Overview
- Headquarters
- New York, NY
- Total Firm Assets
- $133.6 billion
- Average High-Net-Worth Client Portfolio Size
- $1.8 million
Clients
- High-Net-Worth Share of Firm Assets
- 38.13%
- Number of High-Net-Worth Clients
- 29,104
- Total Client Accounts
- 46,269
- Discretionary Accounts
- 46,265
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 4
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Pooled Investment Vehicles, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients, Investment Advisor Selection, Educational Seminars
Regulatory Filings
- SEC CRD Number
- 361
Additional Brochure: GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC FORM ADV, PART 2A - MANAGED ACCOUNT STRATEGIES (2026-03-31)
View Document Text
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC – Managed Account Strategies
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
877.GOLDMAN (465.3626)
www.gs.com
This wrap fee program brochure (the “Brochure”) provides information about the qualifications and
business practices relating to the Managed Account Strategies program sponsored by Goldman
Sachs & Co. LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact
your Private Wealth Management team at the number provided on your monthly statement or at
(212) 902-1000. The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by any state securities authority.
Investment adviser registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC also is available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
March 31, 2026
This Brochure (also referred to as Appendix 1) describes the Managed Account Strategies program
sponsored by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.
Item 2 - MATERIAL CHANGES
This Brochure is dated March 31, 2026. There have been no material changes to the Brochure from the
last annual update dated March 28, 2025. This Brochure has been revised and contains updated and
expanded disclosures relating to business operations particularly in the following areas:
Item 4 – Services, Fees and Compensation
Item 9 – Additional Information
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120) Appendix A: Fee Schedule (for other than Retirement Plans)
Clients are encouraged to read this Brochure in detail and contact their Goldman Sachs team with any
questions.
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Item 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 4 - SERVICES, FEES AND COMPENSATION ..................................................................... 4
Item 5 - ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES OF CLIENTS ................................................ 10
Item 6 - PORTFOLIO MANAGER SELECTION AND EVALUATION .............................................. 10
Item 7 - CLIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PORTFOLIO MANAGERS .................................. 12
Item 8 - CLIENT CONTACT WITH PORTFOLIO MANAGERS ..................................................... 12
Item 9 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .................................................................................... 12
GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix A: Fee Schedule (for other than Retirement Plan Accounts) ........................................... 41
Appendix B: Fee Schedule (for Retirement Plans) ..................................................................... 44
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Item 4 - SERVICES, FEES AND COMPENSATION
Introduction
This Brochure relates to the Managed Account Strategies program (“Program”) sponsored by Goldman
Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS&Co.”). The Program is offered to clients of GS&Co.’s Private Wealth Management
group (“PWM”). PWM, together with various affiliates as described in the PWM Brochure, comprises the
wealth management business of Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management (“Asset & Wealth
Management”). PWM primarily provides advisory services to high net worth individuals and institutional
clients and helps clients build and preserve their financial wealth. PWM operates through offices located in
Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brentwood, Cohoes, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and West Palm Beach. Unless
otherwise specified, references in this Brochure to “clients” mean Program clients and references to the
advisory services provided by GS&Co. mean the advisory services provided by GS&Co. as sponsor of the
Program.
Clients investing in the Program include clients of advisory affiliates of GS&Co. or where a GS&Co. advisory
affiliate otherwise makes the Program available. Certain GS&Co. affiliates may charge fees at different
rates than the Program rates set forth herein. The actual rate for each client will be set forth in the client’s
applicable agreements.
Financial advisors of GS&Co.’s affiliate Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, L.P. (“Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services”) are also registered representatives of GS&Co., as more fully described in the Goldman Sachs
Wealth Services Brochure.
Principal Owner and Operating History
GS&Co.’s principal owner is The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group”) a public company that is a bank
holding company and financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended (“BHCA”), and a worldwide, full-service financial services organization. GS&Co. has been a
registered investment adviser with the SEC since 1981. GS Group, GS&Co., and their respective affiliates,
directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees are referred to collectively as
“Goldman Sachs.”
Overview of the Services Provided under the Program
Clients investing in the Program pay a “wrap” fee for discretionary investment management services by
managers that are affiliated with Goldman Sachs (“Affiliated Managers”) and managers that are unaffiliated
with Goldman Sachs (“Unaffiliated Managers,” and together with Affiliated Managers, “Managers”)
participating in the Program. This fee covers the compensation of GS&Co. as sponsor of the Program, as
well as the compensation of the Manager, and also generally covers the cost of brokerage execution
through Goldman Sachs, custody at GS&Co., reporting and other administrative services.
Manager Selection
Based upon information provided by the client, GS&Co. selects, or recommends that the client select, one
or more Managers in the Program to manage the client’s assets in an Account established for this purpose
(“Program Account”). Where a client authorizes GS&Co., the client’s relationship manager (“Private Wealth
Advisor”) may select, appoint and remove Managers and may allocate and reallocate assets in the client’s
Program Accounts without the client’s prior approval or consent.
The Manager has full decision making authority over investments and transactions, subject to any
reasonable restrictions imposed by a client, the investment style that the client has selected, and any
guidelines negotiated between the Manager and the External Investing Group Public Strategies (“XIG –
Public Strategies”) group. The Manager may accept, or withdraw from the management of, a client’s
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Account based on the nature of the proposed restrictions or for any other reason. Restrictions regarding
industry groups are determined by reference to an independent source, such as industry classifications in
a well-recognized index, or by the Manager. Clients should be aware that the performance of Program
Accounts with restrictions will differ from, and may be lower than, the performance of Program Accounts
without restrictions. The Manager may, in its discretion, hold the amount that would have been invested in
the restricted security in cash, invest in substitute securities or invest it across the other securities in the
strategy that are not restricted.
The Manager also has exclusive responsibility to determine trades, select brokers and dealers and the
markets on or in which trades will be executed. Please refer to each Manager’s Form ADV brochure for
information about its advisory business.
Manager Selection – Retirement Plans
Clients that are individual retirement accounts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“IRC”) Section
408 or 408A, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, tax-qualified retirement plans (including Keogh plans)
under IRC Section 401(a), pension plans and other employee pension benefit plans subject to ERISA
(collectively, “Retirement Plans”) have two different options for selecting Managers.
Generally, pursuant to an agreement to provide non-discretionary investment advisory services, Private
Wealth Advisors will provide advice and recommendations regarding manager and strategy selection,
including Affiliated and Unaffiliated Managers. Although the fee rate paid to GS&Co. in connection with
Retirement Plan Managed Account Strategies is consistent regardless of whether the client selects
Affiliated or Unaffiliated Managers, in cases where an Unaffiliated Manager is selected, the client will also
bear an additional fee that is payable to the Unaffiliated Manager.
With respect to Managed Account Strategies, certain Retirement Plans who have sophisticated plan
fiduciaries can choose participating Managers either comprised exclusively of Affiliated Managers
(“Affiliated Manager Option”) or Unaffiliated Managers (“Unaffiliated Manager Option”). In such cases,
unless GS&Co. otherwise agrees, GS&Co. does not act as a “fiduciary” for purposes of ERISA, provide
advice, make recommendations or otherwise assist Retirement Plans in the decision to select between an
Affiliated Manager or an Unaffiliated Manager. The selection between the Affiliated Manager Option and
the Unaffiliated Manager Option will be the sole responsibility of the Retirement Plan in these
circumstances; however, once a Retirement Plan chooses an option, GS&Co. may assist the Retirement
Plan in identifying, evaluating and selecting one or more potential Managers within the option selected.
GS&Co. has a managed program platform for eligible Retirement Plans (the “Retirement Platform”), the
terms of which are available as part of the account opening documents.
If a client maintains both Retirement Plans and Program Accounts (that are not Retirement Plans) with
GS&Co., any advice or recommendations made by GS&Co., including Private Wealth Advisors or any other
GS&Co. personnel, for an Account that is not a Retirement Plan does not apply to and should not be used
by the client for any decision made by a Retirement Plan, which present different considerations.
There may also be changes in applicable law governing Retirement Plans that may drive certain changes
to available products and services offered by GS&Co. or its affiliates.
Execution Services
Each Manager has the sole discretion to select broker-dealers, including Goldman Sachs, to execute trades
for Program Accounts. The Manager is responsible for executing client trades in a manner that is consistent
with its obligation to seek best execution, and clients are encouraged to review the selected Manager’s
Form ADV brochure concerning its brokerage practices.
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Generally, the Manager selects Goldman Sachs to execute most equity trades. This is because the fee
paid by each client, as described under “Fees for the Program” below, covers all Program fees on all agency
trades effected through Goldman Sachs. When executing trades for Program Accounts, Goldman Sachs is
not acting as an investment adviser, but is acting exclusively as a broker-dealer in connection with such
trades, and only executes trades for Program Accounts upon a Manager’s instruction. Transactions in
Program Accounts will generally produce increased trading flow for Goldman Sachs. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, Goldman Sachs may act as principal in executing trades for each client’s
Account, or as agent while also representing another client of GS&Co. on the other side of the trade (an
“agency cross trade”). For more information about principal and agency cross trades, please refer to Item
9, Principal Trading and Cross/Agency Cross Transactions with Advisory Accounts. If the Manager
executes trades in auction rate securities through Goldman Sachs, the client may obtain a written
description of Goldman Sachs’ disclosures and considerations for investing in auction rate securities at
http://www.gs.com/ars (a hard copy is also available upon request).
If a Manager selects a broker-dealer other than Goldman Sachs to execute trades for a Program Account,
the client could pay additional Execution Charges for such trades, and any such Execution Charges will
be in addition to the Program fee.
For more information about the Program fee, please refer to Item 4, Fees for the Program below.
Custody and Administrative Services
GS&Co. handles some or all of the custody, clearance and settlement services, as well as certain other
administrative services, provided under the Program at no additional fee. If a client elects a third-party
custodian, the client will bear the fees, costs, expenses and/or commissions charged by the custodian,
including any custody and administrative fees.
Unless instructed otherwise, each Manager will be responsible for voting proxies associated with securities
held in the Program Accounts in accordance with the Manager’s proxy voting policy. Where GS&Co. acts
as custodian, it will forward to the Manager copies of all related proxies and shareholder communications.
Clients who elect not to custody assets with GS&Co. are encouraged to contact their third-party custodians
to ensure that they, or their selected Manager, receive such materials directly from their custodians.
Neither GS&Co. nor the Manager will render any advice or take any action with respect to securities or
other property held in the Program Account or the issuers thereof that become the subject of any legal
proceedings, including bankruptcies and class actions.
Cash Sweep
Unless a client notifies us otherwise, GS&Co. is authorized to sweep free credit balances in a Program
Account into one or more money market funds through GS&Co. or bank deposit accounts (“Bank Deposit
Cash Sweep”) with its affiliate, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”). Clients should discuss with their
Private Wealth Management team which cash sweep option is appropriate for them, based on factors such
as their investment objectives, financial circumstances, tax status and desire for related payment services.
Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option, the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the
default sweep option regardless of any difference in actual or expected returns in connection with other
sweep options. GS&Co. may make changes to or remove a client’s cash sweep option at any time, in its
sole discretion and any cash would be held in free credit balances or moved to another available option. A
client may request a different cash sweep option by informing their Private Wealth Management team. The
cash sweep service is a feature of clients’ custodial and brokerage relationship with GS&Co. In offering the
cash sweep service, designating a default cash sweep option or selecting a cash sweep option, GS&Co. is
not recommending any securities transaction or investment strategy or acting as an investment adviser.
Cash sweep options may be limited depending on the client’s residence or the advisory strategies in which
the account is invested.
Returns on cash sweep options are impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable interest rates and
the nature of the account. For example, interest rates on Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower
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returns than cash swept to money market funds, and after-tax yields on cash subject to a Bank Deposit
Cash Sweep could yield lower results than cash swept to money market funds. The Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank may pay GS&Co. a fee in connection with
Advisory Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep. GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors earn
higher compensation in connection with Bank Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market
funds. The cash sweep service is intended as a vehicle for free credit balances pending investment, but
can be expected to provide a lower return than other investment products offered by GS&Co. The cash
sweep options should not be viewed as long-term investment options. If clients desire to maintain cash
balances for other than a short-term period or are seeking higher yields available in the market, clients
should contact their Private Wealth Management team to discuss investment options that may be available
outside of the cash sweep service. Different money market funds have different fees and expenses, which
may be found in the applicable fund prospectuses. Clients should ask their Private Wealth Management
team which money market funds are available as cash sweep options.
Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep offered through GS Bank are variable and subject to
change at the sole discretion of GS Bank. Rates may be higher or lower than rates available at other banks
and may vary based on the amount of a client’s deposit balances or relationship with GS&Co. Clients can
obtain information about interest rates by going to www.goldman.com, or asking their Private Wealth
Management team. If a client does not wish to participate in the cash sweep service, their cash will be held
as free credit balances in their GS&Co. brokerage account in accordance with GS&Co.’s customary
practice. Free credit balances will generally earn less interest than money market funds or Bank Deposit
Cash Sweep.
Special Notice for Cash Sweeps for Retirement Plans
GS&Co. will not charge any Program fees with respect to Retirement Plan assets in the Program that are
invested in one or more money market funds or Bank Deposit Cash Sweep. However, Goldman Sachs may
earn investment management, investment advisory or similar fees for its investment management or
investment advisory services with respect to the services it provides to the money market funds or Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep. Please refer to the applicable prospectus for the current annual contractual
management fee.
As a result, the differential in fees to be paid to Goldman Sachs for Retirement Plans invested in the money
market funds or Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will be the difference between the fees that would have
otherwise been charged by GS&Co. for its investment management or advisory services under the Program
fee, on the one hand, and the investment management, investment advisory and other similar fees for
investment management or investment advisory services paid by the money market fund or Bank Deposit
Cash Sweep to Goldman Sachs, on the other hand. Please note, however, that there are also other
expenses, as described in the applicable prospectus, which are paid to Goldman Sachs as transfer agent
or to third parties (e.g., fees paid to attorneys and accountants who render professional services to the
Funds). These expenses will represent an additional expense to the Retirement Plan.
Money market funds and Bank Deposit Cash Sweeps are available as a cash sweep vehicle because
GS&Co. believes that it is prudent to sweep all uninvested assets to a sweep vehicle, and the Program
uses open-end investment companies managed by Goldman Sachs.
Program Accounts will not pay a sales commission in connection with the purchase or a sale of any
Financial Square Fund and will not pay a redemption fee in connection with a sale by it to the Financial
Square Fund.
For information on Bank Deposit Cash Sweep, please see Item 4, Cash Sweep, above.
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Fees for the Program
Clients pay GS&Co. an annual fee based on a percentage of the market value of the Program Account, as
set forth on the fee schedule signed by the client at account opening. Actual fees paid may be negotiated
and may differ from those in Appendix A (for other than Retirement Plans) and Appendix B (for Retirement
Plans). A client may pay more or less than the fees for similar clients depending on the particular
circumstances of the client, including the size of the relationship and required service levels.
Fee Schedule
Absent special circumstances, the fees set forth in the first asset tiers ($0-$10 million) in Appendix A (for
other than Retirement Plans) and Appendix B (for Retirement Plans) represent the maximum fees that
clients may currently be charged for new Program Accounts, irrespective of current asset balances. Fees
for preexisting Program Accounts may be higher or lower per strategy or may have negotiated a flat fee
that is higher or lower than the current ADV rate. Certain employees of the firm or an affiliate may receive
advisory services at lower rates or on a fee free basis and may be able to invest at lower minimum amounts
than clients currently invest.
GS&Co. pays a portion of the Program fee to the Manager. For Program Accounts (other than Retirement
Plans) the Manager fee is currently 0.20% for fixed income Accounts and between 0.20% and 0.85% for
equity Accounts (including Dynamic Equity) based on the value of the Program Accounts managed by the
Manager. For Retirement Plan Accounts, the Manager fee is between 0.275% and 0.80% for equity
Accounts (including Dynamic Equity).
As an accommodation, GS&Co. may permit clients to transfer separately managed accounts managed by
an investment manager that does not participate in the Program from their current custodian to GS&Co. In
these circumstances, GS&Co. charges clients an annual fee of up to 0.40% of the value of the client’s
assets managed by that investment manager. This fee is in addition to the investment management fee
and other fees charged by the client’s Manager. The fee covers all charges (including brokerage
commissions on agency transactions and commission equivalents (but not the spreads and certain mark-
ups and mark-downs on principal transactions)) for transactions executed through Goldman Sachs and
GS&Co.’s administrative charges as well as fees for general asset allocation advice. GS&Co. does not
recommend or monitor these managers, and each client is solely responsible for the selection, retention
and termination of these managers.
Calculation and Deduction of Advisory Fees
Advisory fees paid by clients for Program Accounts are generally charged quarterly in arrears based on the
average market value of the assets in the Program Account during the previous quarter. Average market
value is generally determined using end-of-day quantities and an end-of-day market price for each security
including any applicable accruals. Fees are prorated and due upon termination or for partial periods.
Where GS&Co. acts as custodian, the Program fees are automatically deducted from the client’s Program
Account unless other arrangements have been agreed upon between the client and GS&Co. In the case of
Program Accounts held at a third-party custodian, clients generally direct their custodian to have their fees
and expenses debited from the account for credit to GS&Co.
Ability to Obtain Services Separately
Clients may be able to obtain some or all of the services offered through the Program separately from
GS&Co. or from other firms, and the cost of obtaining the services separately may be more or less than the
Program fee. Factors that bear on the cost of the Program in relation to the cost of the same services
purchased separately include the range of investment strategies and Managers selected, anticipated
trading activity and the range of custodial, reporting and other ancillary services that are available. Clients
should also understand that the combination of the Program services may not be available separately and
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certain Managers might not be willing or able to provide their services or particular investment strategies
outside of the Program because of minimum Account sizes or other factors.
Other Fees and Expenses
The Program fee does not include certain execution costs that may be charged to the client, including:
broker-dealer spreads; certain broker-dealer mark-ups or mark-downs on principal transactions; fees and
other expenses related to transactions in depository receipts, including fees associated with foreign ordinary
conversion; creation fees charged by third parties and foreign tax charges; auction fees; fees charged by
exchanges on a per transaction basis; debit balances and margin interest; certain odd-lot differentials;
transfer taxes; electronic fund and wire transfer fees; fees in connection with trustee and other services
rendered by Goldman Sachs; fees on NASDAQ trades; certain costs associated with trading in foreign
securities and other property; any other charges mandated by law; and certain fees in connection with trust
accounting, or the establishment, administration or termination of Retirement Plans.
The Program fees also do not cover Execution Charges (such as commissions, commission equivalents,
mark-ups, mark-downs, spreads) on transactions a Manager places with broker-dealers other than
Goldman Sachs. For example, Managers of fixed income strategies will generally execute trades through
third-party dealers and, therefore, the spread, mark-ups and mark-downs on those trades will be paid by
clients to the third-party dealer. Any such Execution Charges will be separately charged to the client’s
Program Account. Third-party custodians reserve the right to charge fees including trade away fees and
fees related to specific investments such as mutual funds and alternative investments. For a complete list
of fees that may apply to the Program Account, clients should review their customer agreements with the
applicable custodian. Clients will pay the public offering price for any securities purchased from an
underwriter or dealer involved in a distribution. If GS&Co. is a member of the underwriting syndicate from
which a security is purchased, GS&Co. may, directly or indirectly, benefit from such purchase. In addition,
the value of Program assets invested in shares of investment companies (closed-end or mutual fund
companies, and unit investment trusts) is included in calculating the Program fee, to the extent permitted
by law. These shares are also subject to investment advisory, administration, transfer agency, distribution,
shareholder service and other fund-level expenses (some of which may be paid to Goldman Sachs) that
are paid by the fund and clients, indirectly, as a fund shareholder. The Program fee will not be reduced by
any of these fund-level fees unless required by law. Goldman Sachs may charge fees on cash swept into
the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep or held as free credit balances.
Compensation for Recommending the Wrap Fee Program
Private Wealth Advisors and GS&Co. receive compensation in connection with a client’s participation in the
Program. The amount of this compensation may differ from the compensation that might have been
received by the Private Wealth Advisors and GS&Co. if the client had instead participated in another
advisory program offered by GS&Co. or paid separately for the investment advice, brokerage and other
services available through the Program.
The amount of the compensation received also may vary based on the selection of a Manager, asset class
or investment strategy, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Goldman Sachs will generally benefit from
the selection of an Affiliated Manager, as the amount of compensation received from a Program Account
advised by an Affiliated Manager generally will differ from the compensation received from a traditional
separate Advisory Account (that is, an Advisory Account with an advisory fee that does not include
Execution Charges, custodial and other fees) also advised by Goldman Sachs. Except in the case of
Retirement Plans, the Private Wealth Advisors and GS&Co. also may recommend or select certain
Managers based on the nature of the compensation arrangement with each Manager. These arrangements
generally include fee break points that GS&Co. has negotiated with the Managers that reduce the fee paid
to Managers (and correspondingly increase the portion of the fee retained by GS&Co.) as assets managed
by a particular Manager in the Program increase. Any such differentials in compensation create a financial
incentive on the part of GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors to recommend or, if applicable, select one
advisory program, Manager, asset class or investment strategy over another.
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Clients who grant GS&Co. discretionary authority to select and remove Managers, allocate assets, and
reallocate assets in Program Accounts should understand that any changes made by GS&Co. may result
in changes to the overall asset allocation and selection of investment strategies for the Program Accounts.
Because the fees for each investment strategy vary by asset class, GS&Co.’s discretionary actions may
result in a client paying a higher aggregate fee for the Program.
In addition to the disclosures contained in this Brochure, these and other potential conflicts of interest are
disclosed in the GS&Co. Private Wealth Management Form ADV brochure and other strategy-specific
documents provided to clients from time to time and in GS&Co.’s investment advisory agreement with the
client.
Item 5 - ACCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND TYPES OF CLIENTS
Types of Clients
Many of GS&Co.’s clients are individuals who invest their assets with us directly as individuals or through
private investment vehicles, such as privately held corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,
or trusts, and estates of such clients. GS&Co. also provides investment advisory services to institutional
clients, including charitable organizations, pension plans, corporations, insurance companies who may be
offering wrappers to individual clients, and other business entities.
Account Minimums
GS&Co. generally requires clients to open a Program Account with a minimum Account value of $100,000.
Certain investment strategies and Managers require a higher minimum Account value to open a Program
Account. Program Accounts may be terminated by GS&Co. in its discretion if the value of the Accounts falls
below certain minimum thresholds established by GS&Co. from time to time.
Funding and Liquidation
The client may open an Account with cash, marketable securities or a combination of both. When initially
funding an Account with securities, a client should bear in mind that the selected Manager may decide to
sell all or a substantial portion of the client’s existing portfolio of securities and that the client is responsible
for tax liabilities that may result from those transactions. Alternatively, a Manager may return the securities
to the client if the Manager is not able to accept or sell the securities for regulatory or other reasons.
Clients may choose to liquidate assets from the Program and transition them to another product offering
with specific entry or subscription periods and liquidity features, or to another Manager. Clients may choose
to authorize GS&Co. to select exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) on a discretionary basis and to instruct a
Manager (if the Manager has agreed to accommodate these requests) to purchase each selected ETF
using the proceeds of the liquidated securities from the Program Account. Clients are not charged an
investment advisory fee on those assets, but may be charged Execution Charges for such transactions,
even if the transactions are executed through Goldman Sachs.
Item 6 - PORTFOLIO MANAGER SELECTION AND EVALUATION
Evaluation of Managers
The selection and evaluation process for Unaffiliated Managers is provided by the XIG – Public Strategies
group, which is part of the External Investing Group (“XIG”) within Goldman Sachs Asset Management,
L.P. (“GSAM LP”). The XIG – Public Strategies group has developed a due diligence process focused on
identifying and evaluating the investment merits of each Unaffiliated Manager.
Unaffiliated Managers are selected through a multi-step process that includes a due diligence review
designed to assess the quality of the candidates and the likelihood of producing appropriate investment
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results over the long-term. An investment committee determines which Unaffiliated Managers are available
for investment.
Although the XIG – Public Strategies group reviews the performance history of Unaffiliated Managers
participating in the Program, none of GS&Co., the XIG – Public Strategies group or any third-party
calculates or audits the information for accuracy, verifies the appropriateness of the methodology on which
the performance is calculated or verifies whether the performance complies with GIPS or any other standard
for performance calculation. The methods for calculating performance and forming composites can differ
among Unaffiliated Managers and performance information is not necessarily calculated on a uniform and
consistent basis. Past performance is not indicative of future results and, as such, prospective clients should
not rely on Unaffiliated Manager performance information when making an investment decision.
Unaffiliated Managers are typically responsible for the day-to-day investment decisions within the Program
with respect to assets allocated to such Unaffiliated Managers, although the XIG – Public Strategies group
may develop benchmarks and written investment guidelines for the management of client assets by
Unaffiliated Managers. XIG – Public Strategies group’s responsibilities with respect to Unaffiliated
Managers generally are limited to the selection, appointment, evaluation, monitoring and removal of such
Unaffiliated Managers, and the XIG – Public Strategies group generally does not have any rights with
respect to determining or approving specific investments made by the Unaffiliated Managers other than
setting general investment objectives and guidelines. XIG uses a different process to evaluate ETFs,
applying quantitative screens that assess specific factors, including tracking error, total assets, expense
ratio, length of track record and other factors (which may be adjusted periodically).
Clients should carefully review the Form ADV brochure for each of the Managers they consider under the
Program, including information about best execution, trade rotation and order of execution, investment
allocations, conflicts of interest and any other policy or issue that could potentially impact the management
of client assets under the Program. To the extent a Program Account regularly trades behind other types
of accounts in a Manager’s rotation system, for example, it is possible that the Program Account may suffer
adverse effects depending on market conditions.
Affiliated Managers
GSAM LP or another affiliate of GS&Co. may be selected by or recommended to clients investing in the
Program, except in the case of Retirement Plans that have selected the Unaffiliated Manager Option.
Affiliated Managers are not reviewed by the XIG – Public Strategies group, but instead undergo a different
review process. GS&Co. considers the addition of a new strategy managed by an Affiliated Manager
through a process that reviews the specific strategy, asset class, performance and relative fees in the
context of making the strategy available to clients. In the case of Affiliated Managers, the operational
infrastructure and internal controls are well understood and are currently in place for other strategies offered
to clients. As a result, the review process generally focuses on the specifics of the investment strategy and
any unique characteristics, risks or eligibility criteria of the investment strategy. On the whole, the due
diligence process for Affiliated Managers is significantly less rigorous and substantively different than that
for Unaffiliated Managers. As a result, Advisory Personnel may select or recommend an Affiliated Manager
for a Program Account that underperforms Unaffiliated Managers (or other Affiliated Managers) that might
have been selected or recommended, or not select or recommend an Unaffiliated Manager that would
otherwise have been selected or recommended, had the due diligence process applicable to Unaffiliated
Managers been utilized for Affiliated Managers. Furthermore, when Advisory Personnel conduct due
diligence of Affiliated Managers, they may be restricted from obtaining information they might otherwise
request with respect to such Affiliated Managers and their sponsors, managers or advisers as a result of
internal informational barriers. If Advisory Personnel do not have access to certain information with respect
to an Affiliated Manager, they may determine not to consider such Affiliated Manager for a Program
Account, or, conversely, Advisory Personnel may select an Affiliated Manager for the Program Account
notwithstanding that certain material information is unavailable to the Advisory Personnel, each of which
could adversely affect the Program Account. For example, investments managed by such Affiliated
Manager could significantly decline in value, resulting in substantial losses to the Program Account.
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For information about the conflicts associated with the selection and recommendation of Affiliated
Managers, please see Item 4, Compensation for Recommending the Wrap Fee Program and Item 9,
Receipt of Compensation from Investment Advisers. GS&Co. seeks to address these potential conflicts
relating to the selection and recommendation of Affiliated Managers by disclosing the affiliation to clients
so that they may consider the potential conflict.
Removing Managers
Generally clients can request that the Manager for their Program Account be changed at any time, and
GS&Co. will implement such requests as soon as is reasonably practicable.
If GS&Co. removes a Manager from the Program, GS&Co. generally attempts to reach each affected client
not enrolled in the Discretionary Manager Selection strategy so the client may select a replacement
Manager. Clients may grant GS&Co. the authority to replace a removed Manager with a Manager of a
comparable strategy (if available) without prior approval. In these cases, GS&Co. will select a replacement
Manager and notify the client of the selection. If GS&Co. is not able to find a replacement Manager,
securities previously managed by that Manager will be held by GS&Co. in a brokerage account for the client
and the client will be responsible for directing transactions in those securities. If a client wishes to continue
to retain a Manager that has been removed, the client will need to make other arrangements with GS&Co.
outside the Program.
Item 7 - CLIENT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
Each Manager is provided with certain information concerning the client’s investment objectives, financial
goals, risk tolerance, investment time horizon, reasonable restrictions and such other information as a
Manager reasonably requests to satisfy its own policies and procedures. Each client is responsible for
providing accurate and complete information to GS&Co., as the failure to do so could affect the
recommendation or selection of a Manager and that Manager’s acceptance and management of the client’s
assets. GS&Co. will periodically notify the Manager of updates or changes to any of the information
previously provided that could affect the management of the client’s Account.
Item 8 - CLIENT CONTACT WITH PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
At a client’s request, GS&Co. will make available the appropriate Goldman Sachs personnel or a
representative of the Manager to respond to a client’s inquiry about the management of the client’s Program
Account.
Item 9 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Disciplinary Information
In the ordinary course of its business, GS&Co. and its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs,
and/or other Goldman Sachs personnel, have in the past been, and may in the future be, subject to periodic
audits, examinations, claims, litigation, formal and informal regulatory or other inquiries, requests for
information, subpoenas, employment-related matters, disputes, investigations, and other civil, legal or
regulatory proceedings involving the SEC, other regulatory authorities, or private parties. Such actions,
investigations, litigation and claims have the potential to result in findings, conclusions, settlements, charges
or various forms of sanctions against GS&Co. or its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs and
other Goldman Sachs personnel, including fines, suspensions of personnel, changes in policies,
procedures or disclosure or other sanctions and may increase the exposure of the PWM Client Accounts
(the “Advisory Accounts”), GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs to potential liabilities and to legal, compliance and
other related costs. Such actions or proceedings may involve claims of strict liability or similar risks against
Advisory Accounts in certain jurisdictions or in connection with certain types of activities.
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Information about GS&Co.’s investment management affiliates is contained in Part 1 of GS&Co.’s Form
ADV.
For information relating to other Goldman Sachs affiliates, please visit www.gs.com and refer to the public
filings of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Other Material Relationships with Affiliated Entities
In certain cases, GS&Co. uses, suggests and recommends its own services and those of affiliated Goldman
Sachs entities and business units. Fees paid in connection with such services, while believed to be
customary compensation for relevant activities, are not always negotiated and, from time to time, could be
more or less than what a comparable third party might charge. GS&Co. manages Advisory Accounts on
behalf of certain affiliated Goldman Sachs entities, which creates potential conflicts of interest related to
GS&Co.’s determination to use, suggest or recommend the services of such entities or business units. The
particular services involved depend on the types of services offered by the affiliate or business unit. The
arrangements may involve sharing or joint compensation, or separate compensation, subject to the
requirements of applicable law. GS&Co. shares resources with and delegates certain of its trading, advisory
and other activities for clients to other businesses within GS&Co. other than PWM and/or to GS&Co.’s
affiliates and portfolio management functions may be shared or moved between affiliated advisers.
Particular relationships include, but are not limited to, those discussed below. Goldman Sachs’ affiliates will
retain any compensation when providing investment services to, or in connection with investment activities
of, Advisory Accounts, subject to applicable law. Compensation may take the form of referral payments,
commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, service fees or other commission equivalents. Advisory Accounts
are not entitled to any such compensation retained by Goldman Sachs’ affiliates.
Broker-Dealer
GS&Co. is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer. Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons are
registered representatives of GS&Co. to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform their
responsibilities. GS&Co. uses, or suggests or recommends that advisory clients use the securities, futures
execution, clearing, custody or other services offered by GS&Co. or its affiliates. These affiliates include
(but are not limited to), Goldman Sachs International (“GSI”), Goldman Sachs (Asia) Securities Limited,
Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd., and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia. GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services have overlapping officers and personnel and share office space and certain expenses. GS&Co.
receives compensation when acting as a broker-dealer executing transactions for Advisory Accounts for
affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
Advisory Accounts, including Program Accounts, will generally execute all transactions through Goldman
Sachs as further described in Item 4, Execution Services. Subject to client consent as required by applicable
law, GS&Co. or its affiliates may engage in principal transactions with Advisory Accounts that are not
Retirement Plans. For additional information about principal trading, please see Item 9, Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading below. Goldman Sachs typically earns
Execution Charges in connection with transactions executed as agent or principal. Clients will pay these
charges in addition to the advisory fee paid to GS&Co. or its affiliates, except as described in Item 4,
Services, Fees and Compensation. Goldman Sachs will likely share all or a portion of any Execution
Charges with its affiliates and Goldman Sachs employees, including Private Wealth Advisors, which could
create an incentive for GS&Co. or a Private Wealth Advisor to make execution decisions based on their
interest in receiving a share of Execution Charges. For Accounts offered through PWM but managed by
GSAM LP, transactions are executed according to GSAM LP’s policies and procedures regarding execution
of trades.
In addition, GS&Co. and its broker-dealer affiliates that provide custodial services benefit from the use of
free credit balances (i.e., cash) in Advisory Accounts, subject to the limitation set forth in SEC Rule 15c3-3
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Free credit balances are payable to clients
on demand. If negative interest rates apply, clients will be charged a fee in connection with such free credit
balances. PWM receives certain recordkeeping, administrative and support services from other parts of
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GS&Co. or its affiliates. GS&Co., in its advisory capacity, obtains research ideas, analyses, reports and
other services (including distribution services) from its affiliates.
In addition, Goldman Sachs has ownership interests in trading networks, securities or derivatives indices,
trading tools and settlement systems.
In addition, Goldman Sachs holds ownership interests in, and Goldman Sachs personnel sit on the boards
of directors of, centralized exchanges and trading platforms, electronic communication networks, alternative
trading systems and other similar execution or trading systems or venues (collectively, “ECNs/Trading
Venues”). Goldman Sachs may be deemed to control one or more of such ECNs/Trading Venues based
on its levels of ownership and its representation on the board of directors of such ECNs/Trading Venues. As
of the date hereof, Goldman Sachs held ownership interests in the following ECNs/Trading Venues: (i)
Members Exchange (MEMX), (ii) Members Exchange Options (MEMX Options), (iii) PureStream, (iv) GS
Sigma X2 and (v) Marquee (GSCO). Goldman Sachs may acquire ownership interests in other
ECNs/Trading Venues (or increase ownership in the ECNs/Trading Venues listed above) in the
future. Additional information regarding the ECNs/Trading Venues in which Goldman Sachs has an
ownership interest, as well as the ECNs/Trading Venues used by GS&Co., is updated from time to time
and is available at https://www.goldmansachs.com/disclosures/ecns-disclosure.html.
registered market makers related
to
these exchange-sponsored marketing
Consistent with its duty to seek best execution for the Advisory Accounts, PWM, from time to time, directly
or indirectly, effects trades for Advisory Accounts through such ECNs/Trading Venues. In such cases,
Goldman Sachs receives an indirect economic benefit based upon its ownership interests in ECNs/Trading
Venues. In addition, Goldman Sachs receives fees, cash credits, rebates, discounts or other benefits from
ECNs/Trading Venues to which it, as a broker, routes order flow based on the aggregate trading volume
generated by Goldman Sachs (including volume not associated with client orders) and the type of order
flow routed and certain ECNs/Trading Venues, such as many exchanges, provide rebates or charge fees
based on whether routed orders contribute to, or extract liquidity from, the ECN/Trading Venue. Discounts or
rebates received by Goldman Sachs from an ECN/Trading Venue during any time period could differ and
could exceed the fees paid by Goldman Sachs to the ECN/Trading Venue during that time period. The
amount of such discounts or rebates varies. Further, the U.S. listed options exchanges sponsor marketing
fee programs through which registered market-makers receive payments from the exchanges based upon
their market making status and/or as a result of their designation as a “preferenced” market maker by an
exchange member with respect to certain options orders. GS&Co. may receive payments from
“preferenced”
fee
programs. The amount of such payments varies. PWM will effect trades for an Advisory Account through
such ECNs/Trading Venues only if PWM reasonably believes that such trades are in the best interest of
the Advisory Account and that the requirements of applicable law have been satisfied. PWM executes
transactions with Goldman Sachs or unaffiliated broker-dealers in accordance with its best execution
policies and procedures.
In the event assets of an Advisory Account are treated as “plan assets” subject to ERISA, the use of
ECNs/Trading Venues to execute trades on behalf of such Advisory Account may, absent an exemption,
be treated as a prohibited transaction under ERISA. However, PWM effects trades through ECNs/Trading
Venues provided that such trades are executed in accordance with the exemption under Section 408(b)(16)
of ERISA. In addition, PWM is required to obtain authorization from any Advisory Account whose assets
are treated as “plan assets” in order to execute transactions on behalf of such Advisory Account using an
ECN/Trading Venue in which Goldman Sachs has an ownership interest. Furthermore, there may be
limitations or restrictions placed on the use of ECNs/Trading Venues (including, without limitation, for
purposes of complying with law and otherwise).
Through GS&Co.’s trading on or membership to various trading platforms or venues, or interactions with
certain service providers (including depositaries and messaging platforms), GS&Co. and its affiliates, in
certain cases, receive interests, shares or other economic benefits from such service providers.
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Investment Companies and Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates, including GSAM LP, act in an advisory or sub-advisory capacity with
respect to separately managed accounts and private investment funds and in other capacities, including as
trustee, managing member, adviser, administrator and/or distributor to a variety of U.S. and non-U.S.
investment companies including separate accounts underlying variable life insurance policies and variable
annuity contracts that are structured as registered investment companies as well as other pooled
investment vehicles including collective trusts, ETFs, closed end funds, business development companies
and private investment funds. Such advisory, sub-advisory, or other relationships in some cases are with
affiliated entities or with institutions that are not part of Goldman Sachs. Certain GS&Co. personnel are also
directors, trustees and/or officers of these investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, in their capacities as advisers or sub-advisers to these entities, will receive
management or advisory fees. Although such fees are generally paid by the entities, the costs are ultimately
borne by clients as investors. These fees will be in addition to any advisory fees or other fees agreed
between investors in their capacity as clients and GS&Co. for investment advisory, brokerage services or
other services. Except as otherwise agreed, clients of GS&Co. and its affiliates may invest in these
investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles offered by Goldman Sachs without paying
fees to GS&Co. For entities where GS&Co. applies an advisory fee, the fee that will apply is generally the
same for both affiliated and unaffiliated entities and clients may pay more or less than the index oriented
fee depending on the agreed upon fee schedule. For additional information on compensation earned for
the sale of these products, please see Item 4, Services, Fees and Compensation.
Other Investment Advisers
GS&Co. has investment advisory affiliates in and outside of the United States that are registered with the
SEC as investment advisers. These affiliates include, but are not limited to GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs
Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services. GS&Co. and its
affiliates have or intend to have co-advisory or sub-advisory relationships with their investment advisory
affiliates, as required for proper management of particular Advisory Accounts and in accordance with
applicable law. GS&Co. will receive compensation in connection with such relationships. For additional
information on compensation earned when clients select other investment advisers, see Receipt of
Compensation from Investment Advisers, below.
Where permissible by law, GS&Co. and its affiliates share resources in connection with providing
investment advisory services, including credit analysis, execution services and trade support.
GS&Co. personnel may recommend the investment advisory services of its affiliates, including, but not
limited to, GSAM LP, and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, to its clients. Certain Advisory Personnel who
make such referrals receive compensation for referring clients to such affiliates, subject to applicable law.
GS&Co. personnel also refer clients to certain unaffiliated investment advisers. In such instances, the
investment adviser pays GS&Co. a portion of the investment management fee charged to the client.
Clients may be offered access to advisory services through GS&Co., Goldman Sachs Wealth Services,
GSAM LP, GSAMI, or other affiliated investment advisers. These investment advisers manage Accounts
according to different strategies and may also apply different criteria to the same or similar products
(including, but not limited to, equities and fixed income securities). For instance, in the case of Accounts
holding municipal bonds, GSAM LP and GS&Co. may apply different credit criteria (including different
minimum credit ratings, sector restrictions, maturity limitations or portfolio duration), they may offer different
portfolio structures (e.g., laddered, barbelled or customized), and they may have different minimum Account
size requirements. Additionally, GS&Co. executes trades through itself as well as third parties and may
participate in underwritings, whereas GSAM LP and GSAMI generally only execute trades through third
parties. Since each investment adviser’s investment decisions are made independently, it should be
expected that GSAM LP and/or GSAMI may be buying while GS&Co. and/or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services are selling, or vice versa. Therefore, it is possible that accounts managed by GSAM LP or GSAMI
could sustain losses during periods in which accounts managed by GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services achieve significant profits on their trading, and vice versa.
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Subject to applicable law, GS&Co. has the discretion to delegate all or a portion of its advisory or other
functions (including placing trades on behalf of Advisory Accounts) to any affiliate that is registered with the
SEC as an investment adviser or to any of its non-U.S. affiliated advisers. GS&Co. may also move or share
portfolio management between affiliated advisers. This might include the movement of portfolio managers
from GS&Co. to an affiliated adviser or the transfer of management of the portfolio to a management team
within an affiliated adviser.
A copy of the brochure of GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, GSAMI, or other affiliated
investment advisers is available on the SEC’s website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) and will be provided to
clients or prospective clients upon request. Clients that want more information about any of these affiliates
should contact GS&Co.
Financial Planning
retirement, estate,
insurance,
GS&Co.’s affiliate, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, provides financial planning (“Financial Planning,”
which may also be referred to at times as “financial counseling” or “financial coaching”) as described more
fully in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Brochure, which generally focuses on planning related to
compensation and employment benefits, cash-flow,
investment,
philanthropic, and tax planning as may be appropriate, in addition to investment management, financial
education and other services to publicly traded companies and privately held firms and their respective
executives and employees, high net worth individuals, and affinity and membership organizations or
community-based and charitable organizations and their respective members and participants. Goldman
Sachs Wealth Services’ personnel recommend GS&Co.’s investment advisory services to its clients and
receive fees from GS&Co. in certain circumstances.
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services’ Personal Wealth offering is also available to clients who generally do not
have another Financial Planning relationship with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, but who have at least
$1,000,000 held in Advisory Accounts. Additional information about Personal Wealth can be found in the
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services ADV 2A.
For information on financial planning offered by GS&Co. see Item 4 – Advisory Services – Family Office
Services of the PWM Brochure.
Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity Trading Advisor
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(“CFTC”) as an FCM, CPO, SD and CTA. These affiliates include GSAM LP, and GSAMI and GSAMS. If
permitted by law and applicable regulations, GS&Co. buys, sells and/or clears futures and swaps on behalf
of its Advisory Accounts through itself or its CFTC-registered affiliates and these affiliates receive
commissions in connection with such transactions. GS&Co. also utilizes the services of these affiliates in
connection with foreign exchange transactions for certain Advisory Accounts.
Bank or Thrift Institution
Banks
GS Group is a Financial Holding Company and a Bank Holding Company registered with the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the BHCA. GS Group is subject
to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve.
GS Bank is an FDIC insured, New York State chartered Federal Reserve member bank. GS Bank accepts
brokered deposits, lends to individuals and corporate clients, transacts in certain derivatives, and provides
securities lending, custody and hedge fund administration services. GS Bank offers securities-based loans
and structured loans to Private Wealth Management clients on the Goldman Sachs platform. GS Bank
benefits from the use of securities-based loans and structured loans by charging interest on those loans.
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GS&Co. and Advisory Personnel who make referrals and participate in GS&Co.’s compensation plan
receive compensation for referring clients to GS Bank for such loans. These loans are not made on an
advisory basis but are solely self-directed. Such referrals create a conflict between the interests of clients
and the interests of GS&Co. and its employees since GS&Co. and these Advisory Personnel have an
economic interest in the loans. Such compensation is in addition to compensation GS&Co. and these
Advisory Personnel receive from the investment advisory fee charged by GS&Co. for providing advisory
services to the Advisory Accounts pledged as collateral for the loans. Borrowing against securities is not
suitable for all investors. Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support a loan and to take advances.
It should be expected that if there is a decline in the value of a client’s collateral assets, including as a
result of markets going down in value, clients will be required to deposit more securities or funds to
maintain the level needed to avoid a maintenance call or pay down the line of credit and that GS Bank will
sell some or all of a client’s securities without prior notice to maintain the account at the required levels.
This could affect a client’s holdings or the account or strategy the client is invested in, and could also have
tax ramifications, in particular diminishing a client’s overall tax objectives, especially where the client has
chosen to invest in a tax aware strategy. GS Bank can increase a client’s collateral maintenance
requirements at any time without notice. Additionally, GS Bank has no obligation to fund the line and can
change the client’s interest rate or demand full or partial repayment at any time. Clients should also consult
with their own tax advisor prior to using municipal securities as collateral, as there may be tax
consequences associated with doing so.
GS&Co. offers a Bank Deposit Cash Sweep with its affiliate, GS Bank, which may be elected for use in
eligible accounts, including at a client’s direction. Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option,
the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the default sweep option regardless of any difference in
actual or expected returns in connection with other sweep options. Returns on cash sweep options are
impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable interest rates and the nature of the account. For
example, interest rates on a Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower returns than cash swept to
money market funds, and after-tax yields on Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower results than
cash swept to money market funds. Private Wealth Advisors earn higher compensation in connection with
Bank Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market funds. The Bank Deposit Cash Sweep
provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank may pay GS&Co. a fee in connection with Advisory
Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep Option. Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep offered through GS Bank are variable and subject to change at the sole discretion of GS Bank.
Rates may be higher or lower than rates available at other banks and may vary based on the amount of
a client’s deposit balances or relationship with GS&Co. Clients can obtain information about interest rates
by going to www.goldman.com, or asking their GS&Co. team. GS Bank benefits from the use of cash
swept from client account assets because client participation in the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep option
increases GS Bank’s deposits and thus its overall profits. GS&Co. acts as agent in establishing, and
custodian in maintaining records of the clients’ beneficial ownership of the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep at
GS Bank. PWM clients may also open separate savings accounts and term deposits to which different
interest rates may apply. In particular, clients may open direct accounts at GS Bank at rates that could be
higher or lower than rates for the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep. The level of service for direct accounts at
GS Bank differs from what is offered through such Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
Trust Companies
GS&Co. also has relationships with The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., a national bank limited to
fiduciary activities (“GSTC”), and The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware, a Delaware limited
purpose trust company (“GSTD”). GSTC and GSTD provide personal trust and estate administration and
related services to certain of GS&Co.’s clients. GS&Co. and its affiliates provide a variety of services to
GSTC and GSTD, including investment advisory, sub-advisory, brokerage, distribution, marketing,
operational, infrastructure, financial, auditing and administrative services. Goldman Sachs receives fees
from GSTC and GSTD according to the fee schedules agreed upon between the parties in arm’s-length
service agreements. GSTC also maintains collective investment funds for eligible pension and profit sharing
clients. GSTC has appointed GS&Co. as investment adviser for the collective investment funds, subject to
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the supervision and control of GSTC. Certain personnel of GS&Co. and GS&Co.’s affiliates have been
cross-designated as officers of GSTC.
Insurance Company or Agency
GS&Co.’s affiliates, The Ayco Services Agency, L.P. and The Ayco Services Insurance Agency, Inc., are
licensed insurance agencies and engage in the insurance agency business for purposes of selling,
brokering, and co-brokering, including, but not limited to, life insurance policies and annuity contracts (both
fixed and variable) and long-term care insurance contracts for separate compensation. GS&Co. may refer
clients to these related affiliates and will receive referral fees subject to applicable law.
Sponsor or Syndicator of Limited Partnerships
Goldman Sachs establishes unregistered privately-placed vehicles in which clients invest and distributes
securities issued by such vehicles. GS&Co. and its affiliates generally receive fees in connection therewith.
Management Persons; Policies and Procedures
Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons also hold positions with one or more Goldman Sachs affiliates.
In these positions, those management persons of GS&Co. have certain responsibilities with respect to the
business of these affiliates, and the compensation of these management persons may be based, in part,
upon the profitability of these affiliates. Consequently, in carrying out their roles at GS&Co. and these
affiliates, the management persons of GS&Co. are subject to the same or similar potential conflicts of
interest that exist between GS&Co. and these affiliates.
GS&Co. has established a variety of restrictions, policies, procedures and disclosures designed to address
potential conflicts that arise between GS&Co., its management persons and its affiliates. These policies
and procedures include: information barriers designed to prevent the flow of information between GS&Co.,
its personnel and certain other affiliates; policies and procedures relating to brokerage selection, trading
with affiliates or investing in products managed or sponsored by affiliates; and allocation and trade
sequencing policies applicable to Accounts (as defined below). No assurance can be made that any of
GS&Co.’s current policies and procedures, or any policies and procedures that are established by GS&Co.
in the future will have their desired effect.
Additional information about these conflicts and the policies and procedures designed to address them is
available in Item 9, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
Affiliated Indexes
Goldman Sachs has in the past, and may in the future, develop, co-develop, own and operate stock market
and other indexes (each, an “Index”) based on investment and trading strategies and concepts developed
by Goldman Sachs or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third-party. Goldman Sachs has entered
into, and may in the future enter into, a revenue sharing arrangement with a third-party co-developer of an
Index pursuant to which Goldman Sachs receives a portion of the fees generated from licensing the right
to use the Index or components thereof to third parties. Some of the ETFs for which GSAM LP or its affiliates
act as investment adviser (the “GSAM LP ETFs”) seek to track the performance of an Index. GS&Co., from
time to time, manages Advisory Accounts that invest in these GSAM LP ETFs, which may facilitate the
GSAM LP ETFs achieving a specified size or scale. Goldman Sachs may make payments to an investor
that contributes seed capital to a GSAM LP ETF. Such payments may continue for a specified period of
time and/or until a specified dollar amount is reached, and will be made from the assets of Goldman Sachs
(and not the applicable GSAM LP ETF). Seed investors may contribute all or a majority of the assets in a
GSAM LP ETF. There is a risk that such seed investors may redeem their investments in the GSAM LP
ETF, particularly after payments from Goldman Sachs have ceased. Such redemptions could have a
significant negative impact on the GSAM LP ETF, including on its liquidity and the market price of its shares.
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Goldman Sachs has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to address potential conflicts that
arise in connection with Goldman Sachs’ operation of the Indexes, the GSAM LP ETFs and the Advisory
Accounts. Goldman Sachs has established certain information barriers and other policies designed to
address the sharing of information between different businesses within Goldman Sachs, including with
respect to personnel responsible for maintaining the Indexes and those involved in decision-making for the
ETFs. In addition, as described in the section titled, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading below, GS&Co. has adopted a code of ethics.
Growth Through Acquisitions
Goldman Sachs intends to grow organically, as well as inorganically, through acquisitions. In the future,
Goldman Sachs may acquire advisers and/or their business lines that may further expand the depth and
breadth of its advisory business.
Receipt of Compensation from Investment Advisers
GS&Co. may select, or recommend that clients allocate assets to, one or more Accounts or funds managed
by one or more Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers, managers that are unaffiliated with Goldman
Sachs (Unaffiliated Managers and Affiliated Managers are referred to collectively in this Brochure as
“Managers”). The ability to recommend both Affiliated Managers and Unaffiliated Managers creates
potential conflicts for GS&Co. and could impact its decisions regarding Manager selection when affiliation
is considered by GS&Co., among other factors, in deciding whether to make Managers available to clients,
to increase client investments with Managers, and to retain or withdraw client investments from Managers.
GS&Co. receives compensation in connection with clients’ investments in, and selection of and
recommendation of such Accounts or funds, and such compensation creates a conflict of interest.
For example, Goldman Sachs receives various forms of compensation, including fees, commissions,
payments, rebates, remuneration, services or other benefits (including benefits relating to investment and
business relationships of Goldman Sachs) from Unaffiliated Managers and their affiliates. Therefore,
investments by Advisory Accounts with Unaffiliated Managers (where Goldman Sachs participates in the
fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or profits of Unaffiliated Managers) will
result in additional compensation to Goldman Sachs. Subject to applicable law, (and excluding Retirement
Accounts), the amount of such compensation, including fees, commissions, payments, rebates,
remuneration, services or other benefits to Goldman Sachs, or the value of Goldman Sachs’ interests in
the Unaffiliated Managers or their businesses, varies by Unaffiliated Manager and will generally be greater
if GS&Co. selects or recommends certain Unaffiliated Managers over other Unaffiliated Managers, as
further described below.
In addition, as a major participant in global financial markets providing a wide range of financial services,
Goldman Sachs provides various services or has business dealings, arrangements or agreements with
affiliates and portfolio companies of Unaffiliated Managers. GS&Co. will face potential conflicts in making
determinations as to whether one or more Advisory Accounts should invest or withdraw funds from
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) with which Goldman Sachs has such
relationships. In certain cases, Goldman Sachs or other Accounts have equity, profits or other interests in
Unaffiliated Managers or have entered into arrangements with such Unaffiliated Managers in which such
Unaffiliated Managers would share with Goldman Sachs or other Accounts a material portion of its fees or
allocations. Such revenue sharing arrangements exist in situations that include, without limitation, where
Unaffiliated Managers earn fees as a result of the allocation of Advisory Account assets to such Unaffiliated
Managers or where such Unaffiliated Mangers manage an External Product that invests in Affiliated
Products. Payments to Goldman Sachs (either directly from Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds
they manage or advise) or in the form of fees or allocations payable by client accounts) will generally
increase as the amount of assets that Managers manage increases. Therefore, investment by Advisory
Accounts with such Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) where Goldman
Sachs or other Accounts have a fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or
profits of such Unaffiliated Managers generally results in additional revenues to Goldman Sachs and its
personnel. The relationship that Goldman Sachs and other Accounts have with such Unaffiliated Managers
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(or their portfolio companies or affiliates) generally also results in GS&Co. being incentivized to increase
Advisory Accounts’ investments with such Unaffiliated Managers or to retain their investments with such
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise). Except to the extent required by
applicable law, GS&Co. will not account to a client for or offset any compensation received by Goldman
Sachs against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman Sachs.
Because Goldman Sachs will, on an overall basis, receive higher fees, compensation and other benefits if
client assets are allocated to Affiliated Managers, including Accounts or investment funds managed by
Goldman Sachs, such as GSAM LP and GSAMI, GS&Co. has an incentive to allocate or recommend the
assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Managers. For particular asset classes or investment strategies,
GS&Co.’s advisory program may not have Unaffiliated Managers, or may have fewer Unaffiliated Managers
than Affiliated Managers; accordingly, any allocations to such an asset class or investment strategy will
more likely be made to Affiliated Managers, including GSAM LP or GSAMI.
Clients should expect that Goldman Sachs and its Personnel will have interests in Managers or their
affiliates, or have business relationships or act as counterparties with Unaffiliated Managers of their
affiliates, including, for example, in Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage, trade execution, and investment
banking businesses. GS&Co. will be incentivized to make available, allocate assets to, and refrain from
withdrawing assets from Unaffiliated Managers whose principals or employees are clients of Goldman
Sachs. In addition, Goldman Sachs has investments in selected Managers or their affiliates.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs receives notice of, or offers to participate in, investment opportunities
from Unaffiliated Managers, their affiliates, or other third parties. Such investment opportunities are offered
to Goldman Sachs for various reasons, which include business relationships with Unaffiliated Managers
and their affiliates or other reasons, including that one or more Advisory Accounts have made investments
with such Unaffiliated Managers. Such opportunities will generally not be required to be allocated to such
Advisory Accounts. Investment (or continued investment) by particular Advisory Accounts with such
Unaffiliated Managers may result in additional investment opportunities for Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts.
Certain Advisory Accounts (other than Retirement Plans) that allocate assets to Managers do not pay
compensation to the Managers. Instead the Managers are compensated by GS&Co. out of compensation
GS&Co. receives from the client. In such circumstances, any reduction in the compensation payable to the
Managers will inure to the benefit of GS&Co., and not to the client. This fee structure incentivizes GS&Co.
to recommend or select Managers with lower compensation levels (including Managers that discount their
fees based on aggregate Account size or other relationships) in order to increase the net fee to GS&Co.,
and not recommend or select other Managers that might also be appropriate for the Advisory Accounts.
Except for Retirement Accounts, it should be expected that the amount of the fee retained by Goldman
Sachs will be affected by Goldman Sachs’ business relationships and the size of Accounts other than a
particular Advisory Account, and will directly or indirectly benefit Goldman Sachs and other client accounts.
Clients are not entitled to receive any portion of such benefits received by Goldman Sachs or other client
accounts.
As described above, certain Unaffiliated Managers discount their fees based on aggregate account size,
and permit GS&Co. to aggregate the amount of assets allocated to such Unaffiliated Managers across all
Advisory Accounts within the same strategy in order to receive discounted fees. In general, this results in a
reduction in compensation payable to the Unaffiliated Managers by Advisory Accounts. However, actions
taken by GS&Co. on behalf of one or more of such Advisory Accounts could adversely impact the other
Advisory Accounts that invest with the same Unaffiliated Managers. For example, in the event Goldman
Sachs causes one or more Advisory Accounts to reduce the amount of assets allocated to an Unaffiliated
Manager, the remaining Advisory Accounts may no longer qualify for discounted fees in which case the
compensation payable to such Unaffiliated Manager by such remaining Advisory Accounts would increase.
On the other hand, causing a new Advisory Account to invest with an Unaffiliated Manager could reduce
the fees paid by Advisory Accounts that already have an investment with the Unaffiliated Manager.
GS&Co. addresses these conflicts of interest in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duties.
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Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
GS&Co. has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) under Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act, designed to
provide that Advisory Personnel, and certain additional personnel of Goldman Sachs who support GS&Co.,
comply with applicable federal securities laws and place the interests of clients first in conducting personal
securities transactions. The Code 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,
covered persons buy and sell securities or other investments for their personal Accounts, including
investments in pooled investment vehicles that are sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs,
and also take positions that are the same as, different from, or made at different times than, positions taken
(directly or indirectly) for Advisory Accounts. GS&Co. provides a copy of the Code to clients or prospective
clients upon request.
Additionally, all personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel, are subject to firm-wide
policies and procedures regarding confidential and proprietary information, information barriers, private
investments, outside business activities and personal trading. GS&Co. requires pre-clearance of certain
personal securities transactions, both public and private, by Advisory Personnel and GS&Co. can deny any
such transaction in its discretion. In order to address potential conflicts of interest with the Advisory
Accounts and other legal and regulatory restrictions (such as when GS&Co. has confidential information
about a portfolio company), Goldman Sachs maintains a list of securities in which Advisory Personnel
cannot trade. In addition, GS&Co. prohibits its employees from accepting gifts and entertainment that could
influence, or appear to influence, their business judgment. This generally includes gifts of more than $300
or meals and other business-related entertainment that may be considered lavish or extraordinary and
therefore raise a question or appearance of impropriety.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Goldman Sachs is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and
financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets. As 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, custodian counterparty, agent, principal,
distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated
funds in which certain Advisory Accounts have an interest. 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
accounts 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, Goldman Sachs causes certain Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts in ways that disadvantage Advisory Accounts and/or
benefit Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts). The following are descriptions of
certain conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest that are associated with the financial or other
interests that Goldman Sachs and have in advising or dealing with other clients (including other Advisory
Accounts) or third parties or in acting on its own behalf. The conflicts herein do not purport to be a complete
list or explanation of the conflicts associated with the financial or other interests GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs
may have now or in the future.
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Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities
Goldman Sachs faces conflicts of interest in providing and selecting services for Advisory Accounts
because Goldman Sachs provides many services and has many commercial relationships with companies
and affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their applicable personnel). In this regard, Goldman Sachs could
provide custody, distribution, transfer agency, administrative, lending or other services to Advisory
Accounts, an underlying fund or a company in which an Advisory Account has an interest. In addition, a
company in which an Advisory Account has an interest (or in which an Advisory Account acquires an interest
in the future) may hire Goldman Sachs to provide underwriting, merger advisory, other financial advisory,
placement agency, foreign currency or other hedging, research, asset management services, brokerage
services or other services to the company. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages, advises or
provides services to affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their personnel) in which Advisory Accounts invest
and also provides guarantees with respect to certain fixed income investment products in which certain
Advisory Accounts may invest. In addition, Goldman Sachs may simultaneously provide the same or different
services to a portfolio company and certain personnel thereof. In connection with such commercial
relationships and services, Goldman Sachs receives fees, compensation and remuneration that should be
expected to be substantial, as well as other benefits. For example, providing such services enhances
Goldman Sachs’ relationships with various parties, facilitate additional business development and enable
Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and/or generate additional revenue. Advisory Accounts will
not be entitled to compensation related to any such benefit to businesses of Goldman Sachs, including
PWM. In addition, such relationships may have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts, including, for
example, by restricting potential investment opportunities, as described below, incentivizing Goldman Sachs
to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse
to such business relationships, and/or influencing GS&Co.’s selection or recommendation of certain
investment products and/or strategies over others.
In connection with providing such services, Goldman Sachs takes commercial steps in its own interest, or
advises the parties to which it is providing services, or takes other actions, any of which may have an
adverse effect on an Advisory Account. Such actions may benefit Goldman Sachs. For example, Goldman
Sachs is incentivized to cause Advisory Accounts to invest, directly or indirectly, in securities, bank loans
or other obligations of companies affiliated with Goldman Sachs, advised by Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or in which Goldman Sachs or Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) have an equity, debt or
other interest, or to engage in investment transactions that may result in Goldman Sachs or other Accounts
(including through other Advisory Accounts) being relieved of obligations or otherwise divested of
investments. Similarly, certain Advisory Accounts 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 an Advisory Account may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) with respect to their investment in and activities relating to such
companies. Advisory Accounts will not be entitled to compensation as a result of this enhanced profitability.
Providing such services may also have an adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs makes loans to, and enters into margin, asset-based or other credit facilities or similar transactions
with, clients, companies, individuals, or Managers or their affiliates that are secured by publicly or privately
held securities or other assets, including by a client’s assets or interests in an Advisory Account. Some of
these borrowers are public or private companies, or founders, officers or shareholders in companies in
which Goldman Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, or Advisory Accounts or other Accounts
(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 Goldman
Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, Advisory Accounts or other Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs has in the past extended, and expects to continue to extend, loans to persons who own and/or
control the management companies and/or general partners of underlying funds in which Advisory Accounts
invest (such loans, “Management Loans”). Management Loans in some cases are collateralized by
management company interests, general partner interests, limited partner interests, carried interest
allocations, and/or other securities or contractual rights relating to underlying funds in which Advisory
Accounts invest. In connection with its rights as lender, Goldman Sachs acts to protect its own commercial
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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, or assuming control over the relevant collateral. Goldman Sachs will be under no
obligation to consider the interests of Advisory Accounts (even Advisory Accounts that have direct or
indirect investments in the underlying fund(s) that served as collateral in whole or in part of a particular
Management Loan). Such actions will adversely affect Advisory Accounts (if, for example, a large position
in securities is liquidated, among the other potential adverse consequences, the value of such security
declines rapidly and Advisory Accounts holding (directly or indirectly) such security in turn declines in value
or are unable to liquidate their positions in such security at an advantageous price or at all). With respect
to Management loans, the exercise of Goldman Sachs’ remedies could result in changes to the ownership,
management or control of one or more underlying funds, potentially affecting the performance, strategy, or
operations of Advisory Accounts that invest in such underlying funds. For a discussion of certain additional
conflicts associated with Goldman Sachs or clients, on the one hand, and a particular Advisory Account,
on the other hand, investing in or extending credit to different parts of the capital structure of a single issuer,
see Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or
Interest in Client Accounts—Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital
Structure.
Actions taken or advised to be taken by Goldman Sachs in connection with other types of services and
transactions may also result in adverse consequences for Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman
Sachs advises a company to make changes to its capital structure, the result could be a reduction in the
value or priority of a security held (directly or indirectly) by Advisory Accounts. For more information in this
regard, see Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure, below. In
addition, underwriters, placement agents or managers of initial public offerings (“IPOs”), including GS&Co.,
often require clients who hold privately placed securities of a company to execute a lock-up agreement prior
to such company’s IPO restricting the resale of the securities for a period of time before and following the
IPO. As a result, GS&Co. will be restricted from selling the securities in such clients’ Advisory Accounts at
a more favorable price.
Certain of Goldman Sachs’ activities on behalf of its clients also restrict investment opportunities that are
otherwise available to Advisory Accounts. 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 Advisory Accounts. There are circumstances in which
Advisory Accounts are precluded from participating in such transactions as a result of Goldman Sachs’
engagement by such companies. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act for these companies in such
circumstances, notwithstanding the potential adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. In addition, in
connection with an equity offering of securities of a portfolio company for which Goldman Sachs is acting
as an underwriter, Advisory Accounts will, 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 represents creditor or debtor companies in
proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and equivalent non-U.S. bankruptcy laws).
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) serves on creditor or equity committees. It should
be expected that these actions, for which Goldman Sachs (or GS&Co., as applicable) may be compensated,
will limit or preclude the flexibility that the Advisory Account otherwise has to buy or sell securities issued
by those companies, as well as certain real estate or other assets. Please also refer to Firm Policies,
Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts, below.
In addition, Goldman Sachs is expected to gather information in the course of such other activities and
relationships about companies in which a client holds or may in the future hold an interest. In the event that
Goldman Sachs is consulted in connection with opportunities with respect to these companies, Goldman
Sachs shall have no obligation to disclose such information, any other non-public information which is
otherwise subject to an obligation of confidence to another person, or the fact that Goldman Sachs. is in
possession of such information, to the client or to use such information on the client’s behalf. As a result of
actual or potential conflicts, Goldman Sachs may not be able to provide a client with information or certain
services with respect to a particular opportunity. See also Considerations Relating to Information Held by
Goldman Sachs, below.
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Differing Advice and Competing Interests
It should be expected that advice given to, or investment decisions made or other actions taken for, one or
more Advisory Accounts will compete with, affect, differ from, conflict with, or involve timing different from,
advice given to or investment decisions made for other Accounts, including Advisory Accounts. Goldman
Sachs (including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel have interests in and advise Accounts,
including Advisory Accounts, that have investment objectives or portfolios similar to, related to or opposed
to those of particular Advisory Accounts. In this regard, it should be expected that Goldman Sachs makes
investment decisions for such Accounts that are different from the investment decisions made for Advisory
Accounts, and that adversely impact Advisory Accounts, as described below. In addition, Goldman Sachs
(including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel engage (or consider engaging) in commercial
arrangements or transactions with Accounts, and/or compete for commercial arrangements or transactions
or invest in the same types of companies, assets, securities and other instruments, as particular Advisory
Accounts. Such arrangements, transactions or investments adversely affect such Advisory Accounts by,
for example, limiting clients’ ability to engage in such activity or by effecting the pricing or terms of such
arrangements, transactions or investments. Moreover, a particular Advisory Account on the one hand, and
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including other Advisory Accounts) on the other hand, may vote
differently on, or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to, the same security, that
disadvantages the Advisory Account. Where Goldman Sachs receives greater fees or other compensation
from such Accounts than GS&Co. does from the particular Advisory Accounts, Goldman Sachs, including
through GS&Co., will be incentivized to favor such Accounts.
It should be expected that other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) engage in a strategy while an
Advisory Account is undertaking the same or a differing strategy, any of which could directly or indirectly
disadvantage the Advisory Account (including its ability to engage in a transaction or other activities). For
example, if an Advisory Account buys a security, and Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client
establishes a short position in that same security or in similar securities any such short position may result
in the impairment of the price of the security that the Advisory Account holds or could be designed to profit
from a decline in the price of the security. An Advisory Account could similarly be adversely impacted if it
establishes a short position, following which Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client takes a long
position in the same security or in similar securities. Similarly, where Goldman Sachs is engaged to provide
advice to a client that is considering entering into a transaction with a particular Advisory Account, and
Goldman Sachs advises the client not to pursue the transaction with the particular Advisory Account, or
otherwise in connection with a potential transaction provides advice to the client, it should be expected that
this will be adverse to the particular Advisory Account.
Clients may be offered (or may already have) access to advisory services through several different
Goldman Sachs affiliates (including through GS&Co. and GSAM LP). 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 with respect to an issuer or a security or other
investment. Similarly, Advisory Personnel 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 Advisory Personnel take with respect to an
Advisory Account will be inconsistent with, or adverse to, the interests and activities of Advisory Accounts
advised by other Advisory Personnel. Moreover, research, analyses or viewpoints will be available to clients
or potential clients at different times. Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation to make available to
Advisory Accounts any research or analysis at any particular time or prior to its public dissemination.
The timing of transactions entered into or recommended by Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.), on behalf
of itself or its clients, including Advisory Accounts, may negatively impact Advisory Accounts or benefit
certain other Accounts, including other Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman Sachs implements an
investment decision or strategy for certain Advisory Accounts ahead of, contemporaneously with, or behind
the implementation of similar investment decisions or strategies for other Advisory Accounts, (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 Advisory Accounts 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 sale) of security for one Advisory Account
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such implementation may increase the value of such security already held by another Advisory Account (or
decrease the value of such security that such other Advisory Account intends to purchase), thereby
benefitting such other Advisory Account.
The terms of an investment in an Account formed to facilitate investment by personnel of Goldman Sachs
are typically different from, and more favorable than, those of an investment by a third-party investor in an
Advisory Account. For example, investors in such an Account generally are not subject to management
fees or performance-based compensation, share in the performance-based compensation, will not have
their commitments pledged under a subscription facility, and will receive capital calls, distributions and
information regarding investments at different times than third-party investors, and may receive equity
compensation from underlying portfolio companies. It should be expected that, to the extent permitted by
law, certain investors in such an Account will be provided leverage by Goldman Sachs. In the event of a
substantial decline in the value of such Account’s investments, the leverage, if any, provided to employees
may have the effect of rendering the investments by employees effectively worthless, which could
undermine the potential alignment of interest between employees and third-party investors. In certain
circumstances, subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs will offer to purchase, redeem or liquidate the
interests held by one or more investors in such an Account (potentially on terms advantageous to such
Account’s investors) or to release one or more investors in such an Account from their obligations to fund
capital commitments without offering third-party investors the same or a similar opportunity. Furthermore,
Goldman Sachs personnel may also participate in one or more investments through a co-investment
program or otherwise, which may also affect alignment of interests.
Goldman Sachs, in its discretion, in certain circumstances recommends that certain Accounts 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 Account investor, portfolio company, or service provider. Accounts and/or
their investors generally will 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, Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. may take into account Goldman Sachs’ interests in maintaining
its relationships and business dealings with such persons. As a result, GS&Co. 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 Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse to
Goldman Sachs’ relationships or other business dealings with such parties. Additionally, certain Portfolio
Management Team members have family members or relatives that are actively involved in industries,
sectors and companies in which Advisory Accounts invest, which gives rise to potential or actual conflicts
of interest in connection with decisions by Portfolio Management Team members to take or refrain from
taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts.
Certain Private Wealth Advisors have accounts managed by Advisory Personnel and/or invest in the same
securities that are recommended to clients or held in client accounts. Such Private Wealth Advisors may
also hold securities and are able to trade for their own accounts contrary to financial guidance provided to
clients. If Private Wealth Advisors have hired the Advisory Personnel to manage their accounts on a
discretionary basis, those accounts are traded along with other client accounts and are not given any
different or special treatment.
Principal Trading and Cross/Agency Cross Transactions with Advisory Accounts
When permitted by applicable law and GS&Co. policy, GS&Co., acting on behalf of its Advisory Accounts
(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 Affiliated Products, and cause Advisory
Accounts to engage in principal transactions, cross transactions and agency cross transactions. A
principal transaction occurs when GS&Co., on behalf of an Advisory Account, engages in a transaction in
25
securities or other instruments with Goldman Sachs or in Affiliated Products acting as principal. In certain
cases, Goldman Sachs earns compensation (such as a spread or mark-up) in connection with these
transactions. Cross transactions occur if GS&Co. causes an Advisory Account to buy securities or other
instruments from, or sell securities or other instruments to, another Advisory Account or an advisory client
Account of a Goldman Sachs affiliate. An agency cross transaction occurs when Goldman Sachs acts as
broker for an Advisory Account on one side of the transaction and a brokerage account or another Advisory
Account on the other side of the transaction in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by the
Advisory Account. Goldman Sachs receives a commission from such agency cross transactions.
There are potential conflicts of interest, regulatory considerations or restrictions identified in GS&Co.’s
internal polices relating to these transactions which could limit GS&Co.’s determination and/or ability to
engage in these transactions for Advisory Accounts. 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 Advisory
Accounts or impact the price or terms on which transactions relating to such investment opportunities may
be effected.
In certain circumstances, Goldman Sachs will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase or sell
securities on behalf of an Advisory Account as a “riskless principal”. For instance, Goldman Sachs may
purchase securities from a third party with the knowledge that an Advisory Account is interested in
purchasing those securities and immediately sell the purchased securities to such Advisory Account. In
addition, in certain instances, an Advisory Account may request Goldman Sachs to purchase a security
as a principal and issue a participation or similar interest to the Advisory Account in order to comply with
applicable local regulatory requirements. Goldman Sachs also serves as clearing agent for other Goldman
Sachs clients that act as counterparty to trades for Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will earn a fee
for these clearing services. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Goldman Sachs will have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in
such transactions, including with respect to a decision to enter into such transactions as well as with respect
to valuation, pricing and other terms. GS&Co. has adopted policies and procedures in relation to such
transactions and conflicts. However, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be effected or
that such transactions will be effected in the manner that is most favorable to an Advisory Account that is a
party to any such transactions. Cross transactions may disproportionately benefit some Advisory Accounts
relative to other Advisory Accounts due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the Advisory
Accounts, and cross transactions may be effected at different prices for different Advisory Accounts due to
differing legal and/or regulatory requirements applicable to such Advisory Accounts. Principal, cross or
agency cross transactions are effected in accordance with fiduciary requirements and applicable law (which
include providing disclosure and obtaining client consent, where required). Performance may differ for
clients who do not consent to principal trades. Clients may revoke consent to agency cross transactions at
any time by written notice to GS&Co., and any such revocation will be effective once GS&Co. has received
and has had a reasonable time to act on it.
Affiliated Products / External Products
GS&Co. makes available a range of investment products, including both Affiliated Products and External
Products. There may be, however, certain asset classes for which no External Products are made
available. The decision to offer Affiliated Products or External Products is affected by a variety of factors,
including but not limited to the availability of managers or number of managers GS&Co. considers that
offer particular strategies, products’ investment objectives and performance track records, products’
capacity to accept new clients, investor concentration, product terms (including investment minimums,
management fees, and expenses), access to portfolio managers as well as advisory personnel for
discussion with clients, and the specialized nature of the products or strategies.
The universe of products that are made available to Advisory Accounts (including those Advisory Accounts
that invest in Multi-Asset Class or Customized Multi-Asset Class Portfolios) could be limited, including, for
example, (i) because one or more External Products have not been reviewed or approved for investment;
26
(ii) as a result of internal informational barriers that restrict access to certain information regarding Affiliated
Products, as described below; or (iii) for administrative, practical or other considerations. As a result, there
likely will be one or more products that could have otherwise been selected or recommended for an
Advisory Account but for such limitations, and such other products may be more appropriate or have
superior historical returns than the investment product selected or recommended for the Advisory Account.
In determining which External Products to review for inclusion on the Goldman Sachs platform, Goldman
Sachs sources managers and/or investment opportunities in a variety of ways, including, for example, by
reviewing databases and inbound inquiries from managers, and/or by leveraging relationships that such
managers or other clients already have with other parts of Goldman Sachs’ businesses. Such relationships
give rise to a conflict of interest, as Goldman Sachs is incentivized to select managers from whom
Goldman Sachs receives fees or other benefits, including the opportunity for business development and
the additional revenue that results therefrom. In addition, where Goldman Sachs is compensated more by
one manager over another, it is incentivized to choose the higher paying manager. Different parts of
Goldman Sachs source managers and investment opportunities in different ways and based on different
considerations. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Before making Affiliated Products or External Products available on the Goldman Sachs platform, various
teams within Goldman Sachs review such products and, in doing so, consider certain factors, including
the operational and reputational risks relating to such products. The focus of certain reviews and the teams
conducting such reviews, however, differ depending on whether the product is an Affiliated Product or an
External Product. In addition, different teams review or screen such products in different ways. With
respect to External Products, certain External Products are reviewed by XIG, while other External Products
are reviewed by other teams within Goldman Sachs. In this regard, XIG reviews External Products that it
sources or that are sourced elsewhere in Goldman Sachs but intended to be offered to or placed with
GS&Co. clients. External Products that are sourced by other groups within Goldman Sachs and that are
intended to be placed with GS&Co.’s Investment Banking clients or FICC and Equities clients would be
reviewed by such other sourcing group(s) within Goldman Sachs, but generally not by XIG.
With respect to External Products reviewed by XIG, such products undergo a due diligence review
designed to assess the investment merits of each product, which includes a review of the quality of the
managers and the likelihood of producing appropriate investment results over the long term. Applicable
investment and operational due diligence committees determine which External Products are available for
investment. Although XIG reviews the performance history of External Products, none of GS&Co., XIG, or
any third-party calculates or audits the information for accuracy, verifies the appropriateness of the
methodology on which the performance is calculated or verifies whether the performance complies with
Global Investment Performance Standards or any other standard for performance calculation. The
methods for calculating performance and forming composites can differ among External Products and
performance information generally is not calculated on a uniform and consistent basis. Past performance
is not indicative of future results and, as such, prospective clients should not rely solely on External
Product performance information when making an investment decision. XIG periodically reviews the
External Products through interactions with Unaffiliated Managers designed to help understand the
evolution of their views. XIG uses a different process to evaluate ETFs and certain third-party mutual
funds, applying quantitative screens that assess specific factors, including tracking error, total assets,
expense ratio, length of track record and other factors (which may be adjusted periodically). XIG will not
review the entire universe of External Products that may be otherwise appropriate for Goldman Sachs’
platform. In addition, XIG might not consider any External Product for certain asset classes if an Affiliated
Product is available; as a result, there might be no External Products available for certain asset classes
on the Goldman Sachs platform. External Products that were not reviewed or approved by XIG could have
been more appropriate for a particular Advisory Account or may have had superior historical returns than
the products otherwise made available.
Advisory Personnel utilize different processes for the selection of Affiliated and External Products for
inclusion on an investment platform. The selection process for Affiliated Products is implemented primarily
through a product development process by teams within Goldman Sachs other than XIG. Because such
teams are familiar with and subject to the framework of Goldman Sachs’ operational infrastructure and
27
internal controls, they are likely, depending on the investment product, to generally focus more on the
specifics of the investment product in developing such product. As further described below, in determining
potential investment products for a particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel select or recommend
an Affiliated Product that they may not have otherwise selected or recommended had the same review
process applicable to External Products been utilized for the Affiliated Product.
After investment products have been approved for offering by GS&Co., Advisory Personnel determine
which products to select or recommend to clients. When considering potential investment products for a
particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel give different weights to different factors depending on the
nature of the client and on whether their review is for an Affiliated Product or for an External Product. Such
factors include quantitative considerations (such as the investment product’s returns and performance
consistency over specified time periods) and qualitative considerations (such as the investment product’s
investment objective and process), which are inherently subjective and include a wide variety of factors.
Advisory Personnel generally consider, for example, without limitation: (i) product-related factors, such as
track record, index comparisons, risk and return assumptions; (ii) the Advisory Personnel’s experience and
familiarity with particular potential investment products, and, if applicable, the investment management
teams managing such investment products or their organizations; (iii) client-driven factors, such as the
client’s investment objective, the effect on the client’s portfolio diversification objectives, consistency with
the client’s asset allocation mode and investment program, and the projected timing of implementation; and
(iv) other factors, such as capacity constraints and minimum investment requirements. It should be
expected that consideration of such factors will not be applied consistently over time or by particular
Advisory Personnel across all Accounts or across different products and may play a greater role in the
review of certain strategies or products while others play no role at all, and the factors are subject to change
from time to time. See also Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above.
Advisory Personnel may consider qualitative and subjective factors to a greater extent than quantitative
factors when they review an Affiliated Product as compared to an External Product. In such instances,
Affiliated Products and External Products, will not be subject to the same review of quantitative and
qualitative characteristics. Accordingly, such Advisory Personnel may recommend or select an Affiliated
Product over an External Product and, in some cases the Affiliated Product that was recommended or
selected will not perform as well as the External Product that would have been recommended or selected
had the more quantitative review been applied to both Affiliated Products and External Products.
Other factors affect the review of potential investment products by Advisory Personnel. For example, when
Advisory Personnel review Affiliated Products, they may be restricted from obtaining information they might
otherwise request with respect to such Affiliated Products and their sponsors, managers, or advisers as a
result of internal informational barriers. When Advisory Personnel do not have access to certain information
with respect to an investment product, they may determine not to consider such investment product for an
Advisory Account, or, conversely, Advisory Personnel may select an investment product for the Advisory
Account notwithstanding that certain material information is unavailable to the Advisory Personnel, each of
which could adversely affect the Advisory Account (e.g., such Affiliated Product could significantly decline
in value, resulting in substantial losses to the Advisory Account). For more information, see Considerations
Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs, below.
It should be expected that Advisory Personnel will not review the entire universe of External Products that
are appropriate for an Advisory Account. As a result, there could be one or more External Products that
would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory Account than the investment product selected by
Advisory Personnel. Such External Products may outperform the Affiliated Product selected for the
Advisory Account.
The availability of Affiliated Products versus External Products gives rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Generally, Goldman Sachs receives higher fees, compensation and other benefits, and Advisory
Personnel receive higher compensation, when assets of Advisory Accounts are allocated to Affiliated
Products rather than External Products. GS&Co., therefore, is incentivized to allocate Advisory Account
assets to Affiliated Products, rather than to External Products. Similarly, GS&Co. is disincentivized to
consider or recommend the removal of an Advisory Account’s assets from, or the modification of an
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Advisory Account’s allocations to, an Affiliated Product at a time that it otherwise would have where doing
so would decrease the fees, compensation and other benefits to Goldman Sachs, including where disposal
of such Affiliated Product by the Advisory Account would likely adversely affect the Affiliated Product with
respect to its liquidity position or otherwise. Moreover, GS&Co. has an interest in allocating or
recommending the assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Products that impose higher fees than those
imposed by other Affiliated Products or that provide other benefits to Goldman Sachs. Any differential in
compensation paid to Personnel in connection with certain Affiliated Products rather than other Affiliated
Products creates a financial incentive on the part of GS&Co. to select or recommend certain Affiliated
Products over other Affiliated Products. For information regarding fees and compensation, see Item 4,
Services, Fees and Compensation.
From time to time, the activities of Affiliated Products may be restricted because of regulatory or other
requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the
applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. External Products may or may not subject to the
same or similar restrictions or requirements, and as a result may outperform Affiliated Products.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) provides opportunities to Advisory Accounts to
make investments in Affiliated Products in which certain Advisory 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 Advisory Accounts. Follow-on investment
opportunities may be available to clients with no existing investment in the Affiliated Product, resulting in
the assets of an Advisory Account potentially providing value to, or otherwise supporting the investments
of, other Advisory Accounts. Advisory Accounts may also participate in re-leveraging, recapitalization and
similar transactions involving Affiliated Products in which other Advisory Accounts have invested or will
invest. Conflicts of interest in these and other transactions arise between Advisory Accounts with existing
investments in an Affiliated Product or Advisory Accounts liquidating their investment in the Affiliated
Product, on the one hand, and Advisory Accounts making subsequent investments in the Affiliated Product,
on the other hand, which have opposing interests regarding pricing and other terms. In addition, the
subsequent investments may dilute or otherwise adversely affect the interests of the previously invested
Advisory Accounts. The conflicts described in this paragraph apply equally to investments in External
Products. See Differing Advice and Competing Interests above.
Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) creates, writes, sells, issues, invests in or acts as placement agent or
distributor of derivative instruments related to Affiliated Products such as pooled investment vehicles, or
with respect to underlying securities or assets of Affiliated Products, or which are otherwise based on, or
seek to replicate or hedge, the performance of Affiliated Products. Such derivative transactions, and any
associated hedging activity, may differ from and be adverse to the interests of Advisory Accounts. For
example, derivative transactions could represent leveraged investments in an investment fund in which
Advisory Accounts have an interest, and the leveraged characteristics of such investments could make it
more likely, due to events of default or otherwise, that there would be significant redemptions of interests
from such underlying fund more quickly than might otherwise be the case. Goldman Sachs, acting in
commercial capacities in connection with such derivative transactions, may in fact cause such a
redemption. Activities in respect of derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may occur
as a result of Goldman Sachs’ adjustment in assessment of an investment or an Affiliated Manager or
Unaffiliated Manager based on various considerations, and Goldman Sachs will not be under any obligation
or other duty to provide notice to Advisory Accounts in respect of any such adjustment in assessment. See
Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above.
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or its clients (including Advisory Accounts
and Accounts formed to facilitate investment by Personnel) may invest in or alongside particular Advisory
Accounts that are invested in Affiliated Products. These investments generally will be on terms more
favorable than those of an investment by Advisory Accounts in such Affiliated Products and may constitute
a substantial percentage of the assets of such Affiliated Products, resulting in particular Advisory Accounts
being allocated a smaller share of the investment than would be the case absent the side-by-side
investment. Unless provided otherwise by agreement to the contrary, Goldman Sachs, its Personnel and
its clients may redeem or withdraw interests in these Affiliated Products at any time without notice or regard
29
to the effect on the portfolios of Advisory Accounts invested in the Affiliated Product and adversely affect
such Advisory Accounts. Substantial requests for redemption or withdrawal by Goldman Sachs in a
concentrated period of time could require an Affiliated Product to liquidate certain of its investments more
rapidly than otherwise desirable in order to raise cash to fund the redemptions or withdrawals, adversely
affecting the Affiliated Product and its investors, including Advisory Accounts. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above, and Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting
Advisory Accounts, below.
It should be expected that the various types of investors in and beneficiaries of Affiliated Products, including
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, will have conflicting investment, tax and other interests with respect to
their interest in the Affiliated Products. When considering a potential investment for an Affiliated Product,
Goldman Sachs will generally consider the investment objectives of the Affiliated Product, not the
investment objectives of any particular investor or beneficiary. Goldman Sachs 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 GS&Co. and its affiliates than to investors or beneficiaries unaffiliated with GS&Co. In
addition, Goldman Sachs faces certain tax risks based on positions taken by an Affiliated Product, including
as a withholding agent. Goldman Sachs reserves the right on behalf of itself and its affiliates to take actions
adverse to the Affiliated Product or other Accounts in these circumstances, including withholding amounts
to cover actual or potential tax liabilities. Failure to provide the necessary tax forms could result in over-
withholding, requiring Advisory Account clients to reclaim excess amounts withheld. See Differing Advice
and Competing Interests, above.
Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure
In some cases, Goldman Sachs or its clients (including Advisory Accounts), on the one hand, and a
particular Advisory Account, on the other hand, invest in or extend credit to the same issuer, but in different
parts of the capital structure. As a result, Goldman Sachs or its clients may take actions that adversely
affect the particular Advisory Account. In addition, in some cases, Goldman Sachs (including PWM) advises
clients with respect to part of the capital structure of an issuer where a particular Advisory Account has an
investment in different classes of securities of such issuer that are subordinate or senior to the securities
with respect to which Goldman Sachs is providing advice. Goldman Sachs 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 its clients with respect to an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account
has invested, and such actions (or inaction) may have an adverse effect on such Advisory Account. See
Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
For example, in the event that Goldman Sachs or an Account holds loans, securities or other positions in
the capital structure of an issuer that rank senior in preference to the holdings of a particular Advisory
Account in the same issuer, and the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, Goldman Sachs
(acting on behalf of itself or the Account) may seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring of the
issuer, or terms in connection with the foregoing, that could have an adverse effect or otherwise conflict
with the interests of the particular Advisory Account’s holdings in the issuer. In determining its course of
action, Goldman Sachs will not consider the interests of the particular Advisory Account. Goldman Sachs
may determine to seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring that causes a particular Advisory
Account’s holdings in the issuer to be extinguished or substantially diluted, while Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or an Account may receive a recovery of some or all of the amounts due to them. In addition, in
connection with any lending arrangements involving the issuer in which Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.)
or an Account participates, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or the Account may seek to exercise its
rights under the applicable loan agreement or other document, in a manner detrimental to the particular
Advisory Account. Alternatively, in situations in which an Advisory Account holds a more senior position in
the capital structure of an issuer experiencing financial or other challenges as compared to positions held
by other Accounts (including those of Goldman Sachs), Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may determine
not to pursue actions and remedies available to the Advisory Account or not to enforce particular terms that
might be unfavorable to the Accounts holding the less senior position. In addition, in the event that Goldman
Sachs or the Accounts hold voting securities of an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account holds loans,
bonds or other credit-related assets or securities, Goldman Sachs or the Accounts may vote on certain
30
matters in a manner that has an adverse effect on the positions held by the Advisory Account. Conversely,
Advisory Accounts may hold voting securities or credit-related assets of an issuer in which Goldman Sachs
or Accounts hold credit-related assets or securities, and Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may
determine on behalf of the Advisory Accounts not to vote in a manner adverse to Goldman Sachs or the
Accounts (including by abstaining from the relevant vote or voting in line with other similarly situated
investors). Finally, Goldman Sachs has certain relationships and other business dealings with issuers, other
holders of credit-related assets or securities of such issuers, or other transaction participants that cause
Goldman Sachs to pursue an action or engage in a transaction that has an adverse effect on the positions
held by the Advisory Account.
These potential issues are examples of conflicts that Goldman Sachs will face in situations in which
Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs or other Accounts, invest in or extend credit to different parts of
the capital structure of a single issuer or related issuers. Similar conflicts can arise among Accounts (which
includes proprietary accounts of Goldman Sachs and Advisory Accounts) in other contexts. For example,
one Account could own equity in a portfolio company and another Account could hold debt obligations
issued by the portfolio company. Alternatively, a capital structure could involve multiple entities with
Accounts holding interests in different entities and with different seniority. By way of example, one Account
could hold debt issued by a parent entity and another Account could hold debt issued by a subsidiary entity.
An Account that holds debt issued by the parent entity is structurally subordinated to the debt issued by the
subsidiary entity with respect to the assets of the subsidiary entity. Related conflicts also occur where there
is debt issued to an Account by a part owner of an entity and equity in that entity is owned by a different
Account. When Accounts hold interests of differing seniority levels within a capital structure, their interests
will diverge in certain situations, particularly in the event of financial distress for the company.
Goldman Sachs has adopted procedures to address such conflicts, and addresses these issues based on
the circumstances of particular situations. For example, Goldman Sachs relies on information barriers
between different Goldman Sachs business units or portfolio management teams. In addition, Goldman
Sachs 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 Advisory Account.
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 particular Advisory Accounts, Advisory Accounts could
sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts)
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 Advisory Accounts using, small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid
strategies.
Valuation
GS&Co. performs certain valuation services related to securities and assets in Advisory Accounts according
to its valuation policies and may value an identical asset differently than another entity, segment or unit
within Goldman Sachs, or differently than another Account or Advisory Account, values the asset, including
because such other entity, segment or unit has information or uses valuation techniques and models that
it does not share with, or that are different than those of GS&Co. This is particularly the case in respect of
difficult-to-value assets, including but not limited to alternative investments. GS&Co. may also value an
identical asset differently in different Advisory Accounts, including because different Advisory Accounts are
subject to different valuation guidelines pursuant to their respective governing agreements. In addition,
there may be significant differences in the treatment of the same asset by GS&Co., on the one hand, other
entities, segments or units of Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, and/or among Advisory 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 also be expected where
different third-party vendors are hired to perform valuation functions for the Advisory Accounts, or the
Advisory Accounts are managed or advised by different portfolio management teams within Goldman Sachs
that employ different valuation policies or procedures or otherwise.
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This is particularly the case with difficult-to-value assets. PWM faces a conflict with respect to valuations
generally because of their effect on GS&Co.’s fees and other compensation. In addition, to the extent PWM
utilizes third-party vendors to perform certain valuation functions, these vendors have interests and
incentives that differ from those of the Advisory Accounts.
Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including GS&Co., may from time to time and without notice to
clients, including Advisory Accounts, in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection
with a variety of services that it provides to a client or an Advisory Account in its administrative or other
capacities. Depending upon the nature of the services and subject to the governing documents of the client
relationship or Advisory Account, fees associated with in-sourced or outsourced services will be borne by
the client, an Advisory Account, or by GS&Co. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional
conflicts of interest. For example, GS&Co. will have an incentive to outsource services for which costs are
borne by Advisory Accounts because such outsourcing would reduce GS&Co.’s internal overhead and
compensation costs for employees who would otherwise perform such services in-house.
Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts
Goldman Sachs restricts its investment decisions and activities on behalf of an Advisory Account in various
circumstances, including as a result of applicable regulatory requirements, information held by Goldman
Sachs, as more fully described below, 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 Advisory Accounts). In certain
cases, GS&Co. will not engage in transactions or other activities for, enforce certain rights in favor of, or
recommend transactions or activities to, an Advisory Account, or can reduce an Advisory Account’s position
in an investment with limited availability to create availability for another Advisory Account managed in the
same strategy, in consideration of Goldman Sachs’ activities outside the Advisory Account and regulatory
requirements, policies and reputational risk assessments. For example, such limitations may exist if a
position or transaction could require a filing or a 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 GS&Co.) or on other Advisory 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 Accounts 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
(including ERISA), certain Advisory Accounts are prohibited from trading with or through Goldman Sachs,
from engaging Goldman Sachs as a service provider or from purchasing investments issued or managed
by Goldman Sachs.
When faced with the foregoing limitations, Goldman Sachs will generally avoid exceeding the threshold
because doing so could have an adverse impact on the ability of Goldman Sachs to conduct business
activities. Goldman Sachs may also reduce a particular Advisory Account’s interest in, or restrict certain
Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts that pursue similar investment strategies are able to
acquire an interest in the investment opportunity. In some cases, Goldman Sachs determines not to engage
in certain transactions or activities beneficial to Advisory Accounts because of reputational considerations
or because engaging in such transactions or activities in compliance with applicable law would result in
32
significant cost to, or administrative burden on, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or create the potential
risk of trade or other errors.
Goldman Sachs generally is not permitted to use material non-public information in effecting purchases and
sales in transactions for Advisory Accounts that involve public securities. GS&Co. may limit an activity or
transaction (such as a purchase or sale transaction or a subscription to or redemption from an underlying
fund) which might otherwise be engaged in on behalf of a particular Advisory Account, including as a result
of information held by Goldman Sachs (including other GS&Co. or GS&Co. 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
Advisory Accounts. 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,
Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co. and GSAM LP or certain of their 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 to the portfolio company in which Goldman Sachs invests on behalf of Advisory Accounts
in his or her capacity as a director that conflict with Goldman Sachs’s duties to Advisory Accounts, and may
act in a manner that disadvantages or otherwise harms Advisory Accounts and/or benefits the portfolio
company and/or Goldman Sachs.
In addition, GS&Co. 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 GS&Co., might cause GS&Co.
to not make such investment, to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in such investments, or take
other actions. Any decision by GS&Co. to limit access to such information may be disadvantageous to an
Advisory Account.
Different areas of Goldman Sachs come into possession of material non-public information regarding an
issuer of securities held by an Advisory Account or an investment fund in which such Advisory Account
invests. In the absence of information barriers between such different areas of Goldman Sachs or under
certain other circumstances, an Advisory Account will be prohibited, including by internal policies, from
redeeming from or otherwise disposing of such security or such investment fund interest 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 Advisory Account would not be permitted to redeem from an investment fund
in whole or in part during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely
affect the Advisory Account. Other investors in the investment fund that are not subject to such restrictions
may be able to redeem from the investment fund during such periods.
In addition, PWM clients may partially or fully fund a new Advisory Account with in-kind securities in which
PWM is restricted. The list of restricted in-kind securities is subject to change over time and without notice.
In such circumstances, PWM 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 Advisory Accounts to dispose of investments at an earlier date and/or at a
less favorable price than would otherwise have been the case had PWM not been so restricted. Advisory
Accounts will be responsible for all tax liabilities that result from any such sale transactions.
Goldman Sachs 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 an Advisory Account is subject). Such economic and trade
sanctions 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 Goldman Sachs of its compliance program in
respect thereof, will restrict or limit an Advisory Account’s investment activities potentially requiring GS&Co.
to cause an Advisory Account to sell its position in a particular investment at an inopportune time and/or
when GS&Co. would otherwise not have done so, or to hold its position in a particular investment even
though doing so could have an adverse effect on the Advisory Account.
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In order to engage in certain transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. will be subject to (or
cause Advisory Accounts 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 GS&Co.
and/or the Advisory Accounts are required to comply with the rules of certain exchanges, execution
platforms, trading facilities, clearinghouses 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 GS&Co. and/or
the Advisory Accounts 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, an Advisory Account, GS&Co. or its affiliates and/or their service providers or agents
are required, or determine that it is advisable, to disclose certain information about an Advisory Account,
including, but not limited to, investments held by the Advisory Account, and the names and percentage
interest of beneficial owners thereof, to third parties, including advisers, local governmental authorities,
regulatory organizations, taxing authorities, markets, exchanges, clearing facilities, custodians, brokers and
trading counterparties of, or service providers to, GS&Co., advisers or underlying funds or the Advisory
Account. GS&Co. will comply with requests to disclose such information as it so determines, including
through electronic delivery platforms. In some instances, GS&Co. will cause the sale of certain assets for
the Advisory Account at a time that is inopportune from a pricing or other standpoint. In addition, Goldman
Sachs may provide third parties with aggregated data regarding the activities of, or certain performance or
other metrics associated with, the Advisory Accounts it manages, and Goldman Sachs will generally receive
compensation from such third parties for providing them such information.
GS&Co. can determine to limit or not engage at all in transactions and activities on behalf of Advisory
Accounts for reputational, legal or other reasons. Examples of when such determinations may be made
include, but are not limited to, (i) where Goldman Sachs is providing (or may provide) advice or services to
an entity involved in such activity or transaction, (ii) 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 Advisory
Account, (iii) where Goldman Sachs or another Account has an interest in an entity involved in such activity
or transaction, (iv) where there are political, public relations, or other reputational considerations relating to
counterparties or other participants in such activity or transaction or (v) where such activity or transaction
on behalf of or with respect to the Advisory Account could affect in tangible or intangible ways Goldman
Sachs, an Account or their activities. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
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 and within GS&Co. As a result
of information barriers, PWM generally does not have access, or has 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 Advisory Accounts with the benefit of information held by these
other areas. Conversely, these other areas of Goldman Sachs generally do not have access, or have limited
access, to certain information and Personnel, including senior personnel, in PWM, and generally will not
manage their client accounts with the benefit of information held by PWM. 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 Advisory Accounts in a manner
that is adverse to Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation or other duty to share
information with PWM.
In limited circumstances, 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.” PWM faces conflicts of
interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. In addition, Goldman Sachs or PWM may
34
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 are moved will no longer have access to the Personnel, businesses and business
units on the side of the information barrier from which they are moved.
Information obtained in connection with wall crossings and changes to information barriers may limit or
restrict the ability of PWM to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts
(including purchasing or selling securities that PWM may otherwise have purchased or sold for an Advisory
Account). There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by certain portfolio
management teams in PWM, PWM limits an activity or transaction for Advisory Accounts, including
Advisory Accounts managed by portfolio management teams other than the team holding such information.
See Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or
Interest in Client Accounts—Differing Advice and Competing Interests and Code of Ethics, Participation or
Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or Interest in Client Accounts—Firm
Policies, Regulatory Restrictions, and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts.
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 advisory clients or Advisory Accounts any information
regarding its trading activities, strategies or views, or the activities, strategies or views used for other
Accounts. From time to time different areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs will take views, and make
decisions or recommendations, that are different than other areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs.
Furthermore, to the extent that Advisory Personnel have access to fundamental analysis and proprietary
technical models or other information developed by Goldman Sachs and its Personnel, Advisory Personnel
will not be under any obligation or other duty to effect transactions on behalf of the Advisory Accounts in
accordance with such analysis. In the event Goldman Sachs elects not to share certain information with
Advisory Accounts, such Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Personnel within PWM may make decisions based on information or take (or
refrain from taking) actions with respect to Advisory Accounts they advise in a manner different than or
adverse to other Advisory Accounts. Such teams do not share information with other portfolio management
teams within PWM (or other areas of Goldman Sachs), including as a result of certain information barriers
and other policies, and will not have any obligation or other duty to do so. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above.
Goldman Sachs operates a business known as Prime Services (“Prime Services”), which provides prime
brokerage, administrative and other services to clients that from time to time involve investment funds in
which Advisory Accounts have an interest or markets and securities in which Advisory 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 PWM. In addition, Goldman Sachs from time to time acts as a prime broker to one or more
investment funds in which Advisory Accounts have an interest, in which case Goldman Sachs will have
information concerning the investments and transactions of such investment fund that is not available to
PWM. As a result of these and other activities, parts of Goldman Sachs will possess information regarding
markets, investments, Affiliated Managers, Unaffiliated Managers, and investment funds, which, if known
to PWM, might cause PWM to seek to: dispose of, retain, or increase interests in investments held by
Advisory Accounts; acquire certain positions on behalf of Advisory Accounts; or take other actions.
Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation or other duty to make any such information available to PWM
or personnel involved in decision-making for Advisory Accounts.
The conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Goldman
Sachs and PWM also apply to Asset & Wealth Management, as well as to the businesses within Asset &
Wealth Management, including PWM.
35
Review of Accounts
Review of Accounts
GS&Co. is not obligated to monitor transactions directed by each Manager for conformity with each
client’s stated investment objectives, risk tolerance, financial circumstances or investment restrictions, if
any. In addition, GS&Co. will not evaluate each transaction executed by a Manager for compliance with
the Manager’s disclosed policies or style.
Region Heads, or their delegates, in consultation with the responsible Private Wealth Advisors, conduct
periodic reviews of Program Accounts to monitor for various factors that may affect the management of
the Program Account, including changes to the client’s investment objectives, financial circumstances,
portfolio performance, investment guidelines and investment concentrations. Additionally, GS&Co.
periodically communicates with clients to ascertain whether there have been any changes in the client’s
financial circumstances or objectives that warrant a change in the management of the client’s assets.
In addition to periodic reviews, Private Wealth Advisors perform reviews of Advisory Accounts as they
deem appropriate or otherwise required. Additional reviews may be undertaken for reasons including
changes in market conditions, changes in security positions, changes in a client’s financial
circumstances, or investment objectives and policies, or in response to a request by a client.
Client Reports
GS&Co. provides clients with written reports regarding their Program Accounts on a periodic (generally,
monthly) basis. These reports generally include a summary of all activity in the Program Accounts, including
all purchases and sales of securities and any debits and credits to the Program Account, a summary of
holdings including a portfolio valuation, and the change in value of the Program Account from the end of
the prior month.
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
From time to time, GS&Co. makes cash or non-cash payments for testimonials, endorsements, or client
referrals to affiliated and unaffiliated persons or entities in accordance with applicable laws. In the case of
client referrals, the compensation arrangements generally are either a flat fee calculated and paid on a
periodic basis or a fee based on a percentage of the advisory fees paid to GS&Co. by the referred clients
and are disclosed to clients. In addition, from time to time, GS&Co. compensates employees of GS&Co.
and its affiliates for client referrals consistent with applicable laws.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, also make referrals of clients to each
other for whom such entity’s services seem to be appropriate and will generally receive or pay, as the case
may be, a percentage of fee revenue as compensation.
Referrals by Affiliates
In certain circumstances, and in accordance with applicable laws, an affiliate of GS&Co. will refer clients to
GS&Co. Payment for any such referrals may take the form of cash or non-cash compensation (including a
reduction of management fees or performance-based compensation).
Financial Information
Not applicable.
36
GLOSSARY
As used in this Brochure, these terms have the following meanings.
“Accounts” means Goldman Sachs’ own accounts, accounts in which Personnel have an interest, accounts
of Goldman Sachs’ clients, and Affiliated Products Goldman Sachs that sponsors, manages or advises. For
the avoidance of doubt, the term “Accounts” includes Advisory Accounts.
“Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
“Advisory Accounts” means accounts, including Program Accounts, for which PWM has expressly agreed
to serve as investment adviser.
“Advisory Personnel” means collectively Private Wealth Advisors and Portfolio Management Teams.
“Affiliated Managers” means managers that are affiliated with Goldman Sachs.
“Affiliated Manager Option” means the option for Retirement Plan Accounts to choose participating
Managers comprised exclusively of Affiliated Managers.
“Affiliated Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and pooled
vehicles, managed, sponsored or advised by GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs.
“ARS” means auction rate securities.
“Asset & Wealth Management” means the Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management business.
“Bank Deposit Cash Sweep” means the cash sweep option available through a client’s Account to
designate free credit balances to be swept to a bank deposit account at GS Bank.
“BHCA” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
“Brochure” means Appendix 1 to GS&Co.’s Form ADV Part 2A – Private Wealth Management.
“CFTC” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“Client-Directed Investments” means investments that clients have made on their own behalf without
GS&Co.’s advice or recommendation.
“Code” means GS&Co.’s Code of Ethics.
“Commissions” means the amount charged by a broker for purchasing or selling securities or other
investments as an agent for the client, as disclosed on the client’s trade confirmations.
“Commission Equivalents” means the amount charged by a dealer for purchasing or selling securities or
other investments in certain riskless principal transactions.
“CPO” means commodity pool operator.
“CTA” means commodity trading advisor.
“Discretionary Manager Selection” means with client authorization, Private Wealth Advisors allocate,
rebalance and reallocate client assets among Advisory Accounts across agreed-upon equity and fixed
income sub-asset classes (each of which involves a separate agreed-upon fee), including to Accounts
participating in Managed Account Strategies.
37
“Dodd-Frank Act” means the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010,
as amended.
“ECN/Trading Venues” means exchanges and trading platforms, electronic communication networks,
alternative trading systems, and other similar execution or trading systems or venues.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ETFs” means exchange traded funds.
“Execution Charges” means charges for executing transactions, including but not limited to commissions,
commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-downs or spreads.
“External Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and mutual
funds managed, sponsored or advised by Unaffiliated Advisers.
“FCM” means futures commission merchant.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
“Financial Square Funds” means the money market funds advised by Goldman Sachs in which free credit
balances for Retirement Plan Accounts may be invested.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Financial Planning” means the financial planning services provided by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
“Funds” means an investment company or pooled vehicle, including ETFs.
“Goldman Sachs” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., GS&Co. and their respective affiliates,
directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees.
“Goldman Sachs Wealth Services” means Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, L.P..
“GSAM LP” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., an investment adviser registered with the
SEC and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAMI” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, a registered investment adviser with
the SEC and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAMLP ETFs” means the exchange traded funds for which GSAM or its affiliates act as investment
adviser.
“GS Group” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
“GS&Co.” means Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser with the
SEC and sponsor of the Program.
“GS Bank” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
“GSI” means Goldman Sachs International.
“GSIS” means GS Investment Strategies, LLC.
38
“GSS” means Goldman Sachs Securities Services.
“GSTC” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A.
“GSTD” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware.
“HFS” means GSAMLP’s Hedge Fund Strategies business.
“Index” means a stock market or other index developed or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third
party.
“IPO” means an initial public offering.
“IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Managed Account Strategies” means GS&Co.’s wrap fee program.
“Managers” means Affiliated or Unaffiliated Managers that manage client assets on a discretionary basis
under one or more investment strategies offered through the Program.
“Mark-ups” means the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market price, which is included in the
price of the security.
“Mark-downs” means the prevailing market price of a security, less the amount a dealer pays to purchase
the security from the client, which is included in the price of the security.
“Personnel” means personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel.
“Portfolio Management Teams” means the teams of portfolio management personnel within PWM.
“Prime Services” means the Goldman Sachs business that provides prime brokerage, administrative and
other services.
“Principal Transactions” means transactions where GS&Co., on behalf of Advisory Accounts, engages in
a transaction with Goldman Sachs, in its own name.
“Private Wealth Advisor” means PWM personnel responsible for managing client relationships.
“PWM” means the Private Wealth Management unit of GS&Co.
“Program” means the Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Managed Account Strategies (formerly known as GMS
Separate Account Strategies) program.
“Program Account” means accounts for which Managers have been selected or appointed to manage the
client assets invested through the Program.
“Retirement Plans” means individual retirement accounts under IRC Section 408 or 408A, tax-qualified
retirement plans (including Keogh plans) under IRC Section 401(a), pension plans and other employee
pension benefit plans subject to ERISA and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
“Retirement Platform” means the managed program platform for eligible Retirement Plans.
“Retirement Regulations” means ERISA, together with IRC.
“SD” means a swap dealer.
39
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Spread” means the difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the price someone is
willing to pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is, the price at which someone is willing to sell).
“Unaffiliated Managers” means Managers that are unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs. For purposes of this
Brochure, “Unaffiliated Managers” include (i) investment advisers that are not controlled by Goldman Sachs,
but in which certain Goldman Sachs-advised accounts hold equity, profits or other interests and (ii)
investment advisers with which Goldman Sachs has business relationships.
“Unaffiliated Manager Option” means the option for Retirement Plan Accounts to choose participating
Managers comprised exclusively of Unaffiliated Managers.
“Volcker Rule” means the Volcker Rule contained within the Dodd-Frank Act, as amended.
“XIG” means External Investing Group of GSAM LP.
40
Appendix A: Fee Schedule (for other than Retirement Plan Accounts)
These fees are subject to change and negotiation. See Item 4, Services, Fees and Compensation—
Fees for Advisory Services—Fees for the Program.
Index Oriented – Tax Advantaged Core Strategies
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
1.700%
1.100%
1.000%
0.900%
0.850%
0.800%
0.750%
Active Core Equity
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
1.900%
1.350%
1.250%
1.150%
1.100%
1.050%
1.000%
Active Satellite, Real Estate
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
2.200%
1.650%
1.550%
1.450%
1.400%
1.350%
1.300%
All/SMid Equity
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
2.150%
1.600%
1.500%
1.400%
1.350%
1.300%
1.250%
41
Dynamic Equity
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
2.85%
2.30%
2.20%
2.10%
2.05%
2.00%
1.95%
Fixed Income
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
0.950%
0.750%
0.700%
0.650%
0.600%
0.550%
0.500%
Short Duration Fixed Income
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
0.500%
0.450%
0.450%
0.400%
0.350%
0.300%
0.300%
Dynamic Fixed Income
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
0.600%
0.600%
0.600%
0.600%
0.600%
0.600%
0.600%
Other Fixed Income
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
1.300%
1.300%
1.300%
1.300%
1.300%
1.300%
1.300%
42
Comprehensive Advisory Strategies Program
(“CASP”)
$0-10 million
$10-25 million
$25-50 million
$50-100 million
$100-250 million
$250-500 million
More than $500 million
1.500%
0.800%
0.700%
0.600%
0.500%
0.450%
0.400%
The fees in the above schedule are applicable to clients who participate in CASP and the Managed Account
Strategies Program. For more information on CASP, please refer to the Brochure for Goldman Sachs & Co.
LLC – Private Wealth Management or Goldman Sachs Wealth Services – Investment Management
Services, as applicable.
In addition to the CASP advisory fee set forth above, clients who participate in CASP are subject to portfolio
manager fees for strategies managed by Goldman Sachs, its affiliates, or unaffiliated portfolio managers,
as listed in the Fees and Execution Charges section on the Client Web (https://www.goldman.com).
Contact your Private Wealth Management team for access to this information electronically via the Client
Web or to receive a paper copy of the information provided on the website.
43
Appendix B: Fee Schedule (for Retirement Plans)
These fees are subject to change and negotiation. See Item 4, Services, Fees and Compensation—
Fees for Advisory Services—Fees for the Program.
Equity Strategies
Up to $10 million
$10 million up to $25 million
$25 million up to $50 million
$50 million up to $100 million
$100 million up to $250 million
$250 million up to $500 million
$500 million or more
Annual Fee
2.21%
1.66%
1.56%
1.46%
1.41%
1.36%
1.31%
For Retirement Plans that participate in the Retirement Platform, the portion of the Annual Fee payable to
GS&Co. for all managed programs available under the Retirement Platform will be no more than 0.60%
(unless the client agrees to a higher rate).
44
Additional Brochure: GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC FORM ADV, PART 2A - PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT (2026-03-31)
View Document Text
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC – Private Wealth Management
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
877.GOLDMAN (465.3626)
www.gs.com
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices relating to the
investment advisory business of the Private Wealth Management group of Goldman Sachs & Co.
LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this Brochure, please contact your Private
Wealth Management team at the number provided on your monthly statement or at (212) 902-1000.
The information in this Brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by any state securities authority. Investment adviser
registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Additional information about Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC’s Private Wealth Management group is
available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
March 31, 2026
Separate Brochures have been prepared for Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC’s Third-Party Distribution and
Managed Account Strategies (wrap fee program) offerings of the Private Wealth Management Group. For
ease of reference, capitalized terms that are defined in this Brochure are also set forth in the Glossary.
ITEM 2 - MATERIAL CHANGES
This Brochure is dated March 31, 2026. There have been no material changes to the Brochure from the
last annual update dated March 28, 2025. This Brochure has been revised and contains updated and
expanded disclosures relating to business operations particularly in the following areas:
Item 4 – Advisory Business
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Item 11 – Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
Clients are encouraged to read this Brochure in detail and contact their Goldman Sachs team with any
questions.
2
ITEM 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 2 - MATERIAL CHANGES .................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................... 3
Item 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS ................................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION ......................................................................................................... 9
Item 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT ...................................... 20
Item 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS ..................................................................................................................... 21
Item 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS ........................ 21
Item 9 – DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 48
Item 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS .......................................... 49
Item 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING ............................................................................................................... 57
Item 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES ........................................................................................................ 74
Item 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS ........................................................................................................... 78
Item 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ............................................................. 78
Item 15 - CUSTODY ................................................................................................................................... 79
Item 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION ...................................................................................................... 79
Item 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES ................................................................................................... 79
Item 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ 80
GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................................ 81
Appendix A: PWM Fee Schedule ................................................................................................................ 87
3
ITEM 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS
Introduction
This Brochure describes the investment advisory services offered by the Private Wealth Management group
(“PWM”) of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS&Co.”). PWM, together with various affiliates as described in
this Brochure, comprises the wealth management business of Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth
Management (“Asset & Wealth Management”). PWM primarily provides advisory services to high net worth
individuals and institutional clients and helps clients build and preserve their financial wealth. PWM operates
through offices located in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brentwood, Cohoes, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and West
Palm Beach. Unless otherwise specified, references in this Brochure to “clients” mean PWM clients and
references to the advisory services provided by GS&Co. mean the advisory services provided by PWM.
Principal Owner and Operating History
GS&Co.’s principal owner is The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group”), a public company that is a
bank holding company and financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended (“BHCA”), and a worldwide, full-service financial services organization. GS&Co. has been a
registered investment adviser with the SEC since 1981. GS Group, GS&Co., and their respective affiliates,
directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees are referred to collectively as
“Goldman Sachs.”
Private Wealth Management Advisory Services
PWM offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. Client accounts for which
PWM serves as investment adviser are referred to as “Advisory Accounts.” Advisory Accounts are
managed directly by a client’s relationship manager (“Private Wealth Advisor”) or by teams of portfolio
management personnel within PWM, including a team that offers customized asset-allocation portfolios
(“Portfolio Management Teams”). Private Wealth Advisors and Portfolio Management Teams are
collectively referred to as “Advisory Personnel.”
Private Wealth Advisors
Private Wealth Advisors provide clients with investment advisory services, including providing asset
allocation and portfolio construction recommendations, as well as managing Advisory Accounts across a
broad range of asset classes and investments. Private Wealth Advisors may also use artificial intelligence
to support their provision of investment advisory services.
Private Wealth Advisors may select or recommend that clients appoint GS&Co. or its affiliates to manage
all or a portion of a client’s assets. Private Wealth Advisors manage Advisory Accounts by investing in one
or multiple asset classes and types of investments, which currently include certain equity and fixed income
securities, structured investments, options, master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) mutual funds, exchange-
traded funds (“ETFs”), private credit, private equity, and other securities and investments. Such selections
or recommendations in some cases take into account environmental, social, and governance-oriented
(“ESG”) considerations. Affiliates of GS&Co. that act as investment adviser or manager of investment
companies or pooled vehicles act as investment adviser or manager for certain of these investments or
assets. Private Wealth Advisors also sometimes recommend managers through GS&Co.’s wrap fee
program known as “Managed Account Strategies,” including managers that are affiliated with Goldman
Sachs (“Affiliated Managers”) and managers that are unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs (“Unaffiliated
Managers”, and together with Affiliated Managers, “Managers”). Private Wealth Advisers also sometimes
recommend Affiliated Managers outside of the wrap fee program. With client authorization, Private Wealth
Advisors allocate, rebalance and reallocate client assets among Advisory Accounts across agreed-upon
equity and fixed income sub-asset classes (each of which generally involves a separate agreed-upon fee),
including to Accounts participating in Managed Account Strategies (“Discretionary Manager Selection” or
4
“DMS”). Information about GS&Co. as sponsor of Managed Account Strategies is available in the GS&Co.
Wrap Fee Program Brochure. Information about Managers participating in Managed Account Strategies is
available in the Form ADV brochure for the applicable Manager.
Advisory Accounts are able to invest in mutual funds and ETFs that are managed, sponsored or advised
by investment managers that are not affiliated with GS&Co. or its affiliates (“Third-Party Funds”) and third-
party mutual funds that meet PWM’s eligibility criteria for inclusion in the Advisory Mutual Fund Strategies
(“Fund Strategies”) program. PWM or an affiliate, including Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
(“GSAM LP”), provides investment advisory services by evaluating and selecting Third-Party Funds and
funds included in the Fund Strategies program.
Additionally, certain Advisory Accounts may invest in investments that were previously available but are no
longer available through PWM or an affiliated adviser and may be retained in Advisory Accounts pursuant
to client request. Such investments may not be subject to the same diligence and other requirements as
investments that are currently available.
Private Wealth Advisors – Retirement Plans
For clients that are individual retirement accounts under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“IRC”) Section
408 or 408A, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, tax-qualified retirement plans (including Keogh plans)
under IRC Section 401(a), pension plans and other employee pension benefit plans subject to the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (collectively, “Retirement
Plans”), Private Wealth Advisors provide recommendations or investment advice as part of investment
advisory services only where GS&Co. agrees in writing to do so with respect to the particular Account.
Where Private Wealth Advisors provide discretionary management services pursuant to an agreement,
generally, such discretionary management services will be limited to investments in ETFs, affiliated mutual
funds, including money market funds (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions of Department of Labor
Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 77-4), and/or bank deposit accounts.
Generally, pursuant to an agreement to provide non-discretionary investment advisory services, Private
Wealth Advisors will provide advice and recommendations regarding manager and strategy selection,
including Affiliated and Unaffiliated Managers. Although the fee rate paid to GS&Co. in connection with
Retirement Plan Managed Account Strategies is consistent regardless of whether the client selects
Affiliated or Unaffiliated Managers, in cases where an Unaffiliated Manager is selected, the client will also
bear an additional fee that is payable to the Unaffiliated Manager.
With respect to Managed Account Strategies, certain Retirement Plans who have sophisticated plan
fiduciaries can choose participating Managers either comprised exclusively of Affiliated Managers
(“Affiliated Manager Option”) or Unaffiliated Managers (“Unaffiliated Manager Option”). In such cases,
unless GS&Co. otherwise agrees, GS&Co. does not act as a “fiduciary” for purposes of ERISA, provide
advice, make recommendations or otherwise assist Retirement Plans in the decision to select between an
Affiliated Manager or an Unaffiliated Manager. The selection between the Affiliated Manager Option and
the Unaffiliated Manager Option will be the sole responsibility of the Retirement Plan in these
circumstances; however, once a Retirement Plan chooses an option, GS&Co. may assist the Retirement
Plan in identifying, evaluating and selecting one or more potential Managers within the option selected.
GS&Co. has a managed program platform for eligible Retirement Plans (the “Retirement Platform”), the
terms of which are available as part of the account opening documents.
If a client maintains both Retirement Plans and other Accounts (that are not Retirement Plans) with GS&Co.,
any advice or recommendations made by GS&Co., including Private Wealth Advisors or any other GS&Co.
personnel, for an Account that is not a Retirement Plan does not apply to and should not be used by the
client for any decision made by a Retirement Plan, which present different considerations.
There may also be changes in applicable law governing Retirement Plans that may drive certain changes
to available products and services offered by GS&Co. or its affiliates.
5
Portfolio Management Teams
Portfolio Management Teams manage assets in Advisory Accounts for clients of GS&Co. or its affiliates in
accordance with the advisory program or investment strategy for each Advisory Account.
Portfolio Management Teams manage Advisory Accounts that utilize strategies that invest in particular
asset classes and investments, including equities, fixed income, structured investments (including
structured notes, warrants, ownership units and other types of investment interests whose return is
dependent upon the returns of one or more referenced assets), alternative investment strategies (e.g.,
hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of private equity funds, private credit funds
and real estate funds) and listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options.
GS&Co. also offers customized multi-asset class allocation portfolios to certain clients, primarily institutional
clients, foundations and entities as well as clients invested in private placement insurance products. The
Portfolio Management Team responsible for the offering generally relies on strategic and tactical asset
allocation recommendations prepared by the Investment Strategy Group (“ISG”). They implement a client’s
customized multi-asset class allocation by selecting investment options and allocating client assets (or
recommending the selection of investment options and the allocation of assets) and periodically rebalancing
them among a broad range of investments or strategies, including but not limited to, pooled investment
vehicles (both public and private), separately managed accounts, including those managed by other
Portfolio Management Teams, public securities, and derivative instruments. Investment strategies are
sponsored, managed, or advised by Affiliated Managers (“Affiliated Products”) or sponsored, managed or
advised by Unaffiliated Managers (“External Products”), and employ a broad range of investment strategies,
including but not limited to, passive investment strategies, long-only investment strategies (e.g., ETFs,
mutual funds, and private investment funds) and alternative investment strategies if approved by PWM.
Portfolio Management Teams may also use artificial intelligence to support their provision of investment
advisory services.
Family Office Services
GS&Co. also offers, in addition to its investment advisory services, a suite of personal family office services
(“Family Office Services”) designated for certain PWM clients to help them manage their complex financial
affairs. Family Office Services include, but are not limited to, tax support; reporting and analytics; data
aggregation; estate planning services; administrative services; philanthropic advisory services; cyber
security; physical security; health advisory services; art strategy services and certain other accommodation
services that may be provided as a courtesy. Family Office Services are offered and/or provided on a
customized basis and not all clients will be offered or receive all available services. Certain Family Office
Services are provided by GS&Co. or its affiliates., which entail engagements with integrated third-party
service providers (“Integrated Third-Party Vendors”) that are subject to supplemental agreements with
GS&Co. or such service providers. Other such services take the form of a client referral to independent
service providers or other unaffiliated third parties (“Network Service Providers”). Services provided by
Network Service Providers are wholly independent of those provided by GS&Co. Additional terms of
service may apply for clients entering into any separate agreements with Network Service Providers.
GS&Co. is not responsible for the supervision, monitoring, management, or performance of such Network
Service Providers. Unless GS&Co. otherwise agrees in writing, GS&Co. does not act in an investment
advisory capacity and has no fiduciary duty when providing Family Office Services, whether through
GS&Co. or its affiliates, through Integrated Third-Party Vendors, or when referring a client to a Network
Service Provider. The scope, duration, deliverables, assigned personnel, referrals to Network Service
Providers, and delivery channels through which Family Office Services are provided will vary among clients
based upon requested services, circumstances, personal financial goals, net worth, complexity, and/or
needs of each client. The third parties providing Family Office Services may be different from the vendors
that Goldman Sachs itself uses to provide the same or similar services due to regulatory limitations or other
reasons.
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Services Provided Through Goldman Sachs Wealth Services
Certain GS&Co. Advisory Personnel provide advisory services to the high-net worth client base through
GS&Co.’s affiliate, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, L.P. (“Goldman Sachs Wealth Services”). In this
regard, applicable investment advisory strategies include a subset of strategies offered through PWM as
well as certain strategies offered by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services. Goldman Sachs Ayco is a brand of
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services financial advisors are also registered representatives of GS&Co., as more
fully described in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Brochure.
Referrals
Where GS&Co. refers clients to affiliates, including GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, The Ayco
Services Agency, L.P. and the Ayco Services Insurance Agency, Inc. in connection with certain services, it
receives referral fees subject to applicable law and compensates its Advisory Personnel who make such
referrals. GS&Co. also serves as a placement agent for certain insurance dedicated funds managed by
Unaffiliated Managers.
Off-Platform Investments
From time to time, GS&Co. may be asked for guidance in connection with opportunities not offered through
GS&Co., which have not been diligenced or monitored by Goldman Sachs. This includes investments in
private funds, private credit or equity, real estate or other opportunities sourced away from GS&Co. To the
extent GS&Co. is asked for guidance, including, for example, asset allocation advice on such opportunities,
any guidance, views or other information will be offered on an accommodation basis only and GS&Co. will
not be acting as a fiduciary in connection with such guidance, views or other information GS&Co. may
provide, nor will GS&Co. charge a fee for any accommodation guidance rendered unless explicitly agreed
in writing.
Investment Restrictions
Clients can impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their Advisory Accounts, including
restricting particular securities or types of investments, provided that GS&Co. accepts such restrictions.
Any such restrictions will be reflected in the investment guidelines or other documentation applicable to the
Advisory Account. Clients should be aware that the performance of Advisory Accounts with restrictions may
differ from the performance of Advisory Accounts without those restrictions. Restrictions do not apply to
underlying investments in pooled investment vehicles or other similar instruments. GS&Co. may, in its
discretion, hold the amount that would have been invested in the restricted security in cash or money market
funds, invest in substitute securities, or invest it across the other securities in the strategy that are not
restricted. As part of Goldman Sachs, a global financial services organization that is subject to a number
of legal and regulatory requirements, GS&Co. is subject to, and has itself adopted, internal guidelines,
restrictions and policies that restrict investment decisions and activities on behalf of Advisory Accounts
under certain circumstances. See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading.
Wrap Fee Programs
Although GS&Co. is the sponsor of a wrap fee program known as Managed Account Strategies, GS&Co.
may participate as an investment manager in a third-party’s wrap fee program.
Single Contract and Dual Contract Arrangements
GS&Co. acts as an investment adviser pursuant to “single contract” and “dual contract” managed account
arrangements. In such arrangements, an Unaffiliated Manager and its client enter into an agreement with
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regard to the Unaffiliated Manager’s overall management of the client’s assets pursuant to which the
Unaffiliated Manager identifies managers and strategies that it believes are suitable for each client. Either
the Unaffiliated Manager or the client then selects the applicable managers to manage portions of the
client’s portfolio.
In a “single contract” arrangement, if GS&Co. is selected, GS&Co. enters into an agreement with an
Unaffiliated Manager pursuant to which GS&Co. will provide investment advice with respect to a portion of
the portfolios of certain clients of the Unaffiliated Manager. However, GS&Co. does not enter into a separate
agreement with each applicable client. In a “dual contract” arrangement, on the other hand, GS&Co. enters
into an agreement with each of the Unaffiliated Manager’s clients that selects GS&Co. As a result, a client
in a single contract arrangement enters into a single contract with the Unaffiliated Manager, whereas a
client in a dual contract arrangement enters into two separate contracts—one with the Unaffiliated Manager
and another with GS&Co.
In connection with both single contract and dual contract arrangements, GS&Co. will not have access to
complete information regarding the financial circumstances, investment objectives or overall investment
portfolio of the Unaffiliated Manager’s client. In addition, GS&Co. may receive information about the client
at a different time than the Unaffiliated Manager. As a result, any determination by GS&Co. as to the
appropriateness or suitability for a client in such an arrangement of a particular investment will be made
without regard to the portion of the client’s portfolio that is not managed by GS&Co., and such
determinations may be different than would have been the case had GS&Co. had access to more fulsome
information regarding the client’s financial circumstances, investment objectives, and overall investment
portfolio.
In the context of single contract and dual contract arrangements, execution may be handled by GS&Co.
using one of the methods outlined in Item 12, Brokerage Practices – Broker Dealer Selection and Directed
Brokerage or by the applicable Unaffiliated Manager, using the methods outlined in its Brochure. In a single
contract arrangement, the Unaffiliated Manager typically pays GS&Co. a fee out of the fees that the
Unaffiliated Manager receives from the client, which is based on the assets managed by GS&Co. In a dual
contract arrangement, the client typically pays GS&Co. a fee based on the assets managed by GS&Co.,
which is in addition to fees owed by the client to the Unaffiliated Manager. Clients with single contract and
dual contract arrangements through a particular Unaffiliated Manager may pay higher (or lower) fees than
other clients of the same Unaffiliated Manager or clients with such arrangements through other Unaffiliated
Managers (including as a result of negotiations with the particular Unaffiliated Manager, which may take
into account the size and scope of the overall relationship with the Unaffiliated Manager, among other
factors). For example, GS&Co. may have relationships or other arrangements with certain Unaffiliated
Managers pursuant to which GS&Co. provides favorable pricing to clients with single or dual contract
arrangements through such Unaffiliated Managers based on factors including, but not limited to, the
aggregate amount of assets managed for each such Unaffiliated Manager. Furthermore, not all clients of a
particular Unaffiliated Manager will receive the benefit of such favorable pricing, even if their assets may
be counted for purposes of determining fee breakpoints applicable to other client accounts. The availability
of favorable pricing based on aggregate assets allocated to GS&Co. creates an incentive for Unaffiliated
Managers to allocate client assets to GS&Co., including assets that would not have otherwise been so
allocated. Furthermore, depending upon the compensation arrangements between an Unaffiliated Manager
and its clients (e.g., arrangements whereby fees paid to GS&Co. are paid by the Unaffiliated Manager out
of fees received by its clients and not by the clients themselves), an Unaffiliated Manager could benefit,
directly or indirectly, from allocation of assets to GS&Co, if the Unaffiliated Manager would pay higher fees
to a manager other than GS&Co. Such benefits may further incentivize an Unaffiliated Manager to allocate
assets to GS&Co.
As described above in this Item 4, Advisory Business—Single Contract and Dual Contract Arrangements,
given that fees in a single or dual contract arrangement are generally payable on an “unbundled” basis,
clients that enter into such arrangements with GS&Co. may pay, in the aggregate, lower (or higher) fees
than other clients investing in the same strategies, depending on the services provided by GS&Co. in
connection with such arrangements.
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GS&Co. clients with single or dual contract arrangements should refer to the Form ADV of the applicable
Unaffiliated Manager for additional information regarding the single or dual contract arrangement. The
minimum account size applicable to GS&Co. clients with single or dual contract managed account
arrangements may differ from that applicable to other GS&Co. clients investing in the same or similar
strategies directly.
Assets Under Management
PWM clients may elect to have assets managed by Private Wealth Advisors, Portfolio Management Teams,
GSAM LP or Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers, including those in our Managed Account
Strategies wrap fee program. As of December 31, 2025, assets managed by Private Wealth Advisors and
Portfolio Management Teams were $180,148,521,000, of which approximately $179,856,721,000 was
managed on a discretionary basis and approximately $291,800,000 was managed on a non-discretionary
basis. These figures include investments in pooled vehicles reflected in Advisory Accounts that are
managed by another segment within GS&Co. or by an affiliate or a third-party, and exclude assets managed
by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services. PWM clients also maintained approximately $381,743,329,000 in
Advisory Accounts invested in strategies that are managed by an Affiliated Manager or an Unaffiliated
Manager, where Private Wealth Advisers may provide advice and/or act with discretion in selecting,
allocating to, or recommending such strategies. This amount is not, and has not historically been, included
in the assets under management reported above.
ITEM 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION
Fees for Advisory Services
Clients generally compensate GS&Co. for its advisory services through the payment of an advisory fee that
is calculated as a percentage of assets in the Advisory Account.
The advisory fee paid by each client for an Advisory Account is set forth on the applicable fee schedule
signed by the client. For non-retirement Advisory Accounts, PWM offers two advisory pricing models to
meet clients’ needs: a comprehensive advisory fee model (“Comprehensive Advisory Services Program” or
“CASP”) and a strategy-based advisory fee model. Before agreeing to a pricing model, clients should take
into consideration factors such as their financial needs and circumstances, investment objectives, services
provided under the particular model, client preference, the size of the Advisory Account and any other
relevant factors. Generally, CASP has certain diversification requirements and is more appropriate for
clients who will invest across a number of asset classes rather than investing in one or two managed
strategies. Whether an advisory client will pay more or less with a CASP pricing model or a strategy-based
advisory fee model depends on a number of factors, including the services provided, client preference, size
of the client’s Advisory Account, the client’s particular financial needs and circumstances and the fees
charged. Certain Advisory Account fees and expenses are more or less expensive depending on the model
chosen. The investment advisory fee payable to GS&Co. varies depending on a number of factors. Actual
fees paid may be negotiated and may differ from those in the fee schedule in Appendix A of this Brochure.
A client could pay more or less than other clients invested in similar strategies, asset classes or products.
It should be expected that fees will change over time for a variety of reasons, including negotiations with
Managers and/or the availability of fee reductions, which GS&Co. can, but may not, in its sole discretion
use to change the fee charged to client accounts. Amounts thereof may vary as a result of negotiations,
discussions, our relationship with the client and/or factors that may include the particular circumstances of
the client, such as the pricing model, the size of the relationship, client customization of investment
guidelines, required service levels and the asset class to which each strategy is attributable. The same
strategy or product can be subject to different fee schedules based on the Private Wealth Advisor’s
management of the Advisory Account or the client’s agreement with GS&Co. on a particular advisory
strategy. For Advisory Accounts managed by Private Wealth Advisors, the client may agree to a single
advisory fee for all asset classes or separate fees for different strategies. Finally, if a client has a CASP fee
arrangement for advisory services, portfolio manager fees and charges for executing transactions, including
commissions, commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-downs or spreads (“Execution Charges”), where
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applicable, will apply in addition to the single advisory fee charged by Private Wealth Management.
Execution Charges are described in more detail below.
For Advisory Accounts managed by Private Wealth Advisors where clients have elected separate fees for
different asset classes, an equity rate and another rate that includes fixed income will apply. The client may
also elect an index oriented rate, which will apply to products designated by GS&Co. as index oriented
products. If the client does not elect an index oriented rate the fee applicable to any products designated
as index oriented will be charged according to the underlying asset class (equity or other).
Absent special circumstances, the fees set forth in the first asset tiers ($0-$10 million) in Appendix A
represent the maximum advisory fees clients may be charged for new Advisory Accounts, irrespective of
current asset balances. Fees for preexisting Advisory Accounts may be higher or lower per strategy or may
be a negotiated, flat fee that is higher or lower than the current rates set forth in Appendix A. Certain
employees of the firm or an affiliate may receive advisory services at lower rates or on a fee free basis and
may be able to invest at lower minimum amounts than clients currently invest.
For clients who choose the strategy-based fee model, we offer: (1) DMS; or (2) the option to choose
individual managed strategies and agree to a specific fee for each such chosen managed strategy. Each
of these options is documented in the fee schedule(s).
Clients who choose to participate in the DMS program will agree to a fee schedule based on the sub-asset
class classification of each strategy. From time to time for DMS, Goldman Sachs reclassifies managed
strategies from one sub-asset class to another sub-asset class. In these instances, clients who have elected
to participate in the DMS program may experience a change in the fee rate depending on the nature of the
sub-asset class reclassification. Upon notice to the client of a reclassification, if the fee rate associated with
the new sub-asset class classification differs (higher or lower) from the fee rate associated with the previous
sub-asset class classification, then the client’s fee rate on the strategy will increase or decrease accordingly
so long as the client has a fee schedule on file for that sub-asset class. If a strategy is reclassified and a
client in the DMS program has not previously agreed to the new sub-asset class as part of the program,
the client must agree to include the new sub-asset class and related fee in the program to maintain their
investment in the strategy. Clients who have elected not to participate in the DMS program will not
experience a change in the fee rate (higher or lower) as they agree to fees for each managed strategy and
not to fees for sub-asset classes. The applicable fee is determined at the time of initial investment. The fee
schedule for strategies for new Advisory Accounts is set forth in Appendix A. Notwithstanding different fee
tiers for asset ranges set forth in Appendix A, fees are not adjusted in connection with any subsequent
increases or decreases in investment size for existing strategies, unless specifically negotiated.
Please note that, with respect to Retirement Plans, GS&Co.’s ability to collect certain fees and other
compensation (including certain of those described in Underlying Fund Fees and Compensation for the
Sale of Securities and Other Investments, below), to engage in certain transactions (including principal
trades) and provide certain services is limited by ERISA, the IRC and regulations promulgated thereunder
(together, the “Retirement Regulations”). Typically, investment advisory fees payable to GS&Co. (and its
affiliates) for Retirement Plans managed by GS&Co. are level at 60bps regardless of the program or
strategy selected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the actual fees that a client will be charged are set forth
in the client’s applicable fee schedule and other documentation governing the investment.
As described in more detail below, depending on the strategy or investment selected, clients will pay
transaction fees and execution charges, including commissions, commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-
downs and spreads in addition to paying advisory fees. GS&Co. may waive commissions and mark
ups/mark downs to which it is otherwise entitled for transactions, including in certain equity and fixed income
strategies managed by Advisory Personnel or GS&Co. may not otherwise charge clients for such fees. For
the avoidance of doubt, spreads cannot be waived. These strategies and any other investment strategies
for which GS&Co. in the future determines to waive commissions and mark-ups/mark-downs are collectively
referred to as “Execution Charge Waived Strategies.” During the time that the waiver is in effect, GS&Co.
will continue to receive the investment advisory fees charged for such Execution Charge Waived Strategies,
as well as the spreads and other compensation described in Item 5, Fees and Compensation. The waiver
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is not intended to affect the nature of the investment advice provided. Goldman Sachs may, in its discretion,
elect to charge (or reinstate) commissions and mark-ups/mark-downs for Execution Charge Waived
Strategies at any time.
The Execution Charge Waived Strategies are subject to the fee schedule set forth in Appendix A. However,
GS&Co. is less likely to be willing to negotiate below its standard fee schedule for such Execution Charge
Waived Strategies. Clients may be able to obtain the same investment advisory and brokerage services
that are offered for the Execution Charge Waived Strategies separately through Goldman Sachs or other
firms, and the cost of obtaining the services separately may be more or less than the investment advisory
fees charged for the Execution Charge Waived Strategies, depending on the anticipated trading activity.
While a “balanced” fee schedule is no longer offered, certain clients may have entered into a balanced fee
schedule where the same fee is charged across all assets in their Advisory Account. Clients with a balanced
fee schedule should understand that their fee is based on, among other factors, their proposed asset
allocation at the time of agreeing to the balanced fee. The fees paid by clients with a balanced fee schedule
and those paid by clients that negotiated a flat fee (i.e., a set dollar amount) may vary from the fee schedule.
GS&Co. maintains a limited number of commission-based Advisory Accounts that pay Execution Charges
and other applicable fees and expenses instead of asset-based advisory fees.
In certain circumstances where GS&Co. and the client agree in writing, clients pay an asset-based advisory
fee for asset allocation advice on assets designated by the client that were not purchased through, and are
not managed by Goldman Sachs.
Clients may request that GS&Co. hold investments that clients have made on their own behalf without
GS&Co.’s advice or recommendation (collectively, “Client-Directed Investments”). Client-Directed
Investments may also include investments that a client has directed GS&Co. in writing to make on the
client’s behalf on an execution-only basis. Clients accept full responsibility for all decisions regarding the
retention or disposition of Client-Directed Investments. GS&Co. does not give advice with respect to Client-
Directed Investments, unless GS&Co. otherwise agrees to advise clients on such assets, in which case the
positions will be included in the calculation of advisory fees.
Calculation and Deduction of Advisory Fees
Advisory fees paid by clients for Advisory Accounts are generally charged quarterly in arrears based on the
average market value of the assets in the Advisory Account during the previous quarter. Average market
value is generally determined using end-of-day quantity and an end-of-day market price for each security
including any applicable accruals. Fees are prorated and due upon termination or for partial periods.
Advisory fees are automatically deducted from the client’s Advisory Account unless other arrangements
have been agreed upon between the client and GS&Co. In the case of Advisory Accounts held at a third-
party custodian, clients generally direct their custodian to have their fees and expenses debited from the
Advisory Account for credit to GS&Co.
Fees for Alternatives Portfolio Services (“APS”), an alternative investment fund strategy managed within
PWM, are initially calculated based on the total amount(s) committed to each alternative investment fund
as part of the APS account, commencing on the date of each individual commitment to an alternative
investment fund and continuing until the end of the fifth year following such date. The fees for APS are in
addition to the management fees and other amounts charged by the managers of the Alternative Investment
funds in which APS clients make investments. Following the initial five-year period, fees are thereafter
based on the market value of each investment in the APS account and will be calculated and payable
quarterly in arrears based on the average market value of the alternative investments in the account.
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In addition to the advisory fee and/or management fee for underlying funds, GS&Co. clients could pay
additional dealer management fees, access fund management fees or similar servicing fees to Alternative
Investment service providers.
Other Fees and Expenses in Connection with GS&Co.’s Advisory Services
Clients (other than those in Execution Charge Waived Strategies) should expect to pay Execution Charges
in addition to paying advisory fees. Clients should also expect to pay fees for custody, administrative
services and consolidated reporting, as well as underlying fund fees and expenses (including mutual funds
and private funds).
When Goldman Sachs provides services to Advisory Accounts that have separate fees or costs not
included in the advisory fee, Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain such amounts, and they will not
offset any other fees or compensation.
Execution Charges
Clients who pay Execution Charges will do so at rates determined by Goldman Sachs. These rates may be
negotiated, and clients may pay more or less in Execution Charges than similar clients for identical
transactions, including those effected through Goldman Sachs. Execution Charges paid by similar clients
may differ depending on the particular circumstances of the client, including the size of the relationship and
required service levels. When GS&Co. executes a trade through a third-party broker-dealer, any applicable
Execution Charges issued by the third-party broker-dealer will be charged to the client. Goldman Sachs
generally charges clients commissions according to the commission schedules agreed to between them.
However, there may be circumstances where Goldman Sachs charges commissions for investments or
transactions that are not covered by the commission schedule. In addition, Goldman Sachs retains the right
to waive commissions and mark-ups/mark-downs for certain clients, for execution channels (e.g., electronic
executions) or investment strategies in its discretion. A description of the different types of Execution
Charges that clients may pay is provided below. However, third-party custodians reserve the right to charge
fees in addition to what is described below including trade away fees and fees related to specific
investments such as mutual funds and alternative investments. For a complete list of transaction fees that
may apply to Advisory Accounts, clients should review their customer agreements with the applicable
custodian.
Execution Charge
Description and Applicability
Commissions
The amount charged by a broker for purchasing or selling securities or
other investments as an agent for the client, which is disclosed on the
client’s trade confirmations or otherwise. Commissions may be charged in
connection with transactions involving equities and fixed income securities,
structured investments, MLPs, ETFs, listed options on equities and any
other securities traded as agent. Commissions may also be charged in
connection with the exercise and assignment of options contracts.
Commission Equivalents
The amount charged by a dealer for purchasing or selling securities or
other investments in certain riskless principal transactions. Riskless
principal transactions refer to transactions in which a dealer, after having
received an order from a client to buy a particular security, purchases such
security from another person to offset a contemporaneous sale to the client
or, after having received an order from a client to sell a particular security,
sells such security to another person to offset a contemporaneous
purchase from the client.
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Execution Charge
Description and Applicability
Spreads
The difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the price
someone is willing to pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is, the
price at which someone is willing to sell), which is reflected in the price of
the security. The difference or spread narrows or widens in response to
the supply and demand levels of the security. Spreads may be included in
transactions involving, among other investments, fixed income securities,
structured investments and currencies. Transactions may include a spread
in addition to other Execution Charges such as mark-ups/mark-downs.
Mark-ups/Mark-downs
fixed
A mark-up is the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market price,
which is included in the price of the security. A mark-down is the prevailing
market price of a security, less the amount a dealer pays to purchase the
security from the client, which is included in the price of the security. Mark-
ups/mark-downs may be included in transactions involving, among other
investments and
income securities, structured
investments,
currencies.
Goldman Sachs executes a significant volume of fixed income trades through third-party broker-dealers
and executes certain fixed income trades for certain strategies on an agency basis (“Agency Trading
Option”). In some cases, acquiring an investment through a third-party broker-dealer will result in fees and
Execution Charges that are different from those charged by GS&Co. for the same product and will be higher
or lower. In the case of the Agency Trading Option, rather than a mark-up/mark-down, clients are generally
charged an explicit commission that is disclosed on their trade confirmations. The Agency Trading Option
is available to clients that express a preference not to trade with GS&Co. as principal for certain fixed
income strategies. Notwithstanding this client preference, GS&Co. retains the right to trade as principal (to
the extent permitted by law) in order to provide eligible clients with access to new issues or for best
execution. For advisory accounts, fixed income trades for Retirement Plans are solely executed through
the Agency Trading Option.
Goldman Sachs generally executes transactions in certain non-U.S. equities and pooled investment
vehicles, including ETFs, on a principal basis and charges a commission equivalent for such transactions.
Derivative transactions carry an embedded mark-up to compensate Goldman Sachs (or other derivative
counterparty) for executing the transaction and taking market risk. Certain derivative transactions are
subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as amended (the
“Dodd-Frank Act”) and/or European Market Infrastructure Regulation requirements, which may include
additional fees depending upon the type of transaction and service clients choose (subject to eligibility
requirements).
Transactions in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) generally include certain embedded execution
costs including conversion or creation fees, foreign exchange costs and foreign tax charges.
GS&Co., like any other broker-dealer executing a transaction, has (directly or through its affiliates)
commercial interests in transactions that can be expected to diverge from the interests of Advisory
Accounts, such as obtaining favorable rates on Execution Charges. As described in Item 11, Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading, personnel of Goldman Sachs
(“Personnel”), including Private Wealth Advisors, receive referral or brokerage compensation, if eligible, in
connection with transactions effected for Advisory Accounts. For information about GS&Co.’s brokerage
practices, please refer to Item 12, Brokerage Practices.
Custody and Administrative Services
Clients generally pay an annual custody fee for operational and administrative support for their Advisory
Accounts. The amount of the custody fee varies based on the client’s relationship with GS&Co. and the
amount of assets under management. The amount of the custody fee appears on the client’s statement for
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the month in which the fee is charged. Additional administrative fees for Retirement Accounts are charged
by unaffiliated third-party service providers.
Family Office Services
Clients generally do not pay any fees to GS&Co. for Family Office Services where they are referred to a
Network Service Provider. Where GS&Co. offers Family Office Services that are provided through a referral
to a Network Service Provider, it should be expected that additional fees will apply and any such associated
fees will be subject to separate arrangements set forth in agreements with such Network Service Provider.
In certain circumstances, clients pay an additional fee to GS&Co. for financial related Family Office
Services, sometimes including, but not necessarily limited to, consolidated reporting, alternative investment
administration, cyber security, and estate flow mapping. These may be offered through or in conjunction
with an Integrated Third-Party Vendor, in which case a portion of the fee will be passed on to the third-
party. GS&Co. retains the right, in its discretion, to reduce or waive fees for certain clients based upon
criteria, such as the client’s assets under management, or otherwise modify the fee structure applicable to
Family Office Services, as agreed upon with clients.
In certain cases, GS&Co. will provide clients with a referral to Goldman Sachs Wealth Services to receive
a bundle of financial related services, which may include some or all of estate and trust planning and
administration, review and evaluation of investments, portfolio monitoring, philanthropic and foundation
planning, cash flow planning, tax planning and insurance review (“Private Family Office Services”). Private
Family Office Services are provided exclusively by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services and are subject to flat
annual fees or basis point fees based on assets under management held at GS&Co. and/or Goldman Sachs
Wealth Services; please refer to the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services ADV 2A Brochure for more
information.
Underlying Fund Fees
Clients invested in pooled investment vehicles pay all fees and expenses applicable to an investment in the
funds, including fixed fees, asset-based fees, performance-based fees, carried interest, incentive allocation
and other compensation, fees, expenses and transaction charges payable to the managers in consideration
of the managers’ services to the funds and fees paid for advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder
servicing, subaccounting, custody, subtransfer agency and other related services, or “12b-1” fees. Fund
fees and expenses are described in the relevant fund prospectuses and are paid by the funds but are
ultimately borne by clients as investors in the funds. If the fund is an affiliated fund, all or a portion of these
fees are generally paid to Goldman Sachs as described in Item 10, Other Material Relationships with
Affiliated Entities. These fees and expenses are generally in addition to the advisory fees each Advisory
Account pays to GS&Co. GS&Co. may determine to waive advisory fees on assets where the investments
generate additional fees for Goldman Sachs. In other circumstances advisory fees will be waived if required
by applicable law.
In addition, a Goldman Sachs affiliate that manages a private investment fund typically receives deal fees,
sponsor fees, monitoring fees or other similar fees for services provided to portfolio companies. The fees
and expenses imposed by a private investment fund may offset trading profits and, therefore, reduce
returns. An investor in a fund-of-funds vehicle also bears a proportionate share of the fees and expenses
of each underlying investment fund. These fees and expenses can differ depending on the class of shares
or other interests purchased.
Mutual fund and ETF fees and expenses will result in a client paying multiple fees with respect to mutual
funds and ETFs held in an Advisory Account and clients may be able to obtain these services elsewhere
at a lower cost. For example, if a client were to purchase a mutual fund or ETF directly in a brokerage
account, the client would not pay an advisory fee to GS&Co. Currently, for Advisory Accounts that agree to
a strategy-based pricing model, affiliated mutual funds are not subject to GS&Co.’s advisory fees but could
be subject to various other fees and expenses paid to the service providers of each affiliated mutual fund,
some of which are affiliates of GS&Co. It should be expected that these affiliates, as well as GS&Co. and
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eligible Private Wealth Advisors, will receive compensation with respect to such fees. For additional
information on compensation earned for the sale of these products, please see below and Item 10 – Other
Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations.
Generally, compensation received by Goldman Sachs related to various services provided to pooled
investment vehicles is retained by Goldman Sachs. Except to the extent required by applicable law, GS&Co.
is not required to offset such compensation against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman
Sachs. To the extent Goldman Sachs decides to offset any compensation, Goldman Sachs does so in its
sole and absolute discretion and the methods used to calculate any such amounts when they are applied
to any client fees and expenses may be different from the calculations used to determine the amount of
compensation Goldman Sachs receives. Specifically, for accounts other than Retirement Accounts, any
offset amount may be higher or lower than the actual amount Goldman Sachs receives from any pooled
investment vehicle.
GS&Co. makes mutual fund share classes available on its platform at its sole discretion.
GS&Co. will normally make available on its platform, to the extent permitted by law, a share class of a
mutual fund that pays compensation to GS&Co., including fees, for providing services (such as investment
advisory, administration, transfer agency, distribution, and shareholder services) to the mutual fund. In
certain circumstances, such fees are rebated against the fees paid by a client to GS&Co. for advisory
services. The additional compensation that GS&Co. receives normally varies depending on the mutual fund
and share class made available, and is paid from the fund, the sponsor or the adviser to the extent permitted
by applicable law. When selecting a share class of a mutual fund to offer on its platform, GS&Co. has a
conflict of interest when its selection of a more expensive share class or recommendation of a more
expensive mutual fund results in greater compensation to GS&Co. GS&Co. addresses this conflict through
a combination of disclosure to clients and through GS&Co.’s policies and procedures and related controls
designed to ensure that the fees it charges to clients are fair and reasonable.
Different mutual funds with similar investment policies, and different share classes within those funds, have
different expense levels. Generally, a fund or share class with a lower minimum investment requirement
has higher expenses, and therefore a lower return, than a fund or share class with a higher minimum
investment requirement. GS&Co. may offer a single share class for each mutual fund it makes available on
its platform at any given time, even if a mutual fund has multiple share classes for which GS&Co. clients
are eligible. GS&Co. will not necessarily make available the lowest cost share class of a mutual fund. As a
result, the share class of a mutual fund offered by GS&Co. can have higher expenses (including because
of compensation paid to GS&Co. as discussed above), and therefore lower returns, than other share
classes of that mutual fund for which a client is eligible or that might otherwise be available if a client
invested in the mutual fund through a third-party or through the mutual fund directly. When determining the
reasonableness of any fees and expenses paid to GS&Co., a client should consider both the fees and
expenses that GS&Co. charges the Advisory Account and any indirect fees and expenses charged in
connection with any investment in share classes of mutual funds that bear expenses greater than other
share classes those for which a client is otherwise eligible.
Information about the mutual funds and share classes that are available through GS&Co., including their
investment policies, restrictions, charges, and expenses, is contained in the mutual funds’ prospectuses.
GS&Co. may also establish and change in its sole discretion at any time the different investment minimums
and/or other requirements that will apply to the availability of mutual fund and share classes for an account
based upon a variety of factors, including a client’s overall relationship with GS&Co., type of account, legal
or regulatory restrictions, or any other factors relevant to the relationship.
Pooled Investment Vehicle Fees
Goldman Sachs acts as investment adviser to pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds, collective
investment trusts, private investment funds, and other pooled investment vehicles (e.g., hedge funds,
private equity funds, funds of funds, private credit funds, real estate funds and business development
companies). Goldman Sachs’ fees for such services are based on each investment vehicle’s particular
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structure, investment process, and other factors. Goldman Sachs generally receives a management fee for
management of non-private investment funds and a management fee and an incentive fee or allocation
from private investment funds (other than certain categories of private investment funds, including but not
limited to investment vehicles managed by the External Investing Group (“XIG”) that invest substantially all
of their assets in primary investments in underlying funds managed by Unaffiliated Managers (“XIG Program
Funds”) and long-only funds), business development companies, and certain registered investment
companies. The amount and structure of the management fee, incentive fee and/or allocation varies from
fund to fund (and varies significantly depending on the investment fund) and is set forth in the prospectus
or other relevant offering document for each fund. In certain cases, investors receive fee reductions of all
or a portion of the management fee (and/or incentive fee or allocation) attributable to that investor’s interest
in the pooled investment vehicle, or invest fee free in pooled investment vehicles and pay negotiated fees
outside of the pooled investment vehicle, which may be based on a separate fee schedule agreed upon by
Goldman Sachs and the applicable investor.
Certain of Goldman Sachs’ fee structures create an incentive for Goldman Sachs to cause the pooled
investment vehicles to make investments earlier in the life of such vehicle than otherwise would have been
the case, redeploy investment proceeds in order to receive ongoing asset-based fees, or defer the
disposition of a poorly performing investment in order to defer any potential clawback obligation, continue
to receive asset based management fees, or possibly receive a larger carried interest or incentive allocation
if the value of the investment increases in the future. Goldman Sachs receives similar fees from other types
of vehicles (e.g., securitization vehicles) in respect of the advisory services Goldman Sachs provides to
such vehicles.
Certain investors that are invested in pooled investment vehicles pay higher or lower fees and/or are subject
to higher or lower carried interest and/or incentive allocations than similarly situated investors that are
invested in the same pooled investment vehicle. Amounts, rates, breakpoints, hurdles or similar calculation
methodologies vary as a result of negotiations, discussions and/or factors that include the particular
circumstances of the investor, the size and scope of the overall relationship, whether the investor has a
multi-strategy, multi-asset class or multi-product investment program with Goldman Sachs or GS&Co., or
as otherwise agreed with specific investors. Fees and allocations charged to investors may differ depending
on the class of shares or other interests purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in certain cases,
Goldman Sachs provides investment advisory services to funds without receiving any fee for such services.
In these cases, Goldman Sachs may receive placement fees or compensation for other non-investment
advisory services from the funds, the investors in the funds (including Advisory Accounts), or from the
companies or underlying funds in which the Goldman Sachs-managed funds invest. The terms of any such
arrangements are disclosed in the governing documents or disclosure documents relating to the Goldman
Sachs-managed funds. Management fees and incentive fees or allocations are generally not payable by
funds raised for the benefit of Goldman Sachs employees.
Master-feeder funds (i.e., structures in which investors invest in entities commonly referred to as feeder
funds, which then invest their assets in other entities commonly referred to as master funds), XIG Program
Funds, and certain other funds are subject to multiple levels of expenses and, in certain cases, are subject
to multiple levels of fees. Certain pooled investment vehicles are also subject to subscription and/or
redemption/withdrawal fees, including in connection with early redemption penalties, described in the
relevant offering and governing documentation.
Servicing and Similar Fees
Certain clients pay fees to GS&Co. or its affiliates for administrative or other services provided by GS&Co.
or such affiliates, as described in more detail in the relevant client’s governing documents. Such fees are
in addition to any investment advisory fees chargeable to the Advisory Accounts. For information about
administrative and other fees paid to third-party service providers, please see this Item 5, Fees and
Compensation--Other Fees and Expenses--Custody, Administration and Other Fees.
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Custody, Administration and Other Fees
Custody fees, administration fees and all other fees charged by service providers providing services to
Advisory Accounts are levied by the custodian, the administrator or other service providers for the Advisory
Account and are not included in the advisory fees payable to GS&Co. An Advisory Account (and fund
investors indirectly) will generally bear such expenses unless provided otherwise in the applicable
governing documents.
Expenses charged to an Advisory Account may include:
(i) debt-related costs and expenses, including expenses related to raising leverage, refinancing, short term
and other liquidity facilities, derivatives and other arrangements that have the effect of providing leverage,
administering and servicing debt, and the cost of compliance with lender requests (including travel and
entertainment expenses relating to the foregoing);
(ii) investment-related expenses, including due diligence and research, expenses relating to identifying,
investigating, evaluating, registering, valuing, structuring, closing, purchasing, monitoring, managing (which
may include costs and expenses of attending and/or sponsoring industry conferences or other meetings),
servicing, holding, tracking and harvesting of investments and potential investments (including travel and
entertainment expenses relating to the foregoing), and expenses relating to background checks;
(iii) expenses related to hedging, including currency, interest rate and/or other hedging strategies, and the
settlement of hedging transactions;
(iv) legal, tax, administration and accounting expenses, including expenses for preparation of annual
audited financial statements, tax return preparation, tax and legal advice in connection with, among other
things, acquiring, holding and disposing investments, operational matters, wire transfer fees, mailing costs
and expenses, legal costs and expenses associated with indemnity, litigation, claims, tax audit, arbitration,
mediation, government investigation or dispute in connection with the business of an Advisory Account,
and the amount of any judgments or settlements paid in connection therewith or the enforcement of an
Advisory Account’s rights against any person or entity, and expenses related to reporting and filings done
by external tax professionals or for outside consultants engaged to assist GS&Co. personnel with regard
to such functions;
(v) professional fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of financial advisers, consultants,
finders and experts, as well as fees and expenses in connection with participation in bondholder groups,
expenses relating to third-party valuation agents, restructurings, class actions and other litigation);
(vi) costs and expenses of operating Advisory Accounts, including fees and expenses of directors, trustees,
or independent general partners or similar control persons;
(vii) technology expenses, including news and quotation services;
(viii) insurance premiums (which insurance generally covers numerous Advisory Accounts, in which case
each participating Advisory Account is responsible for a share of the premiums);
(ix) expenses related to compliance by an Advisory Account with any applicable law, rule or directive or any
other regulatory requirement, or compliance with the foregoing requirements by GS&Co. or its affiliates to
the extent such compliance relates to an Advisory Account’s activities, including (a) in each case, expenses
related to reporting and filings done by external professionals or service providers or for outside consultants
engaged to assist GS&Co. personnel with regard to such functions and (b) costs and expenses and fees
incurred in connection with establishing, implementing, monitoring and/or measuring the impact of any ESG
policies and programs with respect to an Advisory Account or its investments or prospective investments,
including, without limitation, all fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with reporting on such
ESG policies and programs or otherwise evaluating the achievement of any ESG objectives by an Advisory
Account or its investments or prospective investments;
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(x) fees payable to GS&Co. or its affiliates for loan servicing, tax, accounting, and administrative services
provided by GS&Co. or its affiliates to Advisory Accounts (including internal accounting services), which
represent (in some cases as a flat fee per annum) an allocable portion of overhead costs of the departments
providing such services and which generally are determined by GS&Co. by reference to the amount of time
spent by and the seniority of the employee providing the in-house services; provided that, for the avoidance
of doubt, since the in-house expense allocation process relies on certain judgments and assessments that
in turn are based on information and estimates from various individuals, the allocations that result may not
be exact;
(xi) costs, expenses and fees incurred by certain Advisory Accounts in connection with any activities,
meetings, conferences, symposia, or other gatherings of special committees or councils formed by GS&Co.
with respect to such Advisory Accounts; and
(xii) any other reasonable expenses authorized by the applicable governing documents, or that are
reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with managing an Advisory Account.
Administrative costs for Retirement Accounts and any platform (technology) fees are paid directly by the
client, unless other arrangements have been made.
Additionally, a transaction cost is charged by the SEC to sellers of securities that are traded on stock
exchanges and subsequently assessed to clients. These fees are required by Section 31(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are charged to recover the fees associated with the government’s
supervision and regulation of the securities markets and securities professionals.
To the extent Goldman Sachs provides services to Advisory Accounts that are not included in the advisory
fee, Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain all such fees and other amounts, without offset to any other
fees or compensation paid by an Advisory Account.
Prepaid Fees
GS&Co. does not charge clients advisory fees in advance.
Compensation for the Sale of Securities and Other Investments
GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors receive compensation based on revenues generated on client
accounts, including asset management fees, commissions and other revenues related to the purchase and
sale of securities, banking or other products, and fees associated with other products or services, as
applicable. Such compensation creates a potential conflict of interest that gives GS&Co. and Private Wealth
Advisors an incentive to recommend such securities, other investments, and a particular pricing model
based on the compensation received. Fees are higher for some investments and services, and the
compensation directly or indirectly paid to GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors is greater in certain cases.
Certain Private Wealth Advisors are eligible for additional compensation based upon revenue generated by
client accounts and growth in client assets. Portfolio Managers and some Private Wealth Advisors receive
a salary and discretionary bonus. Clients are not entitled to receive compensation related to any business
of Goldman Sachs.
As discussed above, Goldman Sachs may receive fees in connection with the sale of mutual funds,
including “12b-1” fees or other compensation from affiliates of a mutual fund in connection with the sale of
those products. In such arrangements, compensation to Goldman Sachs generally increases as the amount
of assets invested by clients in such securities and other investment products increases. GS&Co.’s
selection or recommendation of securities and other investment products where Goldman Sachs shares in
the fees and profits would result in additional compensation to Goldman Sachs. This creates an incentive
for GS&Co. to recommend or select investment products that are advised, managed or sponsored by
Goldman Sachs. GS&Co. limits the potential conflicts of interest associated with selecting between the
Third-Party Funds and affiliated mutual funds by implementing a compensation structure where the
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compensation paid to Private Wealth Advisors generally does not vary based on whether the Advisory
Account invests in a Third-Party Fund or an affiliated fund in the same asset class. However, in some cases,
compensation to a Private Wealth Advisor could be reduced based on the fee structure of underlying
investments, which gives Private Wealth Advisors an incentive to recommend products that do not reduce
their own compensation.
Family Office Personnel are compensated with a base salary and discretionary bonus. They do not receive
separate compensation based upon the sale of securities, insurance, or other services.
Goldman Sachs also maintains a variety of banking, financial, or service relationships with regard to
securities and other investments, including relationships with their principal underwriters, investment
advisers, sponsors or other service providers. These relationships include acting as a broker or a dealer,
engaging in foreign exchange transactions or directing the sale of securities or other financial instruments.
In some instances, investment managers of particular investments, or their affiliates, have relationships
with Goldman Sachs, including serving as an investment manager in programs sponsored by GS&Co. As
a result, GS&Co. has an incentive to recommend these securities and other investment products.
Furthermore, Private Wealth Advisors are eligible in certain instances to receive compensation in
connection with their role in establishing such relationships for Goldman Sachs. GS&Co. also has a
financial incentive to allocate Advisory Account assets to securities issued, managed, or issued and
managed, by Goldman Sachs, including Affiliated Managers and Affiliated Products rather than to
separate accounts or mutual funds managed, sponsored, advised or issued by investment managers or
organizations not affiliated with Goldman Sachs (“External Products”).
GS&Co. has an incentive to allocate or recommend (as applicable and permissible) the assets of Advisory
Accounts to Affiliated Products that impose higher fees than those imposed by other Affiliated Products or
that provide other benefits to Goldman Sachs. Any differential in compensation paid to personnel in
connection with certain Affiliated Products rather than other Affiliated Products creates a financial incentive
on the part of GS&Co. to select or recommend (as applicable and permissible) certain Affiliated Products
over other Affiliated Products. Correspondingly, GS&Co. is disincentivized to consider or recommend the
removal of an Advisory Account’s assets from, or the modification of an Advisory Account’s allocations to,
an Affiliated Product at a time that it otherwise would have where doing so would decrease the fees,
compensation and other benefits to Goldman Sachs, including where disposal of such Affiliated Product
by the Advisory Account would likely adversely affect the Affiliated Product with respect to its liquidity
position or otherwise.
In particular, it should be expected that Private Wealth Advisors earn higher compensation for investments
in affiliated Tax Advantaged Core Strategies (“TACS”) and Fixed Income strategies than for investments
in third-party strategies following the same or similar asset classes or strategies, and options to invest in
such third-party strategies are more limited. Clients should review at least annually whether their selected
strategies continue to be appropriate for them given their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and
financial circumstances and consider whether any adjustments, particularly to criteria such as credit
quality, concentration and duration for fixed income portfolios, should be made.
Performance of any strategy may vary from the benchmark referenced by the manager for various
reasons, including, without limitation, customization of the strategy to the client’s wishes or restrictions,
credit quality or ratings, duration and concentration within a certain state or issuer. Different benchmarks
may also appear on client statements for purposes of comparison.
Additionally, certain actively managed ETFs have comparable investment strategies that are priced
differently from each other and from mutual funds and therefore compensation to Private Wealth Advisors
differs. As a result, as described above, Private Wealth Advisors have an incentive to recommend
strategies or funds, or not remove strategies and funds, that would result in higher compensation paid to
the Private Wealth Advisor.
Unless otherwise required by applicable law, neither Goldman Sachs nor GS&Co. will be required to share
any fees, allocations, compensation, remuneration or other benefits received in connection with an
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Advisory Account with the client or offset such fees, allocations, compensation, remuneration and other
benefits against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman Sachs or GS&Co.
Clients may allocate assets to traditional separate Accounts managed by Advisory Personnel, an affiliate,
an Unaffiliated manager, or to wrap fee Accounts, that is, Accounts for which the client’s advisory fee covers
all fees or charges of GS&Co., including brokerage commissions and commission equivalents on agency
transactions executed through GS&Co. and custodial and administrative charges. Wrap fee Accounts are
managed by Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers. The advisory fee paid for these traditional
separate Accounts does not include Execution Charges, custodial or other fees, which instead are paid
separately by the client. If the wrap fee or the investment advisory fee charged to Execution Charge Waived
Strategies is not priced to account for the total cost of Execution Charges expected to be generated in a
traditional separate Account, the client may pay more for the traditional separate Account. The amount of
compensation received by Goldman Sachs and Advisory Personnel in connection with a wrap fee Account
advised by Goldman Sachs or Advisory Accounts investing in Execution Charge Waived Strategies
(including through the Agency Trading Option) may differ from the compensation received by Goldman
Sachs and Advisory Personnel in connection with a traditional separate Account also advised by Goldman
Sachs. Any such differentials in compensation create a financial incentive on the part of GS&Co. and
Private Wealth Advisors to recommend or, if applicable, select one advisory program, Manager, asset class
or investment strategy over another.
In addition to the disclosures contained in this Brochure, these and other potential conflicts of interest are
disclosed in strategy-specific documents provided to clients from time to time and in GS&Co.’s investment
advisory agreement with the client.
Availability of Securities and Other Investments
Certain securities and investment products that GS&Co. recommends or selects for Advisory Accounts are
available for purchase through a brokerage account at GS&Co. or an unaffiliated financial institution. Clients
who purchase securities and investment products outside of their Advisory Accounts will not incur the
advisory fees described in this Brochure, and any other fees and expenses may differ from those charged
to Advisory Accounts. Therefore, clients may be able to purchase such securities and investment products
at a lower price outside of their Advisory Accounts. In those circumstances, however, such clients do not
receive the investment advice and other services that GS&Co. provides to clients with Advisory Accounts.
Fee Offset for Execution Charges
GS&Co. does not reduce its advisory fees to offset Execution Charges, including commissions that it
receives, except to the extent required by applicable law.
ITEM 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
Performance-Based Fees
Goldman Sachs receives an incentive allocation or performance fees for strategies managed by its affiliates
although GS&Co. does not charge performance fees at the Advisory Account level. Portfolio Management
Teams that manage Advisory Accounts utilizing Alternative Investment strategies determine fund
allocations and therefore may have an incentive to provide higher allocations to funds that pay performance
fees to Goldman Sachs.
Side-by-Side Management of Advisory Accounts; Allocation of Opportunities
GS&Co. manages or advises multiple Advisory Accounts (including Advisory Accounts in which Goldman
Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) that have investment objectives that are the
same or similar and that seek to make or sell investments in the same securities or other instruments,
sectors or strategies. This creates conflicts of interest, particularly in circumstances where the availability
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or liquidity of investment opportunities is limited, including, without limitation, in local and emerging markets
and high yield securities. To address these conflicts of interest, GS&Co. has developed policies and
procedures that provide that the Advisory Personnel making portfolio decisions for Advisory Accounts will
make investment decisions for, and implement investments among, Advisory Accounts consistent with
GS&Co.’s duties to its advisory clients. See Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading – Participation or Interest in Client Transactions – Allocation of
Investment Opportunities.
ITEM 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS
Types of Clients
Many of PWM’s clients are individuals who invest their assets with PWM directly as individuals or through
private investment vehicles, such as privately held corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,
or trusts, and estates of such clients. PWM also provides investment advisory services to institutional
clients, including charitable organizations, pension plans, corporations, insurance companies who may be
offering wrappers to individual clients, and other business entities.
Account Requirements
GS&Co. generally requires clients to have assets with GS&Co. of at least $10 million. To open an Advisory
Account at GS&Co., clients must have at least $1,100,000 under the management of GS&Co. or have a
net worth of more than $2,200,000 (including assets held jointly with a spouse).
To open or maintain an Advisory Account with GS&Co., clients are required to sign an investment advisory
agreement, that, among other things, describes the nature of the investment advisory authority granted to
GS&Co. All clients select an investment objective and provide portfolio goals for all Accounts held in the
same name, both of which reflect their investment goals and risk tolerance for that account holder’s portfolio
with GS&Co.
Advisers who provide services through Goldman Sachs Wealth Services may access tools, analysis, and
other inputs provided by our advisory affiliates.
ITEM 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS
Significant Investment Strategies, Methods of Analysis and Material Risks
Private Wealth Advisors: Advisory Accounts managed by Private Wealth Advisors invest in multiple asset
classes. Different Private Wealth Advisors use different tools, analysis and other inputs to manage Advisory
Accounts, which will result in different allocations. Private Wealth Advisors may rely on strategic and tactical
asset allocation recommendations prepared by ISG, a team of GS&Co. investment professionals that serve
as a resource for Private Wealth Management teams. However, there is no guarantee that any Advisory
Account will in fact track ISG’s recommendations. When managing Advisory Accounts, Private Wealth
Advisors use research or research lists (“Research”) published by Goldman Sachs and a variety of other
investment analysis tools. In the event the Research ceases to be published at any time, an Advisory
Account will need to be managed differently.
Private Wealth Advisors responsible for managing multiple Advisory Accounts may make different
investment decisions for each Advisory Account based on, among other things, different client
characteristics, including investment objectives, risk tolerance, investment time horizon and financial
circumstances. As a result, the management of, or recommendation to, Advisory Accounts with similar
investment strategies will in some cases differ among Private Wealth Advisors based on different
methodologies, asset allocation implementation, and client investment goals. When there is trading activity
in multiple Advisory Accounts, there is a potential that a wash sale or tax straddle is generated, which could
result in negative tax consequences, including negating the taxable advantage of realizing investment
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losses from sale of securities. Other strategies attempt to improve the taxable consequence of the assets
invested, using tax loss harvesting and other tax advantaged strategies. When deploying tax loss harvesting
and other tax advantaged strategies, Goldman Sachs does not guarantee the ability to reduce the taxable
consequence from managing assets. Further, attempts to reduce the taxable consequence of a portfolio
may cause a disparity in the performance of the Advisory Account where, for example, certain assets are
not sold when they might have been sold if taxes were not considered. Goldman Sachs will generally not
consider information regarding positions held or transactions executed outside Advisory Accounts. Clients
are urged to work with their Private Wealth Advisors to help choose the investment strategy that best meets
their goals and objectives.
Portfolio Management Teams: Portfolio Management Teams manage Advisory Accounts that utilize
strategies investing in particular asset classes and investments, including equities, fixed income, alternative
investments, structured investments (including structured notes, warrants, ownership units and other types
of investment interests, including private equity, whose return is dependent upon the returns of one or more
referenced assets) and listed and OTC options. Depending on the strategy selected, there may be
embedded leverage in options, futures and other securities.
The methods of analysis vary by Portfolio Management Team and are described below in Risks Applicable
to Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams under the applicable strategy.
Clients should understand that all investment strategies and the investments made pursuant to
such strategies involve risk of loss, including the potential loss of the entire investment, which
clients should be prepared to bear and, in the case of uncovered option strategies, beyond the
amount invested. The investment performance and the success of any investment strategy or
particular investment can never be predicted or guaranteed, and the value of a client’s investments
will fluctuate due to market conditions and other factors. The investment decisions and
recommendations made and the actions taken for Advisory Accounts are subject to various market,
liquidity, currency, economic, political, and other risks, and investments could lose value. It should
be expected that the types of risks to which an Advisory Account is subject, and the degree to
which any particular risks impact an Advisory Account, will change over time depending on various
factors, including the investment strategies, investment techniques and asset classes utilized by
the Advisory Account, the timing of the Advisory Account’s investments, prevailing market and
economic conditions, reputational considerations, and the occurrence of adverse social, political,
regulatory or other developments. Past performance of Advisory Accounts is not indicative of
future performance.
General Risks Applicable to Advisory Accounts
This Brochure does not include every potential risk associated with an investment strategy, or all of the
risks applicable to a particular Advisory Account. Rather, it is a general description of the nature and risks
of the strategies and securities and other financial instruments in which Advisory Accounts may invest. The
below risks may apply to all strategies managed by Private Wealth Advisors and Portfolio Management
Teams, but not every risk will apply to every strategy. In addition, the risks described below in Risks
Applicable to Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams for strategies investing in
particular asset classes should be considered when Advisory Accounts are invested in those asset classes.
Advisory Account clients that invest assets with Managers should also refer to the Form ADV of such
Managers for a description of the risks associated with the strategies utilized by such Managers.
(cid:120) Adverse Effect of Global Economic Conditions – Advisory Accounts, underlying funds, and their
portfolio companies could be adversely affected by unanticipated changes in the financial markets
and economic conditions throughout the world, some of which could magnify the risks described in
this Item 8, Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss and have other adverse
effects. The scope of any potential impacts to Advisory Accounts, underlying funds, and their
portfolio companies, both from market conditions and also potential legislative or regulatory
responses, are uncertain. Continued market volatility and uncertainty and/or a downturn in market
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and economic and financial conditions could have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts,
underlying funds, and their portfolio companies.
(cid:120) Advisory Account Consent Requirements – Advisory Account consent could be required to invest
in certain transactions in which Goldman Sachs receives compensation or is a principal, and
GS&Co. could determine not to seek such consent due to timing or other considerations, in which
case the Advisory Account will not have the opportunity to make the investment.
(cid:120) Allocation of Advisory Account Assets to Underlying Funds and Managers – The risks associated
with certain types of securities and investment strategies described herein apply with respect to
investments in underlying funds and with Managers. Additional information about risks associated
with the activities of underlying funds and Managers is available herein, as well as in the
prospectuses, offering memoranda and constituent documents of the underlying funds.
(cid:120) Antitrust Risk – Advisory Accounts and their portfolio companies will be subject to antitrust and
competition laws, rules and regulations in the U.S. and other jurisdictions where they conduct
business, and there has been increased scrutiny from antitrust regulators around the world. If an
Advisory Account investment becomes subject to antitrust review and approval, the relevant
authorities could elect not to approve such investment, significantly delay it or approve it subject to
particular terms and conditions (for example, that the underlying portfolio company divest of certain
assets). Advisory Accounts and their portfolio companies could incur significant costs pursuing
transactions in respect of which regulatory approvals are not granted and, as a result, are not able
to be consummated.
(cid:120) Risks Relating to the Use of Artificial Intelligence – Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) and certain
of its third-party vendors, clients and/or counterparties have developed or otherwise incorporated
artificial intelligence (“AI”) technology in certain business processes, services or products. AI
models are developing rapidly, are highly complex and may produce output or take action that is
incorrect (i.e., hallucinate), that result in the release of private, confidential or proprietary
information, that reflect biases included in the data on which they are trained, infringe on the
intellectual property rights of others, or that is otherwise harmful. The U.S. and global legal and
regulatory environment relating to AI is uncertain and rapidly evolving, and could require changes
in Goldman Sachs’ implementation of AI technology and increase compliance costs and the risk of
non-compliance. Further, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may rely on AI models developed
by third parties, and Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may have limited visibility over the
accuracy and completeness of such models. Any of these risks could adversely affect Goldman
Sachs, GS&Co. or Advisory Accounts. Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) is also exposed to risks
arising from the use of AI technologies by bad actors to commit fraud and misappropriate funds
and to facilitate cyberattacks. Such actions and other risks associated with AI could cause, amongst
other things, reputational harm to Goldman Sachs, GS&Co. or Advisory Accounts. The investment
management business is highly competitive and to the extent that some or all of GS&Co.’s
competitors (or new market entrants) institute low cost, high speed financial applications and
services based on AI, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) and Advisory Accounts could be at a
competitive disadvantage.
(cid:120) Asset Allocation and Rebalancing Risk – An Advisory Account’s assets could become out of
balance with the target allocation. Any rebalancing of such assets may be infrequent and limited
by several factors. Even if a rebalancing is achieved, it may have an adverse effect on the
performance of the Advisory Account’s assets including, for example, if the rebalancing results in
such assets being allocated away from an over-performing investment product and allocated to an
under-performing investment product.
(cid:120) Bankruptcy Risk – A company in which an Advisory Account invests could become involved in a
bankruptcy or other reorganization or liquidation proceeding.
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(cid:120) Capital Markets Risk – A client might not receive distributions or could experience a significant loss
in the value of its investment if the issuer cannot obtain funding in the capital markets.
(cid:120) Cash Management Risks – If GS&Co. invests some of an Advisory Account’s assets temporarily
in money market funds or other similar types of investments, those assets will not be invested in
assets that further the Advisory Account’s investment objective during such time. Separately, where
GS&Co., on behalf of a client, invests an Advisory Account’s assets temporarily, or for some
designated period of time, in investments subject to Market Risk, including managed strategies,
with the intent of liquidating such investments to meet certain subsequent funding needs, such as
a capital calls required by alternative investments, an Advisory Account could be unable to meet
such funding needs.
(cid:120) Cash Sweep Risk – Unless a client notifies us otherwise, GS&Co. is authorized to sweep free credit
balances into one or more money market funds through GS&Co. or bank deposit accounts (“Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep”) with its affiliate, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”). Clients should
discuss with their Private Wealth Management team which cash sweep option is appropriate for
them based on factors such as their investment objectives, financial circumstances, tax status and
desire for related payment services. Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option, the
Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the default sweep option regardless of any difference
in actual or expected returns in connection with other sweep options. GS&Co. may make changes
to the cash sweep options it offers to clients, including removing a previously offered cash sweep
option, at any time, in its sole discretion and any cash would be held in free credit balances or
moved to another available option. A client may request a different cash sweep option by informing
their Private Wealth Management team. The cash sweep service is a feature of clients’ custodial
and brokerage relationship with GS&Co. In offering the cash sweep service, designating a default
cash sweep option or selecting a cash sweep option, GS&Co. is not recommending any securities
transaction or investment strategy or acting as an investment adviser. Cash sweep options may be
limited depending on the client’s residence or the advisory strategies in which the account is
invested. Returns on cash sweep options are impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable
interest rates and the nature of the account. For example, interest rates on Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep could yield lower returns than cash swept to money market funds, and after-tax yields on
cash subject to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower results than cash swept to money
market funds. The Bank Deposit Cash Sweep provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank
may pay GS&Co. a fee in connection with Advisory Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep. GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors earn higher compensation in connection with Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market funds. Different money market funds
have different fees and expenses, which may be found in the applicable fund prospectuses. Client
should ask their Private Wealth Management team which money market funds are available as
cash sweep options. Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep offered through GS Bank
are variable and subject to change at the sole discretion of GS Bank. Rates may be higher or lower
than rates available at other banks and may vary based on the amount of a client’s deposit balances
or relationship with GS&Co. Clients can obtain information about interest rates by going to
www.goldman.com, or by asking their Private Wealth Management team. The cash sweep service
is intended as a vehicle for free credit balances pending investment, but can be expected to provide
a lower return than other investment products offered by GS&Co. The cash sweep options should
not be viewed as long-term investment options. If clients desire to maintain cash balances for other
than a short-term period or are seeking higher yields available in the market, clients should contact
their Private Wealth Management team to discuss investment options that may be available outside
of the cash sweep service. If a client does not wish to participate in the cash sweep service, their
cash will be held as free credit balances in their GS&Co. brokerage account in accordance with
GS&Co.’s customary practice. Free credit balances will generally earn less interest than money
market funds or Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
24
(cid:120) Climate Change—Climate change, its physical impacts, and related regulations could result in
significantly increased operating and capital costs that could materially harm certain portfolio
companies of Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Commodity Exposure Risks – Exposure to the commodities markets may result in greater volatility
than investments in traditional securities due to changes in overall market movements, commodity
index volatility, changes in interest rates, factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, as
well as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies.
(cid:120) Concentration and Geographic Risk – A portfolio that concentrates its investments in a relatively
small number of issuers, asset classes, geographic locations or economic sectors may be more
adversely affected by adverse economic, political or other developments than a less concentrated
portfolio.
(cid:120) Conflicts of Interest – Goldman Sachs’ activities, relationships and dealings could affect a particular
Advisory Account in ways that disadvantage or restrict the Advisory Account and/or benefit
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts.
(cid:120) Consolidated Reporting Risk – Information (including valuation) regarding advisory accounts not
custodied at GS&Co. may not be accurate as GS&Co. does not perform diligence on or
independently verify the accuracy of the custodian’s information or the source information; such
information is provided as a courtesy. This risk is greater when there is more volatility in an asset
class.
(cid:120) Conversion of Equity Investments – Equity securities acquired through the conversion of
convertible debt instruments or as a result of a restructuring event may be subject to restrictions
on transfer or disposition.
(cid:120) Corporate Event Risks – It is possible that investments in companies that are the subject of publicly
disclosed mergers, takeover bids, exchange offers, tender offers, spin-offs, liquidations, corporate
restructuring, and other similar transactions are not profitable due to the risk of transaction failure.
(cid:120) Counterparty Risk – A strategy will be exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which,
or the brokers, dealers, clearing members, custodians, service providers, and exchanges through
which, they engage in transactions.
(cid:120) Credit Ratings – An Advisory Account could use credit ratings to evaluate securities even though
such credit ratings might not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. A change in the credit
rating of a security can have a rapid, adverse effect on the security’s liquidity and make it more
difficult for an Advisory Account to sell at an advantageous price or time.
(cid:120) Credit/Default Risk – A borrower could fail to repay a loan or otherwise meet a contractual
obligation. A strategy will be exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which, or the
brokers, dealers and exchanges through which, it deals, whether it engages in exchange-traded or
off-exchange transactions.
(cid:120) Hybrid Securities Risks – Credit risk is magnified with respect to preferred and deeply subordinated
long-term debt (“Hybrid Securities”) due to their payoff structure. If an issuer goes into bankruptcy
all other debt holders are paid first and then preferred holders are paid.
(cid:120) Currency Risks – An Advisory Account that holds investments denominated in currencies other
than the currency in which the Advisory Account is denominated may be adversely affected by the
volatility of currency exchange rates and changes to exchange control regulations. Currency
25
exchange rates can be volatile, particularly during times of political or economic uncertainty. For
example, to the extent that non-U.S. dollar investments are unhedged, the value of an Advisory
Account’s net assets will fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates and with price changes of its
investments in the various local markets and currencies.
(cid:120) Cybersecurity – Personal, confidential or proprietary information being sent to or received from a
client, law firm, vendor, service provider, counterparty or other third-party has in the past been, and
may in the future be, intercepted, misused, copied, misappropriated or mishandled, including
through a cyber-attack on such persons or other information security event (including unauthorized
access by a party with malicious intent). Such cyber-attacks or other events can adversely impact
Goldman Sachs, Advisory Accounts and clients by, among other things, causing significant
disruptions in the business operations of Goldman Sachs and the operation of Advisory Accounts,
leading to theft (including identity theft) and data corruption, and leading to potential violations of
applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement
or other compensation costs and/or additional compliance costs.
(cid:120) Data Sources Risks – Information from third-party data sources to which Goldman Sachs
subscribes could be incorrect. While Goldman Sachs obtains data and information from third-party
sources that it considers to be reliable, Goldman Sachs does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy
and/or completeness of any data or information provided by these sources. Failure of a data source,
such as an index provider, to provide the data on which Goldman Sachs relies may have a negative
impact on the performance of an Advisory Account. Further, recent technological innovations have
disrupted numerous established industries. As technological innovation continues to advance
rapidly, it could adversely impact one or more investment strategies employed for Advisory
Accounts. Furthermore, investment decisions made based on views about the direction or degree
of innovation can prove inaccurate and lead to losses for Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Delegation of Receipt of Communications Risk – To the extent that clients confer Goldman Sachs
with authority to exercise investment discretion over their accounts and receive prospectuses and
other shareholder communications on their behalf, there is risk of client complaints or
dissatisfaction with certain investments where clients no longer receive such prospectuses or
issuer-related materials directly, even where such materials can be accessed via the issuer’s
website or by request from Goldman Sachs. Prospectuses and issuer-related materials contain
important information and detailed descriptions of additional fees and expenses, investment
minimums, risk factors and conflicts of interest disclosures, as well as clients’ rights, responsibilities
and liabilities with respect to such investments.
(cid:120) Dependence on Key Personnel Risk – Clients rely on certain key personnel of Goldman Sachs who
may leave Goldman Sachs or become unable to fulfill certain duties.
(cid:120) Risks of Derivative Investments – Investments in swaps, options, futures, and other derivative
instruments, including those relating to non-U.S. currency transactions, involve risks including,
among others, illiquidity in the markets for derivative instruments, failure of the counterparty to
perform its contractual obligations, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related
leverage factors associated with such transactions.
(cid:120) Virtual Currency/Digital Assets/Cryptocurrency Risk – Certain Advisory Accounts may invest in
virtual or “crypto” currencies and other similar digital assets, including through the use of virtual
currency derivatives, ETFs and options and through private funds that invest in such assets
(collectively, “Virtual Currencies”). Virtual Currencies are not legal tender in the United States and
the market for Virtual Currencies may be highly volatile. Virtual Currencies and related technologies
are subject to various cybersecurity risks, such as hacking vulnerabilities. Virtual Currency
exchanges, as well as other intermediaries, custodians and vendors used to facilitate Virtual
Currency transactions, are relatively new and largely unregulated in both the United States and
26
many foreign jurisdictions, and may have a higher level of operational risk than regulated futures
or securities exchanges, including service interruptions or permanent cessation of operations due
to manipulation, fraud, misappropriation of assets, government or regulatory involvement, or other
reasons. Any such events could negatively impact the value of customers’ Virtual Currency. Virtual
Currency derivatives face particular risks relating to margin requirements and potential restrictions
on customer trading activity. Virtual Currencies currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape
in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions. One or more jurisdictions may, in the future,
adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect Virtual Currency networks and their users. Tax
considerations may vary across global jurisdictions and could increase, rendering ownership of
Virtual Currencies subject to more punitive taxation in the future.
(cid:120) Electronic Trading – GS&Co. trades on electronic trading and order routing systems, which may
experience component failure and issues with system access, varying response times and security.
(cid:120) Emerging Markets and Growth Markets Risks – Investing in emerging and growth markets entails
social, economic, technological, political and regulatory risks not usually associated with investing
in developed markets. For example, The People’s Republic of China has adopted regulations in
the financial technology sector, and other non-U.S. jurisdictions may adopt similar regulations in
the same or different sectors, which could impact the ability of Advisory Accounts or underlying
funds to make investments in those jurisdictions. Additionally, certain jurisdictions may allow for
clawback arrangements with counterparties as a result of changes in law. Any such arrangements
could result in an Advisory Account being required to return distributions it previously received in
certain circumstances. Emerging and growth markets in certain countries could also face other
significant internal or external risks, including but not limited to a heightened risk of war and other
conflicts.
(cid:120) Environmental, Social Impact, and Governance Considerations – GS&Co. may in its discretion take
into account ESG considerations and political, media, and reputational considerations relating
thereto, and for example, as a result, GS&Co. might not make or recommend the making of
investments when it would otherwise have done so, which could adversely affect the performance
of Advisory Accounts. On the other hand, GS&Co. may determine not to take such considerations
into account, and such considerations may prove to have an adverse effect on the performance of
the applicable investments. GS&Co. may take ESG and related considerations into account for
some Advisory Accounts and not others, and, to the extent taking such considerations into account,
may make different investment decisions or recommendations for different Advisory Accounts.
GS&Co. may rely on third-party service providers in determining, from an ESG perspective, what
investments to exclude from its selection or recommendation based on such service providers’
categorization of the types of companies, industries, or sectors, as the case may be, that should
potentially be excluded from investment. There can be no assurance that the list of categories as
determined by GS&Co. and/or third-party service providers is complete or that the securities
restricted as a result of such categorization represents all of the securities that might otherwise be
restricted in connection therewith, and such categories or the securities restricted thereunder may
change from time to time.
(cid:120) Environmental Risks and Natural Disasters – Certain Advisory Account investments, including but
not limited to investments in or relating to real estate assets, in certain cases are subject to liability
under environmental protection statutes, rules and regulations, and may also be subject to risks
associated with natural disasters.
(cid:120) Equity and Equity-Related Securities and Instruments – The value of common stocks of U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers is affected by factors specific to the issuer, the issuer’s industry and the risk that
stock prices historically rise and fall in periodic cycles.
27
(cid:120) Expedited Transactions – In the event GS&Co. undertakes investment analyses and decisions on
an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities, there is a risk that not all
circumstances and risks of the investment are known.
(cid:120) Dependence on Government Funding, Tax Credits and Other Subsidies – The success of certain
ESG investments depends on government funding, tax credits, or other public or private sector
subsidies, which are not guaranteed over the life of the investment.
(cid:120) Exchange-Traded Funds Risks – ETFs could fail to accurately track the market segment or index
that underlies their investment objective. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do
not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares trade at a premium or a
discount to their net asset value (“NAV”); (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares is not
developed or 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. These
securities carry certain specific risks to investors. Leveraged ETF shares typically represent
interests in a portfolio of securities that track an underlying benchmark or index and seek to deliver
multiples of the performance of the index or benchmark. An inverse ETF seeks to deliver the
opposite of the performance of the index or benchmark it tracks. Like traditional ETFs, some
leveraged and inverse ETFs track broad indices, some are sector-specific, and others are linked to
commodities, currencies, or some other benchmark. To accomplish their objectives, leveraged and
inverse ETFs pursue a range of investment strategies using swaps, futures contracts, and other
derivative instruments. Most leveraged and inverse ETFs “reset” daily, meaning that they are
designed to achieve their stated objectives daily. Their performance over longer periods of time,
over weeks or months or years, can differ significantly from the performance (or inverse of the
performance) of their underlying index or benchmark during the same period. This effect can be
magnified in volatile markets and thus poses substantial risk for an investor.
(cid:120) Force Majeure – Advisory Account investments may be vulnerable to a force majeure event,
including acts of nature, war and strike, which could result in the destruction, impairment or loss of
profitability for the investments.
(cid:120) Frequent Trading and Portfolio Turnover Rate Risks – High turnover and frequent trading in an
Advisory Account could result in, among other things, higher transaction costs and adverse tax
consequences.
(cid:120) Geopolitical Risk – Geopolitical and other events (e.g., terrorist attacks, armed conflicts, political
and military events, the varying involvement of the United States and other countries in such
conflicts, political and civil unrest related to the foregoing and other events) have had, and could
continue to have, adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, including short-term
market volatility and adverse long term effects that cannot be predicted. These and any other
adverse effects, and adverse effects occurring as a result of similar events in the future, could
negatively impact the value of Advisory Account investments.
(cid:120) Government Investment Restrictions – U.S. and non-U.S. government regulations and restrictions
may limit the amount and type of securities that may be purchased or sold by GS&Co. on behalf of
Advisory Accounts, and economic sanction laws in the United States and other jurisdictions or other
governmental action could significantly reduce the value of Advisory Account investments in, or
restrict or completely prohibit GS&Co. and Advisory Accounts from investing, continuing to hold or
disposing an investment in, or transacting with or in, certain countries, individuals, and companies.
Some jurisdictions also require governmental approval for repatriation of investment income,
capital or proceeds of sales by foreign investors. Advisory Accounts could be adversely affected
by delays in, or a refusal to grant, governmental approval for foreign investments or repatriation of
investment income, and taxes. Additionally, certain investors may be precluded from directly
28
holding assets in these jurisdictions, which could materially impact flexibility in structuring
transactions or increase costs associated with certain investment opportunities.
(cid:120)
Improper Market Actors – There can be no assurance that any form of regulation or any market
constraints would prevent certain other market actors from engaging in fraud, market manipulation,
market abuse, or improper influence in the future, which may have a material adverse effect on
Advisory Accounts and their Investments. There can be no assurance that any redress would be
available to, or would be practical for, Advisory Accounts to pursue with respect to any such fraud,
market manipulation, market abuse, or improper influence.
(cid:120)
Indirect Investment in Non-U.S. Securities – Investments in participation notes and depository
receipts used to establish an indirect position in a foreign market are subject to the same risks as
the securities underlying such instruments and may be subject to certain fees or expenses.
(cid:120) Hypothetical Performance and Projected Returns Risk – The risk arising from reliance in making
an investment decision on performance of a portfolio not necessarily achieved by any particular
investor. Projected returns are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not
guarantees of future results. Such projected performance is subject to a number of limitations and
assumptions designed to determine the probability or likelihood of a particular investment outcome
based on a range of possible outcomes. It is possible that any of those assumptions will prove not
to be accurate. In addition, performance of a model portfolio, other portfolios, or a client’s Advisory
Account may differ materially from investment gains and avoidance of investment losses projected,
described, or otherwise referenced in forward-looking statements and the projected returns
associated with any of the foregoing may not materialize.
(cid:120)
Index/Tracking Error Risks – The performance of an Advisory Account that tracks an index may
not match, and may vary substantially from, the index for any period of time and may be negatively
impacted by any errors in the index, including in situations where an Advisory Account is unable to
invest in certain securities included in the index as a result of legal and compliance restrictions,
regulatory limits or other restrictions applicable to the Advisory Account and/or Goldman Sachs,
reputational considerations or other reasons. Where an index consists of relatively few securities
or issuers, it should be expected that tracking error will be heightened when an Advisory Account
is subject to such limitations or restrictions.
(cid:120)
Inflation Risks – The U.S. and other economies have experienced higher-than-normal inflation rates
and it remains uncertain whether substantial inflation in the U.S. and other economies will be
sustained over an extended period of time or have a significant adverse effect on the U.S. and
other economies. Inflation rates can fluctuate rapidly as a result of various factors, including
unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy and economic policy changes. An Advisory
Account’s investments might not keep pace with inflation, which can result in losses to investors
and negative effects on economies and financial markets. Inflation has increased the cost of fuel,
energy, labor, and raw materials, caused supply chain shortages, and may adversely affect
consumer spending, economic growth and the operations of Advisory Account portfolio companies.
Past governmental efforts to curb inflation have also involved drastic economic measures that have
had a material adverse effect on the level of economic activity in the countries where such
measures were employed, and similar governmental efforts could be taken in the future to curb
inflation and could have similar effects.
(cid:120)
Interest Rate Risks – Interest rates can fluctuate significantly, causing price volatility with respect
to securities or instruments held by an Advisory Account. Generally, rising interest rates negatively
impact the price of fixed-rate debt, and falling interest rates positively impact price, and adjustable-
rate debt experiences similar changes to a lesser degree. Central bank monetary policy, inflation
rates and general economic conditions influence interest rates, which is likely to impact the value
of certain securities held by Advisory Accounts either positively or negatively. When interest rates
are rising, debt can be more difficult to repay and the risk of default rises. In periods of falling
29
interest rates, debt is more likely to be repaid as borrowers refinance to lower rates. Falling interest
rates can also lead to lower returns at the same level of risk in Advisory Accounts. Long-term fixed
income securities will normally have more price volatility because of interest rate risk than short-
term fixed income securities. Risks associated with changing interest rates can have unpredictable
effects on the markets and Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120)
Investment Grade Debt Securities Risk – Investment grade debt securities, like other types of debt
securities, involve credit risk. Investment grade debt securities are also subject to the risk that their
ratings can be downgraded by the ratings agencies. A rating downgrade could decrease the value
of such securities, which could have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts that own such
securities.
(cid:120)
Investments in Undervalued Assets – The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued
assets is a difficult task, and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully
recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued assets offer the opportunity for above-
average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can
result in substantial losses.
(cid:120)
Investment Style Risks – An Advisory Account could outperform or underperform other Accounts
that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles, and the particular
investment style(s) applied to managing an Advisory Account can impact performance.
(cid:120)
IPOs/New Issues Risks – The purchase of IPO/New Issue shares may involve high transaction
costs and such shares may be subject to greater risks than investments in shares or debt
instruments of publicly traded companies. IPOs and new issues are subject to market risk and
fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned
trading, the small number of shares or bonds available for trading and limited information about the
company’s business model, growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate its investment
prospects.
(cid:120)
Investments in Certain Multi-Adviser Structures – Where an underlying fund allocates funds to
investment funds selected by its Manager that are affiliated with such Manager and investment
funds selected by such Manager that are not affiliated with such Manager (“Multi-Adviser
Structures”), Goldman Sachs generally will have limited ability to examine the organizational
infrastructure of the underlying managers and the investment funds in which the Advisory Account
indirectly invests. Managers have an incentive to select affiliated investment funds based on
compensation received in connection with managing such affiliated investment funds.
(cid:120)(cid:120) Lack of Control Over Investments – Advisory Personnel will not have complete or even partial
control over decisions affecting certain investments. For example, Advisory Personnel, when acting
in an advisory capacity, acquire investments that represent minority positions in a debt tranche
where third-party investors control amendments or waivers or enforcement. In addition,
administrative agents may be appointed under certain facilities in which an Advisory Account
invests that have discretion over certain decisions on behalf of the investors, including the Advisory
Account.
(cid:120) Leverage Risk – The use of leverage by an Advisory Account creates exposure to potential gains
and losses in excess of the initial amount invested, and relatively small market movements may
result in large changes in portfolio value. Uncovered put writing creates leverage risk and is not an
equity replacement.
(cid:120) Limited Assets – An Advisory Account with limited assets may be unable to trade in certain
instruments and/or diversify its portfolio across investment strategies or instruments.
30
(cid:120) Liquidity Risks – It is possible that an Advisory Account might not be able to monetize investments
and could have to hold to maturity or obtain a lower price for investments either because those
investments have become less liquid or illiquid in response to market developments including
adverse investor perceptions. This includes alternative investments such as hedge funds, funds of
hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of private equity funds and real estate funds. It should be
expected that these risks will be more pronounced in connection with an Advisory Account’s
investments in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries.
(cid:120) Litigation Risk – Advisory Accounts may be subject to third-party litigation, which could give rise to
legal liability and could have an adverse effect on the Advisory Accounts. If an Advisory Account
were to be found liable in any suit or proceeding, any associated damages and/or penalties could
have an adverse effect on the value of the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Losses in Affiliated Underlying Funds Borne Solely by Investors – All losses of an Advisory
Account, including losses relating to investments in underlying funds managed by GSAM, shall be
borne solely by such Advisory Account and not by Goldman Sachs.
(cid:120) Low Trading Volume Risk – It is possible that a client is not able to monetize his/her investment or
will have to do so at a loss as a result of generally lower trading volumes of the securities compared
to other types of securities or financial instruments.
(cid:120) Management of Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Accounts – Non-discretionary advisory clients
may not be able to implement GS&Co.’s recommendations with respect to the allocation or
reallocation of assets as quickly as GS&Co. implements such recommendations on behalf of
discretionary advisory clients, which could cause significant differences in the performance
between non-discretionary and discretionary advisory clients with the same or similar investment
objectives.
(cid:120) Management Risks – A strategy used by GS&Co. could fail to produce the intended results for an
Advisory Account, and there is a risk that the entire amount invested may be lost.
(cid:120) Market Abuse Risk – Certain markets have a history of alleged or actual price manipulation, market
abuse and improper influence. Any fraud, price manipulation, market abuse, or improper influence
in markets in which Advisory Accounts invest, directly or indirectly, may have an adverse effect on
such Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Market Disruption Risks and Terrorism Risks – A number of events could have adverse effects on
the global economy and may exacerbate some of the general risk factors related to investing in
certain strategies.
(cid:120) Market and Macro Risks – The value of an Advisory Account’s investments could decrease in
response to events affecting individual companies, particular industry sectors or governments,
changes in interest rates, regional or global pandemics, national and international political events,
and/or general economic conditions. Economic slowdowns or recessions may cause interest rates
to rise or may disproportionately impact the industries in which an Advisory Account invests,
causing the Advisory Account to be more vulnerable to losses in its portfolio, which may have an
adverse effect on such Advisory Account. In addition, governments from time to time intervene,
directly and by regulation, in certain markets. Such intervention often is intended directly to
influence prices and may, together with other factors, cause all of such markets to move rapidly in
the same direction. Any market disruptions described above may also result in further changes to
regulatory requirements or other government intervention. Such regulations may be implemented
on an “emergency” basis, which may suddenly prevent GS&Co. and Managers from implementing
certain investment strategies or from managing the risk of their outstanding positions.
31
(cid:120) Master Limited Partnership Risks – Investments by an Advisory Account in securities of MLPs
involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including: limited control and limited
voting rights; dilution; compulsory redemptions at an undesirable time or price because of
regulatory changes; and greater price volatility. 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 could cause a reduction of the value of the Advisory
Account’s investment in the MLP and lower income to the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Mid Cap and Small Cap Risks – Investments in mid- and small- capitalization companies are
generally subject to more price volatility than larger, more established companies and may lack
sufficient market liquidity.
(cid:120) Model Risks – The design or operation of proprietary quantitative or investment models used in the
management of Advisory Accounts may be deficient. 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). Models can also use artificial intelligence
techniques, such as natural language processing and machine learning, which could be less
transparent or interpretable and could produce unexpected results, which can result in losses.
Moreover, the effectiveness of a model may diminish over time, including as a result of changes in
the market and/or changes in the behavior of other market participants. Operation of a model may
result in negative performance, including returns that deviate materially from historical
performance, both actual and pro-forma. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative
investment managers may amplify losses. There is no guarantee that the use of these models will
result in effective investment decisions for an Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Multiple Levels of Fees and Expenses – Subject to applicable law, Advisory Accounts investing in
advisers or underlying funds generally bear any asset-based and performance-based fees or
allocations and expenses at the Advisory Account level and at the adviser or underlying fund level
(although there will be circumstances in which Advisory Accounts bear such fees at only the
Advisory Account level, or only the adviser level).
(cid:120) No Assurance of Achievement of Investment or Performance Objectives – There is no assurance
that Advisory Accounts will achieve their investment or performance objectives.
(cid:120) Non-Hedging Currency Risks – Volatility in currency exchange rates may produce significant losses
to an Advisory Account which has purchased or sold currencies through the use of forward
contracts or other instruments.
(cid:120)(cid:120) Non-U.S. Custody Risk – Advisory Accounts that invest in foreign securities could hold non-U.S.
securities and cash with non-U.S. custodians. Such non-U.S. custodians may be newly formed, or
subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations, and
the laws of certain countries could place limitations on an Advisory Account’s ability to recover its
assets if a non-U.S. custodian enters bankruptcy. These risks are generally more pronounced in
connection with an Advisory Account’s investments in securities of issuers located in emerging
market countries.
(cid:120) Non-U.S. Securities Risk – Non-U.S. Securities, particularly securities of issuers located in
emerging market countries, may be subject to heightened risk of loss as a result of more or less
government regulation, less public information, less liquidity, risk of nationalization or expropriation
of assets, greater volatility and less economic, political and social stability in the countries of
domicile of the issuers of the securities and/or the jurisdictions in which these securities are traded.
32
(cid:120) Registered Funds Risk – Advisory Accounts may invest in open-end mutual funds, and to a lesser
extent, registered closed-end funds, as well as ETFs. Open-end mutual funds and registered
closed-end funds have different risk characteristics. Shares of an open-end fund are purchased
directly from the fund whereas closed-end fund shares are purchased and sold in the market,
typically on a recognized stock exchange. Therefore, shares of a closed-end fund, when available,
can be traded during the day at any time and shares in an open-end fund can be purchased from
or sold back to the fund only at the end of the trading day. In addition, the price per share of a
closed-end mutual fund is determined by the market whereas the price per share of an open-end
fund will vary in direct proportion to the fund NAV. Both open-end mutual funds and closed-end
funds may own unlisted securities and use leverage to enhance returns. Furthermore, both open-
end and closed-end fund underlying fund holdings are reported with a lag. It should be expected
that when underlying mutual fund holdings change rapidly fund performance will differ from
expectations. Different mutual funds with similar investment policies, and different share classes
within those funds will have different expense levels.
(cid:120) Operational Risk – An Advisory Account may suffer losses arising from shortcomings or failures in
internal processes, people or systems or external events. Certain Advisory Accounts trade
instruments where operational risk is heightened due to such instruments’ complexity.
(cid:120) Options Risk – To the extent Advisory Accounts invest in options, they may be subject to the risks
described below in connection with GOAS strategies.
(cid:120) Partial or Total Loss of Capital – Certain investments made for Advisory Accounts are intended for
investors who can accept the risks associated with investing in illiquid securities and the possibility
of partial or total loss of capital.
(cid:120) Private Investment Risks – Private investments are highly competitive, less transparent, and illiquid.
(cid:120) Public Health Risk – Advisory Accounts could be materially adversely affected by the widespread
outbreak of infectious disease or other public health crises. Public health crises together with any
containment or other remedial measures undertaken or imposed, could have a material and
adverse effect on Advisory Accounts and their investments.
(cid:120) Private Equity Managed Accounts – Private equity investments generally will be long-term and
highly illiquid because such investments generally have no active secondary market and to the
extent any such investment can be resold, such resales are expected to be at a discount and to a
limited universe of eligible investors.
(cid:120) Real Estate Industry Risks – Real estate investments involve additional risks not typically
associated with other asset classes. The real estate industry is sensitive to economic downturns,
which may cause occasional or permanent reductions in property values and the values of
securities of real estate companies may fluctuate between under-performance and out-
performance of equity securities markets. Real estate investments (both through public and private
markets) are also subject to changes in broader macroeconomic conditions, such as interest rates.
(cid:120) Recession Risk – An Advisory Account’s investments may be susceptible to economic slowdowns
or recessions and may be unable to repay their debt obligations during these periods. Therefore,
during these periods, an Advisory Account’s non-performing assets may increase, and the value of
its portfolio may decrease. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral
securing some of an Advisory Account’s debt investments and the value of its equity investments.
These events could prevent an Advisory Account from making new investments and harm its
operating results. An economic downturn could disproportionately impact the industries in which an
Advisory Account invests, causing it to be more vulnerable to losses in its portfolio, which could
negatively impact financial results.
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(cid:120) Reliance on Technology – GS&Co. may employ investment strategies that are dependent upon
various computer and telecommunications technologies, which could fail.
(cid:120) Reliance on Third Parties – GS&Co. and Advisory Accounts require, and rely upon, the services of
a variety of third parties, including but not limited to attorneys, accountants, administrators, brokers,
custodians, consultants and other agents and vendors. Failure by any of these third parties to timely
and accurately perform their obligations to GS&Co. or an Advisory Account could have an adverse
effect upon GS&Co. or the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Requirement to Perform – When entering into forward, spot or option contracts, or swaps, an
Advisory Account may be required, and must be able, to perform its obligations under the contract.
(cid:120) Regulatory Restrictions Applicable to Goldman Sachs – From time to time, the activities of Affiliated
Products are restricted because of regulatory or other requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs
and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to
such requirements. External Products may or may not be subject to the same or similar restrictions
or requirements and, as a result, may outperform Affiliated Products. For additional information,
please refer to Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading—Participation or Interest in Client Transactions—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions
and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Restrictions on Investments – Advisory Accounts may be unable or limited in their ability to invest
in certain types of investments due to undertakings of Goldman Sachs with respect to the same
investments.
(cid:120) Risk Management Risks – There can be no assurance that GS&Co.’s use of various strategies to
manage the volatility and other risks of an Advisory Account’s portfolio will achieve its objective.
(cid:120) Risks Associated with Investments in Affiliated Products – Advisory Personnel will review as
potential investments for an Advisory Account such universe of products as they determine in their
sole discretion, and it should be expected that the universe of products Advisory Personnel
determine to review will be limited for certain reasons, including: (i) because one or more External
Products have not been reviewed or approved by XIG; (ii) because of administrative or practical
considerations, such as time constraints; or (iii) for other reasons determined by Advisory
Personnel. If Advisory Personnel select or recommend an Affiliated Product for an Advisory
Account, they will not have canvassed the universe of available External Products and, in such
circumstances, there may be one or more External Products that are more appropriate than the
Affiliated Product(s) selected or recommended by the Advisory Personnel, including from the
standpoint of the factors Advisory Personnel have taken into consideration. Affiliated Products
generally will not be subject to the same types of operational and other reviews performed with
respect to External Products. On the whole, the due diligence process for Affiliated Products is
significantly less rigorous and substantively different than that for External Products. As a result,
Advisory Personnel may select or recommend an Affiliated Product for an Advisory Account that
underperforms External Products (or other Affiliated Products) that might have been selected or
recommended, or Advisory Personnel could determine not to select or recommend an External
Product that would otherwise have been selected or recommended, had the due diligence process
applicable to External Products been utilized for Affiliated Products. In addition, in certain instances,
Advisory Personnel will not consider any External Products for certain asset classes if an Affiliated
Product is available; as a result, in some situations there are no External Products available for
certain asset classes on the GS platform; as a result, there could be one or more External Products
that would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory Account than the investment product
selected. Such External Products may outperform the Affiliated Product selected for the Advisory
Account. The fact that Affiliated Products are not subject to the same diligence review applicable
to External Products also could cause Affiliated Products to not be removed from Advisory
34
Accounts prior to periods in which they underperform potential replacement investment products,
whereas an External Product might have been removed. Goldman Sachs’ decision to offer funds
or separate accounts, including internal or external options, is driven by a variety of factors,
including the availability of high quality managers, investment minimums, the relative cost of funds
as compared to separate accounts as well as internal as compared to external costs, the access
to internal portfolio managers for discussion with clients as well as Advisory Personnel, the potential
for performance differential between Affiliated Products and External Products, the specialized
nature of certain products, and the ability to customize for clients based on their particular needs
and circumstances. Where authorized and if a product is available, Advisory Personnel are able to
select or recommend for the Advisory Account both Affiliated Products and External Products for
particular asset classes or strategies within the Advisory Account. As described below, conflicts of
interest arise in situations in which Advisory Personnel are permitted to allocate investments to
both Affiliated Products and External Products. The differing fee arrangements that apply to
investments by Advisory Accounts in Affiliated Products as compared to External Products create
a preference for the selection or recommendation of Affiliated Products over External Products.
See Item 11, Affiliated Products / External Products.
(cid:120)(cid:120) Risks Related to the Discontinuance of Interbank Offered Rates, in Particular LIBOR – Advisory
Accounts that undertake transactions in instruments that were valued using London Inter-bank
Offered Rates (“LIBOR”) or are valued using other interbank offered rates (“IBORs”) or have
contracts which previously determined payment obligations by reference to LIBOR or still determine
payment obligations by reference to other IBOR rates may be adversely affected as a result of
recent changes related to LIBOR. All LIBOR settings permanently ceased to be published as of
June 30, 2023 and a synthetic version of one-month, three-month and six-month USD LIBOR
settings permanently ceased to be published as of September 30, 2024. As a result of such
changes, instruments that were valued using LIBOR or are valued using other IBORs, or contracts
which determine or previously determined payment obligations by reference to such rates, are
subject to risks including but not limited to the risk of illiquidity, changes in performance
benchmarks, rate increases, operational complexities and valuation measurements that may
adversely affect performance.
(cid:120) Risks Related to Selection by Advisory Personnel of Affiliated Products versus External
Products – Advisory Personnel determine which products to select or recommend to clients. When
considering potential investment products for a particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel
give different weights to different factors depending on the nature of the client and on whether their
review is for an Affiliated Product or for an External Product. There is a risk that consideration of
such factors will not be applied consistently over time or by particular Advisory Personnel across
all Accounts or across different products and will play a greater role in the review of certain
strategies or products while others play no role at all, and that the factors will change from time to
time. It should be expected that Advisory Personnel do not review the entire universe of External
Products appropriate for an Advisory Account. As a result, Advisory clients should expect that there
could be one or more External Products that would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory
Account than the investment product selected by such Advisory Personnel. Such External Products
may outperform the Affiliated Product selected for the Advisory Account. See Item 11, Affiliated
Products / External Products.
(cid:120) Risks Related to SOFR – SOFR is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing funds
overnight in transactions that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. SOFR is calculated
based on transaction-level repo data collected from various sources. For each trading day, SOFR
is calculated as a volume-weighted median rate derived from such data. SOFR is calculated and
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”). If data from a given source
required by the FRBNY to calculate SOFR is unavailable for any day, then the most recently
available data for that segment will be used, with certain adjustments. If errors are discovered in
the transaction data or the calculations underlying SOFR after its initial publication on a given day,
SOFR may be republished at a later time that day. Rate revisions will be effected only on the day
35
of initial publication and will be republished only if the change in the rate exceeds one basis point.
Because SOFR is a financing rate based on overnight secured funding transactions, it differs
fundamentally from LIBOR. LIBOR was intended to be an unsecured rate that represents interbank
funding costs for different short-term maturities or tenors. It was a forward-looking rate reflecting
expectations regarding interest rates for the applicable tenor. Thus, LIBOR was intended to be
sensitive, in certain respects, to bank credit risk and to term interest rate risk. In contrast, SOFR is
a secured overnight rate reflecting the credit of U.S. Treasury securities as collateral. Thus, it is
largely insensitive to credit-risk considerations and to short-term interest rate risks. SOFR is a
transaction-based rate, and it has been more volatile than other benchmark or market rates, such
as historical three-month LIBOR, during certain periods. For these reasons, among others, there is
no assurance that SOFR, or rates derived from SOFR, will perform in the same or similar way as
LIBOR would have performed at any time, and there is no assurance that SOFR-based rates are
a suitable substitute for LIBOR. SOFR has a limited history, having been first published in April
2018. The future performance of SOFR, and SOFR-based reference rates, cannot be predicted
based on SOFR’s history or otherwise. Levels of SOFR in the future, may bear little or no relation
to historical levels of SOFR, LIBOR or other rates.
(cid:120) Risks of Technological Developments – The widespread adoption of new internet, networking or
telecommunications technologies or other technological changes could require issuers in which
Advisory Accounts invest to incur substantial expenditures to modify or adapt their services or
infrastructure to such new technologies, which could adversely affect their results of operations or
financial condition. In addition, new services or technologies offered by competitors or new entrants
may make such issuers less differentiated or less competitive when compared to other alternatives.
(cid:120) Risks Related to Third-Party Distribution – The distribution of Affiliated Products by third-party
distributors could expose GS&Co. to allegations of improper conduct and/or actions by regulators
in and outside of the U.S. with respect to, among other things, product suitability, investor
classification, compliance with securities laws, anti-money laundering requirements, conflicts of
interest regarding investment allocations, and the adequacy of disclosure (including valuation and
liquidity disclosures) to customers to whom Affiliated Products are distributed through those
channels. Although GS&Co. seeks to ensure through due diligence and onboarding procedures
that the third-party channels through which individual investors access its investment products
conduct themselves responsibly, GS&Co. might not be able to effectively monitor or control the
manner of distribution. For example, GS&Co. relies on such third-party channels to make suitability
determinations and does not conduct its own suitability assessment with respect to investors to
whom Affiliated Products are distributed. As a result, GS&Co. faces reputational risks and legal
liability to the extent such third parties improperly sell its products to investors.
(cid:120) Risks Related to the Operation of Markets – Advisory Accounts may incur losses in the event of
the early closure of, complete closure of, suspension of trading in, or similar interruptions affecting
one or more domestic or international markets, trading venues, or clearing houses on or through
which GS&Co. trades for such Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Sanctions Risk – Economic sanctions or similar measures by the United States or other non-US
governments imposed on the issuers of securities in an Advisory Account create a heightened risk
of loss due to delayed settlement, liquidity constraints, and an inability to liquidate such securities
at a favorable price or to conduct any transactions in such securities at all. Economic sanctions
may also prevent Goldman Sachs from taking certain steps to obtain timely possession or control
of an Advisory Account’s fully paid securities and excess margin securities to cure a segregation
deficiency.
(cid:120) Reputational Risks – The dissemination of negative or inaccurate information about issuers in
which Advisory Accounts invest via media, including social media, could harm their business,
reputation, financial condition, and results of operations, which could adversely affect Advisory
Accounts and, due to reputational considerations, influence GS&Co.’s decision as to whether to
remain invested in such issuers.
36
(cid:120) Short Selling/Position Risk – Short selling involves the risk of potentially unlimited losses and the
inability to reacquire a security or close the transaction timely or at an acceptable price.
(cid:120) Sustainability Risks – Advisory Account investments could be exposed to sustainability risks (i.e.,
where an environmental, social or governance event or condition exists that could cause an actual
or a potential material negative impact on the value of investments), including physical
environmental risks, climate change transition risks, supply chain disruptions, improper labor
practices and corruption. If they materialize, sustainability risks can reduce the value of
investments held by an Advisory Account and could have a material impact on the performance
and returns of Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Technology Sector Risks – Stock prices of technology companies may experience significant price
movements as a result of intense market volatility, worldwide competition, consumer preferences,
product compatibility, product obsolescence, government regulation, or excessive investor
optimism or pessimism.
(cid:120) Timing of Implementation Risks – There may be delays in the implementation of investment
strategies, including as a result of differences in time zones and the markets on which securities
trade. Whether an Advisory Account is managed on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis can
also disrupt the implementation of an investment strategy, For example, certain investment
strategies may be delayed or not pursued in Advisory Accounts managed on a non-discretionary
basis because the client must authorize transactions before they can be executed.
(cid:120) Trading on Non-U.S. Exchanges – Futures and securities traded on exchanges located outside the
United States may be subject to greater counterparty risk than those traded on U.S. exchanges,
financial irregularities and/or lack of appropriate risk monitoring and controls.
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Conflicts Related to the Use of Tactical Tilts – Where Advisory Personnel use tactical investment
ideas derived from short-term market views (“Tactical Tilts”) for Advisory Accounts, material risks
exist. For example, the timing for implementing a Tactical Tilt or unwinding a position can materially
affect the performance of such Tactical Tilt. For various reasons, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates
may implement a Tactical Tilt, invest in an affiliated fund that invests in Tactical Tilts, or unwind a
position for its client Accounts or on its own behalf before Advisory Personnel do on behalf of
Advisory Accounts, or implement a Tactical Tilt that is different from the Tactical Tilt implemented
by Advisory Personnel on behalf of Advisory Accounts, which could have an adverse effect on
Advisory Accounts and result in poorer performance by Advisory Accounts than by Goldman Sachs
or other client Accounts. In addition, unless otherwise agreed in writing, Advisory Personnel monitor
an Advisory Account’s Tactical Tilt positions only on a periodic basis. Therefore, changes in market
conditions and other factors may result in substantial losses to an Advisory Account, and no
assurance can be given that a Tactical Tilt position will be unwound before the Advisory Account
suffers losses. The use of Tactical Tilts also includes the risk of reliance on models.
(cid:120) Conflicts Related to the Use of Target Ranges and Rebalancing – To the extent a client designates
target allocations or target ranges within an Advisory Account in connection with a particular asset
class or strategy, allocations of an Advisory Account’s assets may, from time to time, be out of
balance with the Advisory Account’s target ranges for extended periods of time or at all times due
to various factors, such as fluctuations in, and variations among, the performance of the investment
products to which the assets are allocated, reliance on estimates in connection with the
determination of percentage allocations and limitations on liquidity of investments. Any rebalancing
by Advisory Personnel of the Advisory Account’s assets may have an adverse effect on the
performance of the Advisory Account’s assets. For example, an Advisory Account will generally
incur transaction costs, and could be subject to investment losses, if the Advisory Account’s assets
are allocated away from an over-performing investment product and allocated to an under-
performing investment product in connection with a rebalancing. In addition, in some cases
Advisory Personnel’s ability to fully rebalance as intended is limited by several factors, including
37
the use of estimates of the NAVs of the investment products, and, in the case of investments in
pooled investment vehicles, restrictions on additional investments in and redemptions from such
investment products. Similarly, the use of target ranges in respect of asset classes may result in
an Advisory Account containing a significantly greater percentage of Affiliated Products than would
otherwise be the case, including during periods in which Affiliated Products underperform External
Products. In such circumstances, there could be one or more External Products that would be a
more appropriate addition to an Advisory Account than the Affiliated Products then in the Advisory
Account. Such External Products may outperform the Affiliated Products then in the Advisory
Account. For information regarding conflicts of interest in connection with Affiliated Products and
External Products, See Item 11, Affiliated Products / External Products.
(cid:120) Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks – New and existing legal, tax and regulatory regimes may
adversely impact the ability of GS&Co. to conduct activities and transactions in respect of Advisory
Accounts, may require material adjustments to the business and operations of Advisory Accounts,
or may result in increased costs and operational burdens associated with the trading and
investment activity of Advisory Accounts and increased compliance costs (including the cost of
additional resources dedicated to compliance), which could be harmful to Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Tax Aware Investment Risks – This section briefly summarizes some of the important risks,
including U.S. federal income tax consequences, that may arise in connection with “tax-aware”
strategies. Tax aware strategies are generally designed for U.S. taxable clients to realize capital
losses (primarily short-term) and defer capital gains. They may also be referred to as “tax
advantaged,” “tax managed,” or “tax aware” strategies or accounts (collectively referred to herein
as tax aware strategies or accounts). This section does not address all tax rules, including state
laws, non-U.S. person regulations, and other rules applicable to certain types of clients or special
circumstances. GS&Co. does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice unless otherwise agreed
to by GS&Co. in writing.
(cid:131) Payment of Taxes – Clients will be responsible for payment of any and all taxes due as a result
of transactions in an account that pursues a tax aware strategy.
(cid:131) Risks Relating to Tax Aware Strategies Generally – Tax aware strategies are designed for U.S.
taxable clients to realize capital losses (primarily short-term) and defer capital gains. If the
strategies fail to meet these tax-aware objectives, the after-tax result could be worse than if the
client had not enrolled in the strategy at all. Furthermore, implementing tax-aware
methodologies may introduce substantial non-tax economic costs, such as retaining securities
with unrealized gains that hinder the ability to align the portfolio with desired investment
allocations. By intentionally triggering capital losses and replacing sold securities, the average
cost basis of the securities in the portfolio is reduced. This creates a growing contingent future
tax liability on unrealized gains. If the account is eventually liquidated, the client will generally
face immediate taxes on these realized gains. The extent of any tax benefits, even if achieved
by a tax aware strategy or account, could vary depending upon a client’s investments outside
of the strategy in an account within GS&Co. or held outside of GS&Co., or in accounts held by
related parties, within GS&Co. or held outside of GS&Co.
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, Managers of tax aware strategies, including the Tax
Advantage Core Strategies (“TACS”) managed by GSAM LP, manage tax-aware accounts on
a standalone basis and do not consider any other assets that a client owns (including in other
accounts managed by the Manager, including those managed by GSAM LP or its affiliates).
Transactions in these outside accounts can trigger adverse tax consequences under U.S.
Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) wash sale, straddle, or constructive sale rules. In the
event of an unfavorable determination on an IRS tax audit, clients may be subject to additional
taxation (including interest and penalties) on a current or retroactive basis. Tax reporting of
38
gains and losses on IRS Form 1099, and associated tax basis reporting, will generally not
reflect all of the consequences of straddles, wash sales, constructive sales or the
disqualification of dividends and it is incumbent on clients and their tax advisors to
independently recognize and account for such tax consequences. Managers ability to utilize
various tax-management techniques may be curtailed or eliminated in the future by tax
legislation, regulation or interpretations, each of which may have retroactive effects and clients
should consult their tax advisor.
The sale of positions to repay borrowing on a client’s portfolio generally could also have tax
ramifications and diminish the client’s overall tax objectives especially where the client has
have chosen to invest in a tax aware strategy. Further, adverse tax consequences, such as
those mentioned below, could, in some circumstances, exceed the potential tax benefits of a
tax aware strategy.
(cid:131) Constructive Sales – Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”),
a client may be treated as recognizing a gain (but not a loss) if they hold a position that
economically offsets an appreciated position (e.g., a long position in a TACS account and an
offsetting short position in a different account).
(cid:131) Tax Straddles – Certain adverse tax consequences can apply when a taxpayer or a related
party holds “offsetting positions” (e.g., a stock and an offsetting option) that substantially
diminish the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other
positions, including the suspension or elimination of realized losses, the conversion of short-
term losses into long-term losses, the resetting of holding periods to zero, and the
disqualification of dividends from preferential tax rates.
(cid:131) Wash Sales – Under the wash sale rules, the loss on the sale of a stock or security is disallowed
and is instead added to the basis of the replacement security. A client’s ability to use realized
losses may be limited if a client invests in multiple mandates that trade the same or substantially
identical securities, and/or through accounts that are deemed to be related under the relevant
tax rules and regulations (“related accounts”). In certain instances, Managers may intentionally
engage in wash sales when they believe that the trades are beneficial to do so. In addition,
Managers may be unable to avoid wash sales in certain circumstances. To the extent that one
or more TACS accounts are managed as related for tax purposes, GSAM LP may limit or
reduce trading across those accounts in order to avoid wash sales which may result in less
loss harvesting for the accounts. The rules apply to both long and short positions. Managers
are not responsible for identifying wash sales across a client’s portfolio.
(cid:131) Qualified Dividends – To receive preferential tax rates on dividends, a stock must be held for
more than 60 days during a specific 121-day window. Clients who hold a short position in the
same or similar stock directly or in a related account during this period can cause the dividend
to fail to be qualified, causing it to be taxed at higher ordinary income rates.
(cid:131) Additional Risks Related to the TACS and GOAS Call Writing Strategy Accounts – If a client
maintains a TACS account and a GOAS call writing strategy account, a straddle may be
created if the underlier of the call option(s) held in the GOAS call writing account is substantially
similar to equity positions across your investment portfolio, as those equity positions generally
may reduce the risk of loss on the call option(s).
(cid:131) Additional Risks Related to the Tax Aware Active Extension Strategies – Tax aware Active
Extension strategies (“Active Extension Strategies”), including TACS Active Extension
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Strategies managed by GSAM LP, are generally tax aware strategies that utilize both short
sales and margin loans in an effort to deliver outperformance relative to the market while
seeking to provide additional tax management opportunities relative to other tax aware
strategies. In addition to the risks described above, the Active Extension Strategies are subject
to certain other risks including short sale risk and certain tax risk. See also Leverage Risk
above.
(cid:131) Short Sale Risks – The Active Extension Strategies will require that a broker dealer
execute a short sale of securities chosen by Managers. If a client fails to deliver any
securities sold in a long sale, the broker dealer (which could be an affiliate of GSAM
LP) will be authorized to borrow the necessary securities to enable the broker dealer
to make delivery. Clients are responsible for all costs, including borrowing fees and
payments, while facing risks related to leverage, counterparty insolvency, and the
potential for lenders to terminate loans unexpectedly. Please refer to Short
Selling/Position Risk.
(cid:131) Tax Risk – It is possible that the IRS could challenge the tax benefits associated with
the Active Extension Strategies, in which case adverse tax consequences along with
interest and penalties could apply. Clients should consult their tax advisor.
(cid:120) Trade Protectionism – Advisory Accounts may be materially affected by market, economic and
political conditions globally and in the jurisdictions and sectors in which they invest or operate,
including economic outlook, factors affecting interest rates, the availability of credit, currency
exchange rates, and trade barriers. Recent populist and anti-globalization movements, particularly
in the United States, may result in material changes in economic trade and immigration policies, all
of which could lead to significant disruption of global markets and could have adverse
consequences on the Advisory Accounts’ investments. The imposition of tariffs, for example, can
lead to supply shortages and higher costs, potentially impacting their profitability and
competitiveness.
(cid:3)
(cid:120) U.S. Treasury Securities Risk – Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit
of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when
held to maturity, but the market prices for such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate,
including as changes in global economic conditions affect the demand for these securities.
Additionally, it is expected that the SEC’s recent adoption of rules which will require central clearing
of a broad range of cash and repurchase transactions in U.S. Treasury securities beginning on
December 31, 2026 will result in significant changes in the current marketplace, which in turn will
have significant effects on market participants including GS&Co. and its affiliates and on the prices
of U.S. Treasury securities. The full impact of these changes is uncertain.
(cid:120) Valuation Risks – In valuing assets that lack a readily ascertainable market value GSAM or its
agent may utilize dealer-supplied quotations or pricing models based on methodologies that are
subject to error.
(cid:120) Volatility Risks – The prices and values of investments can be highly volatile, and are influenced
by, among other things, interest rates, general economic conditions, investor sentiment, the
condition of the financial markets, the financial condition of the issuers of such assets, changing
supply and demand relationships, programs and policies of governments, regional or global
pandemics, developments or trends in any particular industry, and political and economic events
and policies worldwide. In the event that securities trading is significantly reduced or halted due to
any of the foregoing or other factors, it might be difficult for an Advisory Account or underlying fund
to properly value its holdings in such securities.
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In addition to the general risks described above, including, but not limited to, US Treasury securities risks,
counterparty risks and currency risks, certain material risks associated with investing in fixed income
strategies may also apply to Advisory Accounts managed by Private Wealth Advisors. Such risks may
include:
(cid:120) Fixed-Income Securities Risk – Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s or a
guarantor’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations and to price volatility.
(cid:120) Odd Lot Risk – Pricing services generally price fixed income securities assuming transactions of
an institutional “round lot” size. While GS&Co. generally does not seek to purchase odd lots for
Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. could from time-to-time trade in smaller “odd lot” sizes because, for
example, it is impractical to acquire an institutional “round lot” due to an Advisory Account’s limited
size, an Advisory Account receives an odd lot as a result of a corporate action or other event outside
of GS&Co.’s control, or an Advisory Account directs GS&Co. to transact in a legacy odd lot position.
Odd lots typically trade at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Over certain time periods,
such differences could materially impact the performance of an Advisory Account that holds odd
lots.
(cid:120) Short Duration Fixed-Income Strategies – A strategy focused on short duration fixed-income
securities generally will earn less income and could provide lower total returns, than longer duration
strategies.
(cid:120) Sovereign Debt Risks – Investment in sovereign debt obligations involves risks not present in debt
obligations of corporate issuers, such as the issuer’s inability or unwillingness to repay principal or
interest, and limited recourse to compel payment in the event of a default.
(cid:120) Tax Exempt Risk – The tax exempt status of municipal securities could change or be removed
completely which would negatively impact the value of municipal bonds.
In addition to the risks described above, including but not limited to credit risk, risks associated with investing
in preferred and Hybrid Securities include:
(cid:120) Sector Concentration – Most preferred and Hybrid Securities are issued by financial firms and
banks. By investing in preferred securities, one can have an inadvertent concentration in one’s
portfolio to financial firms or the financial sector as a whole.
(cid:120) Term of Investment – Preferred and Hybrid Securities usually have long maturities (often 30 years
or longer) or even no maturity date at all, meaning they can remain outstanding in perpetuity. They
generally are “callable,” i.e., they can be retired prior to maturity under specified terms of the bond
indenture; however, this is an option of the issuer.
Additional Risks Applicable to Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams
In addition to the risks applicable to all strategies, the specific risks of each strategy should be considered.
The following is a description of the strategies managed by Portfolio Management Teams, the methods of
analysis used by Portfolio Management Teams in formulating investment advice for Advisory Accounts and
the material risks involved in investing in each strategy.
Structured Investment Strategies
GS&Co. offers structured investment strategies managed by a dedicated Portfolio Management Team.
These strategies consist primarily of structured instruments, such as structured notes and warrants, which
are issued by unaffiliated, third-party issuers and offered and sold pursuant to a registration statement filed
with the SEC or in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The primary objective of these strategies is to gain underlying exposure to defined securities by building a
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portfolio of structured investments with varying terms and diversified credit exposures. The Portfolio
Management Team invests in structured investments issued by third-party issuers available to GS&Co. at
the time, and may also invest directly in the referenced asset(s) or underlying exposure (i.e., the index or
ETF) for a period of time in an effort to maintain the exposure intended by the strategies. The Portfolio
Management Team selects investments issued by a particular third-party issuer for a variety of reasons,
including to provide diversified credit exposures, due to capacity constraint reasons or in an effort to
facilitate client requests, but may, at times, be limited in its ability to do so. The terms and risks of each
structured investment vary materially depending on the credit-worthiness of the issuer, the nature of the
referenced asset and the maturity of the instrument, among other factors.
In addition to the general risks described above, some of the material risks associated with structured
investment strategies include:
(cid:120) Correlation Risk – The performance of the structured investment held in a client’s Account could
underperform or differ from the market, or prior to maturity, perform differently than the payment at
maturity formula due to changes in factors influencing the structured investments, including equity
performance and/or changes in credit spreads, implied volatility, interest rates and/or dividends.
(cid:120) Credit Diversification Risk – The credit diversification of the strategy could be limited due to the lack
of availability of structured investments from one or more issuers at a given time.
(cid:120) Secondary Market/Limited Liquidity Risk – The secondary market for one or more of the underlying
structured investments could be limited due to a particular issuer exposure, volatility of a referenced
asset or for other reasons. This lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make one or more of
the underlying investments more difficult to dispose of and to value, resulting in the strategy being
less liquid than other strategies and negatively impacting secondary market valuations.
(cid:120) Underperformance Risk – The strategy could underperform the underlying investments due to
reasons such as the payout feature of one or more investments and the fact that such structured
investments do not receive dividends.
Goldman Sachs Option Advisory Services (“GOAS”) Strategies
GS&Co. offers a number of actively managed option strategies involving listed and/or OTC call and/or put
options, including collars and put spread collars managed by a dedicated Portfolio Management
Team. These managed option strategies generally involve selling and buying options. Certain strategies
may involve the buying and selling of equity securities (including shares or ETFs), including equity securities
underlying the options in connection with exercises and assignments of options contracts or for other
purposes provided by the strategy. Such equity securities are selected based on a model portfolio of
securities determined by GSAM LP or another affiliate of GS&Co. acting in their capacity as a co-investment
adviser. The securities in GOAS accounts may be different from, or have a different weighting than, those
included in the model portfolio provided by GSAM LP or another affiliate of GS&Co. Certain strategies may
involve management of equity positions without options for a period of time or on an ongoing basis.
Depending on the client’s objectives and parameters and the GOAS strategy selected, the strategy may be
designed to generate yield through upfront premiums received from the sale of the options (which may cap
upside when selling calls or may introduce downside risk when selling puts) or may be designed to reduce
the volatility of the underlier of such options.
The GOAS team uses a variety of analyses and risk management tools to monitor changing conditions,
liquidity and volatility in the options market.
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In addition to the risks described above, including, but not limited to, cash management, cash sweep and
leverage risks, some of the other material risks associated with GOAS Strategies may include:
(cid:120) Call Options Risk – An investment in call options is subject to a risk of losses equal to or greater
than the premium paid/received in a relatively short period of time. The seller (writer) of a call option
assumes the risk of the appreciation of the security underlying the option, which will negatively
impact the performance of the call option selling strategy. If the price of the underlying security
appreciates above the option strike price, the seller of the call option will suffer losses on the call
option. For a covered call option (i.e., the writer holds the underlying security), that loss will offset
any appreciation on the underlying security above the strike price. The seller (writer) of a covered
call option also assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the
purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received. The seller (writer) of an
uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of
the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The seller (writer) of a call option may
close out an existing option position before its expiration date by paying the cost to close out the
position, which may be higher than the original premium received if the price of the underlying
security has appreciated. The seller may also choose to roll the existing option position by closing
out the position and replacing it with a new option. The options seller will need to pay the cost to
close out the existing position, and the premium received from the sale of the new option may be
less than the amount paid to close out the original position if the price of the underlying security has
appreciated. The options seller will bear the full amount of any cost to close out an existing position.
Sales of shares underlying options positions to meet settlement obligations to close out an options
position, to fund a roll of an options position, or otherwise may result in tax consequences, including
the realization of tax gains or losses.
(cid:120) Correlation Risk – The underlying equity portfolio may not correlate to or track closely with the
selected benchmark (which may be an index, ETF or basket) on which the options positions are
based, and as a result, the option strategy performance varies substantially from the performance
of the portfolio for any period of time. For example, when writing call options on an index, the value
of the index may appreciate while the value of the equity portfolio declines in value. This may result
in losses on both the option positions and the equity portfolio.
(cid:120) Depositary Receipt Risk – Depositary receipts may not reflect the return a GOAS account would
realize if the GOAS account actually owned the relevant securities underlying the depositary
receipts. Should a GOAS account acquire depositary receipts through banks that do not have a
contractual relationship with the issuer of the underlying security to issue and service such
depositary receipts, there may be an increased possibility that the GOAS account would not
become aware of and be able to respond to corporate actions such as stock splits or rights offerings
involving the issuer in a timely manner. In addition, certain fees and other expenses may apply to
transactions in depository receipts, including fees associated with foreign currency conversion,
creation fees charged by third parties and foreign tax charges.
(cid:120) Exercise Risk – The early exercise of an option, which could result in the underlying stock position
being called away or having to cash settle the option prior to expiration, which may result in tax
consequences, including the realization of tax gains or losses. All options, whether those with
American style or European style exercise features are exposed to the fluctuation in the market price
of the underlier. There is no guarantee that an option will expire or be exercised at the optimal time,
considering the price movements in the underlier during the time the option is held in a portfolio.
(cid:120) Foreign-Currency-Denominated Security Risk – Foreign-currency-denominated securities that
settle in a different currency are subject to fluctuations in exchange rates that could have an
adverse effect on the value or price of, or income derived from, the investment. Securities such as
ADRs/GDRs, the values of which are influenced by foreign currencies, effectively assume currency
risk.
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(cid:120) Options Close-out Risk – The inability to close out of existing positions if those options were to
become unavailable, including because regulatory agencies impose exercise restrictions that
prevent the holder of an option from realizing value. Options trading is a speculative investment
activity that involves a high degree of risk of loss beyond the value of the underlying securities
investment. Transaction costs may be significant in option strategies that require multiple
purchases and sales of options.
(cid:120) OTC Risk – When a GOAS account invests in securities through instruments traded on OTC
markets, there may be less governmental regulation and supervision of the OTC markets than of
organized exchanges or other similar trading platforms. Additionally, a GOAS account may take a
credit risk with regard to parties with which it trades through OTC transactions and as a result bear
the risk of payment, margin, settlement and other performance defaults. Lack of liquidity in OTC
markets may make one or more of the investments in a GOAS account more difficult to dispose of
and to value, and, therefore, may result in the strategy being less liquid than other strategies that
do not invest in securities through OTC markets. These risks may differ materially from those
involved in exchange-traded transactions, which generally are characterized by clearing
organization guarantees, daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum
capital requirements applicable to intermediaries.
(cid:120) Put Options Risk – The seller (writer) of a put option which is covered (i.e., the writer has cash to
cover the full strike notional of the option) assumes the risk of a decrease in the market price of the
underlying security below the strike price of the option less the premium received, and gives up the
opportunity for gain above the premium received. The seller of an uncovered put option assumes
the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the exercise price of the
option and gives up the opportunity for gain above the premium received. A put writing strategy
may significantly underperform a stand-alone equity position if the stock appreciates/depreciates
very rapidly or is more volatile than anticipated by the market. With an ongoing put writing strategy,
losses may also exceed the notional amount of the strategy over time. A seller (writer) of a put
writing strategy assumes the risk that the underlying security drops in value and, as a result of
exercise by the purchaser of the option, the seller (writer) of the put option may be required to
purchase the underlier of the option at a price above the current market price or deliver cash to
cash settle an option where the value of the underlier is lower than the strike price. It may not be
possible to trade out of the options in the portfolio prior to their maturity, and even if it is possible,
there are transaction costs, which may be significant. If the seller (writer) of an uncovered put option
is assigned on an open option position that has been exercised, the seller (writer) may be required
to liquidate assets to satisfy the settlement obligations. If the market moves against uncovered put
options positions, additional securities and other assets will be required as margin, on short notice,
in order to maintain the put option positions, or options positions for which there is a margin
deficiency will be liquidated, most likely at a loss and the seller (writer) will be liable for any resulting
deficit. The risk of uncovered options is potentially unlimited and a seller (writer) of put options may
sustain a loss of all assets posted as margin.
(cid:120) Sizing Risk – Options strategies may not be appropriately sized for a particular risk profile. Although
the risks of investing in an options strategy remain the same regardless of the size of the
investment, appropriate sizing can reduce the proportional impact of such risks relative to a client’s
larger portfolio.
(cid:120) Tax Risk – The risk of adverse tax consequences should the collective positions within a client’s
overall portfolio maintaining a GOAS call writing strategy be recognized as a straddle for tax
purposes.
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Trading Restriction Risk – Temporary or permanent trading restrictions may be imposed on
securities (including ADRs, ADSs, ETFs, US common stocks, exchange traded derivatives, or other
securities) or options in your GOAS account. In such instances, the security or option may remain
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in the GOAS account and become worthless or create exposure in the GOAS account that may
have a significant cost to a client.
(cid:120) Underlying Portfolios Market Risk – Certain equity portfolios underlying options positions could
have losses that are greater than gains in the value of the options positions in the strategy, or that
losses on the option positions will occur at the same time as losses in the value of the underlying
equity positions of a strategy. In addition, certain instruments, including exchange-listed and OTC
put and call options, may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, a
customer will not be able to close out of some transactions without incurring losses substantially
greater than the initial deposit.
More information about the risks associated with the GOAS Strategies is set forth in the client’s investment
advisory agreement for these strategies. Additionally, the industry standard Options Disclosure Document
(“ODD”) provides a full description of the characteristics and risks of options and options trading. Clients
may obtain an additional copy of the ODD by requesting a copy from their Private Wealth Management
team or by visiting http://www.theocc.com/about/publications/character-risks.jsp.
GS&Co. acts in multiple capacities for clients participating in the GOAS Strategies to the extent that the
strategy involves OTC options. In such cases, GS&Co. acts as the client’s discretionary investment adviser
and as counterparty facing its affiliates as principal in these transactions. As such, certain terms of these
transactions, including the strike price, the expiration date and the settlement type, are determined by
reference to transactions that GS&Co. or its affiliates enter into with third parties to hedge their obligations
to clients (“Reference Options”). GS&Co. is also the calculation agent for these options transactions. As
calculation agent, GS&Co. has discretion to calculate payment obligations and receivables of the Reference
Options that determine the value of such options. As a result, GS&Co. has some ability to influence the
valuation of the Reference Options, which, in turn, may affect the value of the options between GS&Co.
and the client. GS&Co.’s differing roles and ability to control the pricing aspects of the OTC options
transactions create conflicts of interest with GS&Co.’s obligation as investment adviser to the client. These
potential conflicts are mitigated in a number of ways, including that the client provides consent to these
principal transactions and acknowledges Goldman Sachs’ multiple roles and capacities on an annual basis.
In addition, the options transactions that GS&Co. enters into with the client mirror the Reference Options
between GS&Co. and unaffiliated broker-dealers, and the pricing that GS&Co. receives is passed on to the
client. Also, the calculation agent, whether Goldman Sachs or an unaffiliated entity, must calculate any
payments under the terms of the transactions by reference to the actual amounts due or owed with respect
to the Reference Options. For a discussion of the conflicts associated with principal transactions, please
refer to Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
Systematic Wealth Transfer Program (“SWT Program”)
In addition to providing administrative services related to Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (“GRATs”),
Portfolio Management Teams may provide discretionary advice as may be agreed upon in writing as to the
timing of annuity payments within the applicable annuity windows, recommendations for substitutions, and
investment management of the underlying GRAT assets, as well as other discretionary functions.
Additional material risks specific to the SWT Program may include:
(cid:131) Administrative Risk – Failure to comply with specific rules for administering GRATs, as well as
dependency on each client’s legal representations, could have adverse tax and legal
consequences to participants in the strategy.
(cid:131) Wealth Transfer Risk – If the assets in a GRAT do not outperform the IRS-imposed hurdle rate, the
GRAT will not result in the desired wealth transfer.
(cid:131) Tax Risk – Changes in tax laws or regulations could affect the potential benefits of transferring
wealth via GRATs.
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(cid:131) Substitution Risk – A substitution recommendation might not be able to be implemented due to a
number of external factors, thereby impacting the efficiency of the program.
Thematic Marketplace Strategies
GS&Co. offers separately managed accounts comprised of equity securities, including ADRs, that based
on fundamental research and proprietary views of GSAM LP or another affiliate of GS&Co. are believed to
be aligned with a given theme (the “Thematic Portfolio”). A dedicated Portfolio Management Team selects
investments based on the Thematic Portfolio of securities determined by GSAM LP or another affiliate of
GS&Co. acting in their capacity as a co-investment adviser. The securities in a client’s separately managed
account may be different from, or have a different weighting than, those included in the Thematic Portfolio
provided by GSAM LP or another affiliate of GS&Co.
Some of the material risks associated with Thematic Marketplace Strategies may include:
(cid:120) Concentration Risk – Thematic Portfolios are more concentrated than broad-based equity
exposure. Thematic Portfolios concentrated in a theme, sector, industry or single issuer are more
likely to experience greater loss due to an adverse economic, business or political development
affecting the theme, sector, industry or issuer than a direct equity portfolio that is more diversified.
(cid:120) Tracking Error Risk – The performance of a client’s Thematic Portfolio could be different than the
performance of, and could vary substantially from, the model portfolio due to the Thematic
Portfolio’s inability to invest in certain securities as a result of legal and compliance restrictions,
regulatory limits, Advisory Account restrictions put in place by the client, other restrictions
applicable to the Advisory Account, reputational considerations or other reasons.
(cid:120) Underperformance Risk – A client’s Thematic Portfolio could underperform the broad-based equity
market. The Thematic Portfolio could negatively impact a client’s total return.
Alternative Portfolio Services (“APS”)
For GS&Co. clients, APS offers separately managed accounts managed on a discretionary basis, which
include Alternative Investments such as private equity, private credit, private real estate, private
infrastructure, hedge funds and other private market funds. Selecting from approved funds, a dedicated
portfolio management team constructs a sub-asset allocation in the Advisory Account based on the client’s
sub-asset class targets and the recommended portfolio allocations determined by ISG. The Alternative
Investments made available to GS&Co. clients are provided directly by Affiliated Managers, Unaffiliated
Managers, or third-party Alternative Investment platform providers. Alternative Investments offered through
third-party Alternative Investments platform providers may be more expensive than Alternative Investments
offered directly or through GS&Co. or GSAM to clients.
In addition to the risks described above, including, but not limited to, liquidity risks and currency risk,
Alternative Investments are subject to the risks that clients could lose all or a substantial amount of their
investment as a result of the volatility of Alternative Investments or other factors. Alternative Investments
(1) involve a high degree of risk, (2) often engage in leveraging and other speculative investment practices
that increase the risk of investment loss, (3) can be highly illiquid with extended lock-up periods where
assets may not be sold, (4) may lack a secondary market to purchase shares that investors care to redeem,
(5) are not required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors, (6) sometimes involve
complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax information, (7) are not subject to the same
regulatory requirements as publicly traded securities, (8) often charge high fees which offset any trading
profits, and (9) in many cases execute investments which are not transparent and are known only to the
investment manager. Often, Alternative Investment managers have total trading authority over their funds
or accounts. The use of a single Manager applying generally similar trading programs could mean lack of
diversification and, consequently, higher risk. Additionally, investment vehicles designed to invest in a single
asset pose heightened risk, as they lack diversification. Alternative Investments lack a readily ascertainable
46
market value and a valuation may be stale by the time it is delivered to clients. There is often no secondary
market for an investor’s interest in Alternative Investments, including hedge funds and managed futures,
and none is expected to develop. Even when there is a secondary market, it is often a small group of
investors willing to purchase the Alternative Investment, typically resulting in a discount on the sale of the
asset versus the actual value of the underlying assets. There may be restrictions on transferring interests
in an Alternative Investment. Alternative Investments may execute some portion of their trades on non-U.S.
exchanges. Investing in foreign markets generally entails risks that differ from those associated with
investments in U.S. markets.
Private Placement Insurance
Private Placement Life Insurance (“PPLI”) and Private Placement Variable Annuities (“PPVA”) (collectively,
“Private Placement Insurance” or “PPI”) are complex financial instruments typically offered to sophisticated
investors and are subject to significant risks and limitations.
(cid:120) PPI products are designed for long-term financial planning, often spanning decades. Such products
may be unsuitable for investors with shorter time horizon or immediate liquidity needs. PPLI and
PPVA should only be considered as part of a comprehensive financial, estate, and tax planning
strategy. Their effectiveness depends on how well they integrate with an investor’s overall
objectives.
(cid:120) The cash value of PPI policies is directly tied to the performance of the underlying investment
options chosen by the policyholder. There is no guarantee of investment performance. The
underlying investments, which often include hedge funds, private equity, and other alternative
assets, are subject to market fluctuations, credit risk, and other investment-specific risks. Investors
can lose a significant portion or all of their principal. Unlike some traditional insurance products,
PPI products typically do not offer guaranteed returns or principal protection on the investment
component.
(cid:120) PPI policies are generally invested in unregistered, illiquid investments and designed for long-term
wealth accumulation and estate planning. PPI investment options are determined by the insurance
company underwriting the policy. Any contract entered into is between the policy owner and the
insurance company, through its PPI policy. Investment objectives and risks and other important
information about an underlying investment manager is contained in each fund’s offering
memorandum. Prospective investors should carefully read the offering memorandum before
investing.
(cid:120) While these products are designed to offer tax advantages, there is no guarantee that the current
tax treatment will remain unchanged or that an individual’s specific circumstances will qualify for
such treatment. The tax benefits of PPI policies are contingent upon strict adherence to IRC
provisions. Clients should consult their tax and legal advisors regarding any existing or potential
future investment in PPI policies. Future legislative or regulatory changes could alter the tax
treatment of PPLI and PPVA, potentially reducing or eliminating their current tax advantages. If
PPLI premium payments exceed certain limits over time, the policy can become a modified
endowment contract, which changes the tax treatment of withdrawals and loans.
(cid:120)
In addition to underlying investment management fees, PPI policies typically involve significant
insurance related fees, which can reduce investment returns. These include but are not limited to
cost of insurance, mortality and expense fees, administrative expenses, and potential surrender
fees for early termination of the policy, among others.
(cid:120) PPI policies are held in a separate account versus the general account of an insurance company.
While separate accounts generally protect policyholders from the insurer’s general creditors, the
guarantees and certain features of the policy (e.g., death benefit in PPLI, certain annuity
guarantees) are dependent on the financial solvency of the issuing insurance company. PPLI and
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PPVA products are insurance contracts and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (“FDIC”) or SIPC.
GS&Co. offers separately managed accounts to unaffiliated insurance companies as part of its PPI
investment offering that are based on asset allocations constructed by ISG. While the target ISG model
portfolio is selected by the policy owner, the underlying investments in the portfolio are managed on a
discretionary basis exclusively by Portfolio Management Teams without the policy owner’s input. GS&Co.
does not issue the underlying insurance policy and any risks associated with the insurance policy should
be discussed directly with the insurance company.
Additional material risks specific to the GS&Co. PPI offering may include:
(cid:120) Redemption Risk – Certain asset classes, such as private assets, are only available as part of the
PPLI separately managed account if the per account value is greater than $10 million. Depending
on the applicable premium deposit schedule or redemption schedule of certain existing investments
it may take time for the policy value to reach $10 million. Should the client select a target asset
allocation which includes a range for private assets the separately managed account will not be
able to invest in private assets until the account minimum is met.
(cid:120) Target Ranges and Rebalancing Risks – A PPI separately managed account’s assets may, from
time to time, be out of balance with the account’s target ranges for extended periods of time or at
all times due to various factors, such as fluctuations in, and variations among, the performance of
the investment products to which the assets are allocated and reliance on estimates in connection
with the determination of percentage allocations. Any rebalancing by the portfolio manager may
have an adverse effect on the performance of the separately managed account’s assets.
(cid:120) Tax Risk – Changes in tax and insurance laws could negatively affect the potential benefits
associated with PPI.
Other Portfolio Management Teams
In addition to the Portfolio Management Teams described above, GS&Co. may add additional Portfolio
Management Teams and its current Portfolio Management Teams may offer additional strategies at any
time.
ITEM 9 – DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
In the ordinary course of its business, GS&Co. and its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs
and/or other Goldman Sachs personnel, have in the past been, and may in the future be, subject to periodic
audits, examinations, claims, litigation, formal and informal regulatory or other inquiries, requests for
information, subpoenas, employment- related matters, disputes, investigations, and other civil, legal or
regulatory proceedings involving the SEC, other regulatory authorities, or private parties. Such actions,
investigations, litigation and claims have the potential to result in findings, conclusions, settlements, charges
or various forms of sanctions against GS&Co. or its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs and
other Goldman Sachs personnel, including fines, suspensions of personnel, changes in policies,
procedures or disclosure or other sanctions and may increase the exposure of the Advisory Accounts,
GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs to potential liabilities and to legal, compliance and other related costs. Such
actions or proceedings may involve claims of strict liability or similar risks against Advisory Accounts in
certain jurisdictions or in connection with certain types of activities.
Information about GS&Co.’s investment management affiliates is contained in Part 1 of GS&Co.’s Form
ADV. For information relating to other Goldman Sachs affiliates, please visit www.gs.com and refer to the
public filings of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
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ITEM 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Other Financial Industry Activities
As further described below, GS&Co. is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and in addition to its
advisory business, is engaged in business as a Futures Commission Merchant (“FCM”), commodity trading
advisor (“CTA”), security-based swap dealer (“SBSD”), swap dealer (“SD”), registered municipal advisor
and commodity pool operator (“CPO”). Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons may also be registered
as associated persons of GS&Co. to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform their responsibilities.
Other Material Relationships with Affiliated Entities
In certain cases, GS&Co. uses, suggests and recommends its own services and those of affiliated Goldman
Sachs entities and business units. Fees paid in connection with such services, while believed to be
customary compensation for relevant activities, are not always negotiated and, from time to time, could be
more or less than what a comparable third party might charge. GS&Co. manages Advisory Accounts on
behalf of certain affiliated Goldman Sachs entities, which creates potential conflicts of interest related to
GS&Co.’s determination to use, suggest or recommend the services of such entities or business units. The
particular services involved depend on the types of services offered by the affiliate or business unit. The
arrangements may involve sharing or joint compensation, or separate compensation, subject to the
requirements of applicable law. GS&Co. shares resources with or delegates certain of its trading, advisory
and other activities for clients to other businesses within GS&Co. other than PWM and/or to GS&Co.’s
affiliates and portfolio management functions may be shared or moved between affiliated advisers.
Particular relationships include, but are not limited to, those discussed below. Goldman Sachs’ affiliates
will retain any compensation when providing investment services to, or in connection with investment
activities of, Advisory Accounts, subject to applicable law. Compensation may take the form of referral
payments, commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, service fees or other commission equivalents. Advisory
Accounts are not entitled to any such compensation retained by Goldman Sachs’ affiliates.
Broker-Dealer
GS&Co. is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer. Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons are
registered representatives of GS&Co. to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform their
responsibilities. GS&Co. uses, suggests or recommends that advisory clients use the securities, futures
execution, clearing, custody or other services offered by GS&Co. or its affiliates. These affiliates include
(but are not limited to), Goldman Sachs International (“GSI”), Goldman Sachs (Asia) Securities Limited,
Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd., and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia. GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services have overlapping officers and personnel and share office space and certain expenses. GS&Co.
receives compensation when acting as a broker-dealer executing transactions for Advisory Accounts for
affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
Advisory Accounts will generally execute all transactions through Goldman Sachs as further described in
Item 12, Brokerage Practices – Broker-Dealer Selection and Directed Brokerage. Subject to client consent
as required by applicable law, GS&Co. or its affiliates may engage in principal transactions with Advisory
Accounts that are not Retirement Plans. For additional information about principal trading, please see Item
11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading below. Goldman
Sachs typically earns Execution Charges in connection with transactions executed as agent or principal.
Clients will pay these charges in addition to the advisory fee paid to GS&Co. or its affiliates, except as
described in Item 5, Fees and Compensation. Goldman Sachs will likely share all or a portion of any
Execution Charges with its affiliates and Goldman Sachs employees, including Private Wealth Advisors,
which could create an incentive for GS&Co. or a Private Wealth Advisor to make execution decisions based
on their interest in receiving a share of Execution Charges. For Accounts offered through PWM but
managed by GSAM LP, transactions are executed according to GSAM LP’s policies and procedures
regarding execution of trades.
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In addition, GS&Co. and its broker-dealer affiliates that provide custodial services benefit from the use of
free credit balances (i.e., cash) in Advisory Accounts, subject to the limitation set forth in SEC Rule 15c3-3
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Free credit balances are payable to clients
on demand. If negative interest rates apply, clients will be charged a fee in connection with such free credit
balances. PWM receives certain recordkeeping, administrative and support services from other parts of
GS&Co. or its affiliates. GS&Co., in its advisory capacity, obtains research ideas, analyses, reports and
other services (including distribution services) from its affiliates.
Subject to client consent to the extent required by applicable law, in certain circumstances GS&Co. enters
into principal transactions, including over-the-counter derivatives transactions, for clients with its affiliates,
including GSI and other affiliates of GS&Co. GS&Co.’s affiliates will earn mark-ups, mark-downs, spreads,
financing fees and other charges that may be embedded in the cost of the derivative. Clients will pay these
charges in addition to the advisory fee paid to GS&Co. GS&Co. and its affiliates will likely share all or a
portion of their charges and fees with each other and with their affiliates and employees, including Private
Wealth Advisors, which could create an incentive for GS&Co. or a Private Wealth Advisor to make execution
decisions based on their interest in receiving a share of such charges and fees. For additional information
about principal trading, please see Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading—Participation or Interest in Client Accounts—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions,
and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts.
In addition, Goldman Sachs has ownership interests in trading networks, securities or derivatives indices,
trading tools and settlement systems.
In addition, Goldman Sachs holds ownership interests in, and Goldman Sachs personnel sit on the boards
of directors of, centralized exchanges and trading platforms, electronic communication networks, alternative
trading systems and other similar execution or trading systems or venues (collectively, “ECNs/Trading
Venues”). Goldman Sachs may be deemed to control one or more of such ECNs/Trading Venues based
on its levels of ownership and its representation on the board of directors of such ECNs/Trading Venues. As
of the date hereof, Goldman Sachs held ownership interests in the following ECNs/Trading Venues: (i)
Members Exchange (MEMX), (ii) Members Exchange Options (MEMX Options), (iii) PureStream, (iv) GS
Sigma X2 and (v) Marquee (GSCO). Goldman Sachs may acquire ownership interests in other
ECNs/Trading Venues (or increase ownership in the ECNs/Trading Venues listed above) in the
future. Additional information regarding the ECNs/Trading Venues in which Goldman Sachs has an
ownership interest, as well as the ECNs/Trading Venues used by GS&Co., is updated from time to time
and is available at https://www.goldmansachs.com/disclosures/ecns-disclosure.html.
registered market makers related
to
these exchange-sponsored marketing
Consistent with its duty to seek best execution for the Advisory Accounts, PWM, from time to time, directly
or indirectly, effects trades for Advisory Accounts through such ECNs/Trading Venues. In such cases,
Goldman Sachs receives an indirect economic benefit based upon its ownership interests in ECNs/Trading
Venues. In addition, Goldman Sachs receives fees, cash credits, rebates, discounts or other benefits from
ECNs/Trading Venues to which it, as broker, routes order flow based on the aggregate trading volume
generated by Goldman Sachs (including volume not associated with client orders) and the type of order
flow routed and certain ECNs/Trading Venues, such as many exchanges, provide rebates or charge fees
based on whether routed orders contribute to, or extract liquidity from, the ECN/Trading Venue. Discounts or
rebates received by Goldman Sachs from an ECN/Trading Venue during any time period could differ and
could exceed the fees paid by Goldman Sachs to the ECN/Trading Venue during that time period. The
amount of such discounts or rebates varies. Further, the U.S. listed options exchanges sponsor marketing
fee programs through which registered market-makers receive payments from the exchanges based upon
their market making status and/or as a result of their designation as a “preferenced” market maker by an
exchange member with respect to certain options orders. GS&Co. may receive payments from
“preferenced”
fee
programs. The amount of such payments varies. PWM will effect trades for an Advisory Account through
such ECNs/Trading Venues only if PWM reasonably believes that such trades are in the best interest of
the Advisory Account and that the requirements of applicable law have been satisfied. As discussed in
further detail in Item 12, Brokerage Practices, PWM executes transactions with Goldman Sachs or
unaffiliated broker-dealers in accordance with its best execution policies and procedures.
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In the event assets of an Advisory Account are treated as “plan assets” subject to ERISA, the use of
ECNs/Trading Venues to execute trades on behalf of such Advisory Account may, absent an exemption,
be treated as a prohibited transaction under ERISA. However, PWM effects trades through ECNs/Trading
Venues provided that such trades are executed in accordance with the exemption under Section 408(b)(16)
of ERISA. In addition, PWM is required to obtain authorization from any Advisory Account whose assets
are treated as “plan assets” in order to execute transactions on behalf of such Advisory Account using an
ECN/Trading Venue in which Goldman Sachs has an ownership interest. Furthermore, there may be
limitations or restrictions placed on the use of ECNs/Trading Venues (including, without limitation, for
purposes of complying with law and otherwise).
Through GS&Co.’s trading on or membership to various trading platforms or venues, or interactions with
certain service providers (including depositaries and messaging platforms), GS&Co. and its affiliates, in
certain cases, receive interests, shares or other economic benefits from such service providers.
Investment Companies and Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates, including GSAM LP, act in an advisory or sub-advisory capacity with
respect to separately managed accounts and private investment funds and in other capacities, including as
trustee, managing member, adviser, administrator and/or distributor to a variety of U.S. and non-U.S.
investment companies (including separate accounts underlying variable life insurance policies and variable
annuity contracts that are structured as registered investment companies) as well as other pooled
investment vehicles including collective trusts, ETFs, closed end funds, business development companies
and private investment funds. Such advisory, sub-advisory, or other relationships in some cases are with
affiliated entities or with institutions that are not part of Goldman Sachs. Certain GS&Co. personnel are also
directors, trustees and/or officers of these investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, in their capacities as advisers or sub-advisers to these entities, will receive
management or advisory fees. Although such fees are generally paid by the entities, the costs are ultimately
borne by clients as investors. These fees will be in addition to any advisory fees or other fees agreed
between investors in their capacity as clients and GS&Co. for investment advisory, brokerage or other
services. Except as otherwise agreed, clients of GS&Co. and its affiliates may invest in these investment
companies and other pooled investment vehicles offered by Goldman Sachs without paying fees to GS&Co.
For entities where GS&Co. applies an advisory fee, the fee that will apply is generally the same for both
affiliated and unaffiliated entities and clients may pay more or less than the index oriented fee depending
on the agreed upon fee schedule. For additional information on compensation earned for the sale of these
products, please see Item 5, Fees and Compensation.
Other Investment Advisers
GS&Co. has investment advisory affiliates in and outside of the United States that are registered with the
SEC as investment advisers. These affiliates include, but are not limited to: GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs
Asset Management International (“GSAMI”) and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services. GS&Co. and its
affiliates have or intend to have co-advisory or sub-advisory relationships with their investment advisory
affiliates, as required for proper management of particular Advisory Accounts and in accordance with
applicable law. GS&Co. will receive compensation in connection with such relationships. For additional
information on compensation earned when clients select other investment advisers, see Receipt of
Compensation from Investment Advisers, below. Where permissible by law, GS&Co. and its affiliates
share resources in connection with providing investment advisory services, including credit analysis,
execution services and trade support.
GS&Co. personnel may recommend the investment advisory services of its affiliates, including, but not
limited to, GSAM LP, and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, to its clients. Certain Advisory Personnel who
make such referrals receive compensation for referring clients to such affiliates, subject to applicable law.
GS&Co. personnel also refer clients to certain unaffiliated investment advisers. In such instances, the
investment adviser pays GS&Co. a portion of the investment management fee charged to the client.
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Manager selection and ongoing due diligence of unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs used in strategies
managed by GS&Co. are performed by GSAM LP.
Clients may be offered access to advisory services through GS&Co., Goldman Sachs Wealth Services,
GSAM LP, GSAMI, or other affiliated investment advisers. These investment advisers manage Accounts
according to different strategies and may also apply different criteria to the same or similar products
(including but not limited to equities and fixed income securities). For instance, in the case of Accounts
holding municipal bonds, GSAM LP and GS&Co. may apply different credit criteria (including different
minimum credit ratings, sector restrictions, maturity limitations or portfolio duration), they may offer different
portfolio structures (e.g., laddered, barbelled or customized), and they may have different minimum Account
size requirements. Additionally, GS&Co. executes trades through itself as well as third parties and may
participate in underwritings, whereas GSAM LP and GSAMI generally only execute trades through third
parties. Since each investment adviser’s investment decisions are made independently, it should be
expected that GSAM LP and/or GSAMI may be buying while GS&Co. and/or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services are selling, or vice versa. Therefore, it is possible that accounts managed by GSAM LP or GSAMI
could sustain losses during periods in which accounts managed by GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services achieve significant profits on their trading, and vice versa.
Subject to applicable law, GS&Co. has the discretion to delegate all or a portion of its advisory or other
functions (including placing trades on behalf of Advisory Accounts) to any affiliate that is registered with the
SEC as an investment adviser or to any of its non-U.S. affiliated advisers. GS&Co. may also move or share
portfolio management between affiliated advisers. This might include the movement of portfolio managers
from GS&Co. to an affiliated adviser or the transfer of management of the portfolio to a management team
within an affiliated adviser.
A copy of the brochure of GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, GSAMI or other affiliated investment
advisers is available on the SEC’s website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) and will be provided to clients or
prospective clients upon request. Clients that want more information about any of these affiliates should
contact GS&Co.
Financial Planning
retirement, estate,
insurance,
GS&Co.’s affiliate, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, provides financial planning (“Financial Planning,”
which may also be referred to at times as “financial counseling” or “financial coaching”) as described more
fully in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Brochure, which generally focuses on planning related to
investment,
compensation and employment benefits, cash-flow,
philanthropic, and tax planning as may be appropriate, in addition to investment management, financial
education and other services to publicly traded companies and privately held firms and their respective
executives and employees, high net worth individuals, and affinity and membership organizations or
community-based and charitable organizations and their respective members and participants. Goldman
Sachs Wealth Services’ personnel recommend GS&Co.’s investment advisory services to its clients and
receive fees from GS&Co. in certain circumstances.
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services’ Personal Wealth offering is also available to clients who generally do not
have another Financial Planning relationship with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, but who have at least
$1,000,000 held in Advisory Accounts. Additional information about the Personal Wealth offering can be
found in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A.
For information on financial planning offered by GS&Co. see Item 4 – Advisory Services – Family Office
Services.
Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity Trading Advisor
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(“CFTC”) as an FCM, CPO, SD and CTA. These affiliates include GSAM LP, GSAMI and GSAMS. If
permitted by law and applicable regulation, GS&Co. buys, sells and/or clears futures and swaps on behalf
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of its Advisory Accounts through itself or its CFTC-registered affiliates and these affiliates receive
commissions in connection with such transactions. GS&Co. also utilizes the services of these affiliates in
connection with foreign exchange transactions for certain Advisory Accounts.
Bank or Thrift Institution
Banks
GS Group is a Financial Holding Company and a Bank Holding Company registered with the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the BHCA. GS Group is subject
to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve.
GS Bank is an FDIC insured, New York State chartered Federal Reserve member bank. GS Bank accepts
brokered deposits, lends to individuals and corporate clients, transacts in certain derivatives, and provides
securities lending, custody and hedge fund administration services. GS Bank offers securities-based loans
and structured loans to Private Wealth Management clients on the Goldman Sachs platform. GS Bank
benefits from the use of securities-based loans and structured loans by charging interest on those loans.
GS&Co. and Advisory Personnel who make referrals and participate in GS&Co.’s compensation plan
receive compensation for referring clients to GS Bank for such loans. These loans are not made on an
advisory basis but are solely self-directed. Such referrals create a conflict between the interests of clients
and the interests of GS&Co. and its employees since GS&Co. and these Advisory Personnel have an
economic interest in the loans. Such compensation is in addition to compensation GS&Co. and these
Advisory Personnel receive from the investment advisory fee charged by GS&Co. for providing advisory
services to the Advisory Accounts pledged as collateral for the loans. Borrowing against securities is not
suitable for all investors. Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support a loan and to take advances.
It should be expected that if there is a decline in the value of a client’s collateral assets, including as a
result of markets going down in value, clients will be required to deposit more securities or funds to
maintain the level needed to avoid a maintenance call or pay down the line of credit and that GS Bank will
sell some or all of a client’s securities without prior notice to maintain the account at the required levels.
This could affect a client’s holdings or the account or strategy the client is invested in, and could also have
tax ramifications, in particular diminishing a client’s overall tax objectives, especially where the client has
chosen to invest in a tax aware strategy. GS Bank can increase a client’s collateral maintenance
requirements at any time without notice. Additionally, GS Bank has no obligation to fund the line and can
change the client’s interest rate or demand full or partial repayment at any time. Clients should also consult
with their own tax advisor prior to using municipal securities as collateral, as there may be tax
consequences associated with doing so.
GS&Co. offers a Bank Deposit Cash Sweep with its affiliate, GS Bank, which may be elected for use in
eligible accounts, including at a client’s direction. Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option,
the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the default sweep option regardless of any difference in
actual or expected returns in connection with other sweep options. Returns on cash sweep options are
impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable interest rates and the nature of the account. For
example, interest rates on Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower returns than cash swept to money
market funds, and after-tax yields on cash subject to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower results
than cash swept to money market funds. GS&Co. and Private Wealth Advisors earn higher compensation
in connection with Bank Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market funds. The Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank may pay GS&Co. a fee in
connection with Advisory Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep Option.
Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep offered through GS Bank are variable and subject to
change at the sole discretion of GS Bank. Rates may be higher or lower than rates available at other
banks and may vary based on the amount of a client’s deposit balances or relationship with GS&Co.
Clients can obtain information about interest rates by going to www.goldman.com, or by asking their
GS&Co. team. GS Bank benefits from the use of cash swept from client account assets because client
participation in the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep option increases GS Bank’s deposits and thus its overall
profits. GS&Co. acts as agent in establishing, and custodian in maintaining records of the clients’ beneficial
53
ownership of the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep at GS Bank. PWM clients may also open separate savings
accounts and term deposits to which different interest rates may apply. In particular, clients may open direct
accounts at GS Bank at rates that could be higher or lower than rates for the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
The level of service for direct accounts at GS Bank differs from what is offered through such Bank Deposit
Cash Sweep.
Trust Companies
GS&Co. also has relationships with The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., a national bank limited to
fiduciary activities (“GSTC”), and The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware, a Delaware limited
purpose trust company (“GSTD”). GSTC and GSTD provide personal trust and estate administration and
related services to certain of GS&Co.’s clients. GS&Co. and its affiliates provide a variety of services to
GSTC and GSTD, including investment advisory, sub-advisory, brokerage, distribution, marketing,
operational, infrastructure, financial, auditing and administrative services. Goldman Sachs receives fees
from GSTC and GSTD according to the fee schedules agreed upon between the parties in arm’s-length
service agreements.
Insurance Company or Agency
GS&Co.’s affiliates, The Ayco Services Agency, L.P., and The Ayco Services Insurance Agency, Inc., are
licensed insurance agencies and engage in the insurance agency business for purposes of selling,
brokering and co-brokering, including, but not limited to, life insurance policies and annuity contracts (both
fixed and variable) and long-term care insurance contracts for separate compensation. GS&Co. may refer
clients to these related affiliates and will receive referral fees subject to applicable law.
Sponsor or Syndicator of Limited Partnerships
Goldman Sachs establishes unregistered privately placed vehicles in which clients invest and distributes
securities issued by such vehicles. GS&Co. and its affiliates generally receive fees in connection therewith.
Management Persons; Policies and Procedures
Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons also hold positions with one or more Goldman Sachs affiliates.
In these positions, those management persons of GS&Co. have certain responsibilities with respect to the
business of these affiliates and the compensation of these management persons may be based, in part,
upon the profitability of these affiliates. Consequently, in carrying out their roles at GS&Co. and these
affiliates, the management persons of GS&Co. are subject to the same or similar potential conflicts of
interest that exist between GS&Co. and these affiliates.
GS&Co. has established a variety of restrictions, policies, procedures and disclosures designed to address
potential conflicts that arise between GS&Co., its management persons and its affiliates. These policies
and procedures include: information barriers designed to prevent the flow of information between GS&Co.,
its personnel and certain other affiliates; policies and procedures relating to brokerage selection, trading
with affiliates or investing in products managed or sponsored by affiliates; and allocation and trade
sequencing policies applicable to Accounts (as defined below). No assurance can be made that any of
GS&Co.’s current policies and procedures, or any policies and procedures that are established by GS&Co.
in the future will have their desired effect.
Additional information about these conflicts and the policies and procedures designed to address them is
available in Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
Affiliated Indexes
Goldman Sachs has in the past, and may in the future, develop, co-develop, own and operate stock market
and other indexes (each, an “Index”) based on investment and trading strategies and concepts developed
54
by Goldman Sachs or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third-party. Goldman Sachs has entered
into, and may in the future enter into, a revenue sharing arrangement with a third-party co-developer of an
Index pursuant to which Goldman Sachs receives a portion of the fees generated from licensing the right
to use the Index or components thereof to third parties. Some of the ETFs for which GSAM LP or its affiliates
act as investment adviser (the “GSAM LP ETFs”) seek to track the performance of an Index. GS&Co., from
time to time, manages Advisory Accounts that invest in these GSAM LP ETFs, which may facilitate the
GSAM LP ETFs achieving a specified size or scale. Goldman Sachs may make payments to an investor
that contributes seed capital to a GSAM LP ETF. Such payments may continue for a specified period of
time and/or until a specified dollar amount is reached, and will be made from the assets of Goldman Sachs
(and not the applicable GSAM LP ETF). Seed investors may contribute all or a majority of the assets in a
GSAM LP ETF. There is a risk that such seed investors may redeem their investments in the GSAM LP
ETF, particularly after payments from Goldman Sachs have ceased. Such redemptions could have a
significant negative impact on the GSAM LP ETF, including on its liquidity and the market price of its
shares.
Goldman Sachs has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to address potential conflicts that
arise in connection with Goldman Sachs’ operation of the Indexes, the GSAM LP ETFs and the Advisory
Accounts. Goldman Sachs has established certain information barriers and other policies designed to
address the sharing of information between different businesses within Goldman Sachs, including with
respect to personnel responsible for maintaining the Indexes and those involved in decision-making for the
ETFs. In addition, as described in Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading below, GS&Co. has adopted a code of ethics.
Growth Through Acquisitions
Goldman Sachs intends to grow organically as well as inorganically through acquisitions. In the future,
Goldman Sachs may acquire advisers and/or their business lines that may further expand the depth and
breadth of its advisory business.
Receipt of Compensation from Investment Advisers
GS&Co. may select, or recommend that clients allocate assets to, one or more Accounts or funds managed
by one or more Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers. The ability to recommend both Affiliated
Managers and Unaffiliated Managers creates potential conflicts for GS&Co. and could impact its decisions
regarding Manager selection when affiliation is considered by GS&Co., among other factors, in deciding
whether to make Managers available to clients, to increase client investments with Managers, and to retain
or withdraw client investments from Managers. GS&Co. receives compensation in connection with clients’
investments in, and selection of and recommendation of such Accounts or funds, and such compensation
creates a conflict of interest.
For example, Goldman Sachs receives various forms of compensation, including fees, commissions,
payments, rebates, remuneration, services or other benefits (including benefits relating to investment and
business relationships of Goldman Sachs) from Unaffiliated Managers and their affiliates. Therefore,
investments by Advisory Accounts with Unaffiliated Managers (where Goldman Sachs participates in the
fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or profits of Unaffiliated Managers) will
result in additional compensation to Goldman Sachs. Subject to applicable law, (and excluding Retirement
Accounts), the amount of such compensation, including fees, commissions, payments, rebates,
remuneration, services or other benefits to Goldman Sachs, or the value of Goldman Sachs’ interests in
the Unaffiliated Managers or their businesses, varies by Unaffiliated Manager and will generally be greater
if GS&Co. selects or recommends certain Unaffiliated Managers over other Unaffiliated Managers, as
further described below.
In addition, as a major participant in global financial markets providing a wide range of financial services,
Goldman Sachs provides various services or has business dealings, arrangements or agreements with
affiliates and portfolio companies of Unaffiliated Managers. GS&Co. will face potential conflicts in making
determinations as to whether one or more Advisory Accounts should invest or withdraw funds from
55
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) with which Goldman Sachs has such
relationships. In certain cases, Goldman Sachs or other Accounts have equity, profits or other interests in
Unaffiliated Managers or have entered into arrangements with such Unaffiliated Managers in which such
Unaffiliated Managers would share with Goldman Sachs or other Accounts a material portion of its fees or
allocations. Such revenue sharing arrangements exist in situations that include, without limitation, where
Unaffiliated Managers earn fees as a result of the allocation of Advisory Account assets to such Unaffiliated
Managers or where such Unaffiliated Managers manage an External Product that invests in Affiliated
Products. Payments to Goldman Sachs (either directly from Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds
they manage or advise) or in the form of fees or allocations payable by client accounts) will generally
increase as the amount of assets that Managers manage increases. Therefore, investment by Advisory
Accounts with such Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) where Goldman
Sachs or other Accounts have a fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or
profits of such Unaffiliated Managers generally results in additional revenues to Goldman Sachs and its
personnel. The relationship that Goldman Sachs and other Accounts have with such Unaffiliated Managers
(or their portfolio companies or affiliates) generally also results in GS&Co. being incentivized to increase
Advisory Accounts’ investments with such Unaffiliated Managers or to retain their investments with such
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise). Except to the extent required by
applicable law, GS&Co. will not account to a client for or offset any compensation received by Goldman
Sachs against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman Sachs.
Because Goldman Sachs will, on an overall basis, receive higher fees, compensation and other benefits if
client assets are allocated to Affiliated Managers, including Accounts or investment funds managed by
Goldman Sachs, such as GSAM LP and GSAMI, GS&Co. has an incentive to allocate or recommend the
assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Managers. For particular asset classes or investment strategies,
GS&Co.’s advisory program may not have Unaffiliated Managers, or may have fewer Unaffiliated Managers
than Affiliated Managers; accordingly, any allocations to such an asset class or investment strategy will
more likely be made to Affiliated Managers, including GSAM LP or GSAMI.
Clients should expect that Goldman Sachs and its Personnel will have interests in Managers or their
affiliates, or have business relationships or act as counterparties with Unaffiliated Managers of their
affiliates, including, for example, in Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage, trade execution, and investment
banking businesses. GS&Co. will be incentivized to make available, allocate assets to, and refrain from
withdrawing assets from Unaffiliated Managers whose principals or employees are clients of Goldman
Sachs. In addition, Goldman Sachs has investments in selected Managers or their affiliates.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs receives notice of, or offers to participate in, investment opportunities
from Unaffiliated Managers, their affiliates, or other third parties. Such investment opportunities are offered
to Goldman Sachs for various reasons, which include business relationships with Unaffiliated Managers
and their affiliates or other reasons, including that one or more Advisory Accounts have made investments
with such Unaffiliated Managers. Such opportunities will generally not be required to be allocated to such
Advisory Accounts. Investment (or continued investment) by particular Advisory Accounts with such
Unaffiliated Managers may result in additional investment opportunities for Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts.
Certain Advisory Accounts (other than Retirement Plans) that allocate assets to Managers do not pay
compensation to the Managers. Instead, the Managers are compensated by GS&Co. out of compensation
GS&Co. receives from the client. In such circumstances, any reduction in the compensation payable to the
Managers will inure to the benefit of GS&Co., and not to the client. This fee structure incentivizes GS&Co.
to recommend or select Managers with lower compensation levels (including Managers that discount their
fees based on aggregate Account size or other relationships) in order to increase the net fee to GS&Co.,
and not recommend or select other Managers that might also be appropriate for the Advisory Accounts.
Except for Retirement Accounts, it should be expected that the amount of the fee retained by Goldman
Sachs will be affected by Goldman Sachs’ business relationships and the size of Accounts other than a
particular Advisory Account, and will directly or indirectly benefit Goldman Sachs and other client accounts.
Clients are not entitled to receive any portion of such benefits received by Goldman Sachs or other client
accounts.
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As described above, certain Unaffiliated Managers discount their fees based on aggregate account size,
and permit GS&Co. to aggregate the amount of assets allocated to such Unaffiliated Managers across all
Advisory Accounts within the same strategy in order to receive discounted fees. In general, this results in a
reduction in compensation payable to the Unaffiliated Managers by Advisory Accounts. However, actions
taken by GS&Co. on behalf of one or more of such Advisory Accounts could adversely impact the other
Advisory Accounts that invest with the same Unaffiliated Managers. For example, in the event Goldman
Sachs causes one or more Advisory Accounts to reduce the amount of assets allocated to an Unaffiliated
Manager, the remaining Advisory Accounts may no longer qualify for discounted fees in which case the
compensation payable to such Unaffiliated Manager by such remaining Advisory Accounts would increase.
On the other hand, causing a new Advisory Account to invest with an Unaffiliated Manager could reduce
the fees paid by Advisory Accounts that already have an investment with the Unaffiliated Manager.
GS&Co. addresses these conflicts of interest in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duties.
ITEM 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING
Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
GS&Co. has adopted a Code of Ethics (“Code”) under Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act designed to provide
that Advisory Personnel, and certain additional Personnel of Goldman Sachs who support GS&Co., comply
with applicable federal securities laws and place the interests of clients first in conducting personal
securities transactions. The Code 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,
covered persons buy and sell securities or other investments for their personal Accounts, including
investments in pooled investment vehicles that are sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs,
and also take positions that are the same as, different from, or made at different times than, positions taken
(directly or indirectly) for Advisory Accounts. GS&Co. provides a copy of the Code to clients or prospective
clients upon request.
Additionally, all Personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel, are subject to firm-wide
policies and procedures regarding confidential and proprietary information, information barriers, private
investments, outside business activities and personal trading. GS&Co. requires pre-clearance of certain
personal securities transactions, both public and private, by Advisory Personnel and GS&Co. can deny any
such transaction in its discretion. In order to address potential conflicts of interest with the Advisory
Accounts and other legal and regulatory restrictions (such as when GS&Co. has confidential information
about a portfolio company), Goldman Sachs maintains a list of securities in which Advisory Personnel
cannot trade. In addition, GS&Co. prohibits its employees from accepting gifts and entertainment that could
influence, or appear to influence, their business judgment. This generally includes gifts of more than $300
or meals and other business-related entertainment that may be considered lavish or extraordinary and
therefore raise a question or appearance of impropriety.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Goldman Sachs is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and
financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets. As 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, custodian, counterparty, agent, principal,
distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated
funds in which certain Advisory Accounts have an interest. 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
57
accounts 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, Goldman Sachs causes Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts in ways that disadvantage Advisory Accounts and/or benefit
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts). Additionally, as described below,
GS&Co. 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 Advisory Accounts when
doing so would be adverse to Goldman Sachs’ relationships or other business dealings with such parties.
See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions—Differing Advice and Competing Interests.
The following are descriptions of certain conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest that are
associated with the financial or other interests that Goldman Sachs may have in advising or dealing with
other clients (including other Advisory Accounts) or third parties or in acting on its own behalf. The conflicts
herein do not purport to be a complete list or explanation of the conflicts associated with the financial or
other interests GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs may have now or in the future. Prior to making an investment in
a pooled investment vehicle, prospective investors are encouraged to read the offering materials relating
to such pooled investment vehicle.
Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities
Goldman Sachs faces conflicts of interest in providing and selecting services for Advisory Accounts
because Goldman Sachs provides many services and has many commercial relationships with companies
and affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their applicable personnel). In this regard, Goldman Sachs could
provide custody, distribution, transfer agency, administrative, lending or other services to Advisory
Accounts, an underlying fund or a company in which an Advisory Account has an interest. In addition, a
company in which an Advisory Account has an interest (or in which an Advisory Account acquires an interest
in the future) may hire Goldman Sachs to provide underwriting, merger advisory, other financial advisory,
placement agency, foreign currency or other hedging, research, asset management services, brokerage
services or other services to the company. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages, advises or
provides services to affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their personnel) in which Advisory Accounts invest
and also provides guarantees with respect to certain fixed income investment products in which certain
Advisory Accounts may invest. In addition, Goldman Sachs may simultaneously provide the same or different
services to a portfolio company and certain personnel thereof. In connection with such commercial
relationships and services, Goldman Sachs receives fees, compensation and remuneration that should be
expected to be substantial, as well as other benefits. For example, providing such services enhances
Goldman Sachs’ relationships with various parties, facilitate additional business development and enable
Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and/or generate additional revenue. Advisory Accounts will
not be entitled to compensation related to any such benefit to businesses of Goldman Sachs, including
PWM. In addition, such relationships may have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts, including, for
example, by restricting potential investment opportunities, as described below, incentivizing Goldman Sachs
to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse
to such business relationships, and/or influencing GS&Co.’s selection or recommendation of certain
investment products and/or strategies over others. See also Allocation of Investment Opportunities, below.
In connection with providing such services, Goldman Sachs takes commercial steps in its own interest, or
advises the parties to which it is providing services, or takes other actions any of which may have an
adverse effect on an Advisory Account. Such actions may benefit Goldman Sachs. For example, Goldman
Sachs is incentivized to cause Advisory Accounts to invest, directly or indirectly, in securities, bank loans
or other obligations of companies affiliated with Goldman Sachs, advised by Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or in which Goldman Sachs or Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) have an equity, debt or
other interest, or to engage in investment transactions that may result in Goldman Sachs or other Accounts
(including through other Advisory Accounts) being relieved of obligations or otherwise divested of
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investments. Similarly, certain Advisory Accounts 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 an Advisory Account may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) with respect to their investment in and activities relating to such
companies. Advisory Accounts will not be entitled to compensation as a result of this enhanced profitability.
Providing such services may also have an adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs makes loans to, and enters into margin, asset-based or other credit facilities or similar transactions
with, clients, companies, individuals, or Managers or their affiliates that are secured by publicly or privately
held securities or other assets, including by a client’s assets or interests in an Advisory Account. Some of
these borrowers are public or private companies, or founders, officers or shareholders in companies in
which Goldman Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, or Advisory Accounts or other Accounts
(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 Goldman
Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, Advisory Accounts or other Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs has in the past extended, and expects to continue to extend, loans to persons who own and/or
control the management companies and/or general partners of underlying funds in which Advisory Accounts
invest (such loans, “Management Loans”). Management Loans in some cases are collateralized by
management company interests, general partner interests, limited partner interests, carried interest
allocations, and/or other securities or contractual rights relating to underlying funds in which Advisory
Accounts invest. 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, or assuming control over the relevant collateral. Goldman Sachs will be under no
obligation to consider the interests of Advisory Accounts (even Advisory Accounts that have direct or
indirect investments in the Underlying Fund(s) that served as collateral in whole or in part for a particular
Management Loan). Such actions will adversely affect Advisory Accounts (if, for example, a large position
in securities is liquidated, among the other potential adverse consequences, the value of such security
declines rapidly and Advisory Accounts holding (directly or indirectly) such security in turn declines in value
or are unable to liquidate their positions in such security at an advantageous price or at all). With respect
to Management Loans, the exercise of Goldman Sachs’ remedies could result in changes to the ownership,
management or control of one or more underlying funds, potentially affecting the performance, strategy, or
operations of Advisory Accounts that invest in such underlying funds. For a discussion of certain additional
conflicts associated with Goldman Sachs or clients, on the one hand, and a particular Advisory Account,
on the other hand, investing in or extending credit to different parts of the capital structure of a single issuer,
see Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure.
Actions taken or advised to be taken by Goldman Sachs in connection with other types of services and
transactions may also result in adverse consequences for Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman
Sachs advises a company to make changes to its capital structure, the result could be a reduction in the
value or priority of a security held (directly or indirectly) by Advisory Accounts. For more information in this
regard, see Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure, below. In
addition, underwriters, placement agents or managers of IPOs, including GS&Co., often require clients who
hold privately placed securities of a company to execute a lock-up agreement prior to such company’s IPO
restricting the resale of the securities for a period of time before and following the IPO. As a result, GS&Co.
will be restricted from selling the securities in such clients’ Advisory Accounts at a more favorable price.
Certain of Goldman Sachs’ activities on behalf of its clients also restrict investment opportunities that are
otherwise available to Advisory Accounts. 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 Advisory Accounts. There are circumstances in which
Advisory Accounts are precluded from participating in such transactions as a result of Goldman Sachs’
engagement by such companies. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act for these companies in such
circumstances, notwithstanding the potential adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. In addition, in
connection with an equity offering of securities of a portfolio company for which Goldman Sachs is acting
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as an underwriter, Advisory Accounts will, 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 represents creditor or debtor companies in
proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and equivalent non-U.S. bankruptcy laws).
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) serves on creditor or equity committees. It should
be expected that these actions, for which Goldman Sachs (or GS&Co., as applicable) may be compensated,
will limit or preclude the flexibility that the Advisory Account otherwise has to buy or sell securities issued
by those companies. Please also refer to Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors
Affecting Advisory Accounts, below.
In addition, Goldman Sachs is expected to gather information in the course of such other activities and
relationships about companies in which a client holds or may in the future hold an interest. In the event that
Goldman Sachs is consulted in connection with opportunities with respect to these companies, Goldman
Sachs shall have no obligation to disclose such information, any other non-public information which is
otherwise subject to an obligation of confidence to another person, or the fact that Goldman Sachs is in
possession of such information, to the client or to use such information on the client’s behalf. As a result of
actual or potential conflicts, Goldman Sachs may not be able to provide a client with information or certain
services with respect to a particular opportunity. See also Considerations Relating to Information Held by
Goldman Sachs, below.
Potential Conflicts Related to Lending and Loan Syndication
Goldman Sachs operates in the debt markets, including the leveraged finance markets, and is an active
arranger of senior and mezzanine financings in the syndicated loan market and the high yield market for
financing acquisitions, recapitalizations and other transactions. From time to time, an Advisory Account will
invest in transactions in which Goldman Sachs acts as arranger and receives fees in connection with these
financings. In certain instances, an Advisory Account will purchase loans and/or debt securities and receive
representations and warranties directly from the borrower, while in other instances, an Advisory Account
will need to rely on a private placement memorandum from Goldman Sachs or others, and purchase such
loans and/or debt securities at different times and/or terms than other purchasers of such loans. When an
Advisory Account purchases such loans from Goldman Sachs and Goldman Sachs receives a fee from a
borrower or an issuer for placing such loans and/or debt securities with an Advisory Account, certain
conflicts of interest arise.
Differing Advice and Competing Interests
It should be expected that advice given to, or investment decisions made or other actions taken for, one or
more Advisory Accounts will compete with, affect, differ from, conflict with, or involve timing different from,
advice given to or investment decisions made for other Accounts, including Advisory Accounts. Goldman
Sachs (including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel have interests in and advise Accounts,
including Advisory Accounts, that have investment objectives or portfolios similar to, related to or opposed
to those of particular Advisory Accounts. In this regard, it should be expected that Goldman Sachs makes
investment decisions for such Accounts that are different from the investment decisions made for Advisory
Accounts and that adversely impact Advisory Accounts, as described below. In addition, Goldman Sachs
(including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel engage (or consider engaging) in commercial
arrangements or transactions with Accounts, and/or compete for commercial arrangements or transactions
or invest in the same types of companies, assets, securities and other instruments, as particular Advisory
Accounts. Such arrangements, transactions or investments adversely affect such Advisory Accounts by,
for example, limiting clients’ ability to engage in such activity or by effecting the pricing or terms of such
arrangements, transactions or investments. Moreover, a particular Advisory Account on the one hand, and
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including other Advisory Accounts) on the other hand, may vote
differently on, or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to, the same security, that
disadvantages the Advisory Account. Where Goldman Sachs receives greater fees or other compensation
from such Accounts than GS&Co. does from the particular Advisory Accounts, Goldman Sachs, including
through GS&Co., will be incentivized to favor such Accounts.
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It should be expected that other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) engage in a strategy while an
Advisory Account is undertaking the same or a differing strategy, any of which could directly or indirectly
disadvantage the Advisory Account (including its ability to engage in a transaction or other activities). For
example, if an Advisory Account buys a security, and Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client
establishes a short position in that same security or in similar securities, any such short position may result
in the impairment of the price of the security that the Advisory Account holds or could be designed to profit
from a decline in the price of the security. An Advisory Account could similarly be adversely impacted if it
establishes a short position, following which Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client takes a long
position in the same security or in similar securities. Similarly, where Goldman Sachs is engaged to provide
advice to a client that is considering entering into a transaction with a particular Advisory Account, and
Goldman Sachs advises the client not to pursue the transaction with the particular Advisory Account, or
otherwise in connection with a potential transaction provides advice to the client, it should be expected that
this will be adverse to the particular Advisory Account.
Clients may be offered (or may already have) access to advisory services through several different
Goldman Sachs affiliates (including through GS&Co. and GSAM LP). 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 with respect to an issuer or a security or other
investment. Similarly, Advisory Personnel 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 Advisory Personnel take with respect to an
Advisory Account will be inconsistent with, or adverse to, the interests and activities of Advisory Accounts
advised by other Advisory Personnel. Moreover, research, analyses or viewpoints will be available to clients
or potential clients at different times. Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation to make available to
Advisory Accounts any research or analysis at any particular time or prior to its public dissemination.
The timing of transactions entered into or recommended by Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.), on behalf
of itself or its clients, including Advisory Accounts, may negatively impact Advisory Accounts or benefit
certain other Accounts, including other Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman Sachs implements an
investment decision or strategy for certain Advisory Accounts ahead of, contemporaneously with, or behind
the implementation of similar investment decisions or strategies for other Advisory Accounts, (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 Advisory Accounts 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 sale) of security for one Advisory Account
such implementation may increase the value of such security already held by another Advisory Account (or
decrease the value of such security that such other Advisory Account intends to purchase), thereby
benefitting such other Advisory Account.
Goldman Sachs, in its discretion, in certain circumstances recommends that certain Accounts 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 Account investor, portfolio company, or service provider. Accounts and/or
their investors generally will 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, Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. may take into account Goldman Sachs’ interests in maintaining
its relationships and business dealings with such persons. As a result, GS&Co. 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 Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse to
Goldman Sachs’ relationships or other business dealings with such parties. Additionally, certain Portfolio
Management Team members have family members or relatives that are actively involved in industries,
sectors and companies in which Advisory Accounts invest, which gives rise to potential or actual conflicts
of interest in connection with decisions by Portfolio Management Team members to take or refrain from
taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts.
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The terms of an investment in an Account formed to facilitate investment by personnel of Goldman Sachs
are typically different from, and more favorable than, those of an investment by a third-party investor in an
Advisory Account. For example, investors in such an Account generally are not subject to management
fees or performance-based compensation, share in the performance-based compensation, will not have
their commitments pledged under a subscription facility, and will receive capital calls, distributions and
information regarding investments at different times than third-party investors, and may receive equity
compensation from underlying portfolio companies. It should be expected that, to the extent permitted by
law, certain investors in such an Account will be provided leverage by Goldman Sachs. In the event of a
substantial decline in the value of such Account’s investments, the leverage, if any, provided to employees
may have the effect of rendering the investments by employees effectively worthless, which could
undermine the potential alignment of interest between employees and third-party investors. In certain
circumstances, subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs will offer to purchase, redeem or liquidate the
interests held by one or more investors in such an Account (potentially on terms advantageous to such
Account’s investors) or to release one or more investors in such an Account from their obligations to fund
capital commitments without offering third-party investors the same or a similar opportunity. Furthermore,
Goldman Sachs personnel may also participate in one or more investments through a co-investment
program or otherwise, which may also affect alignment of interests.
Certain Private Wealth Advisors have accounts managed by Advisory Personnel and/or invest in the same
securities that are recommended to clients or held in client accounts. Such Private Wealth Advisors may
also hold securities and are able to trade for their own accounts contrary to financial guidance provided to
clients. If Private Wealth Advisors have hired the Advisory Personnel to manage their accounts on a
discretionary basis, those accounts are traded along with other client accounts and are not given any
different or special treatment.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
GS&Co. and its Advisory Personnel manage multiple Advisory Accounts, including Advisory Accounts in
which Goldman Sachs and its Personnel have an interest, that pay different fees based on a client’s
particular circumstances, including the size of the relationship and required service levels. This creates an
incentive to allocate investments with limited availability to the Accounts for which GS&Co. and its Advisory
Personnel have an interest or receive higher fees. Such investments may include local and emerging
markets securities, high yield securities, fixed-income securities, interests in alternative investment funds,
MLPs and initial public offerings and new issues.
To address these potential conflicts, GS&Co. has developed allocation policies and procedures that provide
that Advisory Personnel making portfolio decisions for Advisory Accounts will make investment decisions
for, and allocate investment opportunities among, Advisory Accounts consistent with GS&Co.’s fiduciary
obligations. In some cases, these policies and procedures could result in the pro rata allocation (on a basis
determined by GS&Co.) of limited opportunities across eligible Advisory Accounts, but in other cases such
allocation may not be pro rata. In other cases, the allocations reflect the consideration of numerous other
factors including, but not limited to, those described below. The allocation methodology varies based on
the type of investment opportunity. In some cases, Advisory Accounts managed by different teams of
Advisory Personnel are generally viewed separately for allocation purposes. Furthermore, certain
investment opportunities sourced by GS&Co., or Goldman Sachs businesses or divisions outside of
GS&Co., 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 client accounts.
Advisory Personnel make allocation-related decisions by reference to one or more factors, including,
without limitation: the client’s overall relationship with GS&Co.; Account investment objectives, investment
horizon, financial circumstances and risk tolerance; timing of client’s subscription to or indication of interest
in the investment; the capacity of the investment; whether Advisory Accounts give GS&Co. discretion or
request client approval for investments; current and expected future capacity of applicable Advisory
Accounts; prior investment activity; tax sensitivity of Accounts; the client’s domicile; suitability
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considerations; the nature of the investment opportunity; cash and liquidity considerations, including,
without limitation, availability of cash for investment; relative sizes and expected future sizes of applicable
Advisory Accounts; availability of other appropriate investment opportunities; legal and regulatory
restrictions affecting certain Advisory Accounts, including client eligibility; minimum denomination, minimum
increments, de minimis threshold and round lot considerations; client-specific investment guidelines and
restrictions; current investments made by clients that are similar to the applicable investment opportunity;
and the time of last trade.
There will be some instances where certain Advisory Accounts receive an allocation while others do not, or
where preferential allocations are given to clients with a proven interest or expertise in a certain sector,
company or industry, or for other reasons, including those set forth above. Additionally, certain Private
Wealth Advisors, as part of their investment style, choose not to participate in IPOs for any clients, choose
to participate in IPOs for clients if they believe such investments are consistent with the client’s investment
objectives and financial circumstances, choose to offer participation to only a small group of clients based
upon criteria, such as assets under management, or choose to adopt another methodology. From time to
time, GS&Co. will make allocations to certain Advisory Accounts before other Advisory Accounts based on
a rotational system reasonably designed to treat Advisory Accounts fairly and equitably over time.
As a result of the various considerations above, there will be cases in which certain Advisory Accounts
(including Advisory Accounts in which Goldman Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest)
receive an allocation of an investment opportunity (including an investment opportunity sourced by or
available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP) at times that other Advisory Accounts do not, or when
other Advisory Accounts receive an allocation of such opportunities but on different terms (which may be
less favorable). In addition, due to regulatory or other considerations, the receipt of an investment
opportunity by certain Advisory Accounts may restrict or limit the ability of other Advisory Accounts to
receive an allocation of the same opportunity. The application of these considerations may cause
differences in the performance of different Advisory Accounts that employ the same or similar strategies.
Certain Advisory Accounts may be unable to participate directly in particular types of investment
opportunities (including those sourced by or available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP), such as
certain types of loans, due to the nature and/or size of the Advisory Accounts, or limitations or prohibitions
in applicable loan or transaction documentation. In addition, certain Advisory Accounts may be limited due
to the timing or specific nature of the particular investment opportunity. Such Advisory Accounts may only
be able to access such investment opportunities indirectly through an investment in an Advisory Account
that is a pooled investment vehicle managed by GSAM, which investment would result in additional
management fees and/or performance-based compensation payable to GSAM LP.
In certain cases, one or more funds or other advisory accounts (“Primary Vehicles”) are intended to be
GSAM LP’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or receive priority with respect to, a particular strategy
or type of investment (as determined in GSAM LP’s discretion, and including investments sourced by or
available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP) as compared to other funds or Advisory Accounts. In
such cases, such other funds or Advisory Accounts may not have access to such strategy or type of
investment, or may have more limited access than would otherwise be the case. For example, access to
such strategies or types of investments may only be available to certain Advisory Account clients through
an investment in a Primary Vehicle, which investment would result in additional management fees and/or
performance-based compensation payable to GSAM LP. In addition, other Accounts (including Accounts
in which Goldman Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) participate (through GSAM
LP or through other areas of Goldman Sachs) in investment opportunities that would be appropriate for
such funds or Advisory Accounts. Participation by such Accounts in such transactions may reduce or
eliminate the availability of investment opportunities to, or otherwise adversely affect, Advisory Accounts.
Furthermore, in cases in which one or more funds or other advisory accounts are intended to be GSAM
LP’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or receive priority with respect to, a particular trading strategy
or type of investment, such funds or other advisory accounts have specific policies or guidelines with
respect to Advisory Accounts, other Accounts or other persons receiving the opportunity to invest alongside
such funds or other advisory accounts with respect to one or more investments (“Co-Investment
Opportunities”). As a result, certain Advisory Accounts, other Accounts or other persons will receive
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allocations to, or rights to invest in, Co-Investment Opportunities that are not available generally to other
Advisory Accounts.
Further, GS&Co., or its affiliates, under limited circumstances, use model portfolios and research or
research lists, including those provided by GSAM LP or third parties, when managing Advisory Accounts.
Certain Advisory Accounts have the opportunity to evaluate or act upon recommendations (including
recommendations in model portfolios) before other Advisory Accounts, including those advised by the same
adviser providing the recommendations and other personnel may have already begun to trade based upon
the recommendations. As a result, trades ultimately placed on behalf of Advisory Accounts based upon
such recommendations are subject to price movements, particularly with orders that are large in relation to
the security’s trading volume. In these circumstances, it should be expected that Advisory Accounts that
act on recommendations later will receive less favorable prices than were obtained for other accounts. This
could occur because of time zone differences or other reasons that cause orders to be placed at different
times. In addition, model portfolios available through GS&Co. affiliates might not be available through
GS&Co., and vice versa, and might experience different performance than other model portfolios. See
Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above. See also Item 12, Aggregation of Orders, for information
regarding the allocation of securities or proceeds relating to orders that are executed on an aggregated
basis.
From time to time, some or all Advisory Accounts are offered investment opportunities that are made
available through Goldman Sachs businesses outside of PWM, including, for example, interests in real
estate and other private investments. In this regard, a conflict of interest will exist to the extent that Goldman
Sachs controls or otherwise influences the terms and pricing of such investments and/or receives fees or
other benefits in connection therewith. Please see Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial
Capacities, above. Goldman Sachs businesses outside of PWM are under no general or other obligation
or duty to provide investment opportunities to any Advisory Accounts, and generally are not expected to do
so.
Further, opportunities sourced by particular portfolio management teams within GS&Co. may not be
allocated to Advisory Accounts managed by such teams or by other teams. It should be expected that
opportunities not allocated (or not fully allocated) to Advisory Accounts will be undertaken by Goldman
Sachs, including for Accounts, or made available to other Accounts or third parties. See Differing Advice
and Competing Interests, above. Even in the case of an opportunity received by an Advisory Account
pursuant to contractual requirements, GS&Co. may decide in its discretion that the Advisory Account will
not participate in such opportunity for portfolio construction reasons, due to the terms of such Advisory
Account, or because GS&Co. determines that participation would not be appropriate for such Advisory
Account for other reasons, in which case GS&Co. may allocate such opportunity to another Advisory
Account.
Principal Trading and Cross/Agency Cross Transactions with Advisory Accounts
When permitted by applicable law and GS&Co. policy, GS&Co., acting on behalf of its Advisory Accounts
(for example, those employing taxable fixed income, municipal bond fixed income and structured
investment strategies), may (but is under no obligation or duty to) enter into transactions in securities and
other instruments with or through Goldman Sachs or in Affiliated Products, and cause Advisory Accounts
to engage in principal transactions, cross transactions and agency cross transactions. A principal
transaction occurs when GS&Co., on behalf of an Advisory Account, engages in a transaction in securities
or other instruments with Goldman Sachs or in Affiliated Products acting as principal. In certain cases,
Goldman Sachs earns compensation (such as a spread or mark-up) in connection with these transactions.
Cross transactions occur if GS&Co. causes an Advisory Account to buy securities or other instruments
from, or sell securities or other instruments to, another Advisory Account or an advisory client Account of
a Goldman Sachs affiliate. An agency cross transaction occurs when Goldman Sachs acts as broker for
an Advisory Account on one side of the transaction and a brokerage account or another Advisory Account
on the other side of the transaction in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by the Advisory
Account. Goldman Sachs receives a commission from such agency cross transactions.
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There are potential conflicts of interest, regulatory considerations or restrictions identified in GS&Co.’s
internal polices relating to these transactions which could limit GS&Co.’s determination and/or ability to
engage in these transactions for Advisory Accounts. 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
Advisory Accounts or impact the price or terms on which transactions relating to such investment
opportunities may be effected.
In certain circumstances, Goldman Sachs will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase or sell
securities on behalf of an Advisory Account as a “riskless principal”. For instance, Goldman Sachs may
purchase securities from a third party with the knowledge that an Advisory Account is interested in
purchasing those securities and immediately sell the purchased securities to such Advisory Account. In
addition, in certain instances, an Advisory Account may request that Goldman Sachs purchase a security
as a principal and issue a participation or similar interest to the Advisory Account in order to comply with
applicable local regulatory requirements. Goldman Sachs also serves as clearing agent for other Goldman
Sachs clients that act as counterparty to trades for Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will earn a fee
for these clearing services. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Goldman Sachs will have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in
such transactions, including with respect to a decision to enter into such transactions as well as with respect
to valuation, pricing and other terms. GS&Co. has adopted policies and procedures in relation to such
transactions and conflicts. However, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be effected or
that such transactions will be effected in the manner that is most favorable to an Advisory Account that is a
party to any such transactions. Cross transactions may disproportionately benefit some Advisory Accounts
relative to other Advisory Accounts due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the Advisory
Accounts, and cross transactions may be effected at different prices for different Advisory Accounts due to
differing legal and/or regulatory requirements applicable to such Advisory Accounts. Principal, cross or
agency cross transactions are effected in accordance with fiduciary requirements and applicable law (which
include providing disclosure and obtaining client consent, where required). Performance may differ for
clients who do not consent to principal trades. Clients may revoke consent to agency cross transactions at
any time by written notice to GS&Co., and any such revocation will be effective once GS&Co. has received
and has had a reasonable time to act on it.
Affiliated Products / External Products
GS&Co. makes available a range of investment products, including both Affiliated Products and External
Products. There may be, however, certain asset classes for which no External Products are made
available. The decision to offer Affiliated Products or External Products is affected by a variety of factors,
including but not limited to the availability of managers or number of managers GS&Co. considers that
offer particular strategies, products’ investment objectives and performance track records, products’
capacity to accept new clients, investor concentration, product terms (including investment minimums,
management fees, and expenses), access to portfolio managers as well as advisory personnel for
discussion with clients, and the specialized nature of the products or strategies.
The universe of products that are made available to Advisory Accounts (including those Advisory Accounts
that invest in Multi-Asset Class or Customized Multi-Asset Class Portfolios) could be limited, including, for
example, (i) because one or more External Products have not been reviewed or approved for investment;
(ii) as a result of internal informational barriers that restrict access to certain information regarding Affiliated
Products, as described below; or (iii) for administrative, practical or other considerations. As a result, there
likely will be one or more products that could have otherwise been selected or recommended for an
Advisory Account but for such limitations, and such other products may be more appropriate or have
superior historical returns than the investment product selected or recommended for the Advisory Account.
In determining which External Products to review for inclusion on the Goldman Sachs platform, Goldman
Sachs sources managers and/or investment opportunities in a variety of ways, including, for example, by
reviewing databases and inbound inquiries from managers, and/or by leveraging relationships that such
65
managers or other clients already have with other parts of Goldman Sachs’ businesses. Such relationships
give rise to a conflict of interest, as Goldman Sachs is incentivized to select managers from whom
Goldman Sachs receives fees or other benefits, including the opportunity for business development and
the additional revenue that results therefrom. In addition, where Goldman Sachs is compensated more by
one manager over another, it is incentivized to choose the higher paying manager. Different parts of
Goldman Sachs source managers and investment opportunities in different ways and based on different
considerations. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Before making Affiliated Products or External Products available on the Goldman Sachs platform, various
teams within Goldman Sachs review such products and, in doing so, consider certain factors, including
the operational and reputational risks relating to such products. The focus of certain reviews and the teams
conducting such reviews, however, differ depending on whether the product is an Affiliated Product or an
External Product. In addition, different teams review or screen such products in different ways. With
respect to External Products, certain External Products are reviewed by XIG, while other External Products
are reviewed by other teams within Goldman Sachs. In this regard, XIG reviews External Products that it
sources or that are sourced elsewhere in Goldman Sachs but intended to be offered to or placed with
GS&Co. clients. External Products that are sourced by other groups within Goldman Sachs and that are
intended to be placed with GS&Co.’s Investment Banking clients or FICC and Equities clients would be
reviewed by such other sourcing group(s) within Goldman Sachs, but generally not by XIG.
With respect to External Products reviewed by XIG, such products undergo a due diligence review
designed to assess the investment merits of each product, which includes a review of the quality of the
managers and the likelihood of producing appropriate investment results over the long term. Applicable
investment and operational due diligence committees determine which External Products are available for
investment. Although XIG reviews the performance history of External Products, none of GS&Co., XIG, or
any third-party calculates or audits the information for accuracy, verifies the appropriateness of the
methodology on which the performance is calculated or verifies whether the performance complies with
Global Investment Performance Standards or any other standard for performance calculation. The
methods for calculating performance and forming composites can differ among External Products and
performance information generally is not calculated on a uniform and consistent basis. Past performance
is not indicative of future results and, as such, prospective clients should not rely solely on External
Product performance information when making an investment decision. XIG periodically reviews the
External Products through interactions with Unaffiliated Managers designed to help understand the
evolution of their views. XIG uses a different process to evaluate ETFs and certain third-party mutual
funds, applying quantitative screens that assess specific factors, including tracking error, total assets,
expense ratio, length of track record and other factors (which may be adjusted periodically). XIG will not
review the entire universe of External Products that may be otherwise appropriate for Goldman Sachs’
platform. In addition, XIG might not consider any External Product for certain asset classes if an Affiliated
Product is available; as a result, there might be no External Products available for certain asset classes
on the Goldman Sachs platform. External Products that were not reviewed or approved by XIG could have
been more appropriate for a particular Advisory Account or may have had superior historical returns than
the products otherwise made available.
Advisory Personnel utilize different processes for the selection of Affiliated Products and External Products
for inclusion on an investment platform. The selection process for Affiliated Products is implemented
primarily through a product development process by teams within Goldman Sachs other than XIG.
Because such teams are familiar with and subject to the framework of Goldman Sachs’ operational
infrastructure and internal controls, they are likely, depending on the investment product, to generally
focus more on the specifics of the investment product in developing such product. As further described
below, in determining potential investment products for a particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel
select or recommend an Affiliated Product that they may not have otherwise selected or recommended
had the same review process applicable to External Products been utilized for the Affiliated Product. See
also Item 8, Risks Associated with Investments in Affiliated Products.
After investment products have been approved for offering by GS&Co. Advisory Personnel determine which
products to select or recommend to clients. When considering potential investment products for a particular
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Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel give different weights to different factors depending on the nature of
the client and on whether their review is for an Affiliated Product or for an External Product. Such factors
include quantitative considerations (such as the investment product’s returns and performance consistency
over specified time periods) and qualitative considerations (such as the investment product’s investment
objective and process), which are inherently subjective and include a wide variety of factors. Advisory
Personnel generally consider, for example, without limitation: (i) product-related factors, such as track
record, index comparisons, risk and return assumptions; (ii) the Advisory Personnel’s experience and
familiarity with particular potential investment products, and, if applicable, the investment management
teams managing such investment products or their organizations; (iii) client-driven factors, such as the
client’s investment objective, the effect on the client’s portfolio diversification objectives, consistency with
the client’s asset allocation mode and investment program, and the projected timing of implementation; and
(iv) other factors, such as capacity constraints and minimum investment requirements. It should be
expected that consideration of such factors will not be applied consistently over time or by particular
Advisory Personnel across all Accounts or across different products and may play a greater role in the
review of certain strategies or products while others play no role at all, and the factors are subject to change
from time to time. See also Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above.
Advisory Personnel may consider qualitative and subjective factors to a greater extent than quantitative
factors when they review an Affiliated Product as compared to an External Product. In such instances,
Affiliated Products and External Products will not be subject to the same review of quantitative and
qualitative characteristics. Accordingly, such Advisory Personnel may recommend or select an Affiliated
Product over an External Product and, in some cases, the Affiliated Product that was recommended or
selected will not perform as well as the External Product that would have been recommended or selected
had the more quantitative review been applied to both Affiliated Products and External Products.
Other factors affect the review of potential investment products by Advisory Personnel. For example, when
Advisory Personnel review Affiliated Products, they may be restricted from obtaining information they might
otherwise request with respect to such Affiliated Products and their sponsors, managers, or advisers as a
result of internal informational barriers. When Advisory Personnel do not have access to certain information
with respect to an investment product, they may determine not to consider such investment product for an
Advisory Account, or, conversely, Advisory Personnel may select an investment product for the Advisory
Account notwithstanding that certain material information is unavailable to the Advisory Personnel, each of
which could adversely affect the Advisory Account (e.g., such Affiliated Product could significantly decline
in value, resulting in substantial losses to the Advisory Account). For more information, see Considerations
Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs, below.
It should be expected that Advisory Personnel will not review the entire universe of External Products that
are appropriate for an Advisory Account. As a result, there could be one or more External Products that
would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory Account than the investment product selected by
Advisory Personnel. Such External Products may outperform the investment product selected for the
Advisory Account.
The availability of Affiliated Products versus External Products gives rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Generally, Goldman Sachs receives higher fees, compensation and other benefits, and Advisory
Personnel receive higher compensation, when assets of Advisory Accounts are allocated to Affiliated
Products rather than External Products. GS&Co., therefore, is incentivized to allocate Advisory Account
assets to Affiliated Products, rather than to External Products. Similarly, GS&Co. is disincentivized to
consider or recommend the removal of an Advisory Account’s assets from, or the modification of an
Advisory Account’s allocations to, an Affiliated Product at a time that it otherwise would have where doing
so would decrease the fees, compensation and other benefits to Goldman Sachs, including where disposal
of such Affiliated Product by the Advisory Account would likely adversely affect the Affiliated Product with
respect to its liquidity position or otherwise. Moreover, GS&Co. has an interest in allocating or
recommending the assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Products that impose higher fees than those
imposed by other Affiliated Products or that provide other benefits to Goldman Sachs. Any differential in
compensation paid to Personnel in connection with certain Affiliated Products rather than other Affiliated
Products creates a financial incentive on the part of GS&Co. to select or recommend certain Affiliated
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Products over other Affiliated Products. For information regarding fees and compensation, see Item 5 –
Fees and Compensation.
From time to time, the activities of Affiliated Products may be restricted because of regulatory or other
requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the
applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. External Products may or may not be subject to
the same or similar restrictions or requirements, and as a result may outperform Affiliated Products.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) provides opportunities to Advisory Accounts to
make investments in Affiliated Products in which certain Advisory 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 Advisory Accounts. Follow-on investment
opportunities may be available to clients with no existing investment in the Affiliated Product, resulting in
the assets of an Advisory Account potentially providing value to, or otherwise supporting the investments
of, other Advisory Accounts. Advisory Accounts may also participate in re-leveraging, recapitalization and
similar transactions involving Affiliated Products in which other Advisory Accounts have invested or will
invest. Conflicts of interest in these and other transactions arise between Advisory Accounts with existing
investments in an Affiliated Product or Advisory Accounts liquidating their investment in the Affiliated
Product, on the one hand, and Advisory Accounts making subsequent investments in the Affiliated Product,
on the other hand, which have opposing interests regarding pricing and other terms. In addition, the
subsequent investments may dilute or otherwise adversely affect the interests of the previously invested
Advisory Accounts. The conflicts described in this paragraph apply equally to investments in External
Products. See Differing Advice and Competing Interests and Allocation of Investment Opportunities, above.
Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) creates, writes, sells, issues, invests in or acts as placement agent or
distributor of derivative instruments related to Affiliated Products such as pooled investment vehicles, or
with respect to underlying securities or assets of Affiliated Products, or which are otherwise based on, or
seek to replicate or hedge, the performance of Affiliated Products. Such derivative transactions, and any
associated hedging activity, may differ from and be adverse to the interests of Advisory Accounts. For
example, derivative transactions could represent leveraged investments in an investment fund in which
Advisory Accounts have an interest, and the leveraged characteristics of such investments could make it
more likely, due to events of default or otherwise, that there would be significant redemptions of interests
from such underlying fund more quickly than might otherwise be the case. Goldman Sachs, acting in
commercial capacities in connection with such derivative transactions, may in fact cause such a
redemption. Activities in respect of derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may occur
as a result of Goldman Sachs’ adjustment in assessment of an investment or an Affiliated Manager or
Unaffiliated Manager based on various considerations, and Goldman Sachs will not be under any obligation
or other duty to provide notice to Advisory Accounts in respect of any such adjustment in assessment. See
Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above. See also Item 8, Options Risk.
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or its clients (including Advisory Accounts
and Accounts formed to facilitate investment by Personnel) may invest in or alongside particular Advisory
Accounts that are invested in Affiliated Products. These investments generally will be on terms more
favorable than those of an investment by Advisory Accounts in such Affiliated Products and may constitute
a substantial percentage of the assets of such Affiliated Products, resulting in particular Advisory Accounts
being allocated a smaller share of the investment than would be the case absent the side-by-side
investment. Unless provided otherwise by agreement to the contrary, Goldman Sachs, its Personnel and
its clients may redeem or withdraw interests in these Affiliated Products at any time without notice or regard
to the effect on the portfolios of Advisory Accounts invested in the Affiliated Product and adversely affect
such Advisory Accounts. Substantial requests for redemption or withdrawal by Goldman Sachs in a
concentrated period of time could require an Affiliated Product to liquidate certain of its investments more
rapidly than otherwise desirable in order to raise cash to fund the redemptions or withdrawals, adversely
affecting the Affiliated Product and its investors, including Advisory Accounts. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above, and Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting
Advisory Accounts, below.
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It should be expected that the various types of investors in and beneficiaries of Affiliated Products, including
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, will have conflicting investment, tax and other interests with respect to
their interest in the Affiliated Products. When considering a potential investment for an Affiliated Product,
Goldman Sachs will generally consider the investment objectives of the Affiliated Product, not the
investment objectives of any particular investor or beneficiary. Goldman Sachs 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 GS&Co. and its affiliates than to investors or beneficiaries unaffiliated with GS&Co. In
addition, Goldman Sachs faces certain tax risks based on positions taken by an Affiliated Product, including
as a withholding agent. Goldman Sachs reserves the right on behalf of itself and its affiliates to take actions
adverse to the Affiliated Product or other Accounts in these circumstances, including withholding amounts
to cover actual or potential tax liabilities. Failure to provide the necessary tax forms could result in over-
withholding, requiring Advisory Account clients to reclaim excess amounts withheld. See Differing Advice
and Competing Interests, above.
Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure
In some cases, Goldman Sachs or its clients (including Advisory Accounts), on the one hand, and a
particular Advisory Account, on the other hand, invest in or extend credit to the same issuer, but in different
parts of the capital structure. As a result, Goldman Sachs or its clients may take actions that adversely
affect the particular Advisory Account. In addition, in some cases, Goldman Sachs (including PWM) advises
clients with respect to part of the capital structure of an issuer where a particular Advisory Account has an
investment in different classes of securities of such issuer that are subordinate or senior to the securities
with respect to which Goldman Sachs is providing advice. Goldman Sachs 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 its clients with respect to an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account
has invested, and such actions (or inaction) may have an adverse effect on such Advisory Account. See
Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
For example, in the event that Goldman Sachs or an Account holds loans, securities or other positions in
the capital structure of an issuer that rank senior in preference to the holdings of a particular Advisory
Account in the same issuer, and the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, Goldman Sachs
(acting on behalf of itself or the Account) may seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring of the
issuer, or terms in connection with the foregoing, that could have an adverse effect or otherwise conflict
with the interests of the particular Advisory Account’s holdings in the issuer. In determining its course of
action, Goldman Sachs will not consider the interests of the particular Advisory Account. Goldman Sachs
may determine to seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring that causes a particular Advisory
Account’s holdings in the issuer to be extinguished or substantially diluted, while Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or an Account may receive a recovery of some or all of the amounts due to them. In addition, in
connection with any lending arrangements involving the issuer in which Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.)
or an Account participates, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or the Account may seek to exercise its
rights under the applicable loan agreement or other document in a manner detrimental to the particular
Advisory Account. Alternatively, in situations in which an Advisory Account holds a more senior position in
the capital structure of an issuer experiencing financial or other challenges as compared to positions held
by other Accounts (including those of Goldman Sachs), Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may determine
not to pursue actions and remedies available to the Advisory Account or not to enforce particular terms that
might be unfavorable to the Accounts holding the less senior position. In addition, in the event that Goldman
Sachs or the Accounts hold voting securities of an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account holds loans,
bonds or other credit-related assets or securities, Goldman Sachs or the Accounts may vote on certain
matters in a manner that has an adverse effect on the positions held by the Advisory Account. Conversely,
Advisory Accounts may hold voting securities or credit-related assets of an issuer in which Goldman Sachs
or Accounts hold credit-related assets or securities, and Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may
determine on behalf of the Advisory Accounts not to vote in a manner adverse to Goldman Sachs or the
Accounts (including by abstaining from the relevant vote or voting in line with other similarly situated
investors). Finally, Goldman Sachs has certain relationships and other business dealings with issuers, other
holders of credit-related assets or securities of such issuers, or other transaction participants that cause
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Goldman Sachs to pursue an action or engage in a transaction that has an adverse effect on the positions
held by the Advisory Account.
These potential issues are examples of conflicts that Goldman Sachs will face in situations in which
Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs or other Accounts, invest in or extend credit to different parts of
the capital structure of a single issuer or related issuers. Similar conflicts can arise among Accounts (which
includes proprietary accounts of Goldman Sachs and Advisory Accounts) in other contexts. For example,
one Account could own equity in a portfolio company and another Account could hold debt obligations
issued by the portfolio company. Alternatively, a capital structure could involve multiple entities with
Accounts holding interests in different entities and with different seniority. By way of example, one Account
could hold debt issued by a parent entity and another Account could hold debt issued by a subsidiary entity.
An Account that holds debt issued by the parent entity is structurally subordinated to the debt issued by the
subsidiary entity with respect to the assets of the subsidiary entity. Related conflicts also occur where there
is debt issued to an Account by a part owner of an entity and equity in that entity is owned by a different
Account. When Accounts hold interests of differing seniority levels in a capital structure, their interests will
diverge in certain situations, particularly in the event of financial distress for the company.
Goldman Sachs has adopted procedures to address such conflicts, and addresses these issues based on
the circumstances of particular situations. For example, Goldman Sachs relies on information barriers
between different Goldman Sachs business units or portfolio management teams. In addition, Goldman
Sachs 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 Advisory Account.
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 particular Advisory Accounts, Advisory Accounts could
sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts)
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 Advisory Accounts using, small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid
strategies.
Valuation
GS&Co. performs certain valuation services related to securities and assets in Advisory Accounts according
to its valuation policies and may value an identical asset differently than another entity, segment or unit
within Goldman Sachs, or differently than another Account or Advisory Account, values the asset, including
because such other entity, segment or unit has information or uses valuation techniques and models that
it does not share with, or that are different than those of GS&Co. This is particularly the case in respect of
difficult-to-value assets, including but not limited to alternative investments. GS&Co. may also value an
identical asset differently in different Advisory Accounts, including because different Advisory Accounts are
subject to different valuation guidelines pursuant to their respective governing agreements. In addition,
there may be significant differences in the treatment of the same asset by GS&Co., on the one hand, other
entities, segments or units of Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, and/or among Advisory 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 also be expected where
different third-party vendors are hired to perform valuation functions for the Advisory Accounts, or the
Advisory Accounts are managed or advised by different portfolio management teams within Goldman Sachs
that employ different valuation policies or procedures or otherwise.
This is particularly the case with difficult-to-value assets. PWM faces a conflict with respect to valuations
generally because of their effect on GS&Co.’s fees and other compensation. In addition, to the extent PWM
utilizes third-party vendors to perform certain valuation functions, these vendors have interests and
incentives that differ from those of the Advisory Accounts.
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Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including GS&Co., may from time to time and without notice to
clients, including Advisory Accounts, in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection
with a variety of services that it provides to a client or an Advisory Account in its administrative or other
capacities. Depending upon the nature of the services and subject to the governing documents of the client
relationship or Advisory Account, fees associated with in-sourced or outsourced services will be borne by
the client, an Advisory Account, or by GS&Co. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional
conflicts of interest. For example, GS&Co. will have an incentive to outsource services for which costs are
borne by Advisory Accounts because such outsourcing would reduce GS&Co.’s internal overhead and
compensation costs for employees who would otherwise perform such services in-house.
Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts
Goldman Sachs restricts its investment decisions and activities on behalf of an Advisory Account in various
circumstances, including as a result of applicable regulatory requirements, information held by Goldman
Sachs, as more fully described below. 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 Advisory Accounts). In certain
cases, GS&Co. will not engage in transactions or other activities for, enforce certain rights in favor of, or
recommend transactions or activities to, an Advisory Account, or can reduce an Advisory Account’s position
in an investment with limited availability to create availability for another Advisory Account managed in the
same strategy, in consideration of Goldman Sachs’ activities outside the Advisory Account and regulatory
requirements, policies and reputational risk assessments. For example, such limitations may exist if a
position or transaction could require a filing or a 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 GS&Co.) or on other Advisory 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 Accounts 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
(including ERISA), certain Advisory Accounts are prohibited from trading with or through Goldman Sachs,
from engaging Goldman Sachs as a service provider or from purchasing investments issued or managed
by Goldman Sachs.
When faced with the foregoing limitations, Goldman Sachs will generally avoid exceeding the threshold
because doing so could have an adverse impact on the ability of Goldman Sachs to conduct business
activities. Goldman Sachs may also reduce a particular Advisory Account’s interest in, or restrict certain
Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts that pursue similar investment strategies are able to
acquire an interest in the investment opportunity. In some cases, Goldman Sachs determines not to engage
in certain transactions or activities beneficial to Advisory Accounts because of reputational considerations
or because engaging in such transactions or activities in compliance with applicable law would result in
significant cost to, or administrative burden on, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or create the potential
risk of trade or other errors.
Goldman Sachs generally is not permitted to use material non-public information in effecting purchases and
sales in transactions for Advisory Accounts that involve public securities. GS&Co. may limit an activity or
transaction (such as a purchase or sale transaction or a subscription to or redemption from an underlying
71
fund) which might otherwise be engaged in on behalf of a particular Advisory Account, including as a result
of information held by Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co. or GS&Co. 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 Advisory
Accounts. 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, Goldman Sachs
(including GS&Co. and GSAM LP or certain of their 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 in which Goldman
Sachs invests on behalf of Advisory Accounts may have duties to the portfolio company in his or her
capacity as a director that conflict with Goldman Sachs’s duties to Advisory Accounts, and may act in a
manner that disadvantages or otherwise harms Advisory Accounts and/or benefits the portfolio company
and/or Goldman Sachs.
In addition, GS&Co. 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 GS&Co., might cause GS&Co.
to not make such investment, to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in such investments, or take
other actions. Any decision by GS&Co. to limit access to such information may be disadvantageous to an
Advisory Account.
Different areas of Goldman Sachs come into possession of material non-public information regarding an
issuer of securities held by an Advisory Account or an investment fund in which such Advisory Account
invests. In the absence of information barriers between such different areas of Goldman Sachs or under
certain other circumstances, an Advisory Account will be prohibited, including by internal policies, from
redeeming from or otherwise disposing of such security or such investment fund interest 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 Advisory Account may not be permitted to redeem from an investment fund in
whole or in part during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely
affect the Advisory Account. Other investors in the investment fund that are not subject to such restrictions
may be able to redeem from the investment fund during such periods.
In addition, PWM clients may partially or fully fund a new Advisory Account with in-kind securities in which
PWM is restricted. The list of restricted in-kind securities is subject to change over time and without notice.
In such circumstances, PWM 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 Advisory Accounts to dispose of investments at an earlier date and/or at a
less favorable price than would otherwise have been the case had PWM not been so restricted. Advisory
Accounts will be responsible for all tax liabilities that result from any such sale transactions.
Goldman Sachs 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 an Advisory Account is subject). Such economic and trade
sanctions 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 Goldman Sachs of its compliance program in
respect thereof, will restrict or limit an Advisory Account’s investment activities, potentially requiring GS&Co.
to cause an Advisory Account to sell its position in a particular investment at an inopportune time and/or
when GS&Co. would otherwise not have done so, or to hold its position in a particular investment even
though doing so could have an adverse effect on the Advisory Account.
In order to engage in certain transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. will be subject to (or
cause Advisory Accounts 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 GS&Co.
and/or the Advisory Accounts are required to comply with the rules of certain exchanges, execution
platforms, trading facilities, clearinghouses and other venues, or are required to consent to the jurisdiction
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of any such venues. The rules, terms and/or conditions of any such venue often result in GS&Co. and/or
the Advisory Accounts 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, an Advisory Account, GS&Co. or its affiliates and/or their service providers or agents
are required, or determine that it is advisable, to disclose certain information about an Advisory Account,
including, but not limited to, investments held by the Advisory Account, and the names and percentage
interest of beneficial owners thereof, to third parties, including advisers, local governmental authorities,
regulatory organizations, taxing authorities, markets, exchanges, clearing facilities, custodians, brokers and
trading counterparties of, or service providers to, GS&Co., advisers or underlying funds or the Advisory
Account. GS&Co. will comply with requests to disclose such information as it so determines, including
through electronic delivery platforms. In some instances, GS&Co. will cause the sale of certain assets for
the Advisory Account at a time that is inopportune from a pricing or other standpoint. In addition, Goldman
Sachs may provide third parties with aggregated data regarding the activities of, or certain performance or
other metrics associated with, the Advisory Accounts it manages, and Goldman Sachs will generally receive
compensation from such third parties for providing them such information.
GS&Co. can determine to limit or not engage at all in transactions and activities on behalf of Advisory
Accounts for reputational, legal or other reasons. Examples of when such determinations may be made
include, but are not limited to, (i) where Goldman Sachs is providing (or may provide) advice or services to
an entity involved in such activity or transaction, (ii) 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 Advisory
Account, (iii) where Goldman Sachs or another Account has an interest in an entity involved in such activity
or transaction, (iv) where there are political, public relations, or other reputational considerations relating to
counterparties or other participants in such activity or transaction or (v) where such activity or transaction
on behalf of or with respect to the Advisory Account could affect in tangible or intangible ways Goldman
Sachs, an Account or their activities. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
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 and within GS&Co. As a result
of information barriers, PWM generally does not have access, or has 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 Advisory Accounts with the benefit of information held by these
other areas. Conversely, these other areas of Goldman Sachs generally do not have access, or have limited
access, to certain information and Personnel, including senior personnel, in PWM, and generally will not
manage their client accounts with the benefit of information held by PWM. 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 Advisory Accounts in a manner
that is adverse to Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation or other duty to share
information with PWM.
In limited circumstances, 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.” PWM faces conflicts of
interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. In addition, Goldman Sachs or PWM 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, Personnel, businesses, and business
units that are 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.
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Information obtained in connection with wall crossings and changes to information barriers may limit or
restrict the ability of PWM to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts
(including purchasing or selling securities that PWM may otherwise have purchased or sold for an Advisory
Account). There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by certain portfolio
management teams in PWM, PWM limits an activity or transaction for Advisory Accounts, including
Advisory Accounts managed by portfolio management teams other than the team holding such information.
See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—
Participation or Interest in Client Accounts—Differing Advice and Competing Interests and Item 11, Code
of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or Interest in
Client Accounts—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions, and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory
Accounts.
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 advisory clients or Advisory Accounts any information
regarding its trading activities, strategies or views, or the activities, strategies or views used for other
Accounts. From time to time different areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs will take views, and make
decisions or recommendations, that are different than other areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs.
Furthermore, to the extent that Advisory Personnel have access to fundamental analysis and proprietary
technical models or other information developed by Goldman Sachs and its Personnel, Advisory Personnel
will not be under any obligation or other duty to effect transactions on behalf of the Advisory Accounts in
accordance with such analysis. In the event Goldman Sachs elects not to share certain information with
Advisory Accounts, such Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Personnel within PWM may make decisions based on information or take (or
refrain from taking) actions with respect to Advisory Accounts they advise in a manner different than or
adverse to other Advisory Accounts. Such teams do not share information with other portfolio management
teams within PWM (or other areas of Goldman Sachs), including as a result of certain information barriers
and other policies, and will not have any obligation or other duty to do so. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above.
Goldman Sachs operates a business known as Prime Services (“Prime Services”), which provides prime
brokerage, administrative and other services to clients that from time to time involve investment funds in
which Advisory Accounts have an interest or markets and securities in which Advisory 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 PWM. In addition, Goldman Sachs from time to time acts as a prime broker to one or more
investment funds in which Advisory Accounts have an interest, in which case Goldman Sachs will have
information concerning the investments and transactions of such investment fund that is not available to
PWM. As a result of these and other activities, parts of Goldman Sachs will possess information regarding
markets, investments, Affiliated Managers, Unaffiliated Managers, and investment funds, which, if known
to PWM, might cause PWM to seek to: dispose of, retain, or increase interests in investments held by
Advisory Accounts; acquire certain positions on behalf of Advisory Accounts; or take other actions.
Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation or other duty to make any such information available to PWM
or personnel involved in decision-making for Advisory Accounts.
The conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Goldman
Sachs and PWM also apply to Asset & Wealth Management, as well as to the businesses within Asset &
Wealth Management, including PWM.
ITEM 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Broker-Dealer Selection and Directed Brokerage
Investment advisory services provided by GS&Co. are generally available only to clients who have directed
GS&Co. to execute transactions for their Advisory Accounts through Goldman Sachs. As a result,
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substantially all transactions for Advisory Accounts are executed by Goldman Sachs. These transactions
can be effected by Goldman Sachs as agent or as principal. Execution Charges can differ depending on
the client’s pricing model. See Item 5 – Fees and Compensation.
Where an Advisory Account directs brokerage to Goldman Sachs, it is possible that GS&Co. may be unable
to achieve most favorable execution for Advisory Account transactions, and the Advisory Account may be
disadvantaged as a result of a less favorable execution price and/or higher commissions. Clients should
understand that not all advisers require their clients to direct brokerage to a particular broker-dealer.
In certain circumstances, GS&Co. may decide to execute transactions through a broker-dealer that is not
affiliated with Goldman Sachs. Where GS&Co. selects a broker-dealer other than Goldman Sachs to
execute transactions for an Advisory Account, it does so according to its best execution policies and
procedures. Subject to any specific instructions that GS&Co accepts from clients, GS&Co may take into
account a range of factors in deciding how to execute client orders, including, but not limited to, price; costs;
timing and speed of execution; responsiveness; track record; quality of service; confidentiality;
creditworthiness and financial stability; likelihood of, and capabilities in, execution, clearance and
settlement; size; liquidity in or with an execution venue; nature; in certain circumstances, a broker’s or
counterparty’s willingness to commit capital and, where permitted by applicable law, the provision of
research and “soft dollar” benefits as described below; and other appropriate factors. Best price, giving
effect to commissions and commission equivalents (if any) and other transaction costs, is normally an
important factor in deciding how to execute transactions, but, in consideration of other relevant factors and
due to applicable legal and/or regulatory restrictions, transactions will not always be executed at the lowest
available price or commission or commission equivalents (if any). In determining the relative importance of
factors considered, GS&Co takes into account the size and nature of client orders, the characteristics of
the financial instruments to which the order relates, the current market conditions, and the characteristics
of the available brokers or counterparties which can be used or to which client orders can be directed.
Where GS&Co. selects or recommends a broker-dealer other than Goldman Sachs, GS&Co does not
consider whether it or any of its affiliates receives client referrals from that broker-dealer.
When placing orders with any broker or counterparty, including its affiliates, GS&Co. may, in accordance
with applicable law, give permission for such broker to trade along with or ahead of Advisory Account orders
(i.e., determine not to opt-in to the protections afforded under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Rule
5320). When acting as agent or counterparty, GS&Co. and its affiliates will generally charge the client a
commission, mark-up, mark-down, or other commission equivalent.
To the extent that transactions are effected through Goldman Sachs or other broker-dealers, Goldman
Sachs and those broker-dealers may have commercial interests in transactions that are adverse to Advisory
Accounts, such as obtaining favorable commission rates, mark-ups and mark-downs, other commission
equivalents and lending rates and arrangements. No accounting to Advisory Accounts will be required, and
broker-dealers including Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain all such fees and other amounts and no
advisory fees or other compensation will be reduced thereby.
Alternative Investments
For GS&Co. clients, an advisory fee is also assessed on assets invested in Alternative Investments in
Advisory Accounts, which is in addition to the fees and expenses of the Alternative Investment. Such fees
and expenses can include an access fund management or servicing fee paid to a third-party provider. The
amount GS&Co. is paid for Alternative Investment recommendations and investment management services
associated with the Alternative Investment varies.
Alternative Investments made available to GS&Co. clients are provided directly by Unaffiliated Advisers,
Affiliated Advisers or other third-party Alternative Investments platform providers. Alternative Investments
offered through Alternative Investments platform providers may be more expensive than Alternative
Investments offered directly or through GS&Co. to clients. Clients of GS&Co. are under no obligation to,
and can choose to not, invest in Alternative Investments.
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Aggregation of Orders
GS&Co. seeks to execute orders for Advisory Accounts fairly and equitably over time. GS&Co. follows
policies and procedures pursuant to which it is able (but not required) to combine or aggregate purchase
or sale orders for the same security or other instrument for multiple clients (sometimes called “bunching” or
“aggregating”) so that the orders can be executed at the same time. GS&Co. may also determine whether
to permit the executing broker (whether GS&Co., affiliates of GS&Co. or an unaffiliated broker) to trade
along with client orders, subject to applicable law. The particular procedures followed by GS&Co. may differ
depending on the particular strategy or type of investment.
GS&Co. and its advisory affiliates as a general matter do not bunch or aggregate orders for different
accounts, or net buy and sell orders for the same account, if portfolio management decisions relating to the
orders are made by separate Private Wealth Advisors or portfolio management teams, or if bunching,
aggregating or netting are not appropriate or practicable from GS&Co.’s operational or other perspective.
GS&Co. may be able to negotiate a better price and lower commission rate on aggregated orders than on
orders for Advisory Accounts that are not aggregated, and incur lower transaction costs on netted orders
than orders that are not netted. GS&Co. is under no obligation or other duty to aggregate or net for particular
orders. Where transactions for a client’s account are not aggregated with orders for other accounts or not
netted against orders for the client’s account or other client accounts, the client 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 Advisory
Accounts relative to other Advisory Accounts due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the
Advisory Accounts.
GS&Co. generally allocates the securities or other instruments purchased, or proceeds of a sale, from a
bunched order among the participating accounts in the manner indicated on the order. If the order is filled
at several different prices, through multiple trades, generally all participating accounts will receive the
average price and pay the average commission, subject to odd lots, rounding, and market practice. There
may be instances in which not all Advisory Accounts are charged the same commission or commission
equivalent rates in a bunched or aggregated order, including minimum denomination requirements and
restrictions under applicable law on the use of client commissions to pay for research services. When a
bunched order is partially filled for an Advisory Account, securities must be allocated proportionately based
upon the relative size of the particular client’s pre-trade designation subject to odd-lots, minimum
denomination requirements or other circumstances where it would be impractical or not in the client’s best
interest to provide a partial allocation.
Account Errors and Error Resolution
GS&Co. has policies and procedures to help it assess and determine, consistent with applicable standards
of care and client documentation, when reimbursement is due by it to a client because GS&Co. has
committed an error. Pursuant to GS&Co.’s policy, an error is generally compensable from GS&Co. to a
client when it is a mistake (whether an action or inaction) in which GS&Co. has, in GS&Co.’s reasonable
view, deviated from the applicable standard of care in managing the client’s assets, subject to materiality
and other considerations. GS&Co. makes its determinations pursuant to its error policies on a case-by-
case basis, in its discretion, based on factors it considers reasonable. Relevant facts and circumstances
GS&Co. may consider include, among others, the nature of the service being provided at the time of the
incident, whether intervening causes including the action or inaction of third parties caused or contributed
to the incident, specific applicable contractual and legal restrictions and standards of care, whether a
client’s investment objective was contravened, the nature of the client’s investment approach, whether a
contractual guideline was violated, the nature and materiality of the relevant circumstances and the
materiality of any resulting losses or gains. The determination by GS&Co. to treat (or not treat) an incident
as compensable, and any calculation of compensation in respect thereof for any one client or Advisory
Account managed or advised by GS&Co. may differ from the determination and calculation made by
GS&Co. in respect to one or more other clients or Advisory Accounts.
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When GS&Co. determines that compensation by GS&Co. is appropriate, the client will be compensated
as determined in good faith by GS&Co. GS&Co. will determine the amount to be reimbursed, if any, based
on what it considers reasonable guidelines regarding these matters in light of all of the facts and
circumstances related to the incident. In general, compensation is expected to be limited to direct and
actual losses, and GS&Co. expects, subject to its discretion, that losses will be netted with any gains
arising from a particular incident. Compensation generally will not include any amounts or measures that
GS&Co. considers to be speculative or uncertain. In calculating any reimbursement amount, GS&Co.
generally will not consider tax implications for, or the tax status of, any affected client.
GS&Co. may at any time, in its sole discretion and without notice to clients, amend or supplement its
policies with respect to account errors and error resolution.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
Subject to applicable law, PWM often selects U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers (including GS&Co.
affiliates) that furnish PWM, Advisory Accounts, PWM affiliates, and personnel involved in decision-
making for Advisory Accounts with proprietary or third-party brokerage and research services (collectively,
“brokerage and research services”) that provide, in PWM’s view, appropriate assistance to PWM in the
investment decision-making process. While they are not currently, these brokerage and research services
could be bundled with the trade execution, clearing, or settlement services provided by a particular broker-
dealer and, subject to applicable law, PWM may pay for such brokerage and research services with client
commissions (or “soft dollars”). The types of brokerage and research services that PWM may acquire with
client brokerage commissions include: research reports on companies, industries, and securities
(including proprietary research from affiliated and unaffiliated broker-dealers, as well as independent
research providers); economic, market and financial data; access to broker-dealer analysts, corporate
executives and industry experts; attendance at trade industry seminars and broker organized conferences;
and services related to effecting securities transactions and functions incident thereto (such as clearance
and settlement).
Were PWM to use client commissions to obtain brokerage and research services, PWM would receive a
benefit because PWM would not have to produce or pay for the brokerage and research services itself.
As a result, PWM will have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on PWM’s interest
in receiving the brokerage and research services from that broker-dealer, rather than solely on its clients’
interest in receiving the best price or commission. In addition, were PWM to use client commissions to
obtain proprietary research services from an affiliate, PWM will have an incentive to allocate more “soft”
or commission dollars to pay for those services. However, when selecting broker-dealers that provide
brokerage and research services, including its affiliates, PWM is obligated to determine in good faith that
the “commissions” (as broadly defined by the SEC to include a mark-up, mark-down, commission
equivalent or other fee in certain circumstances) to be paid to broker-dealers are reasonable in relation to
the value of the brokerage and research services they provide to PWM. The reasonableness of these
commissions will be viewed in terms of the particular transactions or PWM’s overall responsibilities to
Advisory Accounts over which it exercises investment discretion, even though that broker-dealer itself, or
another broker-dealer, might be willing to execute the transactions at a lower commission.
Accordingly, transactions will not always be executed at the most favorable available price or commission
and PWM may cause clients to pay commissions higher than those charged by other broker-dealers as a
result of the soft dollar benefits received by PWM.
PWM’s evaluation of the brokerage and research services provided by a broker-dealer may be a significant
factor in selecting a broker-dealer to effect transactions. For this purpose, PWM has established an annual
review in which certain portfolio management teams review the relationship with broker-dealers that
supply them with brokerage and research services.
Arrangements under which PWM receives brokerage and research services could vary by product,
strategy, Account or applicable law in the jurisdictions in which PWM conducts business.
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Advisory Accounts could differ with regard to whether and to what extent they pay for research and
brokerage services through commissions and, subject to applicable law, brokerage and research services
may be used to service any or all Advisory Accounts throughout PWM, including Advisory 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
some Advisory Accounts relative to other Advisory Accounts based on the relative amount of commissions
paid by the Advisory Accounts and in particular those Advisory Accounts that do not pay for research and
brokerage 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), as
described below. For example, research that is paid for through one client’s commissions may not be used
in managing that client’s Account, but may be used in managing other Advisory Accounts within PWM.
In connection with these practices, subject to applicable law and PWM’s policies and procedures,
brokerage and research services obtained through commissions paid by a client or clients whose Advisory
Accounts are managed by a particular portfolio management team within PWM can be shared with, and
used partially or exclusively by, other portfolio management personnel within PWM.
Except as required by applicable law, PWM 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.
ITEM 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
Review of Accounts
GS&Co. regularly monitors the trading in Advisory Accounts for, among other things, transactions that are
outside a client’s investment guidelines. Region Heads, or their delegates, in consultation with the
responsible Private Wealth Advisors, conduct periodic reviews of Advisory Accounts to monitor for various
factors that may affect the management of the Advisory Account, including changes to the client’s
investment objectives, financial circumstances, portfolio performance, investment guidelines and
investment concentrations. Additionally, GS&Co. periodically communicates with clients to ascertain
whether there have been any changes in the client’s financial circumstances or objectives that warrant a
change in the management of the client’s assets.
In addition to periodic reviews, Private Wealth Advisors perform reviews of Advisory Accounts as they deem
appropriate or otherwise required. Additional reviews may be undertaken for reasons including changes in
market conditions, changes in security positions, changes in a client’s financial circumstances or investment
objectives and policies, or in response to a request by a client.
Client Reports
GS&Co. provides clients with written reports regarding their Advisory Accounts on a periodic (generally,
monthly) basis. These reports generally include a summary of all activity in the Advisory Accounts, including
all purchases and sales of securities and any debits and credits to the Advisory Account, a summary of
holdings including a portfolio valuation, and the change in value of the Advisory Account from the end of
the prior month.
ITEM 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
From time to time, GS&Co. makes cash or non-cash payments for testimonials, endorsements, or client
referrals to affiliated and unaffiliated persons or entities in accordance with applicable laws. In the case of
client referrals, the compensation arrangements generally are either a flat fee calculated and paid on a
periodic basis or a fee based on a percentage of the advisory fees paid to GS&Co. by the referred clients
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and are disclosed to clients. In addition, from time to time, GS&Co. compensates employees of GS&Co.
and its affiliates for client referrals consistent with applicable laws.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, also make referrals of clients to each
other for whom such entity’s services seem to be appropriate and will generally receive or pay, as the case
may be, a percentage of fee revenue as compensation.
Additionally, GS&Co. acts as a placement agent for certain insurance dedicated funds (“IDFs”) managed
by Unaffiliated Managers. As a placement agent, GS&Co. will introduce certain clients to the IDFs, and
such clients may allocate a portion of their private placement insurance policies to the IDFs. Each placement
is performed in compliance with applicable laws. GS&Co. may be paid a portion of the fee charged and
collected by the IDFs, the investment managers of the IDFs, or sub-advisors to the investment managers
of the IDFs for serving as a placement agent for the IDFs.
Referrals by Affiliates
In certain circumstances, and in accordance with applicable laws, an affiliate of GS&Co. will refer clients to
GS&Co. Payment for any such referrals may take the form of cash or non-cash compensation (including a
reduction of management fees or performance-based compensation).
ITEM 15 - CUSTODY
GS&Co., in its capacity as a broker-dealer, generally custodies the funds and securities in Advisory
Accounts. However, clients also may enter into separate custody agreements to maintain client funds and
securities with other unaffiliated qualified custodians.
Clients who custody funds and securities with GS&Co. receive periodic (generally, monthly) Account
statements from GS&Co. Clients who custody funds and securities away from GS&Co. receive account
statements directly from their qualified custodian as well as account statements and performance reports
from GS&Co. Clients should understand that the statements received from the custodian of their funds or
securities are the official records for the Advisory Account. Clients are urged to compare the account
statements that they receive from their qualified custodian with any that they receive from GS&Co.
ITEM 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION
GS&Co. accepts discretionary authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of certain clients, while
other clients are advised on a non-discretionary basis. Clients for which GS&Co. has investment discretion
are required to sign an investment advisory agreement and complete account opening documentation that
authorizes GS&Co. to supervise and direct the investment and potential reinvestment of assets in the
Advisory Account, with discretion on the client’s behalf and at the client’s risk.
GS&Co.’s discretionary authority is limited by the terms of its investment advisory agreements and the
investment guidelines agreed between GS&Co. and each client. The investment guidelines or other account
documents generally include any limitations a client may place on GS&Co.’s discretionary authority,
including any reasonable restrictions on the securities and other financial instruments in which GS&Co. is
authorized to invest.
ITEM 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
GS&Co. does not accept authority to vote client securities held in Advisory Accounts. It is GS&Co.’s policy
that clients must vote securities held in their Advisory Account directly, appoint or instruct the custodian, if
other than GS&Co., holding such securities as nominee to do so, or appoint an unaffiliated provider of proxy
voting services to vote proxies in connection with certain securities on the client’s behalf. Clients are
responsible for voting proxies on securities or matters on which their proxy voting service provider, or the
custodian, if applicable, declines to vote. GS&Co. does not render any advice with respect to a particular
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proxy solicitation. Certain Affiliated Managers may render such advice or take such action, unless restricted
by applicable law or for regulatory reasons, in which case eligible clients will be requested to direct GS&Co.
GS&Co. does not render any advice or take any action with respect to securities or other property currently
or formerly held in Advisory Accounts or the issuers thereof that become the subject of any legal
proceedings, including bankruptcies and class actions. In addition, GS&Co. generally does not render any
advice or take any action with respect to corporate actions relating to securities held in Advisory Accounts,
including the right to participate in or consent to any distribution, plan or reorganization, creditors committee,
merger, combination, consolidation, liquidation, underwriting or similar plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
managers of certain options strategies and/or fixed income strategies may render such advice or take such
action if specifically agreed to in writing, unless restricted by applicable law or for regulatory reasons, in
which case eligible clients will be requested to direct GS&Co.
If GS&Co. is custodian, it forwards proxy materials for U.S. listed securities directly to clients or their
selected proxy voting service provider, if applicable, and notices for class actions and other legal
proceedings directly to clients or their appointed agent. GS&Co. recommends that clients promptly review
these materials, as they identify important deadlines and may require action on the client’s part. Clients
who do not custody assets with GS&Co. are encouraged to contact their unaffiliated custodians to ensure
that the clients receive such materials. GS&Co. is not required to notify unaffiliated custodians or clients
who use unaffiliated custodians of proxy notices, shareholder class action lawsuits and similar matters
related to securities held in their Advisory Accounts.
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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GLOSSARY
As used in this Brochure, these terms have the following meanings.
“Accounts” means Goldman Sachs’ own accounts, accounts in which Personnel have an interest,
Goldman Sachs client accounts, and Affiliated Products that Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages and
advises. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Accounts” includes Advisory Accounts.
“ADRs” means American Depositary Receipts.
“ADSs” means American Depositary Shares.
“Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
“Advisory Accounts” means accounts for which PWM has expressly agreed to serve as investment
adviser pursuant to an express account agreement.
“Advisory Personnel” means collectively Private Wealth Advisors and Portfolio Management Teams.
“Affiliated Managers” means Managers that are affiliated with Goldman Sachs.
“Affiliated Manager Option” means the option for Retirement Plans to choose participating Managers
comprised exclusively of Affiliated Managers.
“Affiliated Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and pooled
vehicles, managed, sponsored or advised by GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs.
“Agency Trading Option” means an alternative trading option under which fixed income trades for certain
fixed income strategies managed by Advisory Personnel generally are executed by GS&Co. on an agency
basis.
“Alternative Investments” means alternative investment products including hedge funds, private equity
funds, venture capital funds, private credit funds, private real estate funds and other private investments.
“APS” means Alternatives Portfolio Services.
“Asset & Wealth Management” means the wealth management business of Goldman Sachs Asset &
Wealth Management.
“Bank Deposit Cash Sweep” means the cash sweep option available through a client’s Account to
designate free credit balances to be swept to a bank deposit account at GS Bank.
“BHCA” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
“Brochure” means this GS&Co. Form ADV Part 2A – Private Wealth Management.
“CASP” means the Comprehensive Advisory Services Program fee pricing model in which clients pay an
account advisory fee for PWM’s advisory services and separate fees and charges for portfolio manager
fees and Execution Charges.
“CFTC” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“Client-Directed Investments” means investments that clients have made on their own behalf without
GS&Co.’s advice or recommendation.
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“Code” means GS&Co.’s Code of Ethics.
“Co-Investment Opportunities” means Accounts or other persons receiving the opportunity to invest
alongside funds or other Advisory Accounts with respect to one or more investments.
“Commissions” means the amount charged by a broker for purchasing or selling securities or other
investments as an agent for the client, as disclosed on the client’s trade confirmations.
“Commission Equivalents” means the amount charged by a dealer for purchasing or selling securities or
other investments in certain riskless principal transactions.
“CPO” means commodity pool operator.
“CTA” means commodity trading advisor.
“DMS” means the Discretionary Manager Selection Program, whereby with client authorization Private
Wealth Advisors allocate, rebalance and reallocate client assets among Advisory Accounts across agreed-
upon equity and fixed income sub-asset classes (each of which involves a separate agreed-upon fee),
including to Accounts participating in Managed Account Strategies.
“Dodd-Frank Act” means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as
amended.
“ECNs/Trading Venues” means national securities exchanges, electronic communication networks,
alternative trading systems and other similar execution or trading systems or venues.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ESG” means environmental, social, and governance-oriented investing.
“ETFs” means exchange-traded funds.
“Execution Charges” means charges for executing transactions, including but not limited to commissions,
commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-downs or spreads.
“Execution Charge Waived Strategies” means eligible fixed income strategies and any other investment
strategies managed by Advisory Personnel for which GS&Co. has determined, or may in the future
determine, to waive commissions and/or mark-ups/mark-downs from time to time.
“External Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and mutual
funds managed, sponsored or advised by Unaffiliated Managers.
“Family Office” means the portal through which GS&Co. offers, provides, or facilitates the receipt of a
suite of personal family office services designed for Private Wealth Management clients.
“Family Office Service Fees” means any fees associated with services offered and/or provided by the
Family Office.
“Family Office Personnel” means GS&Co. personnel responsible for the Family Office.
“Family Office Services” means any services offered and/or provided by the Family Office.
“FCM” means futures commission merchant.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
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“Financial Planning” means the financial planning services provided by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“Funds” means an investment company or pooled vehicle, including ETFs.
“Fund Strategies” means the Advisory Mutual Fund Strategies program.
“GOAS” means Goldman Sachs Options Advisory Services.
“GOAS Account” means an actively managed option strategy involving listed and/or OTC call and/or put
options, including collars and put spread collars managed by GOAS.
“Goldman Sachs” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., GS&Co. and their respective affiliates,
directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees.
“Goldman Sachs Wealth Services” means Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, L.P. (formerly known as
The Ayco Company. L.P.).
“GRATs” means Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts.
“GSAM LP” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., an investment adviser registered with the
SEC, and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAMI” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, a registered investment adviser with
the SEC and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAM LP ETFs” means ETFs for which GSAM LP or its affiliates act as investment adviser.
“GS&Co.” means Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser with the
SEC.
“GS Group” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
“GS Bank” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
“GSI” means Goldman Sachs International.
“GSS” means Goldman Sachs Securities Services.
“GSTC” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A.
“GSTD” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware.
“Hybrid Securities” means deeply subordinated long-term debt.
“IBORs” means other interbank offered rates.
“Index” means a stock market or other index developed or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third
party.
“Integrated Third-Party Vendors” means integrated third-party service providers engaged by GS&Co. or
its affiliates to provide Family Office Services.
“IPOs” means initial public offerings and new issues.
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“IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ISG” means the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management Investment Strategy Group.
“LIBOR” means the London Interbank Offered Rate.
“Managed Account Strategies” means GS&Co.’s wrap fee program.
“Managed Strategy Fees” means fees that compensate the portfolio managers of GS&Co. Advisory
Accounts.
“Managers” means Affiliated or Unaffiliated Managers that manage client assets on a discretionary basis
under one or more investment strategies.
“Marcus Invest” means the GS&Co. investment advisory services provided to individuals through its
technology platform.
“Mark-ups” means the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market price, which is included in the
price of the security.
“Mark-downs” means the prevailing market price of a security, less the amount a dealer pays to purchase
the security from the client, which is included in the price of the security.
“MLPs” means master limited partnerships.
“Multi-Asset Class Portfolios” (or “Customized Multi-Asset Class Portfolios”) means portfolios that
generally invest in a broad range of investment strategies, including but not limited to, pooled investment
vehicles (both public and private), separately managed accounts (including those managed by other
Portfolio Management Teams), public securities, and derivative instruments. Investment strategies may be
Affiliated Products or External Products, and may employ a broad range of investment strategies, including
but not limited to, passive investment strategies, long-only investment strategies (e.g., exchange-traded
funds, mutual funds, and private investment funds) and alternative investment strategies (e.g., hedge funds,
funds of hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of private equity funds, private credit funds and real estate
funds), if approved by PWM.
“NAV” means net asset value.
“Network Service Providers” means independent service providers or other unaffiliated third parties to
which GS&Co. refers Family Office Services clients.
“ODD” means the Options Disclosure Document.
“OTC” means over-the-counter.
“Personnel” means personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel.
“Portfolio Management Teams” means the teams of portfolio management personnel within PWM.
“PPLI” means separately managed accounts offered by GS&Co to unaffiliated insurance companies as part
of its Private Placement Life Insurance offering that are based on asset allocations constructed by ISG.
“Prime Services” means the Goldman Sachs business that provides prime brokerage, administrative and
other services.
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“Principal Transactions” means transactions where GS&Co., on behalf of Advisory Accounts, engages
in a transaction with Goldman Sachs, in its own name.
“Private Wealth Advisor” means PWM personnel responsible for managing client relationships.
“Primary Vehicles” means one or more funds or other Advisory Accounts intended to be focused on by
GSAM LP, or receive priority with respect to, a particular strategy or type of investment.
“PWM” means the Private Wealth Management group of GS&Co.
“Reference Options” means, in connection with GOAS, the over-the-counter options transactions that
GS&Co. (or an affiliate) enters into with third parties to hedge their obligations to clients.
“Research” means research or research lists published by Goldman Sachs.
“Retirement Plans” means IRAs under IRC Section 408 or 408A, tax-qualified retirement plans (including
Keogh plans) under IRC Section 401(a), pension plans and other employee pension benefit plans subject
to ERISA and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
“Retirement Platform” means the managed program platform for eligible Retirement Plans.
“Retirement Regulations” means ERISA, together with the IRC.
“Riskless Principal Transactions” mean transactions in which a dealer, after having received an order
to buy from a client, purchases the security from another person to offset a contemporaneous sale to the
client or, after having received an order to sell from a client, sells the security to another person to offset a
contemporaneous purchase from the client.
“SD” means swap dealer.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Spread” means the difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the price someone is
willing to pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is, the price at which someone is willing to sell).
“Structured Investments” may include structured notes, certificates of deposits, warrants, ownership
units and other types of investment interests, whose return is dependent on the returns of one or more
referenced assets, including, but not limited to, securities, indices and/or commodities.
“SWT” means Systematic Wealth Transfer.
“Tactical Tilts” means tactical investment ideas derived from short-term market views.
“Third-Party Funds” means mutual funds and ETFs that are managed, sponsored or advised by
investment managers or organizations that are not affiliated with Goldman Sachs.
“Unaffiliated Managers” means Managers that are unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs. For purposes of this
Brochure, “Unaffiliated Managers” include (i) investment advisers that are not controlled by Goldman Sachs,
but in which certain Goldman Sachs-advised accounts hold equity, profits or other interests and (ii)
investment advisers with which Goldman Sachs has business relationships.
“Unaffiliated Manager Option” means the option for Retirement Plans to choose participating managers
comprised exclusively of Unaffiliated Managers.
“Volcker Rule” means the Volcker Rule contained within the Dodd-Frank Act.
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“Wrap Fee Program Brochure” (also referred to as Appendix 1 to this Brochure).
“XIG” means External Investing Group of GSAM LP.
“XIG Program Fund” means investment vehicles managed by XIG that invest substantially all of their
assets in primary investments in underlying funds managed by Unaffiliated Managers.
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APPENDIX A: PWM FEE SCHEDULE
These fees are subject to change and negotiation. See Item 5, Fees and Compensation – Fees for
Advisory Services.
1. Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams
A. Structured Investment Strategies
$0-$10 million
$10-$25 million
$25-$50 million
$50-$100 million
$100-$250 million
$250-$500 million
More than $500 million
Annual Fee
1.900%
1.700%
1.600%
1.500%
1.400%
1.300%
1.200%
B. Goldman Sachs Option Advisory Services* (“GOAS”)
Annual Fee
1.250%
1.150%
1.100%
1.050%
1.000%
0.95%
0.90%
Strategies
$0-$10 million
$10-$25 million
$25-$50 million
$50-$100 million
$100-$250 million
$250-$500 million
More than $500 million
* This fee may apply to certain separately managed account strategies that invest in options
C. Alternative Investment Fund Strategies **
$0-$25 million
$25-$50 million
$50-$75 million
$75-$100 million
$100-$200 million
More than $200 million
Annual Fee
0.750%
0.700%
0.650%
0.600%
0.550%
0.500%
** For APS, such fee to be applied to (i) the total investment amount committed to each individual
commitment to an alternative investment fund and continuing until the end of the fifth (5th) year
following such date, followed thereafter by (ii) the market value of each such investment in the
account; any cash in the account would be excluded.
** Fees charged quarterly, debited in arrears.
D. Thematic Marketplace Strategies (“ACAC”)
$0-$10 million
$10-$25 million
$25-$50 million
$50-$100 million
$100-$250 million
$250-$500 million
More than $500 million
Annual Fee
1.850%
1.300%
1.200%
1.100%
1.050%
1.000%
0.950%
E. Clients who also invest in the wrap program (affiliated or unaffiliated portfolio manager) pay fees
outlined in the GS&Co. Managed Account Strategies Brochure.
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F. Clients whose accounts are managed by an affiliated portfolio manager pay fees outlined in the
affiliated portfolio manager’s Brochure.
2. Advisory Accounts Managed by Private Wealth Advisors
Clients with Advisory Accounts managed by Private Wealth Advisors may agree to a single advisory fee for
all asset classes or separate fees for different strategies. Participating funds in the Advisory Mutual Fund
Strategies Program will follow the rates outlined in Table B and are not subject to the rates in Table A below.
A.
Single Advisory Fee Structure Separate Advisory Fee Structure (Asset Based)
Asset Level
Total Assets
Equity
Index Oriented Other (including fixed
1.400%
$0-$10 million
0.800%
$10-$25 million
0.700%
$25-$50 million
0.600%
$50-$100 million
0.550%
$100-$250 million
$250-$500 million
0.500%
More than $500 million 0.450%
1.700%
1.150%
1.050%
0.950%
0.900%
0.850%
0.800%
1.400%
0.800%
0.700%
0.600%
0.550%
0.500%
0.450%
income)
0.750%
0.550%
0.500%
0.450%
0.400%
0.350%
0.300%
B.
Advisory Mutual Fund Strategies Program
Clients who participate in the Advisory Mutual Fund Strategies Program pay the following
investment advisory fees on their investments in participating funds:
Equity Asset Class
Active Core Equity
Active Satellite Equity, Real Estate Equity
All/SMid Equity
Dynamic Equity
Annual Fee
0.500%
0.550%
0.550%
0.650%
Fixed Income Asset Class
Core Fixed Income
Multi-Sector Fixed Income
Non-Investment Grade Fixed Income
Other Fixed Income
Annual Fee
0.350%
0.400%
0.500%
0.500%
3. Retirement Plan
For Retirement Plans that participate in the Retirement Platform, the portion of the Annual Fee payable to
GS&Co. for all managed programs available under the Retirement Platform will be no more than 0.60%
(unless the client agrees to a higher rate).
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4. Comprehensive Advisory Services Program Fee Model
For CASP Advisory Accounts, the advisory fee charged by GS&Co. is calculated as a percentage of assets
under management in accordance with the tiered pricing schedule set forth below.
A. Asset Level
First $10 million
Next $15 million
Next $25 million
Next $50 million
Next $150 million
Next $250 million
More than $500 million
Annual Fee
1.500%
0.800%
0.700%
0.600%
0.500%
0.450%
0.400%
B. CASP Portfolio Manager Fee for GS&Co., its Affiliates or Unaffiliated Managers
In addition to the CASP advisory fees set forth above, clients who participate in CASP are subject
to portfolio manager fees for strategies managed by GS&Co., its affiliates or unaffiliated portfolio
managers, as listed in the Important Information section under the subheadings Your Wealth and
Fees and Execution Charges on the Client Web (https://www.goldman.com). Contact your Private
Wealth Management team for access to this information electronically via the Client Web or to
receive a paper copy of the information provided on the website.
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Additional Brochure: GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC FORM ADV, PART 2A - THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTION (2026-03-31)
View Document Text
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC – Third-Party Distribution
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
877.GOLDMAN (465.3626)
www.gs.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices relating to the
third-party distribution of managed accounts of the Private Wealth Management group of Goldman
Sachs & Co. LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact
your Goldman Sachs Representative at (212) 902-1000. The information in this brochure has not
been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by
any state securities authority. Investment adviser registration does not imply a certain level of skill
or training.
Additional information about Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC’s Private Wealth Management group is
available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
March 31, 2026
Separate brochures have been prepared for Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC’s Private Wealth Management
group and the Managed Account Strategies program sponsored by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. For ease
of reference, capitalized terms that are defined in this brochure are also set forth in the Glossary.
Item 2 - MATERIAL CHANGES
This brochure (“Brochure”) is dated March 31, 2026. There have been no material changes to the Brochure
from the last annual update dated March 28, 2025. This Brochure has been revised and contains updated
and expanded disclosures relating to business operations particularly in the following areas:
Item 4 – Advisory Business
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
Clients are encouraged to read this Brochure in detail and contact their Goldman Sachs team with any
questions.
2
Item 3 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS ......................................................................................................... 4
Item 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION ................................................................................................ 6
Item 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT .................................. 14
Item 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS ........................................................................................................... 15
Item 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS ..................... 15
Item 9 - DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION ........................................................................................... 34
Item 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS ...................................... 35
Item 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING .................................................................................................................... 43
Item 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES ............................................................................................... 61
Item 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS .................................................................................................. 64
Item 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION ....................................................... 64
Item 15 - CUSTODY ........................................................................................................................ 65
Item 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION ............................................................................................. 65
Item 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES .......................................................................................... 65
Item 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................... 66
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................................... 67
3
Item 4 - ADVISORY BUSINESS
Introduction
This Brochure describes the managed account offering of the Private Wealth Management group (“PWM”)
of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS&Co.”) through third-party distributors.
PWM, together with various affiliates as described in this Brochure, comprises the wealth management
business of Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management (“Asset & Wealth Management”). PWM operates
through offices located in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Brentwood, Cohoes, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and West
Palm Beach. PWM primarily provides advisory services to high net worth individuals and institutional clients
and helps clients build and preserve their financial wealth. PWM’s advisory services are described in a
separate brochure that is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Principal Owner and Operating History
GS&Co.’s principal owner is The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS Group”) a public company that is a bank
holding company and financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended (“BHCA”), and a worldwide, full-service financial services organization. GS&Co. has been a
registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) since 1981. GS
Group, GS&Co. and their respective affiliates, directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers
and employees are referred to collectively as “Goldman Sachs.”
Structured Investment Strategies
GS&Co. offers structured investment strategies managed by a dedicated Portfolio Management Team.
These strategies consist primarily of structured instruments, such as structured notes and warrants, which
are issued by unaffiliated, third-party issuers and offered and sold pursuant to a registration statement filed
with the SEC or in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The primary objective of these strategies is to gain underlying exposure to defined securities by building a
portfolio of structured investments with varying terms and diversified credit exposures. The Portfolio
Management Team invests in structured investments issued by third-party issuers available to GS&Co. at
the time, and may also invest directly in the referenced asset(s) or underlying exposure (i.e., the index or
exchange-traded fund (“ETF”)) for a period of time in an effort to maintain the exposure intended by the
strategies.
Accounts that utilize structured investment strategies for which PWM serves as investment adviser are
referred to as “Advisory Accounts.” Advisory Accounts are managed by teams of portfolio management
personnel within PWM (“Portfolio Management Teams”). Members of the Portfolio Management Teams
and other relevant personnel of PWM are referred to herein as “Advisory Personnel.”
Portfolio Management Teams
Portfolio Management Teams manage assets in Advisory Accounts for clients of GS&Co. or its affiliates in
accordance with the advisory program or investment strategy for each Advisory Account.
Portfolio Management Teams manage Advisory Accounts that utilize strategies that invest in particular
asset classes and investments, including equities, fixed income, structured investments (including
structured notes, warrants, ownership units and other types of investment interests whose return is
dependent upon the returns of one or more referenced assets) and listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”)
options. Portfolio Management Teams may also use artificial intelligence to support their provision of
investment advisory services.
4
Investment Restrictions
Clients can impose reasonable restrictions on the management of their Advisory Accounts, including
restricting particular securities or types of investments, provided that GS&Co. accepts such restrictions.
Any such restrictions will be reflected in the investment guidelines or other documentation applicable to the
Advisory Account. Clients should be aware that the performance of Advisory Accounts with restrictions may
differ from the performance of Advisory Accounts without those restrictions. Restrictions do not apply to
underlying investments in pooled investment vehicles or other similar instruments. GS&Co. may, in its
discretion, hold the amount that would have been invested in the restricted security in cash or money market
funds, invest in substitute securities, or invest it across the other securities in the strategy that are not
restricted. As part of Goldman Sachs, a global financial services organization that is subject to a number of
legal and regulatory requirements, GS&Co. is subject to, and has itself adopted, internal guidelines,
restrictions and policies that restrict investment decisions and activities on behalf of Advisory Accounts
under certain circumstances. See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading.
Single Contract and Dual Contract Arrangements
GS&Co. acts as an investment adviser pursuant to “single contract” and “dual contract” managed account
arrangements. In such arrangements, an Unaffiliated Manager and its client enter into an agreement with
regard to the Unaffiliated Manager’s overall management of the client’s assets pursuant to which the
Unaffiliated Manager identifies managers and strategies that it believes are suitable for each client. Either
the Unaffiliated Manager or the client then selects the applicable managers to manage portions of the
client’s portfolio.
In a “single contract” arrangement, if GS&Co. is selected, GS&Co. enters into an agreement with an
Unaffiliated Manager pursuant to which GS&Co. will provide investment advice with respect to a portion of
the portfolios of certain clients of the Unaffiliated Manager. However, GS&Co. does not enter into a separate
agreement with each applicable client. In a “dual contract” arrangement, on the other hand, GS&Co. enters
into an agreement with each of the Unaffiliated Manager’s clients that selects GS&Co. As a result, a client
in a single contract arrangement enters into a single contract with the Unaffiliated Manager, whereas a
client in a dual contract arrangement enters into two separate contracts—one with the Unaffiliated Manager
and another with GS&Co.
In connection with both single contract and dual contract arrangements, GS&Co. will not have access to
complete information regarding the financial circumstances, investment objectives or overall investment
portfolio of the Unaffiliated Manager’s client. In addition, GS&Co. may receive information about the client
at a different time than the Unaffiliated Manager. As a result, any determination by GS&Co. as to the
appropriateness or suitability for a client in such an arrangement of a particular investment will be made
without regard to the portion of the client’s portfolio that is not managed by GS&Co., and such
determinations may be different than would have been the case had GS&Co. had access to more fulsome
information regarding the client’s financial circumstances, investment objectives, and overall investment
portfolio.
In the context of single contract and dual contract arrangements, execution may be handled by GS&Co.
using one of the methods outlined in Item 12, Brokerage Practices – Broker Dealer Selection and Directed
Brokerage or by the applicable Unaffiliated Manager, using the methods outlined in its Brochure. In a single
contract arrangement, the Unaffiliated Manager typically pays GS&Co. a fee out of the fees that the
Unaffiliated Manager receives from the client, which is based on the assets managed by GS&Co. In a dual
contract arrangement, the client typically pays GS&Co. a fee based on the assets managed by GS&Co.,
which is in addition to fees owed by the client to the Unaffiliated Manager. Clients with single contract and
dual contract arrangements through a particular Unaffiliated Manager may pay higher (or lower) fees than
other clients of the same Unaffiliated Manager or clients with such arrangements through other Unaffiliated
Managers (including as a result of negotiations with the particular Unaffiliated Manager, which may take
into account the size and scope of the overall relationship with the Unaffiliated Manager, among other
5
factors). For example, GS&Co. may have relationships or other arrangements with certain Unaffiliated
Managers pursuant to which GS&Co. provides favorable pricing to clients with single or dual contract
arrangements through such Unaffiliated Managers based on factors including, but not limited to, the
aggregate amount of assets managed for each such Unaffiliated Manager. Furthermore, not all clients of a
particular Unaffiliated Manager will receive the benefit of such favorable pricing, even though their assets
may be counted for purposes of determining fee breakpoints applicable to other client accounts. The
availability of favorable pricing based on aggregate assets allocated to GS&Co. creates an incentive for
Unaffiliated Managers to allocate client assets to GS&Co., including assets that would not have otherwise
been so allocated. Furthermore, depending upon the compensation arrangements between an Unaffiliated
Manager and its clients (e.g., arrangements whereby fees paid to GS&Co. are paid by the Unaffiliated
Manager out of fees received by its clients and not by the clients themselves), an Unaffiliated Manager
could benefit, directly or indirectly, from allocation of assets to GS&Co, if the Unaffiliated Manager would
pay higher fees to a manager other than GS&Co. Such benefits may further incentivize an Unaffiliated
Manager to allocate assets to GS&Co.
As described above in this Item 4, Advisory Business—Single Contract and Dual Contract Arrangements,
given that fees in a single or dual contract arrangement are generally payable on an “unbundled” basis,
clients that enter into such arrangements with GS&Co. may pay, in the aggregate, lower (or higher) fees
than other clients investing in the same strategies, depending on the services provided by GS&Co. in
connection with such arrangements.
GS&Co. clients with single or dual contract arrangements should refer to the Form ADV of the applicable
Unaffiliated Manager for additional information regarding the single or dual contract arrangement. The
minimum account size applicable to GS&Co. clients with single or dual contract managed account
arrangements may differ from that applicable to other GS&Co. clients investing in the same or similar
strategies directly.
Assets Under Management
As of December 31, 2025, assets managed by Advisory Personnel and Portfolio Management Teams were
$180,148,521,000, of which approximately $179,856,721,000 was managed on a discretionary basis and
approximately $291,800,000 was managed on a non-discretionary basis. These figures include
investments in pooled vehicles reflected in Advisory Accounts that are managed by another segment within
GS&Co. or by an affiliate or a third-party, and exclude assets managed by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services,
L.P. (“Goldman Sachs Wealth Services”). PWM clients also maintained approximately $381,743,329,000
in Advisory Accounts invested in strategies that are managed by an Affiliated Manager or an Unaffiliated
Manager, where Private Wealth Advisers may provide advice and/or act with discretion in selecting,
allocating to, or recommending such strategies. This amount is not, and has not historically been, included
in the assets under management reported above.
Item 5 - FEES AND COMPENSATION
Fees for Advisory Services
Clients generally compensate GS&Co. for its advisory services through the payment of a fixed strategy
based fee. Generally, the fee is equal to 60 basis points of the fair market value of the assets invested in
the Advisory Account. Certain account fees and expenses are more or less expensive depending on the
model chosen. The investment advisory fee payable to GS&Co. varies depending on a number of factors.
A client could pay more or less than other clients invested in similar strategies, asset classes or products.
It should be expected that fees will change over time for a variety of reasons, including negotiations with
Managers and/or the availability of fee reductions, which GS&Co. can, but may not, in its sole discretion
use to change the fee charged to client accounts. Amounts thereof may vary as a result of negotiations,
discussions, our relationship with the client and/or factors that may include the particular circumstances of
the client, such as the pricing model, the size of the relationship, client customization of investment
guidelines, required service levels and the asset class to which each strategy is attributable.
6
As described in more detail below, depending on the strategy or investment selected, clients could pay
commissions, commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-downs and spreads in addition to paying advisory
fees.
Calculation and Deduction of Advisory Fees
Advisory fees paid by clients for Advisory Accounts are generally charged quarterly in arrears based on the
average market value of the assets in the Advisory Account during the previous quarter. Average market
value is generally determined using end-of-day quantity and an end-of-day market price for each security
including any applicable accruals. Fees are prorated and due upon termination or for partial periods. The
methodology for calculating and deducting fees may vary depending on platform requirements.
Advisory fees are automatically deducted from the client’s Advisory Account unless other arrangements
have been agreed upon between the client and GS&Co. In the case of Advisory Accounts held at a third-
party custodian, clients generally direct their custodian to have their fees and expenses debited from the
Advisory Account for credit to GS&Co.
Other Fees and Expenses in Connection with GS&Co.’s Advisory Services
Clients should expect to pay Execution Charges in addition to paying advisory fees. Clients should also
expect to pay fees for custody, administrative services and consolidated reporting, as well as underlying
fund fees and expenses (including mutual funds and private funds).
When Goldman Sachs provides services to Advisory Accounts that have separate fees or costs not
included in the advisory fee, Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain such amounts and they will not offset
any other fees or compensation.
Execution Charges
Clients who pay Execution Charges will do so at rates determined by Goldman Sachs. These rates may be
negotiated, and clients could pay more or less in Execution Charges than similar clients for identical
transactions, including those effected through Goldman Sachs. Execution Charges paid by similar clients
may differ depending on the particular circumstances of the client, including the size of the relationship and
required service levels. When GS&Co. executes a trade through a third-party broker-dealer, any applicable
Execution Charges issued by the third-party broker-dealer will be charged to the client. Goldman Sachs
generally charges clients commissions according to the commission schedules agreed to between them.
However, there may be circumstances where Goldman Sachs charges commissions for investments or
transactions that are not covered by the commission schedule. In addition, Goldman Sachs retains the right
to waive commissions and mark-ups/mark-downs for certain clients, for execution channels (e.g., electronic
executions) or investment strategies in its discretion. A description of the different types of Execution
Charges that clients may pay is provided below. However, third-party custodians reserve the right to charge
fees in addition to what is described below including trade away fees and fees related to specific
investments such as mutual funds. For a complete list of transaction fees that may apply to Advisory
Accounts, clients should review their customer agreements with the applicable custodian.
7
Execution Charge
Description and Applicability
Spreads
The difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the
price someone is willing to pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is,
the price at which someone is willing to sell), which is reflected in the
price of the security. The difference or spread narrows or widens in
response to the supply and demand levels of the security. Spreads may
be included in transactions involving, among other investments, fixed
income securities, structured investments and currencies. Transactions
may include a spread in addition to other Execution Charges such as
mark-ups/mark-downs.
Mark-ups/Mark-downs
A mark-up is the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market
price, which is included in the price of the security. A mark-down is the
prevailing market price of a security, less the amount a dealer pays to
purchase the security from the client, which is included in the price of the
security. Mark-ups/mark-downs may be included in transactions involving,
among other investments, fixed income securities, structured investments
and currencies.
Goldman Sachs executes a significant volume of fixed income trades through third-party broker-dealers
and executes certain fixed income trades for certain strategies on an agency basis (“Agency Trading
Option”). In some cases, acquiring an investment through a third-party broker-dealer will result in fees and
Execution Charges that are different from those charged by GS&Co. for the same product and will be higher
or lower. In the case of the Agency Trading Option, rather than a mark-up/mark-down, clients are generally
charged an explicit commission that is disclosed on their trade confirmations. The Agency Trading Option
is available to clients that express a preference not to trade with GS&Co. as principal for certain fixed
income strategies. Notwithstanding this client preference, GS&Co. retains the right to trade as principal (to
the extent permitted by law) in order to provide eligible clients with access to new issues or for best
execution.
Goldman Sachs generally executes transactions in certain non-U.S. equities and pooled investment
vehicles, including ETFs, on a principal basis and charges a commission equivalent for such transactions.
Derivative transactions carry an embedded mark-up to compensate Goldman Sachs (or other derivative
counterparty) for executing the transaction and taking market risk. Certain derivative transactions are
subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as amended (the
“Dodd-Frank Act”) and/or European Market Infrastructure Regulation requirements, which may include
additional fees depending upon the type of transaction and service clients choose (subject to eligibility
requirements).
Transactions in American Depositary Receipts generally include certain embedded execution costs
including conversion or creation fees, foreign exchange costs and foreign tax charges.
GS&Co., like any other broker-dealer executing a transaction, has (directly or through its affiliates)
commercial interests in transactions that can be expected to diverge from the interests of Advisory
Accounts, such as obtaining favorable rates on Execution Charges. As described in Item 11, Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading, personnel of Goldman Sachs
(“Personnel”), including Advisory Personnel, receive referral or brokerage compensation, if eligible, in
connection with transactions effected for Advisory Accounts. For information about GS&Co.’s brokerage
practices, please refer to Item 12, Brokerage Practices.
Custody and Administrative Services
Clients generally pay an annual custody fee for operational and administrative support for their Advisory
Accounts. The amount of the custody fee varies based on the client’s relationship with GS&Co. and the
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amount of assets under management. The amount of the custody fee appears on the client’s statement for
the month in which the fee is charged.
Underlying Fund Fees
Clients invested in pooled investment vehicles pay all fees and expenses applicable to an investment in the
funds, including fixed fees, asset-based fees, performance-based fees, carried interest, incentive allocation
and other compensation, fees, expenses and transaction charges payable to the managers in consideration
of the managers’ services to the funds and fees paid for advisory, administration, distribution, shareholder
servicing, subaccounting, custody, subtransfer agency and other related services, or “12b-1” fees. Fund
fees and expenses are described in the relevant fund prospectuses and are paid by the funds but are
ultimately borne by clients as investors in the funds. If the fund is an affiliated fund, all or a portion of these
fees are generally paid to Goldman Sachs as described in Item 10, Other Material Relationships with
Affiliated Entities. These fees and expenses are generally in addition to the advisory fees each Advisory
Account pays to GS&Co. GS&Co. may determine to waive advisory fees on assets where the investments
generate additional fees for Goldman Sachs. In other circumstances advisory fees will be waived if required
by applicable law.
In addition, a Goldman Sachs affiliate that manages a private investment fund typically receives deal fees,
sponsor fees, monitoring fees or other similar fees for services provided to portfolio companies. The fees
and expenses imposed by a private investment fund may offset trading profits and, therefore, reduce
returns. An investor in a fund-of-funds vehicle also bears a proportionate share of the fees and expenses
of each underlying investment fund. These fees and expenses can differ depending on the class of shares
or other interests purchased.
Mutual fund and ETF fees and expenses will result in a client paying multiple fees with respect to mutual
funds and ETFs held in an Advisory Account and clients may be able to obtain these services elsewhere
at a lower cost. For example, if a client were to purchase a mutual fund or ETF directly in a brokerage
account, the client would not pay an advisory fee to GS&Co. Currently, for Advisory Accounts that agree to
a strategy-based pricing model, affiliated mutual funds are not subject to GS&Co.’s advisory fees but could
be subject to various other fees and expenses paid to the service providers of each affiliated mutual fund,
some of which are affiliates of GS&Co. It should be expected that these affiliates, as well as GS&Co. and
eligible Advisory Personnel, will receive compensation with respect to such fees. For additional information
on compensation earned for the sale of these products, please see below and Item 10 – Other Financial
Industry Activities and Affiliations.
Generally, compensation received by Goldman Sachs related to various services provided to pooled
investment vehicles is retained by Goldman Sachs. Except to the extent required by applicable law, GS&Co.
is not required to offset such compensation against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman
Sachs. To the extent Goldman Sachs decides to offset any compensation, Goldman Sachs does so in its
sole and absolute discretion and the methods used to calculate any such amounts when they are applied
to any client fees and expenses may be different from the calculations used to determine the amount of
compensation Goldman Sachs receives. Specifically, for accounts other than Retirement Accounts, any
offset amount may be higher or lower than the actual amount Goldman Sachs receives from any pooled
investment vehicle.
GS&Co. makes mutual fund share classes available on its platform at its sole discretion.
GS&Co. will normally make available on its platform, to the extent permitted by law, a share class of a
mutual fund that pays compensation to GS&Co., including fees, for providing services (such as investment
advisory, administration, transfer agency, distribution, and shareholder services) to the mutual fund. In
certain circumstances, such fees are rebated against the fees paid by a client to GS&Co. for advisory
services. The additional compensation that GS&Co. receives normally varies depending on the mutual fund
and share class made available, and is paid from the fund, the sponsor or the adviser to the extent permitted
by applicable law. When selecting a share class of a mutual fund to offer on its platform, GS&Co. has a
conflict of interest when its selection of a more expensive share class or recommendation of a more
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expensive mutual fund results in greater compensation to GS&Co. GS&Co. addresses this conflict through
a combination of disclosure to clients and through GS&Co.’s policies and procedures and related controls
designed to ensure that the fees it charges to clients are fair and reasonable.
Different mutual funds with similar investment policies, and different share classes within those funds, have
different expense levels. Generally, a fund or share class with a lower minimum investment requirement
has higher expenses, and therefore a lower return, than a fund or share class with a higher minimum
investment requirement. GS&Co. may offer a single share class for each mutual fund it makes available on
its platform at any given time, even if a mutual fund has multiple share classes for which GS&Co. clients
are eligible. GS&Co. will not necessarily make available the lowest cost share class of a mutual fund. As a
result, the share class of a mutual fund offered by GS&Co. can have higher expenses (including because
of compensation paid to GS&Co., as discussed above), and therefore lower returns, than other share
classes of that mutual fund for which a client is eligible or that might otherwise be available if a client
invested in the mutual fund through a third-party or through the mutual fund directly. When determining the
reasonableness of any fees and expenses paid to GS&Co., a client should consider both the fees and
expenses that GS&Co. charges the Advisory Account and any indirect fees and expenses charged in
connection with any investment in share classes of mutual funds that bear expenses greater than other
share classes those for which a client is otherwise eligible.
Information about the mutual funds and share classes that are available through GS&Co., including their
investment policies, restrictions, charges, and expenses, is contained in the mutual funds’ prospectuses
GS&Co. may also establish and change in its sole discretion at any time the different investment minimums
and/or other requirements that will apply to the availability of mutual fund and share classes for an account
based upon a variety of factors, including a client’s overall relationship with GS&Co., type of account, legal
or regulatory restrictions, or any other factors relevant to the relationship.
Pooled Investment Vehicle Fees
Goldman Sachs acts as investment adviser to pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds, collective
investment trusts, private investment funds, and other pooled investment vehicles (e.g., hedge funds,
private equity funds, funds of funds, private credit funds, real estate funds and business development
companies). Goldman Sachs’ fees for such services are based on each investment vehicle’s particular
structure, investment process, and other factors. Goldman Sachs generally receives a management fee for
management of non-private investment funds and a management fee and an incentive fee or allocation
from private investment funds (other than certain categories of private investment funds, including but not
limited to investment vehicles managed by the External Investing Group (“XIG”) that invest substantially all
of their assets in primary investments in underlying funds managed by Unaffiliated Managers (“XIG Program
Funds”) and long-only funds), business development companies, and certain registered investment
companies. The amount and structure of the management fee, incentive fee and/or allocation varies from
fund to fund (and varies significantly depending on the investment fund) and is set forth in the prospectus
or other relevant offering document for each fund. In certain cases, investors receive fee reductions of all
or a portion of the management fee (and/or incentive fee or allocation) attributable to that investor’s interest
in the pooled investment vehicle, or invest fee free in pooled investment vehicles and pay negotiated fees
outside of the pooled investment vehicle, which may be based on a separate fee schedule agreed upon by
Goldman Sachs and the applicable investor.
Certain of Goldman Sachs’ fee structures create an incentive for Goldman Sachs to cause the pooled
investment vehicles to make investments earlier in the life of such vehicle than otherwise would have been
the case, redeploy investment proceeds in order to receive ongoing asset-based fees, or defer the
disposition of a poorly performing investment in order to defer any potential clawback obligation, continue
to receive asset based management fees, or possibly receive a larger carried interest or incentive allocation
if the value of the investment increases in the future. Goldman Sachs receives similar fees from other types
of vehicles (e.g., securitization vehicles) in respect of the advisory services Goldman Sachs provides to
such vehicles.
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Certain investors that are invested in pooled investment vehicles pay higher or lower fees and/or are subject
to higher or lower carried interest and/or incentive allocations than similarly situated investors that are
invested in the same pooled investment vehicle. Amounts, rates, breakpoints, hurdles or similar calculation
methodologies vary as a result of negotiations, discussions and/or factors that include the particular
circumstances of the investor, the size and scope of the overall relationship, whether the investor has a
multi-strategy, multi-asset class or multi-product investment program with Goldman Sachs or GS&Co., or
as otherwise agreed with specific investors. Fees and allocations charged to investors may differ depending
on the class of shares or other interests purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in certain cases,
Goldman Sachs provides investment advisory services to funds without receiving any fee for such services.
In these cases, Goldman Sachs may receive placement fees or compensation for other non-investment
advisory services from the funds, the investors in the funds (including Advisory Accounts), or from the
companies or underlying funds in which the Goldman Sachs-managed funds invest. The terms of any such
arrangements are disclosed in the governing documents or disclosure documents relating to the Goldman
Sachs-managed funds. Management fees and incentive fees or allocations are generally not payable by
funds raised for the benefit of Goldman Sachs employees.
Servicing and Similar Fees
Certain clients pay fees to GS&Co. or its affiliates for administrative or other services provided by GS&Co.
or such affiliates, as described in more detail in the relevant client’s governing documents. Such fees are
in addition to any investment advisory fees chargeable to the Advisory Accounts. For information about
administrative and other fees paid to third-party service providers, please see this Item 5, Fees and
Compensation--Other Fees and Expenses--Custody, Administration and Other Fees.
Custody, Administration and Other Fees
Custody fees, administration fees and all other fees charged by service providers providing services to
Advisory Accounts are levied by the custodian, the administrator or other service providers for the Advisory
Account and are not included in the advisory fees payable to GS&Co. An Advisory Account (and fund
investors indirectly) will generally bear such expenses unless provided otherwise in the applicable
governing documents.
Expenses charged to an Advisory Account may include:
(i) debt-related costs and expenses, including expenses related to raising leverage, refinancing, short term
and other liquidity facilities, derivatives and other arrangements that have the effect of providing leverage,
administering and servicing debt, and the cost of compliance with lender requests (including travel and
entertainment expenses relating to the foregoing);
(ii) investment-related expenses, including due diligence and research, expenses relating to identifying,
investigating, evaluating, registering, valuing, structuring, closing, purchasing, monitoring, managing (which
may include costs and expenses of attending and/or sponsoring industry conferences or other meetings),
servicing, holding, tracking and harvesting of investments and potential investments (including travel and
entertainment expenses relating to the foregoing), and expenses relating to background checks;
(iii) expenses related to hedging, including currency, interest rate and/or other hedging strategies, and the
settlement of hedging transactions;
(iv) legal, tax, administration and accounting expenses, including expenses for preparation of annual
audited financial statements, tax return preparation, tax and legal advice in connection with, among other
things, acquiring, holding and disposing investments, operational matters, wire transfer fees, mailing costs
and expenses, legal costs and expenses associated with indemnity, litigation, claims, tax audit, arbitration,
mediation, government investigation or dispute in connection with the business of an Advisory Account,
and the amount of any judgments or settlements paid in connection therewith or the enforcement of an
Advisory Account’s rights against any person or entity, and expenses related to reporting and filings done
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by external tax professionals or for outside consultants engaged to assist GS&Co. personnel with regard
to such functions;
(v) professional fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of financial advisers, consultants,
finders and experts, as well as fees and expenses in connection with participation in bondholder groups,
expenses relating to third-party valuation agents, restructurings, class actions and other litigation);
(vi) costs and expenses of operating Advisory Accounts, including fees and expenses of directors, trustees,
or independent general partners or similar control persons;
(vii) technology expenses, including news and quotation services;
(viii) insurance premiums (which insurance generally covers numerous Advisory Accounts, in which case
each participating Advisory Account is responsible for a share of the premiums);
(ix) expenses related to compliance by an Advisory Account with any applicable law, rule or directive or any
other regulatory requirement, or compliance with the foregoing requirements by GS&Co. or its affiliates to
the extent such compliance relates to an Advisory Account’s activities, including (a) in each case, expenses
related to reporting and filings done by external professionals or service providers or for outside consultants
engaged to assist GS&Co. personnel with regard to such functions and (b) costs and expenses and fees
incurred in connection with establishing, implementing, monitoring and/or measuring the impact of any ESG
policies and programs with respect to an Advisory Account or its investments or prospective investments,
including, without limitation, all fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with reporting on such
ESG policies and programs or otherwise evaluating the achievement of any ESG objectives by an Advisory
Account or its investments or prospective investments;
(x) fees payable to GS&Co. or its affiliates for loan servicing, tax, accounting, and administrative services
provided by GS&Co. or its affiliates to Advisory Accounts (including internal accounting services), which
represent (in some cases as a flat fee per annum) an allocable portion of overhead costs of the departments
providing such services and which generally are determined by GS&Co. by reference to the amount of time
spent by and the seniority of the employee providing the in-house services; provided that, for the avoidance
of doubt, since the in-house expense allocation process relies on certain judgments and assessments that
in turn are based on information and estimates from various individuals, the allocations that result may not
be exact;
(xi) costs, expenses and fees incurred by certain Advisory Accounts in connection with any activities,
meetings, conferences, symposia, or other gatherings of special committees or councils formed by GS&Co.
with respect to such Advisory Accounts; and
(xii) any other reasonable expenses authorized by the applicable governing documents, or that are
reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with managing an Advisory Account.
Additionally, a transaction cost is charged by the SEC to sellers of securities that are traded on stock
exchanges and subsequently assessed to clients. These fees are required by Section 31(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are charged to recover the fees associated with the government’s
supervision and regulation of the securities markets and securities professionals.
To the extent Goldman Sachs provides services to Advisory Accounts that are not included in the advisory
fee, Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain all such fees and other amounts, without offset to any other
fees or compensation paid by an Advisory Account.
Prepaid Fees
GS&Co. does not charge clients advisory fees in advance.
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Compensation for the Sale of Securities and Other Investments
GS&Co. and certain Advisory Personnel receive compensation based on revenues generated on client
accounts, including asset management fees, commissions and other revenues related to the purchase and
sale of securities, banking or other products, and fees associated with other products or services, as
applicable. Such compensation creates a potential conflict of interest that gives GS&Co. and such Advisory
Personnel an incentive to recommend such securities, other investments, and a particular pricing model
based on the compensation received. Fees are higher for some investments and services, and the
compensation directly or indirectly paid to GS&Co. and Advisory Personnel is greater in certain cases.
Certain Advisory Personnel are eligible for additional compensation based upon revenue generated by
client accounts and growth in client assets. Portfolio Managers and some Advisory Personnel receive a
salary and discretionary bonus. Clients are not entitled to receive compensation related to any business of
Goldman Sachs.
As discussed above, Goldman Sachs may receive fees in connection with the sale of mutual funds,
including “12b-1” fees or other compensation from affiliates of a mutual fund in connection with the sale of
those products. In such arrangements, compensation to Goldman Sachs generally increases as the amount
of assets invested by clients in such securities and other investment products increases. GS&Co.’s
selection or recommendation of securities and other investment products where Goldman Sachs shares in
the fees and profits would result in additional compensation to Goldman Sachs. This creates an incentive
for GS&Co. to recommend or select investment products that are advised, managed or sponsored by
Goldman Sachs. GS&Co. limits the potential conflicts of interest associated with selecting between the
Third-Party Funds and affiliated mutual funds by implementing a compensation structure where the
compensation paid to certain Advisory Personnel generally does not vary based on whether the Advisory
Account invests in a Third-Party Fund or an affiliated fund in the same asset class. However, in some cases,
compensation to Advisory Personnel could be reduced based on the fee structure of underlying
investments, which gives Advisory Personnel an incentive to recommend products that do not reduce their
own compensation.
Goldman Sachs also maintains a variety of banking, financial, or service relationships with regard to
securities and other investments, including relationships with their principal underwriters, investment
advisers, sponsors or other service providers. These relationships include acting as a broker or a dealer,
engaging in foreign exchange transactions or directing the sale of securities or other financial instruments.
In some instances, investment managers of particular investments, or their affiliates, have relationships
with Goldman Sachs, including serving as an investment manager in programs sponsored by GS&Co. As
a result, GS&Co. has an incentive to recommend these securities and other investment products.
Furthermore, certain Advisory Personnel are eligible in certain instances to receive compensation in
connection with their role in establishing such relationships for Goldman Sachs. GS&Co. also has a financial
incentive to allocate Advisory Account assets to securities issued, managed, or issued and managed, by
Goldman Sachs, including Affiliated Managers and Affiliated Products rather than to separate accounts or
mutual funds managed, sponsored, advised or issued by investment managers or organizations not
affiliated with Goldman Sachs (“External Products”).
GS&Co. has an incentive to allocate or recommend (as applicable and permissible) the assets of Advisory
Accounts to Affiliated Products that impose higher fees than those imposed by other Affiliated Products or
that provide other benefits to Goldman Sachs. Any differential in compensation paid to personnel in
connection with certain Affiliated Products rather than other Affiliated Products creates a financial incentive
on the part of GS&Co. to select or recommend (as applicable and permissible) certain Affiliated Products
over other Affiliated Products. Correspondingly, GS&Co. is disincentivized to consider or recommend the
removal of an Advisory Account’s assets from, or the modification of an Advisory Account’s allocations to,
an Affiliated Product at a time that it otherwise would have where doing so would decrease the fees,
compensation and other benefits to Goldman Sachs, including where disposal of such Affiliated Product
by the Advisory Account would likely adversely affect the Affiliated Product with respect to its liquidity
position or otherwise.
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In particular, it should be expected that certain Advisory Personnel earn higher compensation for
investments in affiliated Tax Advantaged Core Strategies (“TACS”) and Fixed Income strategies than for
investments in third-party strategies following the same or similar asset classes or strategies, and options
to invest in such third-party strategies are more limited. Clients should review at least annually whether
their selected strategies continue to be appropriate for them given their investment objectives, risk
tolerance, and financial circumstances and consider whether any adjustments, particularly to criteria such
as credit quality, concentration and duration for fixed income portfolios, should be made.
Performance of any strategy may vary from the benchmark referenced by the manager for various
reasons, including, without limitation, customization of the strategy to the client’s wishes or restrictions,
credit quality or ratings, duration and concentration within a certain state or issuer. Different benchmarks
may also appear on client statements for purposes of comparison.
Additionally, certain actively managed ETFs have comparable investment strategies that are priced
differently from each other and from mutual funds and therefore compensation to certain Advisory
Personnel differs. As a result, as described above, such Advisory Personnel have an incentive to
recommend strategies or funds, or not remove strategies and funds, that would result in higher
compensation paid to them.
Unless otherwise required by applicable law, neither Goldman Sachs nor GS&Co. will be required to share
any fees, allocations, compensation, remuneration or other benefits received in connection with an
Advisory Account with the client or offset such fees, allocations, compensation, remuneration and other
benefits against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman Sachs or GS&Co.
Clients may allocate assets to traditional separate Accounts managed by Advisory Personnel, an affiliate,
an Unaffiliated manager, or to wrap fee Accounts, that is, Accounts for which the client’s advisory fee
covers all fees or charges of GS&Co., including brokerage commissions and commission equivalents on
agency transactions executed through GS&Co. and custodial and administrative charges. Wrap fee
Accounts are managed by Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers. The advisory fee paid for these
traditional separate Accounts does not include Execution Charges, custodial or other fees, which instead
are paid separately by the client.
In addition to the disclosures contained in this Brochure, these and other potential conflicts of interest are
disclosed in strategy-specific documents provided to clients from time to time and in GS&Co.’s investment
advisory agreement with the client.
Availability of Securities and Other Investments
Certain securities and investment products that GS&Co. recommends or selects for Advisory Accounts are
available for purchase through a brokerage account at GS&Co. or an unaffiliated financial institution. Clients
who purchase securities and investment products outside of their Advisory Accounts will not incur the
advisory fees described in this Brochure, and any other fees and expenses may differ from those charged
to Advisory Accounts. Therefore, clients may be able to purchase such securities and investment products
at a lower price outside of their Advisory Accounts. In those circumstances, however, such clients do not
receive the investment advice and other services that GS&Co. provides to clients with Advisory Accounts.
Fee Offset for Execution Charges
GS&Co. does not reduce its advisory fees to offset Execution Charges, including commissions that it
receives, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Item 6 - PERFORMANCE-BASED FEES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE MANAGEMENT
Performance-Based Fees
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Goldman Sachs receives an incentive allocation or performance fees for strategies managed by its affiliates
although GS&Co. does not charge performance fees at the Advisory Account level.
Side-by-Side Management of Advisory Accounts; Allocation of Opportunities
GS&Co. manages or advises multiple Advisory Accounts (including Advisory Accounts in which Goldman
Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) that have investment objectives that are the
same or similar and that seek to make or sell investments in the same securities or other instruments,
sectors or strategies. This creates conflicts of interest, particularly in circumstances where the availability
or liquidity of investment opportunities is limited, including, without limitation, in local and emerging markets
and high yield securities. To address these conflicts of interest, GS&Co. has developed policies and
procedures that provide that the Advisory Personnel making portfolio decisions for Advisory Accounts will
make investment decisions for, and implement investments among, Advisory Accounts consistent with
GS&Co.’s duties to its advisory clients. See Item 11 – Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading – Participation or Interest in Client Transactions – Allocation of
Investment Opportunities.
Item 7 - TYPES OF CLIENTS
Types of Clients
Many clients who participate in the third-party distribution platform are individuals who invest their assets
with GS&Co. directly as individuals or through private investment vehicles, such as privately held
corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, or trusts and estates of such clients. Clients can also
include institutional clients, including charitable organizations, pension plans, corporations, and other
business entities.
Account Requirements
To open an advisory or managed account through a third-party distribution platform, clients must generally
have at least $100,000 under the management of GS&Co. or its affiliates and meet any account
requirements imposed by the relevant third-party distribution platform.
To open or maintain an Advisory Account with GS&Co., clients are required to sign an investment advisory
agreement, either directly with GS&Co. in a “dual contract” arrangement or with an Unaffiliated Manager in
a “single contract” arrangement, that, among other things, describes the nature of the investment advisory
authority granted to GS&Co. All clients select an investment objective and provide portfolio goals for all
Accounts held in the same name, both of which reflect their investment goals and risk tolerance for that
account holder’s portfolio with GS&Co. In a “single contract” arrangement, the determination of whether the
platform is suitable for any particular investor is made by the Unaffiliated Manager and not Goldman Sachs.
The platform is not available for retirement assets.
Advisers who provide services through Goldman Sachs Wealth Services may access tools, analysis, and
other inputs provided by our advisory affiliates.
Item 8 - METHODS OF ANALYSIS, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK OF LOSS
Significant Investment Strategies, Methods of Analysis and Material Risks
Portfolio Management Teams manage Advisory Accounts that utilize strategies investing in particular asset
classes and investments, including equities, fixed income, structured investments (including structured
notes, warrants, ownership units and other types of investment interests whose return is dependent upon
the returns of one or more referenced assets), listed and OTC options, and may include private equity.
Depending on the strategy selected, there may be embedded leverage in options, futures and other
securities.
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The methods of analysis vary by Portfolio Management Team and are described below in Risks Applicable
to Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams under the applicable strategy.
Clients should understand that all investment strategies and the investments made pursuant to
such strategies involve risk of loss, including the potential loss of the entire investment, which
clients should be prepared to bear and, in the case of uncovered option strategies, beyond the
amount invested. The investment performance and the success of any investment strategy or
particular investment can never be predicted or guaranteed, and the value of a client’s investments
will fluctuate due to market conditions and other factors. The investment decisions and
recommendations made and the actions taken for Advisory Accounts are subject to various market,
liquidity, currency, economic, political, and other risks, and investments could lose value. It should
be expected that the types of risks to which an Advisory Account is subject, and the degree to
which any particular risks impact an Advisory Account, will change over time depending on various
factors, including the investment strategies, investment techniques and asset classes utilized by
the Advisory Account, the timing of the Advisory Account’s investments, prevailing market and
economic conditions, reputational considerations, and the occurrence of adverse social, political,
regulatory or other developments. Past performance of Advisory Accounts is not indicative of
future performance.
General Risks Applicable to Advisory Accounts
This Brochure does not include every potential risk associated with an investment strategy, or all of the
risks applicable to a particular Advisory Account. Rather, it is a general description of the nature and risks
of the strategies and securities and other financial instruments in which Advisory Accounts may invest. The
below risks may apply to all strategies managed by Portfolio Management Teams, but not every risk will
apply to every strategy. In addition, the risks described below in Risks Applicable to Advisory Accounts
Managed by Portfolio Management Teams for strategies investing in particular asset classes should be
considered when Advisory Accounts are invested in those asset classes. Advisory Account clients that
invest assets with Managers should also refer to the Form ADV of such Managers for a description of the
risks associated with the strategies utilized by such Managers.
(cid:120) Adverse Effect of Global Economic Conditions – Advisory Accounts, underlying funds, and their
portfolio companies could be adversely affected by unanticipated changes in the financial markets
and economic conditions throughout the world, some of which could magnify the risks described in
this Item 8, Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss and have other adverse
effects. The scope of any potential impacts to Advisory Accounts, underlying funds, and their
portfolio companies, both from market conditions and also potential legislative or regulatory
responses, are uncertain. Continued market volatility and uncertainty and/or a downturn in market
and economic and financial conditions could have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts,
underlying funds, and their portfolio companies.
(cid:120) Advisory Account Consent Requirements – Advisory Account consent could be required to invest
in certain transactions in which Goldman Sachs receives compensation or is a principal, and
GS&Co. could determine not to seek such consent due to timing or other considerations, in which
case the Advisory Account will not have the opportunity to make the investment.
(cid:120) Antitrust Risk – Advisory Accounts and their portfolio companies will be subject to antitrust and
competition laws, rules and regulations in the U.S. and other jurisdictions where they conduct
business, and there has been increased scrutiny from antitrust regulators around the world. If an
Advisory Account investment becomes subject to antitrust review and approval, the relevant
authorities could elect not to approve such investment, significantly delay it or approve it subject to
particular terms and conditions (for example, that the underlying portfolio company divest of certain
assets). Advisory Accounts and their portfolio companies could incur significant costs pursuing
transactions in respect of which regulatory approvals are not granted and, as a result, are not able
to be consummated.
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(cid:120) Risks Relating to the Use of Artificial Intelligence– Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) and certain
of its third-party vendors, clients and/or counterparties have developed or otherwise incorporated
artificial intelligence (“AI”) technology in certain business processes, services or products. AI
models are developing rapidly, are highly complex and may produce output or take action that is
incorrect (i.e., hallucinate), that result in the release of private, confidential or proprietary
information, that reflect biases included in the data on which they are trained, infringe on the
intellectual property rights of others, or that is otherwise harmful. The U.S. and global legal and
regulatory environment relating to AI is uncertain and rapidly evolving, and could require changes
in Goldman Sachs’ implementation of AI technology and increase compliance costs and the risk of
non-compliance. Further, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may rely on AI models developed
by third parties, and Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may have limited visibility over the
accuracy and completeness of such models. Any of these risks could adversely affect Goldman
Sachs, GS&Co. or Advisory Accounts. Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) is also exposed to
risks arising from the use of AI technologies by bad actors to commit fraud and misappropriate
funds and to facilitate cyberattacks. Such actions and other risks associated with AI could cause,
amongst other things, reputational harm to Goldman Sachs, GS&Co. or Advisory Accounts. The
investment management business is highly competitive and to the extent that some or all of
GS&Co.’s competitors (or new market entrants) institute low cost, high speed financial applications
and services based on AI, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) and Advisory Accounts could be at
a competitive disadvantage.
(cid:120) Asset Allocation and Rebalancing Risk – An Advisory Account’s assets could become out of
balance with the target allocation. Any rebalancing of such assets may be infrequent and limited
by several factors. Even if a rebalancing is achieved, it may have an adverse effect on the
performance of the Advisory Account’s assets including, for example, if the rebalancing results in
such assets being allocated away from an over-performing investment product and allocated to an
under-performing investment product.
(cid:120) Bankruptcy Risk – A company in which an Advisory Account invests could become involved in a
bankruptcy or other reorganization or liquidation proceeding.
(cid:120) Capital Markets Risk – A client might not receive distributions or could experience a significant loss
in the value of its investment if the issuer cannot obtain funding in the capital markets.
(cid:120) Cash Management Risks – If GS&Co. invests some of an Advisory Account’s assets temporarily
in money market funds or other similar types of investments, those assets will not be invested in
assets that further the Advisory Account’s investment objective during such time. Separately, where
GS&Co., on behalf of a client, invests an Advisory Account’s assets temporarily, or for some
designated period of time, in investments subject to Market Risk, including managed strategies,
with the intent of liquidating such investments to meet certain subsequent funding needs, an
Advisory Account could be unable to meet such funding needs.
(cid:120) Cash Sweep Risk – Unless a client notifies us otherwise, GS&Co. is authorized to sweep free credit
balances into one or more money market funds through GS&Co. or bank deposit accounts (“Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep”) with its affiliate, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”). Clients should
discuss with their Private Wealth Management team which cash sweep option is appropriate for
them based on factors such as their investment objectives, financial circumstances, tax status and
desire for related payment services. Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option, the
Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the default sweep option regardless of any difference
in actual or expected returns in connection with other sweep options. GS&Co. may make changes
to the cash sweep options it offers to clients, including removing a previously offered cash sweep
option at any time, in its sole discretion, and any cash would be held in free credit balances or
moved to another available option. A client may request a different cash sweep option by informing
their Private Wealth Management team. The cash sweep service is a feature of clients’ custodial
and brokerage relationship with GS&Co. In offering the cash sweep service, designating a default
17
cash sweep option or selecting a cash sweep option, GS&Co. is not recommending any securities
transaction or investment strategy or acting as an investment adviser. Cash sweep options may be
limited depending on the client’s residence or the advisory strategies in which the account is
invested. Returns on cash sweep options are impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable
interest rates and the nature of the account. For example, interest rates on Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep could yield lower returns than cash swept to money market funds and after-tax yields on
cash subject to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower results than cash swept to money
market funds. The Bank Deposit Cash Sweep provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank
may pay GS&Co. a fee in connection with Advisory Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash
Sweep. GS&Co. and certain Advisory Personnel earn higher compensation in connection with Bank
Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market funds. Different money market funds
have different fees and expenses, which may be found in the applicable fund prospectuses. Client
should ask their Private Wealth Management team which money market funds are available as
cash sweep options. Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep offered through GS Bank
are variable and subject to change at the sole discretion of GS Bank. Rates may be higher or lower
than rates available at other banks and may vary based on the amount of a client’s deposit balances
or relationship with GS&Co. Clients can obtain information about interest rates by going to
www.goldman.com, or by asking their Private Wealth Management team. The cash sweep service
is intended as a vehicle for free credit balances pending investment, but can be expected to provide
a lower return than other investment products offered by GS&Co. The cash sweep options should
not be viewed as long-term investment options. If clients desire to maintain cash balances for other
than a short-term period or are seeking higher yields available in the market, clients should contact
their Private Wealth Management team to discuss investment options that may be available outside
of the cash sweep service. If a client does not wish to participate in the cash sweep service, their
cash will be held as free credit balances in their GS&Co. brokerage account in accordance with
GS&Co.’s customary practice. Free credit balances will generally earn less interest than money
market funds or Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
(cid:120) Climate Change – Climate change, its physical impacts, and related regulations could result in
significantly increased operating and capital costs that could materially harm certain portfolio
companies of Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Commodity Exposure Risks – Exposure to the commodities markets may result in greater volatility
than investments in traditional securities due to changes in overall market movements, commodity
index volatility, changes in interest rates, factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, as
well as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies.
(cid:120) Concentration and Geographic Risk – A portfolio that concentrates its investments in a relatively
small number of issuers, asset classes, geographic locations or economic sectors may be more
adversely affected by adverse economic, political or other developments than a less concentrated
portfolio.
(cid:120) Conflicts of Interest – Goldman Sachs’ activities, relationships and dealings could affect a particular
Advisory Account in ways that disadvantage or restrict the Advisory Account and/or benefit
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts.
(cid:120) Consolidated Reporting Risk – Information (including valuation) regarding advisory accounts not
custodied at GS&Co. may not be accurate as GS&Co. does not perform diligence on or
independently verify the accuracy of the custodian’s information or the source information; such
information is provided as a courtesy. This risk is greater when there is more volatility in an asset
class.
(cid:120) Conversion of Equity Investments – Equity securities acquired through the conversion of
convertible debt instruments or as a result of a restructuring event may be subject to restrictions
on transfer or disposition.
18
(cid:120) Corporate Event Risks – It is possible that investments in companies that are the subject of publicly
disclosed mergers, takeover bids, exchange offers, tender offers, spin-offs, liquidations, corporate
restructuring, and other similar transactions are not profitable due to the risk of transaction failure.
(cid:120) Counterparty Risk – A strategy will be exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which,
or the brokers, dealers, clearing members, custodians, service providers, and exchanges through
which, they engage in transactions.
(cid:120) Credit Ratings– An Advisory Account could use credit ratings to evaluate securities even though
such credit ratings might not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. A change in the credit
rating of a security can have a rapid, adverse effect on the security’s liquidity and make it more
difficult for an Advisory Account to sell at an advantageous price or time.
(cid:120) Credit/Default Risk – A borrower could fail to repay a loan or otherwise meet a contractual
obligation. A strategy will be exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which, or the
brokers, dealers and exchanges through which, it deals, whether it engages in exchange-traded or
off-exchange transactions.
(cid:120) Hybrid Securities Risks –Credit risk is magnified with respect to preferred and deeply subordinated
long-term debt (“Hybrid Securities”) due to their payoff structure. If an issuer goes into bankruptcy
all other debt holders are paid first and then preferred holders are paid.
(cid:120) Currency Risks – An Advisory Account that holds investments denominated in currencies other
than the currency in which the Advisory Account is denominated may be adversely affected by the
volatility of currency exchange rates and changes to exchange control regulations. Currency
exchange rates can be volatile, particularly during times of political or economic uncertainty. For
example, to the extent that non-U.S. dollar investments are unhedged, the value of an Advisory
Account’s net assets will fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates and with price changes of its
investments in the various local markets and currencies.
(cid:120) Cybersecurity – Personal, confidential or proprietary information being sent to or received from a
client, law firm, vendor, service provider, counterparty or other third-party has in the past been, and
may in the future be, intercepted, misused, copied, misappropriated, or mishandled, including
through a cyber-attack on such persons or other information security event (including unauthorized
access by a party with malicious intent). Such cyber-attacks or other events can adversely impact
Goldman Sachs, Advisory Accounts and clients by, among other things, causing significant
disruptions in the business operations of Goldman Sachs and the operation of Advisory Accounts,
leading to theft (including identity theft) and data corruption, and leading to potential violations of
applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement
or other compensation costs and/or additional compliance costs.
(cid:120) Data Sources Risks – Information from third-party data sources to which Goldman Sachs
subscribes could be incorrect. While Goldman Sachs obtains data and information from third-party
sources that it considers to be reliable, Goldman Sachs does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy
and/or completeness of any data or information provided by these sources. Failure of a data source,
such as an index provider, to provide the data on which Goldman Sachs relies may have a negative
impact on the performance of an Advisory Account. Further, recent technological innovations have
disrupted numerous established industries. As technological innovation continues to advance
rapidly, it could adversely impact one or more investment strategies employed for Advisory
Accounts. Furthermore, investment decisions made based on views about the direction or degree
of innovation can prove inaccurate and lead to losses for Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Delegation of Receipt of Communications Risk – To the extent that clients confer Goldman Sachs
with authority to exercise investment discretion over their accounts and receive prospectuses and
other shareholder communications on their behalf, there is risk of client complaints or
19
dissatisfaction with certain investments where clients no longer receive such prospectuses or
issuer-related materials directly, even where such materials can be accessed via the issuer’s
website or by request from Goldman Sachs. Prospectuses and issuer-related materials contain
important information and detailed descriptions of additional fees and expenses, investment
minimums, risk factors and conflicts of interest disclosures, as well as clients’ rights, responsibilities
and liabilities with respect to such investments.
(cid:120) Dependence on Key Personnel Risk – Clients rely on certain key personnel of Goldman Sachs who
may leave Goldman Sachs or become unable to fulfill certain duties.
(cid:120) Risks of Derivative Investments – Investments in swaps, options, futures, and other derivative
instruments, including those relating to non-U.S. currency transactions, involve risks including,
among others, illiquidity in the markets for derivative instruments, failure of the counterparty to
perform its contractual obligations, or the risks arising from margin requirements and related
leverage factors associated with such transactions.
(cid:120) Virtual Currency/Digital Assets/Cryptocurrency Risk – Certain Advisory Accounts may invest in
virtual or “crypto” currencies and other similar digital assets, including through the use of virtual
currency derivatives, ETFs and options and through private funds that invest in such assets
(collectively, “Virtual Currencies”). Virtual Currencies are not legal tender in the United States and
the market for Virtual Currencies may be highly volatile. Virtual Currencies and related technologies
are subject to various cybersecurity risks, such as hacking vulnerabilities. Virtual Currency
exchanges, as well as other intermediaries, custodians and vendors used to facilitate Virtual
Currency transactions, are relatively new and largely unregulated in both the United States and
many foreign jurisdictions, and may have a higher level of operational risk than regulated futures
or securities exchanges, including service interruptions or permanent cessation of operations due
to manipulation, fraud, misappropriation of assets, government or regulatory involvement, or other
reasons. Any such events could negatively impact the value of customers’ Virtual Currency. Virtual
Currency derivatives face particular risks relating to margin requirements and potential restrictions
on customer trading activity. Virtual Currencies currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape
in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions. One or more jurisdictions may, in the future,
adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect Virtual Currency networks and their users. Tax
considerations may vary across global jurisdictions and could increase, rendering ownership of
Virtual Currencies subject to more punitive taxation in the future.
(cid:120) Electronic Trading – GS&Co. trades on electronic trading and order routing systems, which may
experience component failure and issues with system access, varying response times and security.
(cid:120) Emerging Markets and Growth Markets Risks – Investing in emerging and growth markets entails
social, economic, technological, political and regulatory risks not usually associated with investing
in developed markets. For example, The People’s Republic of China has adopted regulations in
the financial technology sector, and other non-U.S. jurisdictions may adopt similar regulations in
the same or different sectors, which could impact the ability of Advisory Accounts or Underlying
Funds to make investments in those jurisdictions. Additionally, certain jurisdictions may allow for
clawback arrangements with counterparties as a result of changes in law. Any such arrangements
could result in an Advisory Account being required to return distributions it previously received in
certain circumstances. Emerging and growth markets in certain countries could also face other
significant internal or external risks, including but not limited to a heightened risk of war and other
conflicts.
(cid:120) Environmental, Social Impact, and Governance Considerations – GS&Co. may, in its discretion,
take into account ESG considerations and political, media and reputational considerations relating
thereto, and for example, as a result, GS&Co. might not make or recommend the making of
investments when it would otherwise have done so, which could adversely affect the performance
of Advisory Accounts. On the other hand, GS&Co. may determine not to take such considerations
20
into account, and such considerations may prove to have an adverse effect on the performance of
the applicable investments. GS&Co. may take ESG and related considerations into account for
some Advisory Accounts and not others, and, to the extent taking such considerations into account,
may make different investment decisions or recommendations for different Advisory Accounts.
GS&Co. may rely on third-party service providers in determining, from an ESG perspective, what
investments to exclude from its selection or recommendation based on such service providers’
categorization of the types of companies, industries, or sectors, as the case may be, that should
potentially be excluded from investment. There can be no assurance that the list of categories as
determined by GS&Co. and/or third-party service providers is complete or that the securities
restricted as a result of such categorization represents all of the securities that might otherwise be
restricted in connection therewith, and such categories or the securities restricted thereunder may
change from time to time.
(cid:120) Environmental Risks and Natural Disasters – Certain Advisory Account investments, including but
not limited to investments in or relating to real estate assets, in certain cases are subject to liability
under environmental protection statutes, rules and regulations, and may also be subject to risks
associated with natural disasters.
(cid:120) Equity and Equity-Related Securities and Instruments – The value of common stocks of U.S. and
non-U.S. issuers is affected by factors specific to the issuer, the issuer’s industry and the risk that
stock prices historically rise and fall in periodic cycles.
(cid:120) Expedited Transactions – In the event GS&Co. undertakes investment analyses and decisions on
an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities, there is a risk that not all
circumstances and risks of the investment are known.
(cid:120) Dependence on Government Funding, Tax Credits and Other Subsidies – The success of certain
ESG investments depends on government funding, tax credits, or other public or private sector
subsidies, which are not guaranteed over the life of the investment.
(cid:120) Exchange-Traded Funds Risks – ETFs could fail to accurately track the market segment or index
that underlies their investment objective. Moreover, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do
not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares trade at a premium or a
discount to their net asset value (“NAV”); (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares is not
developed or 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. These
securities carry certain specific risks to investors. Leveraged ETF shares typically represent
interests in a portfolio of securities that track an underlying benchmark or index and seek to deliver
multiples of the performance of the index or benchmark. An inverse ETF seeks to deliver the
opposite of the performance of the index or benchmark it tracks. Like traditional ETFs, some
leveraged and inverse ETFs track broad indices, some are sector-specific, and others are linked to
commodities, currencies, or some other benchmark. To accomplish their objectives, leveraged and
inverse ETFs pursue a range of investment strategies using swaps, futures contracts, and other
derivative instruments. Most leveraged and inverse ETFs “reset” daily, meaning they are designed
to achieve their stated objectives daily. Their performance over longer periods of time, over weeks
or months or years, can differ significantly from the performance (or inverse of the performance) of
their underlying index or benchmark during the same period. This effect can be magnified in volatile
markets and thus poses substantial risk for an investor.
(cid:120) Force Majeure – Advisory Account investments may be vulnerable to a force majeure event,
including acts of nature, war and strike, which could result in the destruction, impairment or loss of
profitability for the investments.
21
(cid:120) Frequent Trading and Portfolio Turnover Rate Risks – High turnover and frequent trading in an
Advisory Account could result in, among other things, higher transaction costs and adverse tax
consequences.
(cid:120) Geopolitical Risk – Geopolitical and other events (e.g., terrorist attacks, armed conflicts, political
and military events, the varying involvement of the United States and other countries in such
conflicts, political and civil unrest related to the foregoing and other events) have had, and could
continue to have, adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, including short-term
market volatility and adverse long term effects that cannot be predicted. These and any other
adverse effects, and adverse effects occurring as a result of similar events in the future, could
negatively impact the value of Advisory Account investments.
(cid:120) Government Investment Restrictions – U.S. and non-U.S. government regulations and restrictions
may limit the amount and type of securities that may be purchased or sold by GS&Co. on behalf of
Advisory Accounts, and economic sanction laws in the United States and other jurisdictions or other
governmental action could significantly reduce the value of Advisory Account investments in, or
restrict or completely prohibit GS&Co. and Advisory Accounts from investing, continuing to hold or
disposing an investment in, or transacting with or in, certain countries, individuals, and companies.
Some jurisdictions also require governmental approval for repatriation of investment income,
capital or proceeds of sales by foreign investors. Advisory Accounts could be adversely affected
by delays in, or a refusal to grant, governmental approval for foreign investments or repatriation of
investment income, and taxes. Additionally, certain investors may be precluded from directly
holding assets in these jurisdictions, which could materially impact flexibility in structuring
transactions or increase costs associated with certain investment opportunities.
(cid:120)
Improper Market Actors – There can be no assurance that any form of regulation or any market
constraints would prevent certain other market actors from engaging in fraud, market manipulation,
market abuse, or improper influence in the future, which may have a material adverse effect on
Advisory Accounts and their Investments. There can be no assurance that any redress would be
available to, or would be practical for, Advisory Accounts to pursue with respect to any such fraud,
market manipulation, market abuse, or improper influence.
(cid:120)
Indirect Investment in Non-U.S. Securities – Investments in participation notes and depository
receipts used to establish an indirect position in a foreign market are subject to the same risks as
the securities underlying such instruments and may be subject to certain fees or expenses.
(cid:120) Hypothetical Performance and Projected Returns Risk – The risk arising from reliance in making
an investment decision on performance of a portfolio not necessarily achieved by any particular
investor. Projected returns are hypothetical, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not
guarantees of future results. Such projected performance is subject to a number of limitations and
assumptions designed to determine the probability or likelihood of a particular investment outcome
based on a range of possible outcomes. It is possible that any of those assumptions will prove not
to be accurate. In addition, performance of a model portfolio, other portfolios, or a client’s Advisory
Account may differ materially from investment gains and avoidance of investment losses projected,
described, or otherwise referenced in forward-looking statements and the projected returns
associated with any of the foregoing may not materialize.
(cid:120)
Index/Tracking Error Risks – The performance of an Advisory Account that tracks an index may
not match, and may vary substantially from, the index for any period of time and may be negatively
impacted by any errors in the index, including in situations where an Advisory Account is unable to
invest in certain securities included in the index as a result of legal and compliance restrictions,
regulatory limits or other restrictions applicable to the Advisory Account and/or Goldman Sachs,
reputational considerations or other reasons. Where an index consists of relatively few securities
or issuers, it should be expected that tracking error will be heightened when an Advisory Account
is subject to such limitations or restrictions.
22
(cid:120)
Inflation Risks – The U.S. and other economies have experienced higher-than-normal inflation rates
and it remains uncertain whether substantial inflation in the U.S. and other economies will be
sustained over an extended period of time or have a significant adverse effect on the U.S. and
other economies. Inflation rates can fluctuate rapidly as a result of various factors, including
unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy and economic policy changes. An Advisory
Account’s investments might not keep pace with inflation, which can result in losses to investors
and negative effects on economies and financial markets. Inflation has increased the cost of fuel,
energy, labor, and raw materials, caused supply chain shortages, and may adversely affect
consumer spending, economic growth and the operations of Advisory Account portfolio companies.
Past governmental efforts to curb inflation have also involved drastic economic measures that have
had a material adverse effect on the level of economic activity in the countries where such
measures were employed, and similar governmental efforts could be taken in the future to curb
inflation and could have similar effects.
(cid:120)
Interest Rate Risks – Interest rates can fluctuate significantly causing price volatility with respect to
securities or instruments held by an Advisory Account. Generally, rising interest rates negatively
impact the price of fixed-rate debt, and falling interest rates positively impact price, and adjustable-
rate debt experiences similar changes to a lesser degree. Central bank monetary policy, inflation
rates, and general economic conditions influence interest rates, which is likely to impact the value
of certain securities held by Advisory Accounts either positively or negatively. When interest rates
are rising, debt can be more difficult to repay and the risk of default rises. In periods of falling
interest rates, debt is more likely to be repaid as borrowers refinance to lower rates. Falling interest
rates can also lead to lower returns at the same level of risk in Advisory Accounts. Long-term fixed
income securities will normally have more price volatility because of interest rate risk than short-
term fixed income securities. Risks associated with changing interest rates can have unpredictable
effects on the markets and Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120)
Investment Grade Debt Securities Risk – Investment grade debt securities, like other types of debt
securities, involve credit risk. Investment grade debt securities are also subject to the risk that their
ratings can be downgraded by the ratings agencies. A rating downgrade could decrease the value
of such securities, which could have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts that own such
securities.
(cid:120)
Investments in Undervalued Assets – The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued
assets is a difficult task, and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully
recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued assets offer the opportunity for above-
average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can
result in substantial losses.
(cid:120)
Investment Style Risks – An Advisory Account could outperform or underperform other Accounts
that invest in similar asset classes but employ different investment styles, and the particular
investment style(s) applied to managing an Advisory Account can impact performance.
(cid:120)
IPOs/New Issues Risks – The purchase of IPO/New Issue shares may involve high transaction
costs and such shares may be subject to greater risks than investments in shares or debt
instruments of publicly traded companies. IPOs and new issues are subject to market risk and
fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned
trading, the small number of shares or bonds available for trading and limited information about the
company’s business model, growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate its investment
prospects.
(cid:120)
Investments in Certain Multi-Adviser Structures – Where an underlying fund allocates funds to
investment funds selected by its Manager that are affiliated with such Manager and investment
funds selected by such Manager that are not affiliated with such Manager (“Multi-Adviser
Structures”), Goldman Sachs generally will have limited ability to examine the organizational
23
infrastructure of the underlying managers and the investment funds in which the Advisory Account
indirectly invests. Managers have an incentive to select affiliated investment funds based on
compensation received in connection with managing such affiliated investment funds.
(cid:120) Lack of Control Over Investments –Advisory Personnel will not have complete or even partial
control over decisions affecting certain investments. For example, Advisory Personnel, when acting
in an advisory capacity, acquire investments that represent minority positions in a debt tranche
where third-party investors control amendments or waivers or enforcement. In addition,
administrative agents may be appointed under certain facilities in which an Advisory Account
invests that have discretion over certain decisions on behalf of the investors, including the Advisory
Account.
(cid:120) Leverage Risk – The use of leverage by an Advisory Account creates exposure to potential gains
and losses in excess of the initial amount invested, and relatively small market movements may
result in large changes in portfolio value. Uncovered put writing creates leverage risk and is not an
equity replacement.
(cid:120) Limited Assets – An Advisory Account with limited assets may be unable to trade in certain
instruments and/or diversify its portfolio across investment strategies or instruments.
(cid:120) Liquidity Risks – It is possible that an Advisory Account might not be able to monetize investments
and could have to hold to maturity or obtain a lower price for investments either because those
investments have become less liquid or illiquid in response to market developments including
adverse investor perceptions. It should be expected that these risks will be more pronounced in
connection with an Advisory Account’s investments in securities of issuers located in emerging
market countries.
(cid:120) Litigation Risk – Advisory Accounts may be subject to third-party litigation, which could give rise to
legal liability and could have an adverse effect on the Advisory Accounts. If an Advisory Account
were to be found liable in any suit or proceeding, any associated damages and/or penalties could
have an adverse effect on the value of the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Losses in Affiliated Underlying Funds Borne Solely by Investors – All losses of an Advisory Account,
including losses relating to investments in Underlying Funds managed by GSAM, shall be borne
solely by such Advisory Account and not by Goldman Sachs.
(cid:120) Low Trading Volume Risk – It is possible that a client is not able to monetize his/her investment or
will have to do so at a loss as a result of generally lower trading volumes of the securities compared
to other types of securities or financial instruments.
(cid:120) Management of Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Accounts – Non-discretionary advisory clients
may not be able to implement GS&Co.’s recommendations with respect to the allocation or
reallocation of assets as quickly as GS&Co. implements such recommendations on behalf of
discretionary advisory clients, which could cause significant differences in the performance
between non-discretionary and discretionary advisory clients with the same or similar investment
objectives.
(cid:120) Management Risks – A strategy used by GS&Co. could fail to produce the intended results for an
Advisory Account, and there is a risk that the entire amount invested may be lost.
(cid:120) Market Abuse Risk – Certain markets have a history of alleged or actual price manipulation, market
abuse and improper influence. Any fraud, price manipulation, market abuse, or improper influence
in markets in which Advisory Accounts invest, directly or indirectly, may have an adverse effect on
such Advisory Accounts.
24
(cid:120) Market Disruption Risks and Terrorism Risks – A number of events could have adverse effects on
the global economy and may exacerbate some of the general risk factors related to investing in
certain strategies.
(cid:120) Market and Macro Risks – The value of an Advisory Account’s investments could decrease in
response to events affecting individual companies, particular industry sectors or governments,
changes in interest rates, regional or global pandemics, national and international political events,
and/or general economic conditions. Economic slowdowns or recessions may cause interest rates
to rise or may disproportionately impact the industries in which an Advisory Account invests,
causing the Advisory Account to be more vulnerable to losses in its portfolio, which may have an
adverse effect on such Advisory Account. In addition, governments from time to time intervene,
directly and by regulation, in certain markets. Such intervention often is intended directly to
influence prices and may, together with other factors, cause all of such markets to move rapidly in
the same direction. Any market disruptions described above may also result in further changes to
regulatory requirements or other government intervention. Such regulations may be implemented
on an “emergency” basis, which may suddenly prevent GS&Co. and Managers from implementing
certain investment strategies or from managing the risk of their outstanding positions.
(cid:120) Master Limited Partnership Risks – Investments by an Advisory Account in securities of MLPs
involve risks that differ from investments in common stock, including: limited control and limited
voting rights; dilution; compulsory redemptions at an undesirable time or price because of
regulatory changes; and greater price volatility. 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 could cause a reduction of the value of the Advisory
Account’s investment in the MLP and lower income to the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Mid Cap and Small Cap Risks – Investments in mid- and small- capitalization companies are
generally subject to more price volatility than larger, more established companies and may lack
sufficient market liquidity.
(cid:120) Model Risks – The design or operation of proprietary quantitative or investment models used in the
management of Advisory Accounts may be deficient. 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). Models can also use artificial intelligence
techniques, such as natural language processing and machine learning, which could be less
transparent or interpretable and could produce unexpected results, which can result in losses.
Moreover, the effectiveness of a model may diminish over time, including as a result of changes in
the market and/or changes in the behavior of other market participants. Operation of a model may
result in negative performance, including returns that deviate materially from historical
performance, both actual and pro-forma. Additionally, commonality of holdings across quantitative
investment managers may amplify losses. There is no guarantee that the use of these models will
result in effective investment decisions for an Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Multiple Levels of Fees and Expenses – Subject to applicable law, Advisory Accounts investing in
advisers or underlying funds generally bear any asset-based and performance-based fees or
allocations and expenses at the Advisory Account level and at the adviser or underlying fund level
(although there will be circumstances in which Advisory Accounts bear such fees at only the
Advisory Account level, or only the adviser level).
(cid:120) No Assurance of Achievement of Investment or Performance Objectives – There is no assurance
that Advisory Accounts will achieve their investment or performance objectives.
25
(cid:120) Non-Hedging Currency Risks –Volatility in currency exchange rates may produce significant losses
to an Advisory Account which has purchased or sold currencies through the use of forward
contracts or other instruments.
(cid:120) Non-U.S. Custody Risk – Advisory Accounts that invest in foreign securities could hold non-U.S.
securities and cash with non-U.S. custodians. Such non-U.S. custodians may be newly formed, or
subject to little or no regulatory oversight over or independent evaluation of their operations, and
the laws of certain countries could place limitations on an Advisory Account’s ability to recover its
assets if a non-U.S. custodian enters bankruptcy. These risks are generally more pronounced in
connection with an Advisory Account’s investments in securities of issuers located in emerging
market countries.
(cid:120) Non-U.S. Securities Risk – Non-U.S. Securities, particularly securities of issuers located in
emerging market countries, may be subject to heightened risk of loss as a result of more or less
government regulation, less public information, less liquidity, risk of nationalization or expropriation
of assets, greater volatility and less economic, political and social stability in the countries of
domicile of the issuers of the securities and/or the jurisdictions in which these securities are traded.
(cid:120) Registered Funds Risk – Advisory Accounts may invest in open-end mutual funds, and to a lesser
extent, registered closed-end funds, as well as ETFs. Open-end mutual funds and registered
closed-end funds have different risk characteristics. Shares of an open-end fund are purchased
directly from the fund whereas closed-end fund shares are purchased and sold in the market,
typically on a recognized stock exchange. Therefore, shares of a closed-end fund, when available,
can be traded during the day at any time and shares in an open-end fund can be purchased from
or sold back to the fund only at the end of the trading day. In addition, the price per share of a
closed-end mutual fund is determined by the market whereas the price per share of an open-end
fund will vary in direct proportion to the fund NAV. Both open-end mutual funds and closed-end
funds may own unlisted securities and use leverage to enhance returns. Furthermore, both open-
end and closed-end fund underlying fund holdings are reported with a lag. It should be expected
that when underlying mutual fund holdings change rapidly fund performance will differ from
expectations. Different mutual funds with similar investment policies, and different share classes
within those funds will have different expense levels.
(cid:120) Operational Risk – An Advisory Account may suffer losses arising from shortcomings or failures in
internal processes, people or systems or external events. Certain Advisory Accounts trade
instruments where operational risk is heightened due to such instruments’ complexity.
(cid:120) Partial or Total Loss of Capital – Certain investments made for Advisory Accounts are intended for
investors who can accept the risks associated with investing in illiquid securities and the possibility
of partial or total loss of capital.
(cid:120) Private Investment Risks – Private investments are highly competitive, less transparent, and illiquid.
(cid:120) Public Health Risk – Advisory Accounts could be materially adversely affected by the widespread
outbreak of infectious disease or other public health crises. Public health crises together with any
containment or other remedial measures undertaken or imposed, could have a material and
adverse effect on Advisory Accounts and their investments.
(cid:120) Private Equity Managed Accounts – Private equity investments generally will be long-term and
highly illiquid because such investments generally have no active secondary market and to the
extent any such investment can be resold, such resales are expected to be at a discount and to a
limited universe of eligible investors.
(cid:120) Real Estate Industry Risks – Real estate investments involve additional risks not typically
associated with other asset classes. The real estate industry is sensitive to economic downturns,
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which may cause occasional or permanent reductions in property values and the values of
securities of real estate companies may fluctuate between under-performance and out-
performance of equity securities markets. Real estate investments (both through public and private
markets) are also subject to changes in broader macroeconomic conditions, such as interest rates.
(cid:120) Recession Risk – An Advisory Account’s investments may be susceptible to economic slowdowns
or recessions and may be unable to repay their debt obligations during these periods. Therefore,
during these periods, an Advisory Account’s non-performing assets may increase, and the value of
its portfolio may decrease. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral
securing some of an Advisory Account’s debt investments and the value of its equity investments.
These events could prevent an Advisory Account from making new investments and harm its
operating results. An economic downturn could disproportionately impact the industries in which an
Advisory Account invests, causing it to be more vulnerable to losses in its portfolio, which could
negatively impact financial results.
(cid:120) Reliance on Technology – GS&Co. may employ investment strategies that are dependent upon
various computer and telecommunications technologies, which could fail.
(cid:120) Reliance on Third Parties – GS&Co. and Advisory Accounts require, and rely upon, the services of
a variety of third parties, including but not limited to attorneys, accountants, administrators, brokers,
custodians, consultants and other agents and vendors. Failure by any of these third parties to timely
and accurately perform their obligations to GS&Co. or an Advisory Account could have an adverse
effect upon GS&Co. or the Advisory Account.
(cid:120) Requirement to Perform – When entering into forward, spot or option contracts, or swaps, an
Advisory Account may be required, and must be able, to perform its obligations under the contract.
(cid:120) Regulatory Restrictions Applicable to Goldman Sachs – From time to time, the activities of Affiliated
Products are restricted because of regulatory or other requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs
and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the applicability of, or otherwise relate to
such requirements. External Products may or may not be subject to the same or similar restrictions
or requirements and, as a result, may outperform Affiliated Products. For additional information,
please refer to Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading—Participation or Interest in Client Transactions—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions
and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Restrictions on Investments – Advisory Accounts may be unable or limited in their ability to invest
in certain types of investments due to undertakings of Goldman Sachs with respect to the same
investments.
(cid:120) Risk Management Risks – There can be no assurance that GS&Co.’s use of various strategies to
manage the volatility and other risks of an Advisory Account’s portfolio will achieve its objective.
(cid:120) Risks Associated with Investments in Affiliated Products – Advisory Personnel will review as
potential investments for an Advisory Account such universe of products as they determine in their
sole discretion, and it should be expected that the universe of products Advisory Personnel
determine to review will be limited for certain reasons, including: (i) because one or more External
Products have not been reviewed or approved by XIG, (ii) because of administrative or practical
considerations, such as time constraints; or (iii) for other reasons determined by Advisory
Personnel. If Advisory Personnel select or recommend an Affiliated Product for an Advisory
Account, they will not have canvassed the universe of available External Products and, in such
circumstances, there may be one or more External Products that are more appropriate than the
Affiliated Product(s) selected or recommended by the Advisory Personnel, including from the
standpoint of the factors Advisory Personnel have taken into consideration. Affiliated Products
generally will not be subject to the same types of operational and other reviews performed with
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respect to External Products. On the whole, the due diligence process for Affiliated Products is
significantly less rigorous and substantively different than that for External Products. As a result,
Advisory Personnel may select or recommend an Affiliated Product for an Advisory Account that
underperforms External Products (or other Affiliated Products) that might have been selected or
recommended, or Advisory Personnel could determine not to select or recommend an External
Product that would otherwise have been selected or recommended, had the due diligence process
applicable to External Products been utilized for Affiliated Products. In addition, in certain instances,
Advisory Personnel will not consider any External Products for certain asset classes if an Affiliated
Product is available; as a result, in some situations there are no External Products available for
certain asset classes on the GS platform; as a result, there could be one or more External Products
that would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory Account than the investment product
selected. Such External Products may outperform the Affiliated Product selected for the Advisory
Account. The fact that Affiliated Products are not subject to the same diligence review applicable
to External Products also could cause Affiliated Products to not be removed from Advisory
Accounts prior to periods in which they underperform potential replacement investment products,
whereas an External Product might have been removed. Goldman Sachs’ decision to offer funds
or separate accounts, including internal or external options, is driven by a variety of factors,
including the availability of high quality managers, investment minimums, the relative cost of funds
as compared to separate accounts as well as internal as compared to external costs, the access
to internal portfolio managers for discussion with clients as well as Advisory Personnel, the potential
for performance differential between Affiliated Products and External Products, the specialized
nature of certain products, and the ability to customize for clients based on their particular needs
and circumstances. Where authorized and if a product is available, Advisory Personnel are able to
select or recommend for the Advisory Account both Affiliated Products and External Products for
particular asset classes or strategies within the Advisory Account. As described below, conflicts of
interest arise in situations in which Advisory Personnel are permitted to allocate investments to
both Affiliated Products and External Products. The differing fee arrangements that apply to
investments by Advisory Accounts in Affiliated Products as compared to External Products create
a preference for the selection or recommendation of Affiliated Products over External Products.
See Item 11, Affiliated Products / External Products.
(cid:120) Risks Related to the Discontinuance of Interbank Offered Rates, in Particular LIBOR – Advisory
Accounts that undertake transactions in instruments that were valued using London Inter-bank
Offered Rates (“LIBOR”) or are valued using other interbank offered rates (“IBORs”) or have
contracts which previously determined payment obligations by reference to LIBOR or still determine
payment obligations by reference to other IBOR rates may be adversely affected as a result of
recent changes related to LIBOR. All LIBOR settings permanently ceased to be published as of
June 30, 2023 and a synthetic version of one-month, three-month and six-month USD LIBOR
settings permanently ceased to be published as of September 30, 2024. As a result of such
changes, instruments that were valued using LIBOR or are valued using other IBORs, or contracts
which determine or previously determined payment obligations by reference to such rates, are
subject to risks including but not limited to the risk of illiquidity, changes in performance
benchmarks, rate increases, operational complexities and valuation measurements that may
adversely affect performance.
(cid:120) Risks Related to Selection by Advisory Personnel of Affiliated Products versus External Products
– Advisory Personnel determine which products to select or recommend to clients. When
considering potential investment products for a particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel
give different weights to different factors depending on the nature of the client and on whether their
review is for an Affiliated Product or for an External Product. There is a risk that consideration of
such factors will not be applied consistently over time or by particular Advisory Personnel across
all Accounts or across different products and will play a greater role in the review of certain
strategies or products while others play no role at all, and that the factors will change from time to
time. It should be expected that Advisory Personnel do not review the entire universe of External
Products appropriate for an Advisory Account. As a result, Advisory clients should expect that
there could be one or more External Products that would be a more appropriate addition to the
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Advisory Account than the investment product selected by such Advisory Personnel. Such External
Products may outperform the Affiliated Product selected for the Advisory Account. See Item 11,
Affiliated Products / External Products.
(cid:120) Risks Related to SOFR – SOFR is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing funds
overnight in transactions that are collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. SOFR is calculated
based on transaction-level repo data collected from various sources. For each trading day, SOFR
is calculated as a volume-weighted median rate derived from such data. SOFR is calculated and
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”). If data from a given source
required by the FRBNY to calculate SOFR is unavailable for any day, then the most recently
available data for that segment will be used, with certain adjustments. If errors are discovered in
the transaction data or the calculations underlying SOFR after its initial publication on a given day,
SOFR may be republished at a later time that day. Rate revisions will be effected only on the day
of initial publication and will be republished only if the change in the rate exceeds one basis point.
Because SOFR is a financing rate based on overnight secured funding transactions, it differs
fundamentally from LIBOR. LIBOR was intended to be an unsecured rate that represents interbank
funding costs for different short-term maturities or tenors. It was a forward-looking rate reflecting
expectations regarding interest rates for the applicable tenor. Thus, LIBOR was intended to be
sensitive, in certain respects, to bank credit risk and to term interest rate risk. In contrast, SOFR is
a secured overnight rate reflecting the credit of U.S. Treasury securities as collateral. Thus, it is
largely insensitive to credit-risk considerations and to short-term interest rate risks. SOFR is a
transaction-based rate, and it has been more volatile than other benchmark or market rates, such
as historical three-month LIBOR, during certain periods. For these reasons, among others, there is
no assurance that SOFR, or rates derived from SOFR, will perform in the same or similar way as
LIBOR would have performed at any time, and there is no assurance that SOFR-based rates are
a suitable substitute for LIBOR. SOFR has a limited history, having been first published in April
2018. The future performance of SOFR, and SOFR-based reference rates, cannot be predicted
based on SOFR’s history or otherwise. Levels of SOFR in the future, may bear little or no relation
to historical levels of SOFR, LIBOR or other rates.
(cid:120) Risks of Technological Developments – The widespread adoption of new internet, networking or
telecommunications technologies or other technological changes could require issuers in which
Advisory Accounts invest to incur substantial expenditures to modify or adapt their services or
infrastructure to such new technologies, which could adversely affect their results of operations or
financial condition. In addition, new services or technologies offered by competitors or new entrants
may make such issuers less differentiated or less competitive when compared to other alternatives.
(cid:120) Risks Related to the Operation of Markets – Advisory Accounts may incur losses in the event of
the early closure of, complete closure of, suspension of trading in, or similar interruptions affecting
one or more domestic or international markets, trading venues, or clearing houses on or through
which GS&Co. trades for such Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Sanctions Risk –Economic sanctions or similar measures by the United States or other non-US
governments imposed on the issuers of securities in an Advisory Account create a heightened risk
of loss due to delayed settlement, liquidity constraints, and an inability to liquidate such securities
at a favorable price or to conduct any transactions in such securities at all. Economic sanctions
may also prevent Goldman Sachs from taking certain steps to obtain timely possession or control
of an Advisory Account’s fully paid securities and excess margin securities to cure a segregation
deficiency.
(cid:120) Reputational Risks – The dissemination of negative or inaccurate information about issuers in
which Advisory Accounts invest via media, including social media, could harm their business,
reputation, financial condition, and results of operations, which could adversely affect Advisory
Accounts and, due to reputational considerations, influence GS&Co.’s decision as to whether to
remain invested in such issuers.
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(cid:120) Short Selling/Position Risk – Short selling involves the risk of potentially unlimited losses and the
inability to reacquire a security or close the transaction timely or at an acceptable price.
(cid:120) Sustainability Risks – Advisory Account investments could be exposed to sustainability risks (i.e.,
where an environmental, social or governance event or condition exists that could cause an actual
or a potential material negative impact on the value of investments), including physical
environmental risks, climate change transition risks, supply chain disruptions, improper labor
practices and corruption. If they materialize, sustainability risks can reduce the value of
investments held by an Advisory Account and could have a material impact on the performance
and returns of Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Technology Sector Risks – Stock prices of technology companies may experience significant price
movements as a result of intense market volatility, worldwide competition, consumer preferences,
product compatibility, product obsolescence, government regulation, or excessive investor
optimism or pessimism.
(cid:120) Timing of Implementation Risks – There may be delays in the implementation of investment
strategies, including as a result of differences in time zones and the markets on which securities
trade. Whether an Advisory Account is managed on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis can
also disrupt the implementation of an investment strategy, For example, certain investment
strategies may be delayed or not pursued in Advisory Accounts managed on a non-discretionary
basis because the client must authorize transactions before they can be executed.
(cid:120) Trading on Non-U.S. Exchanges – Futures and securities traded on exchanges located outside the
United States may be subject to greater counterparty risk than those traded on U.S. exchanges,
financial irregularities and/or lack of appropriate risk monitoring and controls.
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Conflicts Related to the Use of Tactical Tilts – Where Advisory Personnel use tactical investment
ideas derived from short-term market views (“Tactical Tilts”) for Advisory Accounts, material risks
exist. For example, the timing for implementing a Tactical Tilt or unwinding a position can materially
affect the performance of such Tactical Tilt. For various reasons, Goldman Sachs and its affiliates
may implement a Tactical Tilt, invest in an affiliated fund that invests in Tactical Tilts, or unwind a
position for its client Accounts or on its own behalf before Advisory Personnel do on behalf of
Advisory Accounts, or implement a Tactical Tilt that is different from the Tactical Tilt implemented
by Advisory Personnel on behalf of Advisory Accounts, which could have an adverse effect on
Advisory Accounts and result in poorer performance by Advisory Accounts than by Goldman Sachs
or other client Accounts. In addition, unless otherwise agreed in writing, Advisory Personnel monitor
an Advisory Account’s Tactical Tilt positions only on a periodic basis. Therefore, changes in market
conditions and other factors may result in substantial losses to an Advisory Account, and no
assurance can be given that a Tactical Tilt position will be unwound before the Advisory Account
suffers losses. The use of Tactical Tilts also includes the risk of reliance on models.
(cid:120) Conflicts Related to the Use of Target Ranges and Rebalancing – To the extent a client designates
target allocations or target ranges within an Advisory Account in connection with a particular asset
class or strategy, allocations of an Advisory Account’s assets may, from time to time, be out of
balance with the Advisory Account’s target ranges for extended periods of time or at all times due
to various factors, such as fluctuations in, and variations among, the performance of the investment
products to which the assets are allocated, reliance on estimates in connection with the
determination of percentage allocations and limitations on liquidity of investments. Any rebalancing
by Advisory Personnel of the Advisory Account’s assets may have an adverse effect on the
performance of the Advisory Account’s assets. For example, an Advisory Account will generally
incur transaction costs, and could be subject to investment losses, if the Advisory Account’s assets
are allocated away from an over-performing investment product and allocated to an under-
performing investment product in connection with a rebalancing. In addition, in some cases
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Advisory Personnel’s ability to fully rebalance as intended is limited by several factors, including
the use of estimates of the NAVs of the investment products, and, in the case of investments in
pooled investment vehicles, restrictions on additional investments in and redemptions from such
investment products. Similarly, the use of target ranges in respect of asset classes may result in
an Advisory Account containing a significantly greater percentage of Affiliated Products than would
otherwise be the case, including during periods in which Affiliated Products underperform External
Products. In such circumstances, there could be one or more External Products that would be a
more appropriate addition to an Advisory Account than the Affiliated Products then in the Advisory
Account. Such External Products may outperform the Affiliated Products then in the Advisory
Account. For information regarding conflicts of interest in connection with Affiliated Products and
External Products, See Item 11, Affiliated Products / External Products.
(cid:120) Tax Aware Investment Risks – This section briefly summarizes some of the important risks,
including U.S. federal income tax consequences, that may arise in connection with “tax-aware”
strategies. Tax aware strategies are generally designed for U.S. taxable clients to realize capital
losses (primarily short-term) and defer capital gains. They may also be referred to as “tax
advantaged,” “tax managed,” or “tax aware” strategies or accounts (collectively referred to herein
as tax aware strategies or accounts). This section does not address all tax rules, including state
laws, non-U.S. person regulations, and other rules applicable to certain types of clients or special
circumstances. GS&Co. does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice unless otherwise agreed
to by GS&Co. in writing.
(cid:120) Payment of Taxes – Clients will be responsible for payment of any and all taxes due as a
result of transactions in an account that pursues a tax aware strategy.
(cid:120) Risks Relating to Tax Aware Strategies Generally – Tax aware strategies are designed for
U.S. taxable clients to realize capital losses (primarily short-term) and defer capital gains.
If the strategies fail to meet these tax-aware objectives, the after-tax result could be worse
than if the client had not enrolled in the strategy at all. Furthermore, implementing tax-
aware methodologies may introduce substantial non-tax economic costs, such as retaining
securities with unrealized gains that hinder the ability to align the portfolio with desired
investment allocations. By intentionally triggering capital losses and replacing sold
securities, the average cost basis of the securities in the portfolio is reduced. This creates
a growing contingent future tax liability on unrealized gains. If the account is eventually
liquidated, the client will generally face immediate taxes on these realized gains. The extent
of any tax benefits, even if achieved by a tax aware strategy or account, could vary
depending upon a client’s investments outside of the strategy in an account within GS&Co.
or held outside of GS&Co., or in accounts held by related parties, within GS&Co. or held
outside of GS&Co.
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, Managers of tax aware strategies, including the Tax
Advantage Core Strategies (“TACS”) managed by GSAM LP, manage tax-aware accounts
on a standalone basis and do not consider any other assets that a client owns (including
in other accounts managed by the Manager, including those managed by GSAM LP or its
affiliates). Transactions in these outside accounts can trigger adverse tax consequences
under U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) wash sale, straddle, or constructive sale
rules. In the event of an unfavorable determination on an IRS tax audit, clients may be
subject to additional taxation (including interest and penalties) on a current or retroactive
basis. Tax reporting of gains and losses on IRS Form 1099, and associated tax basis
reporting, will generally not reflect all of the consequences of straddles, wash sales,
constructive sales or the disqualification of dividends and it is incumbent on clients and
their tax advisors to independently recognize and account for such tax consequences.
Managers ability to utilize various tax-management techniques may be curtailed or
eliminated in the future by tax legislation, regulation or interpretations, each of which may
have retroactive effects and clients should consult their tax advisor.
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The sale of positions to repay borrowing on a client’s portfolio generally could also have
tax ramifications and diminish the client’s overall tax objectives especially where the client
has chosen to invest in a tax aware strategy. Further, adverse tax consequences, such as
those mentioned below, could, in some circumstances, exceed the potential tax benefits of
a tax aware strategy.
(cid:120) Constructive Sales – Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“IRC”), a client may be treated as recognizing a gain (but not a loss) if they hold a position
that economically offsets an appreciated position (e.g., a long position in a TACS account
and an offsetting short position in a different account).
(cid:120) Tax Straddles – Certain adverse tax consequences can apply when a taxpayer or a related
party holds “offsetting positions” (e.g., a stock and an offsetting option) that substantially
diminish the risk of loss from holding one position by reason of holding one or more other
positions, including the suspension or elimination of realized losses, the conversion of
short-term losses into long-term losses, the resetting of holding periods to zero, and the
disqualification of dividends from preferential tax rates.
(cid:120) Wash Sales – Under the wash sale rules, the loss on the sale of a stock or security is
disallowed and is instead added to the basis of the replacement security. A client’s ability
to use realized losses may be limited if a client invests in multiple mandates that trade the
same or substantially identical securities, and/or through accounts that are deemed to be
related under the relevant tax rules and regulations (“related accounts”). In certain
instances, Managers may intentionally engage in wash sales when they believe that the
trades are beneficial to do so. In addition, Managers may be unable to avoid wash sales in
certain circumstances. To the extent that one or more TACS accounts are managed as
related for tax purposes, GSAM LP may limit or reduce trading across those accounts in
order to avoid wash sales which may result in less loss harvesting for the accounts. The
rules apply to both long and short positions. Managers are not responsible for identifying
wash sales across a client’s portfolio.
(cid:120) Qualified Dividends – To receive preferential tax rates on dividends, a stock must be held
for more than 60 days during a specific 121-day window. Clients who hold a short position
in the same or similar stock directly or in a related account during this period can cause
the dividend to fail to be qualified, causing it to be taxed at higher ordinary income rates.
(cid:120) Additional Risks Related to the TACS and GOAS Call Writing Strategy Accounts – If a
client maintains a TACS account and a GOAS call writing strategy account, a straddle may
be created if the underlier of the call option(s) held in the GOAS call writing account is
substantially similar to equity positions across your investment portfolio, as those equity
positions generally may reduce the risk of loss on the call option(s).
(cid:120) Additional Risks Related to the Tax Aware Active Extension Strategies – Tax aware Active
Extension strategies (“Active Extension Strategies”), including TACS Active Extension
Strategies managed by GSAM LP, are generally tax aware strategies that utilize both short
sales and margin loans in an effort to deliver outperformance relative to the market while
seeking to provide additional tax management opportunities relative to other tax aware
strategies. In addition to the risks described above, the Active Extension Strategies are
subject to certain other risks including short sale risk and certain tax risk. Please also refer
to Leverage Risk.
(cid:120) Short Sale Risks – The Active Extension Strategies will require that a broker dealer
execute a short sale of securities chosen by Managers. If a client fails to deliver
any securities sold in a long sale, the broker dealer (which could be an affiliate of
GSAM LP) will be authorized to borrow the necessary securities to enable the
broker dealer to make delivery. Clients are responsible for all costs, including
borrowing fees and payments, while facing risks related to leverage, counterparty
insolvency, and the potential for lenders to terminate loans unexpectedly. Please
refer to Short Selling/Position Risk.
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(cid:120) Tax Risk – It is possible that the IRS could challenge the tax benefits associated
with the Active Extension Strategies, in which case adverse tax consequences
along with interest and penalties could apply. Clients should consult their tax
advisor.
(cid:120) Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks – New and existing legal, tax and regulatory regimes may
adversely impact the ability of GS&Co. to conduct activities and transactions in respect of Advisory
Accounts, may require material adjustments to the business and operations of Advisory Accounts,
or may result in increased costs and operational burdens associated with the trading and
investment activity of Advisory Accounts and increased compliance costs (including the cost of
additional resources dedicated to compliance), which could be harmful to Advisory Accounts.
(cid:120) Trade Protectionism - Advisory Accounts may be materially affected by market, economic and
political conditions globally and in the jurisdictions and sectors in which they invest or operate,
including economic outlook, factors affecting interest rates, the availability of credit, currency
exchange rates, and trade barriers. Recent populist and anti-globalization movements, particularly
in the United States, may result in material changes in economic trade and immigration policies, all
of which could lead to significant disruption of global markets and could have adverse
consequences on the Advisory Accounts’ investments. The imposition of tariffs, for example, can
lead to supply shortages and higher costs, potentially impacting their profitability and
competitiveness.
(cid:120) U.S. Treasury Securities Risk – Securities backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit
of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when
held to maturity, but the market prices for such securities are not guaranteed and will fluctuate,
including as changes in global economic conditions affect the demand for these securities.
Additionally, it is expected that the SEC’s recent adoption of rules which will require central clearing
of a broad range of cash and repurchase transactions in U.S. Treasury securities beginning on
December 31, 2026 will result in significant changes in the current marketplace, which in turn will
have significant effects on market participants including GS&Co. and its affiliates and on the prices
of U.S. Treasury securities. The full impact of these changes is uncertain.
(cid:120) Valuation Risks – In valuing assets that lack a readily ascertainable market value GSAM or its
agent may utilize dealer-supplied quotations or pricing models based on methodologies that are
subject to error.
(cid:120) Volatility Risks – The prices and values of investments can be highly volatile, and are influenced
by, among other things, interest rates, general economic conditions, investor sentiment, the
condition of the financial markets, the financial condition of the issuers of such assets, changing
supply and demand relationships, programs and policies of governments, regional or global
pandemics, developments or trends in any particular industry, and political and economic events
and policies worldwide. In the event that securities trading is significantly reduced or halted due to
any of the foregoing or other factors, it might be difficult for an Advisory Account or underlying fund
to properly value its holdings in such securities.
Additional Risks Applicable to Advisory Accounts Managed by Portfolio Management Teams
In addition to the risks applicable to all strategies, the specific risks of each strategy should be
considered. The following is a description of the strategies managed by Portfolio Management Teams, the
methods of analysis used by Portfolio Management Teams in formulating investment advice for Advisory
Accounts and the material risks involved in investing in each strategy.
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Structured Investment Strategies
GS&Co. offers structured investment strategies managed by a dedicated Portfolio Management Team. See
Item 4 Advisory Business – Structured Investment Strategies The Portfolio Management Team selects
investments issued by a particular third-party issuer for a variety of reasons, including to provide diversified
credit exposures, due to capacity constraint reasons or in an effort to facilitate client requests, but may, at
times, be limited in its ability to do so. The terms and risks of each structured investment vary materially
depending on the credit-worthiness of the issuer, the nature of the referenced asset and the maturity of the
instrument, among other factors.
In addition to the general risks described above, some of the material risks associated with structured
investment strategies include:
(cid:120) Correlation Risk – The performance of the structured investment held in a client’s Account could
underperform or differ from the market, or prior to maturity, perform differently than the payment at
maturity formula due to changes in factors influencing the structured investments, including equity
performance and/or changes in credit spreads, implied volatility, interest rates and/or dividends.
(cid:120) Credit Diversification Risk – The credit diversification of the strategy could be limited due to the lack of
availability of structured investments from one or more issuers at a given time.
(cid:120) Secondary Market/Limited Liquidity Risk – The secondary market for one or more of the underlying
structured investments could be limited due to a particular issuer exposure, volatility of a referenced
asset or for other reasons. This lack of liquidity in the secondary market may make one or more of the
underlying investments more difficult to dispose of and to value, resulting in the strategy being less
liquid than other strategies and negatively impacting secondary market valuations.
(cid:120) Underperformance Risk – The strategy could underperform the underlying investments due to reasons
such as the payout feature of one or more investments and the fact that such structured investments
do not receive dividends.
Other Portfolio Management Teams
In addition to the Portfolio Management Teams described above, GS&Co. may add additional Portfolio
Management Teams and its current Portfolio Management Teams may offer additional strategies at any
time.
Item 9 - DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
In the ordinary course of its business, GS&Co. and its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs
and/or other Goldman Sachs personnel, have in the past been, and may in the future be, subject to periodic
audits, examinations, claims, litigation, formal and informal regulatory or other inquiries, requests for
information, subpoenas, employment- related matters, disputes, investigations, and other civil, legal or
regulatory proceedings involving the SEC, other regulatory authorities, or private parties. Such actions,
investigations, litigation and claims have the potential to result in findings, conclusions, settlements, charges
or various forms of sanctions against GS&Co. or its management persons, as well as Goldman Sachs and
other Goldman Sachs personnel, including fines, suspensions of personnel, changes in policies,
procedures or disclosure or other sanctions and may increase the exposure of the Advisory Accounts,
GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs to potential liabilities and to legal, compliance and other related costs. Such
actions or proceedings may involve claims of strict liability or similar risks against Advisory Accounts in
certain jurisdictions or in connection with certain types of activities.
Information about GS&Co.’s investment management affiliates is contained in Part 1 of GS&Co.’s Form
ADV. For information relating to other Goldman Sachs affiliates, please visit www.gs.com and refer to the
public filings of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
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Item 10 - OTHER FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Other Financial Industry Activities
As further described below, GS&Co. is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and in addition to its
advisory business, is engaged in business as a Futures Commission Merchant (“FCM”), commodity trading
advisor (“CTA”), security-based swap dealer (“SBSD”), swap dealer (“SD”), registered municipal advisor
and commodity pool operator (“CPO”). Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons may also be registered
as associated persons of GS&Co. to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform their responsibilities.
Other Material Relationships with Affiliated Entities
In certain cases, GS&Co. uses, suggests and recommends its own services and those of affiliated Goldman
Sachs entities and business units. Fees paid in connection with such services, while believed to be
customary compensation for relevant activities, are not always negotiated and, from time to time, could be
more or less than what a comparable third party might charge. GS&Co. manages Advisory Accounts on
behalf of certain affiliated Goldman Sachs entities, which creates potential conflicts of interest related to
GS&Co.’s determination to use, suggest or recommend the services of such entities or business units. The
particular services involved depend on the types of services offered by the affiliate or business unit. The
arrangements may involve sharing or joint compensation, or separate compensation, subject to the
requirements of applicable law. GS&Co. shares resources with or delegates certain of its trading, advisory
and other activities for clients to other businesses within GS&Co. other than PWM and/or to GS&Co.’s
affiliates and portfolio management functions may be shared or moved between affiliated advisers.
Particular relationships include, but are not limited to, those discussed below. Goldman Sachs’ affiliates will
retain any compensation when providing investment services to, or in connection with investment activities
of, Advisory Accounts, subject to applicable law. Compensation may take the form of referral payments,
commissions, mark-ups, mark-downs, service fees or other commission equivalents. Advisory Accounts
are not entitled to any such compensation retained by Goldman Sachs’ affiliates.
Broker-Dealer
GS&Co. is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer. Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons are
registered representatives of GS&Co. to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform their
responsibilities. GS&Co. uses, suggests or recommends that advisory clients use the securities, futures
execution, clearing, custody or other services offered by GS&Co. or its affiliates. These affiliates include
(but are not limited to) Goldman Sachs International (“GSI”), Goldman Sachs (Asia) Securities Limited,
Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd., and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia. GS&Co. and Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services have overlapping officers and personnel and share office space and certain expenses. GS&Co.
receives compensation when acting as a broker-dealer executing transactions for Advisory Accounts for
affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
Advisory Accounts will generally execute all transactions through Goldman Sachs as further described in
Item 12, Brokerage Practices – Broker-Dealer Selection and Directed Brokerage. Subject to client consent
as required by applicable law, GS&Co. or its affiliates may engage in principal transactions with Advisory
Accounts that are not Retirement Plans. For additional information about principal trading, please see Item
11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading below. Goldman
Sachs typically earns Execution Charges in connection with transactions executed as agent or principal.
Clients will pay these charges in addition to the advisory fee paid to GS&Co. or its affiliates except as
described in Item 5, Fees and Compensation. Goldman Sachs will likely share all or a portion of any
Execution Charges with its affiliates and Goldman Sachs employees, which could create an incentive to
make execution decisions based on their interest in receiving a share of Execution Charges. For Accounts
offered through PWM but managed by GSAM LP, transactions are executed according to GSAM LP’s
policies and procedures regarding execution of trades.
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In addition, GS&Co. and its broker-dealer affiliates that provide custodial services benefit from the use of
free credit balances (i.e., cash) in Advisory Accounts, subject to the limitation set forth in SEC Rule 15c3-3
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Free credit balances are payable to clients
on demand. If negative interest rates apply, clients will be charged a fee in connection with such free credit
balances. PWM receives certain recordkeeping, administrative and support services from other parts of
GS&Co. or its affiliates. GS&Co., in its advisory capacity, obtains research ideas, analyses, reports and
other services (including distribution services) from its affiliates.
Subject to client consent to the extent required by applicable law, in certain circumstances GS&Co. enters
into principal transactions, including over-the-counter derivatives transactions, for clients with its affiliates,
including GSI and other affiliates of GS&Co. GS&Co.’s affiliates will earn mark-ups, mark-downs, spreads,
financing fees and other charges that may be embedded in the cost of the derivative. Clients will pay these
charges in addition to the advisory fee paid to GS&Co. GS&Co. and its affiliates will likely share all or a
portion of their charges and fees with each other and with their affiliates and employees, which could create
an incentive for GS&Co. such employee to make execution decisions based on their interest in receiving a
share of such charges and fees. For additional information about principal trading, please see Item 11,
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or
Interest in Client Accounts—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions, and Certain Other Factors Affecting
Advisory Accounts.
In addition, Goldman Sachs has ownership interests in trading networks, securities or derivatives indices,
trading tools and settlement systems.
In addition, Goldman Sachs holds ownership interests in, and Goldman Sachs personnel sit on the boards
of directors of, centralized exchanges and trading platforms, electronic communication networks, alternative
trading systems and other similar execution or trading systems or venues (collectively, “ECNs/Trading
Venues”). Goldman Sachs may be deemed to control one or more of such ECNs/Trading Venues based
on its levels of ownership and its representation on the board of directors of such ECNs/Trading Venues. As
of the date hereof, Goldman Sachs held ownership interests in the following ECNs/Trading Venues: (i)
Members Exchange (MEMX), (ii) Members Exchange Options (MEMX Options), (iii) PureStream, (iv) GS
Sigma X2 and (v) Marquee (GSCO). Goldman Sachs may acquire ownership interests in other
ECNs/Trading Venues (or increase ownership in the ECNs/Trading Venues listed above) in the
future. Additional information regarding the ECNs/Trading Venues in which Goldman Sachs has an
ownership interest, as well as the ECNs/Trading Venues used by GS&Co., is updated from time to time
and is available at https://www.goldmansachs.com/disclosures/ecns-disclosure.html.
registered market makers related
to
these exchange-sponsored marketing
Consistent with its duty to seek best execution for the Advisory Accounts, PWM, from time to time, directly
or indirectly, effects trades for Advisory Accounts through such ECNs/Trading Venues. In such cases,
Goldman Sachs receives an indirect economic benefit based upon its ownership interests in ECNs/Trading
Venues. In addition, Goldman Sachs receives fees, cash credits, rebates, discounts or other benefits from
ECNs/Trading Venues to which it, as broker, routes order flow based on the aggregate trading volume
generated by Goldman Sachs (including volume not associated with client orders) and the type of order
flow routed and certain ECNs/Trading Venues, such as many exchanges, provide rebates or charge fees
based on whether routed orders contribute to, or extract liquidity from, the ECN/Trading Venue. Discounts
or rebates received by Goldman Sachs from an ECN/Trading Venue during any time period could differ and
could exceed the fees paid by Goldman Sachs to the ECN/Trading Venue during that time period. The
amount of such discounts or rebates varies. Further, the U.S. listed options exchanges sponsor marketing
fee programs through which registered market-makers receive payments from the exchanges based upon
their market making status and/or as a result of their designation as a “preferenced” market maker by an
exchange member with respect to certain options orders. GS&Co. may receive payments from
“preferenced”
fee
programs. The amount of such payments varies. PWM will effect trades for an Advisory Account through
such ECNs/Trading Venues only if PWM reasonably believes that such trades are in the best interest of the
Advisory Account and that the requirements of applicable law have been satisfied. As discussed in further
detail in Item 12, Brokerage Practices, PWM executes transactions with Goldman Sachs. or unaffiliated
broker-dealers in accordance with its best execution policies and procedures.
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In the event assets of an Advisory Account are treated as “plan assets” subject to ERISA, the use of
ECNs/Trading Venues to execute trades on behalf of such Advisory Account may, absent an exemption,
be treated as a prohibited transaction under ERISA. However, PWM effects trades through ECNs/Trading
Venues provided that such trades are executed in accordance with the exemption under Section 408(b)(16)
of ERISA. In addition, PWM is required to obtain authorization from any Advisory Account whose assets
are treated as “plan assets” in order to execute transactions on behalf of such Advisory Account using an
ECN/Trading Venue in which Goldman Sachs has an ownership interest. Furthermore, there may be
limitations or restrictions placed on the use of ECNs/Trading Venues (including, without limitation, for
purposes of complying with law and otherwise).
Through GS&Co.’s trading on or membership to various trading platforms or venues, or interactions with
certain service providers (including depositaries and messaging platforms), GS&Co. and its affiliates, in
certain cases, receive interests, shares or other economic benefits from such service providers.
Investment Companies and Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates, including GSAM LP, act in an advisory or sub-advisory capacity with
respect to separately managed accounts and private investment funds and in other capacities, including as
trustee, managing member, adviser, administrator and/or distributor to a variety of U.S. and non-U.S.
investment companies (including separate accounts underlying variable life insurance policies and variable
annuity contracts that are structured as registered investment companies) as well as other pooled
investment vehicles including collective trusts, ETFs, closed end funds, business development companies
and private investment funds. Such advisory, sub-advisory, or other relationships in some cases are with
affiliated entities or with institutions that are not part of Goldman Sachs. Certain GS&Co. personnel are also
directors, trustees and/or officers of these investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, in their capacities as advisers or sub-advisers to these entities, will receive
management or advisory fees. Although such fees are generally paid by the entities, the costs are ultimately
borne by clients as investors. These fees will be in addition to any advisory fees or other fees agreed
between investors in their capacity as clients and GS&Co. for investment advisory, brokerage or other
services. Except as otherwise agreed, clients of GS&Co. and its affiliates may invest in these investment
companies and other pooled investment vehicles offered by Goldman Sachs without paying fees to GS&Co.
For entities where GS&Co. applies an advisory fee, the fee that will apply is generally the same for both
affiliated and unaffiliated entities and clients may pay more or less than the index oriented fee depending
on the agreed upon fee schedule. For additional information on compensation earned for the sale of these
products, please see Item 5, Fees and Compensation.
Other Investment Advisers
GS&Co. has investment advisory affiliates in and outside of the United States that are registered with the
SEC as investment advisers. These affiliates include, but are not limited to, GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs
Asset Management International (“GSAMI”), and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services,. GS&Co. and its
affiliates have or intend to have co-advisory or sub-advisory relationships with their investment advisory
affiliates, as required for proper management of particular Advisory Accounts and in accordance with
applicable law. GS&Co. will receive compensation in connection with such relationships. For additional
information on compensation earned when clients select other investment advisers, see Receipt of
Compensation from Investment Advisers, below. Where permissible by law, GS&Co. and its affiliates
share resources in connection with providing investment advisory services, including credit analysis,
execution services and trade support.
GS&Co. personnel may recommend the investment advisory services of its affiliates, including, but not
limited to, GSAM LP, and Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, to its clients. Certain Advisory Personnel who
make such referrals receive compensation for referring clients to such affiliates, subject to applicable law.
GS&Co. personnel also refer clients to certain unaffiliated investment advisers. In such instances, certain
investment advisers could pay GS&Co. a portion of the investment management fee charged to the client.
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Manager selection and ongoing due diligence of unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs used in strategies
managed by GS&Co. are performed by GSAM LP.
Clients may be offered access to advisory services through GS&Co., Goldman Sachs Wealth Services,
GSAM LP, GSAMI, or other affiliated investment advisers. These investment advisers manage Accounts
according to different strategies and may also apply different criteria to the same or similar products
(including but not limited to equities and fixed income securities). For instance, in the case of Accounts
holding municipal bonds, GSAM LP and GS&Co. may apply different credit criteria (including different
minimum credit ratings, sector restrictions, maturity limitations or portfolio duration), they may offer different
portfolio structures (e.g., laddered, barbelled or customized), and they may have different minimum Account
size requirements. Additionally, GS&Co. executes trades through itself as well as third parties and may
participate in underwritings, whereas GSAM LP and GSAMI generally only execute trades through third
parties. Since each investment adviser’s investment decisions are made independently, it should be
expected that GSAM LP and/or GSAMI may be buying while GS&Co. and/or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services are selling, or vice versa. Therefore, it is possible that accounts managed by GSAM LP or GSAMI
could sustain losses during periods in which accounts managed by GS&Co., or Goldman Sachs Wealth
Services achieve significant profits on their trading, and vice versa.
Subject to applicable law, GS&Co. has the discretion to delegate all or a portion of its advisory or other
functions (including placing trades on behalf of Advisory Accounts) to any affiliate that is registered with the
SEC as an investment adviser or to any of its non-U.S. affiliated advisers. GS&Co. may also move or share
portfolio management between affiliated advisers. This might include the movement of portfolio managers
from GS&Co. to an affiliated adviser or the transfer of management of the portfolio to a management team
within an affiliated adviser.
A copy of the brochure of GSAM LP, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, GSAMI or other affiliated
investment advisers is available on the SEC’s website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov) and will be provided to
clients or prospective clients upon request. Clients that want more information about any of these affiliates
should contact GS&Co.
Financial Planning
GS&Co.’s affiliate, Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, provides financial planning (“Financial Planning,”
which may also be referred to at times as “financial counseling” or “financial coaching”) as described more
fully in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Brochure, which generally focuses on planning related to
compensation and employment benefits, cash-flow, retirement estate, insurance, investment, philanthropic,
and tax planning as may be appropriate, in addition to investment management, financial education and
other services to publicly traded companies and privately held firms and their respective executives and
employees, high net worth individuals, and affinity and membership organizations or community-based and
charitable organizations and their respective members and participants. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services’
personnel recommend GS&Co.’s investment advisory services to its clients and receive fees from GS&Co.
in certain circumstances.
Goldman Sachs Wealth Services’ Personal Wealth offering is also available to clients who generally do not
have another Financial Planning relationship with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, but who have at least
$1,000,000 held in Advisory Accounts. Additional information about the Personal Wealth offering can be
found in the Goldman Sachs Wealth Services Form ADV Part 2A.
For information on financial planning offered by GS&Co. see Item 4 – Advisory Services – Family Office
Services of the PWM Brochure.
Futures Commission Merchant, Commodity Pool Operator, Commodity Trading Advisor
GS&Co. and certain of its affiliates are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(“CFTC”) as an FCM, CPO, SD and CTA. These affiliates include GSAM LP, GSAMI, and GSAMS. If
38
permitted by law and applicable regulation, GS&Co. buys, sells and/or clears futures and swaps on behalf
of its Advisory Accounts through itself or its CFTC-registered affiliates and these affiliates receive
commissions in connection with such transactions. GS&Co. also utilizes the services of these affiliates in
connection with foreign exchange transactions for certain Advisory Accounts.
Bank or Thrift Institution
Banks
GS Group is a Financial Holding Company and a Bank Holding Company registered with the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the BHCA. GS Group is subject
to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve.
GS Bank is an FDIC insured, New York State chartered Federal Reserve member bank. GS Bank accepts
brokered deposits, lends to individuals and corporate clients, transacts in certain derivatives, and provides
securities lending, custody and hedge fund administration services. GS Bank offers securities-based loans
and structured loans to Private Wealth Management clients on the Goldman Sachs platform. GS Bank
benefits from the use of securities-based loans and structured loans by charging interest on those loans.
GS&Co. and Advisory Personnel who make referrals and participate in GS&Co.’s compensation plan
receive compensation for referring clients to GS Bank for such loans. These loans are not made on an
advisory basis but are solely self-directed. Such referrals create a conflict between the interests of clients
and the interests of GS&Co. and its employees since GS&Co. and these Advisory Personnel have an
economic interest in the loans. Such compensation is in addition to compensation GS&Co. and these
Advisory Personnel receive from the investment advisory fee charged by GS&Co. for providing advisory
services to the Advisory Accounts pledged as collateral for the loans. Borrowing against securities is not
suitable for all investors. Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support a loan and to take advances.
It should be expected that if there is a decline in the value of a client’s collateral assets, including as a
result of markets going down in value, clients will be required to deposit more securities or funds to
maintain the level needed to avoid a maintenance call or pay down the line of credit and that GS Bank will
sell some or all of a client’s securities without prior notice to maintain the account at the required levels.
This could affect a client’s holdings or the account or strategy the client is invested in, and could also have
tax ramifications, in particular diminishing a client’s overall tax objectives, especially where the client has
chosen to invest in a tax aware strategy. GS Bank can increase a client’s collateral maintenance
requirements at any time without notice. Additionally, GS Bank has no obligation to fund the line and can
change the client’s interest rate or demand full or partial repayment at any time. Clients should also consult
with their own tax advisor prior to using municipal securities as collateral, as there may be tax
consequences associated with doing so.
GS&Co. offers a Bank Deposit Cash Sweep with its affiliate, GS Bank, which may be elected for use in
eligible accounts, including at a client’s direction. Unless the client selects a different cash sweep option,
the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep will generally be the default sweep option regardless of any difference in
actual or expected returns in connection with other sweep options. Returns on cash sweep options are
impacted by a variety of factors, including applicable interest rates and the nature of the account. For
example, interest rates on Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower returns than cash swept to money
market funds and after-tax yields on cash subject to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep could yield lower results
than cash swept to money market funds. GS&Co. and certain Advisory Personnel earn higher
compensation in connection with Bank Deposit Cash Sweep than from cash swept to money market funds.
The Bank Deposit Cash Sweep provides benefits to GS&Co. and GS Bank. GS Bank may pay GS&Co. a
fee in connection with Advisory Accounts that use the Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
Interest rates applied to Bank Deposit Cash Sweep offered through GS Bank are variable and subject to
change at the sole discretion of GS Bank. Rates may be higher or lower than rates available at other
banks and may vary based on the amount of a client’s deposit balances or relationship with GS&Co.
Clients can obtain information about interest rates by going to www.goldman.com, or by asking their
Private Wealth Management team. The cash sweep service is intended as a vehicle for free credit
balances pending investment, but can be expected to provide a lower return than other investment
39
products offered by GS&Co. The cash sweep options should not be viewed as long-term investment
options. If clients desire to maintain cash balances for other than a short-term period or are seeking
higher yields available in the market, clients should contact their Private Wealth Management team to
discuss investment options that could be available outside of the cash sweep service. If a client does not
wish to participate in the cash sweep service, their cash will be held as free credit balances in their
GS&Co. brokerage account in accordance with GS&Co.’s customary practice. Free credit balances will
generally earn less interest than money market funds or Bank Deposit Cash Sweep.
Trust Companies
GS&Co. also has relationships with The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A., a national bank limited to
fiduciary activities (“GSTC”), and The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware, a Delaware limited
purpose trust company (“GSTD”). GSTC and GSTD provide personal trust and estate administration and
related services to certain of GS&Co.’s clients. GS&Co. and its affiliates provide a variety of services to
GSTC and GSTD, including investment advisory, sub-advisory, brokerage, distribution, marketing,
operational, infrastructure, financial, auditing and administrative services. Goldman Sachs receives fees
from GSTC and GSTD according to the fee schedules agreed upon between the parties in arm’s-length
service agreements.
Insurance Company or Agency
GS&Co.’s affiliates, The Ayco Services Agency, L.P., and The Ayco Services Insurance Agency, Inc., are
licensed insurance agencies and engage in the insurance agency business for purposes of selling,
brokering and co-brokering, including, but not limited to, life insurance policies and annuity contracts (both
fixed and variable) and long-term care insurance contracts for separate compensation. GS&Co. may refer
clients to these related affiliates and will receive referral fees subject to applicable law.
Sponsor or Syndicator of Limited Partnerships
Goldman Sachs establishes unregistered privately placed vehicles in which clients invest and distributes
securities issued by such vehicles. GS&Co. and its affiliates generally receive fees in connection therewith.
Management Persons; Policies and Procedures
Certain of GS&Co.’s management persons also hold positions with one or more Goldman Sachs affiliates.
In these positions, those management persons of GS&Co. have certain responsibilities with respect to the
business of these affiliates and the compensation of these management persons may be based, in part,
upon the profitability of these affiliates. Consequently, in carrying out their roles at GS&Co. and these
affiliates, the management persons of GS&Co. are subject to the same or similar potential conflicts of
interest that exist between GS&Co. and these affiliates.
GS&Co. has established a variety of restrictions, policies, procedures and disclosures designed to address
potential conflicts that arise between GS&Co., its management persons and its affiliates. These policies
and procedures include: information barriers designed to prevent the flow of information between GS&Co.,
its personnel and certain other affiliates; policies and procedures relating to brokerage selection, trading
with affiliates or investing in products managed or sponsored by affiliates; and allocation and trade
sequencing policies applicable to Accounts (as defined below). No assurance can be made that any of
GS&Co.’s current policies and procedures, or any policies and procedures that are established by GS&Co.
in the future will have their desired effect.
Additional information about these conflicts and the policies and procedures designed to address them is
available in Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.
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Affiliated Indexes
Goldman Sachs has in the past, and may in the future, develop, co-develop, own and operate stock market
and other indexes (each, an “Index”) based on investment and trading strategies and concepts developed
by Goldman Sachs or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third-party. Goldman Sachs has entered
into, and may in the future enter into, a revenue sharing arrangement with a third-party co-developer of an
Index pursuant to which Goldman Sachs receives a portion of the fees generated from licensing the right
to use the Index or components thereof to third parties. Some of the ETFs for which GSAM LP or its affiliates
act as investment adviser (the “GSAM LP ETFs”) seek to track the performance of an Index. GS&Co., from
time to time, manages Advisory Accounts that invest in these GSAM LP ETFs, which may facilitate the
GSAM LP ETFs achieving a specified size or scale. Goldman Sachs may make payments to an investor
that contributes seed capital to a GSAM LP ETF. Such payments may continue for a specified period of
time and/or until a specified dollar amount is reached, and will be made from the assets of Goldman Sachs
(and not the applicable GSAM LP ETF). Seed investors may contribute all or a majority of the assets in a
GSAM LP ETF. There is a risk that such seed investors may redeem their investments in the GSAM LP
ETF, particularly after payments from Goldman Sachs have ceased. Such redemptions could have a
significant negative impact on the GSAM LP ETF, including on its liquidity and the market price of its shares.
Goldman Sachs has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to address potential conflicts that
arise in connection with Goldman Sachs’ operation of the Indexes, the GSAM LP ETFs and the Advisory
Accounts. Goldman Sachs has established certain information barriers and other policies designed to
address the sharing of information between different businesses within Goldman Sachs, including with
respect to personnel responsible for maintaining the Indexes and those involved in decision-making for the
ETFs. In addition, as described in Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading below, GS&Co. has adopted a code of ethics.
Growth Through Acquisitions
Goldman Sachs intends to grow organically as well as inorganically through acquisitions. In the future,
Goldman Sachs may acquire advisers and/or their business lines that may further expand the depth and
breadth of its advisory business.
Receipt of Compensation from Investment Advisers
GS&Co. may select, or recommend that clients allocate assets to, one or more Accounts or funds managed
by one or more Affiliated Managers or Unaffiliated Managers. The ability to recommend both Affiliated
Managers and Unaffiliated Managers creates potential conflicts for GS&Co. and could impact its decisions
regarding Manager selection when affiliation is considered by GS&Co., among other factors, in deciding
whether to make Managers available to clients, to increase client investments with Managers, and to retain
or withdraw client investments from Managers. GS&Co. receives compensation in connection with clients’
investments in, and selection of and recommendation of such Accounts or funds, and such compensation
creates a conflict of interest.
For example, Goldman Sachs receives various forms of compensation, including fees, commissions,
payments, rebates, remuneration, services or other benefits (including benefits relating to investment and
business relationships of Goldman Sachs) from Unaffiliated Managers and their affiliates. Therefore,
investments by Advisory Accounts with Unaffiliated Managers (where Goldman Sachs participates in the
fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or profits of Unaffiliated Managers) will
result in additional compensation to Goldman Sachs. Subject to applicable law, (and excluding Retirement
Accounts), the amount of such compensation, including fees, commissions, payments, rebates,
remuneration, services or other benefits to Goldman Sachs, or the value of Goldman Sachs’ interests in
the Unaffiliated Managers or their businesses, varies by Unaffiliated Manager and will generally be greater
if GS&Co. selects or recommends certain Unaffiliated Managers over other Unaffiliated Managers, as
further described below.
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In addition, as a major participant in global financial markets providing a wide range of financial services,
Goldman Sachs provides various services or has business dealings, arrangements or agreements with
affiliates and portfolio companies of Unaffiliated Managers. GS&Co. will face potential conflicts in making
determinations as to whether one or more Advisory Accounts should invest or withdraw funds from
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) with which Goldman Sachs has such
relationships. In certain cases, Goldman Sachs or other Accounts have equity, profits or other interests in
Unaffiliated Managers or have entered into arrangements with such Unaffiliated Managers in which such
Unaffiliated Managers would share with Goldman Sachs or other Accounts a material portion of its fees or
allocations. Such revenue sharing arrangements exist in situations that include without limitation, where
Unaffiliated Managers earn fees as a result of the allocation of Advisory Account assets to such Unaffiliated
Managers or where such Unaffiliated Managers manage an External Product that invests in Affiliated
Products. Payments to Goldman Sachs (either directly from Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds
they manage or advise) or in the form of fees or allocations payable by client accounts) will generally
increase as the amount of assets that Managers manage increases. Therefore, investment by Advisory
Accounts with such Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise) where Goldman
Sachs or other Accounts have a fee and/or profit sharing arrangement or other interest in the equity or
profits of such Unaffiliated Managers generally results in additional revenues to Goldman Sachs and its
personnel. The relationship that Goldman Sachs and other Accounts have with such Unaffiliated Managers
(or their portfolio companies or affiliates) generally also results in GS&Co. being incentivized to increase
Advisory Accounts’ investments with such Unaffiliated Managers or to retain their investments with such
Unaffiliated Managers (or underlying funds they manage or advise). Except to the extent required by
applicable law, GS&Co. will not account to a client for or offset any compensation received by Goldman
Sachs against fees and expenses the client otherwise owes Goldman Sachs.
Because Goldman Sachs will, on an overall basis, receive higher fees, compensation and other benefits if
client assets are allocated to Affiliated Managers, including Accounts or investment funds managed by
Goldman Sachs, such as GSAM LP and GSAMI, GS&Co. has an incentive to allocate or recommend the
assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Managers. For particular asset classes or investment strategies,
GS&Co.’s advisory program may not have Unaffiliated Managers, or may have fewer Unaffiliated Managers
than Affiliated Managers; accordingly, any allocations to such an asset class or investment strategy will
more likely be made to Affiliated Managers, including GSAM LP or GSAMI.
Clients should expect that Goldman Sachs and its Personnel will have interests in Managers or their
affiliates, or have business relationships or act as counterparties with Unaffiliated Managers of their
affiliates, including, for example, in Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage, trade execution, and investment
banking businesses. GS&Co. will be incentivized to make available, allocate assets to, and refrain from
withdrawing assets from Unaffiliated Managers whose principals or employees are clients of Goldman
Sachs. In addition, Goldman Sachs has investments in selected Managers or their affiliates.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs receives notice of, or offers to participate in, investment opportunities
from Unaffiliated Managers, their affiliates, or other third parties. Such investment opportunities are offered
to Goldman Sachs for various reasons, which include business relationships with Unaffiliated Managers
and their affiliates or other reasons, including that one or more Advisory Accounts have made investments
with such Unaffiliated Managers. Such opportunities will generally not be required to be allocated to such
Advisory Accounts. Investment (or continued investment) by particular Advisory Accounts with such
Unaffiliated Managers may result in additional investment opportunities for Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts.
Certain Advisory Accounts (other than Retirement Plans) that allocate assets to Managers do not pay
compensation to the Managers. Instead, the Managers are compensated by GS&Co. out of compensation
GS&Co. receives from the client. In such circumstances, any reduction in the compensation payable to the
Managers will inure to the benefit of GS&Co., and not to the client. This fee structure incentivizes GS&Co.
to recommend or select Managers with lower compensation levels (including Managers that discount their
fees based on aggregate Account size or other relationships) in order to increase the net fee to GS&Co.,
and not recommend or select other Managers that might also be appropriate for the Advisory Accounts.
Except for Retirement Accounts, it should be expected that the amount of the fee retained by Goldman
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Sachs will be affected by Goldman Sachs’ business relationships and the size of Accounts other than a
particular Advisory Account, and will directly or indirectly benefit Goldman Sachs and other client accounts.
Clients are not entitled to receive any portion of such benefits received by Goldman Sachs or other client
accounts.
As described above, certain Unaffiliated Managers discount their fees based on aggregate account size,
and permit GS&Co. to aggregate the amount of assets allocated to such Unaffiliated Managers across all
Advisory Accounts within the same strategy in order to receive discounted fees. In general, this results in a
reduction in compensation payable to the Unaffiliated Managers by Advisory Accounts. However, actions
taken by GS&Co. on behalf of one or more of such Advisory Accounts could adversely impact the other
Advisory Accounts that invest with the same Unaffiliated Managers. For example, in the event Goldman
Sachs causes one or more Advisory Accounts to reduce the amount of assets allocated to an Unaffiliated
Manager, the remaining Advisory Accounts may no longer qualify for discounted fees in which case the
compensation payable to such Unaffiliated Manager by such remaining Advisory Accounts would increase.
On the other hand, causing a new Advisory Account to invest with an Unaffiliated Manager could reduce
the fees paid by Advisory Accounts that already have an investment with the Unaffiliated Manager.
GS&Co. addresses these conflicts of interest in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duties.
Item 11 - CODE OF ETHICS, PARTICIPATION OR INTEREST IN CLIENT TRANSACTIONS AND
PERSONAL TRADING
Code of Ethics and Personal Trading
GS&Co. has adopted a Code of Ethics (“Code”) under Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act designed to provide
that Advisory Personnel, and certain additional Personnel of Goldman Sachs who support GS&Co., comply
with applicable federal securities laws and place the interests of clients first in conducting personal
securities transactions. The Code 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,
covered persons buy and sell securities or other investments for their personal Accounts, including
investments in pooled investment vehicles that are sponsored, managed or advised by Goldman Sachs,
and also take positions that are the same as, different from, or made at different times than, positions taken
(directly or indirectly) for Advisory Accounts. GS&Co. provides a copy of the Code to clients or prospective
clients upon request.
Additionally, all Personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel, are subject to firm-wide
policies and procedures regarding confidential and proprietary information, information barriers, private
investments, outside business activities and personal trading. GS&Co. requires pre-clearance of certain
personal securities transactions, both public and private, by Advisory Personnel and GS&Co. can deny any
such transaction in its discretion. In order to address potential conflicts of interest with the Advisory
Accounts and other legal and regulatory restrictions (such as when GS&Co. has confidential information
about a portfolio company), Goldman Sachs maintains a list of securities in which Advisory Personnel
cannot trade. In addition, GS&Co. prohibits its employees from accepting gifts and entertainment that could
influence, or appear to influence, their business judgment. This generally includes gifts of more than $300
or meals and other business-related entertainment that may be considered lavish or extraordinary and
therefore raise a question or appearance of impropriety.
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
Goldman Sachs is a worldwide, full-service investment banking, broker-dealer, asset management and
financial services organization and a major participant in global financial markets. As 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, custodian, counterparty, agent, principal,
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distributor, investor or in other commercial capacities for accounts or companies or affiliated or unaffiliated
funds in which certain Advisory Accounts have an interest. 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
accounts 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, Goldman Sachs causes Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts in ways that disadvantage Advisory Accounts and/or benefit
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts). Additionally, as described below,
GS&Co. 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 Advisory Accounts when
doing so would be adverse to Goldman Sachs’ relationships or other business dealings with such parties.
See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions—Differing Advice and Competing Interests.
The following are descriptions of certain conflicts of interest and potential conflicts of interest that are
associated with the financial or other interests that Goldman Sachs may have in advising or dealing with
other clients (including other Advisory Accounts) or third parties or in acting on its own behalf. The conflicts
herein do not purport to be a complete list or explanation of the conflicts associated with the financial or
other interests GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs may have now or in the future. Prior to making an investment in
a pooled investment vehicle, prospective investors are encouraged to read the offering materials relating
to such pooled investment vehicle.
Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities
Goldman Sachs faces conflicts of interest in providing and selecting services for Advisory Accounts
because Goldman Sachs provides many services and has many commercial relationships with companies
and affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their applicable personnel). In this regard, Goldman Sachs could
provide custody, distribution, transfer agency, administrative, lending or other services to Advisory
Accounts, an underlying fund or a company in which an Advisory Account has an interest. In addition, a
company in which an Advisory Account has an interest (or in which an Advisory Account acquires an interest
in the future) may hire Goldman Sachs to provide underwriting, merger advisory, other financial advisory,
placement agency, foreign currency or other hedging, research, asset management services, brokerage
services or other services to the company. Furthermore, Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages, advises or
provides services to affiliated and unaffiliated funds (or their personnel) in which Advisory Accounts invest.
and also provides guarantees with respect to certain fixed income investment products in which certain
Advisory Accounts may invest. In addition, Goldman Sachs may simultaneously provide the same or different
services to a portfolio company and certain personnel thereof. In connection with such commercial
relationships and services, Goldman Sachs receives fees, compensation and remuneration that should be
expected to be substantial, as well as other benefits. For example, providing such services enhances
Goldman Sachs’ relationships with various parties, facilitate additional business development and enable
Goldman Sachs to obtain additional business and/or generate additional revenue. Advisory Accounts will
not be entitled to compensation related to any such benefit to businesses of Goldman Sachs, including
PWM. In addition, such relationships may have an adverse impact on Advisory Accounts, including, for
example, by restricting potential investment opportunities, as described below, incentivizing Goldman Sachs
to take or refrain from taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse
to such business relationships, and/or influencing GS&Co.’s selection or recommendation of certain
investment products and/or strategies over others. See also Allocation of Investment Opportunities, below.
In connection with providing such services, Goldman Sachs takes commercial steps in its own interest, or
advises the parties to which it is providing services, or takes other actions any of which may have an
adverse effect on an Advisory Account. Such actions may benefit Goldman Sachs. For example, Goldman
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Sachs is incentivized to cause Advisory Accounts to invest, directly or indirectly, in securities, bank loans
or other obligations of companies affiliated with Goldman Sachs, advised by Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or in which Goldman Sachs or Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) have an equity, debt or
other interest, or to engage in investment transactions that may result in Goldman Sachs or other Accounts
(including through other Advisory Accounts) being relieved of obligations or otherwise divested of
investments. Similarly, certain Advisory Accounts 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 an Advisory Account may enhance the profitability of Goldman Sachs or other
Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) with respect to their investment in and activities relating to such
companies. Advisory Accounts will not be entitled to compensation as a result of this enhanced profitability.
Providing such services may also have an adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs makes loans to, and enters into margin, asset-based or other credit facilities or similar transactions
with, clients, companies, individuals, or Managers or their affiliates that are secured by publicly or privately
held securities or other assets, including by a client’s assets or interests in an Advisory Account. Some of
these borrowers are public or private companies, or founders, officers or shareholders in companies in
which Goldman Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, or Advisory Accounts or other Accounts
(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 Goldman
Sachs, funds managed by Goldman Sachs, Advisory Accounts or other Accounts. For example, Goldman
Sachs has in the past extended, and expects to continue to extend, loans to persons who own and/or
control the management companies and/or general partners of underlying funds in which Advisory Accounts
invest (such loans, “Management Loans”). Management Loans in some cases are collateralized by
management company interests, general partner interests, limited partner interests, carried interest
allocations, and/or other securities or contractual rights relating to Underlying Funds in which Advisory
Accounts invest. 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, or assuming control over the relevant collateral. Goldman Sachs will be under no
obligation to consider the interests of Advisory Accounts (even Advisory Accounts that have direct or
indirect investments in the Underlying Fund(s) that served as collateral in whole or in part for a particular
Management Loan). Such actions will adversely affect Advisory Accounts (if, for example, a large position
in securities is liquidated, among the other potential adverse consequences, the value of such security
declines rapidly and Advisory Accounts holding (directly or indirectly) such security in turn declines in value
or are unable to liquidate their positions in such security at an advantageous price or at all). With respect
to Management Loans, the exercise of Goldman Sachs’ remedies could result in changes to the ownership,
management or control of one or more Underlying Funds, potentially affecting the performance, strategy,
or operations of Advisory Accounts that invest in such Underlying Funds. For a discussion of certain
additional conflicts associated with Goldman Sachs or clients, on the one hand, and a particular Advisory
Account, on the other hand, investing in or extending credit to different parts of the capital structure of a
single issuer, see Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure.
Actions taken or advised to be taken by Goldman Sachs in connection with other types of services and
transactions may also result in adverse consequences for Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman
Sachs advises a company to make changes to its capital structure, the result could be a reduction in the
value or priority of a security held (directly or indirectly) by Advisory Accounts. For more information in this
regard, see Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure, below. In
addition, underwriters, placement agents or managers of IPOs, including GS&Co., often require clients who
hold privately placed securities of a company to execute a lock-up agreement prior to such company’s IPO
restricting the resale of the securities for a period of time before and following the IPO. As a result, GS&Co.
will be restricted from selling the securities in such clients’ Advisory Accounts at a more favorable price.
Certain of Goldman Sachs’ activities on behalf of its clients also restrict investment opportunities that are
otherwise available to Advisory Accounts. 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
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that are potential investment opportunities for Advisory Accounts. There are circumstances in which
Advisory Accounts are precluded from participating in such transactions as a result of Goldman Sachs’
engagement by such companies. Goldman Sachs reserves the right to act for these companies in such
circumstances, notwithstanding the potential adverse effect on Advisory Accounts. In addition, in
connection with an equity offering of securities of a portfolio company for which Goldman Sachs is acting
as an underwriter, Advisory Accounts will, 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 represents creditor or debtor companies in
proceedings under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and equivalent non-U.S. bankruptcy laws).
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) serves on creditor or equity committees. It should
be expected that these actions, for which Goldman Sachs (or GS&Co., as applicable) may be compensated,
will limit or preclude the flexibility that the Advisory Account otherwise has to buy or sell securities issued
by those companies. Please also refer to Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors
Affecting Advisory Accounts, below.
In addition, Goldman Sachs is expected to gather information in the course of such other activities and
relationships about companies in which a client holds or may in the future hold an interest. In the event that
Goldman Sachs is consulted in connection with opportunities with respect to these companies, Goldman
Sachs shall have no obligation to disclose such information, any other non-public information which is
otherwise subject to an obligation of confidence to another person, or the fact that Goldman Sachs is in
possession of such information, to the client or to use such information on the client’s behalf. As a result of
actual or potential conflicts, Goldman Sachs may not be able to provide a client with information or certain
services with respect to a particular opportunity. See also Considerations Relating to Information Held by
Goldman Sachs, below.
Potential Conflicts Related to Lending and Loan Syndication
Goldman Sachs operates in the debt markets, including the leveraged finance markets, and is an active
arranger of senior and mezzanine financings in the syndicated loan market and the high yield market for
financing acquisitions, recapitalizations and other transactions. From time to time, an Advisory Account will
invest in transactions in which Goldman Sachs acts as arranger and receives fees in connection with these
financings. In certain instances, an Advisory Account will purchase loans and/or debt securities and receive
representations and warranties directly from the borrower, while in other instances, an Advisory Account
will need to rely on a private placement memorandum from Goldman Sachs or others, and purchase such
loans and/or debt securities at different times and/or terms than other purchasers of such loans. When an
Advisory Account purchases such loans from Goldman Sachs and Goldman Sachs receives a fee from a
borrower or an issuer for placing such loans and/or debt securities with an Advisory Account, certain
conflicts of interest arise.
Differing Advice and Competing Interests
It should be expected that advice given to, or investment decisions made or other actions taken for, one or
more Advisory Accounts will compete with, affect, differ from, conflict with, or involve timing different from,
advice given to or investment decisions made for other Accounts, including Advisory Accounts. Goldman
Sachs (including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel have interests in and advise Accounts,
including Advisory Accounts, that have investment objectives or portfolios similar to, related to or opposed
to those of particular Advisory Accounts. In this regard, it should be expected that Goldman Sachs makes
investment decisions for such Accounts that are different from the investment decisions made for Advisory
Accounts and that adversely impact Advisory Accounts, as described below. In addition, Goldman Sachs
(including PWM), the clients it advises, and its Personnel engage (or consider engaging) in commercial
arrangements or transactions with Accounts, and/or compete for commercial arrangements or transactions
or invest in the same types of companies, assets, securities and other instruments, as particular Advisory
Accounts. Such arrangements, transactions or investments adversely affect such Advisory Accounts by,
for example, limiting clients’ ability to engage in such activity or by effecting the pricing or terms of such
arrangements, transactions or investments. Moreover, a particular Advisory Account on the one hand, and
Goldman Sachs or other Accounts (including other Advisory Accounts) on the other hand, may vote
46
differently on, or take or refrain from taking different actions with respect to, the same security, that
disadvantages the Advisory Account. Where Goldman Sachs receives greater fees or other compensation
from such Accounts than GS&Co. does from the particular Advisory Accounts, Goldman Sachs, including
through GS&Co., will be incentivized to favor such Accounts.
It should be expected that other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts) engage in a strategy while an
Advisory Account is undertaking the same or a differing strategy, any of which could directly or indirectly
disadvantage the Advisory Account (including its ability to engage in a transaction or other activities). For
example, if an Advisory Account buys a security, and Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client
establishes a short position in that same security or in similar securities, any such short position may result
in the impairment of the price of the security that the Advisory Account holds or could be designed to profit
from a decline in the price of the security. An Advisory Account could similarly be adversely impacted if it
establishes a short position, following which Goldman Sachs or a Goldman Sachs client takes a long
position in the same security or in similar securities. Similarly, where Goldman Sachs is engaged to provide
advice to a client that is considering entering into a transaction with a particular Advisory Account, and
Goldman Sachs advises the client not to pursue the transaction with the particular Advisory Account, or
otherwise in connection with a potential transaction provides advice to the client, it should be expected that
this will be adverse to the particular Advisory Account.
Clients may be offered (or may already have) access to advisory services through several different
Goldman Sachs affiliates (including through GS&Co. and GSAM LP). 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 with respect to an issuer or a security or other
investment. Similarly, Advisory Personnel 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 Advisory Personnel take with respect to an
Advisory Account will be inconsistent with, or adverse to, the interests and activities of Advisory Accounts
advised by other Advisory Personnel. Moreover, research, analyses or viewpoints will be available to clients
or potential clients at different times. Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation to make available to
Advisory Accounts any research or analysis at any particular time or prior to its public dissemination.
The timing of transactions entered into or recommended by Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) on behalf
of itself or its clients, including Advisory Accounts, may negatively impact Advisory Accounts or benefit
certain other Accounts, including other Advisory Accounts. For example, if Goldman Sachs implements an
investment decision or strategy for certain Advisory Accounts ahead of, contemporaneously with, or behind
the implementation of similar investment decisions or strategies for other Advisory Accounts, (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 Advisory Accounts 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 sale) of security for one Advisory Account
such implementation may increase the value of such security already held by another Advisory Account (or
decrease the value of such security that such other Advisory Account intends to purchase), thereby
benefitting such other Advisory Account.
Goldman Sachs, in its discretion, in certain circumstances recommends that certain Accounts 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 Account investor, portfolio company, or service provider. Accounts and/or
their investors generally will 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, Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. may take into account Goldman Sachs’ interests in maintaining
its relationships and business dealings with such persons. As a result, GS&Co. 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 Advisory Accounts when doing so would be adverse to
47
Goldman Sachs’ relationships or other business dealings with such parties. Additionally, certain Portfolio
Management Team members have family members or relatives that are actively involved in industries,
sectors and companies in which Advisory Accounts invest, which gives rise to potential or actual conflicts
of interest in connection with decisions by Portfolio Management Team members to take or refrain from
taking certain actions on behalf of Advisory Accounts.
The terms of an investment in an Account formed to facilitate investment by personnel of Goldman Sachs
are typically different from, and more favorable than, those of an investment by a third-party investor in an
Advisory Account. For example, investors in such an Account generally are not subject to management
fees or performance-based compensation, share in the performance-based compensation, will not have
their commitments pledged under a subscription facility, and will receive capital calls, distributions and
information regarding investments at different times than third-party investors, and may receive equity
compensation from underlying portfolio companies. It should be expected that, to the extent permitted by
law, certain investors in such an Account will be provided leverage by Goldman Sachs. In the event of a
substantial decline in the value of such Account’s investments, the leverage, if any, provided to employees
may have the effect of rendering the investments by employees effectively worthless, which could
undermine the potential alignment of interest between employees and third-party investors. In certain
circumstances, subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs will offer to purchase, redeem or liquidate the
interests held by one or more investors in such an Account (potentially on terms advantageous to such
Account’s investors) or to release one or more investors in such an Account from their obligations to fund
capital commitments without offering third-party investors the same or a similar opportunity. Furthermore,
Goldman Sachs personnel may also participate in one or more investments through a co-investment
program or otherwise, which may also affect alignment of interests.
Certain Advisory Personnel have accounts managed by Goldman Sachs and/or invest in the same
securities that are recommended to clients or held in client accounts. Such Advisory Personnel may also
hold securities and are able to trade for their own accounts contrary to financial guidance provided to clients.
If such Advisory Personnel have hired Goldman Sachs to manage their accounts on a discretionary basis,
those accounts are traded along with other client accounts and are not given any different or special
treatment.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities
GS&Co. and its Advisory Personnel manage multiple Advisory Accounts, including Advisory Accounts in
which Goldman Sachs and its Advisory Personnel have an interest, that pay different fees based on a
client’s particular circumstances, including the size of the relationship and required service levels. This
creates an incentive to allocate investments with limited availability to the Accounts for which GS&Co. and
its Advisory Personnel have an interest or receive higher fees. Such investments may include local and
emerging markets securities, high yield securities, fixed-income securities, MLPs and initial public offerings
and new issues.
To address these potential conflicts, GS&Co. has developed allocation policies and procedures that provide
that Advisory Personnel making portfolio decisions for Advisory Accounts will make investment decisions
for, and allocate investment opportunities among, Advisory Accounts consistent with GS&Co.’s fiduciary
obligations. In some cases, these policies and procedures could result in the pro rata allocation (on a basis
determined by GS&Co.) of limited opportunities across eligible Advisory Accounts, but in other cases such
allocation may not be pro rata. In other cases, the allocations reflect the consideration of numerous other
factors including, but not limited to, those described below. The allocation methodology varies based on
the type of investment opportunity. In some cases, Advisory Accounts managed by different teams of
Advisory Personnel are generally viewed separately for allocation purposes. Furthermore, certain
investment opportunities sourced by GS&Co., or Goldman Sachs businesses or divisions outside of
GS&Co., 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 client accounts.
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Advisory Personnel make allocation-related decisions by reference to one or more factors, including,
without limitation: the client’s overall relationship with GS&Co.; Account investment objectives, investment
horizon, financial circumstances and risk tolerance; timing of client’s subscription to or indication of interest
in the investment; the capacity of the investment; whether Advisory Accounts give GS&Co. discretion or
request client approval for investments; current and expected future capacity of applicable Advisory
Accounts; prior investment activity; tax sensitivity of Accounts; the client’s domicile; suitability
considerations; the nature of the investment opportunity; cash and liquidity considerations, including,
without limitation, availability of cash for investment; relative sizes and expected future sizes of applicable
Advisory Accounts; availability of other appropriate investment opportunities; legal and regulatory
restrictions affecting certain Advisory Accounts, including client eligibility; minimum denomination, minimum
increments, de minimis threshold and round lot considerations; client-specific investment guidelines and
restrictions; current investments made by clients that are similar to the applicable investment opportunity;
and the time of last trade.
There will be some instances where certain Advisory Accounts receive an allocation while others do not, or
where preferential allocations are given to clients with a proven interest or expertise in a certain sector,
company or industry, or for other reasons, including those set forth above. Additionally, certain Advisory
Personnel, as part of their investment style, choose not to participate in IPOs for any clients, choose to
participate in IPOs for clients if they believe such investments are consistent with the client’s investment
objectives and financial circumstances, choose to offer participation to only a small group of clients based
upon criteria, such as assets under management, or choose to adopt another methodology. From time to
time, GS&Co. will make allocations to certain Advisory Accounts before other Advisory Accounts based on
a rotational system reasonably designed to treat Advisory Accounts fairly and equitably over time.
As a result of the various considerations above, there will be cases in which certain Advisory Accounts
(including Advisory Accounts in which Goldman Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest)
receive an allocation of an investment opportunity (including an investment opportunity sourced by or
available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP) at times that other Advisory Accounts do not, or when
other Advisory Accounts receive an allocation of such opportunities but on different terms (which may be
less favorable). In addition, due to regulatory or other considerations, the receipt of an investment
opportunity by certain Advisory Accounts may restrict or limit the ability of other Advisory Accounts to
receive an allocation of the same opportunity. The application of these considerations may cause
differences in the performance of different Advisory Accounts that employ the same or similar strategies.
Certain Advisory Accounts may be unable to participate directly in particular types of investment
opportunities (including those sourced by or available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP), such as
certain types of loans, due to the nature and/or size of the Advisory Accounts, or limitations or prohibitions
in applicable loan or transaction documentation. In addition, certain Advisory Accounts may be limited due
to the timing or specific nature of the particular investment opportunity. Such Advisory Accounts may only
be able to access such investment opportunities indirectly through an investment in an Advisory Account
that is a pooled investment vehicle managed by GSAM, which investment would result in additional
management fees and/or performance-based compensation payable to GSAM LP.
In certain cases, one or more funds or other advisory accounts (“Primary Vehicles”) are intended to be
GSAM LP’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or receive priority with respect to, a particular strategy
or type of investment (as determined in GSAM LP’s discretion, and including investments sourced by or
available from GSAM LP or affiliates of GSAM LP) as compared to other funds or Advisory Accounts. In
such cases, such other funds or Advisory Accounts may not have access to such strategy or type of
investment, or may have more limited access than would otherwise be the case. For example, access to
such strategies or types of investments may only be available to certain Advisory Account clients through
an investment in a Primary Vehicle, which investment would result in additional management fees and/or
performance-based compensation payable to GSAM LP. In addition, other Accounts (including Accounts
in which Goldman Sachs and personnel of Goldman Sachs have an interest) participate (through GSAM
LP or through other areas of Goldman Sachs) in investment opportunities that would be appropriate for
such funds or Advisory Accounts. Participation by such Accounts in such transactions may reduce or
eliminate the availability of investment opportunities to, or otherwise adversely affect, Advisory Accounts.
Furthermore, in cases in which one or more funds or other advisory accounts are intended to be GSAM
49
LP’s primary investment vehicles focused on, or receive priority with respect to, a particular trading strategy
or type of investment, such funds or other advisory accounts have specific policies or guidelines with
respect to Advisory Accounts, other Accounts or other persons receiving the opportunity to invest alongside
such funds or other advisory accounts with respect to one or more investments (“Co-Investment
Opportunities”). As a result, certain Advisory Accounts, other Accounts or other persons will receive
allocations to, or rights to invest in, Co-Investment Opportunities that are not available generally to other
Advisory Accounts.
Further, GS&Co., or its affiliates, under limited circumstances, use model portfolios and research or
research lists, including those provided by GSAM LP or third parties, when managing Advisory Accounts.
Certain Advisory Accounts have the opportunity to evaluate or act upon recommendations (including
recommendations in model portfolios) before other Advisory Accounts, including those advised by the same
adviser providing the recommendations and other personnel may have already begun to trade based upon
the recommendations. As a result, trades ultimately placed on behalf of Advisory Accounts based upon
such recommendations are subject to price movements, particularly with orders that are large in relation to
the security’s trading volume. In these circumstances, it should be expected that Advisory Accounts that
act on recommendations later will receive less favorable prices than were obtained for other accounts. This
could occur because of time zone differences or other reasons that cause orders to be placed at different
times. In addition, model portfolios available through GS&Co. affiliates might not be available through
GS&Co., and vice versa, and might experience different performance than other model portfolios. See
Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above. See also Item 12, Aggregation of Orders for information
regarding the allocation of securities or proceeds relating to orders that are executed on an aggregated
basis.
From time to time, some or all Advisory Accounts are offered investment opportunities that are made
available through Goldman Sachs businesses outside of PWM, including, for example, interests in real
estate and other private investments. In this regard, a conflict of interest will exist to the extent that Goldman
Sachs controls or otherwise influences the terms and pricing of such investments and/or receives fees or
other benefits in connection therewith. Please see Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial
Capacities, above. Goldman Sachs businesses outside of PWM are under no general or other obligation
or duty to provide investment opportunities to any Advisory Accounts, and generally are not expected to do
so.
Further, opportunities sourced by particular Portfolio Management Teams within GS&Co. may not be
allocated to Advisory Accounts managed by such teams or by other teams. It should be expected that
opportunities not allocated (or not fully allocated) to Advisory Accounts will be undertaken by Goldman
Sachs, including for Accounts, or made available to other Accounts or third parties. See Differing Advice
and Competing Interests, above. Even in the case of an opportunity received by an Advisory Account
pursuant to contractual requirements, GS&Co. may decide in its discretion that the Advisory Account will
not participate in such opportunity for portfolio construction reasons, due to the terms of such Advisory
Account, or because GS&Co. determines that participation would not be appropriate for such Advisory
Account for other reasons, in which case GS&Co. may allocate such opportunity to another Advisory
Account.
Principal Trading and Cross/Agency Cross Transactions with Advisory Accounts
When permitted by applicable law and GS&Co. policy, GS&Co., acting on behalf of its Advisory Accounts
(for example, those employing taxable fixed income, municipal bond fixed income and structured
investment strategies), may (but is under no obligation or duty to) enter into transactions in securities and
other instruments with or through Goldman Sachs or in Affiliated Products, and cause Advisory Accounts
to engage in principal transactions, cross transactions and agency cross transactions. A principal
transaction occurs when GS&Co., on behalf of an Advisory Account, engages in a transaction in securities
or other instruments with Goldman Sachs or in Affiliated Products acting as principal. In certain cases,
Goldman Sachs earns compensation (such as a spread or mark-up) in connection with these transactions.
Cross transactions occur if GS&Co. causes an Advisory Account to buy securities or other instruments
from, or sell securities or other instruments to, another Advisory Account or an advisory client Account of
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a Goldman Sachs affiliate. An agency cross transaction occurs when Goldman Sachs acts as broker for
an Advisory Account on one side of the transaction and a brokerage account or another Advisory Account
on the other side of the transaction in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by the Advisory
Account. Goldman Sachs receives a commission from such agency cross transactions.
There are potential conflicts of interest, regulatory considerations or restrictions identified in GS&Co.’s
internal polices relating to these transactions which could limit GS&Co.’s determination and/or ability to
engage in these transactions for Advisory Accounts. 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
Advisory Accounts or impact the price or terms on which transactions relating to such investment
opportunities may be effected.
In certain circumstances, Goldman Sachs will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase or sell
securities on behalf of an Advisory Account as a “riskless principal”. For instance, Goldman Sachs may
purchase securities from a third party with the knowledge that an Advisory Account is interested in
purchasing those securities and immediately sell the purchased securities to such Advisory Account. In
addition, in certain instances, an Advisory Account may request that Goldman Sachs purchase a security
as a principal and issue a participation or similar interest to the Advisory Account in order to comply with
applicable local regulatory requirements. Goldman Sachs also serves as clearing agent for other Goldman
Sachs clients that act as counterparty to trades for Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will earn a fee
for these clearing services. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Goldman Sachs will have a potentially conflicting division of loyalties and responsibilities to the parties in
such transactions, including with respect to a decision to enter into such transactions as well as with respect
to valuation, pricing and other terms. GS&Co. has adopted policies and procedures in relation to such
transactions and conflicts. However, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be effected or
that such transactions will be effected in the manner that is most favorable to an Advisory Account that is a
party to any such transactions. Cross transactions may disproportionately benefit some Advisory Accounts
relative to other Advisory Accounts due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the Advisory
Accounts, and cross transactions may be effected at different prices for different Advisory Accounts due to
differing legal and/or regulatory requirements applicable to such Advisory Accounts. Principal, cross or
agency cross transactions are effected in accordance with fiduciary requirements and applicable law (which
include providing disclosure and obtaining client consent, where required). Performance may differ for
clients who do not consent to principal trades. Clients may revoke consent to agency cross transactions at
any time by written notice to GS&Co., and any such revocation will be effective once GS&Co. has received
and has had reasonable time to act on it.
Affiliated Products / External Products
GS&Co. makes available a range of investment products, including both Affiliated Products and External
Products. There may be, however, certain asset classes for which no External Products are made
available. The decision to offer Affiliated Products or External Products is affected by a variety of factors,
including but not limited to the availability of managers or number of managers GS&Co. considers that
offer particular strategies, products’ investment objectives and performance track records, products’
capacity to accept new clients, investor concentration, product terms (including investment minimums,
management fees, and expenses), access to portfolio managers as well as advisory personnel for
discussion with clients, and the specialized nature of the products or strategies.
The universe of products that are made available to Advisory Accounts (including those Advisory Accounts
that invest in Multi-Asset Class or Customized Multi-Asset Class Portfolios) could be limited, including, for
example, (i) because one or more External Products have not been reviewed or approved for investment;
(ii) as a result of internal informational barriers that restrict access to certain information regarding Affiliated
Products, as described below; or (iii) for administrative, practical or other considerations. As a result, there
likely will be one or more products that could have otherwise been selected or recommended for an
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Advisory Account but for such limitations, and such other products may be more appropriate or have
superior historical returns than the investment product selected or recommended for the Advisory Account.
In determining which External Products to review for inclusion on the Goldman Sachs platform, Goldman
Sachs sources managers and/or investment opportunities in a variety of ways, including, for example, by
reviewing databases and inbound inquiries from managers, and/or by leveraging relationships that such
managers or other clients already have with other parts of Goldman Sachs’ businesses. Such relationships
give rise to a conflict of interest, as Goldman Sachs is incentivized to select managers from whom
Goldman Sachs receives fees or other benefits, including the opportunity for business development and
the additional revenue that results therefrom. In addition, where Goldman Sachs is compensated more by
one manager over another, it is incentivized to choose the higher paying manager. Different parts of
Goldman Sachs source managers and investment opportunities in different ways and based on different
considerations. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
Before making Affiliated Products or External Products available on the Goldman Sachs platform, various
teams within Goldman Sachs review such products and, in doing so, consider certain factors, including
the operational and reputational risks relating to such products. The focus of certain reviews and the teams
conducting such reviews, however, differ depending on whether the product is an Affiliated Product or an
External Product. In addition, different teams review or screen such products in different ways. With
respect to External Products, certain External Products are reviewed by XIG, while other External Products
are reviewed by other teams within Goldman Sachs. In this regard, XIG reviews External Products that it
sources or that are sourced elsewhere in Goldman Sachs but intended to be offered to or placed with
GS&Co. clients. External Products that are sourced by other groups within Goldman Sachs and that are
intended to be placed with GS&Co.’s Investment Banking clients or FICC and Equities clients would be
reviewed by such other sourcing group(s) within Goldman Sachs, but generally not by XIG.
With respect to External Products reviewed by XIG, such products undergo a due diligence review
designed to assess the investment merits of each product, which includes a review of the quality of the
managers and the likelihood of producing appropriate investment results over the long term. Applicable
investment and operational due diligence committees determine which External Products are available for
investment. Although XIG reviews the performance history of External Products, none of GS&Co., XIG, or
any third-party calculates or audits the information for accuracy, verifies the appropriateness of the
methodology on which the performance is calculated or verifies whether the performance complies with
Global Investment Performance Standards or any other standard for performance calculation. The
methods for calculating performance and forming composites can differ among External Products and
performance information generally is not calculated on a uniform and consistent basis. Past performance
is not indicative of future results and, as such, prospective clients should not rely solely on External
Product performance information when making an investment decision. XIG periodically reviews the
External Products through interactions with Unaffiliated Managers designed to help understand the
evolution of their views. XIG uses a different process to evaluate ETFs and certain third-party mutual
funds, applying quantitative screens that assess specific factors, including tracking error, total assets,
expense ratio, length of track record and other factors (which may be adjusted periodically). XIG will not
review the entire universe of External Products that may be otherwise appropriate for Goldman Sachs’
platform. In addition, XIG might not consider any External Product for certain asset classes if an Affiliated
Product is available; as a result, there might be no External Products available for certain asset classes
on the Goldman Sachs platform. External Products that were not reviewed or approved by XIG could
have been more appropriate for a particular Advisory Account or may have had superior historical returns
than the products otherwise made available.
Advisory Personnel utilize different processes for the selection of Affiliated Products and External Products
for inclusion on an investment platform. The selection process for Affiliated Products is implemented
primarily through a product development process by teams within Goldman Sachs other than XIG.
Because such teams are familiar with and subject to the framework of Goldman Sachs’ operational
infrastructure and internal controls, they are likely, depending on the investment product, to generally
focus more on the specifics of the investment product in developing such product. As further described
below, in determining potential investment products for a particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel
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select or recommend an Affiliated Product that they may not have otherwise selected or recommended
had the same review process applicable to External Products been utilized for the Affiliated Product. See
also Item 8, Risks Associated with Investments in Affiliated Products.
After investment products have been approved for offering by GS&Co., Advisory Personnel determine
which products to select or recommend to clients. When considering potential investment products for a
particular Advisory Account, Advisory Personnel give different weights to different factors depending on the
nature of the client and on whether their review is for an Affiliated Product or for an External Product. Such
factors include quantitative considerations (such as the investment product’s returns and performance
consistency over specified time periods) and qualitative considerations (such as the investment product’s
investment objective and process), which are inherently subjective and include a wide variety of factors.
Advisory Personnel generally consider, for example, without limitation: (i) product-related factors, such as
track record, index comparisons, risk and return assumptions; (ii) the Advisory Personnel’s experience and
familiarity with particular potential investment products, and, if applicable, the investment management
teams managing such investment products or their organizations; (iii) client-driven factors, such as the
client’s investment objective, the effect on the client’s portfolio diversification objectives, consistency with
the client’s asset allocation mode and investment program, and the projected timing of implementation; and
(iv) other factors, such as capacity constraints and minimum investment requirements. It should be
expected that consideration of such factors will not be applied consistently over time or by particular
Advisory Personnel across all Accounts or across different products and may play a greater role in the
review of certain strategies or products while others play no role at all, and the factors are subject to change
from time to time. See also Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above.
Advisory Personnel may consider qualitative and subjective factors to a greater extent than quantitative
factors when they review an Affiliated Product as compared to an External Product. In such instances,
Affiliated Products and External Products will not be subject to the same review of quantitative and
qualitative characteristics. Accordingly, such Advisory Personnel may recommend or select an Affiliated
Product over an External Product and, in some cases, the Affiliated Product that was recommended or
selected will not perform as well as the External Product that would have been recommended or selected
had the more quantitative review been applied to both Affiliated Products and External Products.
Other factors affect the review of potential investment products by Advisory Personnel. For example, when
Advisory Personnel review Affiliated Products, they may be restricted from obtaining information they might
otherwise request with respect to such Affiliated Products and their sponsors, managers, or advisers as a
result of internal informational barriers. When Advisory Personnel do not have access to certain information
with respect to an investment product, they may determine not to consider such investment product for an
Advisory Account, or, conversely, Advisory Personnel may select an investment product for the Advisory
Account notwithstanding that certain material information is unavailable to the Advisory Personnel, each of
which could adversely affect the Advisory Account (e.g., such Affiliated Product could significantly decline
in value, resulting in substantial losses to the Advisory Account). For more information, see Considerations
Relating to Information Held by Goldman Sachs, below.
It should be expected that Advisory Personnel will not review the entire universe of External Products that
are appropriate for an Advisory Account. As a result, there could be one or more External Products that
would be a more appropriate addition to the Advisory Account than the investment product selected by
Advisory Personnel. Such External Products may outperform the investment product selected for the
Advisory Account.
The availability of Affiliated Products versus External Products gives rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Generally, Goldman Sachs receives higher fees, compensation and other benefits, and Advisory
Personnel receive higher compensation, when assets of Advisory Accounts are allocated to Affiliated
Products rather than External Products. GS&Co., therefore, is incentivized to allocate Advisory Account
assets to Affiliated Products, rather than to External Products. Similarly, GS&Co. is disincentivized to
consider or recommend the removal of an Advisory Account’s assets from, or the modification of an
Advisory Account’s allocations to, an Affiliated Product at a time that it otherwise would have where doing
so would decrease the fees, compensation and other benefits to Goldman Sachs, including where disposal
53
of such Affiliated Product by the Advisory Account would likely adversely affect the Affiliated Product with
respect to its liquidity position or otherwise. Moreover, GS&Co. has an interest in allocating or
recommending the assets of Advisory Accounts to Affiliated Products that impose higher fees than those
imposed by other Affiliated Products or that provide other benefits to Goldman Sachs. Any differential in
compensation paid to Personnel in connection with certain Affiliated Products rather than other Affiliated
Products creates a financial incentive on the part of GS&Co. to select or recommend certain Affiliated
Products over other Affiliated Products. For information regarding fees and compensation, see Item 5 –
Fees and Compensation.
From time to time, the activities of Affiliated Products may be restricted because of regulatory or other
requirements applicable to Goldman Sachs and/or its internal policies designed to comply with, limit the
applicability of, or otherwise relate to such requirements. External Products may or may not be subject to
the same or similar restrictions or requirements, and as a result may outperform Affiliated Products.
From time to time, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) provides opportunities to Advisory Accounts to
make investments in Affiliated Products in which certain Advisory 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 Advisory Accounts. Follow-on investment
opportunities may be available to clients with no existing investment in the Affiliated Product, resulting in
the assets of an Advisory Account potentially providing value to, or otherwise supporting the investments
of, other Advisory Accounts. Advisory Accounts may also participate in re-leveraging, recapitalization and
similar transactions involving Affiliated Products in which other Advisory Accounts have invested or will
invest. Conflicts of interest in these and other transactions arise between Advisory Accounts with existing
investments in an Affiliated Product or Advisory Accounts liquidating their investment in the Affiliated
Product, on the one hand, and Advisory Accounts making subsequent investments in the Affiliated Product,
on the other hand, which have opposing interests regarding pricing and other terms. In addition, the
subsequent investments may dilute or otherwise adversely affect the interests of the previously invested
Advisory Accounts. The conflicts described in this paragraph apply equally to investments in External
Products. See Differing Advice and Competing Interests and Allocation of Investment Opportunities, above.
Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) creates, writes, sells, issues, invests in or acts as placement agent or
distributor of derivative instruments related to Affiliated Products such as pooled investment vehicles, or
with respect to underlying securities or assets of Affiliated Products, or which are otherwise based on, or
seek to replicate or hedge, the performance of Affiliated Products. Such derivative transactions, and any
associated hedging activity, may differ from, and be adverse to the interests of Advisory Accounts. For
example, derivative transactions could represent leveraged investments in an investment fund in which
Advisory Accounts have an interest, and the leveraged characteristics of such investments could make it
more likely, due to events of default or otherwise, that there would be significant redemptions of interests
from such underlying fund more quickly than might otherwise be the case. Goldman Sachs, acting in
commercial capacities in connection with such derivative transactions, may in fact cause such a
redemption. Activities in respect of derivative transactions, and any associated hedging activity, may occur
as a result of Goldman Sachs’ adjustment in assessment of an investment or an Affiliated Manager or
Unaffiliated Manager based on various considerations, and Goldman Sachs will not be under any obligation
or other duty to provide notice to Advisory Accounts in respect of any such adjustment in assessment. See
Differing Advice and Competing Interests, above. See also Item 8, Options Risk.
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or its clients (including Advisory Accounts
and Accounts formed to facilitate investment by Personnel) may invest in or alongside particular Advisory
Accounts that are invested in Affiliated Products. These investments generally will be on terms more
favorable than those of an investment by Advisory Accounts in such Affiliated Products and may constitute
a substantial percentage of the assets of such Affiliated Products, resulting in particular Advisory Accounts
being allocated a smaller share of the investment than would be the case absent the side-by-side
investment. Unless provided otherwise by agreement to the contrary, Goldman Sachs, its Personnel and
its clients may redeem or withdraw interests in these Affiliated Products at any time without notice or regard
to the effect on the portfolios of Advisory Accounts invested in the Affiliated Product and adversely affect
such Advisory Accounts. Substantial requests for redemption or withdrawal by Goldman Sachs in a
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concentrated period of time could require an Affiliated Product to liquidate certain of its investments more
rapidly than otherwise desirable in order to raise cash to fund the redemptions or withdrawals, adversely
affecting the Affiliated Product and its investors, including Advisory Accounts. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above, and Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting
Advisory Accounts, below.
It should be expected that the various types of investors in and beneficiaries of Affiliated Products, including
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates, will have conflicting investment, tax and other interests with respect to
their interest in the Affiliated Products. When considering a potential investment for an Affiliated Product,
Goldman Sachs will generally consider the investment objectives of the Affiliated Product, not the
investment objectives of any particular investor or beneficiary. Goldman Sachs 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 GS&Co. and its affiliates than to investors or beneficiaries unaffiliated with GS&Co. In
addition, Goldman Sachs faces certain tax risks based on positions taken by an Affiliated Product, including
as a withholding agent. Goldman Sachs reserves the right on behalf of itself and its affiliates to take actions
adverse to the Affiliated Product or other Accounts in these circumstances, including withholding amounts
to cover actual or potential tax liabilities. Failure to provide the necessary tax forms could result in over-
withholding, requiring Advisory Account clients to reclaim excess amounts withheld. See Differing Advice
and Competing Interests, above.
Investments in and Advice Regarding Different Parts of an Issuer’s Capital Structure
In some cases, Goldman Sachs or its clients (including Advisory Accounts), on the one hand, and a
particular Advisory Account, on the other hand, invest in or extend credit to the same issuer, but in different
parts of the capital structure. As a result, Goldman Sachs or its clients may take actions that adversely
affect the particular Advisory Account. In addition, in some cases, Goldman Sachs (including PWM) advises
clients with respect to part of the capital structure of an issuer where a particular Advisory Account has an
investment in different classes of securities of such issuer that are subordinate or senior to the securities
with respect to which Goldman Sachs is providing advice. Goldman Sachs 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 its clients with respect to an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account
has invested, and such actions (or inaction) may have an adverse effect on such Advisory Account. See
Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
For example, in the event that Goldman Sachs or an Account holds loans, securities or other positions in
the capital structure of an issuer that rank senior in preference to the holdings of a particular Advisory
Account in the same issuer, and the issuer experiences financial or operational challenges, Goldman Sachs
(acting on behalf of itself or the Account) may seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring of the
issuer, or terms in connection with the foregoing, that could have an adverse effect or otherwise conflict
with the interests of the particular Advisory Account’s holdings in the issuer. In determining its course of
action, Goldman Sachs will not consider the interests of the particular Advisory Account. Goldman Sachs
may determine to seek a liquidation, reorganization or restructuring that causes a particular Advisory
Account’s holdings in the issuer to be extinguished or substantially diluted, while Goldman Sachs (including
GS&Co.) or an Account may receive a recovery of some or all of the amounts due to them. In addition, in
connection with any lending arrangements involving the issuer in which Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.)
or an Account participates, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or the Account may seek to exercise its
rights under the applicable loan agreement or other document in a manner detrimental to the particular
Advisory Account. Alternatively, in situations in which an Advisory Account holds a more senior position in
the capital structure of an issuer experiencing financial or other challenges as compared to positions held
by other Accounts (including those of Goldman Sachs), Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may determine
not to pursue actions and remedies available to the Advisory Account or not to enforce particular terms that
might be unfavorable to the Accounts holding the less senior position. In addition, in the event that Goldman
Sachs or the Accounts hold voting securities of an issuer in which a particular Advisory Account holds loans,
bonds or other credit-related assets or securities, Goldman Sachs or the Accounts may vote on certain
matters in a manner that has an adverse effect on the positions held by the Advisory Account. Conversely,
Advisory Accounts may hold voting securities or credit-related assets of an issuer in which Goldman Sachs
55
or Accounts hold credit-related assets or securities, and Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) may
determine on behalf of the Advisory Accounts not to vote in a manner adverse to Goldman Sachs or the
Accounts (including by abstaining from the relevant vote or voting in line with other similarly situated
investors). Finally, Goldman Sachs has certain relationships and other business dealings with issuers, other
holders of credit-related assets or securities of such issuers, or other transaction participants that cause
Goldman Sachs to pursue an action or engage in a transaction that has an adverse effect on the positions
held by the Advisory Account.
These potential issues are examples of conflicts that Goldman Sachs will face in situations in which
Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs or other Accounts, invest in or extend credit to different parts of
the capital structure of a single issuer or related issuers. Similar conflicts can arise among Accounts (which
includes proprietary accounts of Goldman Sachs and Advisory Accounts) in other contexts. For example,
one Account could own equity in a portfolio company and another Account (including Goldman Sachs)
could hold debt obligations issued by the portfolio company. Alternatively, a capital structure could involve
multiple entities with Accounts holding interests in different entities and with different seniority. By way of
example, one Account could hold debt issued by a parent entity and another Account could hold debt issued
by a subsidiary entity. An Advisory Account that holds debt issued by the parent entity is structurally
subordinated to the debt issued by the subsidiary entity with respect to the assets of the subsidiary entity.
Related conflicts also occur where there is debt issued to an Account by a part owner of an entity and equity
in that entity is owned by a different Account. When Accounts hold interests of differing seniority levels in
a capital structure, their interests will diverge in certain situations, particularly in the event of financial
distress for the company.
Goldman Sachs has adopted procedures to address such conflicts, and addresses these issues based on
the circumstances of particular situations. For example, Goldman Sachs relies on information barriers
between different Goldman Sachs business units or Portfolio Management Teams. In addition, Goldman
Sachs 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 Advisory Account.
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 particular Advisory Accounts, Advisory Accounts could
sustain losses during periods in which Goldman Sachs and other Accounts (including Advisory Accounts)
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 Advisory Accounts using, small capitalization, emerging market, distressed or less liquid
strategies.
Valuation
GS&Co. performs certain valuation services related to securities and assets in Advisory Accounts according
to its valuation policies and may value an identical asset differently than another entity, segment or unit
within Goldman Sachs, or differently than another Account or Advisory Account, values the asset, including
because such other entity, segment or unit has information or uses valuation techniques and models that
it does not share with, or that are different than those of GS&Co. This is particularly the case in respect of
difficult-to-value assets. GS&Co. may also value an identical asset differently in different Advisory Accounts,
including because different Advisory Accounts are subject to different valuation guidelines pursuant to their
respective governing agreements. In addition, there may be significant differences in the treatment of the
same asset by GS&Co., on the one hand, other entities, segments or units of Goldman Sachs, on the other
hand, and/or among Advisory 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 also be expected where different third-party vendors are hired to perform valuation
functions for the Advisory Accounts, or the Advisory Accounts are managed or advised by different Portfolio
Management Teams within Goldman Sachs that employ different valuation policies or procedures or
otherwise.
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This is particularly the case with difficult-to-value assets. PWM faces a conflict with respect to valuations
generally because of their effect on GS&Co.’s fees and other compensation. In addition, to the extent PWM
utilizes third-party vendors to perform certain valuation functions, these vendors have interests and
incentives that differ from those of the Advisory Accounts.
Goldman Sachs May In-Source or Outsource
Subject to applicable law, Goldman Sachs, including GS&Co., may from time to time and without notice to
clients, including Advisory Accounts, in-source or outsource certain processes or functions in connection
with a variety of services that it provides to a client or an Advisory Account in its administrative or other
capacities. Depending upon the nature of the services and subject to the governing documents of the client
relationship or Advisory Account, fees associated with in-sourced or outsourced services will be borne by
the client, an Advisory Account, or by GS&Co. Such in-sourcing or outsourcing may give rise to additional
conflicts of interest. For example, GS&Co. will have an incentive to outsource services for which costs are
borne by Advisory Accounts because such outsourcing would reduce GS&Co.’s internal overhead and
compensation costs for employees who would otherwise perform such services in-house.
Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions and Certain Other Factors Affecting Advisory Accounts
Goldman Sachs restricts its investment decisions and activities on behalf of an Advisory Account in various
circumstances, including as a result of applicable regulatory requirements, information held by Goldman
Sachs, as more fully described below. 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 Advisory Accounts). In certain
cases, GS&Co. will not engage in transactions or other activities for, enforce certain rights in favor of, or
recommend transactions or activities to, an Advisory Account or can reduce an Advisory Account’s position
in an investment with limited availability to create availability for another Advisory Account managed in the
same strategy, in consideration of Goldman Sachs’ activities outside the Advisory Account and regulatory
requirements, policies and reputational risk assessments. For example, such limitations may exist if a
position or transaction could require a filing or a 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 GS&Co.) or on other Advisory 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 Accounts 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
(including ERISA), certain Advisory Accounts are prohibited from trading with or through Goldman Sachs,
from engaging Goldman Sachs as a service provider or from purchasing investments issued or managed
by Goldman Sachs.
When faced with the foregoing limitations, Goldman Sachs will generally avoid exceeding the threshold
because doing so could have an adverse impact on the ability of Goldman Sachs to conduct business
activities. Goldman Sachs may also reduce a particular Advisory Account’s interest in, or restrict certain
Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Accounts that pursue similar investment strategies are able to
acquire an interest in the investment opportunity. In some cases, Goldman Sachs determines not to engage
in certain transactions or activities beneficial to Advisory Accounts because of reputational considerations
or because engaging in such transactions or activities in compliance with applicable law would result in
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significant cost to, or administrative burden on, Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co.) or create the potential
risk of trade or other errors.
Goldman Sachs generally is not permitted to use material non-public information in effecting purchases and
sales in transactions for Advisory Accounts that involve public securities. GS&Co. may limit an activity or
transaction (such as a purchase or sale transaction or a subscription to or redemption from an underlying
fund) which might otherwise be engaged in on behalf of a particular Advisory Account, including as a result
of information held by Goldman Sachs (including GS&Co. or GS&Co. 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 Advisory
Accounts. 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, Goldman Sachs
(including GS&Co. and GSAM LP or certain of their 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 in which Goldman
Sachs invests on behalf of Advisory Accounts may have duties to the portfolio company in his or her
capacity as a director that conflict with Goldman Sachs’s duties to Advisory Accounts, and may act in a
manner that disadvantages or otherwise harms Advisory Accounts and/or benefits the portfolio company
and/or Goldman Sachs.
In addition, GS&Co. 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 GS&Co., might cause GS&Co.
to not make such investment, to seek to dispose of, retain or increase interests in such investments, or take
other actions. Any decision by GS&Co. to limit access to such information may be disadvantageous to an
Advisory Account.
Different areas of Goldman Sachs come into possession of material non-public information regarding an
issuer of securities held by an Advisory Account or an investment fund in which such Advisory Account
invests. In the absence of information barriers between such different areas of Goldman Sachs or under
certain other circumstances, an Advisory Account will be prohibited, including by internal policies, from
redeeming from or otherwise disposing of such security or such investment fund interest 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 Advisory Account may not be permitted to redeem from an investment fund in
whole or in part during periods when it otherwise would have been able to do so, which could adversely
affect the Advisory Account. Other investors in the investment fund that are not subject to such restrictions
may be able to redeem from the investment fund during such periods.
In addition, PWM clients may partially or fully fund a new Advisory Account with in-kind securities in which
PWM is restricted. The list of restricted in-kind securities is subject to change over time and without notice.
In such circumstances, PWM 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 Advisory Accounts to dispose of investments at an earlier date and/or at a
less favorable price than would otherwise have been the case had PWM not been so restricted. Advisory
Accounts will be responsible for all tax liabilities that result from any such sale transactions.
Goldman Sachs 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 an Advisory Account is subject). Such economic and trade
sanctions 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 Goldman Sachs of its compliance program in
respect thereof, will restrict or limit an Advisory Account’s investment activities, potentially requiring GS&Co.
to cause an Advisory Account to sell its position in a particular investment at an inopportune time and/or
when GS&Co. would otherwise not have done so, or to hold its position in a particular investment even
though doing so could have an adverse effect on the Advisory Account.
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In order to engage in certain transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts, GS&Co. will be subject to (or
cause Advisory Accounts 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 GS&Co.
and/or the Advisory Accounts are required to comply with the rules of certain exchanges, execution
platforms, trading facilities, clearinghouses 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 GS&Co. and/or
the Advisory Accounts 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, an Advisory Account, GS&Co. or its affiliates and/or their service providers or agents
are required, or determine that it is advisable, to disclose certain information about an Advisory Account,
including, but not limited to, investments held by the Advisory Account, and the names and percentage
interest of beneficial owners thereof, to third parties, including advisers, local governmental authorities,
regulatory organizations, taxing authorities, markets, exchanges, clearing facilities, custodians, brokers and
trading counterparties of, or service providers to, GS&Co., advisers or underlying funds or the Advisory
Account. GS&Co. will comply with requests to disclose such information as it so determines, including
through electronic delivery platforms. In some instances, GS&Co. will cause the sale of certain assets for
the Advisory Account at a time that is inopportune from a pricing or other standpoint. In addition, Goldman
Sachs may provide third parties with aggregated data regarding the activities of, or certain performance or
other metrics associated with, the Advisory Accounts it manages, and Goldman Sachs will generally receive
compensation from such third parties for providing them such information.
GS&Co. can determine to limit or not engage at all in transactions and activities on behalf of Advisory
Accounts for reputational, legal or other reasons. Examples of when such determinations may be made
include, but are not limited to, (i) where Goldman Sachs is providing (or may provide) advice or services to
an entity involved in such activity or transaction, (ii) 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 Advisory
Account, (iii) where Goldman Sachs or another Account has an interest in an entity involved in such activity
or transaction, (iv) where there are political, public relations, or other reputational considerations relating to
counterparties or other participants in such activity or transaction or (v) where such activity or transaction
on behalf of or with respect to the Advisory Account could affect in tangible or intangible ways Goldman
Sachs, an Account or their activities. See Goldman Sachs Acting in Multiple Commercial Capacities, above.
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 and within GS&Co. As a result
of information barriers, PWM generally does not have access, or has 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 Advisory Accounts with the benefit of information held by these
other areas. Conversely, these other areas of Goldman Sachs generally do not have access, or have limited
access, to certain information and Personnel, including senior personnel, in PWM, and generally will not
manage their client accounts with the benefit of information held by PWM. 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 Advisory Accounts in a manner
that is adverse to Advisory Accounts, and Goldman Sachs will not have any obligation or other duty to share
information with PWM.
In limited circumstances, 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.” PWM faces conflicts of
interest in determining whether to engage in such wall crossings. In addition, Goldman Sachs or PWM may
determine to move certain Personnel, businesses, or business units from one side of an information barrier
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to the other side of the information barrier. In connection therewith, Goldman Sachs Personnel, businesses,
and business units that are 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 wall crossings and changes to information barriers may limit or
restrict the ability of PWM to engage in or otherwise effect transactions on behalf of Advisory Accounts
(including purchasing or selling securities that PWM may otherwise have purchased or sold for an Advisory
Account). There may also be circumstances in which, as a result of information held by certain Portfolio
Management Teams in PWM, PWM limits an activity or transaction for Advisory Accounts, including
Advisory Accounts managed by Portfolio Management Teams other than the team holding such
information. See Item 11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading—Participation or Interest in Client Accounts—Differing Advice and Competing Interests and Item
11, Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading—Participation or
Interest in Client Accounts—Firm Policies, Regulatory Restrictions, and Certain Other Factors Affecting
Advisory Accounts.
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 advisory clients or Advisory Accounts any information
regarding its trading activities, strategies or views, or the activities, strategies or views used for other
Accounts. From time to time different areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs will take views, and make
decisions or recommendations, that are different than other areas of PWM and Goldman Sachs.
Furthermore, to the extent that Advisory Personnel have access to fundamental analysis and proprietary
technical models or other information developed by Goldman Sachs and its Personnel, Advisory Personnel
will not be under any obligation or other duty to effect transactions on behalf of the Advisory Accounts in
accordance with such analysis. In the event Goldman Sachs elects not to share certain information with
Advisory Accounts, such Advisory Accounts 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 Advisory Personnel within PWM may make decisions based on information or take (or
refrain from taking) actions with respect to Advisory Accounts they advise in a manner different than or
adverse to other Advisory Accounts. Such teams do not share information with other Portfolio Management
Teams within PWM (or other areas of Goldman Sachs), including as a result of certain information barriers
and other policies, and will not have any obligation or other duty to do so. See Differing Advice and
Competing Interests, above.
Goldman Sachs operates a business known as Prime Services (“Prime Services”), which provides prime
brokerage, administrative and other services to clients that from time to time involve investment funds in
which Advisory Accounts have an interest or markets and securities in which Advisory 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 PWM. In addition, Goldman Sachs from time to time acts as a prime broker to one or more
investment funds in which Advisory Accounts have an interest, in which case Goldman Sachs will have
information concerning the investments and transactions of such investment fund that is not available to
PWM. As a result of these and other activities, parts of Goldman Sachs will possess information regarding
markets, investments, Affiliated Managers, Unaffiliated Managers, and investment funds, which, if known
to PWM, might cause PWM to seek to dispose of, retain, or increase interests in investments held by
Advisory Accounts; acquire certain positions on behalf of Advisory Accounts; or take other actions.
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Goldman Sachs will be under no obligation or other duty to make any such information available to PWM
or personnel involved in decision-making for Advisory Accounts.
The conflicts described herein with respect to information barriers and otherwise with respect to Goldman
Sachs and PWM also apply to Asset & Wealth Management, as well as to the businesses within Asset &
Wealth Management including PWM.
Item 12 - BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Broker-Dealer Selection and Directed Brokerage
Investment advisory services provided by GS&Co. are generally available only to clients who have directed
GS&Co. to execute transactions for their Advisory Accounts through Goldman Sachs. As a result,
substantially all transactions for Advisory Accounts are executed by Goldman Sachs. These transactions
can be effected by Goldman Sachs as agent or as principal. Execution Charges can differ depending on
the client’s pricing model. See Item 5 – Fees and Compensation.
Where an Advisory Account directs brokerage to Goldman Sachs, it is possible that GS&Co. may be unable
to achieve most favorable execution for Advisory Account transactions, and the Advisory Account may be
disadvantaged as a result of a less favorable execution price and/or higher commissions. Clients should
understand that not all advisers require their clients to direct brokerage to a particular broker-dealer.
In certain circumstances, GS&Co. may decide to execute transactions through a broker-dealer that is not
affiliated with Goldman Sachs. Where GS&Co. selects a broker-dealer other than Goldman Sachs to
execute transactions for an Advisory Account, it does so according to its best execution policies and
procedures. Subject to any specific instructions that GS&Co accepts from clients, GS&Co may take into
account a range of factors in deciding how to execute client orders, including, but not limited to, price; costs;
timing and speed of execution; responsiveness; track record; quality of service; confidentiality;
creditworthiness and financial stability; likelihood of, and capabilities in, execution, clearance and
settlement; size; liquidity in or with an execution venue; nature; in certain circumstances, a broker’s or
counterparty’s willingness to commit capital and, where permitted by applicable law, the provision of
research and “soft dollar” benefits as described below; and other appropriate factors. Best price, giving
effect to commissions and commission equivalents (if any) and other transaction costs, is normally an
important factor in deciding how to execute transactions, but, in consideration of other relevant factors and
due to applicable legal and/or regulatory restrictions, transactions will not always be executed at the lowest
available price or commission or commission equivalents (if any). In determining the relative importance of
factors considered, GS&Co takes into account the size and nature of client orders, the characteristics of
the financial instruments to which the order relates, the current market conditions, and the characteristics
of the available brokers or counterparties which can be used or to which client orders can be directed.
Where GS&Co. selects or recommends a broker-dealer other than Goldman Sachs, GS&Co does not
consider whether it or any of its affiliates receives client referrals from that broker-dealer.
Aggregation of Orders
GS&Co. seeks to execute orders for Advisory Accounts fairly and equitably over time. GS&Co. follows
policies and procedures pursuant to which it is able (but not required) to combine or aggregate purchase
or sale orders for the same security or other instrument for multiple clients (sometimes called “bunching” or
“aggregating”) so that the orders can be executed at the same time. GS&Co. may also determine whether
to permit the executing broker (whether GS&Co., affiliates of GS&Co. or an unaffiliated broker) to trade
along with client orders, subject to applicable law. The particular procedures followed by GS&Co. may differ
depending on the particular strategy or type of investment.
GS&Co. and its advisory affiliates as a general matter do not bunch or aggregate orders for different
accounts, or net buy and sell orders for the same account, if portfolio management decisions relating to the
orders are made by separate Advisory Personnel or Portfolio Management Teams, or if bunching,
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aggregating or netting are not appropriate or practicable from GS&Co.’s operational or other perspective.
GS&Co. may be able to negotiate a better price and lower commission rate on aggregated orders than on
orders for Advisory Accounts that are not aggregated, and incur lower transaction costs on netted orders
than orders that are not netted. GS&Co. is under no obligation or other duty to aggregate or net for particular
orders. Where transactions for a client’s account are not aggregated with orders for other accounts or not
netted against orders for the client’s account or other client accounts, the client 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 Advisory
Accounts relative to other Advisory Accounts due to the relative amount of market savings obtained by the
Advisory Accounts.
GS&Co. generally allocates the securities or other instruments purchased, or proceeds of a sale, from a
bunched order among the participating accounts in the manner indicated on the order. If the order is filled
at several different prices through multiple trades, generally all participating accounts will receive the
average price and pay the average commission, subject to odd lots, rounding, and market practice. There
may be instances in which not all Advisory Accounts are charged the same commission or commission
equivalent rates in a bunched or aggregated order including minimum denomination requirements and
restrictions under applicable law on the use of client commissions to pay for research services. When a
bunched order is partially filled for an Advisory Account, securities must be allocated proportionately based
upon the relative size of the particular client’s pre-trade designation subject to odd-lots, minimum
denomination requirements or other circumstances where it would be impractical or not in the client’s best
interest to provide a partial allocation.
Account Errors and Error Resolution
GS&Co. has policies and procedures to help it assess and determine, consistent with applicable standards
of care and client documentation, when reimbursement is due by it to a client because GS&Co. has
committed an error. Pursuant to GS&Co.’s policy, an error is generally compensable from GS&Co. to a
client when it is a mistake (whether an action or inaction) in which GS&Co. has, in GS&Co.’s reasonable
view, deviated from the applicable standard of care in managing the client’s assets, subject to materiality
and other considerations. GS&Co. makes its determinations pursuant to its error policies on a case-by-
case basis, in its discretion, based on factors it considers reasonable. Relevant facts and circumstances
GS&Co. may consider include, among others, the nature of the service being provided at the time of the
incident, whether intervening causes including the action or inaction of third parties caused or contributed
to the incident, specific applicable contractual and legal restrictions and standards of care, whether a
client’s investment objective was contravened, the nature of the client’s investment approach, whether a
contractual guideline was violated, the nature and materiality of the relevant circumstances and the
materiality of any resulting losses or gains. The determination by GS&Co. to treat (or not treat) an incident
as compensable, and any calculation of compensation in respect thereof for any one client or Advisory
Account managed or advised by GS&Co. may differ from the determination and calculation made by
GS&Co. in respect to one or more other clients or Advisory Accounts.
When GS&Co. determines that compensation by GS&Co. is appropriate, the client will be compensated
as determined in good faith by GS&Co. GS&Co. will determine the amount to be reimbursed, if any, based
on what it considers reasonable guidelines regarding these matters in light of all of the facts and
circumstances related to the incident. In general, compensation is expected to be limited to direct and
actual losses, and GS&Co. expects, subject to its discretion, that losses will be netted with any gains
arising from a particular incident. Compensation generally will not include any amounts or measures that
GS&Co. considers to be speculative or uncertain. In calculating any reimbursement amount, GS&Co.
generally will not consider tax implications for, or the tax status of, any affected client.
GS&Co. may at any time, in its sole discretion and without notice to clients, amend or supplement its
policies with respect to account errors and error resolution.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
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Subject to applicable law, PWM often selects U.S. and non-U.S. broker-dealers (including GS&Co.
affiliates) that furnish PWM, Advisory Accounts, PWM affiliates, and personnel involved in decision-
making for Advisory Accounts with proprietary or third-party brokerage and research services (collectively,
“brokerage and research services”) that provide, in PWM’s view, appropriate assistance to PWM in the
investment decision-making process. While they are not currently, these brokerage and research services
could be bundled with the trade execution, clearing, or settlement services provided by a particular broker-
dealer and, subject to applicable law, PWM may pay for such brokerage and research services with client
commissions (or “soft dollars”). The types of brokerage and research services that PWM may acquire with
client brokerage commissions include: research reports on companies, industries, and securities
(including proprietary research from affiliated and unaffiliated broker-dealers, as well as independent
research providers); economic, market and financial data; access to broker-dealer analysts, corporate
executives and industry experts; attendance at trade industry seminars and broker organized conferences;
and services related to effecting securities transactions and functions incident thereto (such as clearance
and settlement).
Were PWM to use client commissions to obtain brokerage and research services, PWM would receive a
benefit because PWM would not have to produce or pay for the brokerage and research services itself.
As a result, PWM will have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on PWM’s interest
in receiving the brokerage and research services from that broker-dealer, rather than solely on its clients’
interest in receiving the best price or commission. In addition, were PWM to use client commissions to
obtain proprietary research services from an affiliate, PWM will have an incentive to allocate more “soft”
or commission dollars to pay for those services. However, when selecting broker-dealers that provide
brokerage and research services, including its affiliates, PWM is obligated to determine in good faith that
the “commissions” (as broadly defined by the SEC to include a mark-up, mark-down, commission
equivalent or other fee in certain circumstances) to be paid to broker-dealers are reasonable in relation to
the value of the brokerage and research services they provide to PWM. The reasonableness of these
commissions will be viewed in terms of the particular transactions or PWM’s overall responsibilities to
Advisory Accounts over which it exercises investment discretion, even though that broker-dealer itself, or
another broker-dealer, might be willing to execute the transactions at a lower commission.
Accordingly, transactions will not always be executed at the most favorable available price or commission
and PWM may cause clients to pay commissions higher than those charged by other broker-dealers as a
result of the soft dollar benefits received by PWM.
PWM’s evaluation of the brokerage and research services provided by a broker-dealer may be a significant
factor in selecting a broker-dealer to effect transactions. For this purpose, PWM has established an annual
review in which certain Portfolio Management Teams review the relationship with broker-dealers that
supply them with brokerage and research services.
Arrangements under which PWM receives brokerage and research services could vary by product,
strategy, Account or applicable law in the jurisdictions in which PWM conducts business.
Advisory Accounts could differ with regard to whether and to what extent they pay for research and
brokerage services through commissions and, subject to applicable law, brokerage and research services
may be used to service any or all Advisory Accounts throughout PWM, including Advisory 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
some Advisory Accounts relative to other Advisory Accounts based on the relative amount of commissions
paid by the Advisory Accounts and in particular those Advisory Accounts that do not pay for research and
brokerage 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), as
described below. For example, research that is paid for through one client’s commissions may not be used
in managing that client’s Account, but may be used in managing other Advisory Accounts within PWM.
In connection with these practices, subject to applicable law and PWM’s policies and procedures,
brokerage and research services obtained through commissions paid by a client or clients whose Advisory
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Accounts are managed by a particular Portfolio Management Team within PWM can be shared with, and
used partially or exclusively by, other portfolio management personnel within PWM.
Except as required by applicable law, PWM 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.
Item 13 - REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS
Review of Accounts
GS&Co. regularly monitors the trading in Advisory Accounts for, among other things, transactions that are
outside a client’s investment guidelines. Region Heads, or their delegates, in consultation with the
responsible Advisory Personnel, conduct periodic reviews of Advisory Accounts to monitor for various
factors that may affect the management of the Advisory Account, including changes to the client’s
investment objectives, financial circumstances, portfolio performance, investment guidelines and
investment concentrations. Additionally, GS&Co. periodically communicates with clients to ascertain
whether there have been any changes in the client’s financial circumstances or objectives that warrant a
change in the management of the client’s assets.
In addition to periodic reviews, Advisory Personnel perform reviews of Advisory Accounts as they deem
appropriate or otherwise required. Additional reviews may be undertaken for reasons including changes in
market conditions, changes in security positions, changes in a client’s financial circumstances, or
investment objectives and policies, or in response to a request by a client.
Client Reports
GS&Co. provides clients with written reports regarding their Advisory Accounts on a periodic (generally,
monthly) basis. These reports generally include a summary of all activity in the Advisory Accounts, including
all purchases and sales of securities and any debits and credits to the Advisory Account, a summary of
holdings including a portfolio valuation, and the change in value of the Advisory Account from the end of
the prior month.
Item 14 - CLIENT REFERRALS AND OTHER COMPENSATION
From time to time, GS&Co. makes cash or non-cash payments for testimonials, endorsements, or client
referrals to affiliated and unaffiliated persons or entities in accordance with applicable laws. In the case of
client referrals, the compensation arrangements generally are either a flat fee calculated and paid on a
periodic basis or a fee based on a percentage of the advisory fees paid to GS&Co. by the referred clients
and are disclosed to clients. In addition, from time to time, GS&Co. compensates employees of GS&Co.
and its affiliates for client referrals consistent with applicable laws.
GS&Co. and its affiliates, including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, also make referrals of clients to each
other for whom such entity’s services seem to be appropriate and will generally receive or pay, as the case
may be, a percentage of fee revenue as compensation.
Additionally, GS&Co. acts as a placement agent for certain insurance dedicated funds (“IDFs”) managed
by Unaffiliated Managers. As a placement agent, GS&Co. will introduce certain clients to the IDFs, and
such clients may allocate a portion of their private placement insurance policies to the IDFs. Each
placement is performed in compliance with applicable laws. GS&Co. may be paid a portion of the fee
charged and collected by the IDFs, the investment managers of the IDFs, or sub-advisors to the investment
managers of the IDFs for serving as a placement agent for the IDFs.
Referrals by Affiliates
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In certain circumstances, and in accordance with applicable laws, an affiliate of GS&Co. will refer clients to
GS&Co. Payment for any such referrals may take the form of cash or non-cash compensation (including a
reduction of management fees or performance-based compensation).
Item 15 - CUSTODY
GS&Co., in its capacity as a broker-dealer, generally custodies the funds and securities in Advisory
Accounts. However, clients also may enter into separate custody agreements to maintain client funds and
securities with other unaffiliated qualified custodians.
Clients who custody funds and securities with GS&Co. receive periodic (generally, monthly) Account
statements from GS&Co. Clients who custody funds and securities away from GS&Co. receive account
statements directly from their qualified custodian as well as account statements and performance reports
from GS&Co. Clients should understand that the statements received from the custodian of their funds or
securities are the official records for the Advisory Account. Clients are urged to compare the account
statements that they receive from their qualified custodian with any that they receive from GS&Co.
Item 16 - INVESTMENT DISCRETION
GS&Co. accepts discretionary authority to manage securities accounts on behalf of certain clients, while
other clients are advised on a non-discretionary basis. Clients for which GS&Co. has investment discretion
are required to sign an investment advisory agreement and complete account opening documentation that
authorizes GS&Co. to supervise and direct the investment and potential reinvestment of assets in the
Advisory Account, with discretion on the client’s behalf and at the client’s risk.
GS&Co.’s discretionary authority is limited by the terms of its investment advisory agreements and the
investment guidelines agreed between GS&Co. and each client. The investment guidelines or other account
documents generally include any limitations a client may place on GS&Co.’s discretionary authority,
including any reasonable restrictions on the securities and other financial instruments in which GS&Co. is
authorized to invest.
Item 17 - VOTING CLIENT SECURITIES
GS&Co. does not accept authority to vote client securities held in Advisory Accounts. It is GS&Co.’s policy
that clients must vote securities held in their Advisory Account directly, appoint or instruct the custodian, if
other than GS&Co., holding such securities as nominee to do so, or appoint an unaffiliated provider of proxy
voting services to vote proxies in connection with certain securities on the client’s behalf. Clients are
responsible for voting proxies on securities or matters on which their proxy voting service provider, or the
custodian, if applicable, declines to vote. GS&Co. does not render any advice with respect to a particular
proxy solicitation. Certain Affiliated Managers may render such advice or take such action, unless restricted
by applicable law or for regulatory reasons, in which case eligible clients will be requested to direct GS&Co.
GS&Co. does not render any advice or take any action with respect to securities or other property currently
or formerly held in Advisory Accounts or the issuers thereof that become the subject of any legal
proceedings, including bankruptcies and class actions. In addition, GS&Co. generally does not render any
advice or take any action with respect to corporate actions relating to securities held in Advisory Accounts,
including the right to participate in or consent to any distribution, plan or reorganization, creditors committee,
merger, combination, consolidation, liquidation, underwriting or similar plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
managers of certain options strategies and/or fixed income strategies may render such advice or take such
action, if specifically agreed to in writing, unless restricted by applicable law or for regulatory reasons, in
which case eligible clients will be requested to direct GS&Co.
If GS&Co. is custodian, it forwards proxy materials for U.S. listed securities directly to clients or their
selected proxy voting service provider, if applicable, and notices for class actions and other legal
proceedings directly to clients or their appointed agent. GS&Co. recommends that clients promptly review
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these materials, as they identify important deadlines and may require action on the client’s part. Clients
who do not custody assets with GS&Co. are encouraged to contact their unaffiliated custodians to ensure
that the clients receive such materials. GS&Co. is not required to notify unaffiliated custodians or clients
who use unaffiliated custodians of proxy notices, shareholder class action lawsuits and similar matters
related to securities held in their Advisory Accounts.
Item 18 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Not applicable.
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GLOSSARY
As used in this Brochure, these terms have the following meanings.
“Accounts” means Goldman Sachs’ own accounts, accounts in which Personnel have an interest,
Goldman Sachs’ client accounts, and Affiliated Products that Goldman Sachs sponsors, manages and
advises. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Accounts” includes Advisory Accounts.
“Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
“Advisory Accounts” means accounts that utilize structured investment strategies for which PWM serves
as investment adviser.
“Advisory Personnel” means members of the Portfolio Management Teams and other relevant personnel
of PWM.
“Affiliated Managers” means Managers that are affiliated with Goldman Sachs.
“Affiliated Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and pooled
vehicles managed, sponsored or advised by GS&Co. or Goldman Sachs.
“Agency Trading Option” means an alternative trading option under which fixed income trades for certain
fixed income strategies managed by Advisory Personnel generally are executed by GS&Co. on an agency
basis.
“Asset & Wealth Management” means the wealth management business of Goldman Sachs Asset &
Wealth Management.
“Bank Deposit Cash Sweep” means the cash sweep option available through a client’s Account to
designate free credit balances to be swept to a bank deposit account at GS Bank.
“BHCA” means the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
“Brochure” means this GS&Co. Form ADV Part 2A – Third-Party Distribution.
“CFTC” means the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“Code” means GS&Co.’s Code of Ethics.
“Co-Investment Opportunities” means Accounts or other persons receiving the opportunity to invest
alongside funds or other Advisory Accounts with respect to one or more investments.
“Commissions” means the amount charged by a broker for purchasing or selling securities or other
investments as an agent for the client, as disclosed on the client’s trade confirmations.
“Commission Equivalents” means the amount charged by a dealer for purchasing or selling securities or
other investments in certain riskless principal transactions.
“CPO” means commodity pool operator.
“CTA” means commodity trading advisor.
“Dodd-Frank Act” means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as
amended.
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“ECNs/Trading Venues” means national securities exchanges, electronic communication
networks, alternative trading systems and other similar execution or trading systems or venues.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ESG” means environmental, social, and governance-oriented investing.
“ETFs” means exchange-traded funds.
“Execution Charges” means charges for executing transactions, including but not limited to commissions,
commission equivalents, mark-ups, mark-downs or spreads.
“Execution Charge Waived Strategies” means eligible fixed income strategies and any other investment
strategies managed by Advisory Personnel for which GS&Co. has determined, or may in the future
determine, to waive commissions and/or mark-ups/mark-downs from time to time.
“External Products” means investment products, including separately managed accounts and mutual
funds managed, sponsored or advised or issued by Unaffiliated Managers.
“FCM” means futures commission merchant.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Financial Planning” means the financial planning services provided by Goldman Sachs Wealth Services.
“Funds” means an investment company or pooled vehicle, including ETFs.
“Goldman Sachs” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., GS&Co. and their respective affiliates,
directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees.
“Goldman Sachs Wealth Services” means Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, L.P. (formerly known as
The Ayco Company. L.P.).
“GSAM LP” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., an investment adviser registered with the
SEC, and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAMI” means Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, a registered investment adviser with
the SEC and an affiliate of GS&Co.
“GSAM LP ETFs” means ETFs for which GSAM LP or its affiliates act as investment adviser.
“GS&Co.” means Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, a registered broker-dealer and investment adviser with the
SEC.
“GS Group” means The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
“GS Bank” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA.
“GSI” means Goldman Sachs International.
“GSS” means Goldman Sachs Securities Services.
“GSTC” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company, N.A.
“GSTD” means The Goldman Sachs Trust Company of Delaware.
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“Hybrid Securities” means deeply subordinated long-term debt.
“IBORs” means other interbank offered rates.
“Index” means a stock market or other index developed or co-developed by Goldman Sachs and a third
party.
“IPOs” means initial public offerings and new issues.
“IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ISG” means the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management Investment Strategy Group.
“LIBOR” means the London Interbank Offered Rate.
“Managers” means Affiliated or Unaffiliated Managers that manage client assets on a discretionary basis
under one or more investment strategies.
“Mark-ups” means the price charged to a client, less the prevailing market price, which is included in the
price of the security.
“Mark-downs” means the prevailing market price of a security, less the amount a dealer pays to purchase
the security from the client, which is included in the price of the security.
“MLPs” means master limited partnerships.
“Multi-Asset Class Portfolios” (or “Customized Multi-Asset Class Portfolios”) means portfolios that
generally invest in a broad range of investment strategies, including but not limited to, pooled investment
vehicles (both public and private), separately managed accounts (including those managed by other
Portfolio Management Teams), public securities, and derivative instruments. Investment strategies may be
Affiliated Products or External Products, and may employ a broad range of investment strategies, including
but not limited to, passive investment strategies, long-only investment strategies (e.g., exchange-traded
funds, mutual funds, and private investment funds) and alternative investment strategies (e.g., hedge funds,
funds of hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of private equity funds, private credit funds and real estate
funds), if approved by PWM.
“NAV” means net asset value.
“OTC” means over-the-counter.
“Personnel” means personnel of Goldman Sachs, including Advisory Personnel.
“Portfolio Management Teams” means the teams of portfolio management personnel within PWM.
“Prime Services” means the Goldman Sachs business that provides prime brokerage, administrative and
other services.
“Principal Transactions” means transactions where GS&Co., on behalf of Advisory Accounts, engages
in a transaction with Goldman Sachs, in its own name.
“Primary Vehicles” means one or more funds or other Advisory Accounts intended to be focused on by
GSAM LP, or receive priority with respect to, a particular strategy or type of investment.
“PWM” means the Private Wealth Management group of GS&Co.
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“Research” means research or research lists published by Goldman Sachs.
“Retirement Plans” means IRAs under IRC Section 408 or 408A, tax-qualified retirement plans (including
Keogh plans) under IRC Section 401(a), pension plans and other employee pension benefit plans subject
to ERISA and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
“Riskless Principal Transactions” mean transactions in which a dealer, after having received an order
to buy from a client, purchases the security from another person to offset a contemporaneous sale to the
client or, after having received an order to sell from a client, sells the security to another person to offset a
contemporaneous purchase from the client.
“SD” means swap dealer.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Spread” means the difference between the current purchase or bid price (that is, the price someone is
willing to pay) and the current ask or offer price (that is, the price at which someone is willing to sell).
“Structured Investments” may include structured notes, certificates of deposits, warrants, ownership
units and other types of investment interests, whose return is dependent on the returns of one or more
referenced assets, including, but not limited to, securities, indices and/or commodities.
“Tactical Tilts” means tactical investment ideas derived from short-term market views.
“Third-Party Funds” means mutual funds and ETFs that are managed, sponsored or advised by
investment managers or organizations that are not affiliated with Goldman Sachs.
“Unaffiliated Managers” means Managers that are unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs. For purposes of this
Brochure, “Unaffiliated Managers” include (i) investment advisers that are not controlled by Goldman Sachs,
but in which certain Goldman Sachs-advised accounts hold equity, profits or other interests and (ii)
investment advisers with which Goldman Sachs has business relationships.
“XIG” means External Investing Group of GSAM LP.
“XIG Program Fund” means investment vehicles managed by XIG that invest substantially all of their
assets in primary investments in underlying funds managed by Unaffiliated Managers.
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