424B2 1 gs-424b2.htm 424B2 gs-424b2.htm

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration Statement No. 333-219206

 

 

GS Finance Corp.

$1,171,000

Autocallable Contingent Coupon ETF-Linked Notes due 2021

guaranteed by

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

If on any coupon observation date (the 16th day of each month, commencing in February 2020 and ending in July 2021) the closing level of both the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF and the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF is greater than or equal to its coupon trigger level of 70% of its initial level (the initial level is $97.08 with respect to the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF and $22.74 with respect to the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF), you will receive on the applicable coupon payment date (the fifth business day after the coupon observation date) a coupon for each $1,000 face amount of your note equal to $12.92.

The return on your notes is linked to the performances of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF and the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (each, an ETF), and not to that of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index or the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index (each, an index) on which the respective ETFs are based. The ETFs follow a strategy of “representative sampling”, which in each case means the ETF’s holdings are not the same as those of its index. The performance of any ETF may significantly diverge from that of its index.

Your note will be automatically called before the stated maturity date (July 23, 2021) if the closing level of both ETFs on any coupon observation date commencing in July 2020 and ending in June 2021 is greater than or equal to its initial level. If your note is called, you will receive the face amount of your note plus a coupon on the applicable coupon payment date (even if a trigger event, described below, has occurred prior to the relevant coupon observation date).

If your note has not been called and a trigger event has not occurred, at maturity you will receive the face amount of your note plus a coupon payment. A trigger event will occur if the closing level of either ETF is less than its trigger level of 70% of its initial level on any day during the measurement period (the period from, but excluding, the trade date to, and including, the final coupon observation date, which is July 16, 2021). Regardless of the level of the ETFs on the determination date, you will never receive more than the face amount of your note at maturity, plus a coupon. A trigger event may occur on any trading day during the measurement period and the occurrence of such event on any day, other than a coupon observation date, does not affect your ability to receive coupons nor the automatic call feature of your note.

If your note has not been called and a trigger event has occurred, at maturity you will receive an amount based on the ETF with the lowest ETF return (the percentage increase or decrease in the final level of such ETF on the final coupon observation date from its initial level). You will only receive a coupon payment if the conditions for receiving such payment described above are met. If a trigger event has occurred, you will lose the face amount of your note on a one-for-one basis based on any negative return of the lesser performing ETF (a 10% negative ETF return on the lesser performing ETF will result in the loss of 10% of the face amount of your note at maturity).

A purchaser of these notes in the secondary market should determine if a trigger event has already occurred.  The occurrence of a trigger event could affect both the secondary market trading price of these notes or the amount that a holder of the notes will receive at maturity.  In order to determine if a trigger event has occurred, see page PS-3.

At maturity, if your note has not been called, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes you will receive the following:

If a trigger event has not occurred, $1,000, plus a coupon payment; or

If a trigger event has occurred, either:

 

o

If the ETF return of both ETFs is greater than or equal to zero, $1,000, plus a coupon payment.

 

o

If the ETF return of one or both ETFs is negative, (a) $1,000, plus (b) $1,000 multiplied by the lowest of such ETF returns, plus a coupon payment if the final level of both ETFs is greater than or equal to its coupon trigger level on the final coupon observation date. You could lose a significant portion of the face amount of your note and not receive any coupon payment.

You should read the disclosure herein to better understand the terms and risks of your investment, including the credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. See page PS-13.

The estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date is equal to approximately $979 per $1,000 face amount. For a discussion of the estimated value and the price at which Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC would initially buy or sell your notes, if it makes a market in the notes, see the following page.

Original issue date:  

January 22, 2020

Original issue price:

100% of the face amount

Underwriting discount:

0.67% of the face amount

Net proceeds to the issuer:

99.33% of the face amount

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The notes are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Pricing Supplement No. 7,365 dated January 16, 2020.

 

 

 


The issue price, underwriting discount and net proceeds listed above relate to the notes we sell initially.  We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this pricing supplement, at issue prices and with underwriting discounts and net proceeds that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in notes will depend in part on the issue price you pay for such notes.

GS Finance Corp. may use this prospectus in the initial sale of the notes. In addition, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any other affiliate of GS Finance Corp. may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in a note after its initial sale.  Unless GS Finance Corp. or its agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being used in a market-making transaction.

Estimated Value of Your Notes

The estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date (as determined by reference to pricing models used by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.) and taking into account our credit spreads) is equal to approximately $979 per $1,000 face amount, which is less than the original issue price.  The value of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted; however, the price (not including GS&Co.s customary bid and ask spreads) at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell notes (if it makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise is equal to approximately the estimated value of your notes at the time of pricing, plus an additional amount (initially equal to $21 per $1,000 face amount).

Prior to July 23, 2020, the price (not including GS&Co.’s customary bid and ask spreads) at which GS&Co. would buy or sell your notes (if it makes a market, which it is not obligated to do) will equal approximately the sum of (a) the then-current estimated value of your notes (as determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models) plus (b) any remaining additional amount (the additional amount will decline to zero on a straight-line basis from the time of pricing through July 22, 2020). On and after July 23, 2020, the price (not including GS&Co.’s customary bid and ask spreads) at which GS&Co. would buy or sell your notes (if it makes a market) will equal approximately the then-current estimated value of your notes determined by reference to such pricing models.

 

About Your Prospectus

The notes are part of the Medium-Term Notes, Series E program of GS Finance Corp. and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. This prospectus includes this pricing supplement and the accompanying documents listed below. This pricing supplement constitutes a supplement to the documents listed below, does not set forth all of the terms of your notes and therefore should be read in conjunction with such documents:

General terms supplement no. 6,993 dated November 22, 2019

Underlier supplement no. 2 dated December 20, 2019

Prospectus supplement dated July 10, 2017

Prospectus dated July 10, 2017

The information in this pricing supplement supersedes any conflicting information in the documents listed above. In addition, some of the terms or features described in the listed documents may not apply to your notes.       

We refer to the notes we are offering by this pricing supplement as the “offered notes” or the “notes”. Each of the offered notes has the terms described below. Please note that in this pricing supplement, references to “GS Finance Corp.”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean only GS Finance Corp. and do not include its subsidiaries or affiliates, references to “The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.”, our parent company, mean only The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and do not include its subsidiaries or affiliates and references to “Goldman Sachs” mean The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates, including us. The notes will be issued under the senior debt indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2015, each among us, as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. This indenture, as so supplemented and as further supplemented thereafter, is referred to as the “GSFC 2008 indenture” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The notes will be issued in book-entry form and represented by a master global note.


PS-2

 


 

INVESTMENT THESIS

 

The notes are designed for investors who:

 

believe that the closing level of at least one ETF will decline, such that the closing level of one ETF will be less than its initial level, but not by more than 30%, on each coupon observation date;

 

believe that the closing level of each ETF will not decline by more than 30% relative to its initial level on any trading day during the measurement period; and

 

want to receive a monthly contingent coupon at an above current market rate if, on the related coupon observation date, the closing level of each ETF is greater than or equal to 70% of its initial level, in exchange for bearing the risk of:

 

o

receiving few or no monthly coupons;

 

o

receiving a maturity payment that in the best case will equal the face amount of the notes (plus a coupon payment) and that in the worst case will result in a complete loss of principal (and no coupon payment); and

 

o

having the notes automatically called prior to the stated maturity date if, on any call observation date, the closing level of each ETF is greater than or equal to its initial level.

Coupon observation dates (and, therefore, the call observation dates), on which date it is determined if you receive a coupon (and whether or not your notes are called), occur once monthly.  However, the measurement period, during which period it will be determined if your principal is at risk, is every trading day from but excluding the trade date to and including the determination date. 

If the notes have not been called and (i) the ETF return of each ETF is greater than or equal to 0%, or (ii) the closing level of each ETF has not declined by more than 30% relative to its initial level on any trading day during the measurement period, at maturity investors will receive the face amount of their notes plus the final coupon.  

If the notes have not been called and the ETF return of any ETF is less than -30%, at maturity investors will be fully exposed on a one-to-one basis to the decline of the ETF with the lowest ETF return and will receive less than 70% of the face amount of their notes and no coupon.

If the notes have not been called and (i) the closing level of any ETF declined by more than 30% relative to its initial level on any trading day during the measurement period (referred to throughout this pricing supplement as a “trigger event”) and (ii) the ETF return of the lesser performing ETF is between 0% and -30% and, for the avoidance of doubt, the ETF return of each ETF is greater than or equal to -30%, at maturity investors will be fully exposed on a one-to-one basis to the decline of the lesser performing ETF. Although investors will receive the final coupon, this will be offset by a maturity payment that is less than the face amount of their notes.

 

 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SECONDARY MARKET PURCHASERS

 

A purchaser of these notes in the secondary market should determine if a trigger event has already occurred. The occurrence of a trigger event could affect both the secondary market trading price of these notes after a secondary market purchase or the amount a secondary market purchaser will receive at maturity. In order to determine if a trigger event has occurred, you should determine if the closing level of any ETF was less than 70% of its initial level on any date from the day after the original trade date to the date of your purchase. Certain financial websites make ETF levels publicly available, which can be helpful when determining whether a trigger event may have occurred. If you would like assistance in determining whether a trigger event has occurred, please call GS&Co. at (212) 902-0300.

 

PS-3

 


 

Terms AND CONDITIONS

(Terms From Pricing Supplement No. 7,365 Incorporated Into Master Note No. 2)

These terms and conditions relate to pricing supplement no. 7,365 dated January 16, 2020 of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. with respect to the issuance by GS Finance Corp. of its Autocallable Contingent Coupon ETF-Linked Notes due 2021 and the guarantee thereof by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

The provisions below are hereby incorporated into master note no. 2, dated August 22, 2018. References herein to “this note” shall be deemed to refer to “this security” in such master note no. 2, dated August 22, 2018. Certain defined terms may not be capitalized in these terms and conditions even if they are capitalized in master note no. 2, dated August 22, 2018. Defined terms that are not defined in these terms and conditions shall have the meanings indicated in such master note no. 2, dated August 22, 2018, unless the context otherwise requires.

CUSIP / ISIN: 40056YA53 / US40056YA533

Company (Issuer): GS Finance Corp.

Guarantor:  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Underliers (each individually, an underlier):  the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (current Bloomberg symbol: “XBI-UP Equity”), or any successor underlie; and the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (current Bloomberg symbol: “XOP-UP Equity”), or any successor underlier, as each may be modified, replaced or adjusted from time to time as provided herein

Underlying indices (each individually, an underlying index): with respect to the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index, the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF, and with respect to the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF, the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index

Face amount: $1,171,000 in the aggregate on the original issue date; the aggregate face amount may be increased if the company, at its sole option, decides to sell an additional amount on a date subsequent to the trade date

Authorized denominations: $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof

Principal amount:  Subject to redemption by the company as provided under “— Company’s redemption right (automatic call feature)” below, on the stated maturity date, in addition to the final coupon, if any, the company will pay, for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount, an amount, if any, in cash equal to the cash settlement amount.

Cash settlement amount:  

if a trigger event has not occurred, $1,000; or

if a trigger event has occurred, either:

 

o

if the underlier return of each underlier is greater than or equal to zero, $1,000; or

 

o

if the underlier return of one or each underlier is negative, (i) $1,000, plus (ii) $1,000 multiplied by the lesser performing underlier return

Company’s redemption right (automatic call feature):  if a redemption event occurs, then the outstanding face amount will be automatically redeemed in whole and the company will pay, in addition to the coupon then due, an amount in cash on the following call payment date, for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount, equal to $1,000

Redemption event: a redemption event will occur if, as measured on any call observation date, the closing level of each underlier is greater than or equal to its initial underlier level

Initial underlier level: $97.08 with respect to the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF and $22.74 with respect to the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

Final underlier level: with respect to an underlier, the closing level of such underlier on the determination date, subject to adjustment as provided in “— Consequences of a market disruption event or non-trading day” and “— Discontinuance or modification of an underlier” below

Underlier return:  with respect to an underlier on the determination date, the quotient of (i) its final underlier level minus its initial underlier level divided by (ii) its initial underlier level, expressed as a positive or negative percentage

Lesser performing underlier return:  the underlier return of the lesser performing underlier

PS-4

 


Lesser performing underlier:  the underlier with the lowest underlier return

Trigger event:  the closing level of any underlier has declined, as compared to its initial underlier level, by more than the trigger buffer amount on any trading day during the measurement period

Trigger buffer amount:  30%

Measurement period: the period from but excluding the trade date to and including the determination date, excluding any date or dates on which the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event with respect to any underlier occurs or is continuing or that the calculation agent determines is not a trading day with respect to any underlier. If the calculation agent determines that, with respect to any underlier, a market disruption even occurs or is continuing on the last day of the measurement period (i.e. the determination date) or that day is not otherwise a trading day, the determination date, and therefore the last day for the measurement period, will be postponed as described under “— Determination date” below.

Coupon:  subject to the company’s redemption right, on each coupon payment date, for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount, the company will pay an amount in cash equal to:

if the closing level of each underlier on the related coupon observation date is greater than or equal to its coupon trigger level, $12.92; or

if the closing level of any underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than its coupon trigger level, $0

The coupon paid on any coupon payment date will be paid to the person in whose name this note is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for such coupon payment date. If the coupon is due at maturity but on a day that is not a coupon payment date, the coupon will be paid to the person entitled to receive the principal of this note.

Coupon trigger level:  for each underlier, 70% of its initial underlier level

Trade date:  January 16, 2020

Original issue date: January 22, 2020

Determination date: July 16, 2021, unless the calculation agent determines that, with respect to any underlier, a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day or that day is not otherwise a trading day. In the event the originally scheduled determination date is a non-trading day with respect to any underlier, the determination date will be the first day thereafter that is a trading day for all underliers (the “first qualified trading day”) provided that no market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to an underlier on that day. If a market disruption event with respect to an underlier occurs or is continuing on the originally scheduled determination date or the first qualified trading day, the determination date will be the first following trading day on which the calculation agent determines that each underlier has had at least one trading day (from and including the originally scheduled determination date or the first qualified trading day, as applicable) on which no market disruption event has occurred or is continuing and the closing level of each underlier will be determined on or prior to the postponed determination date as set forth under “— Consequences of a market disruption event or a non-trading day” below. (In such case, the determination date may differ from the date on which the level of an underlier is determined for the purpose of the calculations to be performed on the determination date.) In no event, however, will the determination date be postponed to a date later than the originally scheduled stated maturity date or, if the originally scheduled stated maturity date is not a business day, later than the first business day after the originally scheduled stated maturity date, either due to the occurrence of serial non-trading days or due to the occurrence of one or more market disruption events. On such last possible determination date, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to an underlier that has not yet had such a trading day on which no market disruption event has occurred or is continuing or if such last possible day is not a trading day with respect to such underlier, that day will nevertheless be the determination date.

Stated maturity date: July 23, 2021, unless that day is not a business day, in which case the stated maturity date will be postponed to the next following business day.  The stated maturity date will also be postponed if the determination date is postponed as described under “— Determination date” above. In such a case, the stated maturity date will be postponed by the same number of business day(s) from but excluding the originally scheduled determination date to and including the actual determination date.

Call observation dates:  each coupon observation date commencing in July 2020 and ending in June 2021, subject to adjustment as described under “Coupon observation dates” below

Call payment dates:  the fifth business day after each call observation date, subject to adjustment as provided under — Call observation dates” above

PS-5

 


Coupon observation dates: the 16th day of each month, commencing in February 2020 and ending in July 2021, unless the calculation agent determines that, with respect to any underlier, a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day or that day is not otherwise a trading day

In the event the originally scheduled coupon observation date is a non-trading day with respect to any underlier, the coupon observation date will be the first day thereafter that is a trading day for all underliers (the “first qualified coupon trading day”) provided that no market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to an underlier on that day. If a market disruption event with respect to an underlier occurs or is continuing on the originally scheduled coupon observation date or the first qualified coupon trading day, the coupon observation date will be the first following trading day on which the calculation agent determines that each underlier has had at least one trading day (from and including the originally scheduled coupon observation date or the first qualified coupon trading day, as applicable) on which no market disruption event has occurred or is continuing and the closing level of each underlier for that coupon observation date will be determined on or prior to the postponed coupon observation date as set forth under “— Consequences of a market disruption event or a non-trading day” below. (In such case, the coupon observation date may differ from the date on which the level of an underlier is determined for the purpose of the calculations to be performed on the coupon observation date.) In no event, however, will the coupon observation date be postponed to a date later than the originally scheduled coupon payment date (based on the originally scheduled coupon observation date) or, if the originally scheduled coupon payment date is not a business day, later than the first business day after the originally scheduled coupon payment date, either due to the occurrence of serial non-trading days or due to the occurrence of one or more market disruption events. On such last possible coupon observation date applicable to the relevant coupon payment date, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing with respect to an underlier that has not yet had such a trading day on which no market disruption event has occurred or is continuing or if such last possible day is not a trading day with respect to such underlier, that day will nevertheless be the coupon observation date.

Coupon payment dates: the fifth business day after each coupon observation date (except that the final coupon payment date will be the stated maturity date), subject to adjustment as described under “— Coupon observation dates” above

Closing level: on any trading day, with respect to an underlier, the closing sale price or last reported sale price, regular way, for such underlier, on a per-share or other unit basis:

on the principal national securities exchange on which such underlier is listed for trading on that day, or

if such underlier is not listed on any national securities exchange on that day, on any other U.S. national market system that is the primary market for the trading of such underlier.  

If an underlier is not listed or traded as described above, then the closing level for such underlier on any day will be the average, as determined by the calculation agent, of the bid prices for such underlier obtained from as many dealers in such underlier selected by the calculation agent as will make those bid prices available to the calculation agent.  The number of dealers need not exceed three and may include the calculation agent or any of its or the company’s affiliates.

The closing level of an underlier is subject to adjustment as described under “— Anti-dilution adjustments” below.

Trading day: with respect to an underlier, a day on which (a) the exchange on which such underlier has its primary listing is open for trading and (b) the price of one share of such underlier is quoted by the exchange on which such underlier has its primary listing

Successor underlier: with respect to an underlier, any substitute underlier approved by the calculation agent as a successor as provided under “— Discontinuance or modification of an underlier” below

Underlier investment advisor: with respect to an underlier, at any time, the person or entity, including any successor investment advisor, that serves as an investment advisor to such underlier as then in effect.

Underlier stocks: with respect to an underlier, at any time, the stocks that comprise such underlier as then in effect, after giving effect to any additions, deletions or substitutions

Market disruption event: With respect to any given trading day, any of the following will be a market disruption event with respect to an underlier:

a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in such underlier on its primary market for more than two consecutive hours of trading or during the one-half hour before the close of trading in that market, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion,

PS-6

 


a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in option or futures contracts relating to such underlier in the primary market for those contracts for more than two consecutive hours of trading or during the one-half hour before the close of trading in that market, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion, or

such underlier does not trade on what was the primary market for such underlier, as determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion,

and, in the case of any of these events, the calculation agent determines in its sole discretion that the event could materially interfere with the ability of the company or any of its affiliates or a similarly situated person to unwind all or a material portion of a hedge that could be effected with respect to this note.

The following events will not be market disruption events:

a limitation on the hours or numbers of days of trading, but only if the limitation results from an announced change in the regular business hours of the relevant market, and

a decision to permanently discontinue trading in option or futures contracts relating to such underlier.

For this purpose, an “absence of trading” in the primary securities market on which shares of such underlier are traded, or on which option or futures contracts, if available, relating to such underlier are traded, will not include any time when that market is itself closed for trading under ordinary circumstances.  In contrast, a suspension or limitation of trading in shares of such underlier or in option or futures contracts, if available, relating to such underlier in the primary market for such underlier or those contracts, by reason of:

a price change exceeding limits set by that market,

an imbalance of orders relating to the shares of such underlier or those contracts, or

a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to the shares of such underlier or those contracts,  

will constitute a suspension or material limitation of trading in shares of such underlier or those contracts in that market.

A market disruption event with respect to one underlier will not, by itself, constitute a market disruption event for the other unaffected underlier.

Consequences of a market disruption event or a non-trading day: With respect to any underlier, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on a day that would otherwise be a coupon observation date or the determination date, or such day is not a trading day, then such coupon observation date or the determination date will be postponed as described under “— Coupon observation dates” or “— Determination date” above. If any coupon observation date or the determination date is postponed to the last possible date due to the occurrence of serial non-trading days, the level of each underlier will be the calculation agent’s assessment of such level, in its sole discretion, on such last possible postponed coupon observation date or determination date, as applicable. If any coupon observation date or the determination date is postponed due to a market disruption event with respect to any underlier, the closing level of each underlier with respect to such coupon observation date or the final underlier level with respect to the determination date, as applicable, will be calculated based on (i) for any underlier that is not affected by a market disruption event on (A) the applicable originally scheduled coupon observation date or the first qualified coupon trading day thereafter (if applicable) or (B) the originally scheduled determination date or the first qualified trading day thereafter (if applicable), the closing level of the underlier on that date, (ii) for any underlier that is affected by a market disruption event on (A) the applicable originally scheduled coupon observation date or the first qualified coupon trading day thereafter (if applicable) or (B) the originally scheduled determination date or the first qualified trading day thereafter (if applicable), the closing level of the underlier on the first following trading day on which no market disruption event exists for such underlier and (iii) the calculation agent’s assessment, in its sole discretion, of the level of any underlier on the last possible postponed coupon observation date or determination date, as applicable, with respect to such underlier as to which a market disruption event continues through the last possible postponed coupon observation date or determination date. As a result, this could result in the closing level on any coupon observation date or final underlier level on the determination date of each underlier being determined on different calendar dates. For the avoidance of doubt, once the closing level for an underlier is determined for a coupon observation date or determination date, the occurrence of a later market disruption event or non-trading day will not alter such calculation.

PS-7

 


Discontinuance or modification of an underlier: If an underlier is delisted from the exchange on which the underlier has its primary listing and its underlier investment advisor or anyone else publishes a substitute underlier that the calculation agent determines is comparable to such underlier and approves as a successor underlier, or if the calculation agent designates a substitute underlier, then the calculation agent will determine the coupon payable, if any, on the relevant coupon payment date, the amount payable on the call payment date or the amount in cash on the stated maturity date, as applicable, by reference to such successor underlier.

If the calculation agent determines on a coupon observation date or the determination date, as applicable, that an underlier is delisted or withdrawn from the exchange on which the underlier has its primary listing and there is no successor underlier, the calculation agent will determine the coupon or the cash settlement amount, as applicable, on the related coupon payment date or the stated maturity date, as applicable, by a computation methodology that the calculation agent determines will as closely as reasonably possible replicate such underlier.

If the calculation agent determines that an underlier, the underlier stocks comprising such underlier or the method of calculating such underlier is changed at any time in any respect — including any split or reverse split of the underlier, a material change in the investment objective of the underlier and any addition, deletion or substitution and any reweighting or rebalancing of such underlier and whether the change is made by the underlier investment advisor under its existing policies or following a modification of those policies, is due to the publication of a successor underlier, is due to events affecting one or more of the underlier stocks or their issuers or is due to any other reason — then the calculation agent will be permitted (but not required) to make such adjustments in such underlier or the method of its calculation as it believes are appropriate to ensure that the levels of such underlier used to determine the coupon or cash settlement amount, as applicable, on the related coupon payment date or the stated maturity date, as applicable, is equitable.

All determinations and adjustments to be made by the calculation agent with respect to an underlier may be made by the calculation agent in its sole discretion. The calculation agent is not obligated to make any such adjustments.

Regular record dates:  the scheduled business day immediately preceding the day on which payment is to be made (as such payment date may be adjusted)

Anti-dilution adjustments:  the calculation agent will have discretion to adjust the closing level of an underlier if certain events occur (including those described above under “— Discontinuance or modification of an underlier”). In the event that any event other than a delisting or withdrawal from the relevant exchange occurs, the calculation agent shall determine whether and to what extent an adjustment should be made to the level of such underlier or any other term. The calculation agent shall have no obligation to make an adjustment for any such event.

Calculation agent:  Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GS&Co.”)

Tax characterization: The holder, on behalf of itself and any other person having a beneficial interest in this note, hereby agrees with the company (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary) to characterize this note for all U.S. federal income tax purposes as an income-bearing pre-paid derivative contract in respect of the underliers.

Overdue principal rate and overdue coupon rate: the effective Federal Funds rate

 


 

PS-8

 


 

Hypothetical ExampleS

The following examples are provided for purposes of illustration only. They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and are intended merely to illustrate (i) the impact that various hypothetical closing levels of the underliers on a coupon observation date could have on the coupon payable, if any, on the related coupon payment date and (ii) the impact that various hypothetical closing levels of the lesser performing underlier on the determination date could have on the cash settlement amount at maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.

The examples below are based on a range of underlier levels that are entirely hypothetical; no one can predict what the closing level of any underlier will be on any day throughout the life of your notes, what the closing level of any underlier will be on any coupon observation date or call observation date, as the case may be, and what the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier will be on the determination date. The underliers have been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the underlier levels have changed substantially in relatively short periods — and their performance cannot be predicted for any future period.

The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered notes assuming that they are purchased on the original issue date at the face amount and held to a call payment date or the stated maturity date.  If you sell your notes in a secondary market prior to a call payment date or the stated maturity date, as the case may be, your return will depend upon the market value of your notes at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the examples below such as interest rates, the volatility of the underliers, the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, and the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor.  In addition, the estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date (as determined by reference to pricing models used by GS&Co.) is less than the original issue price of your notes.  For more information on the estimated value of your notes, see “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — The Estimated Value of Your Notes At the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set On the Trade Date (as Determined By Reference to Pricing Models Used By GS&Co.) Is Less Than the Original Issue Price Of Your Notes” on page PS-13 of this pricing supplement.  The information in the examples also reflects the key terms and assumptions in the box below.

Key Terms and Assumptions

Face amount

$1,000

Coupon

$12.92

Coupon trigger level

with respect to each underlier, 70% of its initial underlier level

The notes are not automatically called, unless otherwise indicated below

Neither a market disruption event nor a non-trading day occurs on any originally scheduled coupon observation date or call observation date or the originally scheduled determination date

No change in or affecting any underlier, any underlier stock, any policy of the applicable underlier investment advisor or any method by which the applicable underlying index sponsor calculates its underlying index

Notes purchased on original issue date at the face amount and held to a call payment date or the stated maturity date

For these reasons, the actual performance of the underliers over the life of your notes, the actual underlier levels on any call observation date or coupon observation date, as well as the coupon payable, if any, on each coupon payment date, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical underlier levels shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the underlier levels during recent periods, see “The Underliers — Historical Closing Levels of the Underliers” on page PS-21. Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the underlier levels between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the notes.

Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your notes, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your notes to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the underlier stocks.

 

Hypothetical Coupon Payments

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The examples below show hypothetical performances of each underlier as well as the hypothetical coupons, if any, that we would pay on each coupon payment date with respect to each $1,000 face amount of the notes if the hypothetical closing level of each underlier on the applicable coupon observation date was the percentage of its initial underlier level shown.

Scenario 1

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

110%

50%

$0

Second

80%

85%

$12.92

Third

55%

70%

$0

Fourth

60%

65%

$0

Fifth

50%

115%

$0

Sixth

70%

65%

$0

Seventh

60%

85%

$0

Eighth

80%

65%

$0

Ninth

90%

60%

$0

Tenth

90%

65%

$0

Eleventh

75%

60%

$0

Twelfth - Eighteenth

80%

65%

$0

 

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$12.92

In Scenario 1, the hypothetical closing level of each underlier increases and decreases by varying amounts on each hypothetical coupon observation date.  Because the hypothetical closing level of each underlier on the second hypothetical coupon observation date is greater than or equal to its coupon trigger level, the total of the hypothetical coupons in Scenario 1 is $12.92.  Because the hypothetical closing level of at least one underlier on all other hypothetical coupon observation dates is less than its coupon trigger level, no further coupons will be paid, including at maturity.

Scenario 2

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

110%

30%

$0

Second

40%

20%

$0

Third

35%

25%

$0

Fourth

45%

50%

$0

Fifth

50%

115%

$0

Sixth

55%

45%

$0

Seventh

65%

70%

$0

Eighth

70%

65%

$0

Ninth

65%

80%

$0

Tenth

55%

85%

$0

Eleventh

50%

60%

$0

Twelfth - Eighteenth

60%

65%

$0

 

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$0

In Scenario 2, the hypothetical closing level of each underlier increases and decreases by varying amounts on each hypothetical coupon observation date.  Because in each case the hypothetical closing level of at least one underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than its coupon trigger level, you will not receive a coupon payment on the applicable hypothetical coupon payment date. Since this occurs on every hypothetical coupon observation date, the overall return you earn on your notes will be less than zero.  Therefore, the total of the hypothetical coupons in Scenario 2 is $0.

Scenario 3

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Closing Level of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

60%

30%

$0

Second

55%

20%

$0

Third

35%

25%

$0

Fourth

45%

50%

$0

Fifth

50%

65%

$0

Sixth

120%

110%

$12.92

 

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$12.92

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In Scenario 3, the hypothetical closing level of each underlier is less than its coupon trigger level on the first five hypothetical coupon observation date, but increases to a level that is greater than its initial underlier level on the sixth hypothetical coupon observation date. Because the hypothetical closing level of each underlier is greater than or equal to its initial underlier level on the sixth hypothetical coupon observation date (which is also the first hypothetical call observation date), your notes will be automatically called.  Therefore, on the corresponding hypothetical call payment date, in addition to the hypothetical coupon of $12.92, you will receive an amount in cash equal to $1,000 for each $1,000 face amount of your notes.                                                            

Hypothetical Payment at Maturity

If the notes are not automatically called on any call observation date (i.e., on each call observation date the closing level of any underlier is less than its initial underlier level), the cash settlement amount we would deliver for each $1,000 face amount of your notes on the stated maturity date will depend on the performance of the lesser performing underlier on the determination date, as shown in the table below.  The table below assumes that the notes have not been automatically called on a call observation date, does not include the final coupon, if any, and reflects hypothetical cash settlement amounts that you could receive on the stated maturity date. If the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier (as a percentage of the initial underlier level) is less than its coupon trigger level, you will not be paid a final coupon at maturity.

The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical final underlier levels of the lesser performing underlier and are expressed as percentages of the initial underlier level of the lesser performing underlier.  The amounts in the middle column represent the hypothetical cash settlement amounts, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier, assuming that a trigger event does not occur (i.e., the closing level of each underlier has not declined, as compared to the initial underlier level, by more than the trigger buffer amount during the measurement period), and are expressed as percentages of the face amount of a note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical cash settlement amounts, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier, assuming that a trigger event occurs (i.e., the closing level of any underlier has declined, as compared to the initial underlier level, by more than the trigger buffer amount during the measurement period), and are expressed as percentages of the face amount of a note (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent).  Thus, a hypothetical cash settlement amount of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would deliver for each $1,000 of the outstanding face amount of the offered notes on the stated maturity date would equal 100.000% of the face amount of a note, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier and the assumptions noted above.

 

The Notes Have Not Been Automatically Called

Hypothetical Final Underlier Level of the Lesser Performing Underlier (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Cash Settlement Amount at Maturity if the Notes Have Not Been Automatically Called on a Call Observation Date (as Percentage of Face Amount)

 

Trigger Event Has Not Occurred

Trigger Event Has Occurred

 

175.000%

100.000%*

100.000%*

 

150.000%

100.000%*

100.000%*

 

125.000%

100.000%*

100.000%*

 

100.000%

100.000%*

100.000%*

 

99.999%

100.000%*

99.999%*

 

85.000%

100.000%*

85.000%*

 

80.000%

100.000%*

80.000%*

 

70.000%

100.000%*

70.000%*

 

69.999%

N/A

69.999%

 

40.000%

N/A

40.000%

 

25.000%

N/A

25.000%

 

20.000%

N/A

20.000%

 

10.000%

N/A

10.000%

 

0.000%

N/A

0.000%

 

*Does not include the final coupon

 

 

 

If, for example, a trigger event has occurred and the notes have not been automatically called on a call observation date and the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier were determined to be 25.000% of its initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be 25.000% of the face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above.  As a result, if you

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purchased your notes on the original issue date at the face amount and held them to the stated maturity date, you would lose 75.000% of your investment (if you purchased your notes at a premium to face amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment).

If, for example, a trigger event has not occurred and the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier were determined to be 80.000% of its initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be 100.000% of the face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above.  In addition, if the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier were determined to be 175.000% of its initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be limited to 100.000% of each $1,000 face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above.  As a result, if you held your notes to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any increase in the final underlier level over the initial underlier level.  

The cash settlement amounts shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on market prices for the underlier stocks that may not be achieved on the determination date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous.  The actual market value of your notes on the stated maturity date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your notes, may bear little relation to the hypothetical cash settlement amounts shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered notes.  The hypothetical cash settlement amounts on notes held to the stated maturity date in the examples above assume you purchased your notes at their face amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual issue price you pay for your notes. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your notes will be affected by the amount you pay for your notes. If you purchase your notes for a price other than the face amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” on page S-3 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993.

Payments on the notes are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the notes are economically equivalent to a combination of an interest-bearing bond bought by the holder and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the notes or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the notes, as described elsewhere in this pricing supplement.

 

We cannot predict the actual closing levels of the underliers on any day, the final underlier level of the underliers or what the market value of your notes will be on any particular trading day, nor can we predict the relationship between the closing levels of the underliers and the market value of your notes at any time prior to the stated maturity date. The actual coupon payment, if any, that a holder of the notes will receive on each coupon payment date, the actual amount that you will receive at maturity, if any, and the rate of return on the offered notes will depend on whether or not the notes are called, the actual closing levels of the underliers during the measurement period and on the coupon observation dates and the actual final underlier levels determined by the calculation agent as described above. Moreover, the assumptions on which the hypothetical examples are based may turn out to be inaccurate. Consequently, the coupon to be paid in respect of your notes, if any, and the cash amount to be paid in respect of your notes on the stated maturity date, if any, may be very different from the information reflected in the examples above.

 

 

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Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes

An investment in your notes is subject to the risks described below, as well as the risks and considerations described in the accompanying prospectus, in the accompanying prospectus supplement and under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2 and under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Underlier-Linked Notes” in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993. You should carefully review these risks and considerations as well as the terms of the notes described herein and in the accompanying prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2 and the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993. Your notes are a riskier investment than ordinary debt securities. Also, your notes are not equivalent to investing directly in the underlier stocks, i.e., with respect to an underlier to which your notes are linked, the stocks comprising such underlier. You should carefully consider whether the offered notes are suited to your particular circumstances.

The Estimated Value of Your Notes At the Time the Terms of Your Notes Are Set On the Trade Date (as Determined By Reference to Pricing Models Used By GS&Co.) Is Less Than the Original Issue Price Of Your Notes

The original issue price for your notes exceeds the estimated value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date, as determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models and taking into account our credit spreads. Such estimated value on the trade date is set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”; after the trade date, the estimated value as determined by reference to these models will be affected by changes in market conditions, the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and other relevant factors.  The price at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell your notes (if GS&Co. makes a market, which it is not obligated to do), and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise, also exceeds the estimated value of your notes as determined by reference to these models.  As agreed by GS&Co. and the distribution participants, this excess (i.e., the additional amount described under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”) will decline to zero on a straight line basis over the period from the date hereof through the applicable date set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”.  Thereafter, if GS&Co. buys or sells your notes it will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value determined by reference to such pricing models at that time.  The price at which GS&Co. will buy or sell your notes at any time also will reflect its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes.

In estimating the value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date, as disclosed above under “Estimated Value of Your Notes”, GS&Co.’s pricing models consider certain variables, including principally our credit spreads, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the notes. These pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your notes in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of your notes determined by reference to our models due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” on page S-3 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993.

The difference between the estimated value of your notes as of the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date and the original issue price is a result of certain factors, including principally the underwriting discount and commissions, the expenses incurred in creating, documenting and marketing the notes, and an estimate of the difference between the amounts we pay to GS&Co. and the amounts GS&Co. pays to us in connection with your notes. We pay to GS&Co. amounts based on what we would pay to holders of a non-structured note with a similar maturity. In return for such payment, GS&Co. pays to us the amounts we owe under your notes.

In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of your notes at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted.  If GS&Co. makes a market in the notes, the price quoted by GS&Co. would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any

PS-13

 


 

deterioration in our creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness or the creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. These changes may adversely affect the value of your notes, including the price you may receive for your notes in any market making transaction. To the extent that GS&Co. makes a market in the notes, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).

Furthermore, if you sell your notes, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your notes in a secondary market sale.

There is no assurance that GS&Co. or any other party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price and, in this regard, GS&Co. is not obligated to make a market in the notes. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes — Your Notes May Not Have an Active Trading Market” on page S-7 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993.

The Notes Are Subject to the Credit Risk of the Issuer and the Guarantor

Although the coupons (if any) and return on the notes will be based on the performance of each underlier, the payment of any amount due on the notes is subject to the credit risk of GS Finance Corp., as issuer of the notes, and the credit risk of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor of the notes. The notes are our unsecured obligations.  Investors are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Similarly, investors are dependent on the ability of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor of the notes, to pay all amounts due on the notes, and therefore are also subject to its credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of its creditworthiness.  See “Description of the Notes We May Offer — Information About Our Medium-Term Notes, Series E Program — How the Notes Rank Against Other Debt” on page S-4 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer – Guarantee by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.” on page 42 of the accompanying prospectus.

You May Lose Your Entire Investment in the Notes

You can lose your entire investment in the notes. Assuming your notes are not automatically called, the cash settlement amount on your notes, if any, on the stated maturity date will be based on (i) the performances of the underliers during the measurement period and (ii) the performance of the lesser performing of the underliers as measured from their initial underlier levels to their closing levels on the determination date.  If a trigger event has occurred (i.e. the closing level of any underlier has declined (as compared to its initial underlier level) by more than its trigger buffer amount on any trading day during the measurement period) and the final underlier level of any underlier is less than the initial underlier level, you will have a loss for each $1,000 of the face amount of your notes equal to the product of the lesser performing underlier return times $1,000. Thus, you may lose your entire investment in the notes, which would include any premium to face amount you paid when you purchased the notes.

Also, the market price of your notes prior to a call payment date or the stated maturity date, as the case may be, may be significantly lower than the purchase price you pay for your notes.  Consequently, if you sell your notes before the stated maturity date, you may receive far less than the amount of your investment in the notes.

The Return on Your Notes May Change Significantly Despite Only a Small Change in the Level of an Underlier

If a trigger event occurs and the final underlier level of the lesser performing underlier is less than its initial underlier level, you will receive less than the face amount of your notes and you could lose all or a substantial portion of your investment in the notes. This means that while a drop of up to the trigger buffer amount between the initial underlier level and the closing level of any underlier on any day during the measurement period will not result in a loss of principal on the notes (since a trigger event will not have occurred), a decrease in the closing level of any underlier of more than its trigger buffer amount on any day during the measurement period may, or a decrease in the final underlier level of the lesser performing

PS-14

 


 

underlier of more than its trigger buffer amount will, result in a loss of a significant portion of the face amount of the notes despite only a small change in the level of the underlier.

You May Not Receive a Coupon on Any Coupon Payment Date

If the closing level of any underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than its coupon trigger level, you will not receive a coupon payment on the applicable coupon payment date. If this occurs on every coupon observation date, the overall return you earn on your notes will be less than zero and such return will be less than you would have earned by investing in a note that bears interest at the prevailing market rate.

You will only receive a coupon on a coupon payment date if the closing level of each underlier on the related coupon observation date is greater than or equal to its coupon trigger level.  You should be aware that, with respect to prior coupon observation dates that did not result in the payment of a coupon, you will not be compensated for any opportunity cost implied by inflation and other factors relating to the time value of money.  Further, there is no guarantee that you will receive any coupon payment with respect to the notes at any time and you may lose your entire investment in the notes.

Your Notes Are Subject to Automatic Redemption

We will automatically call and redeem all, but not part, of your notes on a call payment date if, as measured on any call observation date, the closing level of each underlier is greater than or equal to its initial underlier level. Therefore, the term for your notes may be reduced. You will not receive any additional coupon payments after the notes are automatically called and you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds from an investment in the notes at a comparable return for a similar level of risk in the event the notes are automatically called prior to maturity. For the avoidance of doubt, if your notes are automatically called, no discounts, commissions or fees described herein will be rebated or reduced.

The Coupon Does Not Reflect the Actual Performance of the Underliers from the Trade Date to Any Coupon Observation Date or from Coupon Observation Date to Coupon Observation Date

The coupon for each monthly coupon payment date is different from, and may be less than, a coupon determined based on the percentage difference of the closing levels of the underliers between the trade date and any coupon observation date or between two coupon observation dates. Accordingly, the coupons, if any, on the notes may be less than the return you could earn on another instrument linked to the underliers that pays coupons based on the performance of the underliers from the trade date to any coupon observation date or from coupon observation date to coupon observation date.

The Cash Settlement Amount Will Be Based Solely on the Lesser Performing Underlier

If the notes are not automatically called, the cash settlement amount will be based on the lesser performing underlier without regard to the performance of the other underlier. As a result, you could lose all or some of your initial investment if the lesser performing underlier return is negative, even if there is an increase in the level of the other underlier. This could be the case even if the other underlier increased by an amount greater than the decrease in the lesser performing underlier.

In addition, if a trigger event occurs (i.e., the closing level of any underlier has declined, as compared to its initial underlier level, by more than the trigger buffer amount on any trading day during the measurement period), at maturity you will be exposed to the downside performance of each underlier.  For example, if a trigger event occurs because the closing level of one underlier declines below its initial underlier level by more than the trigger buffer amount during the measurement period, but the closing level of such underlier increases and is greater than its initial underlier level on the determination date, you will still receive less than the face amount of your notes if the closing level of any other underlier is at any level below its initial underlier level on the determination date.  As a result, if a trigger event occurs, the downside performance of any underlier will result in your receiving less than the face amount of your notes at maturity.  

If You Purchase Your Notes at a Premium to Face Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Lower Than the Return on Notes Purchased at Face Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Notes Will Be Negatively Affected

PS-15

 


 

The cash settlement amount you will be paid for your notes on the stated maturity date, if any, or the amount you will be paid on a call payment date will not be adjusted based on the issue price you pay for the notes. If you purchase notes at a price that differs from the face amount of the notes, then the return on your investment in such notes held to a call payment date or the stated maturity date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on notes purchased at face amount. If you purchase your notes at a premium to face amount and hold them to a call payment date or the stated maturity date, the return on your investment in the notes will be lower than it would have been had you purchased the notes at face amount or a discount to face amount.

The Policies of the Investment Advisor of the Underliers, SSGA Funds Management, Inc., and the Sponsor of the Underlying Indices, S&P, Could Affect the Amount Payable on Your Notes and Their Market Value

The investment advisor of the underliers, SSGA Funds Management (“SSGA”), may from time to time be called upon to make certain policy decisions or judgments with respect to the implementation of policies of the investment advisor concerning the calculation of the net asset value of the underliers, additions, deletions or substitutions of securities in the underliers and the manner in which changes affecting the underlying index for any underlier is reflected in that underlier that could affect the market price of the shares of that underlier, and therefore, the amount payable on your notes on the stated maturity date. The amount payable on your notes and their market value could also be affected if the investment advisor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the net asset value of an underlier, or if the investment advisor discontinues or suspends calculation or publication of the net asset value of an underlier, in which case it may become difficult or inappropriate to determine the market value of your notes.

If events such as these occur, the calculation agent — which initially will be GS&Co. — may determine the closing level of the underliers on a coupon observation date or the determination date — and thus the amount payable on a coupon payment date or the stated maturity date, if any — in a manner, in its sole discretion, it considers appropriate. We describe the discretion that the calculation agent will have in determining the closing level of the underliers on a coupon observation date or the determination date, as applicable, and the amount payable on your notes more fully under “Terms and Conditions— Discontinuance or modification of an underlier” on page PS-7 of this pricing supplement.

In addition, S&P, the underlier sponsor of the underlying indices, owns each underlying index and is responsible for the design and maintenance of the underlying indices. The policies of the underlying index sponsor concerning the calculation of a particular underlying index, including decisions regarding the addition, deletion or substitution of the equity securities included in that underlying index, could affect the level of that underlying index and, consequently, could affect the market prices of shares of the related underlier and, therefore, the amount payable on your notes and their market value.

 

The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF is Concentrated in Biotechnology Companies and Does Not Provide Diversified Exposure

 

The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF is not diversified. The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF’s assets will be concentrated in biotechnology companies, which means the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF is more likely to be adversely affected by any negative performance of biotechnology companies than an index that has more diversified holdings across a number of sectors. Biotechnology companies invest heavily in research and development which may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. Biotechnology companies are also subject to increased governmental regulation which may delay or inhibit the release of new products. Many biotechnology companies are dependent upon their ability to use and enforce intellectual property rights and patents. Any impairment of such rights may have adverse financial consequences. Biotechnology stocks, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Biotechnology companies can be significantly affected by technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits and consequential high insurance costs.

The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF is Concentrated in Oil & Gas Companies and Does Not Provide Diversified Exposure

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The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF is not diversified. The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF’s assets will be concentrated in oil and gas companies, which means the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF is more likely to be more adversely affected by any negative performance of oil and gas companies than an underlier that has more diversified holdings across a number of sectors. Oil & gas companies develop and produce crude oil and natural gas and provide drilling and other energy resources production and distribution related services. Stock prices for these types of companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for energy products in general. The price of oil and gas, exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and economic conditions will likewise affect the performance of these companies. Correspondingly, securities of companies in the energy field are subject to swift price and supply fluctuations caused by events relating to international politics, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other governmental regulatory policies. Weak demand for the companies’ products or services or for energy products and services in general, as well as negative developments in these other areas, would adversely impact the performance of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF. For example, the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF suffered a significant negative performance for each of the years 2014 and 2015 primarily due to negative developments in the oil & gas sector, while the broader S&P® 500 index achieved a positive return for each of the same periods. In addition, oil and gas exploration and production can be significantly affected by natural disasters as well as changes in exchange rates, interest rates, government regulation, world events and economic conditions. Companies in the oil & gas sector may also be at risk for environmental damage claims.

There Are Risks Associated with the Underliers

Although the shares of the underliers are listed for trading on NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”) and a number of similar products have been traded on the NYSE Arca or other securities exchanges for varying periods of time, there is no assurance that an active trading market will continue for the shares of any underlier or that there will be liquidity in the trading market.

In addition, each underlier is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the underlier investment advisor’s investment strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the underlier investment advisor for an underlier may select up to 10% of an underlier’s assets to be invested in shares of equity securities that are not included in its underlying index.  No underlier is actively managed and each underlier may be affected by a general decline in market segments relating to its underlying index.  Each underlier investment advisor invests in securities included in, or representative of, the underlying index regardless of their investment merits.  The underlier investment advisor does not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

In addition, the underliers are subject to custody risk, which refers to the risks in the process of clearing and settling trades and to the holding of securities by local banks, agents and depositories.  Low trading volumes and volatile prices in less developed markets make trades harder to complete and settle, and governments or trade groups may compel local agents to hold securities in designated depositories that are not subject to independent evaluation. The less developed a country’s securities market is, the greater the likelihood of custody problems.

Further, under continuous listing standards adopted by the NYSE Arca, each underlier will be required to confirm on an ongoing basis that the components of its underlying index satisfy the applicable listing requirements.  In the event that its underlying index does not comply with the applicable listing requirements, such underlier would be required to rectify such non-compliance by requesting that the underlying index sponsor modify such underlying index, adopting a new underlying index or obtaining relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that the underlying index sponsor would so modify the underlying index or that relief would be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, non-compliance with the continuous listing standards may result in each underlier being delisted by the NYSE Arca.

Each Underlier and Its Underlying Index are Different and the Performance of Each Underlier May Not Correlate With the Performance of its Underlying Index

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Each underlier uses a representative sampling strategy (more fully described under “The Underliers”) to attempt to track the performance of its underlying index. Each underlier may not hold all or substantially all of the equity securities included in its underlying index and may hold securities or assets not included in its underlying index. Therefore, while the performance of each underlier is generally linked to the performance of its underlying index, the performance of each underlier is also linked in part to shares of equity securities not included in its underlying index and to the performance of other assets, such as futures contracts, options and swaps, as well as cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds affiliated with its underlier investment advisor.

Imperfect correlation between an underlier’s portfolio securities and those in its underlying index, rounding of prices, changes to its underlying index and regulatory requirements may cause tracking error, which is the divergence of an underlier’s performance from that of its underlying index.  

In addition, the performance of each underlier will reflect additional transaction costs and fees that are not included in the calculation of its underlying index and this may increase the tracking error of each underlier. Also, corporate actions with respect to the sample of equity securities (such as mergers and spin-offs) may impact the performance differential between each underlier and its underlying index. Finally, because the shares of each underlier are traded on the NYSE Arca and are subject to market supply and investor demand, the market value of one share of an underlier may differ from the net asset value per share of that underlier.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the performance of any underlier may not correlate with the performance of its underlying index. Consequently, the amount payable on your notes will not be the same as investing directly in each underlier or in each underlying index or in any of the respective underlier stocks or in any of the respective stocks comprising such underlying index, and will not be the same as investing in a debt security with a payment at maturity linked to the performance of each underlying index.

The Return on Your Notes Will Not Reflect Any Dividends Paid on the Underliers or the Underlier Stocks

The return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the underliers and received the distributions paid on the shares of such underliers. You will not receive any dividends that may be paid on any of the underlier stocks by the underlier stock issuers or the shares of the underliers. See “— You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Shares of the Underliers or Any Underlier Stock” below for additional information.

You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Shares of the Underliers or Any Underlier Stock

Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any shares of the underliers or any underlier stocks. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of your notes will have any rights with respect to the underliers or the underlier stocks, including any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions, any rights to make a claim against the underliers or the underlier stocks or any other rights of a holder of any shares of the underliers or the underlier stocks. Your notes will be paid in cash and you will have no right to receive delivery of any shares of the underliers or any underlier stocks.

We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Face Amount of the Notes at a Different Issue Price

At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate face amount of the notes subsequent to the date of this pricing supplement. The issue price of the notes in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the issue price you paid as provided on the cover of this pricing supplement.

The Tax Consequences of an Investment in Your Notes Are Uncertain

The tax consequences of an investment in your notes are uncertain, both as to the timing and character of any inclusion in income in respect of your notes.

The Internal Revenue Service announced on December 7, 2007 that it is considering issuing guidance regarding the tax treatment of an instrument such as your notes, and any such guidance could adversely affect the value and the tax treatment of your notes. Among other things, the Internal Revenue Service

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may decide to require the holders to accrue ordinary income on a current basis and recognize ordinary income on payment at maturity, and could subject non-U.S. investors to withholding tax. Furthermore, in 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if enacted, would have required holders that acquired instruments such as your notes after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of such instruments even though there may be no interest payments over the term of such instruments.  It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your notes.  We describe these developments in more detail under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences – United States Holders – Possible Change in Law” below. You should consult your tax advisor about this matter. Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, GS Finance Corp. intends to continue treating the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page PS-23 below unless and until such time as Congress, the Treasury Department or the Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.  Please also consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and any other applicable tax consequences to you of owning your notes in your particular circumstances.

Your Notes May Be Subject to the Constructive Ownership Rules

There exists a risk that the constructive ownership rules of Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code could apply to your notes. If your notes were subject to the constructive ownership rules, then any long-term capital gain that you realize upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes would be re-characterized as ordinary income (and you would be subject to an interest charge on deferred tax liability with respect to such re-characterized capital gain) to the extent that such capital gain exceeds the amount of “net underlying long-term capital gain” (as defined in Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code). Because the application of the constructive ownership rules is unclear you are strongly urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the possible application of the constructive ownership rules to your investment in the notes.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding May Apply to Payments on Your Notes, Including as a Result of the Failure of the Bank or Broker Through Which You Hold the Notes to Provide Information to Tax Authorities

Please see the discussion under “United States Taxation — Taxation of Debt Securities — Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the applicability of FATCA to payments made on your notes. The discussion in that section is hereby modified to reflect regulations proposed by the Treasury Department indicating its intent to eliminate the requirements under FATCA of withholding on gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, maturity or other disposition of relevant financial instruments. The Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization.

 

 

 

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The UNDERLIERS

The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF

The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF seeks investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. The investment advisor of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF uses a representative sampling strategy to attempt to track the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index, which means that the underlier may purchase a subset of the securities in the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index.

The S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index is a modified equal-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of stocks in the S&P Total Market Index that both (i) are classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard in the biotechnology sub-industry and (ii) satisfy certain liquidity and market capitalization requirements.

For more details about the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF, the investment advisor and the underlying index, see “The Underliers — The SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF” on page S-143 of the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2.

“SPDR®” is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. The offered notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates, and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the offered notes.

The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF seeks investment results that correspond generally to the total return performance, before fees and expenses, of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index. The investment advisor of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF uses a representative sampling strategy to attempt to track the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index, which means that the underlier may purchase a subset of the securities in the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index. 

The S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index is a modified equal-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of stocks in the S&P Total Market Index that both (i) are classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard in the integrated oil & gas, oil & gas exploration & production and oil & gas refining & marketing sub-industries and (ii) satisfy certain liquidity and market capitalization requirements.

For more details about the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF, the investment advisor and the underlying index, see “The Underliers — The SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF” on page S-150 of the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2.

“SPDR®” is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. The offered notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates, and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P or their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the offered notes.

 


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Historical Closing Levels of the Underliers

The closing levels of the underliers have fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of any underlier during the period shown below is not an indication that such underlier is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the life of your notes.

You should not take the historical closing levels of an underlier as an indication of the future performance of an underlier. We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of any underlier or the underlier stocks will result in you receiving any coupon payments or receiving the outstanding face amount of your notes on the stated maturity date.

Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performance of the underliers. Before investing in the offered notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the relevant underlier levels between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered notes. The actual performance of an underlier over the life of the offered notes, as well as the cash settlement amount at maturity may bear little relation to the historical levels shown below.

The graphs below show the daily historical closing levels of each underlier from January 1, 2015 through January 16, 2020. As a result, the following graphs do not reflect the global financial crisis which began in 2008, which had a materially negative impact on the price of most equity securities and, as a result, the level of most equity ETFs. We obtained the levels in the graphs below from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification.

 

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Historical Performance of the SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

 

Historical Performance of the SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF

 

 

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Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following section supplements the discussion of U.S. federal income taxation in the accompanying prospectus.

The following section is the opinion of Sidley Austin llp, counsel to GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.  In addition, it is the opinion of Sidley Austin llp that the characterization of the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes that will be required under the terms of the notes, as discussed below, is a reasonable interpretation of current law.

This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

a dealer in securities or currencies;

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

a bank;

a life insurance company;

a regulated investment company;

an accrual method taxpayer subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of its use of financial statements;

a tax exempt organization;

a partnership;

a person that owns a note as a hedge or that is hedged against interest rate risks;

a person that owns a note as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes; or

a United States holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.

Although this section is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect, no statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly discusses how your notes should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and as a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in your notes are uncertain. Moreover, these laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

You should consult your tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax and other tax consequences of your investment in the notes, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.

 

United States Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a United States holder that holds your notes as a capital asset for tax purposes. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of a note and you are:

a citizen or resident of the United States;

a domestic corporation;

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

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a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

Tax Treatment. You will be obligated pursuant to the terms of the notes — in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the contrary — to characterize your notes for all tax purposes as income-bearing pre-paid derivative contracts in respect of the underliers. Except as otherwise stated below, the discussion below assumes that the notes will be so treated.

Coupon payments that you receive should be included in ordinary income at the time you receive the payment or when the payment accrues, in accordance with your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes, you should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity (excluding any amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid coupon payments, which will be taxable as described above) and your tax basis in your notes. Your tax basis in your notes will generally be equal to the amount that you paid for the notes.  Such capital gain or loss should generally be short-term capital gain or loss if you hold the notes for one year or less, and should be long-term capital gain or loss if you hold the notes for more than one year. Short-term capital gains are generally subject to tax at the marginal tax rates applicable to ordinary income.

In addition, the constructive ownership rules of Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code could possibly apply to your notes. If your notes were subject to the constructive ownership rules, then any long-term capital gain that you realize upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes would be re-characterized as ordinary income (and you would be subject to an interest charge on deferred tax liability with respect to such re-characterized capital gain) to the extent that such capital gain exceeds the amount of “net underlying long-term capital gain” (as defined in Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code). Because the application of the constructive ownership rules is unclear you are strongly urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the possible application of the constructive ownership rules to your investment in the notes.

No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly discusses how your notes should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the notes are uncertain and alternative characterizations are possible. Accordingly, we urge you to consult your tax advisor in determining the tax consequences of an investment in your notes in your particular circumstances, including the application of state, local or other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.

Alternative Treatments.  There is no judicial or administrative authority discussing how your notes should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, the Internal Revenue Service might assert that a treatment other than that described above is more appropriate. For example, the Internal Revenue Service could treat your notes as a single debt instrument subject to special rules governing contingent payment debt instruments.

Under those rules, the amount of interest you are required to take into account for each accrual period would be determined by constructing a projected payment schedule for the notes and applying rules similar to those for accruing original issue discount on a hypothetical noncontingent debt instrument with that projected payment schedule.  This method is applied by first determining the comparable yield — i.e., the yield at which we would issue a noncontingent fixed rate debt instrument with terms and conditions similar to your notes — and then determining a payment schedule as of the applicable original issue date that would produce the comparable yield. These rules may have the effect of requiring you to include interest in income in respect of your notes prior to your receipt of cash attributable to that income.

If the rules governing contingent payment debt instruments apply, any gain you recognize upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes would be treated as ordinary interest income. Any loss you recognize at that time would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of interest you included as income in the current or previous taxable years in respect of your notes, and, thereafter, as capital loss.

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If the rules governing contingent payment debt instruments apply, special rules would apply to persons who purchase a note at other than the adjusted issue price as determined for tax purposes.

It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could assert that your notes should generally be characterized as described above, except that (1) the gain you recognize upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes should be treated as ordinary income or (2) you should not include the coupon payments in income as you receive them but instead you should reduce your basis in your notes by the amount of coupon payments that you receive. It is also possible that the Internal Revenue Service could seek to characterize your notes in a manner that results in tax consequences to you different from those described above.

It is also possible that the Internal Revenue Service could seek to characterize your notes as notional principal contracts.  It is also possible that the coupon payments would not be treated as either ordinary income or interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but instead would be treated in some other manner.  

You should consult your tax advisor as to possible alternative characterizations of your notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Possible Change in Law

In 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if enacted, would have required holders that acquired instruments such as your notes after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of such instruments even though there may be no interest payments over the term of such instruments.  It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your notes.

In addition, on December 7, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service released a notice stating that the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are actively considering issuing guidance regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of an instrument such as the offered notes including whether the holders should be required to accrue ordinary income on a current basis and whether gain or loss should be ordinary or capital. It is not possible to determine what guidance they will ultimately issue, if any. It is possible, however, that under such guidance, holders of the notes will ultimately be required to accrue income currently and this could be applied on a retroactive basis.  The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are also considering other relevant issues, including whether foreign holders of such instruments should be subject to withholding tax on any deemed income accruals, and whether the special “constructive ownership rules” of Section 1260 of the Internal Revenue Code might be applied to such instruments.  Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, GS Finance Corp. intends to continue treating the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described above unless and until such time as Congress, the Treasury Department or the Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

It is impossible to predict what any such legislation or administrative or regulatory guidance might provide, and whether the effective date of any legislation or guidance will affect notes that were issued before the date that such legislation or guidance is issued.  You are urged to consult your tax advisor as to the possibility that any legislative or administrative action may adversely affect the tax treatment of your notes.

United States Alien Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a United States alien holder.  You are a United States alien holder if you are the beneficial owner of the notes and are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

a nonresident alien individual;

a foreign corporation; or

an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from the notes.

Because the U.S. federal income tax treatment (including the applicability of withholding) of the coupon payments on the notes is uncertain, in the absence of further guidance, we intend to withhold on the coupon payments made to you at a 30% rate or at a lower rate specified by an applicable income tax

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treaty under an “other income” or similar provision. We will not make payments of any additional amounts. To claim a reduced treaty rate for withholding, you generally must provide a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalty of perjury, your status as a U.S. alien holder and your entitlement to the lower treaty rate. Payments will be made to you at a reduced treaty rate of withholding only if such reduced treaty rate would apply to any possible characterization of the payments (including, for example, if the coupon payments were characterized as contract fees). Withholding also may not apply to coupon payments made to you if: (i) the coupon payments are “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States and are includable in your gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) the coupon payments are attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States, if required by an applicable tax treaty, and (iii) you comply with the requisite certification requirements (generally, by providing an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI). If you are eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax, you may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a refund claim with the Internal Revenue Service.

“Effectively connected” payments includable in your United States gross income are generally taxed at rates applicable to United States citizens, resident aliens, and domestic corporations; if you are a corporate United States alien holder, “effectively connected” payments may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” under certain circumstances.

You will also be subject to generally applicable information reporting and backup withholding requirements with respect to payments on your notes and, notwithstanding that we do not intend to treat the notes as debt for tax purposes, we intend to backup withhold on such payments with respect to your notes unless you comply with the requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding on debt instruments (in which case you will not be subject to such backup withholding) as set forth under “United States Taxation – Taxation of Debt Securities – United States Alien Holders” in the accompanying prospectus.  

Furthermore, on December 7, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2008-2 soliciting comments from the public on various issues, including whether instruments such as your notes should be subject to withholding. It is therefore possible that rules will be issued in the future, possibly with retroactive effects, that would cause payments on your notes to be subject to withholding, even if you comply with certification requirements as to your foreign status.

As discussed above, alternative characterizations of the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes are possible.  Should an alternative characterization of the notes, by reason of a change or clarification of the law, by regulation or otherwise, cause payments with respect to the notes to become subject to withholding tax, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate and we will not make payments of any additional amounts. Prospective United States alien holders of the notes should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

In addition, the Treasury Department has issued regulations under which amounts paid or deemed paid on certain financial instruments (“871(m) financial instruments”) that are treated as attributable to U.S.-source dividends could be treated, in whole or in part depending on the circumstances, as a “dividend equivalent” payment that is subject to tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable treaty), which in the case of any coupon payments and any amounts you receive upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes, could be collected via withholding. If these regulations were to apply to the notes, we may be required to withhold such taxes if any U.S.-source dividends are paid on the underliers during the term of the notes. We could also require you to make certifications (e.g., an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8) prior to any coupon payment or the maturity of the notes in order to avoid or minimize withholding obligations, and we could withhold accordingly (subject to your potential right to claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service) if such certifications were not received or were not satisfactory. If withholding was required, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld. These regulations generally will apply to 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2023, but will also apply to certain 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) that have a delta (as

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defined in the applicable Treasury regulations) of one and are issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2017.  In addition, these regulations will not apply to financial instruments that reference a “qualified Index” (as defined in the regulations).  We have determined that, as of the issue date of your notes, your notes will not be subject to withholding under these rules.  In certain limited circumstances, however, you should be aware that it is possible for United States alien holders to be liable for tax under these rules with respect to a combination of transactions treated as having been entered into in connection with each other even when no withholding is required.  You should consult your tax advisor concerning these regulations, subsequent official guidance and regarding any other possible alternative characterizations of your notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding

Pursuant to Treasury regulations, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) withholding (as described in “United States Taxation—Taxation of Debt Securities—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus) will generally apply to obligations that are issued on or after July 1, 2014; therefore, the notes will generally be subject to the FATCA withholding rules. Pursuant to recently proposed regulations, the Treasury Department has indicated its intent to eliminate the requirements under FATCA of withholding on gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, maturity or other disposition of relevant financial instruments. The Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization.


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Supplemental plan of distribution; conflicts of interest

 

See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” on page S-96 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993 and “Plan of Distribution — Conflicts of Interest” on page 94 of the accompanying prospectus. GS Finance Corp. estimates that its share of the total offering expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $20,000.

GS Finance Corp. will sell to GS&Co., and GS&Co. will purchase from GS Finance Corp., the aggregate face amount of the offered notes specified on the front cover of this pricing supplement. GS&Co. proposes initially to offer the notes to the public at the original issue price set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement, and to certain securities dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of 0.52% of the face amount. GS&Co. is an affiliate of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and, as such, will have a “conflict of interest” in this offering of notes within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering of notes will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. GS&Co. will not be permitted to sell notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder. We have been advised that GS&Co. will also pay a fee in connection with the distribution of the notes to SIMON Markets LLC, a broker-dealer affiliated with GS Finance Corp.

We will deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on January 22, 2020.  Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes on any date prior to two business days before delivery will be required to specify alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.

We have been advised by GS&Co. that it intends to make a market in the notes. However, neither GS&Co. nor any of our other affiliates that makes a market is obligated to do so and any of them may stop doing so at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or trading market for the notes.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system.


PS-28

 


 

VALIDITY OF THE NOTES AND GUARANTEE

In the opinion of Sidley Austin llp, as counsel to GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., when the notes offered by this pricing supplement have been executed and issued by GS Finance Corp., the related guarantee offered by this pricing supplement has been executed and issued by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and such notes have been authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the indenture, and such notes and the guarantee have been delivered against payment as contemplated herein, (a) such notes will be valid and binding obligations of GS Finance Corp., enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above and (b) such related guarantee will be a valid and binding obligation of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability (including, without limitation, concepts of good faith, fair dealing and the lack of bad faith), provided that such counsel expresses no opinion as to the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above. This opinion is given as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof. In addition, this opinion is subject to customary assumptions about the trustee’s authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture and the genuineness of signatures and certain factual matters, all as stated in the letter of such counsel dated July 10, 2017, which has been filed as Exhibit 5.6 to the registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. on July 10, 2017

PS-29

 


 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this pricing supplement, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This pricing supplement, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this pricing supplement, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 6,993, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 2, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is current only as of the respective dates of such documents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pricing Supplement

 

Page

Investment Thesis

PS-3

Considerations For Secondary Market Purchasers

PS-3

Terms and Conditions

PS-4

Hypothetical Examples

PS-9

Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes

PS-13

The Underliers

PS-20

Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

PS-23

Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest

PS-28

Validity of the Notes and Guarantee

PS-29

 

General Terms Supplement No. 6,993 dated November 22, 2019

 

Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes

S-4

Supplemental Terms of the Notes

S-13

Use of Proceeds

S-33

Hedging

S-33

Employee Retirement Income Security Act

S-34

Supplemental Plan of Distribution

S-35

     Conflicts of Interest

S-37

 

Underlier Supplement No.2 dated December 20, 2019

 

Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes

S-2

The Underliers

S-11

   Descriptions of the Indices

 

     The Dow Jones Industrial Average®

S-14

     EURO STOXX 50® Index

S-19

     FTSE® 100 Index

S-26

     Hang Seng China Enterprises Index

S-33

     MSCI Indices

S-41

     NASDAQ-100 Index®

S-54

     Nikkei 225

S-61

     Russell 2000® Index

S-66

     S&P/ASX 200 Index

S-75

     S&P 500® Daily Risk Control 10% USD Excess Return Index

S-82

     S&P 500® Index

S-87

     S&P MidCap 400® Index

S-95

     Swiss Market Index

S-103

     TOPIX

S-108

   Descriptions of the Exchange-Traded Funds

 

     Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund

S-114

     iShares® MSCI EAFE ETF

S-122

     iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

S-126

     iShares® Russell 1000 Value ETF

S-131

     SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF

S-143

     SPDR® S&P® Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

S-150

 

Prospectus Supplement dated July 10, 2017

 

Use of Proceeds

S-2

Description of Notes We May Offer

S-3

Considerations Relating to Indexed Notes

S-15

United States Taxation

S-18

Employee Retirement Income Security Act

S-19

Supplemental Plan of Distribution

S-20

Validity of the Notes and Guarantees

S-21

 

 

Prospectus dated July 10, 2017

 

Available Information

2

Prospectus Summary

4

Risks Relating to Regulatory Resolution Strategies and Long-Term Debt Requirements

8

Use of Proceeds

11

Description of Debt Securities We May Offer

12

Description of Warrants We May Offer

45

Description of Units We May Offer

60

GS Finance Corp.

65

Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance

67

Considerations Relating to Floating Rate Debt Securities

72

Considerations Relating to Indexed Securities

73

Considerations Relating to Securities Denominated or Payable in or Linked to a Non-U.S. Dollar Currency

74

United States Taxation

77

Plan of Distribution

92

Conflicts of Interest

94

Employee Retirement Income Security Act

95

Validity of the Securities and Guarantees

95

Experts

96

Review of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

96

Cautionary Statement Pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

96

 

 


 

 

 

 

$1,171,000

 

 

GS Finance Corp.

 

 

Autocallable Contingent Coupon ETF-Linked Notes due 2021

 

guaranteed by

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

 


Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC