Goldman Sachs Asset Management Announces Updated Timeline for Liquidation of Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity ETF

Rhea-AI Summary

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) announced an updated liquidation timeline for the Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity ETF (GDEF). Effective from June 12, 2024, the fund will liquidate its portfolio assets orderly. Shareholders can sell their shares on NYSE Arca until market close on July 3, 2024, but may incur transaction fees. Post-July 3, the shares will be delisted. Remaining shareholders as of the expected liquidation date, July 8, 2024, will receive a cash payout equal to the net asset value of their shares, leading to potential capital gains or losses for tax purposes. The fund will stop accepting creation orders on July 3, 2024. GDEF, originally an open-end mutual fund, seeks long-term growth with lower volatility using a “Put Spread Collar” strategy, though it involves market risks and high portfolio turnover, resulting in higher expenses and potential short-term capital gains.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• The fund’s shares will be delisted from NYSE Arca after July 3, 2024.
• Shareholders may incur transaction fees when selling shares before delisting.
• The fund is subject to high market risk and financial risk due to its investment strategies.
• High portfolio turnover may result in higher expenses and short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“GSAM”), the investment adviser for the Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity ETF (the “Fund”), is updating the plan of liquidation (the “Plan”) for the Fund. Under the Plan, which was originally announced June 12^th, 2024, the Fund will begin the process of liquidating portfolio assets and unwinding its affairs in an orderly fashion over time. The Plan is not subject to shareholder approval.

Under the updated timeline, shareholders of the Fund may sell their shares on the Fund’s listing exchange, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”), until market close on July 3, 2024 and may incur transaction fees from their broker-dealer. The Fund’s shares will no longer trade on NYSE Arca after market close on July 3, 2024, and the shares will subsequently be de-listed. Shareholders who continue to hold shares of the Fund on the Fund’s liquidation date, which is expected to be on or about July 8, 2024, will receive a liquidating distribution of cash in the cash portion of their brokerage accounts equal to the amount of the net asset value of their shares. For tax purposes, shareholders will generally recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the amount received for their shares over their adjusted basis in such shares. The Fund will stop accepting creation orders from Authorized Participants on July 3, 2024.

About Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market – overseeing more than $2.56 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of March 31, 2024.¹ Driven by a passion for our clients’ performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Goldman Sachs does not provide accounting, tax or legal advice.

© 2024 Goldman Sachs All rights reserved

NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NO BANK GUARANTEE. NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

GS Defensive Equity ETF (GDEF) began as the GS Defensive Equity Fund, an open-end mutual fund which had operated since September 30, 2020. Effective as of the close of business on January 20, 2023, GDEF acquired its assets and liabilities, and assumed its NAV performance, financial and other historical information. There were no changes to the investment strategy or objective of the Fund.

The Goldman Sachs Defensive Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks long-term growth of capital with lower volatility than equity markets. The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund. The Fund typically invests in equity investments in U.S. issuers with public stock market capitalizations within the range of the market capitalization of the S&P 500® Index at the time of investment and other instruments with similar economic exposures. The Fund will also employ a “Put Spread Collar” overlay strategy, which is designed to provide the Fund with some downside protection, whereby the Fund simultaneously purchases a put while selling (writing) a call and put on the same index. The Fund’s investments are subject to market risk, which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. The Fund’s options-based overlay strategy may not fully protect it against declines in the value of the market and may cause the Fund to underperform during a rising market. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with writing (selling) call options, which limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. The Fund may have a high rate of portfolio turnover, which involves correspondingly greater expenses which must be borne by the Fund, and is also likely to result in short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders. Any guarantee on U.S. government securities applies only to the underlying securities of the Fund if held to maturity and not to the value of the Fund’s shares. The Fund may invest in derivative instruments, including futures, options on futures, and swaps. Derivative investments may involve a high degree of financial risk. These risks include the risk that a small movement in the price of the underlying security or benchmark may result in a disproportionately large movement, unfavorable or favorable, in the price of the derivative instrument; risk of default by a counterparty; and liquidity risk. Different investment styles (e.g., “quantitative”) tend to shift in and out of favor, and at times the Fund may underperform other funds that invest in similar asset classes.

Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by the Fund at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in large, specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the Goldman Sachs ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

A summary prospectus, if available, or a Prospectus for the Fund containing more information may be obtained from your authorized dealer or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling (retail - 1-800-526-7384) (institutional – 1-800-621-2550). Please consider a fund's objectives, risks, and charges and expenses, and read the summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus carefully before investing. The summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”) imposes certain limits on investment companies purchasing or acquiring any security issued by another registered investment company. For these purposes the definition of “investment company” includes funds that are unregistered because they are excepted from the definition of investment company by sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the Act. You should consult your legal counsel for more information.

ALPS Control: GST 2628
Compliance Code: 377606-OTU-2059714
Date of first use: 06/28/2024
31544364

¹ Assets Under Supervision (AUS) includes assets under management and other client assets for which Goldman Sachs does not have full discretion. AUS figure as of March 31, 2024.

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Media Contacts:

Victoria Zarella

Tel: 212-902-5400

Source: Goldman Sachs Asset Management

FAQ

What is the updated liquidation timeline for GDEF?

Under the updated timeline, shareholders can sell their shares on NYSE Arca until market close on July 3, 2024. Shares will be delisted post-July 3, 2024, with liquidation expected around July 8, 2024.

What happens to GDEF shares after July 3, 2024?

GDEF shares will no longer trade on NYSE Arca and will be delisted after market close on July 3, 2024.

Will shareholders incur any fees when selling GDEF shares?

Yes, shareholders may incur transaction fees when selling their shares through a broker-dealer before the delisting date.

When will shareholders receive their liquidating distribution for GDEF?

Shareholders will receive a liquidating distribution on or about July 8, 2024, in the form of cash equal to the net asset value of their shares.

What tax implications will there be for GDEF shareholders?

Shareholders will generally recognize a capital gain or loss for tax purposes based on the amount received for their shares over their adjusted basis.

When will GDEF stop accepting creation orders from Authorized Participants?

GDEF will cease accepting creation orders from Authorized Participants on July 3, 2024.