Invesco Gold & Special Minerals Fund

As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Market Risk. The market values of the Fund’s investments, and therefore the value of the Fund’s shares, will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry or section of the economy, or it may affect the market as a whole. The value of the Fund’s investments may go up or down due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to the particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for revenues or corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, regional or global instability, natural or environmental disasters, widespread disease or other public health issues, war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, economic crisis or adverse investor sentiment generally. During a general downturn in the financial markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that specific investments held by the Fund will rise in value.

Investing in Stocks Risk. The value of the Fund’s portfolio may be affected by changes in the stock markets. Stock markets may experience significant short–term volatility and may fall or rise sharply at times. Adverse events in any part of the equity or fixed–income markets may have unexpected negative effects on other market segments. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other and U.S. stock markets may move in the opposite direction from one or more foreign stock markets.

The prices of individual stocks generally do not all move in the same direction at the same time. However, individual stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of certain other types of investments, such as bonds. A variety of factors can negatively affect the price of a particular company’s stock. These factors may include, but are not limited to: poor earnings reports, a loss of customers, litigation against the company, general unfavorable performance of the company’s sector or industry, or changes in government regulations affecting the company or its industry. To the extent that securities of a particular type are emphasized (for example foreign stocks, stocks of small– or mid–cap companies, growth or value stocks, or stocks of companies in a particular industry), fund share values may fluctuate more in response to events affecting the market for those types of securities.

Investments in Mining, Minerals and Metal Industry Securities Risk. Investments in mining, minerals and metal industry companies may be speculative and may be subject to greater price volatility than investments in other types of companies. The special risks of mining, minerals and metal industry investments include:

• changes in international monetary policies or economic and political conditions can affect the supply of gold and precious metals and consequently the value of mining, minerals and metal company investments;
• the United States or foreign governments may pass laws or regulations limiting metal investments for strategic or other policy reasons;
• the principal supplies of gold are concentrated in the following countries or territories, including but not limited to China, Australia, Russia and certain other former Soviet Union countries, Canada and the United States, the governments of which may pass laws or regulations limiting metal investments for strategic or other policy reasons; and
• increased environmental or labor costs may depress the value of mining, minerals and metal investments.

Foreign Securities Risk. The Fund’s foreign investments may be adversely affected by political and social instability, changes in economic or taxation policies, difficulty in enforcing obligations, decreased liquidity or increased volatility. Foreign investments also involve the risk of the possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of the issuer or foreign deposits (in which the Fund could lose its entire investments in a certain market) and the possible adoption of foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls. Foreign companies generally may be subject to less stringent regulations than U.S. companies, including financial reporting requirements and auditing and accounting controls, and may therefore be more susceptible to fraud or corruption. There may be less public information available about foreign companies than U.S. companies, making it difficult to evaluate those foreign companies. Unless the Fund has hedged its foreign currency exposure, foreign securities 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 Fund has exposure to foreign currencies) to decline in value. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Currency hedging strategies, if used, are not always successful.

Emerging Market Securities Risk. Emerging markets (also referred to as developing markets) are generally subject to greater market volatility, political, social and economic instability, uncertain trading markets and more governmental limitations on foreign investment than more developed markets. In addition, companies operating in emerging markets may be subject to lower trading volume and greater price fluctuations than companies in more developed markets. Such countries’ economies may be more dependent on relatively few industries or investors that may be highly vulnerable to local and global changes. Companies in emerging market countries generally may be subject to less stringent regulatory, disclosure, financial reporting, accounting, auditing and recordkeeping standards than companies in more developed countries. As a result, information, including financial information, about such companies may be less available and reliable, which can impede the Fund’s ability to evaluate such companies. Securities law and the enforcement of systems of taxation in many emerging market countries may change quickly and unpredictably, and the ability to bring and enforce actions (including bankruptcy, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, nationalization of a company’s assets, restrictions on foreign ownership of local companies, restrictions on withdrawing assets from the country, protectionist measures and practices such as share blocking), or to obtain information needed to pursue or enforce such actions, may be limited. In addition, the ability of foreign entities to participate in privatization programs of certain developing or emerging market countries may be limited by local law. Investments in emerging market securities may be subject to additional transaction costs, delays in settlement procedures, unexpected market closures, and lack of timely information.

Gold Bullion Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in gold bullion, appreciation in the market price is the sole manner in which the Fund can realize gains, and such investments may incur higher storage and custody costs as compared to purchasing, holding and selling more traditional investments.

Investments in metals entail the risk that the Fund might not qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) and its income might become subject to income taxes, reducing returns to shareholders.

Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may from time to time have a substantial amount of its assets invested in securities of issuers located in a single country or a limited number of countries. Adverse economic, political or social conditions in those countries may therefore have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance.

Canada Investment Risk. Due to the Fund’s potentially significant exposure to companies that are domiciled in Canada, the Fund is particularly sensitive to political, economic and social conditions in that country. Canada is a major producer of metals. The Canadian economy is especially dependent on the demand for, and supply of, natural resources, and the Canadian market is relatively concentrated in issuers involved in the production and distribution of natural resources. Any adverse events that affect Canada’s major industries may have a negative impact on the overall Canadian economy and the shares of the Fund.

Depositary Receipts Risk. Investing in depositary receipts involves the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications or pass through any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities to the holders of such receipts. The Fund may therefore receive less timely information or have less control than if it invested directly in the foreign issuer.

Small– and Mid–Capitalization Companies Risk. Investing in securities of small– and mid–capitalization companies involves greater risk than customarily is associated with investing in larger, more established companies. Stocks of small– and mid–capitalization companies tend to be more vulnerable to changing market conditions, may have little or no operating history or track record of success, and may have more limited product lines and markets, less experienced management and fewer financial resources than larger companies. These companies’ securities may be more volatile and less liquid than those of more established companies. They may be more sensitive to changes in a company’s earnings expectations and may experience more abrupt and erratic price movements. Smaller companies’ securities often trade in lower volumes and in many instances, are traded over–the–counter or on a regional securities exchange, where the frequency and volume of trading is substantially less than is typical for securities of larger companies traded on national securities exchanges. Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may be subject to wider price fluctuations and it might be harder for the Fund to dispose of its holdings at an acceptable price when it wants to sell them. Since small– and mid–cap companies typically reinvest a high proportion of their earnings in their business, they may not pay dividends for some time, particularly if they are newer companies. It may take a substantial period of time to realize a gain on an investment in a small– or mid–cap company, if any gain is realized at all.

Growth Investing Risk. If a growth company’s earnings or stock price fails to increase as anticipated, or if its business plans do not produce the expected results, the value of its securities may decline sharply. Growth companies may be newer or smaller companies that may experience greater stock price fluctuations and risks of loss than larger, more established companies. Newer growth companies tend to retain a large part of their earnings for research, development or investments in capital assets. Therefore, they may not pay any dividends for some time. Growth investing has gone in and out of favor during past market cycles and is likely to continue to do so. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, it may be more difficult to sell growth company securities at an acceptable price and the securities of growth companies may underperform the securities of value companies or the overall stock market. Growth stocks may also be more volatile than other securities because of investor speculation.

Subsidiary Risk. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Fund is indirectly exposed to risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), and, except as otherwise noted in this prospectus, is not subject to the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, could result in the inability of the Fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in this prospectus and the SAI, and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.

Derivatives Risk. The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of an underlying security, currency, commodity, interest rate, index or other asset (each referred to as an underlying asset). In addition to risks relating to the underlying assets, the use of derivatives may include other, possibly greater, risks, including counterparty, leverage and liquidity risks. Counterparty risk is the risk that the counterparty to the derivative contract will default on its obligation to pay the Fund the amount owed or otherwise perform under the derivative contract. Derivatives create leverage risk because they do not require payment up front equal to the economic exposure created by holding a position in the derivative. As a result, an adverse change in the value of the underlying asset could result in the Fund sustaining a loss that is substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative or the anticipated value of the underlying asset, which may make the Fund’s returns more volatile and increase the risk of loss. Derivative instruments may also be less liquid than more traditional investments and the Fund may be unable to sell or close out its derivative positions at a desirable time or price. This risk may be more acute under adverse market conditions, during which the Fund may be most in need of liquidating its derivative positions. Derivatives may also be harder to value, less tax efficient and subject to changing government regulation that could impact the Fund’s ability to use certain derivatives or their cost. Derivatives strategies may not always be successful. For example, derivatives used for hedging or to gain or limit exposure to a particular market segment may not provide the expected benefits, particularly during adverse market conditions.

Commodity–Linked Notes Risk. In addition to risks associated with the underlying commodities, investments in commodity–linked notes may be subject to additional risks, such as non–payment of interest and loss of principal, counterparty risk, lack of a secondary market and risk of greater volatility than traditional equity and debt securities. The value of the commodity–linked notes the Fund buys may fluctuate significantly because the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves volatile. Additionally, certain commodity–linked notes employ “economic” leverage by requiring payment by the issuer of an amount that is a multiple of the price increase or decrease of the underlying commodity, commodity index, or other economic variable. Such economic leverage will increase the volatility of the value of these commodity–linked notes and the Fund to the extent it invests in such notes.

Exchange–Traded Funds Risk. In addition to the risks associated with the underlying assets held by the exchange–traded fund, investments in exchange–traded funds are subject to the following additional risks: (1) an exchange–traded fund’s shares may trade above or below its net asset value; (2) an active trading market for the exchange–traded fund’s shares may not develop or be maintained; (3) trading an exchange–traded fund’s shares may be halted by the listing exchange; (4) a passively managed exchange–traded fund may not track the performance of the reference asset; and (5) a passively managed exchange–traded fund may hold troubled securities. Investment in exchange–traded funds may involve duplication of management fees and certain other expenses, as the Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of any expenses paid by the exchange–traded funds in which it invests. Further, certain exchange–traded funds in which the Fund may invest are leveraged, which may result in economic leverage, permitting the Fund to gain exposure that is greater than would be the case in an unlevered instrument and potentially resulting in greater volatility.

Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed and depends heavily on the Adviser’s judgment about markets, interest rates or the attractiveness, relative values, liquidity, or potential appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund could experience losses if these judgments prove to be incorrect. There can be no guarantee that the Adviser’s investment techniques or investment decisions will produce the desired results. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may adversely affect management of the Fund and, therefore, the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective.