uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, in possible liability to the purchaser.

Each Fund may invest in foreign securities which take the form of sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), European Depositary Receipts ("EDRs") or other similar instruments representing securities of foreign issuers (together, "Depositary Receipts").

ADRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a domestic bank or a correspondent bank. ADRs are traded on domestic exchanges or in the U.S. over-the-counter market and, generally, are in registered form. EDRs and GDRs are receipts evidencing an arrangement with a non-U.S. bank similar to that for ADRs and are designed for use in the non-U.S. securities markets. EDRs and GDRs are not necessarily quoted in the same currency as the underlying security.

To the extent a Fund acquires Depositary Receipts through banks which do not have a contractual relationship with the foreign issuer of the security underlying the Depositary Receipts to issue and service such unsponsored Depositary Receipts, there is an increased possibility that the Fund will not become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings involving the foreign issuer in a timely manner. In addition, the lack of information may result in inefficiencies in the valuation of such instruments. Investment in Depositary Receipts does not eliminate all the risks inherent in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers. The market value of Depositary Receipts is dependent upon the market value of the underlying securities and fluctuations in the relative value of the currencies in which the Depositary Receipts and the underlying securities are quoted. In addition, the issuers of Depositary Receipts may discontinue issuing new Depositary Receipts and withdraw existing Depositary Receipts at any time, which may result in costs and delays in the distribution of the underlying assets to the Fund and may negatively impact the Fund's performance. However, by investing in Depositary Receipts, such as ADRs, which are quoted in U.S. dollars, a Fund may avoid currency risks during the settlement period for purchases and sales.

As described more fully below, each Fund may invest in countries with emerging economies or securities markets. Political and economic structures in many of such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of such countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of, or ignored internationally accepted standards of due process against, private companies. In addition, a country may take these and other retaliatory actions

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against a specific private company, including a Fund or the Investment Adviser. There may not be legal recourse against these actions, which could arise in connection with the commercial activities of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates or otherwise, and a Fund could be subject to substantial losses. In addition, a Fund or the Investment Adviser may determine not to invest in, or may limit its overall investment in, a particular issuer, country or geographic region due to, among other things, heightened risks regarding repatriation restrictions, confiscation of assets and property, expropriation or nationalization. See "Investing in Emerging Countries," below.

These and other factors discussed in the section below, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in securities of foreign issuers.

**Investing in Europe** 

A Fund may operate in euros and/or may hold euros and/or euro-denominated bonds and other obligations. The euro requires participation of multiple sovereign states forming the Euro zone and is therefore sensitive to the credit, general economic and political position of each such state, including each state's actual and intended ongoing engagement with and/or support for the other sovereign states then forming the EU, in particular those within the Euro zone. Changes in these factors might materially adversely impact the value of securities that a Fund has invested in.

European countries can be significantly affected by the tight fiscal and monetary controls that the European Economic and Monetary Union ("EMU") imposes for membership. Europe's economies are diverse, its governments are decentralized, and its cultures vary widely. Several EU countries, including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal have faced budget issues, some of which may have negative long-term effects for the economies of those countries and other EU countries. There is continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among EMU member countries. Member countries are required to maintain tight control over inflation, public debt, and budget deficit to qualify for membership in the EMU. These requirements can severely limit the ability of EMU member countries to implement monetary policy to address regional economic conditions.

Geopolitical developments in Europe have caused, or may in the future cause, significant volatility in financial markets. For example, in a June 2016 referendum, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU. In March 2017, the United Kingdom formally notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the EU (commonly known as "Brexit") by invoking Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which triggered a two-year period of negotiations on the terms of Brexit. Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and may also lead to weakening in political, regulatory, consumer, corporate and financial confidence in the markets of the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. The longer term economic, legal, political, regulatory and social framework between the United Kingdom and the EU remains unclear and may lead to ongoing political, regulatory and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the United Kingdom and in wider European markets for some time. Additionally, the decision made in the British referendum may lead to a call for similar referenda in other European jurisdictions, which may cause increased economic volatility in European and global markets. The mid-to long-term uncertainty may have an adverse effect on the economy generally and on the value of a Fund's investments. This may be due to, among other things: fluctuations in asset values and exchange rates; increased illiquidity of investments located, traded or listed within the United Kingdom, the EU or elsewhere; changes in the willingness or ability of counterparties to enter into transactions at the price and terms on which a Fund is prepared to transact; and/or changes in legal and regulatory regimes to which certain of a Fund's assets are or become subject. Fluctuations in the value of the British Pound and/or the Euro, along with the potential downgrading of the United Kingdom's sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of a Fund's assets or investments economically tied to the United Kingdom or Europe.

The full effects of Brexit will depend, in part, on whether the United Kingdom is able to negotiate agreements to retain access to EU markets including, but not limited to, trade and finance agreements. Brexit could lead to legal and tax uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. The extent of the impact of the withdrawal and the resulting economic arrangements in the United Kingdom and in global markets as well as any associated adverse consequences remain unclear, and the uncertainty may have a significant negative effect on the value of a Fund's investments. While certain measures have been proposed and/or implemented within the UK and at the EU level or at the member state level, which are designed to minimize disruption in the financial markets, it is not currently possible to determine whether such measures would achieve their intended effects.

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On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew from the EU and the United Kingdom entered a transition period that expired on December 31, 2020. On December 24, 2020, negotiators representing the United Kingdom and the EU came to a preliminary trade agreement, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement ("TCA"), which is an agreement on the terms governing certain aspects of the EU's and United Kingdom's relationship following the end of the transition period. On December 30, 2020, the United Kingdom and the EU signed the TCA, which was ratified by the British Parliament on the same day. The TCA was subsequently ratified by the EU Parliament and entered into force on May 1, 2021. However, many aspects of the UK-EU trade relationship remain subject to further negotiation. Due to political uncertainty, it is not possible to anticipate the form or nature of the future trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU.

Other economic challenges facing the region include high levels of public debt, significant rates of unemployment, aging populations, and heavy regulation in certain economic sectors. European policy makers have taken unprecedented steps to respond to the economic crisis and to boost growth in the region, which has increased the risk that regulatory uncertainty could negatively affect the value of a Fund's investments.

Certain countries have applied to become new member countries of the EU, and these candidate countries' accessions may become more controversial to the existing EU members. Some member states may repudiate certain candidate countries joining the EU upon concerns about the possible economic, immigration and cultural implications. Also, Russia may be opposed to the expansion of the EU to members of the former Soviet bloc and may, at times, take actions that could negatively impact EU economic activity.

<u>Foreign Government Obligations</u>. Foreign government obligations include securities, instruments and obligations issued or guaranteed by a foreign government, its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. Investment in foreign government obligations can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of foreign government obligations may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity's willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity's policy towards the International Monetary Fund and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity's implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor's obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties' commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor's ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their debt. Holders of foreign government obligations (including the Funds) may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental agencies.

**Investing in Emerging Countries** 

Investing in Emerging Countries. Each Fund may invest in equity and equity-related securities of foreign issuers, including emerging country issuers. The securities markets of emerging countries are less liquid and subject to greater price volatility, and have a smaller market capitalization, than the U.S. securities markets. In certain countries, there may be fewer publicly traded securities and the market may be dominated by a few issuers or sectors. Issuers and securities markets in such countries are not subject to as stringent, extensive and frequent accounting, auditing, financial and other reporting requirements or as comprehensive government regulations as are issuers and securities markets in the U.S., and the degree of cooperation between issuers in emerging and frontier market countries with foreign and U.S. financial regulators may vary significantly. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of emerging country issuers may not reflect their financial position or results of operations in the same manner as financial statements for U.S. issuers. Substantially less information may be publicly available about emerging country issuers than is available about issuers in the United States. In addition, U.S. regulators may not have sufficient access to adequately audit and oversee issuers. For example, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB") is responsible for inspecting and auditing the accounting practices and products of U.S.-listed companies, regardless of the issuer's domicile. However,

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certain emerging market countries, including China, do not provide sufficient access to the PCAOB to conduct its inspections and audits. As a result, U.S. investors, including the Funds, may be subject to risks associated with less stringent accounting oversight.

Emerging country securities markets are typically marked by a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of ownership of such securities by a limited number of investors. The markets for securities in certain emerging countries are in the earliest stages of their development. Even the markets for relatively widely traded securities in emerging countries may not be able to absorb, without price disruptions, a significant increase in trading volume or trades of a size customarily undertaken by institutional investors in the securities markets of developed countries. The limited size of many of these securities markets can cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the soundness and competitiveness of the securities issuers. For example, prices may be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions in these markets. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. The limited liquidity of emerging country securities may also affect a Fund's ability to accurately value its portfolio securities or to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so or in order to meet redemption requests. In addition, emerging market countries are often characterized by limited reliable access to capital.

With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, antiquated legal systems may have an adverse impact on the Funds. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder's investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in certain emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders of U.S. corporations, and it may be more difficult for shareholders to bring derivative litigation. Moreover, the legal remedies for investors in emerging markets may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States, and the ability of U.S. authorities (e.g., SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice) to bring actions against bad actors may be limited. In addition, emerging countries may have less established accounting and financial reporting systems than those in more developed markets.

Transaction costs, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups, in emerging countries may be higher than in the United States and other developed securities markets. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in emerging countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new or amended laws and regulations. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law.

Custodial and/or settlement systems in emerging and frontier market countries may not be fully developed. To the extent a Fund invests in emerging markets, Fund assets that are traded in such markets and which have been entrusted to such sub-custodians in those markets may be exposed to risks for which the sub-custodian will have no liability.

Foreign investment in the securities markets of certain emerging countries is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions may limit a Fund's investment in certain emerging countries and may increase the expenses of the Fund. Certain emerging countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons or limit investment by foreign persons to only a specified percentage of an issuer's outstanding securities or a specific class of securities which may have less advantageous terms (including price) than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals.

The repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of securities sales from emerging countries may be subject to restrictions which require governmental consents or prohibit repatriation entirely for a period of time, which may make it difficult for a Fund to invest in such emerging countries. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for such repatriation. Even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation of capital, the mechanics of repatriation may affect certain aspects of the operation of a Fund. A Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before investing in certain emerging countries.

Emerging countries may be subject to a substantially greater degree of economic, political and social instability and disruption than is the case in the United States, Japan and most Western European countries. This instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision making, including changes or attempted changes in governments through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic or social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries;

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(v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection or conflict; and (vi) the absence of developed legal structures governing foreign private investments and private property. Such economic, political and social instability could disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Funds may invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds' assets. A Fund's investments can also be adversely affected by any increase in taxes or by political, economic or diplomatic developments.

A Fund may seek investment opportunities within former "Eastern bloc" countries. Most of these countries had a centrally planned, socialist economy for a substantial period of time. The governments of many of these countries have more recently been implementing reforms directed at political and economic liberalization, including efforts to decentralize the economic decision-making process and move towards a market economy. However, business entities in Eastern European countries do not have an extended history of operating in a market-oriented economy, and the ultimate impact of these countries' attempts to move toward more market-oriented economies is currently unclear. Any change in the leadership or policies of these countries may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. In addition, Eastern European markets are particularly sensitive to social, economic and currency events in Western Europe and Russia. Russia may attempt to assert its influence in the region through military measures.

In addition, because of ongoing regional armed conflict in Europe, including a large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, Russia has been the subject of economic sanctions imposed by countries throughout the world, including the United States. Such sanctions have included, among other things, freezing the assets of particular entities and persons. The imposition of sanctions and other similar measures could, among other things, cause a decline in the value and/or liquidity of securities issued by Russia or companies located in or economically tied to Russia, downgrades in the credit ratings of Russian securities or those of companies located in or economically tied to Russia, devaluation of Russia's currency, and increased market volatility and disruption in Russia and throughout the world. Sanctions and other similar measures, including banning Russia from global payments systems that facilitate cross-border payments, could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in Russia and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement of securities transactions, and significantly impact the Fund's liquidity and performance. Sanctions could also result in Russia taking counter measures or retaliatory actions which may further impair the value and liquidity of Russian securities. Moreover, disruptions caused by Russian military action or other actions (including cyberattacks and espionage) or resulting actual and threatened responses to such activity, including cyberattacks on the Russian government, Russian companies or Russian individuals, including politicians, may impact Russia's economy and Russian issuers of securities in which the Fund invests.

The economies of emerging countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments. Many emerging countries have experienced in the past, and continue to experience, high rates of inflation. In certain countries inflation has at times accelerated rapidly to hyperinflationary levels, creating a negative interest rate environment and sharply eroding the value of outstanding financial assets in those countries. Other emerging countries, on the other hand, have recently experienced deflationary pressures and are in economic recessions. The economies of many emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. In addition, the economies of some emerging countries are vulnerable to weakness in world prices for their commodity exports.

A Fund's income and, in some cases, capital gains from foreign stocks and securities will be subject to applicable taxation in certain of the countries in which it invests, and treaties between the U.S. and such countries may not be available in some cases to reduce the otherwise applicable tax rates. See "TAXATION."

Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of a Fund remain uninvested and no return is earned on such assets. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases or sales due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of the portfolio securities or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

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**Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts** 

The Funds may, to the extent consistent with their investment policies, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for hedging purposes and to seek to protect against anticipated changes in future foreign currency exchange rates. The Funds may also enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to seek to increase total return. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are generally charged at any stage for trades.

At the maturity of a forward contract a Fund may either accept or make delivery of the currency specified in the contract or, at or prior to maturity, enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract.

A Fund may, from time to time, engage in non-deliverable forward transactions to manage currency risk or to gain exposure to a currency without purchasing securities denominated in that currency. A non-deliverable forward is a transaction that represents an agreement between a Fund and a counterparty (usually a commercial bank) to pay the other party the amount that it would have cost based on current market rates as of the termination date to buy or sell a specified (notional) amount of a particular currency at an agreed upon foreign exchange rate on an agreed upon future date. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreement related to the transaction, but a Fund may be delayed or prevented from obtaining payments owed to it pursuant to non-deliverable forward transactions. Such non-deliverable forward transactions will be settled in cash.

A Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in several circumstances. First, when a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated or quoted in a foreign currency, or when a Fund anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments on such a security which it holds, the Fund may desire to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transactions, the Fund will attempt to protect itself against an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such payments are made or received.

Additionally, when the Investment Adviser believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of a Fund's portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date on which the contract is entered into and the date it matures. Using forward contracts to protect the value of a Fund's portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange, which a Fund can achieve at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of a Fund's foreign assets.

The Funds may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency. In addition, the Funds may enter into foreign currency transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund's overall currency exposure and the currency exposure of the Fund's performance benchmark.

While a Fund may enter into forward contracts to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while a Fund may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between a Fund's portfolio holdings of securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by such Fund. Such imperfect correlation may cause a Fund to sustain losses which will prevent the Fund from achieving

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a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign exchange loss. In addition, the institutions that deal in forward currency contracts are not required to continue to make markets in the currencies they trade and these markets can experience periods of illiquidity.

Certain forward foreign currency exchange contracts and other currency transactions are not exchange traded or cleared. Markets for trading such foreign forward currency contracts offer less protection against defaults than is available when trading in currency instruments on an exchange. Such forward contracts are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the contract will default on its obligations. Because these contracts are not guaranteed by an exchange or clearinghouse, a default on a contract would deprive a Fund of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force the Fund to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price. A Fund may not enter into such transactions unless the Fund considers the credit quality of the unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the counterparty to be investment grade. To the extent that a portion of a Fund's total assets, adjusted to reflect the Fund's net position after giving effect to currency transactions, is denominated or quoted in the currencies of foreign countries, the Fund will be more susceptible to the risk of adverse economic and political developments within those countries.

These and other factors discussed in the section, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in issuers of emerging country securities.

**Writing Index Call Options**. The Income Builder Fund may write call options on the S&P 500<sup>®</sup> Index or other regional stock market indices (or related ETFs). When the Fund writes index call options, it foregoes the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the value of the relevant index above the exercise price (plus the premium received) of the option, but the Fund continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the relevant index. As the seller of the index call options, the Fund receives cash (the "premium") from the purchaser. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of an index call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the index 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 index over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser does not exercise the option, the Fund retains the premium and makes no payments to the purchaser. If the purchaser exercises the option, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the index and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the index determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of the index 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.

**Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts** 

Each Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and may also purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts. The futures contracts may be based on various securities, securities indices, foreign currencies and other financial instruments and indices. A Fund may engage in futures and related options transactions in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates, or to otherwise manage its term structure, sector selection and duration in accordance with its investment objective and policies. Each Fund may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to such contracts and options.

Futures contracts entered into by a Fund have historically been traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") or, with respect to certain funds, on foreign exchanges. More recently, certain futures may also be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as derivatives transaction execution facilities, exempt boards of trade or electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by the CFTC. Also, certain single stock futures and narrow based security index futures may be traded either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as contract markets, derivatives transaction execution facilities and electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by both the CFTC and the SEC, or on foreign exchanges.

Neither the CFTC, National Futures Association ("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

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regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs. For these reasons, a Fund's investments in foreign futures or foreign options transactions may not be provided the same protections in respect of transactions on United States exchanges. In particular, persons who trade foreign futures or foreign options contracts may not be afforded certain of the protective measures provided by the 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, those persons may not have the protection of the U.S. securities laws.

<u>Futures Contracts</u>. A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).

When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, a Fund can seek through the sale of futures contracts to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, a Fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it effects anticipated purchases. Similarly, each Fund can purchase and sell futures contracts on a specified currency in order to seek to increase total return or to protect against changes in currency exchange rates. For example, each Fund can purchase futures contracts on foreign currency to establish the price in U.S. dollars of a security quoted or denominated in such currency that the Fund has acquired or expects to acquire. In addition, certain Funds may enter into futures transactions to seek a closer correlation between a Fund's overall currency exposures and the currency exposures of a Fund's performance benchmark.

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

<u>Hedging Strategies Using Futures Contracts</u>. When a Fund uses futures contracts 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. A Fund may, for example, take a "short" position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices or foreign currency rates that would adversely affect the dollar value of such Fund's portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by a Fund or securities with characteristics similar to those of a Fund's portfolio securities. Similarly, each Fund may sell futures contracts on a currency in which its portfolio securities are quoted or denominated, or sell futures contracts on one currency to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities quoted or denominated in a different currency if there is an established historical pattern of correlation between the two currencies. If, in the opinion of the Investment Adviser, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for a Fund's portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the Fund may also enter into such futures contracts as part of a hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in a Fund's portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the Investment Adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having 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 a Fund's portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of a Fund's portfolio securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

On other occasions, a Fund may take a "long" position by purchasing such futures contracts. This may be done, for example, when a Fund anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices or currency exchange rates then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices or rates that are currently available.

<u>Options on Futures Contracts</u>. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give a Fund the right (but not the obligation), for a specified price, to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option

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period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, a Fund obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

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

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

<u>Other Considerations</u>. A Fund will engage in transactions in futures contracts and related options transactions only to the extent such transactions are consistent with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") for maintaining its qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs and require posting margin.

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks. Thus, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. When futures contracts and options are used for hedging purposes, perfect correlation between a Fund's futures positions and portfolio positions may be impossible to achieve, particularly where futures contracts based on individual equity or corporate fixed income securities are currently not available. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and a Fund may be exposed to risk of loss.

In addition, it is not possible for a Fund to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities quoted or denominated in foreign currencies because the value of such securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of independent factors unrelated to currency fluctuations. The profitability of a Fund's trading in futures depends upon the ability of the Investment Adviser to analyze correctly the futures markets.

**High Yield Securities** 

Each Fund may invest in bonds rated BB+ or below by Standard & Poor's or Ba1 or below by Moody's (or comparable rated and unrated securities). These bonds are commonly referred to as "junk bonds" and are considered speculative. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in non-investment grade securities, and the Income Builder Fund may invest up to 75% of its total assets in non-investment grade securities. The ability of issuers of non-investment grade securities to make principal and interest by 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, such bonds may be highly speculative, have poor prospects for reaching investment grade standing and be in default. As a result, investment in such bonds will entail greater risks than those associated with investment grade bonds (i.e., bonds rated AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's or Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's). Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities, and the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective may, to the extent of its investments in high yield securities, be more dependent upon such creditworthiness analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in higher quality securities. See Appendix A for a description of the corporate bond and preferred stock ratings by Standard & Poor's, Moody's, Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") and Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited ("DBRS").

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Risks associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally are greater than is the case with higher rated securities because such issuers are often less creditworthy companies or are highly leveraged and generally less able than more established or less leveraged entities to make scheduled payments of principal and interest. High yield securities are also issued by governmental issuers that may have difficulty in making all scheduled interest and principal payments.

The market values of high yield, fixed income securities 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 such 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 Funds' NAVs.

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 a 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 a Fund of its initial investment and any anticipated income or appreciation is uncertain. In addition, a 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. A 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 Funds to dispose of particular portfolio investments when needed to meet their 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 NAVs of the Funds. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for the Funds to obtain precise valuations of the high yield securities in their portfolios.

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, a Fund may have to replace such security with a lower-yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. In addition, if a 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 non-investment grade securities and, therefore, may not fully

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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 trends. The Investment Adviser continually monitors the investments in the Funds' 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, a Fund may continue to hold the security if the Investment Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

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 a Fund's NAV to the extent it invests in such investments. In addition, a Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings.

**Illiquid Investments** 

Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, a Fund may not acquire any "illiquid investment" if, immediately after the acquisition, a Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. An "illiquid investment" is any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid investments include repurchase agreements with a notice or demand period of more than seven days, certain over-the-counter derivative instruments, securities and other financial instruments that are not readily marketable, and Restricted Securities unless, based upon a review of the relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations, those investments are determined not to be illiquid. The Trust has implemented a liquidity risk management program and related procedures to identify illiquid investments pursuant to Rule 22e-4, and the Trustees have approved the designation of the Investment Adviser to administer the Trust's liquidity risk management program and related procedures. In determining whether an investment is an illiquid investment, the Investment Adviser will take into account actual or estimated daily transaction volume of an investment, group of related investments or asset class and other relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations. In addition, in determining the liquidity of an investment, the Investment Adviser must determine whether trading varying portions of a position in a particular portfolio investment or asset class, in sizes that a Fund would reasonably anticipate trading, is reasonably expected to significantly affect its liquidity, and if so, a Fund must take this determination into account when classifying the liquidity of that investment or asset class.

In addition to actual or estimated daily transaction volume of an investment, group of related investments or asset class and other relevant market, trading, and investment-specific considerations, the following factors, among others, will generally impact the classification of an investment as an "illiquid investment": (i) any investment that is placed on the Investment Adviser's restricted trading list; and (ii) any investment that is delisted or for which there is a trading halt at the close of the trading day on the primary listing exchange at the time of classification (and in respect of which no active secondary market exists). Investments purchased by a Fund that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to these and other events and circumstances. If one or more investments in a Fund's portfolio become illiquid, a Fund may exceed the 15% limitation in illiquid investments. In the event that changes in the portfolio or other external events cause a Fund to exceed this limit, a Fund must take steps to bring its illiquid investments that are assets to or below 15% of its net assets within a reasonable period of time. This requirement would not force a Fund to liquidate any portfolio instrument where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of that instrument.

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.

**Infrastructure Company Risk** 

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Infrastructure companies are susceptible to various factors that may negatively impact their businesses or operations, including costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental, governmental and other regulations, rising interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, government budgetary constraints that impact publicly funded projects, the effects of general economic conditions throughout the world, surplus capacity and depletion concerns, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties regarding the availability of fuel and other natural resources at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies, unfavorable tax laws or accounting policies and high leverage. Infrastructure companies will also be affected by innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete and natural or man-made disasters.

**Inverse Floating Rate Securities** 

The Income Builder Fund may invest in leveraged inverse floating rate debt instruments ("inverse floaters"). The interest rate on an inverse floater 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 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.

**Investments in Unseasoned Companies** 

Each Fund may invest in companies (including predecessors) which have operated less than three years. The securities of such companies may have limited liquidity, which can result in their being priced higher or lower than might otherwise be the case. In addition, investments in unseasoned companies are more speculative and entail greater risk than do investments in companies with an established operating record.

**Lending of Portfolio Securities** 

Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other institutions, including Goldman Sachs. By lending its securities, a Fund attempts to increase its net investment income.

Securities loans are required to be secured continuously by collateral in cash, cash equivalents, letters of credit or U.S. Government Securities equal to at least 100% of the value of the loaned securities. This collateral must be valued, or "marked to market," daily. Borrowers are required to furnish additional collateral to the Fund as necessary to fully cover their obligations.

With respect to loans that are collateralized by cash, the Fund may reinvest that cash in short-term investments and pay the borrower a pre-negotiated fee or "rebate" from any return earned on the investment. Investing the collateral subjects it to market depreciation or appreciation, and a Fund is responsible for any loss that may result from its investment of the borrowed collateral. Cash collateral may be invested in, among other things, other registered or unregistered funds, including private investing funds or money market funds that are managed by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, and which pay the Investment Adviser or its affiliates for their services. If a Fund were to receive non-cash collateral, the Fund receives a fee from the borrower equal to a negotiated percentage of the market value of the loaned securities.

For the duration of any securities loan, a Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of the interest, dividends or other distributions paid by the issuer on the loaned securities. A Fund will not have the right to vote its loaned securities during the period of the loan, but the Fund may attempt to recall a loaned security in anticipation of a material vote if it desires to do so. A Fund will have the right to terminate a loan at any time and recall the loaned securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions.

Securities lending involves certain risks. A Fund may lose money on its investment of cash collateral, resulting in a loss of principal, or may fail to earn sufficient income on its investment to cover the fee or rebate it has agreed to pay the borrower. A Fund may incur losses in connection with its securities lending activities that exceed the value of the interest income and fees received in connection with such transactions. Securities lending subjects a Fund to the risk of loss resulting from problems in the settlement and accounting process, and to additional credit, counterparty and market risk. These risks could be greater with respect to non-U.S.

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securities. Engaging in securities lending could have a leveraging effect, which may intensify the other risks associated with investments in a Fund. In addition, a Fund bears the risk that the price of the securities on loan will increase while they are on loan, or that the price of the collateral will decline in value during the period of the loan, and that the counterparty will not provide, or will delay in providing, additional collateral. A Fund also bears the risk that a borrower may fail to return securities in a timely manner or at all, either because the borrower fails financially or for other reasons. If a borrower of securities fails financially, a Fund may also lose its rights in the collateral. A Fund could experience delays and costs in recovering loaned securities or in gaining access to and liquidating the collateral, which could result in actual financial loss and which could interfere with portfolio management decisions or the exercise of ownership rights in the loaned securities. If a Fund is not able to recover the securities lent, the Fund may sell the collateral and purchase replacement securities in the market. However, a Fund will incur transaction costs on the purchase of replacement securities. These events could trigger adverse tax consequences for the Fund. In determining whether to lend securities to a particular borrower, and throughout the period of the loan, the creditworthiness of the borrower will be considered and monitored. Loans will only be made to firms deemed to be of good standing, and where the consideration that can be earned currently from securities loans of this type is deemed to justify the attendant risk. It is intended that the value of securities loaned by a Fund will not exceed one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the loan collateral).

A Fund will consider the loaned securities as assets of the Fund, but will not consider any collateral as a Fund asset except when determining total assets for the purpose of the above one-third limitation. Loan collateral (including any investment of the collateral) is not subject to the percentage limitations stated elsewhere in this SAI or in the Prospectus regarding investing in fixed income securities and cash equivalents.

The Board of Trustees has approved each Fund's participation in a securities lending program and has adopted policies and procedures relating thereto. Under the current securities lending program, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund has retained an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to serve as its securities lending agent.

For its services, the securities lending agent may receive a fee from a Fund , including a fee based on the returns earned on the Fund's investment of cash received as collateral for the loaned securities. In addition, a Fund may make brokerage and other payments to Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with the Fund's portfolio investment transactions. A Fund's Board of Trustees periodically reviews reports on securities loan transactions for which a Goldman Sachs affiliate has acted as lending agent for compliance with the Fund's securities lending procedures. Goldman Sachs may also be approved as a borrower under a Fund's securities lending program, subject to certain conditions.

**Loan Participations** 

The Income Builder Fund may invest in loan participations. Such loans must be to issuers in whose obligations the Fund may invest. A loan participation is an interest in a loan to a U.S. or foreign company or other borrower which is administered and sold by a financial intermediary. In a typical corporate loan syndication, a number of lenders, usually banks (co-lenders), lend a corporate borrower a specified sum pursuant to the terms and conditions of a loan agreement. One of the co-lenders usually agrees to act as the agent bank with respect to the loan.

Participation interests acquired by the Fund may take the form of a direct or co-lending relationship with the corporate borrower, an assignment of an interest in the loan by a co-lender or another participant, or a participation in the seller's share of the loan. When the Fund acts as co-lender in connection with a participation interest or when the Fund acquires certain participation interests, the Fund will have direct recourse against the borrower if the borrower fails to pay scheduled principal and interest. In cases where the Fund lacks direct recourse, it will look to the agent bank to enforce appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. In these cases, 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 (such as commercial paper) of such borrower. For example, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the corporate borrower, a loan participation may be subject to certain defenses by the borrower as a result of improper conduct by the agent bank. Moreover, under the terms of the loan participation, the Fund may be regarded as a creditor of the agent bank (rather than of the underlying corporate borrower), so that the Fund may also be subject to the risk that the agent bank may become insolvent. Loan participations typically represent direct participations in a loan to a borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Fund may participate in such syndicates, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part

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lender. The participation interests in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service. The secondary market, if any, for loan participations is limited and loan participations purchased by the Fund will normally be regarded as illiquid.

For purposes of certain investment limitations pertaining to diversification of the Fund's portfolio investments, the issuer of a loan participation will be the underlying borrower. However, in cases where the Fund does not have recourse directly against the borrower, both the borrower and each agent bank and co-lender interposed between the Fund and the borrower will be deemed issuers of a loan participation.

**Master Limited Partnerships** 

Each Fund may invest in MLPs. MLPs are publicly traded partnerships primarily engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of minerals and natural resources. Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP's general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price, resulting from regulatory changes or other reasons. Certain MLP securities may trade in lower volumes due to their smaller capitalizations. Accordingly, those MLPs may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements, may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price, and investment in those MLPs may restrict a Fund's ability to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

MLPs are subject to various risks related to the underlying operating companies they control, including dependence upon specialized management skills and the risk that such companies may lack or have limited operating histories. The success of a Fund's investments also will vary depending on the underlying industry represented by the MLP's portfolio. A Fund must recognize income that it receives from underlying MLPs for tax purposes, even if the Fund does not receive cash distributions from the MLPs in an amount necessary to pay such tax liability.

In addition, a percentage of a distribution received by a Fund as the holder of an MLP interest may be treated as a return of capital, which would reduce a Fund's adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP, which will result in an increase in the amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by a Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from the MLP may require a Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. Moreover, a portion of any gain or loss recognized by the Fund on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or by an MLP on a disposition of an underlying asset) may be separately computed and treated as ordinary income or loss under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to the extent attributable to assets of the MLP that give rise to depreciation recapture, intangible drilling and development cost recapture, or other "unrealized receivables" or "inventory items" under the Code. Any such gain may exceed net taxable gain realized on the disposition and will be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss on the sale. The Fund's net capital losses may only be used to offset capital gains and therefore cannot be used to offset gains that are treated as ordinary income. Thus, the Fund could recognize both gain that is treated as ordinary income and a capital loss on a disposition of an MLP equity security (or on an MLP's disposition of an underlying asset) and would not be able to use the capital loss to offset that gain.

MLPs do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership's income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP. If any MLP in which a Fund invests were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it could result in a reduction of the value of the Fund's investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.

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**Mortgage Dollar Rolls** 

The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which a Fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar, but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, a Fund loses the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold. However, a Fund would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase or fee income plus the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. All cash proceeds will be invested in instruments that are permissible investments for the applicable Fund.

For financial reporting and tax purposes, the Fund treats mortgage dollar rolls as two separate transactions; one involving the purchase of a security and a separate transaction involving a sale. The Fund does not currently intend to enter into mortgage dollar rolls for financing and does not treat them as borrowings.

Mortgage dollar rolls involve certain risks including the following: if the broker-dealer to whom a Fund sells the security becomes insolvent, a Fund's right to purchase or repurchase the mortgage-related securities subject to the mortgage dollar roll may be restricted. Also, the instrument which a Fund is required to repurchase may be worth less than an instrument which a Fund originally held. Successful use of mortgage dollar rolls will depend upon the Investment Adviser's ability to manage a Fund's interest rate and mortgage prepayments exposure. For these reasons, there is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed. The use of this technique may diminish the investment performance of a Fund compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls.

**Mortgage Loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities** 

The Funds may invest in mortgage loans, mortgage pass-through securities and other securities representing an interest in or collateralized by adjustable and fixed-rate mortgage loans ("Mortgage-Backed Securities").

Mortgage-Backed Securities are subject to both call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, these securities can have significantly greater price and yield volatility than traditional fixed income securities.

<u>General Characteristics of Mortgage Backed Securities</u> 

In general, each mortgage pool underlying Mortgage-Backed Securities consists of mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured by first mortgages or first deeds of trust or other similar security instruments creating a first lien on owner occupied and non-owner occupied one-unit to four-unit residential properties, multi-family (i.e., five-units or more) properties, agricultural properties, commercial properties and mixed use properties (the "Mortgaged Properties"). The Mortgaged Properties may consist of detached individual dwelling units, multi-family dwelling units, individual condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, row houses, individual units in planned unit developments, other attached dwelling units ("Residential Mortgaged Properties") or commercial properties, such as office properties, retail properties, hospitality properties, industrial properties, healthcare related properties or other types of income producing real property ("Commercial Mortgaged Properties"). Residential Mortgaged Properties may also include residential investment properties and second homes. In addition, the Mortgage-Backed Securities which are residential mortgage-backed securities may also consist of mortgage loans evidenced by promissory notes secured entirely or in part by second priority mortgage liens on Residential Mortgaged Properties.

The investment characteristics of adjustable and fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences include the payment of interest and principal on Mortgage-Backed Securities on a more frequent (usually monthly) schedule, and the possibility that principal may be prepaid at any time due to prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans or other assets. These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed income securities. As a result, if a Fund purchases Mortgage-Backed Securities at a premium, a faster than expected prepayment rate will reduce both the market value and the yield to maturity from their anticipated levels. A prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the opposite effect, increasing yield to maturity and market value. Conversely, if a Fund purchases Mortgage-Backed Securities at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase, while slower than expected prepayments will reduce yield to maturity and market value. To the extent that a Fund invests in Mortgage-Backed Securities, the

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Investment Adviser may seek to manage these potential risks by investing in a variety of Mortgage-Backed Securities and by using certain hedging techniques.

Prepayments on a pool of mortgage loans are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors (such as changes in mortgagor housing needs, job transfers, unemployment, mortgagor equity in the mortgage properties and servicing decisions). The timing and level of prepayments cannot be predicted. A predominant factor affecting the prepayment rate on a pool of mortgage loans is the difference between the interest rates on outstanding mortgage loans and prevailing mortgage loan interest rates (giving consideration to the cost of any refinancing). Generally, prepayments on mortgage loans will increase during a period of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during a period of rising mortgage interest rates. Accordingly, the amounts of prepayments available for reinvestment by a Fund are likely to be greater during a period of declining mortgage interest rates. If general interest rates decline, such prepayments are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than a Fund was earning on the Mortgage-Backed Securities that were prepaid. Due to these factors, Mortgage-Backed Securities may be less effective than U.S. Treasury and other types of debt securities of similar maturity at maintaining yields during periods of declining interest rates. Because a Fund's investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities are interest-rate sensitive, a Fund's performance will depend in part upon the ability of a Fund to anticipate and respond to fluctuations in market interest rates and to utilize appropriate strategies to maximize returns to a Fund while attempting to minimize the associated risks to its investment capital. Prepayments may have a disproportionate effect on certain Mortgage-Backed Securities and other multiple class pass-through securities, which are discussed below.

The rate of interest paid on Mortgage-Backed Securities is normally lower than the rate of interest paid on the mortgages included in the underlying pool due to (among other things) the fees paid to any servicer, special servicer and trustee for the trust fund which holds the mortgage pool, other costs and expenses of such trust fund, fees paid to any guarantor, such as Ginnie Mae (as defined below) or to any credit enhancers, mortgage pool insurers, bond insurers and/or hedge providers, and due to any yield retained by the issuer. Actual yield to the holder may vary from the coupon rate, even if adjustable, if the Mortgage-Backed Securities are purchased or traded in the secondary market at a premium or discount. In addition, there is normally some delay between the time the issuer receives mortgage payments from the servicer and the time the issuer (or the trustee of the trust fund which holds the mortgage pool) makes the payments on the Mortgage-Backed Securities, and this delay reduces the effective yield to the holder of such securities.

The issuers of certain mortgage-backed obligations may elect to have the pool of mortgage loans (or indirect interests in mortgage loans) underlying the securities treated as a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit ("REMIC"), which is subject to special federal income tax rules. A description of the types of mortgage loans and Mortgage-Backed Securities in which a Fund may invest is provided below. The descriptions are general and summary in nature, and do not detail every possible variation of the types of securities that are permissible investments for a Fund.

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 a 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 sustained decline or an extended flattening of those values may result in additional increases in delinquencies and losses on Mortgage-Backed Securities generally (including the Mortgaged-Backed Securities that the Funds may invest in as described above).

Adverse changes in market conditions and regulatory climate may reduce the cash flow which a 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 the event that interest rate spreads for Mortgage-Backed Securities and other asset-backed securities widen following the purchase of such assets by a Fund, the market value of such securities is likely to decline and, in the case of a substantial spread widening, could decline by a substantial amount. Furthermore, 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 an unwillingness by banks, financial institutions and investors to extend credit to servicers, originators and other participants in the market for Mortgage-Backed

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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 a Fund may experience declines after they are purchased by a Fund.

<u>General Regulatory Considerations of Mortgage-Backed Securities</u> 

The unprecedented disruption in the mortgage- and asset-backed securities markets in 2008-2009 resulted in significant downward price pressures as well as foreclosures and defaults in residential and commercial real estate. As a result of these events, the liquidity of the mortgage- and asset-backed securities markets was negatively impacted during that time. Following the market dislocation, the U.S. Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), which imposed a new regulatory framework over the U.S. financial services industry and the consumer credit markets in general. Among its other provisions, the Dodd-Frank Act creates a liquidation framework under which the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"), may be appointed as receiver following a "systemic risk determination" by the Secretary of 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 a Fund.

<u>Certain General Characteristics of Mortgage Loans</u> 

<u>Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans ("ARMs")</u>. The Funds may invest in ARMs. ARMs generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest rate for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the interest rates (the "Mortgage Interest Rates") may be subject to periodic adjustment based on changes in the applicable index rate (the "Index Rate"). The adjusted rate would be equal to the Index Rate plus a fixed percentage spread over the Index Rate established for each ARM at the time of its origination. ARMs allow a Fund to participate in increases in interest rates through periodic increases in the securities coupon rates. During periods of declining interest rates, coupon rates may readjust downward resulting in lower yields to a Fund.

Adjustable interest rates can cause payment increases that some mortgagors may find difficult to make. However, certain ARMs may provide that the Mortgage Interest Rate may not be adjusted to a rate above an applicable lifetime maximum rate or below an applicable lifetime minimum rate for such ARM. Certain ARMs may also be subject to limitations on the maximum amount by which the Mortgage Interest Rate may adjust for any single adjustment period (the "Maximum Adjustment"). Other ARMs ("Negatively Amortizing ARMs") may provide instead or as well for limitations on changes in the monthly payment on such ARMs. Limitations on monthly payments can result in monthly payments which are greater or less than the amount necessary to amortize a Negatively Amortizing ARM by its maturity at the Mortgage Interest Rate in effect in any particular month. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the interest accruing on a Negatively Amortizing ARM, any such excess interest is added to the principal balance of the loan, causing negative amortization, and will be repaid through future monthly payments. It may take borrowers under Negatively Amortizing ARMs longer periods of time to build up equity and may increase the likelihood of default by such borrowers. In the event that a monthly payment exceeds the sum of the interest accrued at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate and the principal payment which would have been necessary to amortize the outstanding principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess (or "accelerated amortization") further reduces the principal balance of the ARM. Negatively Amortizing ARMs do not provide for the extension of their original maturity to accommodate changes in their Mortgage Interest Rate. As a result, unless there is a periodic recalculation of the payment amount (which there generally is), the final payment may be substantially larger than the other payments. After the expiration of the initial fixed rate period and upon the periodic recalculation of the payment to cause timely amortization of the related mortgage loan, the monthly payment on such mortgage loan may increase substantially which may, in turn, increase the risk of the borrower defaulting in respect of such mortgage loan. These limitations on periodic increases in interest rates and on changes in monthly payments protect borrowers from unlimited interest rate and payment increases, but may result in

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increased credit exposure and prepayment risks for lenders. When interest due on a mortgage loan is added to the principal balance of such mortgage loan, the related mortgaged property provides proportionately less security for the repayment of such mortgage loan. Therefore, if the related borrower defaults on such mortgage loan, there is a greater likelihood that a loss will be incurred upon any liquidation of the mortgaged property which secures such mortgage loan.

ARMs also have the risk of prepayment. The rate of principal prepayments with respect to ARMs has fluctuated in recent years. The value of Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by ARMs is less likely to rise during periods of declining interest rates than the value of fixed-rate securities during such periods. Accordingly, ARMs may be subject to a greater rate of principal repayments in a declining interest rate environment resulting in lower yields to a Fund. For example, if prevailing interest rates fall significantly, ARMs could be subject to higher prepayment rates (than if prevailing interest rates remain constant or increase) because the availability of low fixed-rate mortgages may encourage mortgagors to refinance their ARMs to "lock-in" a fixed-rate mortgage. On the other hand, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of ARMs will lag behind changes in the market rate. ARMs are also typically subject to maximum increases and decreases in the interest rate adjustment which can be made on any one adjustment date, in any one year, or during the life of the security. In the event of dramatic increases or decreases in prevailing market interest rates, the value of a Fund's investment in ARMs may fluctuate more substantially because these limits may prevent the security from fully adjusting its interest rate to the prevailing market rates. As with fixed-rate mortgages, ARM prepayment rates vary in both stable and changing interest rate environments.

There are two main categories of indices which provide the basis for rate adjustments on ARMs: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Indices commonly used for this purpose include the one-year, three-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury rates, the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year London Interbank Offered Rate or Secured Overnight Financing Rate, the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others, such as the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds index, tend to lag behind changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile. The degree of volatility in the market value of ARMs in a Fund's portfolio and, therefore, in the NAV of a Fund's shares, will be a function of the length of the interest rate reset periods and the degree of volatility in the applicable indices.

<u>Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans</u>. Generally, fixed-rate mortgage loans included in mortgage pools (the "Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans") will bear simple interest at fixed annual rates and have original terms to maturity ranging from 5 to 40 years. Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans generally provide for monthly payments of principal and interest in substantially equal installments for the term of the mortgage note in sufficient amounts to fully amortize principal by maturity, although certain Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans provide for a large final "balloon" payment upon maturity.

<u>Certain Legal Considerations of Mortgage Loans</u>. The following is a discussion of certain legal and regulatory aspects of the mortgage loans in which a Fund may invest. This discussion is not exhaustive, and does not address all of the legal or regulatory aspects affecting mortgage loans. These regulations may impair the ability of a mortgage lender to enforce its rights under the mortgage documents. These regulations may also adversely affect a Fund's investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities (including those issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities) by delaying the Fund's receipt of payments derived from principal or interest on mortgage loans affected by such regulations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. <u>Foreclosure</u>. A foreclosure of a defaulted mortgage loan may be delayed due to compliance with statutory notice or service of process provisions, difficulties in locating necessary parties or legal challenges to the mortgagee's right to foreclose. Depending upon market conditions, the ultimate proceeds of the sale of foreclosed property may not equal the amounts owed on the Mortgage-Backed Securities. Furthermore, courts in some cases have imposed general equitable principles upon foreclosure generally designed to relieve the borrower from the legal effect of default and have required lenders to undertake affirmative and expensive actions to determine the causes for the default and the likelihood of loan reinstatement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. <u>Rights of Redemption</u>. In some states, after foreclosure of a mortgage loan, the borrower and foreclosed junior lienors are given a statutory period in which to redeem the property, which right may diminish the mortgagee's ability to sell the property.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. <u>Legislative Limitations</u>. In addition to anti-deficiency and related legislation, numerous other federal and state statutory provisions, including the federal bankruptcy laws and state laws affording relief to debtors, may interfere with or affect the ability of a secured mortgage lender to enforce its security interest. For example, a bankruptcy court may grant the debtor a reasonable time to cure a default on a mortgage loan, including a payment default. The court in certain instances may also reduce the monthly payments due under such mortgage loan, change the rate of interest, reduce the principal balance of the loan to the then-current appraised value of the related mortgaged property, alter the mortgage loan repayment schedule and grant priority of certain liens over the lien of the mortgage loan. If a court relieves a borrower's obligation to repay amounts otherwise due on a mortgage loan, the mortgage loan servicer will not be required to advance such amounts, and any loss may be borne by the holders of securities backed by such loans. In addition, numerous federal and state consumer protection laws impose penalties for failure to comply with specific requirements in connection with origination and servicing of mortgage loans.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. <u>"Due-on-Sale" Provisions</u>. Fixed-rate mortgage loans may contain a so-called "due-on-sale" clause permitting acceleration of the maturity of the mortgage loan if the borrower transfers the property. The Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 sets forth nine specific instances in which no mortgage lender covered by that Act may exercise a "due-on-sale" clause upon a transfer of property. The inability to enforce a "due-on-sale" clause or the lack of such a clause in mortgage loan documents may result in a mortgage loan being assumed by a purchaser of the property that bears an interest rate below the current market rate.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. <u>Usury Laws</u>. Some states prohibit charging interest on mortgage loans in excess of statutory limits. If such limits are exceeded, substantial penalties may be incurred and, in some cases, enforceability of the obligation to pay principal and interest may be affected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. <u>Governmental Action, Legislation and Regulation</u>. Legislative, regulatory and enforcement actions seeking to prevent or restrict foreclosures or providing forbearance relief to borrowers of residential mortgage loans may adversely affect the value of Mortgage-Backed Securities (e.g., the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act). Legislative or regulatory initiatives by federal, state or local legislative bodies or administrative agencies, if enacted or adopted, could delay foreclosure or the exercise of other remedies, provide new defenses to foreclosure, or otherwise impair the ability of the loan servicer to foreclose or realize on a defaulted residential mortgage loan included in a pool of residential mortgage loans backing such residential Mortgage-Backed Securities. While the nature or extent of limitations on foreclosure or exercise of other remedies that may be enacted cannot be predicted, any such governmental actions that interfere with the foreclosure process or are designed to protect customers could increase the costs of such foreclosures or exercise of other remedies in respect of residential mortgage loans which collateralize Mortgage-Backed Securities held by a Fund, delay the timing or reduce the amount of recoveries on defaulted residential mortgage loans which collateralize Mortgage-Backed Securities held by a Fund, and consequently, could adversely impact the yields and distributions a Fund may receive in respect of its ownership of Mortgage-Backed Securities collateralized by residential mortgage loans.

<u>Government Guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities</u>. There are several types of government guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities currently available, including guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple class securities, which include guaranteed Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Certificates ("REMIC Certificates"), other collateralized mortgage obligations and stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. Each Fund is permitted to invest in other types of Mortgage-Backed Securities that may be available in the future, to the extent consistent with its investment policies and objective.

Each Fund's investments in Mortgage-Backed Securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or one of its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, which means that the U.S. Government guarantees that the interest and principal will be paid when due. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, and as a result, they have historically been viewed by the market as high quality securities with low credit risks. From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating federal sponsorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Trust cannot predict what legislation, if any, may be proposed in the future in Congress as regards such sponsorship or which proposals, if any, might be enacted. Such proposals, if enacted, might materially and adversely affect the availability of government guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities and the liquidity and value of a Fund's portfolio.

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There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Fund may purchase U.S. Government Securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government Securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed such issuers' current resources, including such issuers' legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

Below is a general discussion of certain types of guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Fund may invest.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• <u>Ginnie Mae Certificates</u>. Ginnie Mae is a wholly-owned corporate instrumentality of the United States. Ginnie Mae is authorized to guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest on certificates that are based on and backed by a pool of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA"), or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration ("VA"), or by pools of other eligible mortgage loans. In order to meet its obligations under any guaranty, Ginnie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury in an unlimited amount. The National Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government is pledged to the timely payment of principal and interest by Ginnie Mae of amounts due on Ginnie Mae certificates.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• <u>Fannie Mae Certificates</u>. Fannie Mae is a stockholder-owned corporation chartered under an act of the U.S. Congress. Generally, Fannie Mae Certificates are issued and guaranteed by Fannie Mae and represent an undivided interest in a pool of mortgage loans (a "Pool") formed by Fannie Mae. A Pool consists of residential mortgage loans either previously owned by Fannie Mae or purchased by it in connection with the formation of the Pool. The mortgage loans may be either conventional mortgage loans (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any U.S. Government agency) or mortgage loans that are either insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA. However, the mortgage loans in Fannie Mae Pools are primarily conventional mortgage loans. The lenders originating and servicing the mortgage loans are subject to certain eligibility requirements established by Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae has certain contractual responsibilities. With respect to each Pool, Fannie Mae is obligated to distribute scheduled installments of principal and interest after Fannie Mae's servicing and guaranty fee, whether or not received, to Certificate holders. Fannie Mae also is obligated to distribute to holders of Certificates an amount equal to the full principal balance of any foreclosed mortgage loan, whether or not such principal balance is actually recovered. The obligations of Fannie Mae under its guaranty of the Fannie Mae Certificates are obligations solely of Fannie Mae. See "Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae" below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• <u>Freddie Mac Certificates</u>. Freddie Mac is a publicly held U.S. Government sponsored enterprise. A principal activity of Freddie Mac currently is the purchase of first lien, conventional, residential and multifamily mortgage loans and participation interests in such mortgage loans and their resale in the form of mortgage securities, primarily Freddie Mac Certificates. A Freddie Mac Certificate represents a pro rata interest in a group of mortgage loans or participations in mortgage loans (a "Freddie Mac Certificate group") purchased by Freddie Mac. Freddie Mac guarantees to each registered holder of a Freddie Mac Certificate the timely payment of interest at the rate provided for by such Freddie Mac Certificate (whether or not received on the underlying loans). Freddie Mac also guarantees to each registered Certificate holder ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans, without any offset or deduction, but does not, generally, guarantee the timely payment of scheduled principal. The obligations of Freddie Mac under its guaranty of Freddie Mac Certificates are obligations solely of Freddie Mac. See "Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae" below.

The mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Certificates consist of adjustable rate or fixed-rate mortgage loans with original terms to maturity of up to forty years. These mortgage loans are usually secured by first liens on one-to-four-family residential properties or multi-family projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the law creating Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans and participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.

Under the direction of FHFA (as defined below), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have entered into a joint initiative to develop a common securitization platform ("CSP") for the issuance of a uniform Mortgage-Backed Security ("UMBS") (the "Single Security Initiative"), which would generally align the characteristics of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Certificates. The Single Security Initiative is intended to maximize liquidity for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Mortgage-Backed Securities in the

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"to-be-announced" market. The CSP began issuing UMBS in June 2019. While the initial effects of the issuance of UMBS on the market for mortgage-related securities have been relatively minimal, the long-term effects are still uncertain.

<u>Conventional Mortgage Loans</u>. The conventional mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Certificates consist of adjustable rate or fixed-rate mortgage loans normally with original terms to maturity of between five and thirty years. Substantially all of these mortgage loans are secured by first liens on one- to four-family residential properties or multi-family projects. Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the law creating Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation interests in whole loans, undivided interests in whole loans and participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.

<u>Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae</u>. The volatility and disruption that impacted the capital and credit markets during late 2008 and into 2009 have led to increased market concerns about Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's ability to withstand future credit losses associated with securities held in their investment portfolios, and on which they provide guarantees, without the direct support of the federal government. On September 6, 2008, both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were placed under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency ("FHFA"). Under the plan of conservatorship, the FHFA has assumed control of, and generally has the power to direct, the operations of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and is empowered to exercise all powers collectively held by their respective shareholders, directors and officers, including the power to (1) take over the assets of and operate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with all the powers of the shareholders, the directors, and the officers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and conduct all business of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (2) collect all obligations and money due to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; (3) perform all functions of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which are consistent with the conservator's appointment; (4) preserve and conserve the assets and property of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae; and (5) contract for assistance in fulfilling any function, activity, action or duty of the conservator. In addition, in connection with the actions taken by the FHFA, the U.S. Treasury entered into certain preferred stock purchase agreements with each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which established the U.S. Treasury as the holder of a new class of senior preferred stock in each of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which stock was issued in connection with financial contributions from the U.S. Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The conditions attached to the financial contribution made by the U.S. Treasury to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the issuance of this senior preferred stock placed significant restrictions on the activities of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae must obtain the consent of the U.S. Treasury to, among other things, (i) make any payment to purchase or redeem its capital stock or pay any dividend other than in respect of the senior preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury, (ii) issue capital stock of any kind, (iii) terminate the conservatorship of the FHFA except in connection with a receivership, or (iv) increase its debt beyond certain specified levels. In addition, significant restrictions were placed on the maximum size of each of Freddie Mac's and Fannie Mae's respective portfolios of mortgages and Mortgage-Backed Securities, and the purchase agreements entered into by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae provide that the maximum size of their portfolios of these assets must decrease by a specified percentage each year. On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the NYSE minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days.

The FHFA and the White House have made public statements regarding plans to consider ending the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In the event that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are taken out of conservatorship, it is unclear how the capital structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be constructed and what effects, if any, there may be on Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's creditworthiness and guarantees of certain Mortgage-Backed Securities. It is also unclear whether the Treasury would continue to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under the senior preferred stock programs. Should Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's conservatorship end, there could be an adverse impact on the value of their securities, which could cause losses to a Fund.

<u>Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities</u>. A Fund may invest in privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities. Privately issued Mortgage-Backed Securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make representations and warranties to certificate-holders as to certain characteristics of the mortgage loans and as to the accuracy of certain information furnished to the trustee in respect of each such mortgage loan. Upon a breach of any representation or warranty that materially and adversely affects the interests of the related certificate-holders in a mortgage loan, the seller or servicer generally will be obligated either to cure the breach in all material respects, to repurchase the mortgage loan or, if the related agreement so provides, to substitute in its place a

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mortgage loan pursuant to the conditions set forth therein. Such a repurchase or substitution obligation may constitute the sole remedy available to the related certificate-holders or the trustee for the material breach of any such representation or warranty by the seller or servicer.

**Mortgage Pass-Through Securities** 

To the extent consistent with their investment policies, the Funds may invest in both government guaranteed and privately issued mortgage pass-through securities ("Mortgage Pass-Throughs") that are fixed or adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities which provide for monthly payments that are a "pass-through" of the monthly interest and principal payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees or other amounts paid to any guarantor, administrator and/or servicer of the underlying mortgage loans. The seller or servicer of the underlying mortgage obligations will generally make representations and warranties to certificate-holders as to certain characteristics of the mortgage loans and as to the accuracy of certain information furnished to the trustee in respect of each such mortgage loan. Upon a breach of any representation or warranty that materially and adversely affects the interests of the related certificate-holders in a mortgage loan, the seller or servicer generally may be obligated either to cure the breach in all material respects, to repurchase the mortgage loan or, if the related agreement so provides, to substitute in its place a mortgage loan pursuant to the conditions set forth therein. Such a repurchase or substitution obligation may constitute the sole remedy available to the related certificate-holders or the trustee for the material breach of any such representation or warranty by the seller or servicer.

The following discussion describes certain aspects of only a few of the wide variety of structures of Mortgage Pass-Throughs that are available or may be issued.

<u>General Description of Certificates</u>. Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be issued in one or more classes of senior certificates and one or more classes of subordinate certificates. Each such class may bear a different pass-through rate. Generally, each certificate will evidence the specified interest of the holder thereof in the payments of principal or interest or both in respect of the mortgage pool comprising part of the trust fund for such certificates.

Any class of certificates may also be divided into subclasses entitled to varying amounts of principal and interest. If a REMIC election has been made, certificates of such subclasses may be entitled to payments on the basis of a stated principal balance and stated interest rate, and payments among different subclasses may be made on a sequential, concurrent, pro rata or disproportionate basis, or any combination thereof. The stated interest rate on any such subclass of certificates may be a fixed rate or one which varies in direct or inverse relationship to an objective interest index.

Generally, each registered holder of a certificate will be entitled to receive its pro rata share of monthly distributions of all or a portion of principal of the underlying mortgage loans or of interest on the principal balances thereof, which accrues at the applicable mortgage pass-through rate, or both. The difference between the mortgage interest rate and the related mortgage pass-through rate (less the amount, if any, of retained yield) with respect to each mortgage loan will generally be paid to the servicer as a servicing fee. Because certain adjustable rate mortgage loans included in a mortgage pool may provide for deferred interest (i.e., negative amortization), the amount of interest actually paid by a mortgagor in any month may be less than the amount of interest accrued on the outstanding principal balance of the related mortgage loan during the relevant period at the applicable mortgage interest rate. In such event, the amount of interest that is treated as deferred interest will generally be added to the principal balance of the related mortgage loan and will be distributed pro rata to certificate-holders as principal of such mortgage loan when paid by the mortgagor in subsequent monthly payments or at maturity.

<u>Ratings</u>. The ratings assigned by a rating organization to Mortgage Pass-Throughs generally address the likelihood of the receipt of distributions on the underlying mortgage loans by the related certificate-holders under the agreements pursuant to which such certificates are issued. A rating organization's ratings normally take into consideration the credit quality of the related mortgage pool, including any credit support providers, structural and legal aspects associated with such certificates, and the extent to which the payment stream on such mortgage pool is adequate to make payments required by such certificates. A rating organization's ratings on such certificates do not, however, constitute a statement regarding frequency of prepayments on the related mortgage loans. In addition, the rating assigned by a rating organization to a certificate may not address the possibility that, in the event of the insolvency of the issuer of certificates where a subordinated interest was retained, the issuance and sale of the senior certificates may be

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recharacterized as a financing and, as a result of such recharacterization, payments on such certificates may be affected. A rating organization may downgrade or withdraw a rating assigned by it to any Mortgage Pass-Through at any time, and no assurance can be made that any ratings on any Mortgage Pass-Throughs included in a Fund will be maintained, or that if such ratings are assigned, they will not be downgraded or withdrawn by the assigning rating organization.

In the past, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-backed securities (which may include certain of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which a Fund may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future. In the event that any Mortgage-Backed Security held by a Fund is placed on credit watch or downgraded, the value of such Mortgage-Backed Security may decline and the Fund may consequently experience losses in respect of such Mortgage-Backed Security.

<u>Subordination; Shifting of Interest; Reserve Fund</u>. In order to achieve ratings on one or more classes of Mortgage Pass-Throughs, one or more classes of certificates may be subordinate certificates which provide that the rights of the subordinate certificate-holders to receive any or a specified portion of distributions with respect to the underlying mortgage loans may be subordinated to the rights of the senior certificate holders. If so structured, the subordination feature may be enhanced by distributing to the senior certificate-holders on certain distribution dates, as payment of principal, a specified percentage (which generally declines over time) of all principal payments received during the preceding prepayment period ("shifting interest credit enhancement"). This will have the effect of accelerating the amortization of the senior certificates while increasing the interest in the trust fund evidenced by the subordinate certificates. Increasing the interest of the subordinate certificates relative to that of the senior certificates is intended to preserve the availability of the subordination provided by the subordinate certificates. In addition, because the senior certificate-holders in a shifting interest credit enhancement structure are entitled to receive a percentage of principal prepayments which is greater than their proportionate interest in the trust fund, the rate of principal prepayments on the mortgage loans may have an even greater effect on the rate of principal payments and the amount of interest payments on, and the yield to maturity of, the senior certificates.

In addition to providing for a preferential right of the senior certificate-holders to receive current distributions from the mortgage pool, a reserve fund may be established relating to such certificates (the "Reserve Fund"). The Reserve Fund may be created with an initial cash deposit by the originator or servicer and augmented by the retention of distributions otherwise available to the subordinate certificate-holders or by excess servicing fees until the Reserve Fund reaches a specified amount.

The subordination feature, and any Reserve Fund, are intended to enhance the likelihood of timely receipt by senior certificate-holders of the full amount of scheduled monthly payments of principal and interest due to them and will protect the senior certificate-holders against certain losses; however, in certain circumstances the Reserve Fund could be depleted and temporary shortfalls could result. In the event that the Reserve Fund is depleted before the subordinated amount is reduced to zero, senior certificate-holders will nevertheless have a preferential right to receive current distributions from the mortgage pool to the extent of the then outstanding subordinated amount. Unless otherwise specified, until the subordinated amount is reduced to zero, on any distribution date any amount otherwise distributable to the subordinate certificates or, to the extent specified, in the Reserve Fund will generally be used to offset the amount of any losses realized with respect to the mortgage loans ("Realized Losses"). Realized Losses remaining after application of such amounts will generally be applied to reduce the ownership interest of the subordinate certificates in the mortgage pool. If the subordinated amount has been reduced to zero, Realized Losses generally will be allocated pro rata among all certificate-holders in proportion to their respective outstanding interests in the mortgage pool.

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<u>Alternative Credit Enhancement</u>. As an alternative, or in addition to the credit enhancement afforded by subordination, credit enhancement for Mortgage Pass-Throughs may be provided through bond insurers, or at the mortgage loan-level through mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, or through the deposit of cash, certificates of deposit, letters of credit, a limited guaranty or by such other methods as are acceptable to a rating agency. In certain circumstances, such as where credit enhancement is provided by bond insurers, guarantees or letters of credit, the security is subject to credit risk because of its exposure to the credit risk of an external credit enhancement provider.

<u>Voluntary Advances</u>. Generally, in the event of delinquencies in payments on the mortgage loans underlying the Mortgage Pass-Throughs, the servicer may agree to make advances of cash for the benefit of certificate-holders, but generally will do so only to the extent that it determines such voluntary advances will be recoverable from future payments and collections on the mortgage loans or otherwise.

<u>Optional Termination</u>. Generally, the servicer may, at its option with respect to any certificates, repurchase all of the underlying mortgage loans remaining outstanding at such time if the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such mortgage loans is less than a specified percentage (generally 5-10%) of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the mortgage loans as of the cut-off date specified with respect to such series.

<u>Multiple Class Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Mortgage Obligations</u>. Each Fund may invest in multiple class securities including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and REMIC Certificates. These securities may be issued by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or by trusts formed by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. In general, CMOs are debt obligations of a legal entity that are collateralized by, and multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities represent direct ownership interests in, a pool of mortgage loans or Mortgage-Backed Securities the payments on which are used to make payments on the CMOs or multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities.

Fannie Mae REMIC Certificates are issued and guaranteed as to timely distribution of principal and interest by Fannie Mae. In addition, Fannie Mae will be obligated to distribute the principal balance of each class of REMIC Certificates in full, whether or not sufficient funds are otherwise available.

Freddie Mac guarantees the timely payment of interest on Freddie Mac REMIC Certificates and also guarantees the payment of principal as payments are required to be made on the underlying mortgage participation certificates ("PCs"). PCs represent undivided interests in specified level payment, residential mortgages or participations therein purchased by Freddie Mac and placed in a PC pool. With respect to principal payments on PCs, Freddie Mac generally guarantees ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans without offset or deduction but the receipt of the required payments may be delayed. Freddie Mac also guarantees timely payment of principal of certain PCs.

CMOs and guaranteed REMIC Certificates issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are types of multiple class Mortgage-Backed Securities. The REMIC Certificates represent beneficial ownership interests in a REMIC trust, generally consisting of mortgage loans or Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae guaranteed Mortgage-Backed Securities (the "Mortgage Assets"). The obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac under their respective guaranty of the REMIC Certificates are obligations solely of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, respectively. See "Certain Additional Information with Respect to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae."

CMOs and REMIC Certificates are issued in multiple classes. Each class of CMOs or REMIC Certificates, often referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Principal prepayments on the mortgage loans or the Mortgage Assets underlying the CMOs or REMIC Certificates may cause some or all of the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates to be retired substantially earlier than their final distribution dates. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates on a monthly basis.

The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in various ways. In certain structures (known as "sequential pay" CMOs or REMIC Certificates), payments of principal, including any principal prepayments, on the Mortgage Assets generally are applied to the classes of CMOs or REMIC Certificates in

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the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made on any class of sequential pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full.

Additional structures of CMOs and REMIC Certificates include, among others, "parallel pay" CMOs and REMIC Certificates. Parallel pay CMOs or REMIC Certificates are those which are structured to apply principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets to two or more classes concurrently on a proportionate or disproportionate basis. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class.

A wide variety of REMIC Certificates may be issued in parallel pay or sequential pay structures. These securities include accrual certificates (also known as "Z-Bonds"), which only accrue interest at a specified rate until all other certificates having an earlier final distribution date have been retired and are converted thereafter to an interest-paying security, and planned amortization class ("PAC") certificates, which are parallel pay REMIC Certificates that generally require that specified amounts of principal be applied on each payment date to one or more classes or REMIC Certificates (the "PAC Certificates"), even though all other principal payments and prepayments of the Mortgage Assets are then required to be applied to one or more other classes of the PAC Certificates. The scheduled principal payments for the PAC Certificates generally have the highest priority on each payment date after interest due has been paid to all classes entitled to receive interest currently. Shortfalls, if any, are added to the amount payable on the next payment date. The PAC Certificate payment schedule is taken into account in calculating the final distribution date of each class of PAC. In order to create PAC tranches, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb most of the volatility in the underlying mortgage assets. These tranches tend to have market prices and yields that are much more volatile than other PAC classes.

<u>Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities</u>. Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") are a type of Mortgage Pass-Through that are primarily backed by a pool of commercial mortgage loans. The commercial mortgage loans are, in turn, generally secured by commercial mortgaged properties (such as office properties, retail properties, hospitality properties, industrial properties, healthcare related properties or other types of income producing real property). CMBS generally entitle the holders thereof to receive payments that depend primarily on the cash flow from a specified pool of commercial or multifamily mortgage loans. CMBS will be affected by payments, defaults, delinquencies and losses on the underlying mortgage loans. The underlying mortgage loans generally are secured by income producing properties such as office properties, retail properties, multifamily properties, manufactured housing, hospitality properties, industrial properties and self-storage properties. Because issuers of CMBS have no significant assets other than the underlying commercial real estate loans and because of the significant credit risks inherent in the underlying collateral, credit risk is a correspondingly important consideration with respect to the related CMBS. Certain of the mortgage loans underlying CMBS constituting part of the collateral interests may be delinquent, in default or in foreclosure.

Commercial real estate lending may expose a lender (and the related Mortgage-Backed Security) to a greater risk of loss than certain other forms of lending because it typically involves making larger loans to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. In addition, in the case of certain commercial mortgage loans, repayment of loans secured by commercial and multifamily properties depends upon the ability of the related real estate project to generate income sufficient to pay debt service, operating expenses and leasing commissions and to make necessary repairs, tenant improvements and capital improvements, and in the case of loans that do not fully amortize over their terms, to retain sufficient value to permit the borrower to pay off the loan at maturity through a sale or refinancing of the mortgaged property. The net operating income from and value of any commercial property is subject to various risks, including changes in general or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments; declines in real estate values; declines in rental or occupancy rates; increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses; changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies; acts of God; terrorist threats and attacks and social unrest and civil disturbances. In addition, certain of the mortgaged properties securing the pools of commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have a higher degree of geographic concentration in a few states or regions. Any deterioration in the real estate market or economy or adverse events in such states or regions, may increase the rate of delinquency and default experience (and as a consequence, losses) with respect to mortgage loans related to properties in such state or region. Pools of mortgaged properties securing the commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may also have a higher degree of concentration in certain types of commercial properties. Accordingly, such pools of mortgage loans represent higher exposure to risks particular to those types of commercial properties. Certain pools of commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS consist of a fewer number of mortgage loans with outstanding balances that are larger than average. If a mortgage pool includes mortgage loans with larger than average balances, any realized losses on such mortgage loans could be more severe, relative to the size of the pool, than would be the case if the aggregate balance of the pool were distributed among a larger number of mortgage loans. Certain borrowers or affiliates thereof relating to certain of the

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commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have had a history of bankruptcy. Certain mortgaged properties securing the commercial mortgage loans underlying CMBS may have been exposed to environmental conditions or circumstances. The ratings in respect of certain of the CMBS comprising the Mortgage-Backed Securities may have been withdrawn, reduced or placed on credit watch since issuance. In addition, losses and/or appraisal reductions may be allocated to certain of such CMBS and certain of the collateral or the assets underlying such collateral may be delinquent and/or may default from time to time.

CMBS held by a Fund may be subordinated to one or more other classes of securities of the same series for purposes of, among other things, establishing payment priorities and offsetting losses and other shortfalls with respect to the related underlying mortgage loans. Realized losses in respect of the mortgage loans included in the CMBS pool and trust expenses generally will be allocated to the most subordinated class of securities of the related series. Accordingly, to the extent any CMBS is or becomes the most subordinated class of securities of the related series, any delinquency or default on any underlying mortgage loan may result in shortfalls, realized loss allocations or extensions of its weighted average life and will have a more immediate and disproportionate effect on the related CMBS than on a related more senior class of CMBS of the same series. Further, even if a class is not the most subordinate class of securities, there can be no assurance that the subordination offered to such class will be sufficient on any date to offset all losses or expenses incurred by the underlying trust. CMBS are typically not guaranteed or insured, and distributions on such CMBS generally will depend solely upon the amount and timing of payments and other collections on the related underlying commercial mortgage loans.

<u>Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities</u>. Each Fund may invest in stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS"), which are derivative multiclass mortgage securities, issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or non-governmental originators. SMBS are usually structured with two different classes: one that receives substantially all of the interest payments (the interest-only, or "IO" and/or the high coupon rate with relatively low principal amount, or "IOette"), and the other that receives substantially all of the principal payments (the principal-only, or "PO"), from a pool of mortgage loans.

Certain SMBS may not be readily marketable and will be considered illiquid for purposes of a Fund's limitation on illiquid investments. The Investment Adviser may determine that SMBS which are U.S. Government Securities are liquid for purposes of a Fund's limitation on illiquid investments. The market value of POs generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. The yields on IOs and IOettes are generally higher than prevailing market yields on other Mortgage-Backed Securities because their cash flow patterns are more volatile and there is a greater risk that the initial investment will not be fully recouped. A Fund's investments in SMBS may require the Fund to sell certain of its portfolio securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements. These and other factors discussed in the section above, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in issuers of emerging country securities.

**Municipal Securities** 

The Income Builder Fund may invest in municipal securities. Municipal securities consist of bonds, notes and other instruments issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax. Municipal securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal securities also include "private activity bonds" or industrial development bonds, which are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds for privately operated facilities, such as airports and waste disposal facilities, and, in some cases, commercial and industrial facilities.

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. Due to their tax exempt status, 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.

Investments in municipal securities are subject to the risk that the issuer could default on its obligations. Such a default could result from the inadequacy of the sources or revenues from which interest and principal payments are to be made or the assets

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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. In the aftermath of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, several municipalities filed for bankruptcy or indicated that they may seek bankruptcy 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.

Dividends paid by the Fund from any tax-exempt interest it may receive will not be tax-exempt.

**Options on Securities; Securities Indices and Foreign Currencies** 

**Writing and Purchasing Call and Put Options on Securities and Securities Indices.** Each 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. A 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 Fund may also, to the extent it invests in foreign securities, write (sell) put and call options on foreign currencies. A call option written by a Fund obligates that Fund to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised on or before the expiration date. Depending upon the type of call option, the purchaser of a call option either (i) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the security over a fixed price (the "exercise price") on a certain date in the future (the "expiration date") or (ii) has the right to any appreciation in the value of the security over the exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. If the purchaser exercises the option, a Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the price of the security and the exercise price of the option. The premium, the exercise price and the market value of the security determine the gain or loss realized by a Fund as the seller of the call option. A Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In this case, the cost of entering into closing purchase transactions will determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund. A Fund's purpose in writing call options is to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, a Fund may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security.

A put option written by a Fund 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.

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

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

A Fund may 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."

Each Fund may also purchase put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or any securities index comprised of securities in which it may invest. A Fund may also enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it had purchased.

A Fund may purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease in the market value of securities or other instruments of the type in which it may invest ("protective puts"). The purchase of a call option would entitle a Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities or other instruments at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities or other instruments exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

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The purchase of a put option would entitle a 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 a Fund's securities or other instruments. Put options may also be purchased by a Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities or other instruments which it does not own. A 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.

A Fund would purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it would purchase options on individual securities. For a description of options on securities indices, see "Writing and Purchasing Call and Put Options on Securities and Securities Indices" above.

**Yield Curve Options.** The Income Builder 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 it 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 risk of loss even if the yield of one of the underlying securities remains constant, if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.

Yield curve options are traded over-the-counter and established trading markets for these options may not exist.

**Risks Associated with Options Transactions.** There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to options it has written, a Fund must sell the underlying securities to the purchasers of the options if the options are exercised. Similarly, if a Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it will have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities.

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

There can be no assurance that higher trading activity, order flow or other unforeseen events 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.

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A Fund may purchase and sell both options that are traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and options traded over-the-counter with broker-dealers who make markets in these options. The ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations.

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

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

**Writing and Purchasing Call and Put Options on Currency.** A Fund may, to the extent that it invests in foreign securities, write and purchase put and call options on foreign currencies. As with other kinds of option transactions, however, the writing of an option on foreign currency will constitute only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received. If an option that a Fund has written is exercised, the Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on foreign currency may constitute an effective hedge against exchange rate fluctuations; however, in the event of exchange rate movements adverse to a Fund's position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs. Options on foreign currencies may be traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter.

Options on currency may also be used for cross-hedging purposes, which involves writing or purchasing options on one currency to seek to hedge against changes in exchange rates for a different currency with a pattern of correlation, or to seek to increase total return when the Investment Adviser anticipates that the currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but the securities quoted or denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not included in the Fund's portfolio.

A currency call option written by a Fund obligates the Fund to sell a specified currency to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. A currency put option written by a Fund obligates the Fund to purchase a specified currency from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. The writing of currency options involves a risk that a Fund will, upon exercise of the option, be required to sell currency subject to a call at a price that is less than the currency's market value or be required to purchase currency subject to a put at a price that exceeds the currency's market value.

A Fund may terminate its obligations under a call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Such purchases are referred to as "closing purchase transactions." A Fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options purchased by the Fund.

A Fund may purchase call options on foreign currency in anticipation of an increase in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities to be acquired by a Fund are quoted or denominated. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified currency at a specified price during the option period. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if,

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during the option period, the value of such currency exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

A Fund may purchase put options in anticipation of a decline in the U.S. dollar value of currency in which securities in its portfolio are quoted or denominated ("protective puts"). The purchase of a put option would entitle a Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified currency at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is usually designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the dollar value of a Fund's portfolio securities due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying currency decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to more than cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of protective put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying currency.

In addition to using options for the hedging purposes described above, the Funds may use options on currency to seek to increase total return. The Funds may write (sell) put and call options on any currency in an attempt to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities transactions alone. However, in writing call options for additional income, the Funds may forego the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying currency. Also, when writing put options, the Funds accept, in return for the option premium, the risk that they may be required to purchase the underlying currency at a price in excess of the currency's market value at the time of purchase.

**Special Risks Associated with Options on Currency.** An exchange-traded options position may be closed out only on an options exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although a Fund will generally purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time. For some options no secondary market on an exchange may exist. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that a Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the sale of underlying securities pursuant to the exercise of put options. If a Fund as an option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it must sell the underlying currency (or security quoted or denominated in that currency) to the purchaser of the option if the option is exercised.

There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customers' orders.

A Fund may purchase and write over-the-counter options to the extent consistent with its limitation on illiquid investments. Trading in over-the-counter options is subject to the risk that the other party will be unable or unwilling to close out options purchased or written by a Fund.

The amount of the premiums that a Fund may pay or receive may be adversely affected as new or existing institutions, including other investment companies, engage in or increase their option purchasing and writing activities.

**Real Estate Investment Trusts** 

Each Fund may invest in shares of REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in real estate or real estate related loans. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Like regulated investment companies such as the Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Code. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by a Fund.

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Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from the Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks.

**Repurchase Agreements** 

Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with counterparties that furnish collateral at least equal in value or market price to the amount of the repurchase obligation. The Funds may also enter into repurchase agreements involving obligations other than U.S. Government Securities, which may be subject to additional risks. A repurchase agreement is an arrangement under which a Fund purchases securities and the seller agrees to repurchase the securities within a particular time and at a specified price. Custody of the securities is maintained by a Fund's custodian (or subcustodian). The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to a Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security subject to the repurchase agreement.

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

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

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

**Restricted Securities** 

Each 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 1933 Act, including securities eligible for resale to "qualified institutional buyers" pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. 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. These and other factors discussed in the section above, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in Restricted Securities.

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**Reverse Repurchase Agreements** 

The Income Builder 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. These reverse repurchase agreements may involve foreign government securities. 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.

**Pooled Investment Vehicles** 

Each Fund may invest in securities of pooled investment vehicles, including other investment companies and ETFs. A 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 management fees (and other expenses) of the Fund. A Fund's investments in other investment companies are subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Act, including in certain circumstances a prohibition on the Fund acquiring more 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.

Subject to applicable law and/or pursuant to an exemptive rule adopted by the SEC or an exemptive order obtained from the SEC, the Fund may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, beyond the statutory limits described above or otherwise provided that certain conditions are met. Some of those other investment companies may be funds for which an Investment Adviser, or any of its affiliates, serves as investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor. Although each Fund does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, each Fund is authorized to invest substantially all of its assets in a single open-end investment company or series thereof that has substantially the same investment policies and fundamental restrictions as the Fund. Additionally, if a Fund serves as an "acquired fund" of another Goldman Sachs Fund or unaffiliated investment company, the Fund's ability to invest in other investment companies and private funds may be limited and, under these circumstances, the Fund's investments in other investment companies and private funds will be consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive rules adopted by or exemptive orders obtained from the SEC. For example, to the extent the Fund serves as an acquired fund in a fund of funds arrangement in reliance on Rule 12d1-4 under the Act, the Fund would be prohibited from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the securities of an investment company or private fund if, after such purchase or acquisition, the aggregate value of the Fund's investments in such investment companies and private funds would exceed 10% of the value of the Fund's total assets, subject to limited exceptions (including for investments in money market funds).

ETFs are shares of pooled investment vehicles issuing shares which are traded like traditional equity securities on a stock exchange. An ETF generally 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 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 a Fund's shares could also be substantially and adversely affected.

**Portfolio Turnover** 

Each Fund may engage in active short-term trading to benefit from price disparities among different issues of securities or among the markets for equity securities, or for other reasons. As a result of active management, it is anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may be affected by changes in the holdings of specific issuers, changes in country and currency weightings, cash requirements for redemption of shares and by requirements which enable the Funds to receive favorable tax treatment. The Funds are not restricted by policy with regard to

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portfolio turnover and will make changes in their investment portfolio from time to time as business and economic conditions as well as market prices may dictate.

**Preferred Stock, Warrants and Stock Purchase Rights** 

Each Fund may invest in preferred stock, warrants and stock purchase rights ("rights") (in addition to those acquired in units or attached to other securities). 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.

**Risks of Qualified Financial Contracts** 

Regulations adopted by federal banking regulators under Dodd-Frank which took effect throughout 2019, require that certain qualified financial contracts ("QFCs") with counterparties that are part of U.S. or foreign global systemically important banking organizations be amended to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross-default rights. QFCs include, but are not limited to, securities contracts, commodities contracts, forward contracts, repurchase agreements, securities lending agreements and swaps agreements, as well as related master agreements, security agreements, credit enhancements, and reimbursement obligations. If a covered counterparty of a Fund or certain of the covered counterparty's affiliates were to become subject to certain insolvency proceedings, the Fund may be temporarily unable to exercise certain default rights, and the QFC may be transferred to another entity. These requirements may impact a Fund's credit and counterparty risks.

**Short Sales Against the Box** 

A Fund may engage in short sales against the box. In a short sale, the seller sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. While a short sale is made by selling a security the seller does not own, a short sale is "against the box" to the extent that the seller contemporaneously owns or has the right to obtain, at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. It may be entered into by a Fund, for example, to lock in a sales price for a security the Fund does not wish to sell immediately. If a Fund sells securities short against the box, it may protect itself from loss if the price of the securities declines in the future, but will lose the opportunity to profit on such securities if the price rises.

If a Fund effects a short sale of securities at a time when it has an unrealized gain on the securities, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had actually sold the securities (as a "constructive sale") on the date it effects the short sale. However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if a Fund closes out the short sale with securities other than the appreciated securities held at the time of the short sale and if certain other conditions are satisfied. Uncertainty regarding the tax consequences of effecting short sales may limit the extent to which a Fund may effect short sales.

**Swaps: Currency Swaps, Index Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Equity Swaps, Options on Swaps, and Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars** 

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Each Fund may enter into currency, index, equity, mortgage, credit, total return and interest rate swaps, and the Income Builder Fund may enter into other interest rate swap arrangements such as rate caps, floors and collars, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. Each Fund may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions.

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. Funds post initial and variation margin by making payments to their clearing member FCMs.

Currency swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of their respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of 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. Index swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of payments based on a notional principal amount of a specified index or indices. Credit swaps (also referred to as credit default 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, in which the Income Builder Fund may invest, 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. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for the payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index or an index component. Equity swap contracts may be structured in different ways. For example, as a total return swap where a counterparty may agree to pay a Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the equity swap contract would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks (or a group of stocks), plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. In other cases, the counterparty and a Fund may each agree to pay 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.

A great deal of flexibility may be possible in the way swap transactions are structured. However, generally a Fund will enter into interest rate, total return, credit, mortgage, equity and index swaps on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with a Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate, total return, credit, index, equity and mortgage swaps do not normally involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets or principal.

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Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate, total return, credit, index, equity and mortgage swaps is normally limited to the net amount of interest payments that a Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate, total return, credit, index, equity or mortgage swap defaults, a Fund's risk of loss consists of the net amount of interest payments that a 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 the gross payment stream in another designated currency. Therefore, the entire payment stream under a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.

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 a 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 liquidity risk entirely. In addition, depending on the size of a 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 a 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.

The use of swaps, swaptions and interest rate caps, floors and collars is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. 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 an Investment Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, credit quality, interest rates and currency exchange rates, the investment performance of a Fund would be less favorable than it would have been if this investment technique were not used.

In addition, these transactions can involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly because, in addition to general market risks, swaps are subject to liquidity 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 a Fund invests in cleared swaps. Bilateral swap agreements are two party contracts that may have terms of greater than seven days. Moreover, a 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.

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. These and other factors discussed in the section, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in swaps.

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**Temporary Investments** 

Each Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest up to 100% of its total assets in: U.S. Government Securities; commercial paper rated at least A-2 by S&P Global Ratings, P-2 by Moody's or having a comparable credit rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization ("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 a Fund's assets are invested in such instruments, the Fund may not be achieving its investment objective.

**U.S. Government Securities** 

The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. Some U.S. Government Securities (such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance) are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others, such as obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, are supported either by (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 the 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. These and other factors discussed in the section above, entitled "Illiquid Investments," may impact the liquidity of investments in these participations.

Each Fund may also purchase U.S. Government Securities in private placements and may also invest in separately traded principal and interest components of securities guaranteed or issued by the U.S. Treasury that are traded independently under the separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities program ("STRIPS"). Each Fund may also invest in zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities and in zero coupon securities issued by financial institutions which represent a proportionate interest in underlying U.S. Treasury securities.

**Variable and Floating Rate Securities** 

The interest rates payable on certain debt securities in which a 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, or for other reasons. 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.

**When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments** 

A Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis, including TBA ("To Be Announced") securities, or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis beyond the customary settlement time. TBA securities, which are usually mortgage-backed securities, are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. These transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date beyond the customary settlement time. The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for

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(the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. In addition, rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") include mandatory margin requirements that require a Fund to post collateral in connection with its TBA transactions. There is no similar requirement applicable to a Fund's TBA counterparties. The required collateralization of TBA trades could increase the cost of TBA transactions to a 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. A Fund will generally purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or negotiate a commitment after entering into it. A Fund may also sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. A Fund may realize capital gains or losses in connection with these transactions. For purposes of determining a Fund's duration, the maturity of when-issued or forward commitment securities will be calculated from the commitment date. 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.

**Zero Coupon Bonds** 

A Fund's investments in fixed income securities may include zero coupon bonds. Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations issued or purchased at a discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the bonds would have accrued and compounded over the period until maturity. A zero coupon bond pays no interest to its holder during its life and its return consists of the difference between its face value at maturity and its cost. Such investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of such cash. Such investments may experience greater volatility in market value than debt obligations which provide for regular payments of interest. Moreover, zero coupon bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment. The valuation of such investments requires judgment regarding the collection of futures payments. The Fund will accrue income on such investments for each taxable year which (net of deductible expenses, if any) is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is generally received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy the Fund's distribution obligations.

*Special Note Regarding Regulatory Changes and Other 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 ability to achieve its investment objective or otherwise adversely impact an investment in the Fund. Furthermore, worsened market conditions, including as a result of U.S. government shutdowns or the perceived creditworthiness of the United States, could have a negative impact on securities markets.

The Fund's investments, payment obligations and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), London Interbank Offer Rate ("LIBOR"), EURIBOR and other similar types of reference rates (each, a "Reference Rate"). Certain LIBORs (e.g., all EUR and CHF LIBOR settings, the Spot Next/Overnight, 1 week, 2 month and 12 month JPY and GBP LIBOR settings, and the 1 week and 2 months US dollar LIBOR settings) ceased publication on December 31, 2021 and, in connection with those rates, the Fund has transitioned to successor or alternative reference rates as necessary. However, the publication of certain other LIBORs (e.g., the overnight, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, and 12 months USD LIBOR settings) will continue through at least June 30, 2023. In some instances, regulators may restrict new use of LIBORs prior to the actual cessation date. The termination of LIBOR and any additional regulatory or market changes may have an adverse impact on a Fund's investments, performance or financial condition. Until then, the Fund may continue to invest in instruments that reference such rates or otherwise use such Reference Rates due to favorable liquidity or pricing.

To identify a successor rate for US dollar LIBOR, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee ("ARRC"), a U.S.-based group convened by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, was formed. The ARRC has identified SOFR as its preferred alternative rate for LIBOR. SOFR is a measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by the

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U.S. Treasury securities, and is based on directly observable U.S. Treasury-backed repurchase transactions. On December 6, 2021, the ARRC released a statement selecting and recommending forms of SOFR, along with associated spread adjustments and conforming changes, to replace references to 1-week and 2-month US dollar LIBOR. It is expected that a substantial portion of future floating rate investments will be linked to SOFR. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of the transition to SOFR.

In advance of the expected future transition dates, regulators and market participants have worked to identify or develop successor Reference Rates (e.g., SOFR, which is likely to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR) and spreads (if any) to be utilized in existing contracts or instruments as part of the transition away from LIBOR. Spreads (if any) to be utilized in existing contracts or instruments may be amended through market-wide protocols, fallback contractual provisions, bespoke negotiations or amendments or otherwise. Nonetheless, the termination of certain Reference Rates presents risks to the Fund. It is not possible to exhaustively identify or predict the effect of any such changes, any establishment of alternative Reference Rates or any other reforms to Reference Rates that may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The elimination of a Reference Rate or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of Reference Rates may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades, adversely impacting the Fund's overall financial condition or results of operations. The impact of any successor or substitute Reference Rate, if any, will vary on an investment-by-investment basis, and any differences may be material and/or create material economic mismatches, especially if investments are used for hedging or similar purposes. In addition, although certain Fund investments may provide for a successor or substitute Reference Rate (or terms governing how to determine a successor or substitute Reference Rate) if the Reference Rate becomes unavailable, certain Fund investments may not provide such a successor or substitute Reference Rate (or terms governing how to determine a successor or substitute Reference Rate). Accordingly, there may be disputes as to: (i) any successor or substitute Reference Rate; or (ii) the enforceability of any Fund investment that does not provide such a successor or substitute Reference Rate (or terms governing how to determine a successor or substitute Reference Rate). The Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and/or their affiliates may have discretion to determine a successor or substitute Reference Rate, including any price or other adjustments to account for differences between the successor or substitute Reference Rate and the previous rate. The successor or substitute Reference Rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact the Fund's investments, performance or financial condition, including in ways unforeseen by the Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and/or their affiliates. In addition, any successor or substitute Reference Rate and any pricing adjustments imposed by a regulator or by counterparties or otherwise may adversely affect the Fund's performance and/or NAV, and may expose the Fund to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks.

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 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 Funds' portfolio holdings.

In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and political, economic and other conditions and events (including, but not limited to, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, and social unrest) in one country, region, or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. Furthermore, the occurrence of, among other events, natural or man-made disasters, severe weather or geological events, fires, floods, earthquakes, outbreaks of disease (such as COVID-19, avian influenza or H1N1/09), epidemics, pandemics, malicious acts, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or the occurrence of climate change, may also adversely impact the performance of the Fund. Such events may result in, among other things, closing borders, exchange closures, health screenings, healthcare service delays, quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, market volatility and general uncertainty. Such events could adversely impact issuers, markets and economies over the short- and long-term, including in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. The Fund could be negatively impacted if the value of a portfolio holding were harmed by such political or economic conditions or events. Moreover,

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such negative political and economic conditions and events could disrupt the processes necessary for the Fund's operations. See "Special Note Regarding Operational, Cyber Security and Litigation Risks" for additional information on operational risks.

*Special Note Regarding Operational, Cyber Security and Litigation Risks* 

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.

Each 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, 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 were 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 its reputation.

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**INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS** 

The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Trust as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the affected Fund. The investment objective of each Fund and all other investment policies or practices of each Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the Act, "majority" of the outstanding voting securities means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust or a Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or a 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, a Fund. With respect to the Funds' fundamental investment restriction number (2) below, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.

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

**Each Fund** 

(1)Invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (excluding the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities).

**Income Builder Fund** 

(2)Borrow money, except (a) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the Act) or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (b) the Fund may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (c) the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, (d) the Fund may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law and (e) the Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings.

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.

**Rising Dividend Growth Fund** 

(2)Borrow money, except (a) the Fund, to the extent permitted by applicable law, may borrow from banks (as defined in the Act), other affiliated investment companies and other persons or through reverse repurchase agreements in amounts up to 33-1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) (b) the Fund may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (c) the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, (d) the Fund may purchase securities on margin to the extent permitted by applicable law and (e) the Fund may engage in transactions in mortgage dollar rolls which are accounted for as financings.

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.

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**Income Builder Fund** 

(3)Make loans, except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies, (b) repurchase agreements with banks, brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, and (c) loans of securities as permitted by applicable law.

**Rising Dividend Growth Fund** 

(3)Make loans, except through (a) the purchase of debt obligations in accordance with the Fund's investment objective and policies, (b) repurchase agreements with banks, brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, (c) loans of securities as permitted by applicable law, and (d) loans to affiliates of the Fund to the extent permitted by law.

**Each Fund** 

(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, securities of real estate investment trusts and mortgage-related securities and may hold and sell real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities.

(6)Invest in commodities or commodity contracts, except that the Fund may invest in currency and financial instruments and contracts that are commodities or commodity contracts.

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

**Income Builder Fund** 

(8)Make any investment inconsistent with the Fund's classification as a diversified company under the Act.

The Rising Dividend Growth Fund was previously registered as a non-diversified investment company. Pursuant to current positions of the SEC staff, the Fund's classification has changed from non-diversified to diversified, and the Fund will not be able to become non-diversified unless it seeks and obtains the approval of shareholders. Accordingly, the Fund may not make any investment inconsistent with the Fund's classification as a diversified company under the Act.

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

For purposes of the Funds' industry concentration policies, 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.

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**TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS** 

**The Trust's Leadership Structure** 

The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trust's Declaration of Trust. The Trustees are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and reviewing the actions of the Trust's service providers. The officers of the Trust conduct and supervise each Fund's daily business operations. Trustees who are not deemed to be "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in the Act are referred to as "Independent Trustees." Trustees who are deemed to be "interested persons" of the Trust are referred to as "Interested Trustees." The Board is currently composed of seven Independent Trustees and 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 Funds' officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chair may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular meetings at least six times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet at least annually to review, among other things, investment management agreements, distribution (Rule 12b-1)and/or service plans and related agreements, transfer agency agreements and certain other agreements providing for the compensation of Goldman Sachs and/or its affiliates by the Funds, and to consider such other matters as they deem appropriate.

The Board has established four standing committees — Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance 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 February 28, 2023 is set forth below.

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**Independent Trustees** 

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address and**<br> **Age**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Position(s)**<br> **Held with**<br> **the Trust**<br>| **Term of**<br> **Office and**<br> **Length of**<br> **Time Served**<sup>2</sup> <br>| **Principal Occupation(s)**<br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| **Number of**<br> **Portfolios**<br> **in Fund**<br> **Complex**<br> **Overseen by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>3</sup> <br>| **Other**<br> **Directorships**<br> **Held by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>4</sup> <br>|
| Gregory G. <br> Weaver<br> Age: 71<br>| Chair of the <br> Board of <br> Trustees<br>| Since 2023 <br> (Trustee since <br> 2015)<br>| Mr. Weaver is retired. He is Director, Verizon <br> Communications Inc. (2015–Present); and was <br> formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, <br> Deloitte & Touche LLP (a professional services firm) <br> (2001–2005 and 2012–2014); and Member of the <br> Board of Directors, Deloitte & Touche LLP <br> (2006–2012).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 | Verizon <br> Communications Inc.<br>|
| Dwight L. <br> Bush<br> Age: 66<br>| Trustee | Since 2020 | Ambassador Bush is President and CEO of D.L. Bush <br> & Associates (a financial advisory and private <br> investment firm) (2002–2014 and 2017–present); <br> Director of MoneyLion, Inc. (an operator of a <br> data-driven, digital financial platform) <br> (2021–present); and was formerly U.S. Ambassador to <br> the Kingdom of Morocco (2014–2017) and a Member <br> of the Board of Directors of Santander Bank, N.A. <br> (2018–2019). Previously, Ambassador Bush served as <br> an Advisory Board Member of Goldman Sachs Trust <br> and Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (October <br> 2019–January 2020).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 | MoneyLion, Inc. <br> (an operator of a <br> data-driven, <br> digital financial <br> platform)<br>|
| Kathryn A. <br> Cassidy<br> Age: 68<br>| Trustee | Since 2015 | Ms. Cassidy is retired. She is Director, Vertical <br> Aerospace Ltd. (an aerospace and technology <br> company) (2021–present). Formerly, Ms. Cassidy was <br> Advisor to the Chairman (May 2014–December <br> 2014); and Senior Vice President and Treasurer <br> (2008–2014), General Electric Company & General <br> Electric Capital Corporation (technology and financial <br> services companies).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 | Vertical <br> Aerospace Ltd. <br> (an aerospace <br> and technology <br> company)<br>|

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address and**<br> **Age**<sup>1</sup><br>| **Position(s)**<br> **Held with**<br> **the Trust**<br>| **Term of**<br> **Office and**<br> **Length of**<br> **Time Served**<sup>2</sup><br>| **Principal Occupation(s)**<br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| **Number of**<br> **Portfolios**<br> **in Fund**<br> **Complex**<br> **Overseen by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>3</sup><br>| **Other**<br> **Directorships**<br> **Held by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>4</sup><br>|
| John G. Chou<br> Age: 66<br>| Trustee | Since 2022 | Mr. Chou is Executive Vice President and Special <br> Advisor to the Chairman and CEO of <br> AmerisourceBergen Corporation (a pharmaceutical <br> and healthcare company) (2021–present); and <br> formerly held various executive management positions <br> with AmerisourceBergen Corporation, including <br> Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer <br> (2019–2021); Executive Vice President and Chief <br> Legal & Business Officer (2017–2019); and Executive <br> Vice President and General Counsel (2011–2017).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 |  |
| Joaquin <br> Delgado<br> Age: 63<br>| Trustee | Since 2020 | Dr. Delgado is retired. He is Director, Stepan <br> Company (a specialty chemical manufacturer) <br> (2011–present); and was formerly Director, <br> Hexion Inc. (a specialty chemical manufacturer) <br> (2019–2022); Executive Vice President, Consumer <br> Business Group of 3M Company (July 2016–July <br> 2019); and Executive Vice President, Health Care <br> Business Group of 3M Company (October 2012–July <br> 2016). Previously, Dr. Delgado served as an Advisory <br> Board Member of Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman <br> Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (October 2019– <br> January 2020).<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 | Stepan Company <br> (a specialty <br> chemical <br> manufacturer)<br>|
| Eileen H. <br> Dowling<br> Age: 60<br>| Trustee | Since 2021 | Ms. Dowling is retired. Formerly, she was Senior <br> Advisor (April 2021–September 2021); and Managing <br> Director (2013–2021), BlackRock, Inc. (a financial <br> services firm). <br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 |  |
| Paul C. Wirth<br> Age: 65<br>| Trustee | Since 2022 | Mr. Wirth is retired. Formerly, he was Deputy Chief <br> Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer <br> (2011–2020); Finance Director and Principal <br> Accounting Officer (2010–2011); and Managing <br> Director, Global Controller, and Chief Accounting <br> Officer (2005–2010) of Morgan Stanley.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust and Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust.<br>| 103 |  |

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**Interested Trustees** 

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name,**<br> **Address and**<br> **Age**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Position(s)**<br> **Held with**<br> **the Trust**<br>| **Term of**<br> **Office and**<br> **Length of**<br> **Time Served**<sup>2</sup> <br>| **Principal Occupation(s)**<br> **During Past 5 Years**<br>| **Number of**<br> **Portfolios**<br> **in Fund**<br> **Complex**<br> **Overseen by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>3</sup> <br>| **Other**<br> **Directorships**<br> **Held by**<br> **Trustee**<sup>4</sup> <br>|
| James A. <br> McNamara\*<br> Age: 60<br>| President and <br> Trustee<br>| Since 2007 | Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs (January <br> 2018–Present); Managing Director, Goldman Sachs <br> (January 2000–December 2017); Director of <br> Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April <br> 1998–December 2000); and Senior Vice President and <br> Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation <br> (January 1993–April 1998)<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br> President and Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust; <br> Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; <br> Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit <br> Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate <br> Diversified Income Fund.<br>| 172 |  |

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\*

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.

<sup>1</sup>

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.

<sup>2</sup>

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 each Independent Trustee shall retire as of December 31st of the calendar year in which he or she reaches (a) his or her 75th birthday or (b) the 15th anniversary of the date he or she became a Trustee, whichever is earlier, unless a waiver of such requirements shall have been adopted by a majority of the other Trustees. These policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder vote.

<sup>3</sup>

The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex includes certain other companies listed above for each respective Trustee. As of February 28, 2023, Goldman Sachs Trust consisted of 88 portfolios (87 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust consisted of 15 portfolios (12 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs Trust II consisted of 18 portfolios (7 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs ETF Trust consisted of 46 portfolios (29 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II consisted of 2 portfolios (1 of which offered shares to the public); Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund, Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund each consisted of one portfolio. Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund did not offer shares to the public.

<sup>4</sup>

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

The significance or relevance of a Trustee's particular experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills is considered by the Board on an individual basis. Experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills common to all Trustees include the ability to critically review, evaluate and discuss information provided to them and to interact effectively with the other Trustees and with representatives of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, other service providers, legal counsel and a 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 a Fund and their shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee's charter contains certain other factors that are considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees to serve as Independent Trustees. Based on each Trustee's experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills, considered

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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 February 28, 2023 that led the Board to conclude that such individual should serve as a Trustee.

**Gregory G. Weaver**. Mr. Weaver has served as a Trustee since 2015 and Chair of the Board since 2023. Mr. Weaver also serves as a Director of Verizon Communications Inc., where he serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. 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.

**Dwight L. Bush**. Ambassador Bush has served as a Trustee since 2020. Ambassador Bush also serves as President and CEO of D.L. Bush & Associates, a financial advisory and private investment firm, and Director of MoneyLion, Inc., an operator of a data-driven, digital financial platform. From 2014 to 2017, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco. Prior to his service as U.S. Ambassador, he established and served as CEO of Urban Trust Bank and UTB Education Finance, LLC, an integrated provider of education credit services. Ambassador Bush was previously Vice President of Corporate Development for SLM Corporation (commonly known as Sallie Mae). Formerly, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Santander Bank, N.A., JER Investors Trust, a specialty real estate finance company, and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of CASI Pharmaceuticals (formerly Entremed, Inc.) where he was Chairman of the Audit Committee. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for several philanthropic organizations, including the Middle East Investment Initiative and the American Council of Young Political Leaders, and has served on the executive committee of Cornell University. Ambassador Bush previously served on the Trust's Advisory Board. Based on the foregoing, Ambassador Bush is experienced with financial and investment matters.

**Kathryn A. Cassidy**. Ms. Cassidy has served as a Trustee since 2015. Ms. Cassidy has been designated as the Board's "audit committee financial expert" given her extensive accounting and finance experience. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Vertical Aerospace Ltd., a publicly-traded aerospace and technology company, where she serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. 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. Formerly, Ms. Cassidy served as a Director of buildOn, a not-for-profit organization, where she served as Chair of the Finance Committee. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Cassidy is experienced with financial and investment matters.

**John G. Chou**. Mr. Chou has served as a Trustee since 2022. Mr. Chou currently serves as Executive Vice President and Special Advisor to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at AmerisourceBergen Corporation ("AmerisourceBergen"), where he also formerly held several executive and senior management positions since 2002, including Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Business Officer, and Executive Vice President and General Counsel. As Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Chou was responsible for managing AmerisourceBergen's legal, regulatory, quality, privacy, global business resilience and enterprise risk management functions, among others. In addition, he previously held senior legal positions at Cigna Corporation, ARCO Chemical Europe, and Arco Chemical Company, and also practiced law at various law firms, including most recently as a member of Eckert Seamens Cherin & Mellott, LLC. Mr. Chou currently serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of Episcopal Community Services and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Committee of Seventy. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Chou is experienced with financial and investment matters.

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**Joaquin Delgado**. Dr. Delgado has served as a Trustee since 2020. Dr. Delgado is a member of the Board of Directors for Stepan Company, a publicly-traded specialty chemical manufacturer. Previously, Dr. Delgado was a member of the Board of Directors for Hexion Inc., a privately held specialty chemical manufacturer, and held several senior management positions at 3M Company, where he worked for over 30 years, most recently as Executive Vice President of 3M Company's Consumer Business Group. As Executive Vice President, Vice President, and General Manager at 3M Company, Dr. Delgado directed mergers and acquisitions worldwide, and was responsible for managing global operations in specialized markets such as semiconductors, consumer electronics, communications, medical and office supplies and software. Dr. Delgado also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Ballet Austin, a not-for-profit organization. Additionally, he formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors of MacPhail Center for Music, a not-for-profit organization. Dr. Delgado previously served on the Trust's Advisory Board. Based on the foregoing, Dr. Delgado is experienced with financial and investment matters.

**Eileen H. Dowling**. Ms. Dowling has served as a Trustee since 2021. Ms. Dowling worked at BlackRock for over 10 years, where she was a Managing Director and, most recently, a Senior Advisor. While at BlackRock, Ms. Dowling held several senior management positions responsible for clients, investment products and marketing, including Global Head of Consultant Relations, Global Head of Multinationals, Global Head of the Institutional Product Group and Global Head of Institutional Marketing. She also was a member of BlackRock's Global Operating Committee and Product Executive Committee. From 2007-2011, Ms. Dowling was a Managing Director and Global Head of Marketing at Credit Suisse Asset Management. Prior to that, over an 18-year period at Merrill Lynch, Ms. Dowling served in several roles in Investment Banking, Capital Markets and Research. Ms. Dowling currently serves as a Member of the Advisory Board and Finance Committee of New York University's Glucksman Ireland House. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Dowling is experienced with investment, financial and accounting matters.

**Paul C. Wirth**. Mr. Wirth has served as a Trustee since 2022. Previously, Mr. Wirth held various senior management positions at Morgan Stanley, where he worked for over 15 years. While with Morgan Stanley, Mr. Wirth served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, Finance Director and Principal Accounting Officer, and Managing Director, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. He also was a member of Morgan Stanley's Management Committee and Risk Committee. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Mr. Wirth held senior positions at Credit Suisse First Boston, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and KPMG LLP. Mr. Wirth served as a member of the Board of Directors of certain Morgan Stanley subsidiaries, including Morgan Stanley Europe Holding SE, where he also served as Audit Committee Chairman. He is also a member of the St. John's University Board of Governors since October 2020 and was previously a member of the Peter J. Tobin College of Business Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2017. Mr. Wirth serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for the ARC of Essex County, a not-for-profit organization. He also has served on the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation. Mr. Wirth is a certified public accountant. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Wirth is experienced with 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.

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**Officers of the Trust** 

Information pertaining to the officers of the Trust as of February 28, 2023 is set forth below.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Age** <br> **and Address**<br>| **Position(s) Held**<br> **with the Trust**<br>| **Term of Office and**<br> **Length of Time**<br> **Served**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years** |
| James A. McNamara<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 60<br>| Trustee and <br> President<br>| Since 2007 | Advisory Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2018 – Present); <br> Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2000 – December 2017); <br> Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998 – December <br> 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional <br> Service Corporation (January 1993 – April 1998).President and <br> Trustee—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman <br> Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Joseph F. DiMaria<br> 30 Hudson Street<br> Jersey City, NJ 07302<br> Age: 54<br>| Treasurer, <br> Principal Financial <br> Officer and <br> Principal <br> Accounting <br> Officer<br>| Since 2017 <br> (Treasurer and <br> Principal Financial <br> Officer since <br> 2019)<br>| Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (November 2015 – Present) and <br> Vice President – Mutual Fund Administration, Columbia Management <br> Investment Advisers, LLC (May 2010 – October 2015).Treasurer, <br> Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting <br> Officer—Goldman Sachs Trust (previously Assistant Treasurer <br> (2016)); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (previously Assistant <br> Treasurer (2016)); Goldman Sachs Trust II (previously Assistant <br> Treasurer (2017)); Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund <br> (previously Assistant Treasurer (2017)); Goldman Sachs ETF Trust <br> (previously Assistant Treasurer (2017)); Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; <br> Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate <br> Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Julien Yoo<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 51 <br>| Chief Compliance <br> Officer<br>| Since 2019 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2020–Present); Vice <br> President, Goldman Sachs (December 2014–December 2019); and <br> Vice President, Morgan Stanley Investment Management <br> (2005–2010).Chief Compliance Officer—Goldman Sachs Trust; <br> Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; <br> Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market <br> Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit II LLC; <br> Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs <br> Middle Market Lending LLC II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF <br> Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs <br> Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Peter W. Fortner<br> 30 Hudson Street<br> Jersey City, NJ 07302<br> Age: 65<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2000 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2000–Present); Principal <br> Accounting Officer and Treasurer, Commerce Bank Mutual Fund <br> Complex (2008–Present); Treasurer of Goldman Sachs <br> Philanthropy Fund (2019–Present); and Treasurer of Ayco Charitable <br> Foundation (2020–Present). Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust <br> II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit <br> Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified <br> Income Fund.<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Age** <br> **and Address**<br>| **Position(s) Held**<br> **with the Trust**<br>| **Term of Office and**<br> **Length of Time**<br> **Served**<sup>1</sup><br>| **Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years** |
| Allison Fracchiolla<br> 30 Hudson Street<br> Jersey City, NJ 07302<br> Age: 39<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2014 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (January 2013–Present).Assistant <br> Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified <br> Income Fund.<br>|
| Tyler Hanks<br> 222 S. Main St<br> Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br> Age: 40<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2019 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (January 2016—Present); and <br> Associate, Goldman Sachs (January 2014—January 2016). Assistant <br> Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF <br> Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs <br> Real Estate Diversified Income Fund. <br>|
| Kirsten Frivold Imohiosen<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 52<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2019 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2018–Present); and Vice <br> President, Goldman Sachs (May 1999–December 2017).Assistant <br> Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private <br> Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market <br> Credit II LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; <br> Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman <br> Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate <br> Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Steven Z. Indich<br> 30 Hudson Street<br> Jersey City, NJ 07302<br> Age: 53<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2019 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (February 2010 – Present).Assistant <br> Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private <br> Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market <br> Credit II LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; <br> Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman <br> Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate <br> Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Carol Liu<br> 30 Hudson Street<br> Jersey City, NJ 07302<br> Age: 48<br>| Assistant <br> Treasurer<br>| Since 2019 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (October 2017 – Present); Tax <br> Director, The Raine Group LLC (August 2015 – October 2017); and <br> Tax Director, Icon Investments LLC (January 2012 – August <br> 2015).Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs <br> Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs <br> MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; <br> Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs <br> Private Middle Market Credit II LLC; Goldman Sachs Middle Market <br> Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust <br> II; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real <br> Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Age** <br> **and Address**<br>| **Position(s) Held**<br> **with the Trust**<br>| **Term of Office and**<br> **Length of Time**<br> **Served**<sup>1</sup><br>| **Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years** |
| Christopher Bradford<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 41<br>| Vice President | Since 2020 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (January 2014–Present).Vice <br> President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified <br> Income Fund; and Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund.<br>|
| Kenneth Cawley<br> 71 South Wacker Drive<br> Chicago, IL 60606<br> Age: 53<br>| Vice President | Since 2021 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2017 – Present), Vice President <br> (December 1999–2017); Associate (December 1996–December 1999); <br> Associate, Discover Financial (August 1994–December 1996).Vice <br> President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.<br>|
| Anney Chi<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 39<br>| Vice President | Since 2022 | Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2014–Present).Vice <br> President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified <br> Income Fund.<br>|
| TP Enders<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 54<br>| Vice President | Since 2021 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2012–Present); Vice <br> President, Goldman Sachs (April 2004–December 2011)Vice <br> President—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; Goldman Sachs Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy <br> Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and Goldman <br> Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|
| Frank Murphy<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 48<br>| Vice President | Since 2019 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2015 – Present); Vice President, <br> Goldman Sachs (2003 – 2014); Associate, Goldman Sachs (2001 – <br> 2002); and Analyst, Goldman Sachs (1999 – 2001).Vice <br> President—Goldman Sachs Trust; and Goldman Sachs Variable <br> Insurance Trust.<br>|
| Caroline L. Kraus<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 45<br>| Secretary | Since 2012 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2016–Present); Vice <br> President, Goldman Sachs (August 2006–December 2015); Senior <br> Counsel, Goldman Sachs (January 2020–Present); Associate General <br> Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2012–December 2019); Assistant General <br> Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2006–December 2011); and <br> Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP <br> (2002–2006).Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust (previously Assistant <br> Secretary (2012)); Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust <br> (previously Assistant Secretary (2012)); Goldman Sachs Trust II; <br> Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market <br> Credit LLC; Goldman Sachs Private Middle Market Credit II LLC; <br> Goldman Sachs Middle Market Lending Corp.; Goldman Sachs MLP <br> and Energy Renaissance Fund; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman <br> Sachs ETF Trust II; Goldman Sachs Credit Income Fund; and <br> Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name, Age** <br> **and Address**<br>| **Position(s) Held**<br> **with the Trust**<br>| **Term of Office and**<br> **Length of Time**<br> **Served**<sup>1</sup><br>| **Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years** |
| Shaun Cullinan<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 43<br>| Assistant <br> Secretary<br>| Since 2018 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (2018 – Present); Vice President, <br> Goldman Sachs (2009 – 2017); Associate, Goldman Sachs (2006 – <br> 2008); Analyst, Goldman Sachs (2004 – 2005).Assistant <br> Secretary—Goldman Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance <br> Trust; and Goldman Sachs Trust II.<br>|
| Robert Griffith<br> 200 West Street<br> New York, NY 10282<br> Age: 48<br>| Assistant <br> Secretary<br>| Since 2022 | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (September 2022 – Present); <br> General Counsel, Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (October 2021 – <br> September 2022); Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2011 – <br> October 2021); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs <br> (December 2014 – Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman <br> Sachs (August 2011 – December 2014); Vice President and Counsel, <br> Nomura Holding America, Inc. (2010 – 2011); and Associate, Simpson <br> Thacher & Bartlett LLP (2005 – 2010).Assistant Secretary—Goldman <br> Sachs Trust; Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust; Goldman Sachs <br> Trust II; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust; Goldman Sachs ETF Trust II; <br> Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund; and Goldman <br> Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund.<br>|

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<sup>1</sup>

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 four meetings during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022.

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 Funds and overseeing the Funds' 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 October 31, 2022. As stated above, each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies, the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Trust at its mailing address stated in the Funds' Prospectuses and should be directed to the attention of the Goldman Sachs Trust Governance and Nominating Committee.

The Compliance Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the compliance processes: (i) of the Funds; and (ii) insofar as they relate to services provided to the Funds, of the Funds' Investment 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 six times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Compliance Committee.

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The Contract Review Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the processes of the Board for reviewing and monitoring performance under the Funds' investment management, distribution, transfer agency and certain other agreements with the Funds' 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 Funds' distribution, service, shareholder administration and other plans, and any agreements related to the plans, whether or not such plans and agreements are adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Contract Review Committee also provides appropriate assistance to the Board in connection with the Board's approval, oversight and review of the Funds' other service providers including, without limitation, the Funds' custodian/accounting agent, sub-transfer agents, professional (legal and accounting) firms and printing firms. The Contract Review Committee met two times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee.

**Risk Oversight** 

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

The Board effectuates its oversight role primarily through regular and special meetings of the Board and Board committees. In certain cases, risk management issues are specifically addressed in reports, presentations and discussions. For example, on an annual basis, GSAM (or personnel from GSAM) will provide the Board with written reports that address the operation, adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust's liquidity risk management and derivatives risk management programs, which are generally designed to assess and manage liquidity risk and, for Full Compliance Funds, derivatives risk. GSAM also has a risk management team that assists GSAM in managing investment risk. Representatives from the risk management team meet regularly 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 Funds.

Board oversight of risk management is also performed by various Board committees. For example, the Audit Committee meets with both the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm and GSAM's internal audit group to review risk controls in place that support the Funds as well as test results, and the Compliance Committee meets with the CCO and representatives of GSAM's compliance group to review testing results of the Funds' compliance policies and procedures and other compliance issues. Board oversight of risk is also performed as needed between meetings through communications between 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 Funds' investments or activities.

**Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares** 

The following table shows the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee (then serving) in the Funds and other portfolios of the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex as of December 31, 2022, unless otherwise noted.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Trustee** | **Dollar Range of Equity Securities** <br> **in the**<br> **Funds**<sup>(1)</sup> <br>| **Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in**<br> **All Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen By**<br> **Trustee**<br>|
| Gregory G. Weaver | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
| Dwight L. Bush |  |  |
| Kathryn A. Cassidy |  | Over $100,000 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Trustee** | **Dollar Range of Equity Securities** <br> **in the**<br> **Funds**<sup>(1)</sup><br>| **Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in**<br> **All Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen By**<br> **Trustee**<br>|
| John G. Chou<sup>(2)</sup> |  |  |
| Joaquin Delgado |  | Over $100,000 |
| Eileen H. Dowling |  | $10001 - $50000 |
| Paul C. Wirth<sup>(2)</sup> | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
| Jessica Palmer |  | Over $100,000 |
| Diana Daniels |  | Over $100,000 |
| James A. McNamara | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Includes the value of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee in each Fund described in this SAI.

<sup>2</sup>

Mr. Chou and Mr. Wirth began serving as Trustees effective April 12, 2022.

As of January 31, 2023, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group owned 1.20$ of the Income Builder Fund's outstanding Class P Shares. As of the same date, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of each other class of the Income Builder Fund and each class of the Rising Dividend Growth 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 tables set forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Trust (then serving) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Trustee** | **Income Builder**<br> **Fund**<br>| **Rising Dividend**<br> **Growth**<br>|
| Gregory G. Weaver<sup>(2)</sup> | $3640 | $3240 |
| Dwight L. Bush | $3093 | $2753 |
| Kathryn A. Cassidy | $3093 | $2753 |
| John G. Chou | $1590 | $1414 |
| Joaquin Delgado | $3093 | $2753 |
| Eileen H. Dowling | $3093 | $2753 |
| Paul C. Wirth | $1590 | $1414 |
| Jessica Palmer<sup>(1)</sup> <br>| $4636 | $4126 |
| Diana Daniels | $3093 | $2753 |
| James A. McNamara<sup>(3)</sup> | $- | $- |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Trustee** | **Pension or Retirement**<br> **Benefits Accrued as Part**<br> **of the Trust's Expenses**<br>| **Total Compensation**<br> **From Fund Complex**<br> **for the Fiscal Year**<br> **Ended 10/31/21**<br> **(including the Funds)**<sup>(</sup>**4)** <br>|
| Gregory G. Weaver<sup>(2)</sup> | $0 | $419500 |
| Dwight L. Bush | $0 | $356000 |
| Kathryn A. Cassidy | $0 | $356000 |
| John G. Chou | $0 | $180500 |
| Joaquin Delgado | $0 | $356000 |
| Eileen H. Dowling | $0 | $356000 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Trustee** | **Pension or Retirement**<br> **Benefits Accrued as Part**<br> **of the Trust's Expenses**<br>| **Total Compensation**<br> **From Fund Complex**<br> **for the Fiscal Year**<br> **Ended 10/31/21**<br> **(including the Funds)**<sup>(</sup>**4)**<br>|
| Paul C. Wirth | $0 | $180500 |
| Jessica Palmer<sup>(1)</sup> | $0 | $533500 |
| Diana Daniels | $0 | $356000 |
| James A. McNamara<sup>(3)</sup> | $- | $- |

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<sup>1</sup>

Includes compensation as Board Chair.

<sup>2</sup>

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

<sup>3</sup>

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

<sup>4</sup>

Represents fees paid to each Trustee during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 from the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

The Trust, its 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 Funds.

**MANAGEMENT SERVICES** 

As stated in the Funds' Prospectuses, GSAM, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as Investment Adviser to each Fund. GSAM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and an affiliate of Goldman Sachs. Prior to the end of April 2003, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a business unit of the Investment Management Division of Goldman Sachs, served as the investment adviser to the Income Builder Fund. See "Service Providers" in the Funds' Prospectuses for a description of the Investment Adviser's duties to the Funds.

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 Funds to use the name "Goldman Sachs" or a derivative thereof as part of each Fund's name for as long as each Fund's Management Agreement (as described below) is in effect.

The Funds' management agreement (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 Funds' 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 June 14-15, 2022. A discussion regarding the Trustees' basis for approving the Management Agreement on behalf of each Fund in 2022 is available in the Funds' annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. These management arrangements were last approved by the shareholders of the Income Builder Fund on April 21, 1997, and by the Rising Dividend Growth Fund's initial sole shareholder prior to its commencement of operations.

The Management Agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2023 and will continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually as set forth in the Management Agreement.

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

Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Investment Adviser is entitled to receive the fees set forth below, payable monthly based on each Fund's average daily net assets. Also included below are the actual management fee rates paid by each Fund (after reflection of any management fee waivers, as indicated in the Funds' prospectus) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The management fee waivers will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, for the Income Builder Fund and Rising Dividend Growth Fund, respectively, and prior to such date, the Investment Adviser may not terminate these arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees. The management fee waivers 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 Actual Rate may not correlate to the Contractual Rate as a result of these management fee waivers that may be in effect from time to time. The Investment Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee payable by each Fund in an amount equal to any management fees it earns as an investment adviser to any of the affiliated funds in which each Fund invests.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Contractual Rate** | **Actual Rate for the Fiscal**<br> **Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | 0.54% on the first $1 billion<br> 0.49% over $1 billion up to $2 billion<br> 0.46% over $2 billion up to $5 billion<br> 0.45% over $5 billion up to $8 billion<br> 0.44% over $8 billion<br>| 0.41% |
| Rising Dividend Growth<br> Fund<br>| 0.75% on the first $1 billion<br> 0.68% over $1 billion up to $2 billion<br> 0.64% over $2 billion up to $5 billion<br> 0.63% over $5 billion up to $8 billion<br> 0.62% over $8 billion<br>| 0.67% |

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the amounts of the fees incurred by the Income Builder Fund under the Management Agreement were as follows (with and without the fee limitations that were then in effect):

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020** |
| **With Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **With Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **With Fee** <br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>|
| $9709424 | $11923399 | $10342335 | $10756475 | $8448963 | $8982125 |

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the amounts of the fees incurred by the Rising Dividend Growth Fund under the Management Agreement were as follows (with and without the fee limitations that were then in effect):

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020** |
| **With Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **With Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **With Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>| **Without Fee**<br> **Waivers**<br>|
| $3366118 | $3788422 | $3905808 | $3921330 | $4077720 | $4228186 |

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Unless required to be performed by others pursuant to agreements with the Funds, the Investment Adviser also performs certain administrative services for each 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

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provide effective 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 prospectus 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.

Legal Proceedings. On October 22, 2020, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. announced a settlement of matters involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd. (1MDB), a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, with the United States Department of Justice as well as criminal and civil authorities in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong. Further information regarding the 1MDB settlement can be found at https://www.goldmansachs.com/media-relations/press-releases/current/goldman-sachs-2020-10-22.html. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. previously entered into a settlement agreement with the Government of Malaysia and 1MDB to resolve all criminal and regulatory proceedings in Malaysia relating to 1MDB.

The Investment Adviser, Goldman Sachs and certain of their affiliates have received exemptive relief from the SEC to permit them to continue serving as investment adviser and principal underwriter for U.S.-registered investment companies.

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 as of October 31, 2022, unless otherwise noted.

For each portfolio manager 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.

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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Portfolio Manager** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Other Accounts Managed and Total Assets by**<br> **Account Type** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** | **Number of Accounts and Total Assets for Which Advisory Fee**<br> **is Performance Based** |
| **Name of Portfolio Manager** | **Registered**<br> **Investment**<br> **Companies** | **Registered**<br> **Investment**<br> **Companies** | **Other Pooled**<br> **Investment Vehicles** | **Other Pooled**<br> **Investment Vehicles** | **Other Accounts** | **Other Accounts** | **Registered**<br> **Investment**<br> **Companies** | **Registered**<br> **Investment**<br> **Companies** | **Other Pooled**<br> **Investment Vehicles** | **Other Pooled**<br> **Investment Vehicles** | **Other Accounts** | **Other Accounts** |
| **Name of Portfolio Manager** | **Number** <br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed**<br> **($MM)**<br>| **Number**<br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed**<br> **($MM)**<br>| **Number**<br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed ($MM)**<br>| **Number**<br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed**<br> **($MM)**<br>| **Number**<br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed ($MM)**<br>| **Number**<br> **of**<br> **Accounts**<br>| **Assets**<br> **Managed**<br> **($MM)**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Ron Arons | 42 | $10692 | 66 | $13657 | 7653 | $242260 | 0 | $- | 19 | $2388 | 11 | $1693 |
| Kevin Martens | 7 | $2592 | 1 | $671 | 16 | $1959 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Charles "Brook" Dane | 9 | $3179 | 13 | $7524 | 42 | $2813 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Neill Nuttall | 31 | $23115 | 28 | $10213 | 131 | $120728 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 2 | $3110 |
| Ashish Shah<sup>(1)</sup> | 100 | $456350 | 338 | $261970 | 37875 | $524805 | 0 | $- | 43 | $7220 | 30 | $10677 |
| Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo | 27 | $21056 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Monali Vora | 10 | $9784 | 5 | $5753 | 30685 | $99196 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Aron Kershner | 10 | $9784 | 5 | $5753 | 30685 | $99196 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Siwen Wu | 21 | $10922 | 5 | $2562 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |
| Kyri Loupis | 3 | $2122 | 3 | $192 | 987 | $1733 | 0 | $- | 0 | $- | 0 | $- |

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Assets are in millions of USD

(1) For certain portfolio managers listed, 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.

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<u>Conflicts of Interest</u>. The Investment Adviser's portfolio managers are often responsible for managing the Income Builder 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. It 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 manager's 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 year-end 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 GSAM and Goldman Sachs; the team's net revenues for the past year which in part is derived from advisory fees, and for certain accounts, performance-based fees; and anticipated compensation levels among competitor firms. Portfolio managers are rewarded, in part, for their delivery of investment performance, 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 benchmarks for the Income Builder Fund are Russell 1000<sup>®</sup> Value Index and the ICE BofAML BB to B U.S. High Yield Constrained Index.

The discretionary variable compensation for portfolio managers is also significantly influenced by various factors, including: (1) effective participation in team research discussions and process; and (2) management of risk in alignment with the targeted risk parameters and investment objectives of a Fund. Other factors may also be considered including: (1) general client/shareholder orientation and (2) teamwork and leadership.

As part of their year-end discretionary variable compensation and subject to certain eligibility requirements, portfolio managers may receive deferred equity-based and similar awards, in the form of: (1) shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (restricted stock units); and, (2) for certain portfolio managers, performance-tracking (or "phantom") shares of a Fund or multiple funds. Performance-tracking shares are designed to provide a rate of return (net of fees) equal to that of the Fund(s) that a portfolio manager manages, or one or more other eligible funds, as determined by senior management, thereby aligning portfolio manager compensation with fund shareholder interests. The awards are subject to vesting requirements, deferred payment and clawback and forfeiture provisions. GSAM, Goldman Sachs or their affiliates expect, but are not required to, hedge the exposure of the performance-tracking shares of a Fund by, among other things, purchasing shares of the relevant Fund(s).

Other Compensation—In addition to base salary and year-end discretionary variable compensation, the Investment Adviser has a number of additional benefits in place including (1) a 401(k) program that enables employees to direct a percentage of their base 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.

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**Portfolio Managers—Portfolio Managers' Ownership of Securities in the Funds They Manage** 

The following table shows the portfolio managers' ownership of securities, including those beneficially owned as well as those owned pursuant to the deferred compensation plan discussed above, in the Funds they manage as of October 31, 2022, unless otherwise noted:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Name of Portfolio Manager** | **Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially**<br> **Owned by Portfolio Manager**<br>|
| **<u>Income Builder Fund</u>** |  |
| Ron Arons | $100001–$500000 |
| Kevin Martens |  |
| Charles "Brook" Dane | $100001–$500000 |
| Neill Nuttall | $100001–$500000 |
| Ashish Shah | $1000001–$2000000 |
| Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo | $50001–$100000 |
| **<u>Rising Dividend Growth Fund</u>** |  |
| Aron Kershner | $50001–$100000 |
| Monali Vora | $100001–$500000 |
| Siwen Wu |  |
| Kyri Loupis |  |

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**Distributor and Transfer Agent** 

Distributor. Goldman Sachs, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, serves as the exclusive Distributor of shares of the Funds pursuant to a "best efforts" arrangement as provided by a distribution agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Funds. Shares of the Funds are offered and sold on a continuous basis by Goldman Sachs, acting as agent. Pursuant to the distribution agreement, after the Prospectuses and periodic reports have been prepared, set in type and mailed to shareholders, Goldman Sachs will pay for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the offering to prospective investors. Goldman Sachs will also pay for other supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. Goldman Sachs may enter into sales agreements with certain Intermediaries to solicit subscriptions for Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R, Class R6 and Class P Shares of the Funds. Goldman Sachs receives a portion of the sales charge imposed on the sale, in the case of Class A Shares, or redemption, in the case of Class C Shares (and in certain cases, Class A Shares), of the Fund shares.

Goldman Sachs retained approximately the following combined commissions on sales of Class A and Class C Shares of the Income Builder Fund and the Rising Dividend Growth Fund during the following periods:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $89455 | $61500 | $65397 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $21044 | $11610 | $12276 |

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Dealer Reallowances. Class A Shares of each Fund are sold subject to a front-end sales charge, as described in the applicable Prospectus and in this SAI in the section "SHARES OF THE TRUST." Goldman Sachs may pay commissions to Intermediaries that sell Class A Shares of each Fund in the form of a "reallowance" of all or a portion of the sales charge paid on the purchase of those shares. Goldman Sachs reallows the following amounts, expressed as a percentage of each Fund's offering price with respect to purchases of Class A Shares under $50,000:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Dealer Reallowances**<br> **Percentage of Offering**<br> **Price**<br>|
| Income Builder | 5.10% |
| Rising Dividend Growth | 4.80%  |

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Dealer allowances may be changed periodically. During special promotions, the entire sales charge may be reallowed to Intermediaries. Intermediaries to whom substantially the entire sales charge is reallowed may be deemed to be "underwriters" under the 1933 Act.

Transfer Agent. Goldman Sachs, P.O. Box 806395, Chicago, IL 60680-4125 serves as the Trust's transfer and dividend disbursing agent. Under its transfer agency agreement with the Trust, Goldman Sachs has undertaken with the Trust to (i) record the issuance, transfer and redemption of shares, (ii) provide purchase and redemption confirmations and quarterly statements, as well as certain other statements, (iii) provide certain information to the Trust's custodian and the relevant sub-custodian in connection with redemptions, (iv) provide dividend crediting and certain disbursing agent services, (v) maintain shareholder accounts, (vi) provide certain state Blue Sky and other information, (vii) provide shareholders and certain regulatory authorities with tax-related information, (viii) respond to shareholder inquiries, and (ix) render certain other miscellaneous services. For its transfer agency services, Goldman Sachs is entitled to receive a transfer agency fee equal, on an annualized basis, to 0.03% of average daily net assets with respect to each Fund's Class R6 and Class P Shares (as applicable), 0.04% of average daily net assets with respect to each Fund's Institutional Shares, 0.12% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C, and Investor Shares of the Income Builder Fund, and 0.16% of average daily net assets with respect to the Class A, Class C, Investor and Class R Shares of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund. Goldman Sachs may pay to certain intermediaries who perform transfer agent services to shareholders a networking or sub-transfer agent fee. These payments will be made from the transfer agency fees noted above and in the Funds' Prospectuses. Goldman Sachs has agreed to waive a portion of its transfer agency fee, a component of "Other Expenses," equal to 0.06% as an annual percentage rate of the average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C, Investor, and Class R Shares of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund. These arrangements will remain in effect through at least February 28, 2024, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser, and Goldman Sachs may not terminate the arrangements without the approval of the Board of Trustees.

As compensation for services rendered to the Trust by Goldman Sachs as Transfer Agent and the assumption by Goldman Sachs of the expenses related thereto, Goldman Sachs received fees for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 from the Income Builder Fund as follows under the fee schedules then in effect.

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Income Builder Fund** | **Class A and C**<br> **Shares**<br>| **Institutional**<br> **Shares**<br>| **Class R and**<br> **Investor Shares**<br>| **Class R6 Shares** | **Class P Shares** |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2022<br>| $995197 | $420224 | $473982 | $8551 | $14860 |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2021<br>| $979760 | $368943 | $374447 | $6675 | $8534 |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2020<sup>1</sup><br>| $1145734 | $263340 | $412881 | $16166 | $4657 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Prior to July 1, 2020, the fee for Transfer Agent and dividend disbursing agent services with respect to Class A, Class C, and Investor Shares was 0.17%.

As compensation for the services rendered to the Trust by Goldman Sachs as Transfer Agent and the assumption by Goldman Sachs of the expenses related thereto, Goldman Sachs received fees for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 from the Rising Dividend Growth Fund as follows under the fee schedules then in effect.

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| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Rising**<br> **Dividend Growth Fund**<br>| **Class A and C**<br> **Shares**<br>| **Institutional**<br> **Shares**<br>| **Class R and**<br> **Investor Shares**<br>| **Class R6 Shares** | **Class P Shares** |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2022<br>| $480314 | $47682 | $108561 | $936 | $4426 |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2021<br>| $513779 | $46215 | $115660 | $753 | $3419 |
| Fiscal Year Ended<br> October 31, 2020<sup>1</sup><br>| $542953 | $56666 | $138031 | $651 | $3628 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Prior to July 1, 2020, the fee for Transfer Agent and dividend disbursing agent services with respect to Class A, Class C, Class R and Investor Shares was 0.17%.

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The Trust's distribution and transfer agency agreements each provide that Goldman Sachs may render similar services to others so long as the services Goldman Sachs provides thereunder are not impaired thereby. Such agreements also provide that the Trust will indemnify Goldman Sachs against certain liabilities.

**Expenses** 

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

The imposition of the Investment Adviser's fees, as well as other operating expenses, will have the effect of reducing the total return to investors. From time to time, the Investment Adviser may waive receipt of its fees and/or assume certain expenses of a Fund, which would have the effect of lowering that Fund's overall expense ratio and increasing total return to investors at the time such amounts are waived or assumed, as the case may be.

The Investment Adviser has agreed to reduce or limit certain "Other Expenses" (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, transfer agency fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, expenses of shareholder meetings, litigation and indemnification, and extraordinary expenses) to the following annual percentage rates of each Fund's average daily net assets through at least February 28, 2024, for the Income Builder Fund and Rising Dividend Growth Fund, respectively, and prior to such date the Investment Adviser may not terminate the arrangements 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.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Other Expenses** |
| Income Builder Fund | 0.004% |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | 0.014% |

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Such reductions or limits, if any, are calculated monthly on a cumulative basis during each Fund's fiscal year. The Funds' "Other Expenses" may be further reduced by any custody and transfer agency fee credits received by the Funds.

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

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020, the amounts of certain "Other Expenses" of the Income Builder Fund and the Rising Dividend Growth Fund were reduced by the Investment Adviser in the following amounts under the expense limitation that was then in effect:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $1002150 | $778563 | $505716 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $507927 | $526257 | $580838 |

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**Custodian and Sub-Custodians** 

State Street, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, is the custodian of each Fund's portfolio securities and cash. State Street also maintains the Trust's accounting records for each Fund. State Street may appoint domestic and foreign sub-custodians and use depositories from time to time to hold certain securities and other instruments purchased by the Trust in foreign countries and to hold cash and currencies for the Trust.

**Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm** 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 101 Seaport Boulevard, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02210, is the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. In addition to audit services, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides assistance on certain non-audit matters.

**Securities Lending** 

Pursuant to an agreement between the Income Builder Fund and the Bank of New York Mellon ("BNYM"), the Fund may lend their securities through BNYM as securities lending agent to certain qualified borrowers, including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates (the "Securities Agency Lending Agreement"). As securities lending agent of the Fund, BNYM administers the Fund's securities lending program. These services include arranging the securities loans with approved borrowers and collecting fees and rebates due to the Fund from each borrower. BNYM also collects and maintains collateral intended to secure the obligations of each borrower and marks to market daily the value of loaned securities. If a borrower defaults on a loan, BNYM is authorized to exercise contractual remedies as securities lending agent to the Fund and, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, has agreed to indemnify the Fund for losses due to a borrower's failure to return a lent security, which exclude losses associated with collateral reinvestment. BNYM may also, in its capacity as securities lending agent, invest cash received as collateral in pre-approved investments in accordance with the Securities Lending Agency Agreement. BNYM maintains records of loans made and income derived therefrom and makes available such records that the Fund deems necessary to monitor the securities lending program.

Pursuant to exemptive relief granted by the SEC, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund has entered into an agreement to lend its securities through a securities lending agent, Goldman Sachs Bank USA doing business as Goldman Sachs Agency Lending ("GSAL"), to certain qualified borrowers, including Goldman Sachs and its affiliates (the "Securities Lending Agency Agreement"). As securities lending agent of the Fund, GSAL administers the Fund's securities lending program. These services include arranging the securities loans with approved borrowers and collecting fees and rebates due to the Fund from each borrower. GSAL also collects and maintains collateral intended to secure the obligations of each borrower and marks to market daily the value of loaned securities. If a borrower defaults on a loan, GSAL is authorized to exercise contractual remedies on behalf of the lending Fund and, pursuant to the terms of the Securities Lending Agency Agreement, has agreed to indemnify the Fund for certain losses, which exclude losses associated with collateral reinvestment. GSAL may also, in its capacity as securities lending agent, invest cash received as collateral in pre-approved investments in accordance with the Securities Lending Agency Agreement. GSAL maintains records of loans made and income derived therefrom and makes available such records that the Fund deems necessary to monitor the securities lending program. GSAL will also monitor the Fund's securities lending activities on a daily basis to ensure compliance with the terms of the exemptive relief.

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For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Funds earned income and incurred the following costs and expenses as a result of their securities lending activities:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Income Builder Fund** | **Rising Dividend Growth**<br> **Fund**<br>|
| Gross Income from Securities Lending Activities<sup>1</sup> | $129084 | $12273 |
| *Fees and/or Compensation for Securities Lending Activities and Related Services* |  |  |
| Revenue Split<sup>2</sup> | 7535 | 481 |
| Cash Collateral Management Fees<sup>2</sup> | 8393 | 1845 |
| Administration Fees | - | - |
| Indemnification Fees | - | - |
| Rebates to Borrowers | 29407 | 5614 |
| Other Fees | - | - |
| Aggregate Fees/Compensation for Securities<br> Lending Activities<br>| 45334 | 7941 |
| Net Income from the Securities Lending<br> Activities<br>| 83750 | 4333 |

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Gross income includes income from the reinvestment of cash collateral, premium income (i.e., rebates paid by the borrower to the lending Fund), loan fees paid by borrowers when collateral is noncash, management fees from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle that are deducted from the vehicle's assets before income is distributed, and any other income.

Revenue split represents the share of revenue generated by the securities lending program and paid to BNYM and GSAL.

Cash collateral management fees include the contractual management fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle that are not included in the revenue split. The contractual management fees are derived from the pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle's most recently available prospectus or offering memorandum. Actual fees incurred from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle may differ due to other expenses, fee waivers and expense reimbursements.

**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 individuals. Goldman Sachs acts as broker-dealer, investment adviser, investment banker, underwriter, research provider, administrator, financier, adviser, market maker, trader, prime broker, derivatives dealer, clearing agent, lender, counterparty, agent, principal, distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated investment funds (including pooled investment vehicles and private funds). In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs advises and deals with clients and third parties 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. In addition, Goldman Sachs has direct and indirect interests in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equities, bank loan and other markets. In certain cases, the Investment Adviser causes the Funds to invest in products and strategies sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs or in which Goldman Sachs has an interest, either directly or indirectly, or otherwise restricts the Funds from making such investments, as further described herein. In this regard, there are instances when Goldman Sachs' activities and dealings with other clients and third parties affect the Funds in ways that disadvantage the Funds and/or benefit Goldman Sachs or other Accounts.

In addition, the Investment Adviser's activities on behalf of certain other entities that are not investment advisory clients of the Investment Adviser create conflicts of interest between such entities, on the one hand, and Accounts (including the Funds), on the

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other hand, that are the same as or similar to the conflicts that arise between the Funds and other Accounts, as described herein. In managing conflicts of interest that arise as a result of the foregoing, the Investment Adviser generally will be subject to fiduciary requirements. For purposes of this "POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST" section, "Funds" shall mean, collectively, the Funds 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 Funds.

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, 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 are generally 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, 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 have conflicts that create incentives for them to promote the Funds.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs and the Funds have in the past made, and may in the future 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 create an incentive for such persons to highlight, feature or recommend the Funds.

*Allocation of Investment Opportunities Among the Funds and Other Accounts* 

The Investment Adviser manages or advises 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 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, direct loan originations, 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).

Accounts (including the Funds) may invest in other Accounts (including the Funds) at or near the establishment of such Accounts, which may facilitate the Accounts achieving a specified size or scale.

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 will be faced with a conflict of interest when allocating scarce investment opportunities given the possibly greater fees from Accounts that pay performance-based fees.

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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. However, the availability, amount, timing, structuring or terms of an investment available to the Funds differ from, and performance may be lower than, the investments and performance of other Accounts in certain cases. In addition, 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. Furthermore, certain investment opportunities sourced by the Investment Adviser, or Goldman Sachs businesses or divisions outside of the Investment Adviser, may be allocated to Goldman Sachs for its own account or investment vehicles organized to facilitate investment by its current or former directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers, employees, and their families and related entities, including employee benefit plans in which they participate, and current consultants, and not to Accounts. See Item 11 ("Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions—Certain Effects of the Activities of Goldman Sachs and Advisory Accounts") of the Investment Adviser's Form ADV.

Allocation-related decisions for the Funds and other Accounts are made by reference to one or more factors. Factors may include: the Account's portfolio and its investment horizons and objectives (including with respect to portfolio construction and target returns), guidelines and restrictions (including legal and regulatory restrictions affecting certain Accounts or affecting holdings across Accounts); client instructions; adverse effects of timing on other Accounts or the Investment Adviser potentially participating in the investment opportunity; 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; anticipated magnitude of the overall investment program for the then current year and any changes in the rate at which the program is carried out; the availability (or lack thereof) of other appropriate or substantially similar investment opportunities; the opportunity to invest in different layers in the capital structure of a company; differences in benchmark factors and hedging strategies among Accounts; the Investment Adviser's perception of a potential co-investment party's interest; and the source of the investment opportunity. 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 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 makes 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.

The Investment Adviser, from time to time, develops and implements new trading strategies or seeks to participate in new trading strategies and investment opportunities. These strategies and opportunities are not 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. 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 depends 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

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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. Some or all Funds may, from time to time, be offered investment opportunities that are made available through Goldman Sachs businesses outside of the Investment Adviser, including, for example, interests in real estate and other private investments. In this regard, a conflict of interest exists to the extent that Goldman Sachs controls or otherwise influences the terms and pricing of such investments and/or retains other benefits in connection therewith. However, 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 Accounts, or made available to other Accounts or third parties, and the Funds will not receive any compensation related to such opportunities. Even in the case of an opportunity received by a Fund pursuant to contractual requirements, the Investment Adviser may decide in its discretion that the Fund will not participate in such opportunity for portfolio construction reasons, due to the investment objective and strategies of such Fund, or because the Investment Adviser determines that participation would not be appropriate for such Fund for other reasons, in which case the Investment Adviser may allocate such opportunity to another Account. 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). In addition, due to regulatory or other considerations, the receipt of an investment opportunity by certain Funds may restrict or limit the ability of other Funds to receive an allocation of the same opportunity. 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, valuation agent 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. Certain Accounts are, by their terms or by determination of the Investment Adviser, on a case-by-case basis, not responsible for their share of such expenses, and, in addition, the Investment Adviser has agreed with certain Accounts to cap the amount of expenses (or the amount of certain types of expenses) borne by such Accounts, which results in such Accounts not bearing the full share of expenses they would otherwise have borne as described above. As a result, certain Accounts are responsible for bearing a different or greater amount of expenses, while other Accounts do not bear any, or do not bear their full share, of such expenses. The Investment Adviser may bear any such expenses on behalf of certain Accounts and not for others, as it determines in its sole discretion. If the Investment Adviser bears expenses on behalf of an Account and the Account subsequently receives reimbursement for such expenses, the Investment Adviser will generally be entitled to receive all or a portion of the amount of such reimbursement, up to the amount that was borne by the Investment Adviser on behalf of such Account.

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,

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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, entertainment and overtime meal and transportation 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 will 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.

**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 designed 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 certain information and personnel, including senior personnel, in other areas of Goldman Sachs relating to business transactions for clients (including transactions in investing, banking, prime brokerage and certain other areas), 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, will from time to time 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 is adverse to the Funds, and will not have any obligation or other duty to share information with the Investment Adviser.

In limited circumstances, however, including for purposes of managing business and reputational risk, and subject to policies and procedures, personnel on one side of an information barrier may have access to information and personnel on the other side of the information barrier through "wall crossings." The Investment Adviser faces conflicts of interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. In addition, Goldman Sachs or the Investment Adviser may determine to move certain personnel, businesses, or business units from one side of an information barrier to the other side of the information barrier. In connection therewith, Goldman Sachs personnel, businesses, and business units that were moved will no longer have access to the personnel, businesses and business units on the side of the information barrier from which they were moved.

Information obtained in connection with such wall crossings and changes to information barriers may limit or restrict the ability of the Investment Adviser to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of the Funds (including purchasing or selling securities that the Investment Adviser may otherwise have purchased or sold for an Account in the absence of a wall crossing or change to an information barrier). In managing conflicts of interest that arise as a result of the foregoing, the Investment Adviser generally will be subject to fiduciary requirements. Information barriers also exist between certain businesses within the Investment Adviser. The conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Goldman Sachs and the Investment Adviser also apply to the Asset Management Division of Goldman Sachs (of which the Investment Adviser is a part), as well as to the businesses within the Asset Management Division of Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser). In addition, 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

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activities, strategies or views used for other Accounts. Furthermore, to the extent that the Investment Adviser has developed fundamental analysis and proprietary technical models or other information, Goldman Sachs and its personnel, or other parts of the Investment Adviser, will not be under any obligation or other duty to share certain information with the Investment Adviser or personnel involved in decision-making for Accounts (including the Funds), and the Funds may make investment decisions that differ from those they would have made if Goldman Sachs had provided such information, and be disadvantaged as a result thereof.

Different areas of the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs take views, and make decisions or recommendations, that are different than those of other areas of the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs. Different portfolio management teams within the Investment Adviser make decisions based on information or take (or refrain from taking) actions with respect to Accounts they advise in a manner different than or adverse to the Funds. Such teams do 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 Prime Services, which provides prime brokerage, administrative and other services to clients that from time to time 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. Prime Services 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 from time to time acts 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 will possess 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 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 Goldman Sachs, or another division or unit within Goldman Sachs values the asset, including because Goldman Sachs, or 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 to different valuation guidelines pursuant to their respective governing agreements (e.g., in connection with certain regulatory restrictions applicable to different Accounts). In addition, there may be significant differences in the treatment of the same asset by the Investment Adviser and Goldman Sachs, other divisions or units of Goldman Sachs, and/or among Accounts (e.g., with respect to an asset that is a loan, there can be differences when it is determined that such loan is deemed to be on non-accrual status or in default). Differences in valuation should be expected where 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 will, under certain circumstances, result in improved performance of the Funds.

***Data and Information Sharing*** 

Accounts, the Investment Adviser, and/or their respective affiliates, portfolio companies and other investments (collectively, the "Data Parties") often possess data and information that they may utilize for various purposes and which they would not otherwise possess in the ordinary course of their businesses. For example, information relating to business operations, trends, budgets, customers or users, assets, funding and other metrics that the Data Parties possess or acquire through their management of Accounts and/or their own businesses and investment activities may be used by Goldman Sachs to identify and/or evaluate potential investments for Accounts and to facilitate the management of Accounts, including through operational improvements. Conversely,

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Goldman Sachs may use data and information that it has or acquires in connection with an Account's activities for the benefit of Goldman Sachs' own businesses and investment activities and their portfolio companies and other investments.

From time to time, Goldman Sachs may commission third-party research, at an Account's expense, in connection with the diligence of an investment opportunity or in connection with its management of a portfolio investment, and such research is expected to subsequently be available to other investment vehicles (and such persons will generally not be required to compensate an Account for the benefit they receive from such research). Such benefits could be material and Goldman Sachs will have no duty, contractual, fiduciary or otherwise, not to use such information in connection with the business and investment activities of itself, Accounts and/or their portfolio companies and other investments.

Furthermore, except for contractual obligations to third parties to maintain confidentiality of certain information, regulatory limitations on the use of material nonpublic information, and the Data Parties' information walls, Goldman Sachs is generally free to use data and information from an Account's activities to assist in the pursuit of its various other interests and activities, including to trade for the benefit of Goldman Sachs or another Account. Accounts and other sources of such data and information may not receive any financial or other benefit from having provided such data and information to Goldman Sachs. The potential ability to monetize such data and information may create incentives for Goldman Sachs to cause an Account to invest in entities and companies with a significant amount of data that it might not otherwise have invested in or on terms less favorable than it otherwise would have sought to obtain.

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

The Investment Adviser provides advisory services to 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 which case Goldman Sachs is incentivized to favor such Accounts. 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 compete for commercial arrangements or transactions in the same types of companies, assets securities and other instruments, as the Funds. Such arrangements, transactions or investments adversely affect such Funds by, for example, limiting their ability to engage in such activity or affecting the pricing or terms of such arrangements, transactions or investments. Moreover, a particular 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 are disadvantageous to the Fund. Additionally, as described below, the Investment Adviser faces conflicts of interest arising out of Goldman Sachs' relationships and business dealings in connection with decisions to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of Accounts when doing so would be adverse to Goldman Sachs' relationships or other business dealings with such parties.

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 it should be expected that such Accounts 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).

In various circumstances, different Accounts make investments as part of a single transaction, including in situations in which multiple Accounts comprise a single "fund family." In these circumstances, the participating Accounts may have different interests, including investment horizons. Similarly, capital contribution and other obligations associated with an investment may extend beyond a particular Account's investment period or expected term. In such circumstances, the Investment Adviser may negotiate the terms of an investment on a collective basis and such terms may not be as favorable, from the perspective of a particular Account, than if the Account had been the sole participating Account. Terms required by one Account (for example, due to regulatory requirements) when it invests may negatively impact the ability of another Account to consummate the investment or may adversely alter its terms. Similarly, one Account may seek to dispose of an investment at a time when it would be desirable for another Account to continue to hold such investment (or vice versa). Depending on the structure of the applicable investment, disposing of a portion of the investment may not be practicable or may have adverse effects on the rights of Accounts continuing to hold the investment. When making an investment decision with respect to an investment in which multiple Accounts are invested, Goldman Sachs may primarily

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take into account the specific effect such investment decision will have on the Accounts as a whole, and not based on the best interests of any particular Account.

In addition, 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, if a Fund buys a security and an Account establishes a short position in that same security or in similar securities, such short position may result in the impairment of the price of the security that the Fund holds or could 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. Furthermore, 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. 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.

The Funds are expected to transact with a variety of counterparties. Some of these counterparties will also engage in transactions with other Accounts managed by the Investment Adviser or another Goldman Sachs entity or business unit. For example, a Fund may directly or indirectly purchase assets from a counterparty at the same time the counterparty (or an affiliate thereof) is also negotiating to purchase different assets from another Account. This creates potential conflicts of interest, particularly with respect to the terms and purchase prices of the sales. For example, Goldman Sachs may receive fees or other compensation in connection with the sale of assets by an Account to a counterparty, which creates an incentive to negotiate a higher purchase price for those assets in a separate transaction where the Fund is a purchaser.

Similarly, a particular Fund may dispose of one or more assets through a block sale that includes assets held by other Accounts or as part of a series of transactions in which assets from multiple Accounts are sold to the same purchaser. This creates potential conflicts of interest, particularly with regard to the determination of the purchase prices of the applicable assets. For example, Goldman Sachs may receive greater fees or other compensation (including performance-based fees) in connection with the sale of assets in other Accounts that participate in a block sale as compared to the compensation that Goldman Sachs receives in connection with the sale of assets by the particular Fund. There can be no assurance that the compensation received by the particular Fund as a result of participating in a block sale would be greater than the compensation that the particular Fund would receive if its assets were sold as part of a standalone transaction. Any such transaction will be effected in accordance with the Investment Adviser's fiduciary obligations.

Shareholders may be offered access to advisory services through several different Goldman Sachs businesses (including through Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and the Investment Adviser). Different advisory businesses within Goldman Sachs manage Accounts according to different strategies and apply different criteria to the same or similar strategies and 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 can have differing or opposite investment views in respect of an issuer or a security, and as a result some or all of the positions a Fund's investment team or portfolio managers take in respect of the Fund will 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 will 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 at any particular time or 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. The timing of transactions entered into or recommended by Goldman Sachs, on behalf of itself or its clients, including the Funds, may negatively impact the Funds or benefit certain other Accounts. For example, if Goldman Sachs, on behalf of one or more Accounts, implements 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), it could result, due to market impact or other factors, in liquidity constraints or in certain Funds receiving less favorable investment or trading results or incurring increased costs. Similarly, if Goldman Sachs implements an investment decision or strategy that results in a purchase (or

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sale) of a security for one Fund, such implementation may increase the value of such security already held by another Account (or decrease the value of such security that such other Account intends to purchase), thereby benefitting such other Account.

Subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser is incentivized to 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. The Investment Adviser, in its discretion and in certain circumstances, recommends that certain Funds have ongoing business dealings, arrangements or agreements with persons who are (i) former employees of Goldman Sachs, (ii) affiliates or other portfolio companies of Goldman Sachs or other Accounts, (iii) Goldman Sachs' employees' family members and/or relatives and/or certain of their portfolio companies or (iv) persons 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, pose conflicts of interest and may be based on differing incentives due to Goldman Sachs' relationships with such persons. In particular, when acting on behalf of, and making decisions for, Accounts, the Investment Adviser may take into account Goldman Sachs' interests in maintaining its relationships and business dealings with such persons. As a result, the Investment Adviser faces conflicts of interest arising out of Goldman Sachs' relationships and business dealings in connection with decisions to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of Accounts when doing so would be adverse to Goldman Sachs' relationships or other business dealings with such parties.

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 reasonable. 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 provides 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 arise between Accounts (including the Funds) with existing investments in a company and Accounts making subsequent investments in the company, which 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).

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***Diverse Interests of Shareholders*** 

It should be expected that the various types of investors in and beneficiaries of the Funds, including to the extent applicable the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, 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 makes decisions, including with respect to tax matters, from time to time that will 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 faces 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 in certain cases also provide services to Goldman Sachs and other Accounts. In addition, certain service providers to the Investment Adviser or Funds are also portfolio companies or other affiliates of the Investment Adviser or other Accounts (for example, a portfolio company of an Account may retain a portfolio company of another Account). To the extent it is involved in such selection, 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 influence the Investment Adviser's selection of these service providers for the Funds. In such circumstances, there is a conflict of interest between Goldman Sachs (acting on behalf of the Funds) and the Funds or between Funds if the Funds determine not to engage or continue to engage these service providers.

The Investment Adviser may, in its sole discretion, determine to provide, or engage or recommend an affiliate of the Investment Adviser to provide, certain services, including, but not limited to, services such as internal legal and accounting services, to the Funds, instead of engaging or recommending one or more third parties to provide such services. Subject to the governance requirements of a particular Fund and applicable law, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, as applicable, will receive compensation in connection with the provision of such services. As a result, the Investment Adviser faces a conflict of interest when selecting or recommending service providers for the Funds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selection or recommendation 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 or recommended 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), its personnel, 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 will, from time to time invest in money market and/or 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. To the extent consistent with applicable law, certain Funds that invest in other funds sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs pay advisory fees to the Investment Adviser that are not reduced by any fees payable by such other funds to Goldman Sachs as manager of such other funds (i.e., there will 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 other funds). 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.

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The Investment Adviser, from time to time, manages Accounts (including the Funds), which may, individually or in the aggregate, own a substantial amount of the Funds. Further, the Investment Adviser, its affiliates, or another entity (i.e., a seed investor) may invest in the Funds at or near the establishment of such Funds, which may facilitate the Funds achieving a specified size or scale. Seed investors may contribute all or a majority of the assets in the Fund. There is a risk that such seed investors may redeem their investments in the Fund. Such redemptions could have a significant negative impact on the Fund, including on its liquidity.

***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.

***Distributions of Assets Other Than Cash*** 

With respect to redemptions from the Funds, the Funds will, 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 will sometimes have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to redeeming investors and remaining investors.

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

***Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer's Capital Structure*** 

In some cases, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) or Accounts, on the one hand, and the Funds, on the other hand, 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, in some cases, Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) advises 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) is able to 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 inaction) 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 that has, or terms in connection with the foregoing, that 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 recovers 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, in a manner 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 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) relies on information barriers between different Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) business units or portfolio management teams. Goldman Sachs

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(including the Investment Adviser) in some circumstances relies 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. It should be expected that the negative effects described above will 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 certain Funds (for example, those employing taxable fixed income, municipal bond fixed income and structured investment strategies), may (but is under no obligation or other duty to) 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 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) 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 are 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 and/or ability 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 will 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, and cross transactions may be effected at different prices for different Accounts due to differing legal and/or regulatory requirements applicable to such Accounts. Certain Accounts are also prohibited from participating in cross transactions, even if consent is obtained. Where principal, cross or agency cross transactions are not prohibited, such transactions will be effected in accordance with fiduciary requirements and applicable law (which include disclosure and consent).

***Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities*** 

To the extent permitted by applicable law, an issuer in which a Fund has an interest may hire Goldman Sachs to provide underwriting, merger advisory, other financial advisory, placement agency, foreign currency hedging, research, asset management services, brokerage services or other services to the issuer. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages, advises or provides services to affiliated Underlying Funds (or their personnel) in which the Funds invest. 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 takes commercial steps in its own interest, or advises the parties to which it is providing services, or takes other actions. Such actions may benefit Goldman Sachs. 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. If Goldman Sachs advises a company to make changes to its capital structure, the result would be a reduction in the value or priority of a security held (directly or indirectly) by one or more Funds. In addition, underwriters, placement agents or managers of initial public offerings, including Goldman Sachs, often require the Funds who hold privately placed securities of a company to execute a lock-up agreement prior to such company's initial public offering restricting the resale of the securities for a period of time before and following the IPO. As a result, the Investment Adviser will be restricted from selling the securities in such Funds at a more favorable price. Actions taken or advised to be taken by Goldman Sachs in connection with other

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types of transactions may also result in adverse consequences for the Funds. Goldman Sachs faces conflicts of interest in providing and selecting services for the Funds because Goldman Sachs provides many services and has many commercial relationships with companies and affiliated and unaffiliated Underlying Funds (or their applicable personnel). Providing services to the Funds and companies (or their personnel) in which the Funds invest enhances Goldman Sachs' relationships with various parties, facilitates additional business development and enables Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and/or generate additional revenue. The Funds will not be entitled to compensation related to any such benefit to businesses of Goldman Sachs. In addition, such relationships may adversely impact the Funds, including, for example, by restricting potential investment opportunities, as described below, incentivizing the Investment Adviser to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of the Funds when doing so would be adverse to such business relationships, and/or influencing the Investment Adviser's selection or recommendation of certain investment products and/or strategies over others.

Certain of Goldman Sachs' activities on behalf of its clients also restrict investment opportunities that are otherwise 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 are potential investment opportunities for the Funds. There are circumstances in which the Funds are precluded from participating in such transactions as a result of Goldman Sachs' engagement by such companies. In addition, in connection with an equity offering of securities of a portfolio company for which Goldman Sachs is acting as an underwriter, Accounts may, in certain instances, be subject to regulatory restrictions (in addition to contractual restrictions) on their ability to sell equity securities of the portfolio company for a period after completion of the offering. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act for these companies in such circumstances, notwithstanding the potential adverse effect on the Funds. Goldman Sachs (including the Investment Adviser) also represents 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 (including the Investment Adviser) serves on creditor or equity committees. It should be expected that these actions, for which Goldman Sachs may be compensated, will limit or preclude the flexibility that the Funds 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.

Goldman Sachs is frequently engaged as a financial advisor or financing provider to corporations and other entities and their management teams in connection with the sale of those companies or some or all of their assets, and Goldman Sachs' compensation in connection with these engagements may be substantial. Goldman Sachs' compensation for those engagements is usually based upon sales proceeds and is contingent, in substantial part, upon a sale. As a result, because sellers generally require Goldman Sachs to act exclusively on their behalf, Accounts will be precluded in many instances from attempting to acquire securities of, or providing financing to, the business being sold or otherwise participate as a buyer in the transaction. Goldman Sachs' decision to take on seller engagements is based upon a number of factors, including the likelihood in any particular situation that the successful buyer will be a financial purchaser rather than a strategic purchaser, the likelihood that any Accounts will be involved in the financing of that transaction and the compensation Goldman Sachs might receive by representing the seller. On occasion, Goldman Sachs may be given a choice by a seller of acting as its agent, as a potential purchaser of securities or assets, or as a buyer's source of financing through Accounts. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act as the seller's agent in those circumstances, even where this choice may preclude Accounts from acquiring the relevant securities or assets.

Goldman Sachs also represents potential buyers of businesses, including private equity sponsors, and Goldman Sachs' compensation in connection with these representations may be substantial. In these cases, Goldman Sachs' compensation is usually a flat fee that is contingent, in substantial part, upon a purchase. Accordingly, Goldman Sachs may have an incentive to direct an acquisition opportunity to one of these parties rather than to Accounts or to form a consortium with one or more of these parties to bid for the acquisition opportunity, thereby eliminating or reducing the investment opportunity available to Accounts. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs may seek to provide acquisition financing to one or more other bidders in these auctions, including in situations where an Account is bidding for the asset. Moreover, Goldman Sachs may provide financing to an Account in situations where it is also offering financing to one or more other bidders. When Goldman Sachs represents a buyer seeking to acquire a particular business, or provides financing to a buyer in connection with an acquisition, Accounts may be precluded from participating in the financing of the acquisition of that business. Goldman Sachs' buyer and financing assignments may include representation of clients who would not permit either Goldman Sachs or affiliates thereof, potentially including Accounts, to invest in the acquired company. In this case, none of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, including Accounts, would be allowed to participate as an investor. In

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some cases, a buyer represented by Goldman Sachs may invite Investment Adviser and certain Accounts to participate in the investment. Alternatively, Investment Adviser and certain Accounts may be invited to provide financing for this type of purchase. Each of these situations is likely to present difficult competing considerations involving conflicts of interest. In addition, Goldman Sachs may accept buyer advisory assignments in respect of a company in which Accounts have an investment. Accounts may be precluded from selling their investment during the assignment. Goldman Sachs evaluates potential buyer assignments in light of factors similar to those that will be considered in engaging in seller assignments.

Subject to applicable law, the Investment Adviser is incentivized to 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 certain Funds may acquire securities or indebtedness of a company affiliated with Goldman Sachs directly or indirectly through syndicate or secondary market purchases, or 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) creates, writes, sells, issues, invests in or acts 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 are 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.

Goldman Sachs makes loans to, and enters into margin, asset-based or other credit facilities or similar transactions with, clients, companies or individuals that are secured by publicly or privately held securities or other assets, including a client's Fund shares as described above. Some of these borrowers are 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 acts 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 will adversely affect the Funds (if, for example, a large position in a security is liquidated, among the other potential adverse consequences will be that the value of such security will decline rapidly and the Funds will in turn decline in value or will 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.

**Allocation of Personnel, Services and/or Resources** 

Conflicts of interest may arise in allocating time, personnel and/or resources of the Investment Adviser among the investment activities of multiple Accounts. The Investment Adviser and other Goldman Sachs personnel who play key roles in managing the Accounts may spend a portion of their time on matters other than or only tangentially related to any particular Account, or may leave the Investment Adviser for another investment group of Goldman Sachs (or may leave Goldman Sachs entirely). Time may be spent on other Goldman Sachs investment activities, including without limitation, investments made on behalf of Goldman Sachs and certain other entities (including special purpose acquisition companies) that are not investment advisory clients of the Investment Adviser. As a result, the other obligations of these individuals could conflict with their responsibilities to any of the Accounts. Further, the Investment Adviser may devote less time, services or resources to sourcing for investments of insufficient size to be expected to be shared with the other Accounts, even where such investment opportunities may be in the best interest of an Account.

**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

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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 buy and sell securities or other investments for their personal accounts, including investments in the Funds, and 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. The Investment Adviser requires pre-clearance of personal securities transactions, both public and private, by the Investment Adviser personnel and the Investment Adviser can deny any such transaction in its discretion. In order to address potential conflicts of interest with the Accounts and other legal and regulatory restrictions (such as when the Investment Adviser has confidential information about a portfolio company), Goldman Sachs maintains a list of securities in which the Investment Adviser personnel cannot trade. Additionally, the Investment Adviser generally does not allow its personnel to purchase securities of single-name public issuers.

**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 restricts 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 gives to such clients or commercial arrangements or transactions that are undertaken by such clients or by Goldman Sachs), Goldman Sachs' internal policies and/or potential reputational risk in connection with Accounts (including the Funds). In certain cases, the Investment Adviser will 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, in certain circumstances, the Investment Adviser restricts, limits or reduces the amount of a Fund's investment, or restricts 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, 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 results 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 arise include, without limitation: (i) a prohibition against owning more than a certain percentage of an issuer's securities; (ii) a "poison pill" that has a dilutive impact on the holdings of the Fund should a threshold be exceeded; (iii) provisions that cause Goldman Sachs to be considered an "interested stockholder" of an issuer; (iv) provisions that 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. In addition, due to regulatory restrictions, certain Accounts are prohibited from, or are subject to certain restrictions when, trading with or through Goldman Sachs, engaging Goldman Sachs as a service provider or purchasing investments issued or managed by Goldman Sachs.

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When faced with the foregoing limitations, Goldman Sachs will generally 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 are able to acquire an interest in the investment opportunity. In some cases, the Investment Adviser determines not to engage in certain transactions or activities 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. In addition, any such director, officer or employee of Goldman Sachs that is a member of the board of directors of a portfolio company may have duties in his or her capacity as a director that conflict with the Investment Adviser's duties to Accounts, and may act in a manner that disadvantages or otherwise harms a Fund and/or Goldman Sachs. In addition, the Investment Adviser may, in its sole discretion, determine to limit the information it receives in respect of an investment opportunity to avoid receiving material non-public information. As a result, other investors may be in possession of information in respect of investments, which, if known to the Investment Adviser, might cause the Investment Adviser to not make such investment, to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in such investments, or take other actions. Any decision by the Investment Adviser to limit access to such information may be disadvantageous to an Account.

Different areas of Goldman Sachs 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 or under certain other circumstances, the Account will be prohibited, including by internal policies, from trading, redeeming from or otherwise disposing of such security or 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 would 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.

In addition, the Investment Adviser's clients may partially or fully fund a new Account with in-kind securities in which the Investment Adviser is restricted. In such circumstances, the Investment Adviser will generally sell any such securities at the next available trading window, subject to operational and technological limitations (unless such securities are subject to another express arrangement), requiring such Accounts to dispose of investments at an earlier or later date and/or at a less favorable price than would otherwise have been the case had the Investment Adviser not been so restricted. Accounts will be responsible for all tax liabilities that result from any such sale transactions.

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 to which any particular Fund is subject). 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. It should be expected that these economic and trade sanctions, if applicable, and the application by the Investment Adviser of its compliance program in respect thereof, will restrict or limit the Funds' investment activities, and may require the Investment Adviser to cause a Fund to sell its position in a particular investment at an inopportune time and/or when the Investment Adviser would otherwise not have done so.

The Investment Adviser may determine to limit or not engage at all in transactions and activities on behalf of the Funds for reputational, legal or other reasons. Examples of when such determinations may be made include, but are not limited to, where

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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.

Goldman Sachs has and seeks to have long-term relationships with many significant participants in the financial markets. Goldman Sachs also has and seeks to have longstanding relationships with, and regularly provides financing, investment banking services and other services to, a significant number of corporations and private equity sponsors, leveraged buyout and hedge fund purchasers, and their respective senior managers, shareholders and partners. Some of these purchasers may directly or indirectly compete with Accounts for investment opportunities. Goldman Sachs considers these relationships in its management of Accounts. In this regard, there may be certain investment opportunities or certain investment strategies that Goldman Sachs (i) does not undertake on behalf of Accounts in view of these relationships, or (ii) refers to clients (in whole or in part) instead of retaining for Accounts. Similarly, Goldman Sachs may take the existence and development of such relationships into consideration in the management of Fund portfolios. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there may, for example, be certain strategies involving the acquisition, management or realization of particular investments that an Account will not employ in light of these relationships, as well as investment opportunities or strategies that an Account will not pursue in light of their potential impact on other areas of Goldman Sachs or on Account investments or be unable to pursue as a result of non-competition agreements or other similar undertakings made by Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs will consider its client relationships and the need to preserve its reputation in its management of Accounts and, as a result, (i) there may be certain investment opportunities or strategies that Goldman Sachs will not undertake on behalf of Funds or will refer to one or more Funds but not others, (ii) there may be certain rights or activities that Goldman Sachs will not undertake on behalf of Funds (including in respect of director representation and recusal), or (iii) there may be certain investments that, in certain limited circumstances, are sold, disposed of or restructured earlier or later than otherwise expected.

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 are required to comply with the rules of certain exchanges, execution platforms, trading facilities, clearing houses and other venues, or are required to consent to the jurisdiction of any such venues. The rules, terms and/or conditions of any such venue often 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.

From time to time, a Fund, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates and/or their service providers or agents are required, or 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, in some cases, the Investment Adviser will cause the sale of certain assets for the Fund rather than make certain required disclosures, at a time that is inopportune from a pricing or other standpoint. In addition, the Investment Adviser may provide third parties with aggregated data regarding the activities of, or certain performance or other metrics associated with the Accounts, and the Investment Adviser may receive compensation from such third parties for providing them such information.

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.

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**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 are 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 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 (but is not required to) 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 to be operationally feasible and appropriate and in the interests of its clients 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).

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 different portfolio management teams or if different portfolio management processes are used for different account types, 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, which may differ among Accounts. 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

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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 Investment Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities may be executed internally by a broker-dealer, effected on an agency basis in a block transaction, or routed to competing market centers for execution. The compensation paid to the broker for providing execution services generally is negotiated and reflected in either a commission or a "net" price. Executions provided on a net price basis, with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, usually include a profit to the dealer.

In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.

In placing orders for portfolio securities or other financial instruments of a Fund, the Investment Adviser is generally required to give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable execution and net price available. This means that the Investment Adviser will seek to execute each transaction at a price and commission, if any, which provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably attainable in the circumstances. As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Section 28(e)"), a Fund may pay a broker that provides brokerage and research services to the Fund an amount of disclosed commission in excess of the commission which another broker would have charged for effecting that transaction. Such practice is subject to a good faith determination that such commission is reasonable in light of the services provided and to such policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time. While the Investment Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive spreads or commissions, a Fund will not necessarily be paying the lowest spread or commission available. Within the framework of this policy, the Investment Adviser will consider research and investment services provided by brokers or dealers who effect or are parties to portfolio transactions of a Fund, the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, or their other clients. Such research and investment services are those which brokerage houses customarily provide to institutional investors and include research reports on particular industries and companies; economic surveys and analyses; recommendations as to specific securities; research products including quotation equipment and computer related programs; research and advice concerning the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities and the availability of securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities; analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and performance of accounts; services relating to effecting securities transactions and functions incidental thereto (such as clearance and settlement); and other lawful and appropriate assistance to the Investment Adviser in the performance of its decision-making responsibilities.

Such services are used by the Investment Adviser in connection with all of its investment activities, and some of such services obtained in connection with the execution of transactions for a Fund may be used in managing other investment accounts. Conversely, brokers furnishing such services may be selected for the execution of transactions of such other accounts, whose aggregate assets may be larger than those of a Fund's, and the services furnished by such brokers may be used by the Investment Adviser in providing management services for the Trust. The Investment Adviser may also participate in so-called "commission sharing arrangements" and "client commission arrangements" under which the Investment Adviser may execute transactions through a broker-dealer and request that the broker-dealer allocate a portion of the commissions or commission credits to another firm that provides research to the

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Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser excludes from use under these arrangements those products and services that are not fully eligible under applicable law and regulatory interpretations—even as to the portion that would be eligible if accounted for separately.

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

On occasions when the Investment Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security or other financial instruments to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as its other customers (including any other fund or other investment company or advisory account for which the Investment Adviser acts as investment adviser or sub-investment adviser), the Investment Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for such other customers in order to obtain the best net price and most favorable execution under the circumstances. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, will be made by the Investment Adviser in the manner it considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to such Fund and such other customers. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price and size of the position obtainable for a Fund.

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

Subject to the above considerations, the Investment Adviser may use Goldman Sachs or an affiliate as a broker for a Fund. In order for Goldman Sachs or an affiliate acting as agent to effect any portfolio transactions for each 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.

Commission rates in the U.S. are established pursuant to negotiations with the broker based on the quality and quantity of execution services provided by the broker in the light of generally prevailing rates. The allocation of orders among brokers and the commission rates paid are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. The amount of brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year because of differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, portfolio turnover rates and other factors.

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021, and October 31, 2020, the Funds paid brokerage commissions as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions Paid**<br>| **Amount of**<br> **Transactions**<br> **Effected through**<br> **Brokers**<br> **Providing**<br> **Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions Paid for**<br> **Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $222502<br>$35,107 (16%)<sup>2</sup><br>$3,996,840,799 (0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $119609.08<br>$0 (0%)<sup>2</sup><br>$686,721,898 (0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0  |

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<sup>1</sup>

The information above reflects the full commission amounts paid to brokers that provide research to the Investment Adviser. Only a portion of such commission pays for research and the remainder of such commission is to compensate the broker for execution services, commitment of capital and other services related to the execution of brokerage transactions.

<sup>2</sup>

Percentage of total commissions paid to Goldman Sachs.

<sup>3</sup>

Percentage of total amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions effected through Goldman Sachs.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions Paid**<br>| **Amount of**<br> **Transactions**<br> **Effected through**<br> **Brokers Providing**<br> **Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions Paid for**<br> **Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $261175<br>$20,445(8%)<sup>2</sup><br>$3,759,402,722(0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $106994<br>0 (0%)<sup>2</sup><br>$605,987,969 (0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0 |

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<sup>1</sup>

The information above reflects the full commission amounts paid to brokers that provide research to the Investment Adviser. Only a portion of such commission pays for research and the remainder of such commission is to compensate the broker for execution services, commitment of capital and other services related to the execution of brokerage transactions.

<sup>2</sup>

Percentage of total commissions paid to Goldman Sachs.

<sup>3</sup>

Percentage of total amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions effected through Goldman Sachs.

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions Paid**<br>| **Amount of**<br> **Transactions**<br> **Effected**<br> **through**<br> **Brokers**<br> **Providing Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>| **Total Brokerage**<br> **Commissions**<br> **Paid for**<br> **Research**<sup>1</sup> <br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $394733<br>$30,810 (8%)<sup>2</sup><br>$3,906,109,500 (0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $103843<br>0 (0%)<sup>2</sup><br>$879,839,061 (0%)<sup>3</sup> | 0% | $0 |

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<sup>1</sup>

The information above reflects the full commission amounts paid to brokers that provide research to the Investment Adviser. Only a portion of such commission pays for research and the remainder of such commission is to compensate the broker for execution services, commitment of capital and other services related to the execution of brokerage transactions.

<sup>2</sup>

Percentage of total commissions paid to Goldman Sachs.

<sup>3</sup>

Percentage of total amount of transactions involving the payment of commissions effected through Goldman Sachs.

**The Funds' Investments in Regular Broker-Dealers** 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Trust's regular "broker-dealers", as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Act, were: UBS Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., National Financial Services LLC, HSBC Bank PLC, Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited, Sanford C. Bernstein Limited, BofA Securities India Limited.

As of October 31, 2022, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund held no securities of the Trust's regular broker dealers. As of the same date, the Income Builder Fund held the following amounts of securities of the Trust's regular broker-dealers, as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the Act, or the parent entities of such broker-dealers ($ in thousands).

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Broker/Dealer** | **Amount** |
| Income Builder | UBS Group AG | $3796760 |
|  | Bank of America Corp. | 19759332 |
|  | Morgan Stanley | 9786367 |
|  | Stanley, Inc. | 4459571 |
|  | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 28787468 |
|  | Citigroup, Inc. | 1313353 |
|  | Credit Suisse Group AG | 1418289  |

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**NET ASSET VALUE** 

In accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees, the NAV per share of each class of each Fund is calculated by determining the value of the net assets attributed to each class of that Fund and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that class. All securities are 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 observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence 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, each 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 Funds, investments are valued under valuation procedures approved by the Trustees. With respect to the Fund's investments that do not have readily available market quotations, the Trustees have designated the Investment Adviser as the valuation designee to perform fair valuations pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. Portfolio securities of a Fund 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 may be valued at the closing bid price for long positions or the closing 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 a 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 source 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 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 vendor pricing or broker quotes are not available will be valued by the Investment Adviser based on 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

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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 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 Funds' fund accounting agent is unable for other reasons to facilitate pricing of individual securities or calculate the Funds' 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 approved by the Board of Trustees.

Generally, trading in securities on European, Asian and Far Eastern securities exchanges and on over-the-counter markets in these regions is substantially completed at various times prior to the close of business on each Business Day in New York (i.e., a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading). In addition, European, Asian or Far Eastern securities trading generally or in a particular country or countries may not take place on all Business Days in New York. Furthermore, trading takes place in various foreign markets on days which are not Business Days in New York and days on which the Funds' NAVs are not calculated. Such calculation does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of the majority of the portfolio securities used in such calculation. For 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 Funds, the most recent closing price for such a security on its principal exchange will generally be its fair value on such date.

The Investment Adviser, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may (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 a Fund's NAV. Significant events that could affect a large number of securities in a particular market may include, but are not limited to: situations relating to one or more single issuers in a market sector; significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions or 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.

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.

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

Each Fund relies on various sources to calculate its NAV. The ability of the Funds' fund accounting agent to calculate the NAV per share of each share class of the Funds 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 a Fund's NAV and/or the inability to calculate NAV over extended time periods. The Funds 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 a 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 a Fund or the processing of purchases and redemptions. Depending on the nature and size of an error, corrective action may or may not be required. Corrective action may involve a prospective correction of the NAV only, correction of any erroneous NAV and compensation to a Fund, or correction of any erroneous NAV, compensation to a Fund and reprocessing of individual shareholder transactions. The Trust's policies on errors and corrective action limit or restrict when corrective action will be taken or when compensation to a Fund or its shareholders will be paid, and not all mistakes will result in compensable errors. As a result, neither a Fund nor its shareholders who purchase or redeem shares during periods in which errors accrue or occur may be compensated in connection with the resolution of an error. Shareholders will generally not be notified of the occurrence of a compensable error or the resolution thereof absent unusual circumstances.

As discussed in more detail under "NET ASSET VALUE," a Fund's portfolio securities may be priced based on quotations for those securities provided by pricing services. There can be no guarantee that a quotation provided by a pricing service will be accurate.

**SHARES OF THE TRUST** 

Each 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 Income Builder Fund was reorganized on April 30, 1997 from series of a Maryland corporation to series of Goldman Sachs Trust. The fiscal year end for each Fund is October 31. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund commenced operations on February 27, 2012. The fiscal year end for the Rising Dividend Growth Fund was previously September 30.

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 February 28, 2023, the Trustees have classified the shares of the Income Builder Fund into seven classes: Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R6, Institutional and Class P Shares, and shares of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund into eight classes: Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R, Class R6, Institutional and Class P Shares. Additional series and classes may be added in the future.

Each Class A Share, Class C Share, Institutional Share, Investor Share, Class R Share, Class R6 Share and Class P Share of a Fund represents a proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the applicable class of the Fund. All expenses of a Fund are borne at the same rate by each class of shares, except that fees under Distribution and Service Plans (the "Plans") are borne exclusively by Class A, Class C and Class R Shares and transfer agency fees and expenses are borne at different rates by different share classes. The Trustees may determine in the future that it is appropriate to allocate other expenses differently among classes of shares and may do so to the extent consistent with the rules of the SEC and positions of the IRS. Each class of shares may have different minimum

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investment requirements and be entitled to different shareholder services. With limited exceptions, shares of a class may only be exchanged for shares of the same or an equivalent class of another fund. See "Shareholder Guide" in the Prospectuses and "OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS" below. In addition, the fees and expenses set forth below for each class may be subject to voluntary fee waivers or reimbursements, as discussed more fully in the Funds' Prospectuses.

Class A Shares are sold, with an initial sales charge of up to 5.5%, through brokers and dealers who are members of the FINRA and certain other financial service firms that have sales agreements with Goldman Sachs. Class A Shares bear the cost of distribution fees at the aggregate rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of such Class A Shares. With respect to Class A Shares, the Distributor at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Distribution and Service Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plan does not exceed the maximum cap on "service fees" imposed by FINRA.

Class C Shares of the Fund are sold subject to a CDSC of up to 1.0% through brokers and dealers who are members of FINRA and certain other financial services firms that have sales arrangements with Goldman Sachs. Class C Shares bear the cost of distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees at the aggregate rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares. Class C Shares also bear the cost of service fees at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares.

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

Investor and Class R Shares are sold at NAV without a sales charge. As noted in the applicable Prospectus, Investor and Class R Shares are not sold directly to the public. Instead, Investor and Class R Shares generally are available only to Section 401(k), 403(b), 457, profit sharing, money purchase pension, tax-sheltered annuity, defined benefit pension, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and non-qualified pension plans or other employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) or SIMPLE plans that are sponsored by one or more employers (including governmental or church employers) or employee organizations ("Employee Benefit Plans"). Investor Shares may also be sold to accounts established under a fee-based program that is sponsored and maintained by an Intermediary that has entered into a contractual relationship with Goldman Sachs to offer such shares through such programs ("Eligible Fee-Based Program"). Investor and Class R Shares are not available to traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), SEPs and SARSEPs; except that Investor Shares are available to such accounts or plans to the extent they are purchased through an Eligible Fee-Based Program. Employee Benefit Plans and Eligible Fee-Based Programs must purchase Investor or Class R Shares through an Intermediary using a plan level or omnibus account.

Class R6 Shares are sold at NAV without a sales charge. Class R6 Shares are generally available to the following investors who purchase shares of the Funds through certain Intermediaries that have a contractual relationship with Goldman Sachs ("Distributor" or "Transfer Agent"), including banks, trust companies, brokers, registered investment advisers and other financial institutions, using a plan level or omnibus account, unless otherwise noted below.

• Investors who purchase Class R6 Shares through an Eligible Fee-Based Program;

• Employee Benefit Plans;

• Registered investment companies or bank collective trusts investing directly with the Transfer Agent;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Institutional investors, including companies, foundations, endowments, municipalities, trusts and other entities, investing at least $5,000,000 directly with the Transfer Agent; and

• Other investors at the discretion of the Trust's officers.

Class R6 Shares may not be available through certain Intermediaries. For the purposes of Class R6 Shares eligibility, the term "Intermediary" does not include Goldman Sachs or its affiliates and Class R6 Shares will not be available to clients of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management, The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware or The Ayco Company, L.P.

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Class P Shares are sold at NAV without a sales charge. Class P Shares of the Funds are offered exclusively to clients of the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management business unit that custody their positions at Goldman Sachs; clients of The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A. or The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware that custody their positions at Goldman Sachs; or clients of The Ayco Company, L.P. that either custody their positions at Goldman Sachs or with certain intermediaries that are authorized to offer Class P Shares; or other investors at the discretion of the Trust's officers.

Participants in an Employee Benefit Plan should contact their Employee Benefit Plan service provider for information regarding purchases, sales and exchanges of Investor, Class R and Class R6 Shares. Class R Shares bear the cost of distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees at the aggregate rate of up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class R Shares. With respect to Class R Shares the Distributor at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Distribution and Service Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plan does not exceed the maximum cap on "service fees" imposed by FINRA.

It is possible that an institution or its affiliate may offer different classes of shares (i.e., Class A, Class C, Investor, Class R, Class R6, Institutional or Class P Shares) to its customers and thus receive different compensation with respect to different classes of shares of the Fund. Dividends paid by the Fund, if any, with respect to each class of shares will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time on the same day and will be the same amount, except for differences caused by the fact that the respective transfer agency and Plan fees relating to a particular class will be borne exclusively by that class. Similarly, the NAV per share may differ depending upon the class of shares purchased.

Certain aspects of the shares may be altered after advance notice to shareholders if it is deemed necessary in order to satisfy certain tax regulatory requirements.

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

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

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders and does not intend to hold such meetings. In the event that a meeting of shareholders is held, each share of the Trust will be entitled, as determined by the Trustees without the vote or consent of the shareholders, either to one vote for each share or to one vote for each dollar of 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.

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The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust unless the recipient is adjudicated (i) to be liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person's office or (ii) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such person's actions were in the best interest of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides that, if any shareholder or former shareholder of any series is held personally liable solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder's acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or the shareholder's heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives or general successors) shall be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, acting on behalf of any affected series, must, upon request by such shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against such shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the series.

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

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

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

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

**Shareholder and Trustee Liability** 

Under Delaware Law, the shareholders of the Funds are not generally subject to liability for the debts or obligations of the Trust. Similarly, Delaware law provides that a series of the Trust will not be liable for the debts or obligations of any other series of the Trust. However, no similar statutory or other authority limiting statutory trust shareholder liability exists in other states. As a result, to the extent that a Delaware statutory trust or a shareholder is subject to the jurisdiction of courts of such other states, the courts may not apply Delaware law and may thereby subject the Delaware statutory trust shareholders to liability. To guard against this risk, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of a series. Notice of such disclaimer will normally be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by a series of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the relevant series for all loss suffered by a shareholder as a result of an obligation of the series. The Declaration of Trust also provides that a series shall, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the series and satisfy any judgment thereon. In view of the above, the risk of personal liability of shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust is remote.

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

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to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Trustees to commence such action; and (b) the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees will be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and may require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the series for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

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

**TAXATION** 

The following is a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income, and state and local, tax considerations regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares in the Fund of the Trust that are not described in the Prospectuses. 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 February 28, 2023, which are subject to change. Future changes in tax laws may adversely impact a Fund and its shareholders.

**Fund Taxation** 

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

There are certain tax requirements that each Fund must follow if it is to avoid federal taxation. In their efforts to adhere to these requirements, the Funds may have to limit their investment activities in some types of instruments. Qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code requires, among other things, that (1) the Fund derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks or securities or foreign currencies, net income from qualified publicly traded partnerships or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, and forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund's business of investing in stocks, securities or currencies (the "90% gross income test"); and (2) the Fund diversify its holdings so that, in general, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the fair market value of the Fund's total (gross) assets is comprised of cash, cash items, U.S. Government Securities, securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of such Fund's total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total (gross) assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), two or more issuers controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or certain publicly traded partnerships.

For purposes of the 90% gross income test, income that a Fund earns from equity interests in certain entities that are not treated as corporations or as qualified publicly traded partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (e.g., partnerships or trusts) will generally have the same character for the Fund as in the hands of such an entity; consequently, a Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in any such entities that earn fee income, rental income or other nonqualifying income. In addition, future Treasury regulations could provide that qualifying income under the 90% gross income test will not include gains from foreign currency transactions that are not directly related to a Fund's principal business of investing in stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities. Using foreign currency positions or entering into foreign currency options, futures and forward or swap contracts for purposes other than hedging currency risk with respect to securities in a Fund's portfolio or anticipated to be acquired may not qualify as "directly-related" under these tests.

If a Fund complies with the foregoing provisions, then in any taxable year in which the Fund distributes, in compliance with the Code's timing and other requirements, an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its "investment company taxable income"

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(which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable accrued original issue discount and market discount income, income from securities lending, any net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign exchange gains and any other taxable income other than "net capital gain," as defined below, and is reduced by deductible expenses), 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, a Fund retains any investment company taxable income or "net capital gain" (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), it will be subject to a tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. Because there are some uncertainties regarding the computation of the amounts deemed distributed to Fund shareholders for these purposes—including, in particular, uncertainties regarding the portion, if any, of amounts paid in redemption of Fund shares that should be treated as such distributions— there can be no assurance that each Fund will avoid corporate-level tax in each year.

Each Fund generally intends to distribute for each taxable year to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net capital gain and any net tax-exempt interest. If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it will be taxed on all of its taxable income and net capital gain at corporate rates, and its distributions to shareholders will generally be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of its current and accumulated earnings and profits.

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

To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, each Fund must generally 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 for the calendar year (taking into account certain deferrals and elections), at least 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (generally computed on the basis of the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year), and all taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for all previous years that were not distributed for those years and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax. For federal income tax purposes, dividends declared by a Fund in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and paid during January of the following year are taxable to such shareholders, and deductible by the Fund, as if paid on December 31 of the year declared. Each Fund anticipates that it will generally make timely distributions of income and capital gains in compliance with these requirements so that it will generally not be required to pay the excise tax.

For federal income tax purposes, a Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any taxable year to offset its own capital gains, if any. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. Any such loss carryforwards will retain their character as short-term or long-term. As of October 31, 2022, the Rising Dividend Growth Fund had no capital loss carryforwards. As of October 31, 2022, the Income Builder Fund had capital loss carryforwards approximating the amounts indicated below:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Capital Loss**<br> **Carryforward**<br>| **Characterization** |
| Income Builder Fund | $26319387 | Perpetual Short-term |
| Income Builder Fund | $15373434 | Perpetual Long-term |

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Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains and losses. Certain of the futures contracts, forward contracts and options held by a Fund will be required to be "marked-to-market" for federal tax purposes — that is, treated as having been sold at their fair market value on the last day of the Fund's taxable year (or, for excise tax purposes, on the last day of the relevant period). These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash. Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of these futures contracts, forward contracts, or options will (except for certain foreign currency options, forward contracts, and futures contracts) be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. As a result of certain hedging transactions entered into by a

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Fund, it may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, forward contracts, and options or underlying securities or foreign currencies to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by the Fund, and the characterization of gains or losses as long-term or short-term may be changed. The tax provisions described in this paragraph may affect the amount, timing and character of a Fund's distributions to shareholders. The application of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the application of certain other tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with certain investment practices such as dollar rolls, or investments in certain derivatives, including interest rate swaps, floors, caps and collars, currency swaps, total return swaps, mortgage swaps, index swaps, forward contracts and structured notes. As a result, a Fund may therefore be required to limit its investments in such transactions and it is also possible that the IRS may not agree with a Fund's tax treatment of such transactions. In addition, the tax treatment of derivatives, and certain other investments, may be affected by future legislation, Treasury Regulations and guidance issued by the IRS that could affect the timing, character and amount of a Fund's income and gains and distributions to shareholders. Certain tax elections may be available to a Fund to mitigate some of the unfavorable consequences described in this paragraph.

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

A Fund's investment, if any, in zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities, certain structured securities or other securities bearing original issue discount or, if a Fund elects to include market discount in income currently, market discount, as well as any "marked-to-market" gain from certain options, futures or forward contracts, as described above, will in many cases cause the Fund to realize income or gain before the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities or contracts. For a Fund to obtain cash to enable the Fund to distribute any such income or gain, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and to avoid federal income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio investments sooner than it might otherwise have done.

Investments in lower-rated securities may present special tax issues for a Fund to the extent actual or anticipated defaults may be more likely with respect to those kinds of securities. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when an investor in such securities may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount, or market discount; when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities; how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income; and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a workout context are taxable. These and other issues will generally need to be addressed by a Fund, in the event it invests in such securities, so as to seek to eliminate or to minimize any adverse tax consequences.

Each Fund anticipates that it may be subject to foreign taxes on its 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. The Funds will not be eligible to elect to pass through foreign taxes to the shareholders but will be entitled to deduct such taxes in computing the amounts they are required to distribute.

If a Fund acquires stock (including, under proposed regulations, an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, rents, royalties or capital gain) or hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income ("passive foreign investment companies"), the Fund could be subject to federal income tax and additional interest charges on "excess distributions" received from such companies or gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. The Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. In some cases, elections may be available that will ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but those

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elections will require the Fund to include each year certain amounts as income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements described above) without a concurrent receipt of cash. Each Fund may attempt to limit and/or to manage its holdings in passive foreign investment companies to minimize its tax liability or maximize its return from these investments.

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

**Taxable U.S. Shareholders—Distributions** 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions by a Fund, whether reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, generally will be taxable to shareholders who are subject to tax. 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 they would have received had they elected to receive cash and will have a cost basis in each share received equal to such amount divided by the number of shares received.

In general, distributions from investment company taxable income for the year will be taxable as ordinary income. However, distributions to noncorporate shareholders attributable to dividends received by the Funds 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 a Fund's ex-dividend date (or 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before the Fund's ex-dividend date in the case of certain preferred stock dividends paid by the Fund) and the Fund must also have owned the underlying stock for this same period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date for the stock (or for 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before the ex-dividend date of the stock in the case of certain preferred stock). The amount of the Fund's distributions that otherwise qualify for these lower rates may be reduced as a result of the Fund's securities lending activities, hedging activities or a high portfolio turnover rate.

Distributions reported to shareholders as derived from a Fund's dividend income, if any, that would be eligible for the dividends received deduction if the Fund were not a regulated investment company may be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. 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 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. The dividends received deduction also may be reduced as a result of a Fund's hedging activities, securities lending activities or a high portfolio turnover rate. The dividend may, if it is treated as an "extraordinary dividend" under the Code, reduce a shareholder's tax basis in its shares of the Fund. Capital gain dividends (i.e., dividends from net capital gain), if reported as such to shareholders, will be taxed to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of how long shares have been held by shareholders, but are not eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. 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. Distributions, if any, that are in excess of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a shareholder's tax basis in his shares and, after such basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital gains to a shareholder who holds his shares as capital assets.

Certain distributions reported by a Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that a Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund's business interest income over the sum of the Fund's (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund's business interest income.

Individuals and certain other noncorporate entities are generally eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to ordinary dividends received from REITs ("qualified REIT dividends") and certain taxable income from publicly traded partnerships. Applicable

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Treasury regulations permit a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders qualified REIT dividends eligible for the 20% deduction. However, the Treasury regulations do not provide a mechanism for a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders income from MLPs that would be eligible for such deduction. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about their eligibility to claim the 20% deduction for any qualified REIT dividends reported by a Fund.

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.

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. 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 a Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of such Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

**Backup Withholding** 

Each Fund may be required to withhold, as "backup withholding," federal income tax, currently at a 24% rate, from dividends (including capital gain dividends) and share redemption and exchange proceeds to individuals and other non exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") certified under penalties of perjury, or if the IRS or a broker notifies the Fund that the payee is subject to backup withholding as a result of failing properly to report interest or dividend income to the IRS or that the TIN furnished by the payee to the Fund is incorrect, or if (when required to do so) the payee fails to certify under penalties of perjury that it is not subject to backup withholding. A Fund may refuse to accept an application that does not contain any required TIN or certification that the TIN provided is correct. If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such dividends and proceeds, whether paid in cash or 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 the shareholder is awaiting receipt of a TIN. Special rules apply for certain entities. For example, for an account established under a Uniform Gifts or Transfer to Minors Act, the TIN of the minor should be furnished.

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**Medicare Tax** 

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

**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 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.

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

Non-U.S. persons who fail to furnish a Fund with the proper IRS Form W-8 (i.e., W-8BEN, W-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.

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 Funds. It is expected that the Funds will generally make designations of short-term gains, to the extent permitted, but the Funds do 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.

Also, non-U.S. shareholders of the Funds may be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their Fund shares.

The Funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive 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 Funds 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 Funds.

**State and Local Taxes** 

Each Fund may be subject to state or local taxes in jurisdictions in which the Fund is deemed to be doing business. In addition, in those states or localities that impose income taxes, the treatment of such a Fund and its shareholders under those jurisdictions' tax laws may differ from the treatment under federal income tax laws, and an investment in such a Fund may have tax consequences for

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shareholders that are different from those of a direct investment in the Fund's portfolio securities. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers concerning state and local tax matters.

**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

The audited financial statements and related reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm contained in the Funds' 2022 Annual Report are hereby incorporated by reference. The financial statements in the Funds' Annual Report have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. No other parts of any Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the Annual Report may be obtained upon request and without charge by writing Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, P.O. Box 806395, Chicago, Illinois 60680 or by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, at the telephone number on the back cover of each Fund's Prospectus.

**PROXY VOTING** 

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, 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, 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

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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 a Fund's managers based on their assessment of the particular transactions or other matters at issue.

Information regarding how a Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on or through the Funds' website at www.gsam.com/content/gsam/us/en/advisors/resources/client-service/proxy-voting.html without charge and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

**PAYMENTS TO OTHERS (INCLUDING INTERMEDIARIES)** 

The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make payments to Intermediaries and other persons from time to time to promote the sale, distribution and/or servicing of shares of a Fund, except that the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates do not make such payments on behalf of Class R6 Shares. These payments ("Additional Payments") are made out of the Investment Adviser's, Distributor's and/or their affiliates' own assets (which may come directly or indirectly from fees paid by a Fund), are not an additional charge to a Fund or its shareholders, and do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a Fund's shares or the amount a Fund receives as proceeds from such purchases. Although paid by the Investment Adviser, Distributor, and/or their affiliates, the Additional Payments are in addition to the distribution and service fees paid by a Fund to the Intermediaries as described in a Fund's Prospectus and this SAI, and are also in addition to the sales commissions payable to Intermediaries as set forth in the Prospectus. For purposes of this "Payments to Others (Including Intermediaries)" section, "Funds" shall mean, collectively, a Fund and any of the other Goldman Sachs Funds.

The Additional Payments are intended to compensate Intermediaries and other persons for, among other things: marketing activities and presentations, educational training programs, the support or purchase of technology platforms/software and/or reporting systems. Marketing shares of a Fund may consist of payments relating to funds included on preferred or recommended fund lists or in certain sales programs from time to time sponsored by the recipients; "due diligence" examination and/or review of the Funds from time to time; access to the Intermediaries' registered representatives or salespersons, including at conferences and other meetings; assistance in training and education of personnel; "finders" or "referral fees" for directing investors to a Fund; marketing support fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of Fund shares (which may include promotions in communications with the Intermediaries' customers, registered representatives and salespersons); and/or other specified services intended to assist in the distribution and marketing of a Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may make Additional Payments (including through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements) for sub-accounting, administrative, shareholder processing and/or recordkeeping services that are in addition to the transfer agent, shareholder administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds, including Additional Payments to third-party recordkeepers and/or administrators of retirement plan sponsors (which may reduce the cost to retirement plan sponsors for retaining third-party recordkeepers and/or administrators). These Additional Payments may exceed amounts earned on these assets by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates for the performance of these or similar services. The Additional Payments may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based on the number

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of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary or other person that provides services to you; may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary or other person involved; or may be calculated on another basis. The Additional Payments are negotiated with each recipient based on a range of factors, including but not limited to the recipient's ability to attract and retain assets (including particular classes of Fund shares), target markets, customer relationships, quality of service and industry reputation. Although the individual components may be higher or lower and the total amount of Additional Payments made to any recipient in any given year will vary, the amount of these Additional Payments (excluding payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements), on average, is normally not expected to exceed 0.50% (annualized) of the amount sold or invested through a recipient.

These Additional Payments may be significant to certain Intermediaries and other persons, and may be an important factor in an Intermediary or other person's willingness to support the sale of the Funds through its distribution system.

The Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may be motivated to make Additional Payments since they promote the sale of Fund shares to clients of the recipients and the retention of those investments by those clients. To the extent recipients sell more shares of a Fund or retain shares of a Fund in their clients' accounts, the Investment Adviser and Distributor benefit from the incremental management and other fees paid by a Fund with respect to those assets.

In addition, certain Intermediaries and other persons may have access to certain research and investment services from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates. Such research and investment services ("Additional Services") may include research reports; economic analysis; portfolio analysis, portfolio construction and similar tools and software; business planning services; certain marketing and investor education materials and strategic asset allocation modeling. The recipient may not pay for these products or services or may only pay for a portion of the total cost of these products or services. The cost of the Additional Services and the particular services provided may vary from recipient to recipient.

The Additional Payments made by the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates or the Additional Services received by an Intermediary or other person may vary with respect to the type of fund (e.g., equity, fund, fixed income fund, specialty fund, asset allocation portfolio or money market fund) sold by or through the Intermediary or other person. In addition, the Additional Payment arrangements may include breakpoints in compensation which provide that the percentage rate of compensation varies as the dollar value of the amount sold or invested through an Intermediary or other person increases.

The presence of these Additional Payments or Additional Services, the varying fee structure and the basis on which an Intermediary compensates its registered representatives or salespersons may create an incentive for a particular Intermediary, registered representative, salesperson or other person to highlight, feature or recommend funds, including a Fund, or other investments based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid. Additionally, if one mutual fund sponsor makes greater distribution payments than another, a recipient of these payments may have an incentive to recommend one fund complex over another. Similarly, if an Intermediary or other person receives more distribution assistance for one share class versus another, that Intermediary or other person may have an incentive to recommend that share class. Because Intermediaries and other persons may be paid varying amounts per class for sub-transfer agency and related recordkeeping services, the service requirements of which also may vary by class, this may create an additional incentive for financial firms and their financial advisors to favor one fund complex over another, or one fund class over another. You should consider whether such incentives exist when evaluating any recommendations from an Intermediary or other person to purchase or sell Shares of the Fund and when considering which share class is most appropriate for you.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates made Additional Payments out of their own assets to approximately 215 recipients, totaling approximately $273 million (excluding payments made through sub-transfer agency and networking agreements and certain other types of payments described below), with respect to the Fund, Goldman Sachs Trust, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs Trust II, and Goldman Sachs Real Estate Diversified Income Fund. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates had contractual arrangements to make Additional Payments to the Intermediaries listed below (or their affiliates or successors), among others. This list will change over time, and any additions, modifications or deletions thereto that have occurred since December 31, 2022 are not reflected. Additional persons may receive payments in 2023 and in future years. Certain arrangements are still being negotiated, and there is a possibility that payments will be made retroactively to Intermediaries not listed below.

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ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.

ADP LLC

ADP, Inc.

Alight Solutions LLC

Allstate Life Insurance Company

Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York

Amalgamated Bank of Chicago

American Bank NA

American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc. (AEIS)

American General Life Insurance Company

American National Trust and Investment Management Company dba Old National Trust Company (Oltrust & Co.)

American United Life Insurance Company

Ameriprise Financial Services LLC/Ameriprise financial Services Inc.

ANB Bank

Ascensus, LLC.

Associated Trust Company, N.A.

Banc of America Securities LLC

BancorpSouth

Bank of New York

Bankers Trust Company

BB&T Capital Markets

BMO Harris Bank N.A.

BMO Nesbitt Burns

BMO Private Bank (WM)

BMO Trust & Custody

BNY Mellon National Association

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BOSC, Inc.

Branch Banking and Trust Company

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Busey Bank

C.M. Life Insurance Company

California Department of Human Resources

Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC

Cetera advisors LLC

Cetera Financial Group

Cetera Financial Specialists LLC

Cetera Investment Services LLC

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.

Citi Custody

Citibank N.A.

Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.

Citizens Bank National Association

CME Shareholder Servicing LLC

Comerica Bank

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Commerce Bank

Commerce Bank, N.A.

Commerce Trust Co.

Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company

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Commonwealth Equity Services, Inc. dba Commonwealth Financial Network

Companion Life Insurance Company

Compass Bank

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Connecticut General Life Insurance Company

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

Country Club Bank

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Daily Access Concepts

Dain Rauscher Inc.

Delaware Trust

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Diversified Investment Advisors

Drexel Hamilton, LLC

Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.

Enterprise Bank & Trust

Farmers New World Life Insurance Company

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC

Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company

Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc.

Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Securities Inc.

First Allied Securities Inc

First Commercial Bank, N.A.

First Hawaiian Bank

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First National Bank of Omaha

FIS Business Systems LLC

Forethought Life Insurance Company

Fulton Bank, N.A.

Fulton Financial Advisors, National Association

Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company

Genworth Life Insurance Company

Genworth Life Insurance Company of New York

GreatBanc Trust Co.

Great-West Financial Retirement Plan Services, LLC

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company

GW Capital Management, LLC

GWFS Equities, Inc.

GWFS Equities, Incorporated

HANCO

Hartford Life Insurance Company

Hazeltree Fund Services, Inc.

Hewitt Associates LLC; Alight Solutions LLC

Horace Mann Life Insurance Company

HSBC Bank U.S.A., N.A.

HSBC Bank USA

Hunt, Dupree & Rhine

Huntington Securities

ICMA RC-Services, LLC

ICMA Retirement Corporation

Institutional Bond Networks

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Institutional Cash Distributors (division of Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.)

Investmart, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc.

Jefferies LLC

Jefferson National Life Insurance Company

Jefferson National Life Insurance Company of New York

Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Company

John Hancock Trust Company

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

JPMorgan Securities, Inc

Key Bank N.A.

LaSalle Bank, N.A.

Law Debenture Trust Company of New York

Lincoln Benefit Life Company

Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York

Lincoln Retirement Services Company, LLC

LOOP CAPITAL MARKETS LLC

LPL Financial Corporation

LPL Financial LLC

M&I Brokerage Services, Inc.

M&I Data Services (division of The Marshall & Ilsley Corportation)

M&T Bank

M&T Securities, Inc.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

MassMutual Retirement Services, LLC

Matrix Financial Solutions

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Matrix Trust Company

McCready and Keene, Inc

Members Life Insurance Company

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

MidFirst Bank

Midland National Life Insurance Company

Minnesota Life Insurance Company

MML Distributors, LLC

Moreton Capital Markets, LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

MSCS Financial Services Division of Broadridge Business Process Outsourcing, LLC

MSCS Financial Services, LLC

MSEC, LLC

National Financial Services LLC

National Security Life and Annuity Company

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.

Newport Group, Inc.

Newport Retirement Services, Inc.

Ohio National Equities, Inc.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Pacific Life & Annuity Company

Pacific Life Insurance company

Parkside Financial Bank & Trust

Pershing LLC

PNC Bank, N.A.

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PNC Bank, National Organization

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Principal Bank

Principal Life Insurance Company

Protective Life Insurance Company

PruCo Life Insurance Company

PruCo Life Insurance Company of New Jersey

R. SEELAUS & CO., LLC

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Raymond James Financial Services

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Regions Bank

Reliance Trust Company

Reliance Trust Company

RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

Scott & Stringfellow

Securities Finance Trust Company

Security Benefit Life Insurance Company

Security Distributors, Inc.

Signature Bank

Standard Insurance Company

State Street Bank and Trust Company

State Street Global Markets, LLC

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)

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Sun Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York

Sungard Institutional Brokerage, Inc.

SunTrust Bank

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.

TD Ameritrade Inc.

TD Bank National Association

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America

The Glenmede Trust Company N.A.

The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

The Northern Trust Company

The Ohio National Life Insurance Company

The Prudential Insurance Company of America

The Travelers Insurance Company

The Travelers Life and Annuity Company

The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company

Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company

Transamerica Life Insurance Company

Treasury Curve, LLC

Trustmark National Bank

U.S. Bank, N.A.

UBS Financial Services Inc.

Umpqua Bank

Union Bank, N.A.

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United of Omaha Life Insurance Company

VALIC Retirement Services Company

Voya Financial Partners, LLC

Voya Institutional Plan Services, LLC

Voya Retirement Advisors, LLC

Voya Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Wells Fargo Bank

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

Wells Fargo Corporate Trust Services

Wells Fargo Securities LLC

Western Alliance Bank

Wilmington Trust Retirement and Institutional Services Company

Zions Bank

Zurich American Life Insurance Company

Your Authorized Dealer or other Intermediary, or any other person that provides services to you, may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in the Prospectus. Shareholders should contact their Authorized Dealer or other Intermediary, or any other person that provides services to you, for more information about the Additional Payments or Additional Services they receive and any potential conflicts of interest, as well as for information regarding any fees and/or commissions it charges. For additional questions, please contact Goldman Sachs Funds at 1-800-621-2550.

Not included on the list above are other subsidiaries of Goldman Sachs who may receive revenue from the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates through intra-company compensation arrangements and for financial, distribution, administrative and operational services.

Furthermore, the Investment Adviser, Distributor and/or their affiliates may, to the extent permitted by applicable regulations, contribute to various non-cash and cash incentive arrangements to promote the sale of Fund shares, as well as sponsor various educational programs, sales contests and/or promotions and reimburse investors for certain expenses incurred in connection with accessing the Funds through portal arrangements. The Investment Adviser, Distributor and their affiliates may also pay for the travel expenses, meals, lodging and entertainment of Intermediaries and their salespersons and guests in connection with educational, sales and promotional programs subject to applicable FINRA regulations. Other compensation may also be offered from time to time to the extent not prohibited by applicable federal or state laws or FINRA regulations. This compensation is not included in, and is made in addition to, the Additional Payments described above.

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**OTHER INFORMATION** 

**Selective Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information and Portfolio Characteristics Information** 

The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Investment Adviser have adopted a policy on the selective disclosure of portfolio holdings information and portfolio characteristics information. The policy seeks to (1) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and portfolio characteristics information is in the best interest of Fund shareholders; and (2) address the conflicts of interest associated with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and portfolio characteristics information. The policy provides that neither a Fund nor the Trust's officers or Trustees, nor the Investment Adviser, Distributor or any agent, or any employee thereof ("Fund Representative"), will disclose a Fund's portfolio holdings information or portfolio characteristics information to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, "portfolio holdings information" means a Fund's actual portfolio holdings, as well as non-public information about its trading strategies or pending transactions. Portfolio holdings information does not include summary or statistical information which is derived from (but does not include) individual portfolio holdings ("portfolio characteristics information").

Under the policy, neither a Fund nor any Fund Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information or portfolio characteristics information. A Fund Representative may generally provide portfolio holdings information and material portfolio characteristics information to third parties if such information has been included in a Fund's public filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Funds' publicly accessible website or is otherwise publicly available.

*Portfolio Holdings Information*. Portfolio holdings information that is not filed with the SEC or disclosed on the Funds' publicly available website may be provided to third parties (including, without limitation, individuals, institutional investors, intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund, consultants and third-party data and other providers) only for legitimate business purposes and only if the third-party recipients are required to keep all such portfolio holdings information confidential and are prohibited from trading on the information they receive in violation of the federal securities laws. Disclosure to such third parties must be approved in advance by the Investment Adviser's legal or compliance department. Disclosure to providers of auditing, custody, proxy voting and other similar services; 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 to the Funds will generally be permitted. In general, each recipient of non-public portfolio holdings information must sign a confidentiality agreement and agree not to trade on the basis of such information in violation of the federal securities laws, although this requirement will not apply when the recipient is otherwise subject to a duty of confidentiality.

In accordance with the policy, the identity of those recipients who receive non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis is as follows: the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm, the Funds' custodian, the Funds' legal counsel—Dechert LLP, the Funds' tax service provider—Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Funds' financial printer—Donnelley Financial Solutions Inc., the Funds' proxy voting service—ISS, and the Funds' class action processing service provider—Financial Recovery Technologies, LLC. KPMG LLP, an investor in the Funds, also receives certain non-public portfolio holdings information on an ongoing basis in order to facilitate compliance with the auditor independence requirements to which it is subject. In addition, certain Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Funds provide non-public portfolio holdings information to Standard & Poor's to allow such Funds to be rated by it, and certain Goldman Sachs Equity Funds provide non-public portfolio holdings information to FactSet, a provider of global financial and economic information. From time-to-time, certain Funds may provide non-public portfolio holdings information to prospective purchasers of a Fund's legal claims. In each of these instances, these entities are obligated to keep such information confidential. Third-party providers of custodial services to the Funds may release non-public portfolio holdings information of the Funds only with the permission of certain 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 a Fund's portfolio trading activities. Complete portfolio holdings information of one or more series of the Trust (which may include one or more of the Funds) 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 February 28, 2023, the broker-dealers receiving this information were as follows: 280 Securities, Axioma, Inc., BofA Securities Inc. Futures, Barclays Capital Inc., Belle Haven Instruments, Brean Capital, LLC, Brownstone, Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC, Caprok Capital, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Crews & Associates, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, DA Davidson & Co., FMSBond, Inc., George K. Baum

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& Company, Headlands Tech Global Markets, LLC, Herbert J. Sims & Co., Inc., Hilltop Securities (a.k.a. Southwest Securities, Inc.), Hutchinson Shockey Erley & Co., Janney Montgomery Scott, Inc., Jeffries & Company, JP Morgan Securities, Keybanc, Loop Capital Corp., Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc., Mesirow, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer Funds, Inc., Piper Sandler & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Ramirez & Co., Inc., Raymond James Financial Services Inc., RBC Capital Markets, RiskMetrics Solutions, LLC, R. Seelaus & Co., Inc., Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC, Stephens Inc., Stifel Nicolaus & Company, TD Securities, LLC, Tradeweb Markets, LLC, Truist Financial Corporation, Truist Securities, Inc., US Bancorp, US Bank Global Corporate Trust/Custody, Virtus Capital Markets LLC, and Ziegler Capital. In providing this information, reasonable precautions, including, but not limited to, the execution of a non-disclosure agreement and 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 policy.

The Income Builder Fund currently intends to publish complete portfolio holdings on the Trust's website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) as of the end of each calendar quarter, subject to a 30 calendar day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. The Income Builder Fund may however, at its discretion, publish these holdings earlier than 30 calendar days, if deemed necessary by the Fund. The Rising Dividend Growth Fund currently intends to publish complete portfolio holdings on the Trust's website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) as of the end of each month subject to a 10 day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. In addition, each Fund currently intends to post month-end top ten holdings on the Trust's website subject to a 15 calendar day lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed. A Fund may publish on the website complete portfolio holdings information more frequently if it has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. Operational disruptions and other systems disruptions may delay the posting of this information on the Trust's website.

Each Fund files portfolio holdings information within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Each Fund's complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. A semi-annual or annual report for each Fund will become available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. Each Fund's Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC's website listed above.

*Portfolio Characteristics Information*. Material portfolio characteristics information that is not publicly available (e.g., information that is not filed with the SEC or disclosed on the Funds' publicly available website) or calculated from publicly available information may be provided to third parties only if the third-party recipients are required to keep all such portfolio characteristics information confidential and are prohibited from trading on the information they receive in violation of the federal securities laws. Disclosure to such third parties must be approved in advance by the Investment Adviser's legal or compliance department, who must first determine that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. In general, each recipient of material, non-public portfolio characteristics information must sign a confidentiality agreement and agree not to trade on the basis of such information in violation of the federal securities laws, although this requirement will not apply when the recipient is otherwise subject to a duty of confidentiality.

However, upon request, a Fund will provide certain non-public portfolio characteristics information to any (i) shareholder or (ii) non-shareholder (including, without limitation, individuals, institutional investors, intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund, consultants and third-party data providers) whose request for such information satisfies and/or serves a legitimate business purpose for the Fund. Examples of portfolio characteristics information include, but are not limited to, statistical information about a Fund's portfolio. Portfolio characteristics information that is made available upon request would normally include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Asset Allocation Information – The allocation of a Fund's portfolio among asset classes, regions, countries, industries, sub-industries, sectors, sub-sectors, strategies or subadvisers; credit quality ratings; and weighted average market capitalization ranges.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Financial Characteristics Information – The financial characteristics of a Fund's portfolio, such as alpha; beta; R-squared; Sharpe ratio; information ratio; standard deviation; tracking error; various earnings and price based ratios (*e.g*., price-to-earnings and price-to-book); value at risk (VaR); duration information; weighted-average maturity/life; portfolio turnover; attribution; and other aggregated risk statistics (*e.g*., aggregate liquidity classification information).

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In accordance with the policy, this type of portfolio characteristics information that is made available upon request will be disclosed in accordance with, and subject to the time lag indicated in, the schedule below. This portfolio characteristics information may be requested by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-800-526-7384 (for Class A, Class C, Class R and Investor Shareholders) or 1-800-621-2550 (for Institutional, Service, Administration, Separate Account Institutional, Class R6 and Class P Shareholders). Portfolio characteristics information that is otherwise publicly available may be disclosed without these time lags.

The type and volume of portfolio characteristics information that is made available upon request will vary among the Goldman Sachs Funds (depending on the investment strategies and the portfolio management team of the applicable Fund). If portfolio characteristics information is disclosed to one recipient, it must also be disclosed to all other eligible recipients requesting the same information. However, under certain circumstances, the volume of portfolio characteristics information provided to one recipient may differ from the volume of portfolio characteristics information provided to other recipients.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Type of Information** | **When Available Upon Request** |
| **Portfolio Characteristics Information**<br> **(Except for Aggregate Liquidity**<br> **Classification Information)** | **Prior to 15 Business Days After Month-End**: Cannot disclose without (i) a <br> confidentiality agreement; (ii) an agreement not to trade on the basis of non-public <br> information in violation of the federal securities laws; and (iii) legal or compliance <br> approval.<br>|
| **Portfolio Characteristics Information**<br> **(Except for Aggregate Liquidity**<br> **Classification Information)** | **15 Business Days After Month-End**: May disclose to (i) shareholders and (ii) any <br> non-shareholder whose request satisfies and/or serves a legitimate business purpose for <br> the applicable Fund.<br>|
| **Aggregate Liquidity Classification**<br> **Information** | **Prior to 90 Calendar Days After Month-End**: Cannot disclose without (i) a <br> confidentiality agreement; (ii) an agreement not to trade on the basis of non-public <br> information in violation of the federal securities laws; and (iii) legal or compliance <br> approval.<br>|
| **Aggregate Liquidity Classification**<br> **Information** | **90 Calendar Days After Month-End**: May disclose to (i) shareholders and (ii) any <br> non-shareholder whose request satisfies and/or serves a legitimate business purpose for <br> the applicable Fund.<br>|

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In addition, the Funds described in this SAI currently intend to publish certain portfolio characteristics information on the Trust's website (http://www.gsamfunds.com) as of the end of each month or fiscal quarter, and such information will generally be subject to a 15 day lag. Operational disruptions and other systems disruptions may delay the posting of this information on the Trust's website or the availability of this information by calling Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at the toll-free numbers listed above.

*Oversight of the Policy*. Under the policy, Fund Representatives will periodically supply the Board of the Trustees with a list of third parties who receive non-public portfolio holdings information and material, non-public portfolio characteristics information pursuant to an ongoing arrangement subject to a confidentiality agreement and agreement not to trade on the basis of such information in violation of the federal securities laws. In addition, the Board receives information, on a quarterly basis, on such arrangements that were permitted during the preceding quarter. Under the policy, the Investment Adviser's legal and compliance personnel authorize the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and portfolio characteristics information.

**Disclosure of Current NAV Per Share** 

Each Fund's current NAV per share is available through the Funds' website at http://www.gsamfunds.com (except Class P Shares) or by contacting the Funds at 1-800-526-7384.

**Miscellaneous** 

A Fund will redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Each Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to pay redemptions by a distribution in-kind of securities (instead of cash) if (i) the redemption exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund at the time of

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redemption; or (ii) with respect to lesser redemption amounts, the redeeming shareholder requests in writing a distribution in-kind of securities instead of cash. The securities distributed in-kind would be valued for this purpose using the same method employed in calculating each Fund's 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 each Fund may be suspended for more than seven days for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than the customary weekends or holidays, or when trading on such Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC; or during any emergency, as determined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it or fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or for such other period as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of such Fund. (The Trust may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

As stated in the Prospectuses, the Trust may authorize Intermediaries and other institutions that provide recordkeeping, reporting and processing services to their customers to accept on the Trust's behalf purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their customers and, if approved by the Trust, to designate other intermediaries to accept such orders. These institutions may receive payments from the Trust or Goldman Sachs for their services. Certain Intermediaries or other institutions may enter into sub-transfer agency agreements with the Trust or Goldman Sachs with respect to their services.

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

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

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

**Line of Credit** 

As of October 31, 2022, the Funds participated in a $1,250,000,000 committed, unsecured revolving line of credit facility together with 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 Funds based on the amount of the commitment that has not been utilized. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Funds did not have any borrowings under the facility.

**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 a Fund's shares. The Funds 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 a 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

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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 Funds would benefit from any earnings and investment gains resulting from such portfolio transactions.

**Corporate Actions** 

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

In cases where a Fund or 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.

**DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLANS** 

**(Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class R Shares Only)** 

**Distribution and Service Plans.** As described in the applicable Prospectus, the Trust has adopted, on behalf of Class A, Class C and Class R Shares of each Fund, Distribution and Service Plans (collectively, the "Plans" and each individually, a "Plan"). See "Shareholder Guide — Distribution and Service Fees" in the applicable Prospectus. The distribution fees payable under the Plans are subject to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, and finance distribution and other services that are provided to investors in the Fund, and enable the Fund to offer investors the choice of investing in either Class A, Class C or Class R Shares when investing in the Fund. In addition, distribution fees payable under the Plans may be used to assist the Funds in reaching and maintaining asset levels that are efficient for the Funds' operations and investments.

The Plans for Class A, Class C or Class R Shares of each applicable Fund were most recently approved by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of approving the Plans on June 14-15, 2022.

The compensation for distribution services payable under a Plan to Goldman Sachs may not exceed 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.50%, per annum of a Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A, Class C and Class R Shares, respectively, of a Fund. Under the Plans for Class C Shares, Goldman Sachs is also entitled to receive a separate fee for personal and account maintenance services equal on an annual basis to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class C Shares. With respect to Class R and Class A Shares, the Distributor at its discretion may use compensation for distribution services paid under the Plan for personal and account maintenance services and expenses so long as such total compensation under the Plans does not exceed the maximum cap on "service fees" imposed by FINRA.

Each Plan is a compensation plan which provides for the payment of a specified fee without regard to the expenses actually incurred by Goldman Sachs. If such fee exceeds Goldman Sachs' expenses, Goldman Sachs may realize a profit from these arrangements. The distribution fees received by Goldman Sachs under the Plans (and, as applicable, CDSCs) on Class A, Class C and Class R Shares may be sold by Goldman Sachs as Distributor to entities which provide financing for payments to Intermediaries in respect of sales of Class A, Class C and Class R Shares. To the extent such fees are not paid to such dealers, Goldman Sachs may retain such fees as compensation for its services and expenses of distributing the Funds' Class A, Class C and Class R Shares.

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Under each Plan, Goldman Sachs, as Distributor of each Fund's Class A, Class C and Class R Shares, will provide to the Trustees of the Trust for their review, and the Trustees of the Trust will review at least quarterly, a written report of the services provided and amounts expended by Goldman Sachs under the Plans and the purposes for which such services were performed and expenditures were made.

The Plans will remain in effect until June 30, 2023 and from year to year thereafter, provided that such continuance is approved annually by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans. The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution compensation described therein without approval of a majority of the outstanding Class A, Class C and Class R Shares of the affected Fund and affected share class, but may be amended without shareholder approval to increase materially the amount of non-distribution compensation. All material amendments of a Plan must also be approved by the Trustees of the Trust in the manner described above. A Plan may be terminated at any time as to any Fund without payment of any penalty by a vote of a majority of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the Class A, Class C and Class R Shares, respectively, of the affected Fund and affected share class. If a Plan were terminated by the Trustees of the Trust and no successor plan were adopted, the Fund would cease to make payments to Goldman Sachs under the Plan and Goldman Sachs would be unable to recover the amount of any of its unreimbursed expenditures. So long as a Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of the non-interested Trustees of the Trust. The Trustees of the Trust have determined that in their judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Funds and their Class A, Class C and Class R shareholders.

The following chart shows the distribution and service fees paid to Goldman Sachs for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 by the Funds pursuant to the Class A Plan:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $1314743 | $1062840 | $775396 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $611836 | $557398 | $442484 |

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The following chart shows the distribution and service fees paid to Goldman Sachs for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 by the Funds pursuant to the Class C Plan:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $2275753 | $2934980 | $3204168 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $415966 | $736161 | $1111741 |

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The following chart shows the distribution and service fees paid to Goldman Sachs for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 by the Rising Dividend Growth Fund pursuant to the Class R Plan:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2022**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2021**<br>| **Fiscal Year Ended**<br> **October 31, 2020**<br>|
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $7415 | $6869 | $14229  |

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During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, Goldman Sachs incurred the following expenses in connection with distribution under the Class A Plan of the Funds:

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Compensation**<br> **to**<br> **Dealers**<sup>(1)</sup> <br>| **Compensation**<br> **and Expenses**<br> **of the**<br> **Distributor**<br> **and Its**<br> **Sales**<br> **Personnel**<br>| **Allocable**<br> **Overhead,**<br> **Telephone** <br> **and**<br> **Travel**<br> **Expenses**<br>| **Printing and**<br> **Mailing of**<br> **Prospectuses**<br> **to Other**<br> **Than**<br> **Current**<br> **Shareholders**<br>| **Preparation**<br> **and**<br> **Distribution**<br> **of Sales**<br> **Literature**<br> **and**<br> **Advertising**<br>| **Totals** |
| Income <br> Builder Fund<br>| $1316153 | $1180118 | $478082 | $19735 | $48264 | $3042352 |
| Rising <br> Dividend <br> Growth Fund<br>| $599612 | $341565 | $133, 157 | $5497 | $13433 | $1093274 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Advance commissions paid to dealers of 1% on Class A Shares are considered deferred assets which are amortized over a period of 18 months; amounts presented above reflect amortization expense recorded during the period presented.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, Goldman Sachs incurred the following expenses in connection with distribution under the Class C Plan of the Funds:

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Compensation**<br> **to**<br> **Dealers**<sup>(1)</sup> <br>| **Compensation**<br> **and Expenses**<br> **of the**<br> **Distributor**<br> **and Its**<br> **Sales**<br> **Personnel**<br>| **Allocable**<br> **Overhead,**<br> **Telephone** <br> **and**<br> **Travel**<br> **Expenses**<br>| **Printing and**<br> **Mailing of**<br> **Prospectuses**<br> **to Other**<br> **Than**<br> **Current**<br> **Shareholders**<br>| **Preparation**<br> **and**<br> **Distribution**<br> **of Sales**<br> **Literature**<br> **and**<br> **Advertising**<br>| **Totals** |
| Income <br> Builder Fund<br>| $2674403 | $1017832 | $403658 | $16663 | $40751 | $4153306 |
| Rising Dividend <br> Growth Fund<br>| $525630 | $37171 | 14564 | 601 | 1470 | 579436 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Advance commissions paid to dealers of 1% on Class C Shares are considered deferred assets which are amortized over a period of 1 year; amounts presented above reflect amortization expense recorded during the period presented.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, Goldman Sachs incurred the following expenses in connection with distribution under the Class R Plan of the Rising Dividend Growth Fund:

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| | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Compensation**<br> **to**<br> **Dealers**<sup>(1)</sup> <br>| **Compensation**<br> **and Expenses**<br> **of the**<br> **Distributor**<br> **and Its**<br> **Sales**<br> **Personnel**<br>| **Allocable**<br> **Overhead,**<br> **Telephone** <br> **and**<br> **Travel**<br> **Expenses**<br>| **Printing and**<br> **Mailing of**<br> **Prospectuses**<br> **to Other**<br> **Than**<br> **Current**<br> **Shareholders**<br>| **Preparation**<br> **and**<br> **Distribution**<br> **of Sales**<br> **Literature**<br> **and**<br> **Advertising**<br>| **Totals** |
| Rising Dividend <br> Growth Fund<br>| $6080 | $1182 | $520 | $21 | $52 | $7857 |

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<sup>1</sup>

Advance commissions paid to dealers of 1% on Class R Shares are considered deferred assets which are amortized over a period of 18 months; amounts presented above reflect amortization expense recorded during the period presented.

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**OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE, PURCHASES, REDEMPTIONS, EXCHANGES AND DIVIDENDS** 

**(Class A Shares and Class C Shares Only)** 

The following information supplements the information in the applicable Prospectus under the captions "Shareholder Guide" and "Distributions." Please see the applicable Prospectus for more complete information.

**Maximum Sales Charges** 

Class A Shares of each Fund are sold with a maximum sales charge of 5.50%. Using the NAV per share as of October 31, 2022, the maximum offering price of the Funds' Class A Shares would be as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Fund** | **Net Asset Value** | **Maximum Sales Charge** | **Offering Price to**<br> **Public**<br>|
| Income Builder Fund | $22.54 | 5.50% | $23.85 |
| Rising Dividend Growth Fund | $11.87 | 5.50% | $12.56 |

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The actual sales charge that is paid by an investor on the purchase of Class A Shares may differ slightly from the sales charge listed above or in the Funds' applicable Prospectus due to rounding in the calculations. The actual sales charge that is paid by an investor will be rounded to two decimal places. As a result of such rounding in the calculations, the actual sales charge paid by an investor may be somewhat greater (*e.g.*, 5.53% for Class A Shares) or somewhat lesser (*e.g.*, 5.48% for Class A Shares) than that listed above or in the applicable Prospectus. Contact your financial advisor for further information.

**Other Purchase Information/Sales Charge Waivers** 

The sales charge waivers of the Funds' shares described in "Shareholder Guide—Common Questions Applicable to the Purchase of Class A Shares" in the applicable Prospectus are due to the nature of the investors involved and/or the reduced sales effort that is needed to obtain such investments.

If shares of a Fund are held in an account with an Intermediary, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to the beneficial owner's account will be performed by the Intermediary, and not by the Fund and its Transfer Agent. Because the Funds will have no record of the beneficial owner's transactions, a beneficial owner should contact the Intermediary to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions concerning the account or to obtain information about the account. The transfer of shares in an account with one Intermediary to a "street name" account with another Intermediary or to an account directly with the Fund involves special procedures and will require the beneficial owner to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from the Intermediary.

**Right of Accumulation (Class A)** 

A Class A shareholder qualifies for cumulative quantity discounts if the current purchase price of the new investment plus the shareholder's current holdings of existing Class A and/or Class C Shares (acquired by purchase or exchange) of a Fund and Class A and/or Class C Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund total the requisite amount for receiving a discount. For example, if a shareholder owns shares with a current market value of $65,000 and purchases additional Class A Shares of a Fund with a purchase price of $45,000, the sales charge for the $45,000 purchase would be 3.75% (the rate applicable to purchases of $100,000 but less than $250,000 for the Funds). Class A and/or Class C Shares of the Funds and Class A and/or Class C Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased (i) by an individual, his spouse, his parents and his children, and (ii) by a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or a single fiduciary account, will be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for such right of accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. For purposes of applying the right of accumulation, shares of the Funds and any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by an existing client of Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management or GS Ayco Holding LLC will be combined with Class A and/or Class C Shares and other assets held by all other Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management accounts or accounts of GS Ayco Holding LLC, respectively. In addition, Class A and/or

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Class C Shares of the Funds and Class A and/or Class C Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund purchased by partners, directors, officers or employees of the same business organization, groups of individuals represented by and investing on the recommendation of the same accounting firm, certain affinity groups or other similar organizations (collectively, "eligible persons") may be combined for the purpose of determining whether a purchase will qualify for the right of accumulation and, if qualifying, the applicable sales charge level. This right of accumulation is subject to the following conditions: (i) the business organization's, group's or firm's agreement to cooperate in the offering of the Funds' shares to eligible persons; and (ii) notification to the relevant Fund at the time of purchase that the investor is eligible for this right of accumulation. In addition, in connection with SIMPLE IRA accounts, cumulative quantity discounts are available on a per plan basis if (i) your employee has been assigned a cumulative discount number by Goldman Sachs; and (ii) your account, alone or in combination with the accounts of other plan participants also invested in Class A and/or Class C Shares of Goldman Sachs Funds, totals the requisite aggregate amount as described in the applicable Prospectus.

**Statement of Intention (Class A)** 

If a shareholder anticipates purchasing at least $50,000 of Class A Shares of a Fund alone or in combination with Class A Shares of any other Goldman Sachs Fund within a 13-month period, the shareholder may purchase shares of the Fund at a reduced sales charge by submitting a Statement of Intention (the "Statement"). Shares purchased pursuant to a Statement will be eligible for the same sales charge discount that would have been available if all of the purchases had been made at the same time. The shareholder or his Intermediary must inform Goldman Sachs that the Statement is in effect each time shares are purchased. There is no obligation to purchase the full amount of shares indicated in the Statement. A shareholder may include the value of all Class A Shares on which a sales charge has previously been paid as an "accumulation credit" toward the completion of the Statement, but a price readjustment will be made only on Class A Shares purchased within ninety (90) days before submitting the Statement. The Statement authorizes the Transfer Agent to hold in escrow a sufficient number of shares which can be redeemed to make up any difference in the sales charge on the amount actually invested. For purposes of satisfying the amount specified on the Statement, the gross amount of each investment, exclusive of any appreciation on shares previously purchased, will be taken into account. The provisions applicable to the Statement, and the terms of the related escrow agreement, are set forth in Appendix C to this SAI.

**Cross-Reinvestment of Dividends and Distributions** 

Shareholders may receive dividends and distributions in additional shares of the same class of the Fund in which they have invested or they may elect to receive them in cash or shares of the same class of other Goldman Sachs Funds, or Service Shares of the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime Obligations Fund, if they hold Class A Shares of a Fund.

A Fund shareholder should obtain and read the prospectus relating to the other Goldman Sachs Fund and its shares and consider its investment objective, policies and applicable fees before electing cross-reinvestment into that Fund. The election to cross-reinvest dividends and capital gain distributions will not affect the tax treatment of such dividends and distributions, which will be treated as received by the shareholder and then used to purchase shares of the acquired fund. Such reinvestment of dividends and distributions in shares of other Goldman Sachs Funds is available only in states where such reinvestment may legally be made.

**Automatic Exchange Program** 

A Fund shareholder may elect to exchange automatically a specified dollar amount of shares of a Fund for shares of the same class or an equivalent class of another Goldman Sachs Fund provided the minimum initial investment requirement has been satisfied. A Fund shareholder should obtain and read the prospectus relating to any other Goldman Sachs Fund and its shares and consider its investment objective, policies and applicable fees and expenses before electing an automatic exchange into that Goldman Sachs Fund.

**Exchanges from Collective Investment Trusts to the Funds** 

The Investment Adviser manages a number of collective investment trusts that hold assets of 401(k) plans and other retirement plans (each, a "Collective Investment Trust"). An investor in a Collective Investment Trust (or an Intermediary acting on behalf of the investor) may elect to exchange some or all of the interests it holds in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of one or more of the Goldman Sachs Funds. Generally speaking, Rule 22c-1 under the Act requires a purchase order for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund

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to be priced based on the current NAV of the Goldman Sachs Fund that is next calculated after receipt of the purchase order. A Goldman Sachs Fund will treat a purchase order component of an exchange from an investor in a Collective Investment Trust as being received in good order at the time it is communicated to an Intermediary or the Transfer Agent, if the amount of shares to be purchased is expressed as a percentage of the value of the investor's interest in a designated Collective Investment Trust that it is contemporaneously redeeming (*e.g.*, if the investor communicates a desire to exchange 100% of its interest in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund). The investor's purchase price and the number of Goldman Sachs Fund shares it will acquire will therefore be calculated as of the pricing of the Collective Investment Trust on the day of the purchase order. Such an order will be deemed to be irrevocable as of the time the Goldman Sachs Fund's NAV is next calculated after receipt of the purchase order. An investor should obtain and read the prospectus relating to any Goldman Sachs Fund and its shares and consider its investment objective, policies and applicable fees and expenses before electing an exchange into that Goldman Sachs Fund. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of interests in a Collective Investment Trust for shares of a Goldman Sachs Fund may be subject to tax, and you should consult your tax adviser concerning the tax consequences of an exchange.

**Systematic Withdrawal Plan** 

A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Systematic Withdrawal Plan") is available to shareholders of a Fund whose shares are worth at least $5,000. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly payments to the participating shareholder of any amount not less than $50.

Dividends and capital gain distributions on shares held under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the applicable Fund at NAV. The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in redeeming sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount of the systematic withdrawal payment. The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to initiate a fee of up to $5 per withdrawal, upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the shareholder. Withdrawal payments should not be considered to be dividends, yield or income. If periodic withdrawals continuously exceed new purchases and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, the shareholder's original investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. The maintenance of a withdrawal plan concurrently with purchases of additional Class A or Class C Shares would be disadvantageous because of the sales charge imposed on purchases of Class A Shares or the imposition of a CDSC on redemptions of Class A or Class C Shares. The CDSC applicable to Class A or Class C Shares redeemed under a systematic withdrawal plan may be waived. See "Shareholder Guide" in the applicable Prospectus. In addition, each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares, and any gain or loss realized must be reported for federal and state income tax purposes. A shareholder should consult his or her own tax adviser with regard to the tax consequences of participating in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. For further information or to request a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please write or call the Transfer Agent.

**CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES** 

As of February 3, 2023, the following shareholders were shown in the Trust's records as owning 5% or more of any class of the Funds' shares. Except as listed below, the Trust does not know of any other person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the Funds' shares:

**Income Builder Fund** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Class** | **Name/Address** | **Percentage**<br> **of Class**<br>|
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, 2801 Market St., <br> Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 16.63% |
| Class A | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, 1 New York Plaza Floor 12, New York, NY 10004-1932. | 14.03% |
| Class A | Edward Jones, FBO Customers, 12555 Manchester Road, Saint Louis, MO 63131-3710. | 12.06% |
| Class A | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 10.76% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, FBO its Customers, Attn: Service Team SEQ# 97PR7 <br> Goldman Sachs Funds, 4800 Deer Lake Dr. East, 3rd Fl., Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484.<br>| 10.49% |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Class** | **Name/Address** | **Percentage**<br> **of Class**<br>|
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; National Financial Services LLC, FEBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds Dept, 4th Fl, 499 <br> Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995.<br>| 9.24% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 5.08% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, 2801 Market St., <br> Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 37.44% |
| Class C | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, 1 New York Plaza Floor 12, New York, NY 10004-1932. | 13.42% |
| Class C | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 11.54% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 7.47% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; LPL Financial Corporation, Omnibus Customer Account, Attn Mutual Funds Trading, 4707 <br> Executive Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-3091.<br>| 6.89% |
| Class C | Pershing LLC, PO Box 2052, Jersey City, NJ 07303-2052. | 5.88% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, 2801 Market St., <br> Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 18.89% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; National Financial Services LLC, FBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds Dept, 4th Fl, 499 <br> Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995.<br>| 17.02% |
| Institutional | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, 1 New York Plaza Floor 12, New York, NY 10004-1932. | 16.42% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, FBO its Customers, Attn: Service Team SEQ# 97PR8 <br> Goldman Sachs Funds, 4800 Deer Lake Dr. East, 3rd Fl., Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484.<br>| 14.99% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Special Custody Acct. FBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds, <br> 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-1905.<br>| 6.12% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; UBS Financial Services Inc., Omni Account M/F, 1000 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ <br> 07086-6761.<br>| 5.29% |
| Investor | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 45.87% |
| Investor | &nbsp;&nbsp; LPL Financial Corporation, Omnibus Customer Account, Attn Mutual Funds Trading, 4707 <br> Executive Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-3091.<br>| 27.09% |
| Investor | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 24.21% |
| Class R6 | Edward Jones, FBO Customers, 12555 Manchester Road, Saint Louis, MO 63131- 3710. | 74.34% |
| Class R6 | &nbsp;&nbsp; National Financial Services LLC, FBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds Dept, 4th Fl, 499 <br> Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995.<br>| 17.47% |
| Class P | &nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs & Co., C/O Mutual Funds Operations, 222 S. Main St., Salt Lake City, UT <br> 84101-2199.<br>| 99.97% |

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**Rising Dividend Growth Fund** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Class** | **Name/Address** | **Percentage of Class** |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, <br> 2801 Market St., Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 14.44% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 13.92% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, 1 New York Plaza Floor 12, New York, NY <br> 10004-1932.<br>| 13.10% |
| Class A | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 12.73% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, FBO its Customers, Attn: Service Team SEC <br> #97PR8 Goldman Sachs Funds, 4800 Deer Lake Dr. East, 3rd Fl., Jacksonville, FL <br> 32246-6484.<br>| 7.23% |
| Class A | Edward Jones, FBO Customers, 12555 Manchester Road, Saint Louis, MO 63131- 3710. | 6.51% |
| Class A | &nbsp;&nbsp; LPL Financial Corporation, Omnibus Customer Account, Attn Mutual Funds Trading, <br> 4707 Executive Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-3091.<br>| 5.05% |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Class** | **Name/Address** | **Percentage of Class** |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, <br> 2801 Market St., Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 32.60% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 20.16% |
| Class C | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 10.83% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; LPL Financial Corporation, Omnibus Customer Account, Attn Mutual Funds Trading, <br> 4707 Executive Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-3091.<br>| 8.04% |
| Class C | &nbsp;&nbsp; UBS Financial Services Inc., Omni Account M/F, 1000 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ <br> 07086-6761.<br>| 5.90% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Special Custody Acct. FBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds, <br> 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-1905.<br>| 21.20% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, 1 New York Plaza Floor 12, New York, NY <br> 10004-1932.<br>| 18.26% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Special Custody Account FBO Customer, <br> 2801 Market St., Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523.<br>| 18.10% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; National Financial Services LLC, FBO Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds Dept, 4th Fl, 499 <br> Washington Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07310-1995.<br>| 11.26% |
| Institutional | &nbsp;&nbsp; UBS Financial Services Inc., Omni Account M/F, 1000 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ <br> 07086-6761.<br>| 9.76% |
| Investor | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 27.03% |
| Investor | &nbsp;&nbsp; LPL Financial Corporation, Omnibus Customer Account, Attn Mutual Funds Trading, <br> 4707 Executive Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-3091.<br>| 14.60% |
| Investor | Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 707 2nd Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55402-2405. | 5.12% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; GWFS Equities Inc., FBO Intelligent Product Solutions, IPS 401K, C/O Fascore LLC, <br> 8515 E Orchard Rd. # 2T2, Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002.<br>| 18.68% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; GWFS Equities Inc., FBO Wallin Ttee FBO P&L Gen Cntctrs Inc, C/O Fascore LLC, <br> 8515 E Orchard Rd. # 2T2, Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002.<br>| 15.96% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; MSCS Financial Services LLC, Matrix Trust Company as Agent for Advisor Trust Inc., <br> 717 17th St. Ste. 1300, Denver, CO 80202-3304.<br>| 10.53% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; GWFS Equities Inc., FBO JW Allen Co Inc, C/O Fascore LLC, 8515 E Orchard Rd. # <br> 2T2, Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002.<br>| 10.51% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; MSCS Financial Services LLC, Matrix Trust Company as Agent for Advisor Trust Inc., <br> Chester 403(B) Plan, 717 17th St. Ste. 1300, Denver, CO 80202-3304.<br>| 7.90% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; Raymond James & Associates, 92500015 Omnibus, Attn: Courtney Waller, 880 Carillon <br> Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102<br>| 7.85% |
| Class R | &nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs Direct Accts., Ascensus Trust Company, FBO My Plastic Surgery <br> Group-Sando & AK, PO Box 10758, Fargo, ND 58106-0758.<br>| 7.02% |
| Class R6 | Edward Jones, FBO Customers, 12555 Manchester Road, Saint Louis, MO 63131- 3710. | 86.09% |
| Class R6 | &nbsp;&nbsp; GWFS Equities Inc., Great West Trust Company, LLC TTEE, FBO Employee Benefits <br> Clients 401K, 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2, Greenwood Village, CO 80111- 5002.<br>| 11.14% |
| Class P | &nbsp;&nbsp; Goldman Sachs & Co., C/O Mutual Funds Operations, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, <br> UT 84108-1285.<br>| 99.26% |

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**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.

1-A

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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.

"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<sup>®</sup> 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.

2-A

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"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".

**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.

3-A

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"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.

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 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.

"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.

4-A

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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:

5-A

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"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.

"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

6-A

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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.

"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.

7-A

------

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.

8-A

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**APPENDIX B GSAM PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES SUMMARY**

**Effective March 2022**

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 and/or the Global Stewardship Team 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.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **[Region: Americas](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_1)** |  |
| [1. Business Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_1) | 2-B |
| [2. Board of Directors](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_2) | 3-B |
| [3. Executive and Non-Executive Compensation](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_6) | 7-B |
| [4. Shareholders Rights and Defenses](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_9) | 10-B |
| [5. Strategic Transactions and Capital Structures](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_10) | 11-B |
| [6. Environmental and Social Issues](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_12) | 13-B |
| **[Region: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Proxy Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_17)** |  |
| [1. Business Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_17) | 18-B |
| [2. Board of Directors](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_18) | 19-B |
| [3. Remuneration](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_23) | 24-B |
| [4. Shareholder Rights and Defences](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_25) | 26-B |
| [5. Strategic Transactions, Capital Structures and other Business Considerations](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_25) | 26-B |
| [6. Environmental and Social Issues](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_28) | 29-B |
| **[Region: Asia Pacific (APAC) Proxy Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_32)** |  |
| [1. Business Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_32) | 33-B |
| [2. Board of Directors](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_33) | 34-B |
| [3. Remuneration](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_38) | 39-B |
| [4. Shareholder Rights and Defences](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_40) | 41-B |
| [5. Strategic Transactions, Capital Structures and other Business Considerations](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_40) | 41-B |
| [6. Environmental and Social Issues](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_42) | 43-B |
| **[Region: Japan Proxy Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_47)** |  |
| [1. Operational Items](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_47) | 48-B |
| [2. Board of Directors and Statutory Auditors](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_48) | 49-B |
| [3. Compensation](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_52) | 53-B |
| [4. Shareholder Rights and Defenses](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_52) | 53-B |
| [5. Strategic Transactions and Capital Structures](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_53) | 54-B |
| [6. Environmental and Social Issues](#xx_e93ace33-6085-4a6d-befa-ae8c1275637d_54) | 55-B |

---

1-B

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**Region: Americas** 

*The following section is a summary of the Guidelines, which form the substantive basis of the Policy with respect to North, Central and South American public equity investments of operating and/or holding companies 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. Business Items** 

**Auditor Ratification** 

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply within the last year:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Reincorporation Proposals** 

We may support management proposals to reincorporate as long as the reincorporation would not substantially diminish shareholder rights. We 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.

**Exclusive Venue for Shareholder Lawsuits** 

Generally vote FOR on exclusive venue proposals, taking into account:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has been materially harmed by shareholder litigation outside its jurisdiction of incorporation, based on disclosure in the company's proxy statement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Virtual Meetings** 

Generally vote FOR proposals allowing for the convening of hybrid\* shareholder meetings if it is clear that it is not the intention to hold virtual-only AGMs. Generally vote AGAINST proposals allowing for the convening of virtual-only\* shareholder meetings.

2-B

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\* The phrase "virtual-only shareholder meeting" refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively through the use of online technology without a corresponding in-person meeting. The term "hybrid shareholder meeting" refers to an in-person, or physical, meeting in which shareholders are permitted to participate online.

**Public Benefit Corporation Proposals** 

Generally vote FOR management proposals and CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals related to the conversion of the company into a public benefit corporation.

**Transact Other Business** 

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

**Administrative Requests** 

Generally vote FOR non-contentious administrative management requests.

**2. Board of Directors** 

The board of directors should promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; should consist of a majority of independent directors and/or meet local best practice expectations; and should be held accountable for actions and results related to their responsibilities. Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections** 

**Board Composition** 

We generally believe diverse teams have the potential to outperform and we expect the companies that we invest in to focus on the importance of diversity. When evaluating board composition, we believe a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration. We encourage companies to disclose the composition of their board in the proxy statement and may vote against members of the board without disclosure. See below how we execute our vote at companies that do not meet our diversity expectations.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from members of the Nominating Committee:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• At companies incorporated in the US if the board does not have at least 10% women directors and at least one other diverse board director;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• At companies within the S&P 500, if, in addition to our gender expectations, the board does not have at least one diverse director from an underrepresented ethnic group;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• At companies not incorporated in the US, if the board does not have at least 10% women directors or does not meet the requirements of local listing rules or corporate governance codes or national targets

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the full board at companies incorporated in the US that do not have at least one woman director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Sit on more than five public company boards;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own--withhold only at their outside boards.

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Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from members of the Nominating Committee if the average board tenure exceeds 15 years, and there has not been a new nominee in the past 5 years.

**Director Independence** 

At companies incorporated in the US, 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, we will consider compensation committee interlocking directors to be affiliated (defined as CEOs who sit on each other's compensation committees).

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from inside directors and affiliated outside directors (as described above) when:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The inside director or affiliated outside director serves on the Audit, Compensation or Nominating Committees; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Director Accountability** 

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who attend less than 75% of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse.

Generally, vote FOR the bundled election of management nominees, unless adequate disclosures of the nominees have not been provided in a timely manner or if one or more of the nominees does not meet the expectation of our policy.

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 members of the full board or 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. New nominees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company, including but not limited to violations of the United Nations Global Compact principles and/or other significant global standards and failure to disclose material environmental, social and governance information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 we did not support the shareholder proposal in both years, we will still vote against the committee member(s).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 a newly public company, does not commit to put the pill to a

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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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company does not disclose various components of current emissions, a proxy for a company's dependency on fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gasses (Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions), material to the company's business

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

**Committee Responsibilities and Expectations** 

Companies should establish committees to oversee areas such as audit, executive and non-executive compensation, director nominations and ESG oversight. The responsibilities of the committees should be publicly disclosed.

**Audit Committee** 

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (generally over 50% or more of the audit fees);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 excessive pledging or hedging of stock by executives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Compensation Committee** 

See section 3 on Executive and Non-Executive compensation for reasons to withhold from members of the Compensation Committee.

**Nominating/Governance Committee** 

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Nominating/Governance Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has opted into, or failed to opt out of, state laws requiring a classified board structure;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board does not meet our diversity expectations;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or could adversely impact shareholders.

**Voting on Director Nominees in Contested Elections** 

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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company performance relative to its peers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Independence of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Experience and skills of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Evidence of management entrenchment;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Responsiveness to shareholders;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

**Proxy Access** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder or management proposals asking for proxy access.

We may support proxy access as an important right for shareholders and as an alternative to costly proxy contests and as a method for us 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The ownership thresholds, percentage and duration proposed (we generally will not support if the ownership threshold is less than 3%);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The maximum proportion of directors that shareholders may nominate each year (we generally will not support if the proportion of directors is greater than 25%); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Other restricting factors that when taken in combination could serve to materially limit the proxy access provision.

We 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.

**Other Board Related Proposals (Management and Shareholder)** 

**Independent Board Chair** (for applicable markets)

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We will generally 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Two-thirds independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fully independent key committees; and/or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.

**Shareholder Proposals Regarding Board Declassification** 

We will generally vote FOR proposals requesting that the board adopt a declassified board structure.

**Majority Vote Shareholder Proposals** 

We 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. We also look for companies to adopt a post-election policy outlining how the company will address the situation of a holdover director.

**Cumulative Vote Shareholder Proposals** 

We will generally vote FOR shareholder proposals to restore or provide cumulative unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 and Non-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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from compensation committee members.

**Equity Compensation Plans** 

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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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The plan permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciation rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 considering the following factors in the context of each company's specific circumstances and the board's disclosed rationale for its practices.

Factors Considered Include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Pay for Performance Disconnect;

• We 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Long-term equity-based compensation is 100% time-based;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Board's responsiveness if company received 70% or less shareholder support in the previous year's MSOP vote;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious employment contracts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Excessive perquisites or excessive severance and/or change in control provisions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options without prior shareholder approval;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious pension/SERP (supplemental executive retirement plan) payouts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Extraordinary relocation benefits;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Internal pay disparity; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Lack of transparent disclosure of compensation philosophy and goals and targets, including details on short-term and long-term performance incentives.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Broad-based participation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Limits on employee contributions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company matching contributions; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Presence of a discount on the stock price on the date of purchase.

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**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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Rationale for the re-pricing;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If it is a value-for-value exchange;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If surrendered stock options are added back to the plan reserve;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Option vesting;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Term of the option--the term should remain the same as that of the replaced option;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Exercise price--should be set at fair market or a premium to market;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Participants--executive officers and directors should be excluded.

Vote FOR shareholder proposals to put option repricings to a shareholder vote.

**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 vote FOR unless there is sufficient evidence that the current compensation structure is already substantially performance-based. We consider 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.

**Compensation Committee**

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Compensation Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• We voted against the company's MSOP in the previous year, the company's previous MSOP received significant opposition of votes cast and we are voting against this year's MSOP;

• The board implements a MSOP on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the plurality of votes cast

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**4. Shareholders Rights and Defenses** 

**Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent** 

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has a history of strong governance practices.

**Special Meetings Arrangements** 

Generally vote FOR management proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings at a threshold of 25% or lower if the company currently does not give shareholders the right to call special meetings. However, if a company already gives shareholders the right to call special meetings at a threshold of at least 25%, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to further reduce the threshold.

Generally vote AGAINST management proposals seeking shareholder approval for the company to hold special meetings with 14 days notice unless the company offers shareholders the ability to vote by electronic means and a proposal to reduce the period of notice to not less than 14 days has received majority support.

**Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on advance notice proposals, giving support to proposals that allow shareholders to submit proposals/nominations reasonably close to the meeting date and within the broadest window possible, recognizing the need to allow sufficient notice for company, regulatory and shareholder review.

**Shareholder Voting Requirements** 

Vote AGAINST proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote. Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals to reduce supermajority vote requirements.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• a shareholder-approved poison pill in place; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

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**5. Strategic Transactions and Capital Structures** 

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Valuation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Market reaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategic rationale;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Management's track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Presence of conflicts of interest; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the combined company.

**Dual Class 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.

**Share Issuance Requests** 

*General Issuances:*

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100% over currently issued capital or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20% of currently issued capital or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

*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, or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The increase would leave the company with less than 30% of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

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**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.

**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** 

We will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs taking into account whether:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is clear evidence of historical abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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** 

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Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

**Reorganizations/Restructurings** 

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The parties on either side of the transaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of independent directors (where provided);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing

**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.

**6. Environmental and Social Issues** 

**Overall Approach**

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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure, including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

• If the company has implemented or formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) materiality standards, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure's (TCFD) recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

**Environmental Issues** 

**Climate Transition Plans** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposed climate transition plans. When evaluating management proposed plans, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of the governance, strategy, risk mitigation efforts, and metrics and targets based on the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of their current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure in line with Paris Agreement goals.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting climate transition plans. When evaluating these shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure according to the TCFD's recommendations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure of the company's current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for long-term targets, as well as short and medium term milestones;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be aligned to a globally accepted framework, such as Paris Aligned or Net Zero;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be approved by the Science Based Target Initiative ("SBTi");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal seeks to add reasonable transparency and is not onerous or overly prescriptive; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal is binding or non-binding.

**Environmental Sustainability Reporting** 

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Generally vote FOR shareholders proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to environmental sustainability, including the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The following factors will be considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 the SASB materiality standards, the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard within a specified time frame;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company's current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental performance.

**Other Environmental Proposals** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the following shareholder proposals if relevant to the company:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks a company faces related to climate change on its operations and investment, or on how the company identifies, measures and manages such risks;

• Calling for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking reports on responses to regulatory and public pressures surrounding climate change, and for disclosure of research that aided in setting company policies around climate change;

• Requesting an action plan including science based targets and a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a report/disclosure of goals on GHG emissions from company operations and/or products;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a company report on its energy efficiency policies; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting reports on the feasibility of developing renewable energy resources.

**Social Issues** 

**Board and Workforce Demographics**

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.

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting reports on a company's efforts to diversify the board, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board.

**Gender Pay Gap** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting reports on a company's pay data by gender, or a report on a company's policies and goals to reduce any gender pay gap, taking into account:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy and fair and equitable compensation practices;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation or regulatory actions related to gender pay gap issues; and

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company's reporting regarding gender pay gap policies or initiatives is lagging its peers.

**Labor, Human and Animal Rights Standards** 

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor, human, and/or animal rights standards and policies, or on the impact of its operations on society, unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The scope of the request; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports about a company's use of mandatory arbitrations in employment claims, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports on the actions taken by a company to prevent sexual and other forms of harassment or on the risks posed by the company's failure to take such actions, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

**Racial Equity Audit** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting the board oversee a racial equity audit. While we believe the decision to initiate an independent audit is best left to management judgment under the oversight of the board of directors, the following factors are generally considered:

• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business.

**Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives** 

We generally believe 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, we consider 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company's political contributions or trade association spending; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

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Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company's policies with respect to political contributions, lobbying and trade association spending as long as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no significant potential threat or actual harm to shareholders' interests;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent significant controversies or litigation related to the company's political contributions or governmental affairs; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is publicly available information to assess the company's oversight related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

We generally will vote AGAINST proposals asking for detailed disclosure of political contributions or trade association or lobbying expenditures.

We generally will 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.

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**Region: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Proxy Items** 

*The following section is a broad summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to EMEA public equity investments of operating and/or holding companies. 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. Business Items** 

**Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports** 

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

• There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Name of the proposed auditor has not been published;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The auditors are being changed without explanation;

• Non-audit-related fees are substantial, or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees, or in excess of permitted local limits and guidelines; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 Internal Statutory Auditors** 

Vote FOR the appointment or re-election of statutory auditors, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

**Reincorporation Proposals** 

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis

**Allocation of Income** 

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The dividend payout ratio has been consistently low without adequate explanation; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

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**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.

**Virtual Meetings** 

Generally vote FOR proposals allowing for the convening of hybrid\* shareholder meetings if it is clear that it is not the intention to hold virtual-only AGMs. Generally vote AGAINST proposals allowing for the convening of virtual-only\* shareholder meetings.

\* The phrase "virtual-only shareholder meeting" refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively through the use of online technology without a corresponding in-person meeting. The term "hybrid shareholder meeting" refers to an in-person, or physical, meeting in which shareholders are permitted to participate online.

**Public Benefit Corporation Proposals** 

Generally vote FOR management proposals and CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals related to the conversion of the company into a public benefit corporation.

**Transact Other Business** 

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

**Administrative Requests** 

Generally vote FOR non-contentious administrative management requests.

**2. Board of Directors** 

The board of directors should promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; should consist of a majority of independent directors and / or meet local best practice expectations; and should be held accountable for actions and results related to their responsibilities.

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**Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections** 

Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into consideration the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

• Lack of gender diversity on the board

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are other considerations which may include sanction from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues relate to improper business practice, failure to replace management, or egregious actions related to service on other boards.

**Board Composition** 

We generally believe diverse teams have the potential to outperform and we expect the companies that we invest in to focus on the importance of diversity. When evaluating board composition, we believe a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration. We encourage companies to disclose the composition of their board in the proxy statement and may vote against members of the board without disclosure. See below how we execute our vote at companies that do not meet our diversity expectations.

Vote AGAINST members of the Nominating Committee:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• At companies if the board does not have at least 10% women directors, or does not meet the requirements of local listing rules or corporate governance codes or national targets;

• At companies in the FTSE100 if the board does not have at least one director from an underrepresented minority ethnic background, in line with the Parker review guidelines.

**Employee and /or Labor Representatives** 

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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.

**Director Independence** 

**Classification of Directors** 

**Executive Director** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Employee or executive of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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)** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Government representative;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Relative of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

• Former executive (a cooling off period may be applied);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

**Independent NED** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• No material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.

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**Employee Representative** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as "employee representative" but considered a non-independent NED).

**Director Accountability** 

Vote AGAINST individual directors who attend less than 75% of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse.

Generally, vote FOR the bundled election of management nominees, unless adequate disclosures of the nominees have not been provided in a timely manner or if one or more of the nominees does not meet the expectation of our policy.

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 members of the full board or 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. New nominees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• including but not limited to violations of the United Nations Global Compact principles and/or other significant global standards and failure to disclose material environmental, social and governance information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 we did not support the shareholder proposal in both years, we will still vote against the committee member(s).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company does not disclose various components of current emissions, a proxy for a company's dependency on fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gasses (Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions), material to the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• shareholder interest; or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Other egregious governance issues where shareholders may bring legal action against the company or its directors; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis where a vote against other agenda items are deemed inappropriate.

**Committee Responsibilities and Expectations** 

Companies should establish committees to oversee areas such as audit, executive and non-executive compensation, director nominations and ESG oversight. The responsibilities of the committees should be publicly disclosed.

**Audit Committee** 

Vote AGAINST members of the Audit Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Non-audit-related fees are substantial, or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees, or in excess of permitted local limits and guidelines.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is excessive pledging or hedging of stock by executives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 accounting principles and material weaknesses identified in audit-related 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.

**Remuneration Committee** 

See section 3 on Remuneration for reasons to vote against members of the Remuneration Committee.

**Nominating/Governance Committee** 

Vote AGAINST members of the Nominating/Governance Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board does not meet our diversity expectations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or could adversely impact shareholders

**Voting on Director Nomineess in Contested Elections** 

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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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company performance relative to its peers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Independence of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Experience and skills of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Evidence of management entrenchment;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Responsiveness to shareholders;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

**Other Board Related Proposals (Management and Shareholder)** 

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.

**Independent Board Chair (for applicable markets)** 

We will generally 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Two-thirds independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fully independent key committees; and/or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.

**3. Remuneration** 

**Pay Practices** 

Good pay practices should align management's interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of remuneration criteria is preferred; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident and retroactive performance target changes without proper disclosure is not viewed favorably. Remuneration 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals, Remuneration Reports; or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, vote AGAINST from Remuneration Committee members.

**Remuneration Plans** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for a vote on executive remuneration, considering the following factors in the context of each company's specific circumstances and the board's disclosed rationale for its practices.

Factors considered may include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Pay for Performance Disconnect;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• We 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Long-term equity-based compensation is 100% time-based;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Board's responsiveness if company received low shareholder support in the previous year's MSOP or remuneration vote;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious employment contracts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Excessive perquisites or excessive severance and/or change in control provisions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options without prior shareholder approval;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious pension/SERP (supplemental executive retirement plan) payouts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Extraordinary relocation benefits;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Internal pay disparity; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Lack of transparent disclosure of compensation philosophy and goals and targets, including details on short-term and long-term performance incentives.

**Non-Executive Director Compensation** 

Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.

Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.

**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.

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**Other Remuneration Related Proposals** 

Vote on other remuneration related proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Remuneration Committee** 

When voting for members of the Remuneration Committee, factors considered may include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• We voted against the company's MSOP in the previous year, the company's previous MSOP received significant opposition of votes cast and we are voting against this year's MSOP; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board implements a MSOP on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the plurality of votes cast

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Remuneration structure is widely inconsistent with local market best practices or regulations

**4. Shareholder Rights and Defences** 

**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.

For the Netherlands, vote recommendations regarding management proposals to approve protective preference shares will be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

For French companies listed on a regulated market, generally VOTE AGAINST any general authorities impacting the share capital (i.e. authorities for share repurchase plans and any general share issuances with or without preemptive rights) if they can be used for antitakeover purposes without shareholders' prior explicit approval.

**5. Strategic Transactions, Capital Structures and other Business Considerations** 

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Valuation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Market reaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategic rationale;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Management's track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Presence of conflicts of interest; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the combined company.

**Dual Class Structures** 

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

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Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

**Share Issuance Requests**

*General Issuances:*

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100% over currently issued capital

or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20% of currently issued capital or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

*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, or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

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.

**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.

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**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** 

We will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs taking into account whether:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is clear evidence of historical abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Reorganizations/Restructurings** 

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The parties on either side of the transaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of independent directors (where provided);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing

**6. Environmental and Social Issues** 

**Overall Approach** 

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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure, including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has implemented or formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) materiality standards, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure's (TCFD) recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

**Environmental Issues** 

**Climate Transition Plans** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposed climate transition plans. When evaluating management proposed plans, the following factors are generally considered:

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of the governance, strategy, risk mitigation efforts, and metrics and targets based on the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of their current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure in line with Paris Agreement goals.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting climate transition plans. When evaluating these shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure according to the TCFD's recommendations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure of the company's current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for long-term targets, as well as short and medium term milestones;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be aligned to a globally accepted framework, such as Paris Aligned or Net Zero;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be approved by the Science Based Target Initiative ("SBTi");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal seeks to add reasonable transparency and is not onerous or overly prescriptive; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal is binding or non-binding.

**Environmental Sustainability Reporting** 

Generally vote FOR shareholders proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to environmental sustainability, including the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The following factors will be considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the SASB materiality standards, the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard within a specified time frame;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company's current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental performance.

**Other Environmental Proposals** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the following shareholder proposals if relevant to the company:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks a company faces related to climate change on its operations and investment, or on how the company identifies, measures and manages such risks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Calling for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking reports on responses to regulatory and public pressures surrounding climate change, and for disclosure of research that aided in setting company policies around climate change;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting an action plan including science based targets and a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a report/disclosure of goals on GHG emissions from company operations and/or products;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a company report on its energy efficiency policies; and

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting reports on the feasibility of developing renewable energy resources.

**Social Issues** 

**Board and Workforce Demographics** 

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.

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting reports on a company's efforts to diversify the board, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board.

**Gender Pay Gap** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting reports on a company's pay data by gender, or a report on a company's policies and goals to reduce any gender pay gap, taking into account:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy and fair and equitable compensation practices;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation or regulatory actions related to gender pay gap issues; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company's reporting regarding gender pay gap policies or initiatives is lagging its peers.

**Labor, Human and Animal Rights Standards** 

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor, human, and/or animal rights standards and policies, or on the impact of its operations on society, unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The scope of the request; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports about a company's use of mandatory arbitrations in employment claims, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports on the actions taken by a company to prevent sexual and other forms of harassment or on the risks posed by the company's failure to take such actions, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

**Racial Equity Audit** 

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting the board oversee a racial equity audit. While we believe the decision to initiate an independent audit is best left to management judgment under the oversight of the board of directors, the following factors are generally considered:

• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business.

**Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives** 

We generally believe 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, we consider 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company's political contributions or trade association spending; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company's policies with respect to political contributions, lobbying and trade association spending as long as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no significant potential threat or actual harm to shareholders' interests;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent significant controversies or litigation related to the company's political contributions or governmental affairs; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is publicly available information to assess the company's oversight related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

We generally will vote AGAINST proposals asking for detailed disclosure of political contributions or trade association or lobbying expenditures.

We generally will 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.

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**Region: Asia Pacific (APAC) Proxy Items** 

*The following section is a broad summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to APAC public equity investments of operating and/or holding companies. Applying these guidelines is subject to certain regional and country-specific exceptions and modifications and is not inclusive of all considerations in each market. For Japan-specific policies, see Japan Proxy Items from page X.* 

**1. Business Items** 

**Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports** 

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

• There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Name of the proposed auditor has not been published;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The auditors are being changed without explanation;

• Non-audit-related fees are substantial, or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees, or in excess of permitted local limits and guidelines; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 Internal Statutory Auditors** 

Vote FOR the appointment or re-election of statutory auditors, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

**Reincorporation Proposals** 

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Allocation of Income** 

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The dividend payout ratio has been consistently low without adequate explanation; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

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**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.

**Virtual Meetings** 

Generally vote FOR proposals allowing for the convening of hybrid\* shareholder meetings if it is clear that it is not the intention to hold virtual-only AGMs. Generally vote AGAINST proposals allowing for the convening of virtual-only\* shareholder meetings.

\* The phrase "virtual-only shareholder meeting" refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively through the use of online technology without a corresponding in-person meeting. The term "hybrid shareholder meeting" refers to an in-person, or physical, meeting in which shareholders are permitted to participate online.

**Transact Other Business** 

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

**Administrative Requests** 

Generally vote FOR non-contentious administrative management requests.

**2. Board of Directors** 

The board of directors should promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; should consist of a majority of independent directors and / or meet local best practice expectations; and should be held accountable for actions and results related to their responsibilities.

**Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into consideration the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

• Lack of gender diversity on the board

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are other considerations which may include sanction from government or authority, violations of laws and regulations, or other issues relate to improper business practice, failure to replace management, or egregious actions related to service on other boards.

**Board Composition** 

We generally believe diverse teams have the potential to outperform and we expect the companies that we invest in to focus on the importance of diversity. When evaluating board composition, we believe a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration. We encourage companies to disclose the composition of their board in the proxy statement and may vote against members of the board without disclosure. See below how we execute our vote at companies that do not meet our diversity expectations.

Vote AGAINST members of the Nominating Committee:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• At companies if the board does not have at least 10% women directors, or does not meet the requirements of local listing rules or corporate governance codes or national targets;

**Employee and /or Labor Representatives**

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.

**Director Independence** 

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**Classification of Directors** 

**Executive Director** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Employee or executive of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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)** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Government representative;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Relative of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

• Former executive (a cooling off period may be applied);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

**Independent NED** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• No material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.

**Employee Representative** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as "employee representative" but considered a non-independent NED).

**Director Accountability** 

Vote AGAINST individual directors who attend less than 75% of the board and committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse.

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Generally, vote FOR the bundled election of management nominees, unless adequate disclosures of the nominees have not been provided in a timely manner or if one or more of the nominees does not meet the expectation of our policy.

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 members of the full board or 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. New nominees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• including but not limited to violations of the United Nations Global Compact principles and/or other significant global standards and failure to disclose material environmental, social and governance information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 we did not support the shareholder proposal in both years, we will still vote against the committee member(s).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company does not disclose various components of current emissions, a proxy for a company's dependency on fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gasses (Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions), material to the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• shareholder interest; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Other egregious governance issues where shareholders may bring legal action against the company or its directors; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis where a vote against other agenda items are deemed inappropriate.

**Committee Responsibilities and Expectations** 

Companies should establish committees to oversee areas such as audit, executive and non-executive compensation, director nominations and ESG oversight. The responsibilities of the committees should be publicly disclosed.

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**Audit Committee** 

Vote AGAINST members of the Audit Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Non-audit-related fees are substantial, or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees, or in excess of permitted local limits and guidelines.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is excessive pledging or hedging of stock by executives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 accounting principles and material weaknesses identified in audit-related 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.

**Remuneration Committee** 

See section 3 on Remuneration for reasons to vote against members of the Remuneration Committee.

**Nominating/Governance Committee** 

Vote AGAINST members of the Nominating/Governance Committee if:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board does not meet our diversity expectations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or could adversely impact shareholders

**Voting on Director Nominees in Contested Elections** 

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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company performance relative to its peers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Independence of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Experience and skills of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the company;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Evidence of management entrenchment;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Responsiveness to shareholders;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

**Other Board Related Proposals (Management and Shareholder)** 

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.

**Independent Board Chair (for applicable markets)** 

We will generally 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Two-thirds independent board, or majority in countries where employee representation is common practice;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fully independent key committees; and/or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.

**3. Remuneration** 

**Pay Practices** 

Good pay practices should align management's interests with long-term shareholder value creation. Detailed disclosure of remuneration criteria is preferred; proof that companies follow the criteria should be evident and retroactive performance target changes without proper disclosure is not viewed favorably. Remuneration 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST Management Say on Pay (MSOP) Proposals, Remuneration Reports; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributor to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If no MSOP or equity-based incentive plan proposal item is on the ballot, vote AGAINST from Remuneration Committee members.

**Remuneration Plans** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for a vote on executive remuneration, considering the following factors in the context of each company's specific circumstances and the board's disclosed rationale for its practices.

Factors considered may include:

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Pay for Performance Disconnect;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• We 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Long-term equity-based compensation is 100% time-based;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Board's responsiveness if company received low shareholder support in the previous year's MSOP or remuneration vote;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Abnormally large bonus payouts without justifiable performance linkage or proper disclosure;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious employment contracts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Excessive perquisites or excessive severance and/or change in control provisions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options without prior shareholder approval;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Egregious pension/SERP (supplemental executive retirement plan) payouts;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Extraordinary relocation benefits;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Internal pay disparity; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Lack of transparent disclosure of compensation philosophy and goals and targets, including details on short-term and long-term performance incentives.

**Non-Executive Director Compensation** 

Vote FOR proposals to award cash fees to non-executive directors unless the amounts are excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.

Vote non-executive director compensation proposals that include both cash and share-based components on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote proposals that bundle compensation for both non-executive and executive directors into a single resolution on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to introduce retirement benefits for non-executive directors.

**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.

**Other Remuneration Related Proposals** 

Vote on other remuneration related proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Remuneration Committee** 

When voting for members of the Remuneration Committee, factors considered may include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• We voted against the company's MSOP in the previous year, the company's previous MSOP received significant opposition of votes cast and we are voting against this year's MSOP; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board implements a MSOP on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the plurality of votes cast

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Remuneration structure is widely inconsistent with local market best practices or regulations

**4. Shareholder Rights and Defences** 

**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.

**5. Strategic Transactions, Capital Structures and other Business Considerations** 

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Valuation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Market reaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategic rationale;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Management's track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Presence of conflicts of interest; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the combined company.

**Dual Class 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.

**Share Issuance Requests** 

*General Issuances:*

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100% over currently issued capital or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20% of currently issued capital or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law. At companies in India, vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 25% 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** 

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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, or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The increase would leave the company with less than 30% of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances, or any stricter limit set in local best practice recommendations or law.

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.

**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** 

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We will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs taking into account whether:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is clear evidence of historical abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Reorganizations/Restructurings** 

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The parties on either side of the transaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of independent directors (where provided);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing

**6. Environmental and Social Issues** 

**Overall Approach** 

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;

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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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure, including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has implemented or formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) materiality standards, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure's (TCFD) recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

**Environmental Issues** 

**Climate Transition Plans** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposed climate transition plans. When evaluating management proposed plans, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of the governance, strategy, risk mitigation efforts, and metrics and targets based on the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of their current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure in line with Paris Agreement goals.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting climate transition plans. When evaluating these shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure according to the TCFD's recommendations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure of the company's current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for long-term targets, as well as short and medium term milestones;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be aligned to a globally accepted framework, such as Paris Aligned or Net Zero;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be approved by the Science Based Target Initiative ("SBTi");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal seeks to add reasonable transparency and is not onerous or overly prescriptive; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal is binding or non-binding.

**Environmental Sustainability Reporting** 

Generally vote FOR shareholders proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to environmental sustainability, including the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The following factors will be considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the SASB materiality standards, the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard within a specified time frame;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company's current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental performance.

**Other Environmental Proposals** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the following shareholder proposals if relevant to the company:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks a company faces related to climate change on its operations and investment, or on how the company identifies, measures and manages such risks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Calling for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking reports on responses to regulatory and public pressures surrounding climate change, and for disclosure of research that aided in setting company policies around climate change;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting an action plan including science based targets and a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a report/disclosure of goals on GHG emissions from company operations and/or products;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a company report on its energy efficiency policies; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting reports on the feasibility of developing renewable energy resources.

**Social Issues** 

**Board and Workforce Demographics** 

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.

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting reports on a company's efforts to diversify the board, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board.

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**Gender Pay Gap** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting reports on a company's pay data by gender, or a report on a company's policies and goals to reduce any gender pay gap, taking into account:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy and fair and equitable compensation practices;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation or regulatory actions related to gender pay gap issues; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company's reporting regarding gender pay gap policies or initiatives is lagging its peers.

**Labor, Human and Animal Rights Standards** 

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor, human, and/or animal rights standards and policies, or on the impact of its operations on society, unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The scope of the request; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports about a company's use of mandatory arbitrations in employment claims, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports on the actions taken by a company to prevent sexual and other forms of harassment or on the risks posed by the company's failure to take such actions, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

**Racial Equity Audit** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting the board oversee a racial equity audit. While we believe the decision to initiate an independent audit is best left to management judgment under the oversight of the board of directors, the following factors are generally considered:

• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business.

**Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives** 

We generally believe 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, we consider the prescriptive nature of the proposal and the overall benefit to shareholders along with a company's current disclosure of policies, practices and oversight.

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Generally vote AGAINST proposals asking the company to affirm political nonpartisanship in the workplace so long as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company's political contributions or trade association spending; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company's policies with respect to political contributions, lobbying and trade association spending as long as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no significant potential threat or actual harm to shareholders' interests;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent significant controversies or litigation related to the company's political contributions or governmental affairs; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is publicly available information to assess the company's oversight related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

We generally will vote AGAINST proposals asking for detailed disclosure of political contributions or trade association or lobbying expenditures.

We generally will 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.

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**Region: Japan Proxy Items** 

*The following section is a broad summary of the Guidelines, which form the basis of the Policy with respect to Japanese public equity investments of operating and/or holding companies. Applying these guidelines is not inclusive of all considerations in the Japanese market.* 

**1. Operational Items** 

**Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports** 

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are serious concerns about the accounts presented, audit procedures used or audit opinion rendered;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Name of the proposed auditor has not been published;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The auditors are being changed without explanation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Non-audit-related fees are substantial or are in excess of standard annual audit-related fees; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**Reincorporation Proposals** 

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Allocation of Income** 

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The dividend payout ratio is less than 20%, and is not appropriate or sufficient when considering the company's financial position; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company proposes the payments even though the company posted a net loss for the year under review, and the payout is excessive given the company's financial position;

**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.

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**Amend Quorum Requirements** 

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

**Virtual Meetings** 

Generally vote AGAINST proposals allowing for the convening of virtual-only\* shareholder meetings.

\* The phrase "virtual-only shareholder meeting" refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively through the use of online technology without a corresponding in-person meeting. The term "hybrid shareholder meeting" refers to an in-person, or physical, meeting in which shareholders are permitted to participate online.

**2. Board of Directors and Statutory Auditors** 

The board of directors should promote the interests of shareholders by acting in an oversight and/or advisory role; should have independent oversight of management; and should be held accountable for actions and results related to their responsibilities.

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Vote on director nominees should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis taking into consideration the following:.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's committee structure: statutory auditor board structure, U.S.-type three committee structure, or audit committee structure; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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

• Lack of gender diversity on the board

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 AGAINST top executives when the company has an excessive amount of strategic shareholdings.

Vote AGAINST top executives when the company has posted average return on equity (ROE) of less than five percent over the last five fiscal years.

Vote AGAINST top executives when the company does not disclose various components of current emissions, a proxy for a company's dependency on fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gasses (such as Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions), material to the company's business. For companies with 3-committee structure boards, vote AGAINST the Audit Committee Chair.

**Board Composition** 

We generally believe diverse teams have the potential to outperform and we expect the companies that we invest in to focus on the importance of diversity. When evaluating board composition, we believe a diversity of ethnicity, gender and experience is an important consideration. We encourage companies to disclose the composition of their board in the proxy statement and may vote against members of the board without disclosure. See below how we execute our vote at companies that do not meet our diversity expectations.

Vote AGAINST members of the Nominating Committee if the Board does not have at least 10% women directors. For Japanese boards with statutory auditors or audit committee structure, vote AGAINST top executives.

**Director Independence** 

**Classification of Directors** 

**Inside Director** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Employee or executive of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is not classified as an outside director of the company.

**Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (affiliated outsider)** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who is/was also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company's stock, or one of the top 10 shareholders, 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%)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Government representative;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Currently provides or previously provided professional services to the company or to an affiliate of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who worked at the company's external audit firm (auditor).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Relative of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who works or has worked at a company whose shares are held by the company in question as strategic shareholdings (i.e. "cross-shareholdings")

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Former executive;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any director who has served at a company as an outside director for 12 years or more;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• "Cooling off period" for former employees or executives' representation of significant shareholders and other stakeholders, as well as professional services is considered based on the market best practices and liquidity of executive labor market.

**Independent Non-Executive Directors (independent outsider)** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• No material connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company other than a board seat.

At companies adopting a board with a statutory auditor committee structure or an audit committee structure, vote AGAINST top executives when the board consists of fewer than two outside directors or less than 1/3 of the board consists of outside directors.

At companies adopting an audit committee structure, vote AGAINST affiliated outside directors who are audit committee members.

At companies adopting a U.S.-type three committee structure, vote AGAINST members of Nominating Committee when the board consists of fewer than two outside directors or less than 1/3 of the board consists of outside directors.

At companies adopting a U.S.-type three committee structure, vote AGAINST affiliated outside directors when less than a majority of the board consists of independent outside directors.

At controlled companies adopting board with a statutory auditor structure or an audit committee structure, vote AGAINST top executives if the board does not consist of majority independent outside directors.

Director Accountability

Vote AGAINST individual outside directors who attend less than 75% of the board and/or committee meetings without a disclosed valid excuse.

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 members of the full board or 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. New nominees will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Extreme cases may warrant a vote against the entire board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• including but not limited to violations of the United Nations Global Compact principles and/or other significant global standards and failure to disclose material environmental, social and governance information;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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 a newly public company, does not commit to put the pill to a

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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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If in an extreme situation the board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers.

**Voting on Director Nomineess in Contested Elections** 

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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company performance relative to its peers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Independence of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Experience and skills of board candidates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Evidence of management entrenchment;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Responsiveness to shareholders;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

Other Board Related Proposals (Management and Shareholder)

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.

**Independent Board Chair** 

We will generally 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Two-thirds independent board;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• A designated, or a rotating, lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Fully independent key committees; and/or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Established, publicly disclosed, governance guidelines and director biographies/profiles.

**Statutory Auditor Elections** 

**Statutory Auditor Independence** 

Vote AGAINST affiliated outside statutory auditors.

For definition of affiliated outsiders, see "Classification of Directors"

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**Statutory Auditor Appointment** 

Vote FOR management nominees taking into consideration the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There have been questionable transactions or conflicts of interest; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Specific concerns about the individual or company, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Outside statutory auditor's attendance at less than 75% of the board and statutory auditor meetings without a disclosed valid excuse; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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.

**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.

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 bonuses for outside directors and/or outside statutory auditors, unless the amounts are disclosed and are not excessive relative to other companies in the country or industry.

**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 statutory auditors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.

**4. Shareholder Rights and Defenses** 

**Antitakeover Mechanisms** 

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Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless certain conditions are met to ensure the proposal is intended to enhance shareholder value, including consideration of the company's governance structure, the anti-takeover defense duration, the trigger mechanism and governance, and the intended purpose of the antitakeover defense.

**5. Strategic Transactions and Capital Structures** 

**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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Valuation;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Market reaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Strategic rationale;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Management's track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Presence of conflicts of interest; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Governance profile of the combined company.

**Dual Class 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.

**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.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

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**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.

**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.

**Share Repurchase Plans** 

We will generally recommend FOR share repurchase programs taking into account whether:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The share repurchase program can be used as a takeover defense;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is clear evidence of historical abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no safeguard in the share repurchase program against selective buybacks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Pricing provisions and safeguards in the share repurchase program are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

**Related-Party Transactions** 

Vote related-party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The parties on either side of the transaction;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of independent directors (where provided);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

**6. Environmental and Social Issues** 

**Overall Approach** 

Proposals considered under this category could include, among others, reports on:

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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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• When evaluating environmental and social shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure, including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has implemented or formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's (SASB) materiality standards, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure's (TCFD) recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the information requested concerns business issues that relate to a meaningful percentage of the company's business;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• What other companies in the relevant industry have done in response to the issue addressed in the proposal;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal itself is well framed and the cost of preparing the report is reasonable;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether providing this information would reveal proprietary or confidential information that would place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

**Environmental Issues** 

**Climate Transition Plans** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposed climate transition plans. When evaluating management proposed plans, the following factors are generally considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of the governance, strategy, risk mitigation efforts, and metrics and targets based on the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure of their current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has detailed disclosure in line with Paris Agreement goals.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting climate transition plans. When evaluating these shareholder proposals, the following factors are generally considered:

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure according to the TCFD's recommendations;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for detailed disclosure of the company's current emissions data based on the SASB materiality framework;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for long-term targets, as well as short and medium term milestones;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be aligned to a globally accepted framework, such as Paris Aligned or Net Zero;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal asks for targets to be approved by the Science Based Target Initiative ("SBTi");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the proposal seeks to add reasonable transparency and is not onerous or overly prescriptive; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the proposal is binding or non-binding.

**Environmental Sustainability Reporting** 

Generally vote FOR shareholders proposals requesting the company to report on its policies, initiatives and oversight mechanisms related to environmental sustainability, including the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. The following factors will be considered:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current level of publicly available disclosure including if the company already discloses similar information through existing reports or policies;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company has formally committed to the implementation of a reporting program based on the SASB materiality standards, the TCFD's recommendations, or a similar standard within a specified time frame;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If the company's current level of disclosure is comparable to that of its industry peers; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• If there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental performance.

**Other Environmental Proposals** 

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the following shareholder proposals if relevant to the company:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks a company faces related to climate change on its operations and investment, or on how the company identifies, measures and manages such risks;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Calling for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Seeking reports on responses to regulatory and public pressures surrounding climate change, and for disclosure of research that aided in setting company policies around climate change;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting an action plan including science based targets and a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a report/disclosure of goals on GHG emissions from company operations and/or products;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting a company report on its energy efficiency policies; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Requesting reports on the feasibility of developing renewable energy resources.

**Social Issues** 

**Board and Workforce Demographics** 

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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.

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting reports on a company's efforts to diversify the board, unless:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board.

**Gender Pay Gap** 

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals requesting reports on a company's pay data by gender, or a report on a company's policies and goals to reduce any gender pay gap, taking into account:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy and fair and equitable compensation practices;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation or regulatory actions related to gender pay gap issues; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether the company's reporting regarding gender pay gap policies or initiatives is lagging its peers.

**Labor, Human and Animal Rights Standards** 

Generally vote FOR proposals requesting a report on company or company supplier labor, human, and/or animal rights standards and policies, or on the impact of its operations on society, unless such information is already publicly disclosed considering:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether or not existing relevant policies are consistent with internationally recognized standards;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Whether company facilities and those of its suppliers are monitored and how;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Company participation in fair labor organizations or other internationally recognized human rights initiatives;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Scope and nature of business conducted in markets known to have higher risk of workplace labor/human rights abuse;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The scope of the request; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Deviation from industry sector peer company standards and practices.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports about a company's use of mandatory arbitrations in employment claims, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting reports on the actions taken by a company to prevent sexual and other forms of harassment or on the risks posed by the company's failure to take such actions, taking into account the company's existing policies and disclosures of policies.

**Racial Equity Audit** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Generally vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals requesting the board oversee a racial equity audit. While we believe the decision to initiate an independent audit is best left to management judgment under the oversight of the board of directors, the following factors are generally considered:

• The degree to which existing relevant policies and practices are disclosed;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Recent, significant company controversies, fines, or litigation regarding human rights at the company or its suppliers; and

Whether the gender and racial minority representation of the company's board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business.

**Political Contributions and Trade Association Spending/Lobbying Expenditures and Initiatives** 

We generally believe 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, we consider 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent, significant controversies, fines or litigation regarding the company's political contributions or trade association spending; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• The company has procedures in place to ensure that employee contributions to company-sponsored political action committees (PACs) are strictly voluntary and prohibits coercion.

Generally vote AGAINST proposals requesting increased disclosure of a company's policies with respect to political contributions, lobbying and trade association spending as long as:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is no significant potential threat or actual harm to shareholders' interests;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There are no recent significant controversies or litigation related to the company's political contributions or governmental affairs; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• There is publicly available information to assess the company's oversight related to such expenditures of corporate assets.

We generally will vote AGAINST proposals asking for detailed disclosure of political contributions or trade association or lobbying expenditures.

We generally will 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.

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**APPENDIX C STATEMENT OF INTENTION** 

**(applicable only to Class A Shares)** 

If a shareholder anticipates purchasing within a 13-month period Class A Shares of the Fund alone or in combination with Class A Shares of another Goldman Sachs Fund in the amount of $50,000 or more, the shareholder may obtain shares of the Fund at the same reduced sales charge as though the total quantity were invested in one lump sum by checking and filing the Statement of Intention in the Account Application. Distributions taken in additional shares, as well as any appreciation on shares previously purchased, will not apply toward the completion of the Statement of Intention.

To ensure that the reduced price will be received on future purchases, the investor must inform Goldman Sachs that the Statement of Intention is in effect each time shares are purchased. Subject to the conditions mentioned below, each purchase will be made at the public offering price applicable to a single transaction of the dollar amount specified on the Account Application. The investor makes no commitment to purchase additional shares, but if the investor's purchases within 13 months plus the value of shares credited toward completion do not total the sum specified, the investor will pay the increased amount of the sales charge prescribed in the Escrow Agreement.

**Escrow Agreement** 

Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary), 5% of the dollar amount specified on the Account Application will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent in the form of shares registered in the investor's name. All distributions on escrowed shares will be paid to the investor or to his or her order. When the minimum investment so specified is completed (either prior to or by the end of the 13th month), the investor will be notified and the escrowed shares will be released.

If the intended investment is not completed, the investor will be asked to remit to Goldman Sachs any difference between the sales charge on the amount specified and on the amount actually attained. If the investor does not within 20 days after written request by Goldman Sachs pay such difference in the sales charge, the Transfer Agent will redeem, pursuant to the authority given by the investor in the Account Application, an appropriate number of the escrowed shares in order to realize such difference. Shares remaining after any such redemption will be released by the Transfer Agent.

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#### PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

#### Item 28. Exhibits

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| (a) | (1) | [Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 14, 1997)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/0000950130-97-000573.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013097004495/0000950130-97-004495.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013097004495/0000950130-97-004495.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098004845/0000950130-98-004845.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098004845/0000950130-98-004845.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098006081/0000950130-98-006081.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013099000742/0000950130-99-000742.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010999002544/0000950109-99-002544.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013099005294/0000950130-99-005294.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013099005294/0000950130-99-005294.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010999004208/0000950109-99-004208.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt) |

---

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013000002509/0000950130-00-002509.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900500123/dex99a16.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010901500540/dex99a17.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012301509514/y55943ex99-a_18.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302011711/e63820exv99waw19.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302011711/e63820exv99waw20.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302011711/e63820exv99waw21.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303001754/e66264exv99waw22.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303013727/e90342exv99waw23.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303013727/e90342exv99waw24.htm)

(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<sup>®</sup> Family of Funds, SEC File No. 333-117561, filed July 22, 2004)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304008643/e99092exv99w1wy.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304015178/e01686exv99waw26.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304015178/e01686exv99waw27.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305007490/e09738exv99waw28.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305014459/x12763exv99waw29.htm)

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305014459/x12763exv99waw30.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305014459/x12763exv99waw31.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306007014/y21736exv99waw33.htm)

(33) [Amendment No. 32 dated December 14, 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305015341/e14423exv99waw32.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306007014/y21736exv99waw34.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306007014/y21736exv99waw35.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306010686/x05519nexv99waw37.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306008041/x05519lexv99waw36.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306015465/e24717bxexv99waw38.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012306015465/e24717bxexv99waw39.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307008564/e31062exv99waw40.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307008564/e31062exv99waw41.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307008564/e31062exv99waw42.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307008564/e31062exv99waw43.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307008564/e31062exv99waw44.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307011487/e32718exv99waw45.htm)

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307015968/j39201exv99waw46.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307015968/j39201exv99waw47.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307015968/j39201exv99waw48.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012308000557/e39744exv99waw49.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012308008456/e58894exv99waw50.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012308010200/e64189exv99waw51.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309003676/e73814exv99waw52.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309003676/e73814exv99waw53.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309065720/b78666exv99waw54.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309065720/b78666exv99waw55.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310041932/b81537exv99waw56.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310062676/b83652exv99waw57.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310062676/b83652exv99waw58.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310110858/e87791exv99waw59.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311014683/b87791exv99waw60.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311014683/b87791exv99waw61.htm)

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311014683/b87791exv99waw62.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311070239/b91525exv99waw63.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311102748/e92675exv99waw64.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311103315/e93729exv99waw65.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311103315/e93729exv99waw66.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311103997/e92862exv99waw67.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012312006984/b94073exv99waw68.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012312012151/b94003exv99waw69.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513026214/d438948dex99a70.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513083773/d447000dex99a71.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513186992/d443163dex99a72.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513307507/d533253dex99a73.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513365427/d587526dex99a74.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513379631/d585290dex99a74.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513411827/d613397dex99a76.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513473381/d587526dex99a77.htm)

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513484580/d631398dex99a78.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514062904/d678647dex99a.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514159471/d595631dex99a80.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514358463/d662951dex99a81.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514415345/d821404dex99a82.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514455446/d768771dex99a83.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515068876/d836030dex99a84.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515161650/d904548dex99a85.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515226030/d942530dex99a86.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515294728/d38785dex991iii.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515359896/d63291dex99a88.htm)

(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 18, 2015)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515406661/d43094dex99a89.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516482292/d112698dex99a90.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516568780/d112527dex99a91.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516664829/d118899dex99a92.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516664829/d118899dex99a93.htm)

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(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 25, 2016)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516690227/d237566dex99a94.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516802087/d480963dex99a95.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517062091/d480963dex99a96.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517139902/d334312dex99a97.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517206138/d414201dex99a98.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517266933/d414201dex99a99.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517309812/d444543dex99a100.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517370704/d492049dex99a101.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518048580/d540792dex99a102.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518194392/d603677dex99a103.htm)

(104) [Amendment No. 103 dated October 11, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 713 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 14, 2018)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518349796/d672389dex99a104.htm)

(105) [Amendment No. 104 dated December 13, 2018 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 713 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 14, 2018)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518349796/d672389dex99a105.htm)

(106) [Amendment No. 105 dated February 13, 2019 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 745 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 29, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519092881/d672389dex99a106.htm)

(107) [Amendment No. 106 dated June 12, 2019 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 760 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519205345/d710058dex99a107.htm)

(108) [Amendment No. 107 dated August 14, 2019 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 768 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 6, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519240119/d785952dex99a108.htm)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | (109) | [Amendment No. 108 dated August 29, 2019 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 768 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 6, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519240119/d785952dex99a109.htm) |
|  | (110) | [Form of Amendment No. 109 dated February 12, 2020 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 792 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312520056112/d831711dex99a110.htm) |
|  | (111) | [Form of Amendment No. 110 dated April 15, 2020 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 799 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000168386320006989/f4081d2.htm) |
|  | (112) | [Amendment No. 111 dated June 17, 2020 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 808 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 26, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312520179518/d842919dex99a112.htm) |
|  | (113) | [Amendment No. 114 dated December 16, 2020 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 835 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 26, 2021)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312521057797/d74098dex99a113.htm) |
|  | (114) | [Amendment No. 115 dated June 16, 2021 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 845 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed July 29, 2021)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312521229389/d114031dex99a114.htm) |
|  | (115) | [Amendment No. 116 dated August 18, 2021 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 846 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 20, 2021)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312521252843/d143964dex99a115.htm) |
|  | (116) | [Amendment No. 117 dated February 9, 2022 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 859 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522058195/d232280dex99a116.htm) |
|  | (117) | [Amendment No. 118 dated April 13, 2022 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 865 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed April 29, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522133509/d289383dex99a117.htm) |
|  | (118) | [Amendment No. 119 dated June 15, 2022 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 867 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 22, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522178781/d371564dex99a118.htm) |
|  | (119) | [Amendment No. 120 dated October 12, 2022 to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 28, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 876 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed November 22, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522290219/d423526dex99a119.htm) |
| (b) | [Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated July 23, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 820 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312520259074/d838386dex99b.htm) | [Amended and Restated By-laws of Goldman Sachs Trust dated July 23, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 820 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed September 30, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312520259074/d838386dex99b.htm) |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| (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))](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/0000950130-97-000573.txt) | [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))](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/0000950130-97-000573.txt) |
| (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010998005275/0000950109-98-005275.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) |
|  | (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. 716 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 21, 2018)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518355990/d467755dex99d7.htm) |
|  | (8) | [Amended Annex A dated April 13, 2022 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. 873 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 16, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522222112/d311554dex99d8.htm) |

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(9) [Sub-Advisory Agreement effective January 7, 2021 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and CoreCommodity Management, LLC, on behalf of the Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 838 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 30, 2021)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000822977/000119312521100488/d35831dex99d9.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303007054/e87201exv99wdw17.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303007054/e87201exv99wdw19.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303007054/e87201exv99wdw20.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303007054/e87201exv99wdw18.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517286413/d445785dex99d14.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517357523/d445785dex99d15.htm)

(16) [Fee Reduction Commitment dated April 29, 2005 between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. and Goldman Sachs Trust relating to the Goldman Sachs Dynamic Global Equity Fund (formerly, Goldman Sachs Aggressive Growth Strategy Portfolio) and 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012305007490/e09738exv99wdw27.htm)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517239976/d390651dex99d15.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517239976/d390651dex99d16.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517239976/d390651dex99d17.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309003676/e73814exv99wdw19.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514358463/d662951dex99d22.htm) |
| (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303013727/e90342exv99wew1.htm) |
|  | (2) | [Amended Exhibit A dated April 13, 2022 to the Distribution Agreement dated April 30, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 873 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed August 16, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522222112/d311554dex99e2.htm) |
| (f) | Not applicable | 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/0000950130-95-002856.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013097004495/0000950130-97-004495.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098006081/0000950130-98-006081.txt) |

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(4) [Fee schedule dated April 12, 1999 relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010999002544/0000950109-99-002544.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013099006810/0000950130-99-006810.txt)

(6) [Fee schedule dated January 12, 2000 relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt)

(7) [Fee schedule dated January 6, 2000 relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt)

(8) [Fee schedule dated April 14, 2000 relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013000002509/0000950130-00-002509.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt)

(10) [Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt)

(11) [Letter Agreement dated September 27, 1999 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company relating to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010900000585/0000950109-00-000585.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012301509514/y55943ex99-g_33.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012301509514/y55943ex99-g_34.txt)

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(14) [Amendment dated August 1, 2001 to the Custodian Contract dated April 16, 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302003780/y59511ex99-g_36.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302003780/y59511ex99-g_37.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012302011711/e63820exv99wgw38.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307000569/e24706exv99wgw39.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw40.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw41.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw42.htm)

(21) [Letter Amendment dated March 14, 2007 to the 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw43.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw44.htm)

(23) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw47.htm)

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(24) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw49.htm)

(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 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw50.htm)

(26) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw51.htm)

(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 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw52.htm)

(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 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw53.htm)

(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 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw54.htm)

(30) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw55.htm)

(31) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309007507/e74997exv99wgw56.htm)

(32) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309065720/b78666exv99wgw53.htm)

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(33) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309073569/b78954exv99wgw55.htm)

(34) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310062676/b83652exv99wgw57.htm)

(35) [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 Imprint Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund (formerly, 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311014683/b87791exv99wgw58.htm)

(36) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311032950/b88800aexv99wgw59.htm)

(37) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311041091/b88801exv99wgw43.htm)

(38) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012312003203/b92675exv99wgw45.htm)

(39) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012312003404/b92587exv99wgw46.htm)

(40) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012312003575/b93729exv99wgw47.htm)

(41) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312513124503/d445079dex99g49.htm)

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(42) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1579762/000119312513410375/d601144dex99j.htm)

(43) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514075661/d606518dex99g53.htm)

(44) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514110505/d585290dex99g54.htm)

(45) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514279008/d720140dex99g56.htm)

(46) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1612875/000119312514321745/d756636dex99j.htm)

(47) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515052805/d821404dex99g58.htm)

(48) [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, LLC) (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312515388223/d64809dex99g38.htm)

(49) [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, LLC) (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312515388223/d64809dex99g37.htm)

(50) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312515388223/d64809dex99g36.htm)

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(51) [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, LLC) (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515413147/d41256dex99g64.htm)

(52) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312515282875/d837615dex99g2.htm)

(53) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516430638/d222601dex99g67.htm)

(54) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516444378/d52911dex99g68.htm)

(55) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516597635/d161702dex99g69.htm)

(56) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516632931/d41568dex99g70.htm)

(57) [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, LLC) (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312516772431/d174361dex99g43.htm)

(58) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312517062219/d267734dex99g45.htm)

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(59) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517377720/d444543dex99g72.htm)

(60) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312517377720/d444543dex99g73.htm)

(61) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312517377613/d450037dex99g6.htm)

(62) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312517372295/d491188dex99g46.htm)

(63) [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 Access Treasury 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312517377613/d450037dex99g7.htm)

(64) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312517377613/d450037dex99g8.htm)

(65) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312517377613/d450037dex99g9.htm)

(66) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518178674/d571301dex99g79.htm)

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|  | (67) | [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1557156/000119312518306269/d636683dex99g44.htm) |
|  | (68) | [Amendment dated February 5, 2019 to the Global Custody Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Goldman Sachs Municipal Income Completion Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 745 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 29, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519092881/d672389dex99g81.htm) |
|  | (69) | [Amendment dated December 10, 2018 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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 202 to the Goldman Sachs ETF Trust's registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed May 10, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312519144100/d493672dex99g10.htm) |
|  | (70) | [Amendment dated October 23, 2019 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Income Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 776 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 3, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519305036/d785952dex99g81.htm) |
|  | (71) | [Amendment dated July 12, 2019 to the Custody Agreement dated April 5, 2011 between Registrant, Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust, Goldman Sachs ETF Trust and The Bank of New York Mellon (certain equity funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 778 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 20, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519321151/d822947dex99g71.htm) |
|  | (72) | [Amendment dated June 17, 2020 to the Custodian Contract dated July 15, 1991 between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (Goldman Sachs Clean Energy Income Fund and Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity Fund) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 808 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 26, 2020)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312520179518/d842919dex99g72.htm) |
| (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309026387/e77235exv99whw1.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012309026387/e77235exv99whw2.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000965/0000950130-98-000965.txt) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307016500/x33177fexv99whw3.htm) |

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(5) [Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement Fee Schedule dated April 13, 2022 between Registrant and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 873 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33017619, filed August 16, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522222112/d311554dex99h5.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098006081/0000950130-98-006081.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012308004754/e50599exv99whw5.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098006081/0000950130-98-006081.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098006081/0000950130-98-006081.txt)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012308004754/e50599exv99whw8.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310069831/b83044exv99whw10.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99whw18.htm)

------

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310116805/b86342exv99whw11.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99whw20.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99whw21.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99whw23.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99whw26.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310116805/b86342exv99whw17.htm)

(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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307000569/e24706exv99whw30.htm)

(20) [Amendment dated February 4, 2019 to Mutual Funds Service Agreement dated June 30, 2006 between Registrant and J.P. Morgan Investor Services Co. (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective No. 744 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 29, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519092770/d654579dex99h19.htm)

(21) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310049754/b81283exv99whw26.htm)

(22) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310049754/b81283exv99whw27.htm)

(23) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310049754/b81283exv99whw28.htm)

------

(24) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012311041091/b88801exv99whw27.htm)

(25) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514172765/d650929dex99h31.htm)

(26) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514172765/d650929dex99h32.htm)

(27) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514172765/d650929dex99h33.htm)

(28) [Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-ART, LLC (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514172765/d650929dex99h34.htm)

(29) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514358463/d662951dex99h35.htm)

(30) [Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-TTIF, LLC (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514279008/d720140dex99h36.htm)

(31) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515052805/d821404dex99h38.htm)

(32) [Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-AP, LLC (formerly, Goldman Sachs Cayman Commodity-DAF 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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312515052805/d821404dex99h39.htm)

(33) [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312516453980/d55076dex99h6.htm)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | (34) | [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516444378/d52911dex99h42.htm) |
|  | (35) | [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516597635/d161702dex99h44.htm) |
|  | (36) | [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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516664829/d118899dex99h45.htm) |
|  | (37) | [Appointment of Agent for Service of Process relating to Cayman Commodity-MFS, LLC (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 573 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No.<br>33-17619, filed July 29, 2016)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312516664829/d118899dex99h46.htm) |
|  | (38) | [Amendment dated December 10, 2018 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. 202 to the Goldman Sachs ETF Trust's registration statement, SEC File No. 333-200933, filed May 10, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1479026/000119312519144100/d493672dex99h10.htm) |
|  | (39) | [Amendment dated July 12, 2019 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 (certain equity funds) (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 778 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 20, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519321151/d822947dex99h39.htm) |
|  | (40) | [Form of Fund of Funds Investment Agreement (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 859 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed February 28, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522058195/d232280dex99h40.htm) |
| (i) | [Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP (filed herewith)](d440223dex99i.htm) | [Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP (filed herewith)](d440223dex99i.htm) |
| (j) | [Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith)](d440223dex99j.htm) | [Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith)](d440223dex99j.htm) |
| (k) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| (l) | Not applicable | Not applicable |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304015178/e01686exv99wmw4.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012304002212/e93107exv99wmw3.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307015968/j39201exv99wmw5.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310049754/b81283exv99wmw6.htm) |
|  | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012310049754/b81283exv99wmw7.htm) |
| (n) | [Plan in Accordance with Rule 18f-3, amended and restated as of June 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 867 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 22, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522178781/d371564dex99n.htm) | [Plan in Accordance with Rule 18f-3, amended and restated as of June 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 867 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 22, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522178781/d371564dex99n.htm) |
| (o) | (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)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312518042906/d509807dex99p1.htm) |
|  | (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 August 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 778 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed December 20, 2019)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312519321151/d822947dex99p2.htm) |
|  | (3) | [Code of Ethics — CoreCommodity Management, LLC, dated October 2020 (incorporated by reference from Post-Effective Amendment No. 838 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed March 30, 2021)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000822977/000119312521100488/d35831dex99p3.htm) |
| (p) | (1) | [Powers of Attorney for James A. McNamara, Joseph F. DiMaria, Jessica Palmer, Dwight L. Bush, Kathryn A. Cassidy, John G. Chou, Diana M. Daniels, Joaquin Delgado, Eileen H. Dowling, Roy W. Templin, Gregory G. Weaver, and Paul C. Wirth (incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 867 to the Registrant's registration statement, SEC File No. 33-17619, filed June 22, 2022)](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312522178781/d371564dex99p1.htm) |
| 101. | INS XBRL Instance—the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document | INS XBRL Instance—the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document |
| 101. | SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
| 101. | CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
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#### 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, LLC (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, LLC (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 Managed Futures Strategy Fund, a series of the Registrant, wholly owns and controls Cayman Commodity-MFS, LLC (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.

#### 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 [<u>(a)(1)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/0000950130-97-000573.txt).

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 [<u>(d)(1)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt), [<u>(d)(2)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt), [<u>(d)(3)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt), [<u>(d)(4)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt), [<u>(d)(5)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095010998005275/0000950109-98-005275.txt), [<u>(d)(6)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095013098000676/0000950130-98-000676.txt) and [<u>(d)(21)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312514358463/d662951dex99d22.htm).

Section 14 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the "Investment Adviser") and CoreCommodity Management, LLC (the "Sub-Adviser") with respect to Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy 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, fraud, negligence or breach of fiduciary duty 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; (c) as a result of the failure of the Sub-Adviser to execute portfolio transactions according to the requirements of applicable law; (d) as a result of any failure by the Sub-Adviser to exercise the standard of care set forth in the Sub-Advisory Agreement; or (e) any breach of the Sub-Advisory Agreement or any representation or warranty contained therein. The Sub-Advisory Agreement is incorporated by reference as Exhibit [<u>(d)(9)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000119312521100488/d35831dex99d9.htm).

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 [<u>(e)(1)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012303013727/e90342exv99wew1.htm) and [<u>(h)(4)</u>](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/822977/000095012307016500/x33177fexv99whw3.htm)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.

CoreCommodity Management, LLC ("CoreCommodity") serves as sub-adviser to Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy Fund. CoreCommodity is primarily engaged in the investment management business. Information about the officers and directors of CoreCommodity is included in its Form ADV filed with the Commission (registration number 801-65436) 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, Goldman Sachs Trust II and GS Real Estate Diversified Income Fund. 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<br> Business Address | Position with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
| David M. Solomon (1) | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
| John E. Waldron (1) | President and Chief Operating Officer |
| Denis Coleman (1) | Chief Financial Officer |
| Richard A. Friedman (1) | Chairman of the Asset Management Division |
| Richard J. Gnodde (2) | Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs International |
| Masanori Mochida (4) | President and Representative Director of Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. |
| John F.W. Rogers (1) | Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff, Secretary to Board of Directors |
| Alison J. Mass (1) | Chairman of the Investment Banking Division |
| Ashok Varadhan (1) | Global Co-Head of Global Markets Division |
| Marc Nachmann (2) | Global Co-Head of Global Markets Division |
| George Lee (8) | Co-Chief Information Officer |
| James P. Esposito (3) | Global Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division |
| Todd Leland (6) | Co-President of Asia Pacific Ex-Japan and Head of the Investment Banking Division |
| Laurence Stein (1) | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management |

---

------

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Julian C. Salisbury (1) | Global Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management |
| Luke Sarsfield (1) | Global Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management |
| Beth Hammack (1) | Co-Head of the Global Financing Group within the Investment Management Division |
| Jacqueline Arthur (1) | Secretary |
| Dan Dees (7) | Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division |
| Brian J. Lee (1) | Chief Risk Officer |
| Dina Powell McCormick (1) | Global Head of sustainability and inclusive growth |
| Stephanie E. Cohen (1) | Global Co-Head of Consumer and Wealth Management |
| Asahi Pompey (1) | Global Head of Corporate Engagement and President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation |
| Marco Argenti (1) | Co-Chief Information Officer |
| Kathryn Ruemmler (1) | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel |
| Tucker York (1) | Global Co-Head of Consumer and Wealth Management |
| Philip Berlinski (1) | Global Treasurer of Goldman Sachs and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs Bank USA |
| Jan Hatzius (1) | Head of the Global Investment Research Division and Chief Economist of Goldman Sachs |
| Sheara J. Fredman (1) | Chief Accounting Officer and Goldman's Controller |
| Ericka Leslie (1) | Chief Administrative Officer of Goldman Sachs |
| Kevin Sneader (6) | Co-President of Asia Pacific Ex-Japan |
| Jared Cohen (1) | Co-Head of the Office of Applied Innovation and President of Global Affairs |
| Carey Halio (1) | Chief Strategy Officer and Global Head of Investor Relations |

---

(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) 12-32, Akasaka I-chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-6006, Japan

(5) 7 Finance Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China 100033

(6) 68th Floor, Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong, China

(7) Fox Plaza, Suite 2600, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

(8) 555 California Street, 45th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104

(c) Not Applicable.

#### Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Amended and Restated By-laws and minute books of the Registrant and certain investment adviser records are in the physical possession of 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 certifies that it meets all the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 883 under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 883 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 27th day of February, 2023.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST** | **GOLDMAN SACHS TRUST** |
| (A Delaware statutory 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** |
| <sup>1</sup>James A. McNamara<br> James A. McNamara | President (Chief Executive Officer) and Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Joseph F. DiMaria<br> Joseph F. DiMaria | Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Gregory G. Weaver<br> Gregory G. Weaver | Chair and Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Dwight L. Bush<br> Dwight L. Bush | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Kathryn A. Cassidy<br> Kathryn A. Cassidy | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>John G. Chou<br> John G. Chou | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Joaquin Delgado<br> Joaquin Delgado | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Eileen H. Dowling<br> Eileen H. Dowling | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |
| <sup>1</sup>Paul C. Wirth<br> Paul C. Wirth | Trustee | February 27, 2023 |

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | /s/ Caroline L. Kraus |
| Caroline L. Kraus, | Caroline L. Kraus, |
| Attorney-In-Fact | Attorney-In-Fact |

---

<sup>1</sup> 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 14-15, 2022.

**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 and Caroline L. Kraus, 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 and the 1940 Act of each 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: February 27, 2023

---

| |
|:---|
| /s/ Caroline L. Kraus<br> Caroline L. Kraus, |
| Secretary |

---

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EXHIBIT INDEX

(i) [Opinion and Consent of Dechert LLP](d440223dex99i.htm)

(j) [Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP](d440223dex99j.htm)

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## Ex-99.(I)

**EX-99.(i)** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![LOGO](g440223g0225062424545.jpg)  | 1095 Avenue of the Americas<br> New York, NY 10036-6797<br> +1 212 698 3500 Main<br> +1 212 698 3599 Fax<br> www.dechert.com<br>|

---

February 27, 2023

Goldman Sachs Trust

71 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Re: Goldman Sachs Trust

File Nos. 033-17619 and 811-05349

Post-Effective Amendment No. 883 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Goldman Sachs Trust (the "Registrant"), a Delaware statutory trust, in connection with amendments to and restatements of the Registrant's registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Registration Statement") relating to the issuance and sale by the Registrant of its authorized shares, divided into several series and classes.

We have examined such governmental and corporate certificates and records as we deemed necessary to render this opinion, and we are familiar with the Registrant's Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws, each as amended to date.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares of each Series and Class have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms, conditions, requirements and procedures described in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued and, subject to the qualifications set forth in the Declaration of Trust, fully paid and non-assessable beneficial interests in such Series and Class. In this regard, we note that, pursuant to Section 2 of Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or Class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Registrant's custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| ![LOGO](g440223g0225062335704.jpg) | Goldman Sachs Trust<br> February 27, 2023<br> Page 2 |

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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement, unless and until we revoke such consent. In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

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| |
|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Dechert LLP |
| Dechert LLP |

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## Ex-99.(J)

**EX-99.(j)** 

<u>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</u> 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Goldman Sachs Trust of our reports dated December 22, 2022, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of each of the funds listed in Appendix A (collectively, the "Funds"), which appear in the Funds' Annual Reports on Form N-CSR for the period ended October 31, 2022. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Financial Statements", "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and "Financial Highlights" in such Registration Statement.

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| |
|:---|
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
| Boston, Massachusetts |
| February 27, 2023 |

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------

**Appendix A** 

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| |
|:---|
| **Fund name** |
| Goldman Sachs Income Builder Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Rising Dividend Growth Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Large Cap Growth Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Large Cap Value Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Small Cap Equity Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Small Cap Growth Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Small Cap Value Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs U.S. Equity Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs China Equity Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Equity Fund |
| Goldman Sachs ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund |
| Goldman Sachs International Equity ESG Fund |
| Goldman Sachs International Equity Income Fund |
| Goldman Sachs Emerging Markets Equity Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs International Equity Insights Fund |
| Goldman Sachs International Small Cap Insights Fund |

---