Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration Statement No. 333-239610

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, if any, will be paid quarterly on the last calendar day of each January, April, July and October, beginning on April 30, 2021. Interest will be paid at a rate of 9% per annum on each of the first four quarterly interest payment dates. We may redeem your notes at 100% of their face amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest on any quarterly interest payment date on or after January 31, 2022.

Subject to our redemption right, on each interest payment date beginning in April 2022, interest, if any, will be paid based on (i) the number of scheduled trading days in the relevant interest period (reference dates) on which the closing level of each of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, the Russell 2000^® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index^® is greater than or equal to 70% of its initial level (set on the trade date, which is expected to be January 27, 2021) and (ii) the applicable interest factor (described below). Interest related to an interest payment date will be determined on the tenth scheduled trading day prior to such interest payment date and the interest period related to such interest payment date will be the approximately 3-month period prior to such tenth scheduled trading day.

The interest factor for an interest period is the product of (i) 25 times (ii) the CMS spread on the second U.S. Government securities business day preceding the interest payment date occurring during such interest period, subject to a maximum interest factor of 9% and a minimum interest factor of 0%. The CMS spread is the 30-year CMS rate minus the 2-year CMS rate (the 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate are the 30-year and 2-year U.S. dollar interest rate swap rate, respectively). The 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate are based on hypothetical interest rate swaps referencing 3-month USD LIBOR. LIBOR is being modified, see page S-25.

To determine your annualized interest rate for each interest payment date beginning in April 2022, we will (i) divide the number of reference dates in such interest period on which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to 70% of its initial level by the total number of reference dates in such interest period and (ii) multiply the resulting fraction by the applicable interest factor. Your quarterly interest payment, if any, will be determined in accordance with the 30/360 (ISDA) day count convention. See page S-33. Beginning with the interest payment date in April 2022, you will not receive any interest on your notes on an interest payment date if either (i) the CMS spread used to calculate the related interest factor is less than or equal to zero or (ii) during the related interest period, on each reference date, the closing level of an index is less than 70% of its initial level.

If we do not redeem your notes, the amount that you will be paid on your notes at maturity (expected to be January 31, 2036) is based on the performance of the lesser performing index (the index with the lowest index return). The index return for each index is the percentage increase or decrease in the final level from the initial level as measured from the trade date to and including the determination date (expected to be January 29, 2036).

If we do not redeem your notes, at maturity, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes, in addition to any interest, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:

You will not benefit from any increase in the final level of any index above its initial level and you will receive less than the face amount of your notes at maturity if the final level of any index is less than 60% of its initial level.

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 S-15.

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 $885 and $935 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.

 

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

Prospectus Supplement No.    dated                   , 2021.

 

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The issue price, underwriting discount and net proceeds listed on the cover page hereof relate to the notes we sell initially. We may decide to sell additional notes after the date of this prospectus 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 offered notes. In addition, Goldman Sachs & Co., 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.

 

 

 

 

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The CMS spread is equal to the 30-year CMS rate minus the 2-year CMS rate and is based on the shape of the CMS yield curve. When we refer to the 30-year CMS rate or the 2-year CMS rate on an interest factor determination date, we mean the 30-year or 2-year U.S. dollar interest rate swap rate, respectively, on such interest factor determination date. As set forth in the graph below, as the CMS yield curve flattens the spread gets smaller and smaller.

 

 

By purchasing the notes, you are taking the position that the CMS yield curve will be positively sloped as shown above.  A steeper curve will translate into a higher interest factor, although the interest factor for any interest period will never exceed 9%.

Please read the section entitled “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes” of this prospectus supplement, the section entitled “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Securities” in the accompanying underlier supplement no. 15 dated December 22, 2020, as well as the risks and considerations described in the accompanying prospectus dated July 1, 2020 and in the accompanying prospectus supplement dated July 1, 2020

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SUMMARY INFORMATION

 

 

Key Terms

Issuer:  GS Finance Corp.

Guarantor: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Indices: the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index (Bloomberg symbol, “SX7E Index”), as published by STOXX Limited, the Russell 2000^® Index (Bloomberg symbol, “RTY Index”), as published by FTSE Russell, and the Nasdaq-100 Index^® (Bloomberg symbol, “NDX Index”), as published by Nasdaq, Inc.; see “The Indices” on page S-40

CMS spread: for any interest factor determination date, the 30-year CMS rate minus the 2-year CMS rate

30-year CMS rate: for any interest factor determination date, the 30-year U.S. dollar interest rate swap rate (as described on page S-32) on such day, subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, including under “Discontinuance of a CMS rate” below

2-year CMS rate: for any interest factor determination date, the 2-year U.S. dollar interest rate swap rate (as described on page S-32) on such day, subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, including under “Discontinuance of a CMS rate” below

CMS rates: the 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate. The 30-year CMS rate and 2-year CMS rate are based on hypothetical interest rate swaps referencing 3-month USD LIBOR. LIBOR is being modified, see page S-25.

Discontinuance of a CMS rate: if the calculation agent determines on an interest factor determination date that a CMS rate has been discontinued, then the calculation agent will use a substitute or successor rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to the applicable CMS rate, provided that if the calculation agent determines there is an industry-accepted successor rate, then the calculation agent shall use such successor rate. If the calculation agent has determined a substitute or successor rate in accordance with the foregoing, the calculation agent in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention, the definition of business day and the interest factor determination dates to be used, and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor rate comparable to the applicable CMS rate, in a manner that is consistent with any industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor rate.

Face amount: each note will have a face amount equal to $1,000; $        in the aggregate for all the offered notes; the aggregate face amount of the offered notes may be increased if the issuer, at its sole

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option, decides to sell an additional amount of the offered notes on a date subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement

Purchase at amount other than face amount: the amount we will pay you at the stated maturity date for your notes or upon any early redemption, if any, will not be adjusted based on the issue price you pay for your notes, so if you acquire notes at a premium (or discount) to face amount and hold them to the stated maturity date or date of early redemption, it could affect your investment in a number of ways. The return on your investment in such notes will be lower (or higher) than it would have been had you purchased the notes at face amount. Also, the stated trigger buffer level would not offer the same measure of protection to your investment as would be the case if you had purchased the notes at face amount. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — 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” on page S-18 of this prospectus supplement.

Trade date: expected to be January 27, 2021

Original issue date (settlement date) (set on the trade date): expected to be January 29, 2021

Stated maturity date (set on the trade date): expected to be January 31, 2036, subject to our early redemption right and to adjustment as described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Payment of Principal on the Stated Maturity Date — Stated Maturity Date” on page S-30

Specified currency: U.S. dollars (“$”)

Denominations: $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

Supplemental discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences: 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 each note for all tax purposes as an income-bearing pre-paid derivative contract in respect of the indices, as described under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” herein. Pursuant to this approach, it is the opinion of Sidley Austin llp that it is likely that any interest payment will be taxed as ordinary income in accordance with your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If you are a United States alien holder of the notes, we intend to withhold on interest payments made to you at a 30% rate or at a lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty. In addition, upon the sale, exchange, redemption or maturity of your notes, it would be reasonable for you to recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash you receive at such time (excluding amounts attributable to any interest payment) and your tax basis in your notes.

Early redemption right: we have the right to redeem your notes, in whole but not in part, on each redemption date at a price equal to 100% of the face amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding such redemption date, subject to at least ten business days’ prior notice.

Redemption date: the interest payment date that is expected to fall on January 31, 2022 and each interest payment date occurring thereafter.

Cash settlement amount (on the stated maturity date): subject to our early redemption right, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes, in addition to any accrued and unpaid interest, we will pay you on the stated maturity date an amount in cash equal to:

Trigger buffer level: with respect to each index, 60% of its initial index level

Interest rate: for the first four interest payment dates, the interest rate will be 9% per annum. Thereafter, the interest rate with respect to any interest payment date will be determined on the immediately preceding interest determination date, based on the closing level of each index on each reference date during the interest period immediately preceding such interest payment date and on the CMS spread on the applicable interest factor determination date. The interest rate will be equal to: the product of (i) the

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interest factor times (ii) the quotient of (a) the number of reference dates during the applicable interest period when the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level divided by (b) the number of reference dates in such interest period. The interest rate will not be greater than 9% per annum or less than 0% per annum.

Interest factor: the interest factor for an interest period will be determined based on the CMS spread on the applicable interest factor determination date and will be equal to:

Interest factor determination dates: for each interest period, the second U.S. Government securities business day preceding the interest payment date occurring during such interest period. For example, the interest factor determination date used to determine the interest factor for interest to be paid on the 6th interest payment date shall be the second U.S. Government securities business day preceding the 5th interest payment date.

Interest determination dates: with respect to the 5th interest payment date and each interest payment date thereafter, the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the applicable interest payment date, and the interest determination date will begin the interest period for which payment will be made on the interest payment date occurring approximately three months thereafter. For example, the quarterly interest period applicable to the 6th interest payment date shall begin on the interest determination date that is the tenth scheduled trading day immediately preceding the 5th interest payment date and the interest rate to be paid on the 6th interest payment date shall be determined on the interest determination date that is the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the 6th interest payment date.

Index barrier level: with respect to each index, 70% of its initial index level

Initial index level (set on the trade date): with respect to each index, the closing level of such index on the trade date

Final index level: with respect to each index, the closing level of such index on the determination date, except in the limited circumstances described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Consequences of a Market Disruption Event or a Non-Trading Day” on page S-30 and subject to adjustment as provided under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” on page S-33

Lesser performing index return: the index return of the lesser performing index

Lesser performing index: the index with the lowest index return

Index return: with respect to each index, the quotient of (1) the final index level minus the initial index level divided by (2) the initial index level, expressed as a percentage

Determination date (set on the trade date): expected to be January 29, 2036, subject to adjustment as described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes —Determination Date” on page S-30

Closing level: with respect to each index on any trading day, the closing level of such index, as further described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Special Calculation Provisions — Closing Level” on page S-35

Interest payment dates (set on the trade date): expected to be the last calendar day of each January, April, July and October, beginning on April 30, 2021 and ending on the stated maturity date, subject to adjustments as described elsewhere in the prospectus supplement

Reference date: for each interest period, each day that is a scheduled trading day for each index

Day count convention: 30/360 (ISDA), as further discussed under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Interest Payments — Accrued Interest Factor” on page S-32

Business day convention: following unadjusted

Accrued interest factor: calculated in accordance with the day count convention with respect to each period from and including each interest payment date (or the original issue date, in the case of the first interest payment) to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date (each such period, an

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“interest accrual period”)

Regular record dates: one business day immediately preceding each interest payment date

Defeasance: not applicable

No listing: the offered notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or interdealer market quotation system

Business day: as described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Special Calculation Provisions — Business Day” on page S-35

U.S. Government securities business day: any day except for a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income department of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities

Trading day: as described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Special Calculation Provisions — Trading Day” on page S-35

Scheduled trading day: as described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Special Calculation Provisions — Trading Day” on page S-35

Interest period: the period from and including an interest determination date to but excluding the next succeeding interest determination date, with the exception of the interest period related to the 5th interest payment date, which shall begin on the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the 4th interest payment date. Interest periods are not relevant in determining the interest to be paid on the first four interest payment dates.

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

CUSIP no.: 40057F4W1

ISIN no.: US40057F4W18

FDIC: 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

 

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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 method we will use to determine the interest rate on any given interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, which is based on the levels of the CMS rates on the applicable interest factor determination date and the closing level of each index on the reference dates in the interest period immediately preceding the interest payment date, (ii) the method we will use to calculate the amount of interest accrued between interest payment dates and (iii) the impact that the various hypothetical closing levels of the lesser performing index on the determination date could have on the cash settlement amount at maturity, in each case assuming all other variables remain constant.

The examples below are based on a range of levels of the indices and the CMS rates that are entirely hypothetical; no one can predict what the level of any index or the CMS rates will be on any day throughout the life of your notes, what the final index level of the lesser performing index will be on the determination date and what the interest rate will be on any interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates. The indices and the CMS rates have been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the index levels and the CMS rates have changed substantially in relatively short periods — and their performance cannot be predicted for any future period.

The information in the following examples reflects the method we will use to calculate the interest rate applicable to any interest payment date and the 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 the stated maturity date. If you sell your notes in a secondary market prior to 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 indices and the CMS rates, 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 S-15 of this prospectus supplement. The information in the examples also reflect the key terms and assumptions in the box below.

 

Moreover, we have not yet set the initial index levels that will serve as the baseline for determining the interest payable on each interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, if any, the index returns and the amount that we will pay on your notes at maturity, if any, in each case subject to our early

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redemption right. We will not do so until the trade date. As a result, the actual initial index levels may differ substantially from the index levels prior to the trade date. They may also differ substantially from the index levels at the time you purchase your notes.

For these reasons, the actual performance of the indices over the life of your notes, the actual levels of the indices on any reference date in any interest period, the actual levels of the CMS rates on any interest factor determination date, as well as the interest payable at each interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical levels of the indices and the CMS spreads shown elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. For information about the index levels and CMS spread during recent periods, see “The Indices — Historical Closing Levels of the Indices” on page S-53 and “Historical CMS Spreads” on page S-56. Before investing in the notes, you should consult publicly available information to determine the index levels and the CMS spread between the date of this prospectus supplement and the date of your purchase of the notes.

The examples below illustrate the method we will use to determine the interest factor on any interest factor determination date and the method used to calculate the interest rate with respect to an interest payment date based on such interest factor, subject to the key terms and assumptions above.

The interest factor applicable to any interest period is determined on the applicable interest factor determination date and will equal the CMS spread times 25, subject to a maximum interest factor of 9%, and will be no less than zero. These examples are based on a range of CMS spreads that are entirely hypothetical.

In calculating the interest rate for a given interest payment date using the hypothetical interest factor in each example, the numbers in the first column of each table below represent the number of reference dates (“N”) during any given interest period for which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level. The levels in the fourth column represent the hypothetical interest amount, as a percentage of the face amount of each note, that would be payable with respect to a given interest period in which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level for a given number of reference dates (as specified in the first column) assuming the hypothetical interest factor in such example.

Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effect of applicable taxes.

Example 1: Based on a hypothetical 30-year CMS rate of 7% and a hypothetical 2-year CMS rate of 6.7% on the relevant interest factor determination date, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period equals:

(7% - 6.7%) × 25 = 7.5%

Because 0.30% times 25 equals 7.5%, which is less than 9% and greater than 0%, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period shall be 7.5%.

Based on a hypothetical interest factor of 7.5%, the hypothetical interest rate with respect to the relevant interest payment date and the hypothetical interest amount, as a percentage of the face amount of each note, that would be payable with respect to the relevant interest period in which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level for the indicated number of reference dates are set forth below:

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*The number of days for which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level in a given interest period is subject to numerous adjustments, as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.

Example 2: Based on a hypothetical 30-year CMS rate of 2.45% and a hypothetical 2-year CMS rate of 2.3% on the relevant interest factor determination date, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period equals:

(2.45% - 2.3%) × 25 = 3.75%

Because 0.15% times 25 equals 3.75%, which is less than 9% and greater than 0%, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period shall be 3.75%.

Based on a hypothetical interest factor of 3.75%, the hypothetical interest rate with respect to the relevant interest payment date and the hypothetical interest amount, as a percentage of the face amount of each note, that would be payable with respect to the relevant interest period in which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level for the indicated number of reference dates are set forth below:

*The number of days for which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level in a given interest period is subject to numerous adjustments, as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.

Example 3: Based on a hypothetical 30-year CMS rate of 9% and a hypothetical 2-year CMS rate of 5.4% on the relevant interest factor determination date, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period equals:

(9% - 5.4%) × 25 = 90%

Because 3.60% times 25 equals 90%, which is greater than 9%, the interest factor for the relevant interest period shall be 9%.

Based on a hypothetical interest factor of 9%, the hypothetical interest rate with respect to the relevant interest payment date and the hypothetical interest amount, as a percentage of the face amount of each note, that would be payable with respect to the relevant interest period in which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level for the indicated number of reference dates are set forth below:

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*The number of days for which the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level in a given interest period is subject to numerous adjustments, as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.

Example 4: Based on a hypothetical 30-year CMS rate of 1% and a hypothetical 2-year CMS rate of 2.2% on the relevant interest factor determination date, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period equals:

(1% - 2.2%) × 25 = -30%

Given that -1.20% times 25 equals -30%, which is less than 0%, the hypothetical interest factor for the relevant interest period shall be 0%. The notes will not pay any interest on the relevant interest payment date regardless of the number of reference dates on which the closing level of each index exceeds or equals its index barrier level.

The levels in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical final index levels of the lesser performing index and are expressed as percentages of the initial index level of the lesser performing index. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical cash settlement amounts, based on the corresponding hypothetical final index level of the lesser performing index (expressed as a percentage of the initial index level of the lesser performing index), 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 index level of the lesser performing index (expressed as a percentage of the initial index level of the lesser performing index) and the assumptions noted above.

 

*Does not include interest, if any, payable on the stated maturity date

If, for example, the final index level of the lesser performing index were determined to be 25.000% of its initial index 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

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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 index level of the lesser performing index were determined to be 200.000% of its initial index level, the cash settlement amount that we would deliver on your notes at maturity would be limited to 100.000% of each $1,000 face amount of your notes, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you held your notes to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any increase in the final index level over the initial index level of the lesser performing index.

The cash settlement amounts shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on market prices for the index 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 S-18.

 

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 prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

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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

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

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extent that GS&Co. makes a market in the notes, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured notes (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).

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

There is no assurance that GS&Co. or any other party will be willing to purchase your notes at any price and, in this regard, GS&Co. is not obligated to make a market in the notes.  See “— Your Notes May Not Have an Active Trading Market” below.

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

Although the interest payments on the notes after the first four interest payment dates, if any, will be based on the performance of each index and the relationship between the 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate, 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 68 of the accompanying prospectus.

We Are Able to Redeem Your Notes at Our Option

We have the right to redeem your notes, in whole but not in part, at 100% of their outstanding face amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the redemption date, on the interest payment date falling on January 31, 2022 and on each interest payment date occurring thereafter, upon at least ten business days’ prior notice. Even if we do not exercise our option to redeem your notes, our ability to do so may adversely affect the value of your notes. It is our sole option whether to redeem your notes prior to maturity and we may or may not exercise this option for any reason. Because of this redemption option, the term of your notes could be anywhere between one and fifteen years.

You May Lose Your Entire Investment in the Notes

You can lose your entire investment in the notes. The cash settlement amount on your notes, if any, on the stated maturity date will be based on the performance of the lesser performing of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, the Russell 2000^® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index^® as measured from their initial index levels set on the trade date to their closing levels on the determination date. If the final index level of the lesser performing index for your notes is less than its 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 of the lesser performing index 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 the stated maturity date 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 Cash Settlement Amount Will Be Based Solely on the Lesser Performing Index

The cash settlement amount will be based on the lesser performing index without regard to the performance of the other indices. As a result, you could lose all or some of your initial investment if the lesser performing index return is negative, even if there is an increase in the level of the other indices.  This could be the case even if the other index increased by an amount greater than the decrease in the lesser performing index.

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If the Closing Level of Any Index Is Less Than Its Index Barrier Level on Any Reference Date in Any Interest Period, the Interest Rate With Respect to the Next Interest Payment Date Will Be Reduced

Because of the formula used to calculate the interest payment applicable to your notes on any interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, in the event the closing level of any index on any reference date in any applicable interest period is less than its index barrier level, the interest rate with respect to the next interest payment date will be reduced. Therefore, if on each scheduled trading day during the related interest period, the closing level of an index is less than its index barrier level, you will receive no interest on the related interest payment date. Even if you receive some interest payments on some or all of the interest payment dates, the overall return you earn on your notes may be less than you would have earned by investing in a non-indexed debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate.

If the CMS Spread Is Less Than or Equal to 0% on the Relevant Interest Factor Determination Date for Any Interest Period, No Interest Will Be Paid for that Interest Period

Because of the formula used to calculate the interest payment applicable to your notes on any interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, in the event that on the relevant interest factor determination date the 30-year CMS rate does not exceed the 2-year CMS rate, no interest will be paid for the corresponding interest period, even if the CMS spread on subsequent days is greater than 0%. Therefore, if the 30-year CMS rate does not exceed the 2-year CMS rate for a prolonged period of time over the life of your notes including interest factor determination dates, you will receive no interest during the affected interest periods. In such case, even if you receive some interest payments on some or all of the interest payment dates, the overall return you earn on your notes may be less than you would have earned by investing in a non-indexed debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate.

The Amount of Interest Payable On The Notes In Any Quarter Is Capped

On each of the first four interest payment dates, interest will be paid at a rate of 9% per annum. After the first four interest payment dates, the interest rate will be based in part on the interest factor which is subject to a maximum interest factor of 9%. This will limit the amount of interest you may receive on each interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates. Because of the formula used to calculate the interest factor for your notes, if (i) the CMS spread times (ii) 25 is greater than or equal to 9% on an interest factor determination date, the interest factor for such interest period will be capped at 9% and if the closing level of any index is below its index barrier level on one or more reference dates during an interest period, your rate of interest will be less than the interest factor and may be zero. Thus, you will not benefit from any increases in the CMS spread above 0.36%. Furthermore, since the interest factor is determined quarterly, if the interest rate for at least one interest period during any year is less than 9% per annum, your actual return for such year will be less than 9% per annum, even if the interest rate is 9% per annum for the remaining interest periods during such year. Thus, the notes may provide less interest income than an investment in a similar instrument without a maximum interest factor.

The Return on Your Notes May Change Significantly Despite Only a Small Change in the Index Level of the Lesser Performing Index

If the final index level of the lesser performing index is less than its trigger buffer level, you will receive less than the face amount of your notes and you could lose all of your investment in the notes. This means that while a 40% decrease between the initial index level and the final index level of the lesser performing index will not result in a loss of principal on the notes, a decrease in the final index level of the lesser performing index to less than 60% of its initial index level will result in a loss of a significant portion of your investment in the notes despite only a small change in the index level of the lesser performing index.

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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 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 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 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. In addition, the impact of the trigger buffer level on the return on your investment will depend upon the price you pay for your notes relative to face amount. For example, the trigger buffer level, while still providing some protection for the return on the notes, will allow a greater percentage decrease in your investment in the notes than would have been the case for notes purchased at face amount or a discount to face amount.

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:

These factors, and many other factors, will influence the price you will receive 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 before maturity, you may receive less than the face amount of your notes.

You cannot predict the future performance of the indices or the CMS rates based on their historical performance. The actual performance of the indices and the CMS rates over the life of the offered notes, as well as the interest payable on each interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, may bear little or no relation to the historical closing levels of the indices, the levels of the CMS spread or the hypothetical examples shown elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.

The Amount of Interest Payable on Your Notes After the First Four Interest Payment Dates Will Not Be Affected by the CMS Spread on Any Day Other Than the Interest Factor Determination Date for the Applicable Interest Period

For each interest payment date after the first four interest payment dates, the amount of interest payable on each interest payment date is calculated based in part on the CMS spread on the interest factor determination date for the applicable interest period. Although the actual CMS spread on an interest payment date or at other times may be higher than the CMS spread on the interest factor determination date, you will not benefit from the CMS spread at any time other than on such interest factor determination date.

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If the Levels of the Indices Change, the Market Value of Your Notes May Not Change in the Same Manner

The price of your notes may move differently than the performance of the indices. Changes in the levels of the indices may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your notes. Even if the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level during some portion of the life of the notes, the market value of your notes may not increase in the same manner. We discuss some of the reasons for this disparity under “— The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” above.

If the CMS Spread Changes, the Market Value of Your Notes May Not Change in the Same Manner

The price of your notes may move differently than the CMS spread. The CMS spread will vary during the term of the notes based on the relationship between the 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate as well as the market’s expectation of this relationship in the future. Changes in the CMS spread may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your notes. Even if the CMS spread is greater than 0% during some portion of the life of the offered notes, the market value of your notes may not increase in the same manner. We discuss some of the reasons for this disparity under “— The Market Value of Your Notes May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” above.

Because of the long-dated maturity of your notes, the expected future performance of the CMS rates will have a greater impact on the market value of your notes than if your notes had an earlier maturity date. In particular, the expected future performance of the CMS rates may cause the market value of your notes to decrease even though the CMS spread may be greater than 0% during some portion of the life of the offered notes. Moreover, expectations about the performance of the CMS rates in the future are subject to a great degree of uncertainty and may be based on assumptions about the future that may prove to be incorrect. Even if the expected future performance of the CMS rates is favorable to your notes, this uncertainty may result in market participants substantially discounting this future performance when determining the market value of your notes.

Anticipated Hedging Activities by Goldman Sachs or Our Distributors May Negatively Impact Investors in the Notes and Cause Our Interests and Those of Our Clients and Counterparties to be Contrary to Those of Investors in the Notes

Goldman Sachs expects to hedge our obligations under the notes by purchasing listed or over-the-counter options, futures and/or other instruments linked to the CMS rates or the indices or the index stocks. Goldman Sachs also expects to adjust the hedge by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the foregoing, and perhaps other instruments linked to the CMS rates, the indices or the index stocks, at any time and from time to time, and to unwind the hedge by selling any of the foregoing on or before any interest determination date for your notes. Alternatively, Goldman Sachs may hedge all or part of our obligations under the notes with unaffiliated distributors of the notes which we expect will undertake similar market activity. Goldman Sachs may also enter into, adjust and unwind hedging transactions relating to other index-linked notes whose returns are linked to changes in the level of the CMS spread, the levels of the indices or the index stocks, as applicable.

In addition to entering into such transactions itself, or distributors entering into such transactions, Goldman Sachs may structure such transactions for its clients or counterparties, or otherwise advise or assist clients or counterparties in entering into such transactions. These activities may be undertaken to achieve a variety of objectives, including: permitting other purchasers of the notes or other securities to hedge their investment in whole or in part; facilitating transactions for other clients or counterparties that may have business objectives or investment strategies that are inconsistent with or contrary to those of investors in the notes; hedging the exposure of Goldman Sachs to the notes including any interest in the notes that it reacquires or retains as part of the offering process, through its market-making activities or otherwise; enabling Goldman Sachs to comply with its internal risk limits or otherwise manage firmwide, business unit or product risk; and/or enabling Goldman Sachs to take directional views as to relevant markets on behalf of itself or its clients or counterparties that are inconsistent with or contrary to the views and objectives of the investors in the notes.

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Any of these hedging or other activities may adversely affect the levels of the CMS spread or the indices — directly or indirectly by affecting the price of the index stocks — and therefore the market value of your notes and the amount we will pay on your notes, if any. In addition, you should expect that these transactions will cause Goldman Sachs or its clients, counterparties or distributors to have economic interests and incentives that do not align with, and that may be directly contrary to, those of an investor in the notes. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any distributor will have any obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor in the notes, and may receive substantial returns on hedging or other activities while the value of your notes declines. In addition, if the distributor from which you purchase notes is to conduct hedging activities in connection with the notes, that distributor may otherwise profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to the compensation that the distributor receives for the sale of the notes to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for the distributor to sell the notes to you in addition to the compensation they would receive for the sale of the notes.

Goldman Sachs’ Trading and Investment Activities for its Own Account or for its Clients, Could Negatively Impact Investors in the Notes

Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, investment advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker and lender. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs purchases, sells or holds a broad array of investments, actively trades securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers, and will have other direct or indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equity, bank loan and other markets. Any of Goldman Sachs’ financial market activities may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on the market for your notes, and you should expect that the interests of Goldman Sachs or its clients or counterparties will at times be adverse to those of investors in the notes.

Goldman Sachs regularly offers a wide array of securities, financial instruments and other products into the marketplace, including existing or new products that are similar to your notes, or similar or linked to the indices or index stocks. Investors in the notes should expect that Goldman Sachs will offer securities, financial instruments, and other products that will compete with the notes for liquidity, research coverage or otherwise.

Goldman Sachs’ Market-Making Activities Could Negatively Impact Investors in the Notes

Goldman Sachs actively makes markets in and trades financial instruments for its own account and for the accounts of customers. These financial instruments include debt and equity securities, currencies, commodities, bank loans, indices, baskets and other products. Goldman Sachs’ activities include, among other things, executing large block trades and taking long and short positions directly and indirectly, through derivative instruments or otherwise. The securities and instruments in which Goldman Sachs takes positions, or expects to take positions, include securities and instruments of the indices or index stocks, securities and instruments similar to or linked to the foregoing or the currencies in which they are denominated. Market making is an activity where Goldman Sachs buys and sells on behalf of customers, or for its own account, to satisfy the expected demand of customers. By its nature, market making involves facilitating transactions among market participants that have differing views of securities and instruments. As a result, you should expect that Goldman Sachs will take positions that are inconsistent with, or adverse to, the investment objectives of investors in the notes.

If Goldman Sachs becomes a holder of any securities of the indices or index stocks in its capacity as a market-maker or otherwise, any actions that it takes in its capacity as securityholder, including voting or provision of consents, will not necessarily be aligned with, and may be inconsistent with, the interests of investors in the notes.

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You Should Expect That Goldman Sachs Personnel Will Take Research Positions, or Otherwise Make Recommendations, Provide Investment Advice or Market Color or Encourage Trading Strategies That Might Negatively Impact Investors in the Notes

Goldman Sachs and its personnel, including its sales and trading, investment research and investment management personnel, regularly make investment recommendations, provide market color or trading ideas, or publish or express independent views in respect of a wide range of markets, issuers, securities and instruments. They regularly implement, or recommend to clients that they implement, various investment strategies relating to these markets, issuers, securities and instruments. These strategies include, for example, buying or selling credit protection against a default or other event involving an issuer or financial instrument. Any of these recommendations and views may be negative with respect to the indices or index stocks or other securities or instruments similar to or linked to the foregoing or result in trading strategies that have a negative impact on the market for any such securities or instruments, particularly in illiquid markets. In addition, you should expect that personnel in the trading and investing businesses of Goldman Sachs will have or develop independent views of the indices or index stocks, the relevant industry or other market trends, which may not be aligned with the views and objectives of investors in the notes.

Goldman Sachs Regularly Provides Services to, or Otherwise Has Business Relationships with, a Broad Client Base, Which May Include the Sponsors of an Index or the Issuers of the Index Stocks or Other Entities That Are Involved in the Transaction

Goldman Sachs regularly provides financial advisory, investment advisory and transactional services to a substantial and diversified client base, and you should assume that Goldman Sachs will, at present or in the future, provide such services or otherwise engage in transactions with, among others, the sponsors of each index or the issuers of the index stocks, or transact in securities or instruments or with parties that are directly or indirectly related to the foregoing. These services could include making loans to or equity investments in those companies, providing financial advisory or other investment banking services, or issuing research reports. You should expect that Goldman Sachs, in providing such services, engaging in such transactions, or acting for its own account, may take actions that have direct or indirect effects on the indices or index stocks, as applicable, and that such actions could be adverse to the interests of investors in the notes. In addition, in connection with these activities, certain Goldman Sachs personnel may have access to confidential material non-public information about these parties that would not be disclosed to Goldman Sachs employees that were not working on such transactions as Goldman Sachs has established internal information barriers that are designed to preserve the confidentiality of non-public information. Therefore, any such confidential material non-public information would not be shared with Goldman Sachs employees involved in structuring, selling or making markets in the notes or with investors in the notes.

In this offering, as well as in all other circumstances in which Goldman Sachs receives any fees or other compensation in any form relating to services provided to or transactions with any other party, no accounting, offset or payment in respect of the notes will be required or made; Goldman Sachs will be entitled to retain all such fees and other amounts, and no fees or other compensation payable by any party or indirectly by holders of the notes will be reduced by reason of receipt by Goldman Sachs of any such other fees or other amounts.

The Offering of the Notes May Reduce an Existing Exposure of Goldman Sachs or Facilitate a Transaction or Position That Serves the Objectives of Goldman Sachs or Other Parties

A completed offering may reduce Goldman Sachs’ existing exposure to the indices or index stocks, securities and instruments similar to or linked to the foregoing or the currencies in which they are denominated, including exposure gained through hedging transactions in anticipation of this offering. An offering of notes will effectively transfer a portion of Goldman Sachs’ exposure (and indirectly transfer the exposure of Goldman Sachs’ hedging or other counterparties) to investors in the notes.

The terms of the offering (including the selection of the indices or index stocks, and the establishment of other transaction terms) may have been selected in order to serve the investment or other objectives of Goldman Sachs or another client or counterparty of Goldman Sachs. In such a case, Goldman Sachs would typically receive the input of other parties that are involved in or otherwise have an interest in the

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offering, transactions hedged by the offering, or related transactions. The incentives of these other parties would normally differ from and in many cases be contrary to those of investors in the notes.

Other Investors in the Notes May Not Have the Same Interests as You

Other investors in the notes are not required to take into account the interests of any other investor in exercising remedies or voting or other rights in their capacity as security holders or in making requests or recommendations to Goldman Sachs as to the establishment of other transaction terms. The interests of other investors may, in some circumstances, be adverse to your interests. For example, certain investors may take short positions (directly or indirectly through derivative transactions) on assets that are the same or similar to your notes, the indices, the index stocks or other similar securities, which may adversely impact the market for or value of your notes.

The Policies of an Index Sponsor and Changes that Affect an Index or the Index Stocks Comprising an Index, Could Affect the Amount of Interest Payable on Your Notes and Their Market Value

The policies of an applicable index sponsor concerning the calculation of the level of an index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the index stocks comprising such index, and the manner in which changes affecting such index stocks or their issuers, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, are reflected in such index level, could affect the level of such index and, therefore, the amount of interest payable on your notes on any interest payment date and the market value of your notes before that date. The amount of interest payable on your notes and their market value could also be affected if an index sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates the index level, or if an index sponsor discontinues or suspends calculation or publication of such index level, in which case it may become difficult to determine the market value of your notes. If events such as these occur, the calculation agent — which initially will be GS&Co., our affiliate — may determine the applicable index levels on any such date — and thus the amount payable on any interest payment date — in a manner it considers appropriate, in its sole discretion. We describe the discretion that the calculation agent will have in determining the applicable index levels on any trading day and the interest determination date and the amount of interest payable on your notes more fully under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” and “— Role of Calculation Agent” below.

The Return on Your Notes Will Not Reflect Any Dividends Paid on the Index Stocks

The applicable index sponsor calculates the level of an index by reference to the prices of the index stocks without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those index stocks.  Therefore, the return on your notes will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the index stocks included in each index and received the dividends paid on those index stocks.  You will not receive any dividends that may be paid on any of the index stocks by the index stock issuers.  See “— You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Index Stock” below for additional information.

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

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

The Historical Levels of the CMS Spread Are Not an Indication of the Future Levels of the CMS Spread

In the past, the level of the CMS spread has experienced significant fluctuations. You should note that historical levels, fluctuations and trends of the CMS spread are not necessarily indicative of future levels. Any historical upward or downward trend in the CMS spread is not an indication that the CMS spread is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time, and you should not take the historical levels of the CMS spread as an indication of its future performance.

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Past Index Performance is No Guide to Future Performance

The actual performance of the indices over the life of the notes, as well as the amount payable at maturity, may bear little relation to the historical closing levels of the indices or to the hypothetical return examples set forth elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. We cannot predict the future performance of the indices.

As Compared to Other Index Sponsors, Nasdaq, Inc. Retains Significant Control and Discretionary Decision-Making Over the Nasdaq-100 Index^®, Which May Have an Adverse Effect on the Level of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® and on Your Notes

Pursuant to the Nasdaq-100 Index^® methodology, Nasdaq, Inc. retains the right, from time to time, to exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Nasdaq-100 Index^® integrity, including, but not limited to, changes to quantitative inclusion criteria. Nasdaq, Inc. may also, due to special circumstances, apply discretionary adjustments to ensure and maintain quality of the Nasdaq-100 Index^®. Although it is unclear how and to what extent this discretion could or would be exercised, it is possible that it could be exercised by Nasdaq, Inc. in a manner that materially and adversely affects the level of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® and therefore your notes. Nasdaq, Inc. is not obligated to, and will not, take account of your interests in exercising the discretion described above.

An Investment in the Offered Notes Is Subject to Risks Associated with Foreign Securities

The value of your notes is linked, in part, to indices that are comprised of stocks from one or more foreign securities markets. Investments linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. Any foreign securities market may be less liquid, more volatile and affected by global or domestic market developments in a different way than are the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Both government intervention in a foreign securities market, either directly or indirectly, and cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in that market. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.

The prices of securities in a foreign country are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that are unique to such foreign country's geographical region. These factors include: recent changes, or the possibility of future changes, in the applicable foreign government's economic and fiscal policies; the possible implementation of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities; fluctuations, or the possibility of fluctuations, in currency exchange rates; and the possibility of outbreaks of hostility, political instability, natural disaster or adverse public health developments. The United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the European Union on January 31, 2020 (an event commonly referred to as “Brexit”). The effects of Brexit are uncertain, and, among other things, Brexit has contributed, and may continue to contribute, to volatility in the prices of securities of companies located in Europe (or elsewhere) and currency exchange rates, including the valuation of the euro and British pound in particular. Any one of these factors, or the combination of more than one of these factors, could negatively affect such foreign securities market and the price of securities therein. Further, geographical regions may react to global factors in different ways, which may cause the prices of securities in a foreign securities market to fluctuate in a way that differs from those of securities in the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Foreign economies may also differ from the U.S. economy in important respects, including growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency, which may have a positive or negative effect on foreign securities prices.

In addition, recently enacted legislation in the United States could lead to a prohibition on trading in the United States of certain index stocks if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is prevented from performing inspections relating to the issuers of such index stocks by their jurisdiction of organization. As a result, certain index stock issuers and their index stocks, and, as a result, the level and constituents of the index, could be adversely affected.

Your Notes Are Linked to the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, Which Is Comprised of Index Stocks That Are Traded in a Foreign Currency But Not Adjusted to Reflect Their U.S. Dollar Value, And,

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Therefore, the Return on Your Notes Will Not Be Adjusted for Changes in the Foreign Currency Exchange Rate

Your notes are linked, in part, to the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, whose index stocks are traded in a foreign currency but not adjusted to reflect their U.S. dollar value. The amount payable on your notes will not be adjusted for changes in the euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate. The amount payable will be based upon the overall change in the level of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, however, may reflect changes in the economy of the foreign countries in which the index stocks are listed that, in turn, may affect the level of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index.

The Performance of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index Is Likely To Differ from the Performance of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index

Although the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index consists of companies drawn from the universe of companies included in the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, the companies comprising the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index represent only the Banks supersector, as further described below. As a result, the performance of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index is likely to differ from the performance of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index because the composition and weighting of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index differs markedly from the composition and weighting of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. As a result, the return on the notes will not be the same as a debt security with a payment at maturity based on the performance of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index.

The EURO STOXX^® Banks Index Is Concentrated in the Banks Supersector

All of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index’s index stocks are issued by companies that were assigned by the index sponsor to the Banks supersector, as defined by the Industry Classification Benchmark. Because the value of the notes is based on the performance of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, an investment in these notes will be concentrated in the Banks supersector. Stock prices for banking companies are affected by extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments those companies can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Profitability for banking companies is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers can negatively impact banking companies. Banks may also be subject to severe price competition, as competition is high among banking companies and failure to maintain or increase market share may result in lost market value. In addition, changes in governmental regulation and oversight of financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers may have an adverse effect on the financial condition of a financial institution and changes in the creditworthiness of financial institutions may adversely affect the values of instruments of issuers in financial industries. As a result, the value of the notes may be subject to greater volatility and may be more adversely affected by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting the banking industry than a different investment linked to securities of a more broadly diversified group of companies.

The EURO STOXX^® Banks Index May Be Disproportionately Affected By the Performance of a Small Number of Stocks

The EURO STOXX^® Banks Index was comprised of only 22 stocks as of January 11, 2021. In addition, as of the same date, over 70.64% of the weight of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index was attributed to just seven stocks — BNP Paribas SA, Banco Santander, S.A., Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, ING Groep NV, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Deutsche Bank AG and Unicredit SpA. As a result, a decline in the prices of one or more of these stocks, including as a result of events negatively affecting one or more of these companies, may have the effect of significantly lowering the level of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index even if none of the other constituent stocks of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index are affected by such events. Because of the weighting of the constituents of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, the amount you receive at maturity could be less than the cash settlement amount you would have received if you had invested in a product linked to an index that capped the maximum weight of any one stock to a low amount or that equally weighted all constituents of such index.

 

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Recent Regulatory Investigations Regarding Potential Manipulation of ISDAfix May Adversely Affect Your Notes

It has been reported that the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission are working together to investigate potential manipulation of ISDAfix. If such manipulation occurred, it may have resulted in the CMS spread being artificially lower (or higher) than it would otherwise have been. Any changes or reforms affecting the determination or supervision of ISDAfix (or ICE Swap Rate) in light of these investigations may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported ISDAfix (or ICE Swap Rate) or the CMS spread, which could have an adverse impact on the trading market for ISDAfix (or ICE Swap Rate)-benchmarked securities such as your notes, the value of your notes and any payments on your notes.

The CMS Rates Are Based on Hypothetical Interest Rate Swaps Referencing 3-Month USD LIBOR; U.K. Regulators Will No Longer Persuade or Compel Banks to Submit Rates for Calculation of LIBOR After 2021; Interest Rate Benchmark May Be Discontinued

The CMS rates represent the fixed rate of interest payable on hypothetical interest rate swaps with a floating leg based on 3-month USD LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates LIBOR, announced that the FCA will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR (which includes the 3-month USD LIBOR rate) after 2021. Such announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it appears highly likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or modified by 2021. It is not possible to predict the effect that this announcement or any such discontinuance or modification will have on the 3-month USD LIBOR rate, the CMS rates or your notes. If the calculation agent determines on an interest factor determination date that a CMS rate has been discontinued, then the calculation agent will use a substitute or successor rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to the applicable CMS rate, provided that if the calculation agent determines there is an industry-accepted successor rate, then the calculation agent shall use such successor rate. If the calculation agent has determined a substitute or successor rate in accordance with the foregoing, the calculation agent in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention, the definition of business day and the interest factor determination dates to be used, and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor rate comparable to the applicable CMS rate, in a manner that is consistent with any industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor rate. See “Summary Information — Key Terms — Discontinuance of a CMS rate” on page S-7.

Even if a CMS Rate is Not Discontinued, Such Rate May Not Be Published on an Interest Factor Determination Date and, If Such Rate is Not Published, it May Be Determined by the Calculation Agent in its Sole Discretion

Even if a CMS rate is not discontinued, it is possible that such rate may not be available on an interest factor determination date because such rate is not published by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). Non-publication by ICE of the applicable CMS rate (ICE Swap Rate) could occur for a number of reasons, such as a lack of available market data and an inability to use available market data to estimate rates for index maturities that are not available, or for other reasons. If the 30-year CMS rate or the 2-year CMS rate cannot be determined using the Reuters ICESWAP1 page due to the non-publication of such rate on a relevant interest factor determination date, the 30-year CMS rate or the 2-year CMS rate, as applicable, will be determined by the calculation agent in its sole discretion. Recently, the frequency at which no CMS Rate (ICE Swap Rate) was published for any index maturity has been increasing and the frequency of non-publication may continue to increase. Therefore, the likelihood that the calculation agent will determine the applicable CMS rate on an interest determination date in its sole discretion may increase as well. See “Specific Terms of Your Notes — CMS Rate” on page S-38. At any time, you may request from the calculation agent the interest rate in effect for your notes. If you would like to know the interest rate in effect for your notes at any time, please call GS&Co. at (212) 902-0300.

Regulation and Reform of “Benchmarks”, Including LIBOR and Other Types of Benchmarks, May Cause Such “Benchmarks” to Perform Differently Than in the Past, or to Disappear Entirely, or Have Other Consequences Which Cannot be Predicted

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LIBOR and other interest rate, equity, foreign exchange rate and other types of indices which are deemed to be “benchmarks” are the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. Some of these reforms are already effective while others are still to be implemented. These reforms may cause such “benchmarks” to perform differently than in the past, or to disappear entirely, or have other consequences which cannot be predicted. Any such consequence could have a material adverse effect on your notes.

Any of the international, national or other proposals for reform or the general increased regulatory scrutiny of “benchmarks” could increase the costs and risks of administering or otherwise participating in the setting of a “benchmark” and complying with any such regulations or requirements. Such factors may have the effect of discouraging market participants from continuing to administer or contribute to certain “benchmarks”, trigger changes in the rules or methodologies used in certain “benchmarks” or lead to the disappearance of certain “benchmarks”. The disappearance of a “benchmark” or changes in the manner of administration of a “benchmark” could result in discretionary valuation by the calculation agent or other consequence in relation to your notes. Any such consequence could have a material adverse effect on the value of and return on your notes.

As Calculation Agent, GS&Co. Will Have the Authority to Make Determinations that Could Affect the Value of Your Notes and the Amount You May Receive On Any Interest Payment Date

As calculation agent for your notes, GS&Co. will have discretion in making certain determinations that affect your notes, including determining: the closing levels of the indices for any reference date, which we will use to determine the amount, if any, we will pay on any applicable interest payment date; the levels of the CMS rates and the spread on any interest factor determination date, which we will use to determine the interest factor applicable to an interest period; market disruption events; non-trading days; non-business days; non-U.S. Government securities business days; the interest determination dates; and the stated maturity date. The calculation agent also has discretion in making certain adjustments relating to a discontinuation or modification of the indices. See “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” below. Further, if GS&Co. determines on an interest factor determination date that a CMS rate has been discontinued, then GS&Co. will use a substitute or successor rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to the applicable CMS rate, provided that if GS&Co. determines there is an industry-accepted successor rate, then GS&Co. shall use such successor rate. If GS&Co. has determined a substitute or successor rate in accordance with the foregoing, GS&Co. in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention, the applicable business days and the interest factor determination dates to be used, and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor rate comparable to the applicable CMS rate, in a manner that is consistent with industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor rate. See “Summary Information — Key Terms — Discontinuance of a CMS rate” on page S-7. The exercise of this discretion by GS&Co. could adversely affect the value of your notes and may present GS&Co. with a conflict of interest of the kind described under “— Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest Between Your Interest in the Notes and Us” above. We may change the calculation agent at any time without notice and GS&Co. may resign as calculation agent at any time upon 60 days’ written notice to us.

The Calculation Agent Can Postpone the Determination Date If a Market Disruption Event or a Non-Trading Day Occurs or is Continuing

If the calculation agent determines that, on a date that would otherwise be the determination date, a market disruption event has occurred or is continuing with respect to an index or that day is not a trading day with respect to an index, the determination date will be postponed as provided under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Determination Dates”. In no case, however, will the determination date be postponed to a date later than the originally scheduled stated maturity date or, if the originally scheduled stated maturity date is not a business day, later than the first business day after the originally scheduled stated maturity date. Moreover, if the determination date is postponed to the last possible day, but the market disruption event has not ceased by that day or that day is not a trading day, that day will nevertheless be the determination date for the stated maturity date.  In such a case, the calculation agent will determine the applicable closing levels or final index levels for the determination date based on the procedures described under “Specific Terms of Your Notes — Consequences of a Market Disruption Event or a Non-Trading Day” below.

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Your Notes May Not Have an Active Trading Market

Your notes will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or included in any interdealer market quotation system, and there may be little or no secondary market for your notes. Even if a secondary market for your notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity and we expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your notes in any secondary market could be substantial.

Certain Considerations for Insurance Companies and Employee Benefit Plans

Any insurance company or fiduciary of a pension plan or other employee benefit plan that is subject to the prohibited transaction rules of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, which we call “ERISA”, or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including an IRA or a Keogh plan (or a governmental plan to which similar prohibitions apply), and that is considering purchasing the offered notes with the assets of the insurance company or the assets of such a plan, should consult with its counsel regarding whether the purchase or holding of the offered notes could become a “prohibited transaction” under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any substantially similar prohibition in light of the representations a purchaser or holder in any of the above categories is deemed to make by purchasing and holding the offered notes. This is discussed in more detail under “Employee Retirement Income Security Act” below.

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 prospectus 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 prospectus supplement.

The Tax Consequences of an Investment in Your Notes Are Uncertain

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

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

 

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SPECIFIC TERMS OF YOUR NOTES

 

The offered notes are part of a series of debt securities, entitled “Medium-Term Notes, Series F”, that we may issue under the indenture from time to time as described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. The offered notes are also “indexed debt securities”, as defined in the accompanying prospectus.

This prospectus supplement summarizes specific financial and other terms that apply to the offered notes, including your notes; terms that apply generally to all Series F medium-term notes are described in “Description of Notes We May Offer” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The terms described here supplement those described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and, if the terms described here are inconsistent with those described there, the terms described here are controlling.

In addition to those terms described under “Summary Information” in this prospectus supplement, the following terms will apply to your notes:

Specified currency:

Form of note:

Denominations: each note registered in the name of a holder must have a face amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof

Defeasance applies as follows:

Other terms:

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Please note that the information about the settlement or trade date, issue price, discount or commission and net proceeds to GS Finance Corp. on the front cover page or elsewhere in this prospectus supplement relates only to the initial issuance and sale of the offered notes. We may decide to sell additional notes on one or more dates after the date of this prospectus supplement, at issue prices, underwriting discounts and net proceeds that differ from the amounts set forth on the front cover page or elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. If you have purchased your notes in a market-making transaction after the initial issuance and sale of the offered notes, any such relevant information about the sale to you will be provided in a separate confirmation of sale.

We describe the terms of your notes in more detail below.

Indices, Index Sponsors and Index Stocks

In this prospectus supplement, when we refer to an index, we mean either the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, the Russell 2000^® Index or the Nasdaq-100 Index^® specified on the front cover page, or any successor index, as each may be modified, replaced or adjusted from time to time as described under “— Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” below. When we refer to an index sponsor as of any time, we mean the entity, including any successor sponsor, that determines and publishes the applicable index as then in effect. When we refer to the index stocks of an index as of any time, we mean the stocks that comprise such index as then in effect, after giving effect to any additions, deletions or substitutions.

CMS Rates

In this prospectus supplement, when we refer to the 30-year CMS rate on an interest factor determination date, we mean the rate appearing on the Reuters screen ICESWAP1 page for 30-year index maturity as of approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such interest factor determination date, subject to adjustment as described under “—Interest Payments” below.

In this prospectus supplement, when we refer to the 2-year CMS rate on an interest factor determination date, we mean the rate appearing on the Reuters screen ICESWAP1 page for 2-year index maturity as of approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such interest factor determination date, subject to adjustment as described under “—Interest Payments” below.

“Reuters screen” means the display on the Thomson Reuters Eikon service, or any successor or replacement service, on the page specified in this prospectus supplement, or any successor or replacement page on that service.

Payment of Principal on Stated Maturity Date

Subject to our early redemption right, for each $1,000 face amount of your notes, we will pay you on the stated maturity date, in addition to interest due and payable, if any, an amount in cash equal to:

With respect to each index, the index return is calculated by subtracting the initial index level from the final index level and dividing the result by the initial index level, with the quotient expressed as a percentage. The lesser performing index is the index with the lowest index return.  The lesser performing index return is the index return of the lesser performing index.  

With respect to each index, the initial index level will be set on the trade date, which will be the closing level of such index on the trade date. With respect to each index, the calculation agent will determine the final index level, which will be the closing level of such index on the determination date. However, the calculation agent will have discretion to adjust the closing level on the determination date or to determine it in a different manner as described under “— Consequences of a Market Disruption Event or a Non-Trading Day” and “— Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” below. With respect to each index, the trigger buffer level is equal to 60% of its initial index level.

 

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Determination Date

The determination date is expected to be January 29, 2036, unless the calculation agent determines that, with respect to any index, a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on that day or that day is not otherwise a trading day.

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

Stated Maturity Date

The stated maturity date is expected to be January 31, 2036, unless that day is not a business day, in which case the stated maturity date will instead occur on the next following business day. If the determination date is postponed as described under “— Determination Date” above, 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.

Consequences of a Market Disruption Event or a Non-Trading Day

With respect to any index, if a market disruption event occurs or is continuing on a day that would otherwise be the determination date, or such day is not a trading day, then the determination date will be postponed as described under “—Determination Date” above.  If the determination date is postponed to the last possible date due to the occurrence of serial non-trading days, the level of each index will be the calculation agent’s assessment of such level, in its sole discretion, on such last possible postponed determination date. 

If the determination date is postponed due to a market disruption event with respect to any index, the final index level will be calculated based on (i) for any index that is not affected by a market disruption event on the determination date or the first qualified trading day thereafter (if applicable), the closing level of the index on that date, (ii) for any index that is affected by a market disruption event on the originally scheduled determination date or the first qualified trading day thereafter (if applicable), the closing level of the index on the first following trading day on which no market disruption event exists for such index and (iii) the calculation agent’s assessment, in its sole discretion, of the level of any index on the last possible postponed determination date with respect to such index as to which a market disruption event continues through the last possible postponed determination date.  As a result, this could result in the final index level of each index being determined on different calendar dates.

For the avoidance of doubt, once the closing level for an index is determined for the determination date, the occurrence of a later market disruption event or non-trading day will not alter such calculation.

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Interest Payments

For the first four interest payment dates, the interest rate on the notes will be 9% per annum. Thereafter, the interest rate with respect to any interest payment date will be determined on the immediately preceding interest determination date, based on the closing level of each index on each reference date during the interest period immediately preceding such interest payment date and on the CMS spread on the applicable interest factor determination date. The interest rate will be equal to: the product of (1) the interest factor times (2) the quotient of (i) the number of reference dates during the applicable interest period when the closing level of each index is greater than or equal to its index barrier level divided by (ii) the number of reference dates in such interest period.

The index barrier level with respect to each index is 70% of its initial index level.

The interest factor for an interest period will be determined based on the CMS spread on the applicable interest factor determination date and will be equal to:

On any interest factor determination date, the CMS spread will equal the 30-year CMS rate minus the 2-year CMS rate.

If the closing level of any index for any reference date during the applicable interest period is less than its index barrier level, the interest rate for the applicable interest payment date will be reduced.

If the calculation agent determines that the closing level of an index is not available for any reference date because of the occurrence of a market disruption event, a non-trading day or any other reason (other than as described under “— Discontinuance or Modification of an Index” below), then the closing level of such index for such reference date, and for each consecutive reference date thereafter for which the closing level of such index is not available, will be the closing level of such index on the next reference date for which the closing level of such index is available. For example, if the closing level of an index is not available on a Monday through Wednesday and the closing level of such index is available on Thursday, then the closing level of such index for Thursday will also be used for each of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. However, if the closing level of such index is not available for more than four consecutive reference dates, then on such fifth consecutive reference date and for each consecutive reference date thereafter for which the closing level of such index is not available, the calculation agent will determine the closing level of such index for each such reference date based on its assessment, made in its sole discretion, of the level of such index at the applicable time on such reference date.

Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, if the calculation agent determines that the closing level of any index is not available on the last reference date in any applicable interest period, then the calculation agent will determine the closing level of such index for such reference date based on its assessment, made in its sole discretion, of the level of the such index at the applicable time on such reference date.

For the avoidance of doubt, the closing level with respect to an index that is not affected by a market disruption event or non-trading day on a reference date shall be the closing level of such index on such reference date. As a result, this could result in the closing level for a reference date with respect to each index being determined on different calendar dates.

The calculation agent will calculate the amount of interest that has accrued on your notes with respect to each interest payment date in the following manner. The calculation agent will calculate the interest rate with respect to such interest payment date as described above and multiply the result by the accrued interest factor and the face amount.

An interest period means the period from and including an interest determination date to but excluding the next succeeding interest determination date, with the exception of the interest period related to the 5th interest payment date, which shall begin on the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the 4th interest

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payment date. Interest periods are not relevant in determining the interest to be paid on the first four interest payment dates.

The accrued interest factor is calculated as discussed under “ — Accrued Interest Factor” below.

Interest, if any, will be paid on your notes on the last calendar day of each January, April, July and October, beginning on April 30, 2021. If an interest payment date would otherwise be a day that is not a business day, the payment due on that interest payment date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day. However, the interest due with respect to such interest payment date shall not accrue from and including such interest payment date to and including the date of payment of such interest as so postponed. If the stated maturity date does not occur on the originally scheduled day, the interest payment date scheduled to occur on that originally scheduled day will instead occur on the postponed stated maturity date. However, interest on your notes will accrue only up to, but excluding, the originally scheduled stated maturity date.

CMS Spread

For any interest factor determination date, the CMS spread is the 30-year CMS rate minus the 2-year CMS rate.

Reference Date

For each interest period, a reference date is each day that is a scheduled trading day for each index. For the avoidance of doubt, a day that is a scheduled trading day for only one index will not be a reference date.

Interest Factor Determination Dates

For each interest period, the second U.S. Government securities business day preceding the interest payment date occurring during such interest period. For example, the interest factor determination date used to determine the interest factor for interest to be paid on the 6th interest payment date shall be the second U.S. Government securities business day preceding the 5th interest payment date.

Interest Determination Dates

With respect to the 5th interest payment date and each interest payment date thereafter, each interest determination date will be the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the applicable interest payment date, and the interest determination date will begin the interest period for which payment will be made on the interest payment date occurring approximately three months thereafter. For example, the quarterly interest period applicable to the 6th interest payment date shall begin on the interest determination date that is the tenth scheduled trading day immediately preceding the 5th interest payment date and the interest rate to be paid on the 6th interest payment date shall be determined on the interest determination date that is the tenth scheduled trading day prior to the 6th interest payment date.

CMS Rate

In this prospectus supplement, when we refer to the 30-year CMS rate or the 2-year CMS rate on an interest factor determination date, we mean the rate appearing on the Reuters screen ICESWAP1 page for 30-year or 2-year index maturity, as the case may be, as of approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such interest factor determination date. If a CMS rate cannot be determined in this manner on the relevant interest factor determination date, the following procedures will apply to your notes.

If the calculation agent determines on an interest factor determination date that a CMS rate has been discontinued, then the calculation agent will use a substitute or successor rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to the applicable CMS rate, provided that if the calculation agent determines there is an industry-accepted successor rate, then the calculation agent shall use such successor rate. If the calculation agent has determined a substitute or successor rate in accordance with the foregoing, the calculation agent in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention, the definition of business day and the interest factor determination dates to be used, and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor rate, including any adjustment factor needed to

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make such substitute or successor rate comparable to the applicable CMS rate, in a manner that is consistent with any industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor rate.

Unless the calculation agent uses a substitute or successor rate as so provided, if the CMS rate cannot be determined in the manner described above then the CMS rate for that interest factor determination date will be determined by the calculation agent, after consulting such sources as it deems comparable to the foregoing display page, or any other source it deems reasonable, in its sole discretion.

Accrued Interest Factor

The accrued interest factor is calculated in accordance with the 30/360(ISDA) day count convention with respect to each period from and including each interest payment date (or the original issue date, in the case of the first interest payment) to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date (each such period, an “interest accrual period”). 30/360 (ISDA) means the number of days in the interest accrual period in respect of which payment is being made divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows, as described in Section 4.16(f) of the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, without regard to any subsequent amendments or supplements:

where:

“Y1” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the interest accrual period falls;

“Y2” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the interest accrual period falls;

“M1” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the interest accrual period falls;

“M2” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the interest accrual period falls;

“D1” is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the interest accrual period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and

“D2” is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the interest accrual period, unless such number would be 31 and D1 is greater than 29, in which case D2 will be 30.

Discontinuance or Modification of an Index

If an index sponsor discontinues publication of an index and such index sponsor or anyone else publishes a substitute index that the calculation agent determines is comparable to such index, or if the calculation agent designates a substitute index, then the calculation agent will determine the interest payment amount on the relevant interest payment date or the cash settlement amount on the stated maturity date, as applicable, by reference to the substitute index. We refer to any substitute index approved by the calculation agent as a successor index.

If the calculation agent determines on a reference date or the determination date, as applicable, that the publication of an index is discontinued and there is no successor index, the calculation agent will determine the applicable closing level of such index used to determine the interest payment or the cash settlement amount, as applicable, on the related interest payment date or the stated maturity date, as applicable, by a computation methodology that the calculation agent determines will as closely as reasonably possible replicate such index.

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

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policies, is due to the publication of a successor index, is due to events affecting one or more of the index stocks or their issuers or is due to any other reason — and is not otherwise reflected in the level of the index by the index sponsor pursuant to the then-current index methodology of the index, or (ii) there has been a split or reverse split of the index, then the calculation agent will be permitted (but not required) to make such adjustments in such index or the method of its calculation as it believes are appropriate to ensure that the levels of such index used to determine the interest payment amount or cash settlement amount, as applicable, on the related interest payment date or the stated maturity date, as applicable, is equitable.

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

Limited Events of Default

The only events of default for the notes are (i) payment defaults that continue for a 30 day-grace period and (ii) certain insolvency events. No other breach or default under our senior debt indenture or the notes will result in an event of default for the notes or permit the trustee or holders to accelerate the maturity of the notes - that is, they will not be entitled to declare the face or principal amount of any notes to be immediately due and payable. See “Risks Relating to Regulatory Resolution Strategies and Long Term Debt Requirements” and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer - Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default - Securities Issued Under the 2008 GSFC Indenture” in the accompanying prospectus for further details.

 

Default Amount on Acceleration

If an event of default occurs and the maturity of your notes is accelerated, we will pay the default amount in respect of the principal of your notes at the maturity, instead of the amount payable on the stated maturity date as described earlier. We describe the default amount under “—Special Calculation Provisions” below.

For the purpose of determining whether the holders of our Series F medium-term notes, which include your notes, are entitled to take any action under the indenture, we will treat the outstanding face amount of your notes as the outstanding principal amount of that note. Although the terms of the offered notes differ from those of the other Series F medium-term notes, holders of specified percentages in principal amount of all Series F medium-term notes, together in some cases with other series of our debt securities, will be able to take action affecting all the Series F medium-term notes, including your notes, except with respect to certain Series F medium-term notes if the terms of such notes specify that the holders of specified percentages in principal amount of all of such notes must also consent to such action. This action may involve changing some of the terms that apply to the Series F medium-term notes or waiving some of our obligations under the indenture. In addition, certain changes to the indenture and the notes that only affect certain debt securities may be made with the approval of holders of a majority in principal amount of such affected debt securities. We discuss these matters in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer - Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default” and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer - Modification of the Debt Indentures and Waiver of Covenants”.

Manner of Payment

Any payment on your notes at maturity or upon redemption will be made to an account designated by the holder of your notes and approved by us, or at the office of the trustee in New York City, but only when your notes are surrendered to the trustee at that office. We may pay interest on any interest payment date by check mailed to the person who is the holder on the regular record date. We also may make any payment in accordance with the applicable procedures of the depositary.

Modified Business Day

As described in the accompanying prospectus, any payment on your notes that would otherwise be due on a day that is not a business day may instead be paid on the next day that is a business day, with the same effect as if paid on the original due date. For your notes, however, the term business day may have

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a different meaning than it does for other Series F medium-term notes. We discuss this term under “— Special Calculation Provisions” below.

Role of Calculation Agent

The calculation agent in its sole discretion will make all determinations regarding each index, the CMS spread, the 30-year CMS rate, the 2-year CMS rate, the regular record dates, the reference dates, the interest rate on each interest payment date, the interest payable on each interest payment date, business days, U.S. Government securities business days, trading days, interest factor determination dates, interest determination dates, whether a market disruption event occurs, postponement of the determination date, any interest payment date or the stated maturity date and the amount of cash payable on your notes at maturity or redemption, as applicable. Absent manifest error, all determinations of the calculation agent will be final and binding on you and us, without any liability on the part of the calculation agent.

Please note that GS&Co., our affiliate, is currently serving as the calculation agent as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We may change the calculation agent for your notes at any time after the date of this prospectus supplement without notice and GS&Co. may resign as calculation agent at any time upon 60 days’ written notice to us.

Our Early Redemption Right

We may redeem your notes, at our option, in whole but not in part, on the interest payment date that is expected to fall on January 31, 2022 and on each interest payment date occurring thereafter, for an amount equal to 100% of the face amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.

If we choose to exercise our early redemption right described in this prospectus supplement, we will notify the holder of your notes and the trustee by giving at least ten business days’ prior notice. The day we give the notice, which will be a business day, will be the redemption notice date and the immediately following interest payment date, which we will state in the redemption notice, will be the redemption date. We will not give a redemption notice that results in a redemption date later than the stated maturity date.

If we give the holder a redemption notice, we will redeem the entire outstanding face amount of your notes as follows. On the redemption date, we will pay to the holder of record on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date, the redemption price in cash, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, in the manner described under “Manner of Payment” above.

Special Calculation Provisions

Business Day

When we refer to a business day with respect to your notes, we mean a day that is a New York business day as described under “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Calculations of Interest on Debt Securities — Business Days” on page 16 in the accompanying prospectus.

U.S. Government securities business day

When we refer to a U.S. Government securities business day with respect to your notes, we mean any day except for a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income department of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.

 

Trading Day

When we refer to a trading day with respect to an index, we mean (i) with respect to the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, a day on which such index is calculated and published by the index sponsor, regardless of whether one or more of the principal securities markets for the index stocks are closed on that day, if the index sponsor publishes the level of such index on that day and (ii) with respect to the Russell 2000^® Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index^®, a day on which the respective principal securities markets for all of the index stocks are open for trading, the index sponsor is open for business and such index is

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calculated and published by the index sponsor. A day is a scheduled trading day with respect to the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index if, as of the trade date, such index is expected to be calculated and published by such index sponsor on that day. A day is a scheduled trading day with respect to the Russell 2000^® Index or the Nasdaq-100 Index^® if, as of the trade date, the respective index sponsor is scheduled to be open for business, such index is expected to be calculated and published and the respective principal securities markets for all of its index stocks are scheduled to be open for trading on such day

Closing Level

When we refer to the closing level of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index and the Nasdaq-100 Index^® on any trading day, we mean the official closing level of such index or any successor index published by the index sponsor on such trading day for such index.

When we refer to the closing level of the Russell 2000^® Index on any trading day, we mean the closing level of that index or any successor index reported by Bloomberg Financial Services, or any successor reporting service we may select, on such trading day for that index.  Currently, whereas the index sponsor publishes the official closing level of the Russell 2000^® Index to six decimal places, Bloomberg Financial Services reports the closing level of the Russell 2000^® Index to fewer decimal places.  As a result, the closing level of the Russell 2000^® Index reported by Bloomberg Financial Services generally may be lower or higher than the official closing level of the Russell 2000^® Index published by the index sponsor.

Default Amount

The default amount for your notes on any day (except as provided in the last sentence under “—Default Quotation Period” below) will be an amount, in the specified currency for the principal of your notes, equal to the cost of having a qualified financial institution, of the kind and selected as described below, expressly assume all of our payment and other obligations with respect to your notes as of that day and as if no default or acceleration had occurred, or to undertake other obligations providing substantially equivalent economic value to you with respect to your notes. That cost will equal:

During the default quotation period for your notes, which we describe below, the holder and/or we may request a qualified financial institution to provide a quotation of the amount it would charge to effect this assumption or undertaking. If either party obtains a quotation, it must notify the other party in writing of the quotation. The amount referred to in the first bullet point above will equal the lowest — or, if there is only one, the only — quotation obtained, and as to which notice is so given, during the default quotation period. With respect to any quotation, however, the party not obtaining the quotation may object, on reasonable and significant grounds, to the assumption or undertaking by the qualified financial institution providing the quotation and notify the other party in writing of those grounds within two business days after the last day of the default quotation period, in which case that quotation will be disregarded in determining the default amount.

Default Quotation Period

The default quotation period is the period beginning on the day the default amount first becomes due and ending on the third business day after that day, unless:

If either of these two events occurs, the default quotation period will continue until the third business day after the first business day on which prompt notice of a quotation is given as described above. If that quotation is objected to as described above within five business days after that first business day, however, the default quotation period will continue as described in the prior sentence and this sentence.

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In any event, if the default quotation period and the subsequent two business day objection period have not ended before the final interest determination date, then the default amount will equal the principal amount of your notes.

 

Qualified Financial Institutions

For the purpose of determining the default amount at any time, a qualified financial institution must be a financial institution organized under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States of America, Europe or Japan, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity of one year or less from the date of issue and that is, or whose securities are, rated either:

Market Disruption Event

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

and, in the case of any of these events, the calculation agent determines in its sole discretion that the event could materially interfere with the ability of GS Finance Corp. or any of its affiliates or a similarly situated party to unwind all or a material portion of a hedge that could be effected with respect to the offered notes. For more information about hedging by GS Finance Corp. and/or any of its affiliates, see “Use of Proceeds” and “Hedging” below.

The following events will not be market disruption events:

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

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

As is the case throughout this prospectus supplement, references to the indices in this description of market disruption events includes any index and any successor index as it may be modified, replaced or adjusted from time to time.

 

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to lend the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or its affiliates. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. expects to use the proceeds from such loans for the purposes we describe in the accompanying prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”. We or our affiliates may also use those proceeds in transactions intended to hedge our obligations under the offered notes as described below.

HEDGING

In anticipation of the sale of the offered notes, we and/or our affiliates have entered into or expect to enter into hedging transactions involving purchases of listed or over-the-counter options, futures and other instruments linked to the indices, the index stocks and/or the CMS rates on or before the trade date. In addition, from time to time after we issue the offered notes, we and/or our affiliates may enter into additional hedging transactions and unwind those we have entered into, in connection with the offered notes and perhaps in connection with other index-linked notes we issue, some of which may have returns linked to the indices, the index stocks or the CMS rates. Consequently, with regard to your notes, from time to time, we and/or our affiliates:

We and/or our affiliates may acquire a long or short position in securities similar to your notes from time to time and may, in our or their sole discretion, hold or resell those securities.

In the future, we and/or our affiliates expect to close out hedge positions relating to the offered notes and perhaps relating to other notes with returns linked to the indices, the index stocks or the CMS rates. We expect these steps to involve sales of instruments linked to the indices and/or the CMS rates on or shortly before the determination date. These steps may also involve sales and/or purchases of some or all of the index stocks, or listed or over-the-counter options, futures or other instruments linked to the indices, some or all of the index stocks or indices designed to track the performance of the New York Stock Exchange or other components of the U.S. equity market or the CMS rates.

The hedging activity discussed above may adversely affect the market value of your notes from time to time and the amount we will pay on your notes at maturity. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes” above for a discussion of these adverse effects.

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THE INDICES

EURO STOXX^® Banks Index

The EURO STOXX^® Banks Index, which we also refer to in this description as the “underlier”:

The underlier is a free float capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the Banks supersector of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index from 11 Eurozone countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The level of the underlier is disseminated on the STOXX Limited website. STOXX Limited is under no obligation to continue to publish the underlier and may discontinue publication of it at any time.  Additional information regarding the underlier and the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index may be obtained from the STOXX Limited website: stoxx.com.  We are not incorporating by reference the STOXX Limited website or any material it includes in this prospectus supplement. STOXX Limited is under no obligation to continue to publish the underlier and may discontinue publication of the underlier at any time.

Each stock in the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is assigned to one of 19 supersectors, as defined by the Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”), based on sources of primary revenue. Only those constituents of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index that are assigned to the Banks supersector and are from the 11 Eurozone countries listed above are included in the underlier. Supersector designations are determined by the underlier sponsor using criteria it has selected or developed. Underlier sponsors may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between underliers with different underlier sponsors may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the underliers.

As of January 11, 2021, the underlier was comprised of the stocks of 22 companies. The top ten constituent stocks of the underlier as of December 23, 2020, by weight, are: BNP Paribas (15.70%), Banco Santander, S.A. (14.74%), Intesa Sanpaolo (10.72%), ING Groep NV (9.50%), Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (8.58%), Deutsche Bank AG (5.96%), Unicredit SpA (5.44%), KBC Group NV (4.68%), Societe Generale SA (4.53%) and Credit Agricole SA (4.05%). Constituent weights may be found at stoxx.com/document/Bookmarks/CurrentFactsheets/SX7GT.pdf and are updated periodically.

As of January 11, 2021, the 8 countries which comprise the underlier represent the following weights in the underlier: Spain (27.44%), France (25.08%), Italy (19.58%), the Netherlands (10.77%), Germany (7.64%), Belgium (4.68%), Austria (3.86%) and Ireland (0.95%). Country weightings may be found at stoxx.com/document/Bookmarks/CurrentFactsheets/SX7GT.pdf and are updated periodically.

Except for the additional requirements for inclusion in the underlier described above, the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index is calculated and maintained on the same basis as the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, which is described under “The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index” below.

Underlier Stocks With Weights Equal to or in Excess of 5% of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index as of January 11, 2021

Companies Registered Under the Exchange Act. Banco Santander, S.A., ING Groep NV and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Companies with stocks registered under the Exchange Act are required to file financial and other information specified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) periodically. In addition, information filed by the applicable underlier stock issuer with the SEC electronically can be reviewed through a website maintained by the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is sec.gov.

Companies Not Registered Under the Exchange Act. Information regarding BNP Paribas SA, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Deutsche Bank AG and Unicredit SpA can be found on their respective company websites. There is generally less publicly available information about such companies than about

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companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies. 

Historical Closing Prices and Other Information. The graphs below show the daily historical closing prices (in Euros, the currency in which the underlier is calculated) of BNP Paribas SA, Banco Santander, S.A., Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, ING Groep NV, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Deutsche Bank AG and Unicredit SpA, the constituent stocks comprising at least 5% of the underlier, from January 1, 2016 through January 11, 2021. We obtained the prices in the graphs below using data from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification.  

According to its publicly available documents, BNP Paribas SA is a France-based company that provides banking and financial services. Information regarding BNP Paribas SA can be found on the company’s website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this prospectus supplement.

Historical Performance of BNP Paribas SA

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According to publicly available information, Banco Santander, S.A. is a commercial and wholesale bank. Information filed with the SEC by the underlier stock issuer under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-34476.

Historical Performance of Banco Santander, S.A.

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According to its publicly available documents, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. is a banking company. Information regarding Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. can be found on the company’s website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this prospectus supplement.

Historical Performance of Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

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According to publicly available information, ING Groep NV is a financial institution offering retail and wholesale banking services. Information filed with the SEC by the underlier stock issuer under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-14642.

Historical Performance of ING Groep NV

 

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According to publicly available information, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA is a financial services group engaged in retail banking, asset management and wholesale banking. Information filed with the SEC by the underlier stock issuer under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-10110.

Historical Performance of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA

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According to publicly available information, Deutsche Bank AG is a financial institution that consists of a corporate bank, investment bank, private bank and asset management. Information filed with the SEC by the underlier stock issuer under the Exchange Act can be located by referencing SEC file number 001-15242.

Historical Performance of Deutsche Bank AG

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According to its publicly available documents, UniCredit S.p.A, formerly Unicredito Italiano S.p.A., is a banking and financial services company. Information regarding Intesa UniCredit S.p.A can be found on the company’s website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this prospectus supplement.

Historical Performance of UniCredit S.p.A

 

The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index

 

The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is a free float capitalization-weighted index of 600 stocks, created by STOXX Limited, the index sponsor. The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is designed to provide a broad yet investable representation of the largest (by free float market capitalization) companies of 17 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and contains a fixed number of 600 components with a weighting cap of 20%. The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index was introduced on June 15, 1998 based on an initial index value of 100 at December 31, 1991. The level of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is disseminated on the STOXX Limited website. We are not incorporating by reference the STOXX Limited website or any material it includes in this prospectus supplement. STOXX Limited is under no obligation to continue to publish the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index and may discontinue publication of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index at any time.

Component Selection

The composition of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is reviewed by STOXX Limited quarterly and changes are typically implemented on the third Friday of every March, June, September and December, with effect on the next trading day. If the third Friday of the relevant month is not a trading day, then the implementation occurs on the next trading day, with effect on the following trading day. In connection with the quarterly review, the eligible stocks in the STOXX^® Europe Total Market Index are ranked in terms of free float market capitalization to produce the selection list for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. The STOXX^® Europe Total Market Index consists of the top 95% (subject to applicable buffer rules) by free-float market capitalization of the total equity having a country assignment in one of the 17 countries listed

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above (based on the country of incorporation, the primary listing and the country with the largest trading volume).

The selection list for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is updated and published on a monthly basis according to the review component selection process in case a replacement is needed for a deletion. To create the selection list for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, for each company having more than one eligible class of stock, only the most liquid class is eligible, and a liquidity screen of a 3-month average daily trading volume of greater than one million Euros is applied to the eligible stocks. The eligible stocks remaining after application of the liquidity screen are ranked by their free float market capitalizations.

At the quarterly review, the largest 550 stocks on the selection list qualify for selection for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. The remaining 50 stocks for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index are selected from the current components ranked between 551 and 750 that meet all of the criteria (including the liquidity screen). If the number of stocks selected is still below 600, the largest (by free float market capitalization) stocks on the selection list are selected until there are 600 stocks.

Ongoing Maintenance

The component stocks of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index are monitored on an ongoing monthly basis for deletion and quarterly basis for addition. Changes to the composition of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index due to corporate actions (including mergers and takeovers, spin-offs, sector changes and bankruptcy) are announced immediately, implemented two trading days later and become effective on the next trading day after implementation.

Any component stocks that are not traded for 10 consecutive days, are suspended from trading for 10 consecutive days, are officially delisted or are the subject of ongoing bankruptcy proceeds will be deleted from the STOXX® Europe 600 Index. A deleted stock is replaced by the highest-ranked non-component on the selection list in the STOXX Europe Total Market Index to maintain the fixed number of stocks in the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index.

In the case of a spin-off, if the original stock was a component stock, then each spin-off stock qualifies for addition to the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index if it is equal to or above 550 on the latest selection list. The largest qualifying spin-off stock replaces the original component stock, while the next qualifying spin-off stock replaces the lowest ranked component stock and likewise for other qualifying spin-off stocks. Additions and deletions in connection with a quarterly review are announced on the first trading day of the review implementation month.

The free float factors and outstanding number of shares for each index stock that STOXX Limited uses to calculate the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, as described below, are reviewed, calculated and implemented on a quarterly basis and are fixed until the next quarterly review. These changes are announced five trading days before they are implemented. Certain extraordinary adjustments to the factors and/or the number of outstanding shares are implemented and made effective more quickly. The timing depends on the magnitude of the change. The free float factor reduces the index stock’s number of shares to the actual amount available on the market. All holdings that are larger than five percent of the total outstanding number of shares and held on a long-term basis are excluded from the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index calculation (including, but not limited to, stock owned by the company itself, stock owned by governments, stock owned by certain individuals or families, and restricted shares). In addition, the weight of each component in the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is capped at 20% of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index’s total free float market capitalization.

STOXX^® Europe 600 Index Calculation

STOXX Limited calculates the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index using the “Laspeyres formula,” which measures the aggregate price changes in the index stocks against a fixed base quantity weight. The discussion below describes the “price return” calculation of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. The formula for calculating the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index value can be expressed as follows:

 

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The “free float market capitalization of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index” is equal to the sum of the product of the price, the number of shares, the free float factor and the weighting cap factor for each index stock as of the time the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is being calculated. Where any index component stock price is unavailable on any trading day, the index sponsor will generally use the last reported price for such component stock. If an index stock trades in a currency other than Euros, its stock price is converted into Euros using the midpoint between the latest real-time bid and ask prices for that currency. The closing index level is calculated by converting non-Euro stock prices to Euros using fixed foreign exchange rates (WM fixed exchange rates).

In case the investability and tradability of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index and index based products is affected by an upcoming market or company event that is considered significant or “extreme” by the STOXX Management Board, the following actions or a combination of the following actions are taken. For all such changes a minimum notification period of two full trading days will be observed. The action scope may include but is not limited to:

STOXX^® Europe 600 Index Divisor

The STOXX^® Europe 600 Index is calculated using a divisor that helps to maintain the continuity of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index’s value so that corporate actions do not artificially increase or decrease the level of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. The divisor is calculated by starting with the previous divisor in effect for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index (which we call the “original divisor value”) and multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the previous free float market capitalization of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, plus or minus the difference between the closing market capitalization of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index and the adjusted closing market capitalization of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index, and the denominator of which is the previous free float market capitalization of the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index. The adjusted free float market capitalization is calculated for stocks of companies that have experienced a corporate action of the type described below as of the time the new divisor value is being calculated using the free float market capitalization calculated with adjusted closing prices, the new number of shares, and the new free float factor minus the free float market capitalization calculated with that stock’s original closing price, number of shares, and free float factor, in each case as used in calculating the original divisor value. Errors in divisor calculation are corrected on an intraday basis if discovered on the same day the new divisor is effective. If the error is discovered later, the error is corrected on an intraday basis if feasible and only if the error is considered significant by the STOXX Limited Management Board.

Divisor Adjustments

STOXX Limited adjusts the divisor for the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index to maintain the continuity of the index values across changes due to corporate actions. Changes in weights due to corporate actions are distributed proportionally across all STOXX^® Europe 600 Index components and equal an investment into the portfolio. The following is a summary of the adjustments to any index stock made for corporate actions and the effect of such adjustments on the divisor, where shareholders of the index stock will receive “B” new shares for every “A” share held (where applicable). All adjusted prices consider withholding taxes based on the new shares being distributed, using “B * (1 – withholding tax where applicable)”.

(1)Special cash dividend:

Adjusted price = closing price – dividend announced by the company * (1 - withholding tax if applicable)

Divisor: decreases

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(2)Split and reverse split:

Adjusted price = closing price * A / B

New number of shares = old number of shares * B / A

Divisor: no change

(3)Rights offering:

Adjusted price = (closing price * A + subscription price * B) / (A + B)

New number of shares = old number of shares * (A + B) / A

Divisor: increases

If the subscription price is not available or if the subscription price is equal to or greater than the closing price on the day before the effective date, then no adjustment is made.

If the subscription price is available as a price range and not as a fixed price, the price and share adjustment is performed only if both lower and upper range are in the money. The average value between lower and upper range will be used as a subscription price.

Extremely dilutive rights issues having a share ratio larger or equal to 2000% (B / A > 20) are treated as follows:

STOXX will announce the deletion of the company from the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index following the standard rules for STOXX^® Europe 600 Index replacements if sufficient notice of two trading days before the ex-date can be given.

The company may enter the STOXX^® Europe 600 Index again at the next periodic index review, but only after the new rights issue shares have been listed.

Extremely dilutive rights issues for which two trading days' notice before the ex-date cannot be given, and all highly dilutive rights issues having a share ratio larger or equal to 200% (B / A > 2) are treated as follows:

(4)Stock dividend:

Adjusted price = closing price * A / (A + B)

New number of shares = old number of shares * (A + B) / A

Divisor: no change

(5)Stock dividend from treasury stock if treated as extraordinary dividend:

Adjusted close = close – close * B / (A + B)

Divisor: decreases

(6) Stock dividend (from redeemable shares) if treated as extraordinary dividend.

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Stock dividends from redeemable shares will be adjusted as cash dividends. In such a case redeemable shares are considered as:

Adjusted close = close - close * B / (A + B)

Divisor: decreases

(7)Stock dividend of another company:

Adjusted price = (closing price * A – price of other company * B) / A

Divisor: decreases

(8)Return of capital and share consolidation:

Adjusted price = [closing price – capital return announced by company * (1– withholding tax)] * A / B

New number of shares = old number of shares * B / A

Divisor: decreases

(9)Repurchase of shares / self-tender:

Adjusted price = [(price before tender * old number of shares) – (tender price * number of tendered shares)] / (old number of shares – number of tendered shares)

New number of shares = old number of shares – number of tendered shares

Divisor: decreases

(10)Spin-off:

Adjusted price = (closing price * A – price of spun-off shares * B) / A

Divisor: decreases

(11)Combination stock distribution (dividend or split) and rights offering:

For this corporate action, the following additional assumptions apply:

Shareholders receive B new shares from the distribution and C new shares from the rights offering for every A share held; and

If A is not equal to one, all the following “new number of shares” formulae need to be divided by A.

If rights are applicable after stock distribution (one action applicable to another):

Adjusted price = [closing price * A + subscription price * C * (1 + B / A)] / [(A + B) * (1 + C / A)]

New number of shares = old number of shares * [(A + B) * (1 + C / A)] / A

Divisor: increases

If stock distribution is applicable after rights (one action applicable to another):

Adjusted price = (closing price * A + subscription price * C) / [(A + C) * (1 + B / A)]

New number of shares = old number of shares * [(A + C) * (1 + B / A)]

Divisor: increases

Stock distribution and rights (neither action is applicable to the other):

Adjusted price = (closing price * A + subscription price * C) / (A + B + C)

New number of shares = old number of shares * (A + B + C) / A

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Divisor: increases

No price adjustments are made. The net change in market capitalization determines the divisor adjustment.

(13)Free float and shares changes

No price adjustments are made. The net change in market capitalization determines the divisor adjustment.

 

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Russell 2000^® Index

The Russell 2000^® Index measures the composite price performance of stocks of 2,000 companies incorporated in the U.S., its territories and certain “benefit-driven incorporation countries.” The Russell 2000^® Index is designed to track the performance of the small capitalization segment of the U.S. equity market. For more details about the Russell 2000^® Index, the underlier sponsor and license agreement between the underlier sponsor and the issuer, see “The Underliers — Russell 2000^® Index” on page S-89 of the accompanying underlier supplement no. 15.

The Russell 2000^® Index is a trademark of FTSE Russell (“Russell”) and has been licensed for use by GS Finance Corp. The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Russell, and Russell makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

Nasdaq-100 Index^®

The Nasdaq-100 Index^® is a modified market capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the performance of 100 of the largest Nasdaq listed non-financial stocks. For more details about the Nasdaq-100 Index^®, the underlier sponsor and license agreement between the underlier sponsor and the issuer, see “The Underliers — Nasdaq-100 Index^®” on page S-69 of the accompanying underlier supplement no. 15.

The Product(s) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq, with its affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Product(s). The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Product(s) or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Product(s) particularly, or the ability of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® to track general stock market performance. The Corporations' only relationship to GS Finance Corp. (“Licensee”) is in the licensing of the Nasdaq^®, Nasdaq-100 Index^®, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to Licensee or the Product(s). Nasdaq has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Product(s) into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Nasdaq-100 Index^®. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Product(s) to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Product(s) is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Product(s).

The Corporations do not guarantee the accuracy and/or uninterrupted calculation of Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. The Corporations make no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by Licensee, owners of the product(s), or any other person or entity from the use of the Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. The Corporations make no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaim all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Nasdaq-100 Index^® or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the Corporations have any liability for any lost profits or special, incidental, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

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Historical Closing Levels of the Indices

The closing levels of the indices have fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. In particular, the index has recently experienced extreme and unusual volatility.  Any historical upward or downward trend in the closing level of any index during the period shown below is not an indication that such index is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the life of your notes.

You should not take the historical closing levels of an index as an indication of the future performance of an index, including because of the recent volatility described above.  We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of any index or the index stocks will result in you receiving any interest payment on any interest payment date.

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

The graphs below show the daily historical closing levels of each index from January 1, 2016 through January 11, 2021.  As a result, the following graphs do not reflect the global financial crisis which began in 2008, which had a materially negative impact on the price of most equity securities and, as a result, the level of most equity indices. We obtained the closing levels in the graphs below from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification.  Although the official closing levels of the Russell 2000^® Index are published to six decimal places by the index sponsor, Bloomberg Financial Services reports the levels of the Russell 2000^® Index to fewer decimal places.

 

Historical Performance of the EURO STOXX^® Banks Index

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Historical Performance of the Russell 2000^® Index

Historical Performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index^®

 

 

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Historical CMS Spreads

The graph set forth below illustrates the historical CMS spreads from January 1, 2016 through January 11, 2021. We obtained the CMS spreads shown in the graph from Reuters, without independent verification.

The historical CMS spreads reflected in the graph set forth below are based on actual CMS rate movements during the time period. We cannot assure you, however, that this performance will be replicated in the future or that the historical CMS spreads will serve as a reliable indicator of future performance. The CMS spread has fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. Any historical upward or downward trend in the CMS spread during the period shown below is not an indication that the CMS spread is more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time after the first four interest payment dates. See “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — The CMS Rates Are Based on Hypothetical Interest Rate Swaps Referencing 3-Month USD LIBOR; U.K. Regulators Will No Longer Persuade or Compel Banks to Submit Rates for Calculation of LIBOR After 2021; Interest Rate Benchmark May Be Discontinued”, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — Recent Regulatory Investigations Regarding Potential Manipulation of ISDAfix May Adversely Affect Your Notes,” “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes – Even if a CMS Rate is Not Discontinued, Such Rate May Not Be Published on an Interest Factor Determination Date and, If Such Rate is Not Published, it May Be Determined by the Calculation Agent in its Sole Discretion,” and “Additional Risk Factors Specific to Your Notes — Regulation and Reform of “Benchmarks”, Including LIBOR and Other Types of Benchmarks, May Cause such “Benchmarks” to Perform Differently Than in the Past, or to Disappear Entirely, or Have Other Consequences Which Cannot be Predicted” for more information relating to the 30-year CMS rate and the 2-year CMS rate.

You should not take the historical CMS spreads provided below as an indication of the future CMS spreads. We cannot give you any assurance that the future CMS spreads will result in your receiving interest payments after the first four interest payments greater than the interest payments you would have received if you invested in a non-indexed debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate. Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the CMS spread.

*As discussed herein, the CMS rates may not be published by the Intercontinental Exchange on a business day for various reasons. Recently, the frequency at which no CMS Rate (ICE Swap Rate) was published for any index maturity has been increasing and the frequency of non-publication may continue to increase. Therefore, the likelihood that the calculation agent will determine the applicable CMS rate on an interest determination date in its sole discretion may increase as well.

The notes are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Benchmark Administration and ICE Benchmark Administration makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the notes.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION OF 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. It applies to you only if you hold your notes as a capital asset for tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

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. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

United States Holders

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States holder. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of notes and you are:

If you are not a United States holder, this section does not apply to you and you should refer to “— United States Alien Holders” below.

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 indices. Except as otherwise stated below, the discussion below assumes that the notes will be so treated.

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Interest 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 interest 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 interest payments in income as you receive them but instead you should reduce your basis in your notes by the amount of interest 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 interest payments would not be treated as either ordinary income or interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but instead would be treated in some other manner.  

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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. It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your notes.

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

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

United States Alien Holders

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

Because the U.S. federal income tax treatment (including the applicability of withholding) of the interest payments on the notes is uncertain, in the absence of further guidance, we intend to withhold on the interest 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 United States alien holder and your entitlement to the lower treaty rate. Payments will be made to you at a reduced treaty rate of withholding only if such reduced treaty rate would apply to any possible characterization of the payments (including, for example, if the interest payments were characterized as contract fees). Withholding also may not apply to interest payments made to you if: (i) the interest 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 interest 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

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requisite certification requirements (generally, by providing an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI). If you are eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax, you may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a refund claim with the Internal Revenue Service.

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

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

In addition, the Treasury Department has issued regulations under which amounts paid or deemed paid on certain financial instruments (“871(m) financial instruments”) that are treated as attributable to U.S.-source dividends could be treated, in whole or in part depending on the circumstances, as a “dividend equivalent” payment that is subject to tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable treaty), which in the case of interest 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 indices 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 interest payment or the maturity of the notes in order to avoid or minimize withholding obligations, and we could withhold accordingly (subject to your potential right to claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service) if such certifications were not received or were not satisfactory. If withholding was required, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld. These regulations generally will apply to 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2023, but will also apply to certain 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) that have a delta (as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations) of one and are issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2017.  In addition, these regulations will not apply to financial instruments that reference a “qualified index” (as defined in the regulations).  We have determined that, as of the issue date of your notes, your notes will not be subject to withholding under these rules.  In certain limited circumstances, however, you should be aware that it is possible for United States alien holders to be liable for tax under these rules with respect to a combination of transactions treated as having been entered into in connection with each other even when no withholding is required.  You should consult your tax advisor concerning these regulations, subsequent official

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guidance and regarding any other possible alternative characterizations of your notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding

Pursuant to Treasury regulations, Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) withholding (as described in “United States Taxation—Taxation of Debt Securities—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus) will generally apply to obligations that are issued on or after July 1, 2014; therefore, the notes will generally be subject to the FATCA withholding rules.

 

 

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EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT

 

This section is only relevant to you if you are an insurance company or the fiduciary of a pension plan or an employee benefit plan (including a governmental plan, an IRA or a Keogh Plan) proposing to invest in the notes.

 

The U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), prohibit certain transactions (“prohibited transactions”) involving the assets of an employee benefit plan that is subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (including individual retirement accounts, Keogh plans and other plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code) (a “Plan”) and certain persons who are “parties in interest” (within the meaning of ERISA) or “disqualified persons” (within the meaning of the Code) with respect to the Plan; governmental plans may be subject to similar prohibitions unless an exemption applies to the transaction. The assets of a Plan may include assets held in the general account of an insurance company that are deemed “plan assets” under ERISA or assets of certain investment vehicles in which the Plan invests. Each of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and certain of its affiliates may be considered a “party in interest” or a “disqualified person” with respect to many Plans, and, accordingly, prohibited transactions may arise if the notes are acquired by or on behalf of a Plan unless those notes are acquired and held pursuant to an available exemption. In general, available exemptions include: transactions effected on behalf of that Plan by a “qualified professional asset manager” (prohibited transaction exemption 84-14) or an “in-house asset manager” (prohibited transaction exemption 96-23), transactions involving insurance company general accounts (prohibited transaction exemption 95-60), transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts (prohibited transaction exemption 90‑1), transactions involving bank collective investment funds (prohibited transaction exemption 91-38) and transactions with service providers under Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code where the Plan receives no less and pays no more than “adequate consideration” (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(f)(10) of the Code). The person making the decision on behalf of a Plan or a governmental plan shall be deemed, on behalf of itself and the plan, by purchasing and holding the notes, or exercising any rights related thereto, to represent that (a) the plan will receive no less and pay no more than “adequate consideration” (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(f)(10) of the Code) in connection with the purchase and holding of the notes, (b) none of the purchase, holding or disposition of the notes or the exercise of any rights related to the notes will result in a nonexempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code (or, with respect to a governmental plan, under any similar applicable law or regulation), and (c) neither The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. nor any of its affiliates is a “fiduciary” (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) or, with respect to a governmental plan, under any similar applicable law or regulation) with respect to the purchaser or holder in connection with such person's acquisition, disposition or holding of the notes, or as a result of any exercise by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or any of its affiliates of any rights in connection with the notes, and neither The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. nor any of its affiliates has provided investment advice in connection with such person’s acquisition, disposition or holding of the notes.

 

If you are an insurance company or the fiduciary of a pension plan or an employee benefit plan (including a government plan, an IRA or a Keogh plan), and propose to invest in the notes, you should consult your legal counsel.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

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 prospectus supplement. GS&Co. proposes initially to offer the notes to the public at the original issue prices set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to certain securities dealers at such prices less a concession not in excess of       % of the face amount.

In the future, GS&Co. or other affiliates of GS Finance Corp. may repurchase and resell the offered notes in market-making transactions, with resales being made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at negotiated prices. GS Finance Corp. estimates that its share of the total offering expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $            .  For more information about the plan of distribution and possible market-making activities, see “Plan of Distribution” in the accompanying prospectus.

We expect to deliver the notes against payment therefor in New York, New York on January 29, 2021.

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.

Any notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area or in the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”). Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in any Relevant State has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in any Relevant State may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. For the purposes of this provision:

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to GS Finance Corp. or The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere) which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

This prospectus supplement, along with the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, along with the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person

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pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

The notes are not offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland on the basis of a public offering and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other offering or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Accordingly, neither this prospectus supplement nor any accompanying prospectus supplement, prospectus or other marketing material constitute a prospectus as defined in article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus as defined in article 32 of the Listing Rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Any resales of the notes by the underwriters thereof may only be undertaken on a private basis to selected individual investors in compliance with Swiss law. This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or passed on to others or otherwise made available in Switzerland without our prior written consent. By accepting this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and prospectus supplement or by subscribing to the notes, investors are deemed to have acknowledged and agreed to abide by these restrictions. Investors are advised to consult with their financial, legal or tax advisers before investing in the notes.

Conflicts of Interest

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.

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