Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration Statement No. 333-253421

The information in this preliminary pricing supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary pricing supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 

 

Subject to Completion. Dated October 3, 2022.

GS Finance Corp.

$

Autocallable Contingent Coupon S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index-Linked Notes due

guaranteed by

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

If the closing level of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index on any observation date is less than 60% of the initial index level, you will not receive a coupon on the applicable payment date. The amount that you will be paid on your notes is based on the performance of the index. The notes will mature on the stated maturity date (expected to be August 4, 2025), unless automatically called on any observation date commencing in April 2023 to and including April 2025. Your notes will be automatically called if the closing level of the index on any such observation date is greater than or equal to the initial index level (set on the trade date, expected to be October 26, 2022). If your notes are automatically called, you will receive a payment on the next payment date (the fifth business day after the relevant observation date) equal to the face amount of your notes plus a coupon (as described below).

The index is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target, subject to a minimum exposure of 100% and a maximum exposure of 200%. Because the index is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index, the index will be more volatile than the S&P 500® Index and daily changes in the level of the S&P 500® Index will necessarily have a greater impact on the index than the S&P 500® Index, which does not contain a leverage component. As a result, there will be a greater risk you will not receive a given coupon and a greater risk you will receive less than the face amount of your notes at maturity, including the risk of losing all or a significant portion of your investment in the notes, as compared to notes linked to the S&P 500® Index, assuming all other terms remained the same. In addition, your notes may have a greater risk of being automatically called prior to the stated maturity date, as compared to otherwise comparable notes linked to an index that does not contain a leverage component. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes” on page PS-11.

Observation dates are expected to be the 26th day of each January, April, July and October (provided that the observation date for July 2025 is July 28, 2025), commencing in January 2023 and ending in July 2025. If on any observation date the closing level of the index is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial index level, you will receive on the applicable payment date a coupon for each $1,000 face amount of your notes equal to (i) the product of $20 (2% quarterly, or the potential for up to 8% per annum) times the number of observation dates that have occurred up to and including the relevant observation date minus (ii) the sum of all coupons previously paid, if any.

The amount that you will be paid on your notes at maturity, if the notes have not been automatically called, in addition to the final coupon, if any, is based on the performance of the index. The index return is the percentage increase or decrease in the closing level of the index on the determination date (the final observation date, expected to be July 28, 2025) from the initial index level.

At maturity, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:

if the index return is greater than or equal to -40% (the final index level is greater than or equal to 60% of the initial index level), $1,000 plus a coupon calculated as described above;

 

if the index return is less than -40% (the final index level is less than 60% of the initial index level), the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) the index return times (b) $1,000. You will receive less than 60% of the face amount of your notes and no coupon.

 

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-11.

The estimated value of your notes at the time the terms of your notes are set on the trade date is expected to be between $925 and $955 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:  

expected to be October 31, 2022

Original issue price:

100% of the face amount*

Underwriting discount:

       % of the face amount*

Net proceeds to the issuer:

           % of the face amount

*The original issue price will be        % for certain investors; see “Supplemental Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest” on page PS-27.

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.     dated                    , 2022.


 


 

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 expected to be between $925 and $955 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 $        per $1,000 face amount).

Prior to         , 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         ). On and after                , 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 F 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. 2,913 dated June 17, 2021

September 2022 S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index supplement dated September 27, 2022

Underlier supplement no. 28 dated July 26, 2022

Prospectus supplement dated March 22, 2021

Prospectus dated March 22, 2021

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 master note no. 3, dated March 22, 2021.

 

 

PS-2

 


 

 

Terms AND CONDITIONS

CUSIP / ISIN: 40057NHC4 / US40057NHC48

Company (Issuer): GS Finance Corp.

Guarantor:  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Underlier:  the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index (current Bloomberg symbol: “SPXVPRCU Index”), or any successor underlier, as it may be modified, replaced or adjusted from time to time as provided herein

Face amount: $        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 the final underlier level is greater than or equal to the trigger buffer level, $1,000; or

if the final underlier level is less than the trigger buffer level, the sum of (i) $1,000 plus (ii) the product of (a) the underlier return times (b) $1,000

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 the underlier is greater than or equal to the initial underlier level

Initial underlier level (set on the trade date):

Final underlier level: the closing level of the 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 the underlier” below

Underlier return: the quotient of (i) the final underlier level minus the initial underlier level divided by (ii) the initial underlier level, expressed as a percentage

Trigger buffer level: 60% of the initial underlier level

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 the underlier on the related coupon observation date is greater than or equal to the coupon trigger level, (i) the product of $20 (2% quarterly, or the potential for up to 8% per annum) times the number of coupon observation dates that have occurred up to and including the relevant coupon observation date minus (ii) the sum of all coupons previously paid, if any; or

if the closing level of the underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than the 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:  60% of the initial underlier level

Trade date:  expected to be October 26, 2022

PS-3


 

Original issue date (set on the trade date): expected to be October 31, 2022

Determination date (set on the trade date): the last coupon observation date, expected to be July 28, 2025, subject to adjustment as described under “— Coupon observation dates” below

Stated maturity date (set on the trade date): expected to be August 4, 2025, 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 (set on the trade date):  expected to be each coupon observation date commencing in April 2023 and ending in April 2025, subject to adjustment as described under “Coupon observation dates” below

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

Coupon observation dates (set on the trade date): expected to be the 26th day of each January, April, July and October (provided that the observation date for July 2025 is July 28, 2025), commencing in January 2023 and ending in July 2025, unless the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day or that day is not otherwise a trading day. In that event, the coupon observation date will be the first following trading day on which the calculation agent determines that a market disruption event does not occur and is not continuing. 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. On such last possible coupon observation date applicable to the relevant coupon payment date, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing or such day is not a trading day, that day will nevertheless be the coupon observation date.

Coupon payment dates (set on the trade date): expected to be 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: for any given trading day, the official closing level of the underlier or any successor underlier published by the underlier sponsor on such trading day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided under “— Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” below, if the closing level of the underlier becomes zero on any trading day, it will remain zero for the remainder of the term of this note (even if the underlier is discontinued and even if the underlier is restarted with a new base value).

Trading day: a day on which the respective principal securities markets for all of the underlier stocks are open for trading, the underlier sponsor is open for business and the underlier is calculated and published by the underlier sponsor

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

Underlier sponsor: at any time, the person or entity, including any successor sponsor, that determines and publishes the underlier as then in effect. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the underlier sponsor or any of its affiliates and the underlier sponsor and its affiliates make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

Underlier stocks: at any time, the stocks that comprise the 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 the underlier:

a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in underlier stocks constituting 20% or more, by weight, of the underlier on their respective primary markets, in each case 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-4


 

a suspension, absence or material limitation of trading in option or futures contracts relating to the underlier or to underlier stocks constituting 20% or more, by weight, of the underlier in the respective primary markets for those contracts, in each case 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

underlier stocks constituting 20% or more, by weight, of the underlier, or option or futures contracts, if available, relating to the underlier or to underlier stocks constituting 20% or more, by weight, of the underlier do not trade on what were the respective primary markets for those underlier stocks or contracts, 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 such 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 the underlier or to any underlier stock.

For this purpose, an “absence of trading” in the primary securities market on which an underlier stock is traded, or on which option or futures contracts relating to the underlier or an underlier stock 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 an underlier stock or in option or futures contracts, if available, relating to the underlier or an underlier stock in the primary market for that stock or those contracts, by reason of:

a price change exceeding limits set by that market,

an imbalance of orders relating to that underlier stock or those contracts, or

a disparity in bid and ask quotes relating to that underlier stock or those contracts,

will constitute a suspension or material limitation of trading in that stock or those contracts in that market.

Consequences of a market disruption event or a non-trading day: 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 the calculation agent determines that the closing level of the underlier that must be used to determine the amount payable on a coupon payment date or the stated maturity date is not available on the last possible coupon observation date or the last possible determination date because of a market disruption event, a non-trading day or for any other reason (other than as described under “- Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” below), then the calculation agent will nevertheless determine the level of the underlier based on its assessment, made in its sole discretion, of the level of the underlier on that day.

Discontinuance or modification of the underlier: If the underlier sponsor discontinues publication of the underlier and the underlier sponsor or anyone else publishes a substitute underlier that the calculation agent determines is comparable to the 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 the publication of the underlier is discontinued 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 the underlier.

If the calculation agent determines that (i) the underlier, the underlier stocks or the method of calculating the underlier is changed at any time in any respect — including any addition, deletion or substitution and any reweighting or rebalancing of the underlier or the underlier stocks and whether the change is made by the underlier sponsor under its existing policies or following a modification of those policies, is due to the publication

PS-5


 

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 — and is not otherwise reflected in the level of the underlier by the underlier sponsor pursuant to the then-current underlier methodology of the underlier or (ii) there has been a split or reverse split of the underlier, then the calculation agent will be permitted (but not required) to make such adjustments in the underlier or the method of its calculation as it believes are appropriate to ensure that the levels of the 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 the 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)

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 underlier.

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


PS-6


 

 

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 underlier 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 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 the underlier will be on any day throughout the life of your notes, what the closing level of the underlier will be on any coupon observation date or call observation date, as the case may be, and what the final underlier level will be on the determination date. The underlier has been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the underlier level has changed substantially in relatively short periods — and its 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 underlier, 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-11 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

(i) the product of $20 (2% quarterly, or the potential for up to 8% per annum) times the number of coupon observation dates that have occurred up to and including the relevant coupon observation date minus (ii) the sum of all coupons previously paid, if any

Trigger buffer level

60% of the initial underlier level

Coupon trigger level

60% of the 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 of the underlier stocks or the method by which the underlier sponsor calculates the underlier

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

Moreover, we have not yet set the initial underlier level that will serve as the baseline for determining the coupon payable on each coupon payment date, if any, if the notes will be automatically called, the underlier return and the amount that we will pay on your notes, if any, on the call payment date or at maturity. We will not do so until the trade date. As a result, the actual initial underlier level may differ substantially from the underlier levels prior to the trade date. They may also differ substantially from the underlier level at the time you purchase your notes.

For these reasons, the actual performance of the underlier over the life of your notes, the actual underlier level on any call observation date or coupon observation date, as well as the coupon payable, if any, on each coupon

PS-7


 

payment date, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical underlier level shown elsewhere in this pricing supplement. For information about the underlier levels during recent periods, see “The Underlier — Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier” on page PS-19. Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the level of the underlier 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

The examples below show the hypothetical performance of the 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 the underlier on the applicable coupon observation date was the percentage of the initial underlier level shown.

Scenario 1

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the Underlier (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

50%

$0

Second

85%

$40

Third

55%

$0

Fourth

45%

$0

Fifth

50%

$0

Sixth

80%

$80

Seventh

50%

$0

Eighth

55%

$0

Ninth

30%

$0

Tenth

25%

$0

Eleventh

45%

$0

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$120

In Scenario 1, the hypothetical closing level of the underlier increases and decreases by varying amounts on each hypothetical coupon observation date.  Because the hypothetical closing level of the underlier on the second and sixth hypothetical coupon observation dates is greater than or equal to the coupon trigger level, the total of the hypothetical coupons in Scenario 1 is $120. Because the hypothetical closing level of the underlier on all other hypothetical coupon observation dates is less than the coupon trigger level, no further coupons will be paid, including at maturity.

Scenario 2

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the Underlier (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

30%

$0

Second

20%

$0

Third

25%

$0

Fourth

50%

$0

Fifth

45%

$0

Sixth

50%

$0

Seventh

30%

$0

Eighth

55%

$0

Ninth

55%

$0

Tenth

45%

$0

Eleventh

45%

$0

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$0

In Scenario 2, the hypothetical closing level of the underlier increases and decreases by varying amounts on each hypothetical coupon observation date.  Because in each case the hypothetical closing level of the underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than the 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.

PS-8


 

Scenario 3

Hypothetical Coupon Observation Date

Hypothetical Closing Level of the Underlier (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Coupon

First

55%

$0

Second

120%

$40

 

Total Hypothetical Coupons

$40

In Scenario 3, the hypothetical closing level of the underlier is less than the coupon trigger level on the first hypothetical coupon observation date, but increases to a level that is greater than the initial underlier level on the second hypothetical coupon observation date. Because the hypothetical closing level of the underlier is greater than or equal to the initial underlier level on the second 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 $40, 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 the underlier is less than the 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 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 (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 and are expressed as percentages of the initial underlier level.  The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical cash settlement amounts, based on the corresponding hypothetical final underlier level, 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 and the assumptions noted above.

The Notes Have Not Been Automatically Called

Hypothetical Final Underlier Level (as Percentage of Initial Underlier Level)

Hypothetical Cash Settlement Amount (as Percentage of Face Amount)

 

175.000%

100.000%*

 

150.000%

100.000%*

 

125.000%

100.000%*

 

100.000%

100.000%*

 

90.000%

100.000%*

 

80.000%

100.000%*

 

60.000%

100.000%*

 

59.999%

59.999%

 

50.000%

50.000%

 

25.000%

25.000%

 

0.000%

0.000%

 

*Does not include the final coupon

 

If, for example, the notes have not been automatically called on a call observation date and the final underlier level were determined to be 25.000% of the 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 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).  In addition, if the final underlier level were determined to be 175.000% of the initial underlier level, the cash settlement amount that we

PS-9


 

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 Your Notes — The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” on page PS-13.

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 level of the underlier on any day, the final underlier level or what the market value of your notes will be on any particular trading day, nor can we predict the relationship between the closing level of the underlier 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 automatically called, the actual initial underlier level, which we will set on the trade date, and on the actual closing level of the underlier on the coupon observation dates and the actual final underlier level 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.

 

 

PS-10


 

 

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, under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Securities” in the accompanying underlier supplement no. 28 and under “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913. 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. 28 and the accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913. 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., the stocks comprising the underlier to which your notes are linked. You should carefully consider whether the offered notes are appropriate given your particular circumstances.

Risks Related to Structure, Valuation and Secondary Market Sales

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 “— The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” below.

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 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).

PS-11


 

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. 2,913.

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 the 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 F Program — How the Notes Rank Against Other Debt” on page S-5 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer – Guarantee by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.” on page 67 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 the performance of the underlier as measured from the initial underlier level set on the trade date to the final underlier level on the determination date.  If the final underlier level is less than the trigger buffer level, you will have a loss for each $1,000 of the face amount of your notes equal to the product of the 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 the Underlier

If your notes are not automatically called and the final underlier level is less than the trigger buffer 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 decrease in the final underlier level to the trigger buffer level will not result in a loss of principal on the notes, a decrease in the final underlier level to less than the trigger buffer level 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 the underlier on the related coupon observation date is less than the 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.

Although the coupon formula provides that, if the closing level of the underlier on the related coupon observation date is greater than or equal to the coupon trigger level, the coupon paid on the corresponding coupon payment date will be equal to (i) the product of $20 (2% quarterly, or the potential for up to 8% per annum) times the number of coupon observation dates that have occurred up to and including the relevant coupon observation date minus (ii) the sum of all coupons previously paid, if any, 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.

 

PS-12


 

 

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 the underlier is greater than or equal to the 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 Underlier from the Trade Date to Any Coupon Observation Date or from Coupon Observation Date to Coupon Observation Date

The coupon for each quarterly coupon payment date is different from, and may be less than, a coupon determined based on the percentage difference of the closing level of the underlier 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 underlier that pays coupons based on the performance of the underlier from the trade date to any coupon observation date or from coupon observation date to coupon observation date.

The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors

When we refer to the market value of your notes, we mean the value that you could receive for your notes if you chose to sell them in the open market before the stated maturity date. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the market value of your notes, including:

the level of the underlier;

the volatility – i.e., the frequency and magnitude of changes – in the closing level of the underlier;

the dividend rates of the underlier stocks;

economic, financial, regulatory, political, military, public health and other events that affect stock markets generally and the underlier stocks, and which may affect the closing level of the underlier;

interest rates and yield rates in the market;

the time remaining until your notes mature; and

our creditworthiness and the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., whether actual or perceived, and including actual or anticipated upgrades or downgrades in our credit ratings or the credit ratings of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or changes in other credit measures.

Without limiting the foregoing, the market value of your notes may be negatively impacted by increasing interest rates. Such adverse impact of increasing interest rates could be significantly enhanced in notes with longer-dated maturities, the market values of which are generally more sensitive to increasing interest rates.

These factors may influence the market value of your notes if you sell your notes before maturity, including the price you may receive for your notes in any market making transaction. If you sell your notes prior to maturity, you may receive less than the face amount of your notes. You cannot predict the future performance of the underlier based on its historical performance.

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

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.

You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Underlier Stock

Investing in your notes will not make you a holder of any of the underlier stocks. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of your notes will have any rights with respect to the underlier stocks, including any voting rights, any

PS-13


 

right to receive dividends or other distributions, any rights to make a claim against the underlier stocks or any other rights of a holder of the underlier stocks. Your notes will be paid in cash, as will any coupon payments, and you will have no right to receive delivery of 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.

Additional Risks Related to the Underlier

Notwithstanding That the Title of the Underlier Includes the Phrase “Risk Control,” the Underlier May Decrease Significantly More or Increase Significantly Less Than the S&P 500® Index

The underlier is intended to provide investors with leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target. The dynamic volatility target is the applicable realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index plus 10%. Therefore, the underlier is not designed to target a fixed realized volatility target, nor is it designed to target a realized volatility that is lower than that of the S&P 500® Index. Further, the expected performance of the underlier is not taken into account when calculating the amount of leveraged exposure and therefore the leverage factor may be high during a falling stock market and may be low during a rising stock market. Therefore, although the title of the underlier includes the phrase “Risk Control,” the future returns of the underlier are actually more uncertain, and therefore riskier than, the S&P 500® Index and your notes are riskier than, and will not necessarily have better returns than, notes linked to the S&P 500® Index. See “Comparative Performance of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index and the S&P 500® Index” below for a comparison of the hypothetical and historical performance of the underlier relative to the S&P 500® Index.

There Is No Assurance that Calculating Realized Volatility as the Average of Short-Term Volatility and Long-Term Volatility Is the Best Way to Measure Realized Volatility

With regard to the underlier, “realized volatility” is a measurement of variations in the historical daily returns of the S&P 500® Index from the day that is two index calculation days before the base date of the underlier (December 31, 1991) to the day that is two index calculation days before the current index calculation day (the leverage factor that is calculated on this index calculation day will be used to calculate the level of the underlier on the following index calculation day). As a result, the measurement period for realized volatility will always have the same start date and will continue to get longer with each new index calculation day. Realized volatility is calculated as the average of short-term volatility and long-term volatility. When the volatility of the S&P 500® Index increases (or decreases), short-term volatility will increase (or decrease) more quickly than long-term volatility. There is no assurance that calculating realized volatility in this manner is the best way to measure realized volatility. For example, it is possible that exclusively relying on short-term volatility or long-term volatility or on the greater of or lesser of short-term volatility and long-term volatility is a more reliable way to measure realized volatility. Further, if realized volatility were calculated in a different manner, the underlier would perform differently, including potentially having higher returns.

The Underlier Will Not Reflect the Most Current Volatility of the S&P 500® Index

The underlier is rebalanced using a leverage factor at the close of each index calculation day in order to adjust its exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on the applicable realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index. Although the underlier is rebalanced at the close of each index calculation day, because of how the leverage factor is calculated, there is a lag of two index calculation days between the measurement of realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index and the calculation of the leverage factor. Therefore, on any given index calculation day (“T”), the leverage factor that determines the underlier’s exposure to the S&P 500® Index for the following index calculation day (“T+ 1”) will be based on the realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index from two index calculation days prior to the index calculation day (“T - 2”). Due to this lag and the fact that realized volatility can fluctuate significantly during this period, and even during a single day, the leverage factor will not reflect the realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index as of the rebalancing day. As a result, the underlier may have greater exposure to the S&P 500® Index when the level of the S&P 500® Index is decreasing than it would have had if the leverage factor were calculated based on more current levels of realized volatility.

The Relative Performance of the Underlier As Compared to the S&P 500® Index Cannot Be Predicted

PS-14


 

The underlier is rebalanced to the applicable leverage factor at the close of each index calculation day. The effect of daily rebalancing is that the underlier performance over a period spanning more than one index calculation day will depend on the daily leveraged returns of the S&P 500® Index for each index calculation day during the period. Therefore, over such longer periods, the performance of the underlier will differ from the performance of the S&P 500® Index by an unpredictable factor. For example, consider a hypothetical 2-day period during which the S&P 500® Index decreases by 5.00% on day-1 and increases by 5.00% on day-2. The S&P 500® Index over the hypothetical 2-day period will lose 0.25% in value. If the leverage factor is 200% on each day during the period, the underlier level will decrease by 10.00% on day-1 and then increase by 10.00% on day-2, resulting in a period loss of -1.00%, or four times the period loss for the S&P 500® Index.  

The Underlier is Subject to Risks Associated With Leveraged Exposure and There Is a Greater Risk You Will Not Receive a Coupon and a Greater Risk You Will Receive Less than the Face Amount of Your Notes Relative to Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index, Assuming All Other Terms Remain the Same

The underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target. Because the underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index, the underlier will be more volatile than the S&P 500® Index and daily changes in the level of the S&P 500® Index will necessarily have a greater impact on the underlier than the S&P 500® Index, which does not contain a leverage component.

The examples below illustrate the effect of the leverage factor calculated on any given index calculation day (“T”) on the level of the underlier for the following index calculation day (“T+ 1”). In particular, as the examples below demonstrate, any decrease in the level of the S&P 500® Index will result in a greater decrease in the level of the underlier. As a result, there will be a greater risk you will not receive a coupon and a greater risk you will receive less than the face amount of your notes at maturity, including the risk of losing all or a significant portion of your investment in the notes, as compared to notes linked to the S&P 500® Index (which does not contain a leverage component), assuming all other terms remained the same. These examples are not exhaustive, and are based on assumptions that are entirely hypothetical and should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future performance of the S&P 500® Index or the underlier. The percentages in Column A represent the hypothetical realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index on index calculation day (“T - 2”). The percentages in Column B represent the hypothetical dynamic volatility target on index calculation day (“T”), which equals the sum of Column A plus 10%, and will be applied to the index calculation on the following index calculation day (“T + 1”). The percentages in Column C represent the hypothetical leverage factor on index calculation day (“T”), which equals the quotient of the percentage in Column B divided by the percentage in Column A, subject to a minimum leverage factor of 100% and a maximum leverage factor of 200%, and will be applied to the index calculation on the following index calculation day (“T + 1”). The amounts in Column D represent the hypothetical S&P 500® Index percentage change on index calculation day (“T + 1”), which equals the quotient of (i) the closing level for the S&P 500® Index on index calculation day T + 1 minus the closing level for the S&P 500® Index on index calculation day (“T”) divided by (ii) the closing level for the S&P 500® Index on index calculation day T, expressed as a percentage. The amounts in Column E represent the hypothetical underlier percentage change on index calculation day (“T + 1”), which equals the product of the percentage in Column C times the percentage in Column D, expressed as a percentage.

 

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Example

Hypothetical Realized Volatility of the S&P 500® Index On T - 2

Hypothetical Dynamic Volatility Target On T (Column A + 10%)

Hypothetical Leverage Factor On T (Column B / Column A, Subject to a Minimum of 100% and a Maximum of 200%)

Hypothetical S&P 500® Index Percentage Change On T + 1

Hypothetical Underlier Percentage Change On T + 1 (Column C × Column D)

#1

50%

60%

120%

-10%

-12%

#2

20%

30%

150%

-10%

-15%

#3

5%

15%

200%*

-10%

-20%

* a maximum leverage factor of 200% applies.

There Is No Guarantee that the Underlier Will Achieve the Volatility Target

The exposure of the underlier to the S&P 500® Index is subject to a maximum leverage factor of 200%, which may limit the ability of the underlier to fully achieve the dynamic volatility target, if achieving the dynamic volatility target

PS-15


 

would require a leverage factor in excess of 200%. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the underlier will achieve the dynamic volatility target.

 

The Underlier Will Have Leveraged Exposure to the S&P 500® Index in Falling Stock Markets

The underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target. Therefore, in a falling stock market the underlier will be exposed to more than 100% of the losses in the S&P 500® Index and the underlier will likely experience lower returns than the S&P 500® Index.

The Underlier Has a Limited Operating History

The notes are linked to the performance of the underlier, which was launched on March 21, 2022. Because the underlier has no live underlier level history prior to that date, limited live historical underlier level information will be available for you to consider in making an independent investigation of the underlier performance, which may make it difficult for you to make an informed decision with respect to the notes.

The hypothetical performance data prior to the launch of the underlier on March 21, 2022 refers to simulated performance data created by applying the underlier's calculation methodology to historical prices of the underlier stocks that comprise the underlier. Such simulated hypothetical performance data has been produced by the retroactive application of a back-tested methodology. No future performance of the underlier can be predicted based on the simulated hypothetical performance data or the historical underlier performance information described herein.

If the Closing Level of the Underlier Becomes Zero or Negative, the Closing Level of the Underlier Will Remain Zero, Which Would Adversely Impact the Amount Payable on Your Notes and You Will Lose Your Entire Investment in the Notes

The underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target, which means that any decrease in the level of the S&P 500® Index will result in a larger decrease in the level of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index. If the closing level of the underlier becomes zero or negative on any trading day, the underlier sponsor may discontinue or restart the underlier. Regardless of whether the underlier sponsor discontinues or restarts the underlier and notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided under “Terms and Conditions — Discontinuance or modification of the underlier” above, the closing level of the underlier will remain zero for the remainder of the term of your notes (even if the underlier is discontinued and even if the underlier is restarted with a new base value). Thus, you may not receive any coupon payment with respect to the notes at any time and you will lose your entire investment in the notes.

Under Certain Circumstances, Your Notes May Have a Higher Risk of Automatic Redemption Than Notes Linked to the S&P 500® Index

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 the underlier is greater than or equal to the initial underlier level. The underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target, subject to a minimum exposure of 100% and a maximum exposure of 200%. Because the underlier is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index, the underlier will be more volatile than the S&P 500® Index and daily changes in the level of the S&P 500® Index will necessarily have a greater impact on the underlier than the S&P 500® Index, which does not contain a leverage component. As a result, under certain circumstances, your notes may have a greater risk of being automatically called prior to the stated maturity date, as compared to notes linked to the S&P 500® Index (which does not contain a leverage component), assuming all other terms remained the same. 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.

Risks Related to Tax

PS-16


 

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 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” 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.

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.

 


 

PS-17


 

 

The UNDERLIER

The S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index is designed to provide leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index based on a dynamic volatility target. The amount of leverage can change on each index calculation day, and a leverage factor is calculated in order to determine the applicable amount of leveraged exposure, with a minimum exposure of 100% (meaning that there is no leveraged exposure to the S&P 500® Index) and a maximum exposure of 200%.  The leverage factor is calculated by dividing (i) the applicable realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index plus 10% by (ii) the applicable realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index.  The sum of the applicable realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index plus 10% is referred to as the dynamic volatility target. While the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index is designed to achieve a dynamic volatility target, there can be no assurance that the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index will achieve this goal. The S&P 500® Index includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. For more details about the underlier, the underlier sponsor and license agreement between the underlier sponsor and the issuer, see “The Underliers — S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index” on page S-117 of the accompanying underlier supplement no. 28. Also, see the accompanying September 2022 S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index supplement.

The S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index and the S&P 500® Index are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and have been licensed for use by GS Finance Corp. (“Goldman”). Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes by Goldman. Goldman’s notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such notes.


PS-18

 


 

 

Historical Closing Levels of the Underlier

The closing level of the underlier has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. In particular, the underlier has recently experienced extreme and unusual volatility. Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of the underlier during the period shown below is not an indication that the 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 the underlier as an indication of the future performance of the underlier, including because of the recent volatility described above. We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of the 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 underlier. Before investing in the offered notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the levels of the underlier between the date of this pricing supplement and the date of your purchase of the offered notes and, given the recent volatility described above, you should pay particular attention to recent levels of the underlier. The actual performance of the 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 graph below shows the daily closing levels of the underlier from January 1, 2017 through September 29, 2022 (using hypothetical performance data and historical closing levels). As a result, the following graph does 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 indices. Since the underlier was launched on March 21, 2022 and has a limited operating history, the graph includes hypothetical performance data for the underlier prior to its launch on March 21, 2022. The hypothetical performance data prior to March 21, 2022 was obtained from the underlier sponsor’s website, without independent verification. The historical closing levels from March 21, 2022 to September 29, 2022 were obtained from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. (In the graph, the hypothetical historical closing levels can be found to the left of the vertical solid line marker and the historical closing levels can be found to the right of the vertical solid line marker.) You should not take the hypothetical performance data or historical levels of the underlier as an indication of the future performance of the underlier.

PS-19

 


 

 

Historical Performance of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index


PS-20

 


 

 

Comparative Performance of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index and the S&P 500® Index

The graph below shows the performance, from January 1, 2017 through August 26, 2022, of the underlier (in black) and the S&P 500® Index (in blue).

For comparative purposes, each of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index and the S&P 500® Index have been adjusted to have a closing level of 100.00 on January 1, 2017 by dividing the applicable closing level on each day by that index’s closing level on January 1, 2017 and multiplying the quotient by 100.00.

Since the underlier was launched on March 21, 2022 and has a limited operating history, the graph includes hypothetical performance data for the underlier prior to its launch of March 21, 2022. The hypothetical performance data for the underlier prior to March 21, 2022 used to create this graph was obtained from the underlier sponsor’s website, without independent verification. The daily historical closing levels of the underlier from March 21, 2022 to September 29, 2022 used to create this graph were obtained from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. (In the graph, historical closing levels can be found to the right of the vertical solid line marker.) The daily historical closing levels of the S&P 500® Index from January 1, 2017 through September 29, 2022 used to create this graph were obtained from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. You should not take this graph, the hypothetical performance data of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index or the historical closing levels of the indices used to create this graph as an indication of the future performance of any index, including the underlier, or the correlation (if any) between the level of the underlier and the level of the S&P 500® Index.

As described above, the leverage factor causes the underlier to be more volatile than the S&P 500® Index and therefore causes the underlier to underperform the S&P 500® Index when the S&P 500® Index declines. This underperformance will be especially dramatic when the S&P 500® Index experiences a rapid and significant decline between the measurement of realized volatility of the S&P 500® Index on the second preceding index calculation day (“T - 2”) and the calculation of the leverage factor on an index calculation day (“T”).

Comparative Performance of the S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index and the S&P 500® Index

 

 


PS-21

 


 

 

 

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

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.

PS-22

 


 

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 underlier. 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.

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.

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

PS-23

 


 

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.

Non-United States Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a non-United States holder.  You are a non-United States 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 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 non-United States 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

PS-24

 


 

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 non-United States 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 – Non-United States 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 effect, 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 non-United States 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 stocks included in the underlier 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, 2025, 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 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 non-United States 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.

PS-25

 


 

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.


PS-26

 


 

 

Supplemental plan of distribution; conflicts of interest

 

See “Supplemental Plan of Distribution” on page S-49 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913 and “Plan of Distribution — Conflicts of Interest” on page 129 of the accompanying prospectus. GS Finance Corp. estimates that its share of the total offering expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $           .

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      % of the face amount. The original issue price for notes purchased by certain retirement accounts and certain fee-based advisory accounts will be           % of the face amount of the notes, which will reduce the underwriting discount specified on the cover of this pricing supplement with respect to such notes to             %. 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 in which an affiliate of GS Finance Corp. holds an indirect minority equity interest.

We expect to deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on October 31, 2022.  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-27

 


 

 

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. 2,913, the accompanying September 2022 S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index supplement, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 28, 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. 2,913, the accompanying September 2022 S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index supplement, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 28, 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. 2,913, the accompanying September 2022 S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index supplement, the accompanying underlier supplement no. 28, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is current only as of the respective dates of such documents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

GS Finance Corp.

 

 

Autocallable Contingent Coupon S&P 500® Volatility Plus Daily Risk Control Index-Linked Notes due

 

guaranteed by

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

 


Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC