Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

 

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¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement
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GOLDMAN SACHS MLP INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

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LOGO

Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

To Be Held On March 31, 2015

February 13, 2015

To the Shareholders of the Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund (“GMZ” or the “Fund”):

An Annual Meeting (the “Meeting”) of the Fund will be held on March 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time), at the offices of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”), located at 30 Hudson Street, 21st Floor—Room 21M, Jersey City, New Jersey, 07302 for the following purposes:

To elect one Class I Trustee of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Fund, to serve a three year term expiring in 2018 (Proposal 1); and to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

The matters referred to above are discussed in the Proxy Statement attached to this Notice. The Board believes that this proposal is in the best interests of the Fund and its Shareholders, and unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the Class I Trustee of the Fund.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on February 2, 2015, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. Each Shareholder is invited to attend the Meeting in person. Please note that if you plan to attend the Meeting, photographic identification as well as proof of ownership of Fund shares, such as a copy of your proxy voting card, voting instruction form or brokerage statement showing your holdings of Fund shares, will be required for admission. If you will not be present at the Meeting, we urge you to sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form in the envelope provided, which is addressed for your convenience and needs no postage if mailed in the United States. You may also vote easily and quickly by Internet or by telephone. In order to avoid the additional expense to the Funds of further solicitation, we ask your cooperation in returning your proxy promptly.

By Order of the Board of Trustees

of Goldman Sachs MLP Income

Opportunities Fund

Caroline L. Kraus

Secretary


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN

To secure the largest possible representation at the Meeting, please mark your proxy card or voting instruction form, sign it, date it, and return it in the postage paid envelope provided (unless you are voting by Internet or by telephone). If you sign, date and return a proxy card or voting instruction form but give no voting instructions, your shares will be voted “FOR” all of the proposals indicated on the card. If you prefer, you may instead vote via the Internet or by telephone. To vote in this manner, you should refer to the directions below.

To vote via the Internet, please access the website found on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the on-screen instructions on the website.

To vote by telephone from within the United States, please call the toll-free number found on your proxy card or voting instruction form, and follow the recorded instructions. Shareholders outside the United States should vote via the Internet or by submitting a proxy card or voting instruction form instead.

You may revoke your proxy or voting instruction form at any time at or before the Meeting, by submitting to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306, a written notice of revocation or subsequently executed proxy or voting instruction form or by attending the Meeting and electing to vote in person.


INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS

The following general guidelines for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and will help avoid the time and expense to the Fund involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.

1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card or voting instruction form.

2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to the name shown in the registration on the proxy card or voting instruction form.

3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card or voting instruction form should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example:

 

Registration    Valid Signature

Corporate Accounts

  

(1) ABC Corp.

   ABC Corp.
   John Doe, Treasurer

(2) ABC Corp.

   John Doe, Treasurer

(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer

   John Doe

(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan

   John Doe, Trustee

Partnership Accounts

  

(1) The XYZ Partnership

   Jane B. Smith, Partner

(2) Smith and Jones, Limited Partnership

   Jane B. Smith, General Partner

Trust Accounts

  

(1) ABC Trust Account

   Jane B. Doe, Trustee

(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/18/98

   Jane B. Doe

Custodial or Estate Accounts

  

(1)  John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o
John B. Smith Jr. UGMA/UTMA

   John B. Smith

(2)  Estate of John B. Smith

   John B. Smith, Jr., Executor


 

LOGO

ANNUAL MEETING

OF

GOLDMAN SACHS MLP INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

PROXY STATEMENT

February 13, 2015

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund (“GMZ” or the “Fund”) for use at the Fund’s Annual Meeting to be held at the offices of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM” or “Investment Adviser”), located at 30 Hudson Street, 21st Floor—Room 21M, Jersey City, New Jersey, 07302, on March 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time), or any postponement or adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. Such meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof is referred to as the “Meeting.” Please note that if you plan to attend the Meeting, photographic identification as well as proof of ownership of Fund shares, such as a copy of your proxy voting card, voting instruction form or brokerage statement showing your holdings of Fund shares, will be required for admission. This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting, and the accompanying proxy card and voting instruction form (or, if applicable, the appropriate notice of where to access these materials) are being mailed to Shareholders on or about February 17, 2015.

The Trustees have fixed the close of business on February 2, 2015 as the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting (the “Record Date”). Shareholders of record of the Fund on the Record Date are entitled to one vote per share at the Meeting. As of the Record Date, the number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund outstanding was 44,130,160.

It is expected that the solicitation of proxies will be primarily by mail. The Fund’s officers, and personnel of the Fund’s investment adviser and transfer agent and any authorized proxy solicitation agent, may also solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, Internet or in person. If the Fund records votes through the Internet or by telephone, it will use procedures designed to authenticate shareholders’ identities, to allow shareholders to authorize the voting of their shares in accordance with their instructions, and to confirm that their identities have been properly recorded.

The Fund will pay all expenses associated with this Proxy Statement and solicitation, in a manner agreed upon by the Board of Trustees. The Fund has engaged Georgeson Inc., a Delaware corporation, operating under the name of Computershare Fund Services (“CFS”), an independent proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the distribution of the proxy materials and the solicitation and tabulation of proxies. The cost of CFS’s services with respect to the Fund is estimated to be approximately $3,000, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

To vote by mail, sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form in the accompanying postage pre-paid envelope. To vote by Internet or telephone, please use the control number on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the instructions as described on your proxy card or voting instruction form. If you have any questions regarding the proxy materials, please contact the Fund at 1-800-621-2550. If the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form is properly executed and received prior to the Meeting and has not been revoked, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions


marked on the returned proxy card or voting instruction form or, if no instructions are marked on the returned proxy card or voting instruction form, the proxy card or voting instruction form will be voted “FOR” the election of the Class I Trustee Nominee described in this Proxy Statement, and in the discretion of the persons named as proxies in connection with any other matter that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.

Any person giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by submitting to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306, a written notice of revocation or subsequently executed proxy or voting instruction form or by attending the Meeting and electing to vote in person.

If (i) you are a member of a household in which multiple Shareholders of the Fund share the same address, (ii) your shares are held in “street name” and (iii) your broker or bank has received consent to household material, then your broker or bank may have sent to your household only one copy of this Proxy Statement, unless your broker or bank previously received contrary instructions from a Shareholder in your household. If you are part of a household that has received only one copy of this Proxy Statement, the Fund will deliver promptly a separate copy of this Proxy Statement to you upon written or oral request. To receive a separate copy of this Proxy Statement please contact the Fund by calling toll free 1-800-621-2550 or by mail at the Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306. If your shares are held with certain banks, trust companies, brokers, dealers, investment advisers and other financial intermediaries (each, an “Authorized Institution”) and you would like to receive a separate copy of future proxy statements, prospectuses or annual reports or you are now receiving multiple copies of these documents and would like to receive a single copy in the future, please contact your Authorized Institution.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 31, 2015

This Proxy Statement is available online at www.proxy-direct.com/GOL-26317 (please have the control number found on your proxy card or voting instruction form ready when you visit this website).

In addition, copies of the Fund’s most recent annual and semi-annual report, including financial statements, have previously been mailed to Shareholders. The Fund will furnish to any Shareholder upon request, without charge, an additional copy of the Fund’s most recent annual report and semi-annual report to Shareholders. Annual reports and semi-annual reports to Shareholders may be obtained by writing to: Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306; or by telephone toll-free at: 1-800-621-2550.

 

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF CLASS I TRUSTEE

Proposal 1 relates to the election of one Class I Trustee to the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”). You are being asked to elect Ashok N. Bakhru to serve as a Class I Trustee of the Fund (the “Nominee”) for a three year term expiring in 2018.

The Board is divided into three classes. Each class of Trustees holds office for a three-year term and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies, or until his earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification. The Nominee has indicated his willingness to serve if elected. The Nominee was last elected by the sole initial shareholder of the Fund on October 17, 2013.

Information concerning the Nominee and other relevant factors is provided below. Using the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form or voting by the Internet or by telephone, a Shareholder may authorize proxies to vote his or her shares for the Nominee or may withhold from the proxies authority to vote his or her shares for the Nominee. If the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form is properly executed and received prior to the Meeting (and has not been revoked) but no instructions are marked, the proxies will vote “FOR” the Nominee. The Nominee has consented to his nomination and has agreed to serve if elected. If, at the time of the Meeting, for any reason, the Nominee is not available for election or able to serve as a Trustee, the proxies will exercise their voting power in favor of such substitute Nominee, if any, as the Trustees may designate. The Fund has no reason to believe that it will be necessary to designate a substitute Nominee.

The Fund’s Governance and Nominating Committee, which is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the composition of the Board, reviewed the requisite skills of the Nominee and criteria for new Trustees. The Board believes that this proposal is in the best interests of the Fund and its Shareholders, and unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the Class I Trustee of the Fund.

The following table sets forth the names of the Nominee and the current Trustees and their addresses, ages, terms of office (including length of time served as a Trustee, as applicable), principal occupations for at least the past five years, any other directorships they hold in companies which are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or are registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the number of portfolios in the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (as defined below) that they oversee (or will oversee if elected). The Nominee and Trustees who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” Trustees who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Fund are referred to as “Interested Trustees.”

 

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Nominee

 

Nominee (Independent Trustee)

                

Name,

Address and Age (1)

   Positions Held
with Fund
   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time

Served (2)
  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee (3)
     Other
Directorships
Held by

Trustee (4)
Ashok N. Bakhru Age: 72    Chairman of
the Board of
Trustees
   Class I;
Since 2013
  

Mr. Bakhru is retired. He was formerly Director, Apollo Investment Corporation (a business development company) (2008—2013); President, ABN Associates (a management and financial consulting firm) (1994—1996 and 1998—2012); Trustee, Scholarship America (1998–2005); Trustee, Institute for Higher Education Policy (2003—2008); Director, Private Equity Investors—III and IV (1998—2007), and Equity-Linked Investors II (April 2002—2007).

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

     129       None

Current (Non-Nominee) Trustees

 

Independent Trustees

                  

Name,

Address and Age (1)

   Position Held
with the Fund
   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time

Served (2)
  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee (3)
     Other
Directorships
Held by

Trustee (4)
 
John P. Coblentz, Jr. Age: 73    Trustee    Class III;
Since 2013
  

Mr. Coblentz is retired. Formerly, he was Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP (1975—2003); Director, Emerging Markets Group, Ltd. (2004—2006); and Director, Elderhostel, Inc. (2006—2012).

 

Trustee—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

     129         None   

Richard P. Strubel

Age: 75

   Trustee    Class II;
Since 2013
  

Mr. Strubel is retired. Formerly, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Northern Funds (a family of retail and institutional mutual funds managed by The Northern Trust Company) (2008—2014) and Trustee (2000—2014); Director, Cardean Learning Group (provider of educational services via the internet) (2003—2008); and Director, Gildan Activewear Inc. (a clothing marketing and manufacturing company) (2000—2014). He serves as Trustee Emeritus, The University of Chicago (1987—Present).

 

Trustee—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

     129         None   

 

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Interested Trustee

 

Name,

Address and Age (1)

   Positions Held
with the Fund
   Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served (2)
  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee (3)
     Other
Directorships
Held by

Trustee (4)

James A. McNamara*

Age: 52

   President and
Trustee
   Class II;
Since 2013
  

Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 1998—Present); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998—December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993—April 1998).

 

President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2007—Present); Senior Vice President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (May 2007—November 2007); and Vice President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (2001—2007).

 

Trustee—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2007—Present and December 2002—May 2004).

     128       None

 

* Mr. McNamara is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because he holds a position with Goldman Sachs and/or owns securities issued by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. He also holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.
(1) Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306.
(2) After a Trustee’s initial term, each Trustee is expected to serve a three-year term concurrent with the class of Trustees in which he or she serves:

Class I Trustees serve an initial term until the first annual shareholder meeting subsequent to their election called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Class II Trustees serve an initial term until the second annual shareholder meeting called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Class III Trustees serve an initial term until the third annual shareholder meeting called for the purpose of electing Trustees and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

(3) The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex includes the Fund, Goldman Sachs Trust (“GST”), Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (“GSVIT”), Goldman Sachs Trust II (“GSTII”) , Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund (“GER”) and Goldman Sachs ETF Trust (“GSETF”). As of February 13, 2015, the Fund and GER each consisted of one portfolio, GST consisted of 95 portfolios (88 of which offered shares to the public), GSVIT consisted of 14 portfolios, GSTII consisted of six portfolios (two of which offered shares to the public) and GSETF consisted of 11 portfolios (none of which offered shares to the public). The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex also includes, with respect to Messrs. Bakhru, Coblentz and Strubel, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (“GSBDC”). As of February 13, 2015, GSBDC consisted of one portfolio.
(4) This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Exchange Act (i.e., “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

No Trustee or Nominee who is not an interested person of the Fund, or any immediate family member of such person, owns securities in the Investment Adviser, or a person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Adviser.

 

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The significance or relevance of a Trustee’s particular experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills is considered by the Board on an individual basis. Experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills common to all Trustees include the ability to critically review, evaluate and discuss information provided to them and to interact effectively with the other Trustees and with representatives of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, other service providers, legal counsel and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, the capacity to address financial and legal issues and exercise reasonable business judgment, and a commitment to the representation of the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee’s charter contains certain other factors that are considered by the Governance and Nominating Committee in identifying and evaluating potential nominees to serve as Independent Trustees. Based on the Nominee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills, considered individually and with respect to the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of the Current Trustees, the Board has concluded that the Nominee should serve as a Trustee. Below is a brief discussion of the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of the Nominee and each of the Current Trustees as of February 13, 2015 that led the Board to conclude that such individual should serve as a Trustee.

Ashok N. Bakhru. Mr. Bakhru has served as a Class I Trustee and Chairman of the Board since 2013. Previously, Mr. Bakhru served as Director, Apollo Investment Corporation (a business development company) (2008-2013), and President of ABN Associates, a management and financial consulting firm, and was the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Coty Inc., a multinational cosmetics, fragrance and personal care company. In addition, Mr. Bakhru formerly held several senior management positions at Scott Paper Company, a major manufacturer of paper products, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bakhru also serves on the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council and the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute. He also serves on the Advisory Board of BoardIQ, an investment publication. In addition, Mr. Bakhru has served as Director of Equity-Linked Investments II and Private Equity Investors III and IV, which are private equity partnerships based in New York City. Mr. Bakhru was also a Director of Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Bakhru is experienced with financial and investment matters.

John P. Coblentz, Jr. Mr. Coblentz has served as a Class III Trustee since 2013. Mr. Coblentz has been designated as the Board’s “audit committee financial expert” given his extensive accounting and finance experience. Mr. Coblentz was a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP for 28 years. While at Deloitte & Touche LLP, Mr. Coblentz was lead partner responsible for all auditing and accounting services to a variety of large, global companies, a significant portion of which operated in the financial services industry. Mr. Coblentz was also the national managing partner for the firm’s risk management function, a member of the firm’s Management Committee and the first managing partner of the firm’s Financial Advisory Services practice, which brought together the firm’s mergers and acquisition services, forensic and dispute services, corporate finance, asset valuation and reorganization businesses under one management structure. He served as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Coblentz is a certified public accountant. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Coblentz is experienced with accounting, financial and investment matters.

Richard P. Strubel. Mr. Strubel has served as a Class II Trustee since 2013. He formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Funds, which is a family of retail and institutional mutual funds managed by The Northern Trust Company. Mr. Strubel also served on the board of Gildan Activewear Inc., which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Mr. Strubel was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Cardean Learning Group (formerly known as Unext), and previously served as Unext’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Strubel was Managing Director of Tandem Partners, Inc., a privately-held management services firm, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Microdot, Inc. Previously, Mr. Strubel served as President of Northwest Industries, then a NYSE-listed company, a conglomerate with various operating entities located around the country. Before joining Northwest, Mr. Strubel was an associate and later managing principal of Fry Consultants, a management consulting firm based in Chicago. Mr. Strubel is also a Trustee Emeritus of the University of Chicago and is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Based on the foregoing, Mr. Strubel is experienced with financial and investment matters.

 

6


James A. McNamara. Mr. McNamara has served as a Class II Trustee, President and officer of the Fund since 2013. Mr. McNamara is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. Mr. McNamara is currently head of Global Third Party Distribution at GSAM, where he was previously head of U.S. Third Party Distribution. Prior to that role, Mr. McNamara served as Director of Institutional Fund Sales. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. McNamara was Vice President and Manager at Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation. Based on the foregoing, Mr. McNamara is experienced with financial and investment matters.

Information Concerning Meetings of Trustees and Standing Board Committees

The Trustees held six meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014. No Trustee attended fewer than seventy-five percent of the meetings held by the Board or by any committee of which he or she was a member while he or she was a Trustee during such year.

The Board has established four standing committees in connection with their governance of the Fund— Audit, Governance and Nominating, Compliance and Contract Review.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee oversees the audit process and provides assistance to the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities in overseeing financial reporting. The Audit Committee also assists the Board with the oversight of the Fund’s compliance with regulatory requirements that relate to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits. The Committee has been established by and among the Trustees for the purpose of, among other things, assisting the Board with oversight of (1) the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, (2) the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence (in connection with evaluation and selection of the independent auditor), (4) the performance of the Fund’s internal audit function and independent auditor, and (5) preparation of the Audit Committee report required to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Audit Committee. None of the members of the Audit Committee has any relationship to the Fund that may interfere with the exercise of his or her independence from management or the Fund, and each is independent as defined under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) applicable to closed-end funds. John P. Coblentz, Jr. has been designated as the Board’s “audit committee financial expert.” The Audit Committee held three meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014. The Audit Committee acts according to the Audit Committee charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee has: (a) reviewed and discussed the Fund’s audited financial statements with the management of the Fund; (b) discussed with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Standard No. 16, as modified or supplemented; and (c) received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526 regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent auditor the auditor’s independence.

The members of the Audit Committee are not, and do not represent themselves to be, professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control purposes. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the Fund’s independent auditor. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and/or financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and

 

7


regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Based on its consideration of the audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with management and the Fund’s independent auditor, and subject to the limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee set forth in the charter and those discussed above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ashok N. Bakhru

John P. Coblentz, Jr.

Richard P. Strubel

Governance and Nominating Committee

The Governance and Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board in matters involving mutual fund governance and industry best practices; (ii) with respect to the selection and nomination of Independent Trustees, satisfying certain regulatory requirements adopted by the SEC; and (iii) advise the Board from time to time on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee held three meetings during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014. The Governance and Nominating Committee acts pursuant to a written charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

In connection with the selection and nomination of candidates to the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates the qualifications of candidates for Board membership and their independence from the Fund’s investment adviser and other principal service providers. Persons selected as Independent Trustee candidates must be independent in terms of both the letter and the spirit of the 1940 Act. In this regard, with respect to the Independent Trustee Nominee, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence (for example, business, financial or family relationships with the investment adviser or other service providers). Without limiting the foregoing, the Governance and Nominating Committee considers, among other criteria, a candidate’s: (i) experience in business, financial or investment matters or in other fields of endeavor; (ii) financial literacy and/or whether he or she is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR; (iii) reputation; (iv) ability to attend scheduled Board and committee meetings; (v) general availability to attend to Board business on short notice; (vi) actual or potential business, family or other conflicts bearing on either the candidate’s independence or the business of the Fund; (vii) length of potential service; (viii) commitment to the representation of the interests of the Funds and their shareholders; (ix) commitment to maintaining and improving Trustee skills and education; and (x) experience in corporate governance and best business practices. The Governance and Nominating Committee will also consider the diversity of the Board’s composition as part of the selection and nomination process. In considering the selection and nomination of the Independent Trustee candidate, it is expected that the Governance and Nominating Committee will consult with the Interested Trustee of the Fund and such other persons as the Governance and Nominating Committee deems appropriate.

While the Governance and Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Fund’s Trustees, the Governance and Nominating Committee shall review and consider nominations for the office of Trustee made by management and by Fund shareholders who have sent nominations (which includes the information required by the Fund’s By-Laws) to the Secretary of the Fund, as the Trustees deem appropriate.

 

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Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Fund at its mailing address stated in the Fund’s prospectus and should be directed to the attention of the Governance and Nominating Committee. The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its By-Laws to any Shareholder requesting such By-Laws. Requests for the Fund’s By-Laws should be made in writing to the Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306.

Compliance Committee

The Compliance Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the compliance processes: (i) of the Fund; and (ii) insofar as they relate to services provided to the Fund, of the Fund’s investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator (if any), and transfer agent, except that compliance processes relating to the accounting and financial reporting processes, and certain related matters, are overseen by the Audit Committee. In addition, the Compliance Committee provides assistance to the full Board with respect to compliance matters. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Compliance Committee. The Compliance Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

Contract Review Committee

The Contract Review Committee has been established for the purpose of overseeing the processes of the Board for reviewing and monitoring performance under the Fund’s investment management, transfer agency, and certain other agreements with the Fund’s Investment Adviser and its affiliates. The Contract Review Committee is also responsible for overseeing the Board’s processes for considering and reviewing performance under the operation of the Fund’s service, shareholder administration and other plans, and any agreements related to the plans. The Contract Review Committee also provides appropriate assistance to the Board in connection with the Board’s approval, oversight and review of the Fund’s other service providers including, without limitation, the Fund’s custodian/accounting agent, sub-transfer agents, professional (legal and accounting) firms and printing firms. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Contract Review Committee. The Contract Review Committee met once during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

Shareholder Communications

Shareholders may send communications to the Board. Shareholders should send written communications intended for the Board by addressing the communication to the individual Trustee, c/o Goldman Sachs Funds, P.O. Box 06050, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6306.

Risk Oversight

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

The Board effectuates its oversight role primarily through regular and special meetings of the Board and Board committees. In certain cases, risk management issues are specifically addressed in presentations and discussions. For example, GSAM has an independent dedicated Market Risk Group that assists GSAM in managing investment risk. Representatives from the Market Risk Group regularly meet with the Board to discuss

 

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their analysis and methodologies. In addition, investment risk is discussed in the context of regular presentations to the Board on Fund strategy and performance. Other types of risk are addressed as part of presentations on related topics (e.g. compliance policies) or in the context of presentations focused specifically on one or more risks. The Board also receives reports from GSAM management on operational risks, reputational risks and counterparty risks relating to the Fund.

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

Board Compensation

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

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation of each Trustee of the Fund estimated for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014:

 

Name of Trustee

   Goldman Sachs
MLP Income
Opportunities
Fund
     Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued as
Part of the Fund’s
Expenses
     Total Compensation
From Fund Complex
(including the  Fund)4
 

Ashok N. Bakhru1

   $ 50,000         None       $ 711,500   

John P. Coblentz, Jr.2

     40,000         None         556,500   

James A. McNamara3

     —          None         —    

Richard P. Strubel

     35,000         None         487,750   

 

1 Includes compensation as Board Chairman.
2 Includes compensation as “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
3 Mr. McNamara is an Interested Trustee, and as such, receives no compensation from the Fund or the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.
4 Represents fees paid to each Trustee during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, from the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex. The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex includes the Fund, Goldman Sachs Trust (“GST”), Goldman Sachs Variable Insurance Trust (“GSVIT”), Goldman Sachs Trust II (“GSTII”) and Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund (“GER”). As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Fund and GER each consisted of one portfolio, GST consisted of 94 portfolios (88 of which offered shares to the public), GSVIT consisted of 14 portfolios and GSTII consisted of six portfolios (one of which offered shares to the public). The Goldman Sachs Fund Complex also includes, with respect to Messrs. Bakhru, Coblentz and Strubel, Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. (“GSBDC”). As of the date of Proxy Statement, GSBDC consisted of one portfolio.

 

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NOMINEE/TRUSTEE OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

The following table shows the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Nominee/Trustee in the investment portfolios of the Fund and the Goldman Sachs Fund Complex as of December 31, 2014:

 




Name of

Nominee/Trustee

   Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Fund (1)
   Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Portfolios in Fund Complex
Overseen By Nominee/Trustee

Independent Trustee

Nominee

     

Ashok N. Bakhru

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000

Independent Trustees

(Previously Elected)

     

John P. Coblentz, Jr.

   $50,001-$100,000    Over $100,000

Richard P. Strubel

   $50,001-$100,000    Over $100,000

Interested Trustee

(Previously Elected)

     

James A. McNamara

   Over $100,000    Over $100,000

 

(1) Includes the value of shares beneficially owned by each Nominee/Trustee in the Fund.

As of December 31, 2014, the Nominee, Trustees and Officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund.

THE TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE CLASS I NOMINEE LISTED ABOVE.

 

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OFFICERS OF THE FUND

The following table sets forth the names of the Fund’s officers and their ages, terms of office, including length of time served as officer, and principal occupations for the past five years. As a result of the responsibilities assumed by the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian and distributor, the Fund has no employees. The Fund’s officers do not receive any compensation from the Fund for serving as such.

 

Officers of the Fund

Name, Age And Address

   Position(s) Held
With the Fund
   Term of
Office and
Length of

Time Served1
    

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

James A. McNamara

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 52

   Trustee and

President

     Since 2013      

Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (December 1998—Present); Director of Institutional Fund Sales, GSAM (April 1998—December 2000); and Senior Vice President and Manager, Dreyfus Institutional Service Corporation (January 1993—April 1998).

 

President, Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2007—Present); Senior Vice President, Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (May 2007—November 2007); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (2001—2007).

 

Trustee—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2007—Present and December 2002—May 2004).

Scott M. McHugh

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 43

   Treasurer,
Senior Vice
President
and
Principal
Financial
Officer
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (February 2007—Present); Assistant Treasurer of certain mutual funds administered by DWS Scudder (2005—2007); and Director (2005—2007), Vice President (2000—2005), and Assistant Vice President (1998—2000), Deutsche Asset Management or its predecessor (1998—2007).

 

Principal Financial Officer, Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2013—Present); Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (October 2009—Present); Senior Vice President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (November 2009—Present); and Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (May 2007—October 2009).

Alison Conn

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 44

   Chief
Compliance
Officer
     Since 2014      

Vice President, GSAM Compliance (July 2014—Present); Acting Associate Regional Director (July 2012—September 2012) and Assistant Regional Director (September 2008—July 2012), New York Regional Office, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Chief Compliance Officer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Philip V. Giuca, Jr.

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 52

   Assistant
Treasurer
     Since 2013      

Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (January 2014—Present); and Vice President, Goldman Sachs (May 1992—December 2013).

 

Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

 

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Peter W. Fortner

30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 57

   Assistant
Treasurer
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2000—Present); and Principal Financial Officer, Commerce Bank Mutual Fund Complex (2008—Present).

 

Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Kenneth G. Curran

30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 50

   Assistant
Treasurer
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (November 1998—Present); and Senior Tax Manager, KPMG Peat Marwick (accountants) (August 1995—October 1998).

 

Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Michael Magee

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 37

   Assistant
Treasurer
     Since 2014      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (December 2007—Present); Associate (December 2004—December 2007); and Analyst (December 2002—December 2004).

 

Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (June 2014—Present); Vice President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (2012—2014).

Tunde J. Reddy

30 Hudson Street

Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 42

   Assistant
Treasurer
     Since 2014      

Managing Director, Goldman Sachs (September 2011—Present); and Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase (January 2009—September 2011).

 

Assistant Treasurer—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Kathryn Quirk

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Age: 62

   Vice
President
     Since 2014      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (September 2013—Present); Vice President and Corporate Counsel, Prudential Insurance Company of America (September 2004—December 2012); Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Asset Management, Prudential Insurance Company of America (September 2010—December 2012); Co-Chief Legal Officer, Prudential Investment Management, Inc. (July 2008—June 2012); Chief Legal Officer, Prudential Investments LLC (July 2005—June 2012); Chief Legal Officer, Prudential Mutual Funds (September 2004—June 2012).

 

Vice President—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Caroline L. Kraus

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 37

   Secretary      Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2006 – Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (2012— Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2006—December 2011); and Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP (2002—2006).

 

Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (August 2012—Present); and Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex (June 2012—August 2012).

Deborah Farrell

30 Hudson Street Jersey City, NJ

07302

Age: 43

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (2005—Present); Associate, Goldman Sachs (2001—2005); and Analyst, Goldman Sachs (1994—2005).

 

Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

 

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Andrew Murphy

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 42

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (April 2009—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (December 2010—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (April 2009—December 2010); Attorney, Axiom Legal (2007—2009); and Vice President and Counsel, AllianceBernstein, L.P. (2001—2007).

 

Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Robert Griffith

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 40

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (August 2011—Present); Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (December 2014—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (August 2011—December 2014); Vice President and Counsel, Nomura Holding America, Inc. (2010—2011); and Associate, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (2005—2010).

 

Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Bryan W. Gallagher

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Age: 34

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2013       Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2013—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (July 2013—Present); Associate, Fried Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (2011-2013) and Associate, Paul Hastings LLP (2007—2012).

Matthew Wolfe

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 32

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2013      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (July 2012—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (July 2012— Present); and Associate, Dechert LLP (2007—2012).

 

Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

Francesca Mead

200 West Street

New York, NY

10282

Age: 34

   Assistant
Secretary
     Since 2014      

Vice President, Goldman Sachs (April 2014—Present); Assistant General Counsel, Goldman Sachs (April 2014—Present); Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (2012—2014); and Associate, Sidley Austin LLP (2009-2012).

 

Assistant Secretary—Goldman Sachs Fund Complex.

 

1 Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, inability to serve, removal or designation. Each officer holds comparable positions with certain other companies of which Goldman Sachs, GSAM or an affiliate thereof is the investment adviser, administrator and/or distributor.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees held on December 15, 2014, the Audit Committee selected and recommended, and the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved, the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to act as independent registered public accountant for the Fund for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2015.

Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are not expected to be present at the Meeting but will be available by telephone to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders if necessary. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be given the opportunity to make statements at the Meeting, if they so desire.

 

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Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for professional services for the audit of the annual and semi-annual financial statements for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, were $48,000 and $41,000, respectively.

Fees included in the audit fees category are those associated with the annual audits of financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Audit fees paid for the Fund’s initial fiscal period were for the seed capital audit, agreed-upon procedures conducted in connection with the Fund’s initial public offering and the audit for the initial fiscal period.

Audit-Related Fees

Audit-related fees are for any services rendered to the Fund that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits of the financial statements (but not reported as audit fees above). No audit-related fees were billed to the Fund by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 or first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

The aggregate audit-related fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to GSAM, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, GSAM, that provides ongoing services to the Fund, for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, were $1,070,420 and $1,070,420, respectively. These amounts represent fees PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed to GSAM for services related to the SSAE 16 report.

Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services rendered to the Fund for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, were $37,500 and $107,500, respectively.

Fees included in the tax fees category comprise all services performed by professional staff in the independent registered public accountant’s tax division except those services related to the audits. This category comprises fees for tax compliance services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Fund’s tax returns.

No tax fees were billed by the Fund’s independent registered public accountant to GSAM, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, GSAM, that provides ongoing services to the Fund, for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, in the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

All Other Fees

No fees were billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for products and services provided to the Fund, other than the services reported in “Audit Fees,” “Audit Related Fees,” and “Tax Fees” above, in the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

No other fees were billed by the Fund’s independent registered public accountant to GSAM, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, GSAM, that provides ongoing services to the Fund, for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, in the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

 

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Aggregate Non-Audit Fees

No non-audit fees were billed to the Fund by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 or the first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014.

No non-audit fees were billed to the Fund’s investment adviser and service affiliates by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for non-audit services for the Fund’s initial fiscal period November 26, 2013 to November 30, 2013 or first full fiscal year ended November 30, 2014. This includes any non-audit services required to be pre-approved or non-audit services that did not require pre-approval since they did not directly relate to the Fund’s operations or financial reporting.

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Funds

The Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the “Policy”) adopted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund sets forth the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which services performed by an independent auditor for the Fund may be pre-approved. Services may be pre-approved specifically by the Audit Committee as a whole or, in certain circumstances, by the Audit Committee Chairman or the person designated as the audit committee financial expert. In addition, subject to specified cost limitations, certain services may be pre-approved under the provisions of the Policy. The Policy provides that the Audit Committee will consider whether the services provided by an independent auditor are consistent with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules on auditor independence. The Policy provides for periodic review and pre-approval by the Audit Committee of the services that may be provided by the independent auditor.

De Minimis Waiver. The pre-approval requirements of the Policy may be waived with respect to the provision of non-audit services that are permissible for an independent auditor to perform, provided (1) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than five percent of the total amount of revenues subject to pre-approval that was paid to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (2) such services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (3) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Audit Committee or by one or more members of the Audit Committee to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the Audit Committee, pursuant to the pre-approval provisions of the Policy.

Pre-Approval of Non-Audit Services Provided to the Fund’s Investment Advisers. The Policy provides that, in addition to requiring pre-approval of audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Audit Committee will pre-approve those non-audit services provided to the Fund’s investment adviser (and entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund) where the engagement relates directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund.

The Audit Committee has considered these fees and the nature of the services rendered, and has concluded that they are compatible with maintaining the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Audit Committee did not approve any of the audit-related, tax, or other non-audit fees described above pursuant to the “de minimis exceptions” set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) and Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP did not provide any audit-related services, tax services or other non-audit services to GSAM or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with GSAM that provides ongoing services to the Fund that the Audit Committee was required to approve pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. The Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to GSAM and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with GSAM that provides ongoing services to the Fund that were not pre-approved by the Audit Committee because the engagement did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund is compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s independence.

 

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VOTE REQUIRED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE CLASS I TRUSTEE AND

APPROVAL OF OTHER MATTERS AT THE MEETING

A quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting is established by the presence, in person or by proxy, of holders representing a majority or more of the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, but any lesser number will be sufficient to attain a quorum for the purpose of voting on adjournment (as further detailed below).

Provided a quorum is present, the election of the Nominee of the Fund (Proposal 1) requires a majority of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon present at the Meeting. Cumulative voting is not permitted. If a proxy card is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority, the shares represented thereby will be considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, but will not be counted in favor of Proposal 1.

Brokers who hold shares in street name for customers generally have discretionary authority to vote on “routine” proposals, such as the election of Trustees, when they have not received instructions from the beneficial owners of those shares. Broker “non-votes” are shares held in an account with an Authorized Institution for which the broker indicates that instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or other persons entitled to vote, and for which the broker does not have discretionary voting authority. Both abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present, and thereby included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting, but will not be treated as a vote cast. Broker non-votes (which are treated as shares present but not entitled to vote) will have no effect on Proposal 1. Abstentions (which are treated as shares present and entitled to vote) will have the same effect as a vote “against” Proposal 1.

If at the time the Meeting is called to order a quorum is not present in person or by proxy, or if a quorum is present but sufficient votes in favor of a Proposal have not been received, the Meeting may be adjourned to a later date by the chairman of the meeting, or by a vote of shareholders. In the event of a shareholder vote on adjournment, any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Fund present in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of such Proposal in favor of such an adjournment, and will vote those proxies required to be voted against such Proposal against any such adjournment. Broker non-votes will have no effect on adjournment, but abstentions effectively will be a vote “against” adjournment. Subject to the foregoing, the Meeting may be adjourned and re-adjourned without further notice to shareholders. However, if, after adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to Shareholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

The following information is based upon a review of public filings. As of December 31, 2014, management believed that the following person(s) owned beneficially 5% or more of the common shares of the Fund:

 

Title of Class

  

Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner

  

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Ownership*

  

Percent of Class*

Common Shares

  

Morgan Stanley

1585 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

   3,179,352 shares with sole voting power and 1,120,426 shares with shared voting power; 4,438,979 shares with shared dispositive power    10.1%

Common Shares

  

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

   3,142,181 shares with sole voting power and 1,120,426 shares with shared voting power; 4,401,808 shares with shared dispositive power    10.0%

 

* Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 12, 2015.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Any shareholder who wishes to submit proposals for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials for a subsequent shareholders meeting should give notice in writing to the Secretary of the Fund, and such proposed business must be a proper matter for action by the Fund’s shareholders. For such proposals to be timely for the Fund’s 2016 annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the Fund, c/o Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., 200 West Street, New York, New York, 10282, no earlier than September 18, 2015 and no later than 5:00p.m., Eastern Time, on October 18, 2015; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Fund’s 2016 annual meeting of shareholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

Shareholder proposals that are submitted in a timely manner will not necessarily be included in the Fund’s proxy materials or be able to be presented at the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders. Inclusion of such proposals is subject to limitations under the federal securities laws and informational and other requirements of the Fund’s current By-Laws, as in effect from time to time.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Investment Adviser

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Based solely on a review of the reports filed with the SEC, the Fund believes that during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Fund’s officers and Trustees were complied with.

February 13, 2015

Shareholders who do not expect to be present at the Meeting and who wish to have their shares voted are requested to vote by mail, Internet or telephone. If you choose to vote by mail, please sign and date the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form and return it in the enclosed envelope. No postage is required if mailed in the United States. If you choose to vote by Internet or telephone, please use the control number on the proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form. If you have any questions regarding the proxy materials please contact the Fund at 1-800-621-2550.

 

19


EXHIBIT A

Goldman Sachs Listed Closed-End Funds1 Audit Committee Charter

Organization and Purpose

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Fund has established an Audit Committee (the “Committee”), comprised of each of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. “Independent Trustees” are those Trustees who meet the independence standards set forth in the Fund’s Governance and Nominating Committee Charter and who do not receive, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Fund except compensation for service as a member of the Board or a committee of the Board.

The Committee has been established by and among the Trustees for the purpose of, among other things as set forth below, assisting the Board with oversight of (1) the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, (2) the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (4) the performance of the Fund’s internal audit function and independent auditor, and (5) preparation of the Audit Committee report required to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement.

Each member of the Committee must be financially literate, or become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Committee, as such qualification is interpreted by the Fund’s Board in its business judgment. The Committee’s composition shall meet such other regulatory requirements relating to audit committees established from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and any other applicable governmental entity or self-regulatory organization or law to which the Fund is subject. The Board, with the assistance of the Committee, shall determine whether any member of the Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” (“ACFE”) as defined by the applicable regulations of the SEC, and the Board may presume that the ACFE satisfies the financial literacy requirement. The Committee will select one of its members to be its chair. If a member simultaneously serves on the audit committees of more than three public companies, the Board must determine that such simultaneous service will not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Committee, and must disclose such determination either on or through the Fund’s website, in its annual proxy statement, or in the Fund’s Annual Report.2

The Committee will set its agenda and the places and times of its meetings. The greater of one-third or two members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Committee shall act by a vote of a majority of the Committee members at a Committee meeting, including a meeting held by conference telephone, teleconference or other electronic media or communication equipment, or by written consent of all of the Committee members without a meeting. Any written consent or waiver may be provided and delivered to the Committee chair by e-mail, facsimile or other similar electronic mechanism.

Statement of Policy

The Committee shall oversee the audit process and provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities in overseeing financial reporting. The Committee will also assist the Board with the oversight of the Fund’s compliance with regulatory requirements that relate to the fund accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits. In so doing, the Committee will endeavor to facilitate free and open means of communication among the Fund’s Trustees, independent registered public

 

1  This charter shall apply to any listed closed-end management investment company (a “Fund”) managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”) or an affiliated person of GSAM, as listed in Schedule A of this charter.
2  For purposes of this requirement, where a Trustee serves on multiple boards in the same fund complex, such service will be counted as one board.

 

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accounting firm (the “independent auditor”), and management. A primary objective of the Committee is to help set the “tone at the top” for quality financial reporting and a sound system of internal controls over financial reporting. The Committee will regularly report its activities, observations, and recommendations to the Board. The Committee’s activities and effectiveness will be assessed periodically and reviewed with the Board.

Summary of Responsibilities

The function of the Committee is oversight. Management of the Fund (“Management”) is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements. Management draws upon different parts of the Goldman Sachs corporate structure in fulfilling this role — the Controllers department (within the Finance Division) and the Operations Division (working in conjunction with GSAM Global Fund Services) are responsible for applying appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and maintaining policies and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and applicable laws and regulations. In fulfilling its role under this Charter, Management also delegates certain functions to the Fund’s accounting agents, but remains responsible for those functions. The independent auditor for the Fund is responsible for planning and executing audits consistent with applicable professional standards and in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter(s). The independent auditor will report directly to the Committee. The Committee shall provide for appropriate funding for the payment of compensation to the independent auditor, any other counsel or advisors engaged by the Committee at its discretion, and the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee as necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

The Committee performs its functions under this Audit Committee Charter on the basis of information provided or representations made to it by the Fund’s independent auditor, Management, and/or other service providers, and/or by legal counsel and/or other experts or consultants. Nothing in this Charter is intended to impose, or should be interpreted as imposing, on any member of the Committee (including any member designated as an ACFE) any additional duties or responsibilities over and above those placed on the member in his or her capacity as a Board member of the Fund under applicable federal and state law.

Subject to regulatory mandates, the policies and procedures of the Committee should remain flexible in order to react to changing conditions and to assist the Committee in providing assurance to the Board and shareholders that the Fund’s accounting and reporting practices are in accordance with applicable requirements.

The following are the duties and responsibilities of the Committee:

Primarily Related to the Independent Auditor

 

1. Evaluate and select (subject to ratification by the Board) the Fund’s independent auditor.

 

2. Participate in the selection process of new lead audit partner(s) as a result of mandatory audit partner rotation.

 

3. Be responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor engaged (including resolution of disagreements between Management and the auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit report or performing other audit or attest services for the Fund. The independent auditor must report directly to the Audit Committee.

 

4. At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditor describing the auditors’ internal quality-control procedures, as well as any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer review of the auditors, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), within the preceding five years, with respect to one or more independent audits carried out by the auditors, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues.

 

5. Review and approve the compensation of any advisers employed by the Committee as described herein.

 

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6. Evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the auditor in light of the report identified in Item 3 above and its work throughout the year, as well as the auditor’s lead partner, and request an annual representation from the independent auditor regarding its independence under applicable professional and regulatory standards. As part of its evaluation of the independence of the auditor, the Committee may inquire into and consider the opinions of Management and Internal Audit (or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function), and may consider such items as: (1) the audit and non-audit services performed by the auditor and related fees; (2) the hiring of partners or employees or former partners or employees of the auditor by the Fund and its affiliates; (3) whether any non-audit services provided by the auditor to the Fund investment adviser(s) or any adviser affiliate that provides ongoing services to the Fund are compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence; (4) the rotation of the auditor(s’) partners who participate in providing auditing services to the Fund and (5) other relationships, if any, between the Fund and the auditor that may bear on the independence or objectivity of the auditor.

 

7. Set policies governing the hiring by entities within the Fund’s Investment Company Complex3 of any current or former employee of the Fund’s independent auditors, and to assess compliance with these policies. These policies provide, among other things, that no former employee of the independent auditors who was a member of the Fund’s audit engagement team may undertake any financial reporting role at the Fund within one year of the date of the commencement of procedures for a review or audit.

 

8. Meet with the independent auditor and financial and accounting personnel of the Fund to review the scope of the proposed audits for the current year, the audit procedures to be utilized, and the key risk considerations, and at the conclusion thereof, review the results of such audit, including the independent auditor(s’) opinions on the Fund’s financial statements and any management letters, comments, or recommendations of the independent auditor.

 

9. Meet (A) separately, periodically, with Management and with independent auditors and (B) at least twice annually with the independent auditor (or more frequently if circumstances dictate) alone and outside the presence of Management personnel in executive session, to discuss any problems or difficulties the independent auditors encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors’ activities or access to requested information and any significant disagreements with Management, whether or not satisfactorily resolved, and Management’s response.

 

10. Review and discuss with Management and the Fund’s independent auditor the Fund’s audited annual financial statements, including the Fund’s disclosure of management’s discussion of Fund performance and the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Fund. Review and discuss with Management the Fund’s unaudited semi-annual financial statements, including the Fund’s disclosure of management’s discussion of Fund performance.

 

11. Oversee the preparation of the Audit Committee report required to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement for its annual meeting of shareholders (if such meeting is required by law). The report shall indicate whether the Committee has (i) reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management; (ii) discussed with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by the PCAOB Standard

 

3  “Investment company complex” includes:

 

    the Fund and its investment adviser or sponsor;

 

    any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser or sponsor, if the entity: (i) is an investment adviser or sponsor; or (ii) is engaged in the business of providing administrative, custodian, underwriting or transfer agent services to any investment company, investment adviser or sponsor; and

 

    any investment company, hedge fund or unregistered fund that has an investment adviser included in the definition set forth in either of the two bullet points above.

An investment adviser, for these purposes, does not include a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and that is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser. Sponsor refers to the sponsor of a unit investment trust.

 

A-3


  No. 16, as modified or supplemented; and (iii) received written disclosures and the letter from the independent auditor required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526 regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent auditor the auditor’s independence. The Committee’s report should also indicate whether the Committee, based on its review and its discussions with management and the independent auditor, recommends to the Board that the financial statements be included in the Fund’s annual report for the last fiscal year.

 

12. Review and discuss with Management and the Fund’s independent auditor any major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Fund’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Fund’s internal controls over financial reporting and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies.

 

13. Consider and, if appropriate, recommend to the Board the publication of the Fund’s annual audited financial statements in the Fund’s annual report in advance of the printing and publication of the annual report, based on its review and discussions of such annual report with the independent auditor and Management.

 

14. Meet (as circumstances dictate) with any certified public accountant and audit firm rendering reports to the Committee or the Board.

 

15. Receive from the Fund’s independent auditor timely communications discussing any matters of concern relating to the Fund’s financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by the auditors, or other results of said audit(s), including matters required to be discussed under the PCAOB Standard No. 16.

 

16. Review with financial and accounting personnel and the independent auditor the quality, not just the acceptability, of accounting principles and financial disclosure practices used or proposed to be used by the Fund.

 

17. Review with the independent auditor, Internal Audit, and financial and accounting personnel the adequacy and effectiveness of the accounting and financial controls of the Fund, and consider any recommendations for the improvement of the Fund’s internal control procedures or particular areas where new or more detailed controls or procedures are desirable.

 

18. Review with the independent auditor, Internal Audit, and financial and accounting personnel the risk of fraud and the adequacy of internal controls to identify any payments, transactions or procedures that might be deemed fraudulent, illegal or otherwise improper.

 

19. Review with the independent auditor and financial and accounting personnel, issues arising under the valuation and compliance procedures used for the Fund.

Primarily Related to Management and/or Internal Audit

 

20. Review with the financial and accounting personnel the performance of the fund accounting agents in providing accounting and financial reporting services to the Fund.

 

21. Review and discuss with Internal Audit the internal audit function and responsibilities and any scope restrictions encountered during the execution of internal audit responsibilities, normally on at least an annual basis.

 

22. Discuss with financial and accounting personnel and representatives of Internal Audit the scope and staffing of the internal audit plan to be performed by Internal Audit as it relates to the Fund’s control environment. After the conclusion of these audits, discuss the significant results of the audits and any recommendations for improvement of the internal controls and Management’s responses thereto.

 

23.

Discuss with Management earnings press releases and review generally the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases. Review any financial information and earnings

 

A-4


guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies; however, the Committee need not discuss in advance each instance in which a listed company may provide earnings guidance.

 

24. Review and discuss with Internal Audit its Charter, normally on an annual basis.

 

25. Review and discuss with Internal Audit and Management the adequacy of the Fund’s internal control and risk assessment, at least on an annual basis.

 

26. Meet with representatives of Internal Audit at least semi-annually in executive session, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.

 

27. Meet at least annually with the Fund’s principal financial officer in executive session, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.

 

28. Receive, in accordance with applicable regulations, communications from the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, based on their periodic evaluations, regarding: (a) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Fund’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Management or other employees who have a significant role in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

29. Review analyses prepared by Management and/or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements.

 

30. Review with Management (and if necessary, the independent auditor) periodically any tax matters or developments that could affect the Fund.

 

31. Review Management’s periodic reports concerning any organizational or personnel changes that could affect the nature or quality of the Fund’s accounting, financial reporting and internal controls.

 

32. As the Committee deems appropriate, inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of the Fund’s service providers.

Other

 

33. Investigate any circumstance that comes to the attention of the Committee that indicates that any officer, director or Board member of the Fund or its investment adviser or principal underwriter, or any person acting under their direction, may have violated applicable regulatory provisions prohibiting: (a) materially false or misleading statements or omissions in connection with any audit of the Fund’s financial statements or the preparation of any document or report required to be filed with a regulatory body; or (b) actions to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead the Fund’s independent auditor in connection with their opining on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

34. Review periodically the procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints regarding: (a) accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters relating to the Fund; (b) other legal, compliance, and ethical issues relating to the Fund; and (c) instances of suspected financial statement or other fraud relating to the Fund. The Committee shall review whether the procedures provide for the confidential, anonymous submission of complaints regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters by officers and Trustees of the Fund, employees of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and its affiliates and, as applicable, other persons covered by the procedures.

 

35. Confirm that the Board is engaged in periodic discussions regarding policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management and guidelines and policies to govern the process by which the Fund’s exposure to risk is assessed and managed as well as the Fund’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.

 

A-5


36. Submit the minutes of all meetings of the Committee to, or discuss the matters discussed at each Committee meeting with, the Board.

 

37. Review with the Board any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the independent auditors, or the performance of the Internal Audit function.

 

38. Evaluate the performance of the Committee at least annually, or more frequently if circumstances dictate. Such evaluation should include a comparison of the performance of the Committee with the requirements of this Charter.

 

39. Review the provisions of this Audit Committee Charter at least annually, or more frequently if circumstances dictate. This Charter may be amended by a majority of the Independent Trustees.

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

 

40. The Committee will pre-approve, pursuant to pre-approval policies established from time to time by the Committee, all engagements of the Fund’s independent auditor that are required to be pre-approved under federal securities regulations, subject to any de minimis or other exceptions permitted by such regulations.

 

41. The Committee will review with the independent auditor, and financial, accounting and appropriate GSAM personnel, the controls applied by the independent auditor and Management to assure that all items requiring pre-approval by the Committee are identified and referred to the Committee in a timely fashion.

 

42. The Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services rendered by the Fund’s independent auditor, to a subcommittee of one or more members. Any decision of the subcommittee, including pre-approvals, shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee shall communicate any pre-approval made by it or a delegate to Management, who will ensure that the appropriate disclosure is made in the Fund’s periodic reports required by Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other documents as required under the federal securities laws.

Additional Matters

 

43. The Committee is authorized to investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties, and is authorized to meet with the internal audit or compliance personnel of Management as the Committee deems appropriate in connection with the performance of its responsibilities.

 

44. The Committee may request to meet with internal legal and compliance personnel, including the Fund’s chief compliance officer. The Committee may also request to meet with entities that provide significant accounting or administrative services to the Fund.

 

45. The Committee is authorized to engage independent counsel and other advisers as it deems necessary to carry out its duties.

 

A-6


Schedule A

Goldman Sachs Closed-End Funds

Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund

Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund

 

A-7


EXHIBIT B

Governance and Nominating Committee Charter

Goldman Sachs Trust II &

Goldman Sachs Closed-End Funds1

Organization and Purpose

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of each of Goldman Sachs Trust II (the “Trust”) and Goldman Sachs Closed-End Funds (all such funds, the “Closed-End Funds,” together with the Trust, each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) has established a Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Committee”), comprising all of the Funds’ Independent Trustees. “Independent Trustees” are those Trustees who: (a) are independent of the management of Goldman, Sachs & Co.; (b) are not “interested persons” of the Funds or any investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and (c) do not accept any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Funds except in their capacities as members of the Board or committees thereof (Board and committee members serving the Funds in additional capacities, e.g., as Chairman of the Board or as Audit Committee Financial Expert, may receive additional compensation). The Committee has been established for the following purposes: (1) assisting the Board in matters involving fund governance and industry best practices; (2) with respect to the selection and nomination of Independent Trustees, satisfying certain regulatory requirements adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”); and (3) advising the Board from time to time on ways to improve its effectiveness.

Statement of Policy

The mission of the Board is to represent and protect the interests of the Funds and their shareholders. In doing so, the Board has the legal responsibility for overseeing the affairs of the Funds. It is the policy of the Board that in fulfilling its mission and meeting its responsibilities, the Trustees will seek high standards of integrity, commitment and independence of thought and judgment in a manner that is consistent with best practices of mutual fund governance.

Summary of Responsibilities

The Committee will have the following responsibilities:

 

  1. Making recommendations to the Board with respect to the effectiveness of the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in governing the Funds and overseeing their management.

 

  2. Monitoring the governance policies set forth in the Trustee Charter adopted by the Board, and recommending such changes to those policies as the Committee deems appropriate from time to time.

 

  3. Making recommendations to the Board regarding its size, structure and composition as well as qualifications for Board membership.

 

  4. Making recommendations to the Board with respect to the Board’s committee structure, committee membership and chairmanship.

 

  5. Monitoring the Trust’s standards of Trustee independence.

 

  6. Overseeing and reviewing the Board and committee evaluations performed from time to time in accordance with the Trustee Charter and, based on its review, recommending such actions as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

1  This charter shall apply to any listed closed-end management investment company (a “Fund”) managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”) or an affiliated person of GSAM, as listed in Schedule A of this charter.

 

B-1


  7. Keeping informed of regulatory changes and industry practices relating to fund governance and recommending such changes as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

  8. Overseeing the continuing education of incumbent and new Independent Trustees.

 

  9. Reviewing periodically the investments made by the Trustees in the Funds pursuant to the policies set forth in the Trustee Charter.

 

  10. Selecting and nominating candidates for election or appointment as non-interested members of the Board as discussed below.

In carrying out its responsibilities under this Charter, the policies and procedures of the Committee should remain flexible in order to best react to changing conditions and to provide assurance to the full Board and shareholders that the Funds’ governance practices are in accordance with applicable requirements and are of the highest quality.

The Committee performs its functions under this Governance and Nominating Committee Charter (the “Charter”) on the basis of information or advice provided or representations made to it by the management of the Funds, or by service providers, or by legal counsel or other experts or consultants, without independent verification. Nothing in this Charter is intended to impose, or should be interpreted as imposing, on any member of the Committee any additional duties or responsibilities over and above those placed on the member in his or her capacity as a Trustee of the Funds under applicable federal and state law.

Selection and Nomination of Independent Trustees

The Committee will be responsible for the selection and nomination of the candidates for election or appointment as independent Trustees of the Funds. In connection with the selection and nomination of candidates to the Board, the Committee will evaluate the qualifications of candidates for Board membership and their independence from each Fund’s respective investment adviser, principal underwriter(s), and other principal service providers. Persons selected must be independent under the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Committee will also consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence (for example, business, financial or family relationships with the investment adviser or other service providers). Candidates should have the capacity to address financial and legal issues and to exercise reasonable business judgment. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee will also consider, among other criteria, a candidate’s:

 

  (a) experience in business, financial or investment matters or in other fields of endeavor,

 

  (b) financial literacy and/or whether he or she is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR (for the Closed-End Fund only);

 

  (c) reputation;

 

  (d) ability to attend scheduled Board and Committee meetings;

 

  (e) general availability to attend to Board business on short notice;

 

  (f) actual or potential business, family or other conflicts bearing on either the candidate’s independence or the business of the Funds;

 

  (g) length of potential service;

 

  (h) commitment to the representation of the interests of the Funds and their shareholders;

 

  (i) commitment to maintaining and improving Trustee skills and education; and

 

  (j) experience in corporate governance and best business practices.

The Committee will also consider the diversity of the Board’s composition as part of the selection and nomination process.

 

B-2


In considering the selection and nomination of independent Trustee candidates, it is expected that the Committee will consult with the interested Trustees and Officers of the Funds and such other persons as the Committee deems appropriate.

While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Funds’ Trustees, the Committee shall review and consider nominations for the office of Trustee made by management and by Trust shareholders who have sent nominations (which include, in the case of the Closed-End Funds, the information required by the Closed-End Funds’ By-Laws, and, in the case of GST II, the biographical information and qualifications of the proposed nominee) to the Secretary of the Funds, as the Trustees deem appropriate.

Additional Matters

 

  11. The Committee will meet at such times as it deems appropriate. The Committee will set its agenda and the places of its meetings. The Committee may meet alone and outside the presence of management personnel.

 

  12. The Committee will submit the minutes of all of its meetings to, or discuss the matters discussed at each Committee meeting with, the full Board.

 

  13. The Committee may delegate any portion of its authority to a subcommittee of one or more members. Any decision of the subcommittee shall be presented to the full Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

  14. The Committee is authorized to investigate any matter brought to its attention within the scope of its duties, and is authorized to meet with the compliance personnel of management as the Committee deems appropriate in connection with the performance of its responsibilities.

 

  15. The Committee is authorized to engage independent counsel and other advisers as it deems necessary to carry out its duties.

 

  16. The Committee shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee as described above.

 

  17. Except as otherwise provided by the Board or required by applicable law, the Committee shall act by a vote of a majority of the Committee members at a Committee meeting, including a meeting held by conference telephone, teleconference or other electronic media or communication equipment, or by written consent of all of the Committee members without a meeting. Any written consent or waiver may be provided and delivered to the Committee chair by e-mail, facsimile or other similar electronic mechanism.

 

  18. The Committee will periodically review the provisions of this Governance and Nominating Committee Charter.

 

B-3


Schedule A

Goldman Sachs Closed-End Funds

Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund

Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund

 

B-4


GMZPROXY15


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PROXY

  

GOLDMAN SACHS MLP INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MARCH 31, 2015

   PROXY

THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The undersigned shareholder(s) of Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund, revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints James A. McNamara and Caroline Kraus, or any one of them, true and lawful attorneys with power of substitution of each, to vote all shares of Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund which the undersigned is entitled to vote, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) to be held on March 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at the offices of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.(‘GSAM”), located at 30 Hudson Street, 21ST Floor- Room 21M, Jersey City, NJ, 07302 and at any postponements or any adjournment thereof as indicated on the reverse side of this card, and to otherwise represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally present at the Annual Meeting.

Receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged by the undersigned. If this Proxy is executed but no instructions are given, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be cast “FOR” the nominee for Class I Trustee (Proposal 1). Additionally, in their discretion, the proxy holders named above are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

 

VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: www.proxy-direct.com        

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Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this Proxy. Joint owners should each sign personally. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, officer of corporation or other entity or in another representative capacity, please give the full title under the signature.

 

 

 

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  Date       GMZ_26317_012215

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.


EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund.

Shareholders Meeting to Be Held on March 31, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time)

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THE TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEE FOR TRUSTEE IN PROPOSAL 1.

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     FOR    WITHHOLD

1.     To elect one Class I Trustee to the Board of Trustees.

     

01.   Ashok N. Bakhru

   ¨    ¨

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