UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
Investment Company Act file number 811-22856
Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund
Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
| 200 West Street, New York, New York |
10282 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
| Caroline Kraus, Esq. Goldman, Sachs & Co. 200 West Street New York, New York 10282 |
Copies to: Geoffrey R.T. Kenyon, Esq. Dechert LLP One International Place, 40th Floor 100 Oliver Street Boston, MA 02110-2605 |
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 902-1000
Date of fiscal year end: November 30
Date of reporting period: February 29, 2016
| Item 1. | Schedule of Investments. |
GOLDMAN SACHS MLP AND ENERGY RENAISSANCE FUND
Schedule of Investments
February 29, 2016, (Unaudited)
GOLDMAN SACHS MLP AND ENERGY RENAISSANCE FUND
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION
TAX INFORMATION — At February 29, 2016, the Fund’s aggregate security unrealized gains and losses based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
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|
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| Tax Cost |
$ | 671,042,445 | ||
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||||
| Gross unrealized gain |
26,569,089 | |||
| Gross unrealized loss |
(201,028,546 | ) | ||
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|
||||
| Net unrealized security loss |
$ | (174,459,457 | ) | |
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Additional information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. This information is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov).
GOLDMAN SACHS MLP INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Schedule of Investments
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
GOLDMAN SACHS MLP INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION
TAX INFORMATION — At February 29, 2016, the Fund’s aggregate security unrealized gains and losses based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
|
|
||||
| Tax Cost |
$ | 471,326,563 | ||
|
|
||||
| Gross unrealized gain |
18,149,633 | |||
| Gross unrealized loss |
(99,238,067 | ) | ||
|
|
||||
| Net unrealized security loss |
$ | (81,088,434 | ) | |
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Additional information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. This information is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov).
GOLDMAN SACHS CLOSED–END FUNDS
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Investment Valuation — The Funds’ valuation policy is to value investments at fair value.
Investments and Fair Value Measurements — The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price). Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these investments. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 — Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, volatility and credit spreads), either directly or indirectly;
Level 3 — Prices or valuations that require significant unobservable inputs (including Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM”) assumptions in determining fair value measurement).
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the hierarchy. In accordance with the Funds’ policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value hierarchy resulting from such changes are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period.
The Board of Trustees (“Trustees”) has approved Valuation Procedures that govern the valuation of the portfolio investments held by the Funds, including investments for which market quotations are not readily available. The Trustees have delegated to GSAM day-to-day responsibility for implementing and maintaining internal controls and procedures related to the valuation of the Funds’ portfolio investments. To assess the continuing appropriateness of pricing sources and methodologies, GSAM regularly performs price verification procedures and issues challenges as necessary to third party pricing vendors or brokers, and any differences are reviewed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.
Level 1 and Level 2 Fair Value Investments — The valuation techniques and significant inputs used in determining the fair values for investments classified as Level 1 and Level 2 are as follows:
Equity Securities — Equity securities traded on a United States (“U.S.”) securities exchange or the NASDAQ system, or those located on certain foreign exchanges, including but not limited to the Americas, are valued daily at their last sale price or official closing price on the principal exchange or system on which they are traded. If there is no sale or official closing price or such price is believed by GSAM to not represent fair value, equity securities are valued at the last bid price for long positions and at the last ask price for short positions. To the extent these investments are actively traded, they are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, otherwise they are generally classified as Level 2.
Unlisted equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last sale price on the valuation date, or if no sale occurs, at the last bid price.
Subordinated Units and Private Investments — Subordinated units and private investments in public equities (“PIPEs”) are valued the same as other equity securities as noted above. A Liquidity Value Adjustment (LVA) may be applied to securities which are subject to transfer restrictions or which convert publicly traded securities in the future when certain conditions are met. Subordinated units and PIPEs are classified as Level 2 until such time as the transfer restriction is removed.
Money Market Funds — Investments in the Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund (“Underlying Fund”) are valued at the NAV of the FST Share class on the day of valuation. These investments are generally classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. For information regarding an Underlying Fund’s accounting policies and investment holdings, please see the Underlying Fund’s shareholder report.
Level 3 Fair Value Investments — To the extent that significant inputs to valuation models and other alternative pricing sources are unobservable, or if quotations are not readily available, or if GSAM believes that such quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value of the Funds’ investments may be determined under Valuation Procedures approved by the Trustees. GSAM, consistent with its procedures and applicable regulatory guidance, may make an adjustment to the most recent valuation prices of either domestic or foreign securities in light of significant events to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities at the time of determining a Fund’s NAV. Significant events which could affect a large number of securities in a particular market may include, but are not limited to: significant fluctuations in U.S. or foreign markets; market dislocations; market disruptions; or unscheduled market closings. Significant events which could also affect a single issuer may include, but are not limited to: corporate actions such as reorganizations, mergers and buy-outs; ratings downgrades; and bankruptcies.
GOLDMAN SACHS CLOSED–END FUNDS
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Fair Value Hierarchy — The following is a summary of the Funds’ investments classified in the fair value hierarchy as of February 29, 2016:
| MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund | ||||||||||||
| Investment Type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
| Assets |
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| Common Stock(a) |
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| MLPs |
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| Europe |
$ | 12,157,736 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| North America |
349,748,998 | 43,745,211 | — | |||||||||
| Corporations |
||||||||||||
| Europe |
4,931,725 | — | — | |||||||||
| North America |
48,290,166 | — | — | |||||||||
| Preferred Stock(a) |
||||||||||||
| North America |
— | 12,339,202 | — | |||||||||
| Investment Company |
25,369,950 | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 440,498,575 | $ | 56,084,413 | $ | — | ||||||
| MLP Income Opportunities Fund | ||||||||||||
| Investment Type | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
| Assets |
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| Common Stock(a) |
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| MLPs |
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| Europe |
$ | 13,297,356 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| North America |
324,258,737 | 32,436,193 | — | |||||||||
| Corporations |
||||||||||||
| North America |
8,107,615 | — | — | |||||||||
| Preferred Stock(a) |
||||||||||||
| North America |
— | 5,165,779 | — | |||||||||
| Investment Company |
6,972,449 | — | — | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 352,636,157 | $ | 37,601,972 | $ | — | ||||||
| (a) | Amounts are disclosed by continent to highlight the impact of time zone differences between local market close and the calculation of NAV. Security valuations are based on the principal exchange or system on which they are traded, which may differ from country of domicile. |
For further information regarding security characteristics, see the Schedules of Investments.
The Funds’ risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Foreign Custody Risk — A Fund that invests in foreign securities may hold such securities and cash with foreign banks, agents, and securities depositories appointed by the Fund’s custodian (each a “Foreign Custodian”). Some foreign custodians may be recently organized or new to the foreign custody business. In some countries, Foreign Custodians may be subject to little or no regulatory oversight over, or independent evaluation of, their operations. Further, the laws of certain countries may place limitations on a Fund’s ability to recover its assets if a Foreign Custodian enters bankruptcy. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to even greater custody risks than investments in more developed markets. Custody services in emerging market countries are very often undeveloped and may be considerably less well regulated than in more developed countries, and thus may not afford the same level of investor protection as would apply in developed countries.
Leverage Risk — The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased net investment income dividends, but also creates risks for the investors. There is no assurance that each Fund’s intended leveraging strategy will be successful. Leverage involves risks and special considerations, including the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV, market price and dividend rate than a comparable portfolio without leverage; the risk that fluctuations in interest rates on borrowings and short-term debt or in the interest or dividend rates on any leverage that a Fund must pay will reduce the Fund’s return; the effect of leverage in a declining market, which is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV than if the Fund were not leveraged, which may result in a greater decline in the market price; the investment advisory fees payable to the Investment Adviser will be higher than if the Fund did not use financial leverage; and that leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return. The use of leverage may impact a Fund’s ability to declare dividends and distributions; the Funds are generally not permitted to declare cash dividends or other distributions unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s assets, less liabilities other than the principal amount of borrowings, is at least 300% of such principal amount (after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution). This prohibition does not apply to privately arranged debt that is not intended to be publicly distributed (i.e., each Fund’s credit facility, as discussed above).
Liquidity Risk — The Funds may make investments, including MLPs, that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value.
Market and Credit Risks — An investment in a Fund represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund, a significant portion of which are traded on a national securities exchange. The value of these securities, like other investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Each Fund will utilize leverage, which magnifies the market risk. Additionally, a Fund may also be exposed to credit risk in the event that an issuer fails to perform or that an institution or entity with which the Fund has unsettled or open transactions defaults.
GOLDMAN SACHS CLOSED–END FUNDS
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Investing in foreign markets may involve special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in the United States. Foreign securities may be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation, less public information and less economic, political and social stability in the countries in which the Funds invest. Loss may also result from the imposition of exchange controls, confiscations and other government restrictions by the United States or other governments, or from problems in registration, settlement or custody. Foreign risk also involves the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations, which may cause the value of securities denominated in such foreign currency (or other instruments through which the Funds have exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. To the extent that the Funds also invest in securities of issuers located in emerging markets, these risks may be more pronounced.
Market Discount Risk — Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that a Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of its investment activities and may be greater for investors expecting to sell their shares in a relatively short period of time following completion of the Fund’s initial offering. Although the value of a Fund’s net assets is generally considered by market participants in determining whether to purchase or sell shares, whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of their shares will depend entirely upon whether the market price of the shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s adjusted tax cost basis for the shares. Because the market price of the shares will be determined by factors such as (i) NAV, (ii) dividend and distribution levels and their stability (which will in turn be affected by levels of dividend and interest payments by a Fund’s portfolio holdings, the timing and success of the Fund’s investment strategies, regulations affecting the timing and character of Fund distributions, Fund expenses and other factors), (iii) supply of and demand for the shares, (iv) trading volume of the shares, (v) general market, interest rate and economic conditions and (vi) other factors that may be beyond the control of the Fund. A Fund cannot predict whether the shares will trade at, below or above NAV or at, below or above the initial public offering price.
Master Limited Partnership Risk — Investments in securities of MLPs involve risks that differ from investments in common stocks, including risks related to limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between the MLP and the MLP’s general partner, cash flow risks, dilution risks, limited liquidity and risks related to the general partner’s right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.
Non-Diversification Risk — The Funds are non-diversified, meaning that they are permitted to invest a larger percentage of their assets in fewer issuers than diversified mutual funds. Thus, a Fund may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting any single issuer held in its portfolio, and may be more susceptible to greater losses because of these developments.
Other Investment Company Risk — Subject to the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act and the Fund’s governing documents or as otherwise permitted by the SEC, the Fund may acquire shares in other investment companies. When the Fund invests in other investment companies, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the other investment companies.
Portfolio Concentration Risk — Each Fund concentrates its investments in the energy sector, and will therefore be susceptible to adverse economic, environmental, business, regulatory or other occurrences affecting that sector. The energy sector has historically experienced substantial price volatility. MLPs and other companies operating in the energy sector are subject to specific risks, including, among others, fluctuations in commodity prices; reduced consumer demand for commodities such as oil, natural gas or petroleum products; reduced availability of natural gas or other commodities for transporting, processing, storing or delivering; slowdowns in new construction; extreme weather or other natural disasters; and threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets. Additionally, changes in the regulatory environment for energy companies may adversely impact their profitability. Over time, depletion of natural gas reserves and other energy reserves may also affect the profitability of energy companies.
Private Investment Risk — The Funds may invest in PIPE securities. PIPE transactions typically involve the purchase of securities directly from a publicly traded company or its affiliates in a private placement transaction, typically at a discount to the market price of the company’s common stock. In a PIPE transaction, the Funds may bear the price risk from the time of pricing until the time of closing. Equity issued in this manner is often subject to transfer restrictions and is therefore less liquid than equity issued through a registered public offering. The Funds may be subject to lock-up agreements that prohibit transfers for a fixed period of time. In addition, because the sale of the securities in a PIPE transaction is not registered under the Securities Act, the securities are “restricted” and cannot be immediately resold into the public markets. The ability of the Funds to freely transfer restricted shares is conditioned upon, among other things, the SEC’s preparedness to declare the resale registration statement effective and the issuer’s right to suspend the Funds’ use of the resale registration statement if the issuer is pursuing a transaction or some other material non-public event is occurring. Accordingly, PIPE securities may be subject to risks associated with illiquid securities.
Strategy Risk — Each Fund’s strategy of investing primarily in MLPs, resulting in its being taxed as a corporation, or “C” corporation, rather than as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a relatively new investment strategy for funds. This strategy involves complicated accounting, tax and valuation issues. Volatility in the NAV may be experienced because of the use of estimates at various times during a given year that may result in unexpected and potentially significant consequences for the Funds and their shareholders.
GOLDMAN SACHS CLOSED–END FUNDS
Schedule of Investments (continued)
February 29, 2016 (Unaudited)
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (continued)
Tax Risks — Tax risks associated with investments in a Fund include, but are not limited to, the following:
Fund Structure Risk. Unlike traditional mutual funds that are structured as regulated investment companies for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Funds will be taxable as a regular corporation, or “C” corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This means the Funds generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their taxable income at the rates applicable to corporations (currently a maximum rate of 35%), and will also be subject to state and local income taxes.
MLP Tax Risk. MLPs are generally treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income. This would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and could result in a reduction in the value of the Fund’s investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund.
To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP will be reduced, which may increase the Fund’s tax liability upon the sale of the interests in the MLP or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests.
Tax Estimation/NAV Risk. In calculating a Fund’s daily NAV, the Fund will, among other things, include its current taxes and deferred tax liability and/or asset balances and related valuation balances, if any. A Fund may accrue a deferred income tax liability balance, at the currently effective statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (currently 35%) plus an estimated state and local income tax rate, for its future tax liability associated with the capital appreciation of its investments and the distributions received by the Funds on interests of MLPs considered to be return of capital and for any net operating gains. Any deferred tax liability balance will reduce a Fund’s NAV which could have an effect on the market price of the shares. The Funds may also record a deferred tax asset balance, which reflects an estimate of a Fund’s future tax benefit associated with net operating losses and/or unrealized losses. Any deferred tax asset balance will increase a Fund’s NAV to the extent it exceeds any valuation allowance, which could have an effect on the market price of the shares. Each Fund will rely to some extent on information provided by MLPs, which may not be provided to the Funds on a timely basis, to estimate current taxes and deferred tax liability and/or asset balances (to the extent it exceeds any valuation allowance) for purposes of financial statement reporting and determining its NAV. The daily estimate of a Fund’s current taxes and deferred tax liability and/or asset balances used to calculate each Fund’s NAV could vary significantly from the Fund’s actual tax liability or benefit, and, as a result, the determination of the Fund’s actual tax liability or benefit may have a material impact on the Fund’s NAV. From time to time, a Fund may modify its estimates or assumptions regarding their current taxes and deferred tax liability and/or asset balances as new information becomes available, which modifications in estimates or assumptions may have a material impact on the Fund’s NAV.
| Item 2. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) The Registrant’s President/Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) were effective as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the “Evaluation Date”), based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the Evaluation Date.
(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the Registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 3. | Exhibits. |
(a) Separate certifications for the President/Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) are filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| (Registrant) Goldman Sachs MLP Income Opportunities Fund and Goldman Sachs MLP and Energy Renaissance Fund | ||
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James A. McNamara | |
| James A. McNamara, President/Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date April 29, 2016
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ James A. McNamara | |
| James A. McNamara, President/Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date April 29, 2016
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Scott McHugh | |
| Scott McHugh Principal Financial Officer | ||
Date April 29, 2016
| * | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |