Form 8-K GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC For: Sep 27

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

September 27, 2016

 

 

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		No. 001-14965				No. 13-4019460
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)				(IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 West Street New York, New York				10282
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 902-1000

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the issuance of the following debt securities by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on September 27, 2016 pursuant to the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-198735) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”):

 

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$2,250,000,000 2.35% Notes due 2021

 

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$1,250,000,000 Floating Rate Notes due 2021

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement as exhibits thereto and are filed as part of this Current Report:

 

4.1		Form of 2.35% Notes due 2021.
5.1		Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
23.1		Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

				THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
				(Registrant)
Date: September 27, 2016				By:		/s/ Kenneth L. Josselyn
						Name:		Kenneth L. Josselyn
						Title:		Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 4.1

[Form of 2.35% Notes due 2021]

 

Registered No.		CUSIP No. 38145GAG5
		ISIN No. US38145GAG55

(Face of Security)

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE 2008 INDENTURE AS DEFINED HEREIN ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE 2008 INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, NOR IS IT AN OBLIGATION OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, A BANK.

 

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.

2.35% Notes due 2021

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the 2008 Indenture as defined on the reverse of this Security), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                 , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                  on November 15, 2021 and to pay interest thereon, calculated as set forth below, on May 15 and November 15 in each year, commencing on May 15, 2017 and at the Maturity of the principal hereof, at the rate of 2.35% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Any such installment of interest that is overdue shall also bear interest at the rate of 2.35% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date any such overdue amount first becomes due until it is paid or made available for payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest on any installment of interest that is overdue shall be payable on demand.

On each Interest Payment Date or at the Maturity of the principal hereof, the amount of interest payable will equal the principal sum hereof multiplied by an accrued interest factor for the Interest Period. The Interest Period will be the period from and including September 27, 2016, or the last date to which interest has been paid or made available for payment, to but excluding such Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as the case may be (subject to “Payments Due on a Business Day” below). The accrued interest factor will be determined by multiplying the annual interest rate times the number of days in the Interest Period in respect of which payment is being made, divided by 360, to be calculated on a formula basis as follows (such formula, the “30/360 (ISDA) Day Count Convention”):

[360×(Y2–Y1 )]+[30×(M2–M1)]+(D2–D1)

360

where:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the 2008 Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the calendar day (whether or not a Business Day, as defined below) next preceding such Interest Payment Date (or, if such interest is to be paid on another day as provided below, next preceding such other day). Any interest so payable, but not punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and such Defaulted Interest may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof being given to the Holder of this Security not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the 2008 Indenture.

All percentages resulting from any calculation with respect to this Security will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the next higher or lower one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (e.g., 9.876541% (or .09876541) being rounded down to 9.87654% (or .0987654) and 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded up to 9.87655% (or .0987655)). All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation with respect to this Security will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest cent, in the case of U.S. dollars, or to the nearest corresponding hundredth of a unit, in the case of a currency other than U.S. dollars, with one-half cent or one-half of a corresponding hundredth of a unit or more being rounded upward.

Currency and Manner of Payment

Payment of the principal of and premium or interest on this Security will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Security or the 2008 Indenture, if this Security is a Global Security, any payment in respect of this Security may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in the 2008 Indenture.

Subject to the prior paragraph and except as provided in the next paragraph, payment of any amount payable on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York (and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose), against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal hereof (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that, at the option of the Company and subject to the next paragraph, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

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Subject to the second preceding paragraph, payment of any amount payable on this Security will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (i) the principal of this Security is at least $1,000,000 and (ii) the Holder entitled to receive such payment transmits a written request for such payment to be made in such manner to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Global Corporate Trust, on or before the fifth Business Day before the day on which such payment is to be made; provided that, in the case of any such payment due at the Maturity of the principal hereof (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date), this Security must be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York (or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose) in time for the Paying Agent to make such payment in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Any such request made with respect to any payment on this Security payable to a particular Holder will remain in effect for all later payments on this Security payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or before the fifth Business Day before a payment is to be made, in which case such revocation shall be effective for such payment and all later payments. In the case of any payment of interest payable on an Interest Payment Date, such written request must be made by the Person who is the registered Holder of this Security on the relevant Regular Record Date. The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in connection with making payments by wire transfer with respect to this Security, but any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon any payment will be borne by the Holder of this Security and may be deducted from the payment by the Company or the Paying Agent.

Payments Due on a Business Day

Notwithstanding any provision of this Security or the 2008 Indenture, if the Maturity of the principal hereof occurs on a day that is not a Business Day, any amount of principal, premium or interest that would otherwise be due on this Security on such day (the “Specified Day”) may be paid or made available for payment on the Business Day that is next succeeding the Specified Day with the same force and effect as if such amount were paid on the Specified Day, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from the Specified Day to such next succeeding Business Day. “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday, and that is not a day on which banking institutions generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York.

If any Interest Payment Date other than one that falls on the date of Maturity of the principal hereof would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, any payment due on such date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that interest due with respect to an 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; provided further that the Interest Periods shall not be adjusted for non-Business Days.

 

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The provisions of the two immediately preceding paragraphs shall apply to this Security in lieu of the provisions of Section 1.13 of the 2008 Indenture.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the 2008 Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:                 

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the 2008 Indenture.

Dated:                 

 

 

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1.

Securities and Indenture.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under a Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2008 (herein called the “2008 Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the 2008 Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the 2008 Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

 

2.

Series and Denominations.

This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited to an aggregate principal amount as shall be determined and may be increased from time to time by the Company. Any election by the Company so to increase such aggregate principal amount shall be evidenced by a certificate of an Authorized Person (as defined in the Determination of an Authorized Person, dated September 27, 2016, with respect to this series). References herein to “this series” mean the series of Securities designated on the face hereof. The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of integral multiples of $1,000, subject to a minimum denomination of $2,000.

 

3.

Additional Amounts.

If the beneficial owner of this Security is a United States Alien (as defined below), the Company will pay all additional amounts that may be necessary so that every net payment of the principal of and interest on this Security to such beneficial owner, after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed with respect to such payment by any U.S. Taxing Authority (as defined below), will not be less than the amount provided for in this Security to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to pay additional amounts for or on account of any one or more of the following:

(i)    any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because at any time there is or was a connection between such beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or member of such beneficial owner, if such beneficial owner is an estate, trust or partnership) and the United States (as defined below) (other than the mere receipt of a payment on, or the ownership or holding of, a Security), including because such beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or member) at any time, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) is or was a citizen or resident, or is or was treated as a resident, of the United States, (b) is or was present in the United States, (c) is or was engaged in a trade or business in the United States, (d) has or

 

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had a permanent establishment in the United States, (e) is or was a domestic or foreign personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign corporation, (f) is or was a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax or (g) is or was a “10-percent shareholder” of the Company as defined in section 871(h)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or any successor provision;

(ii)    any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed solely because of a change in applicable law or regulation, or in any official interpretation or application of applicable law or regulation, that becomes effective more than 15 days after the day on which the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

(iii)    any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth or personal property tax or any similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

(iv)    any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because such beneficial owner or any other Person fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or any beneficial owner of this Security, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the U.S. Treasury Department or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, as a precondition to exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

(v)    any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments of principal of or interest on this Security;

(vi)    any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because the payment is to be made by a particular Paying Agent (which term may include the Company) and would not be imposed if made by another Paying Agent (which term may include the Company);

(vii)    any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because the Holder (1) is a bank purchasing this Security in the ordinary course of its lending business or (2) is a bank that is neither (A) buying this Security for investment purposes only nor (B) buying this Security for resale to a third party that either is not a bank or holding the note for investment purposes only; or

(viii)    any combination of the taxes, assessments or other governmental charges described in items (i) through (vii) of this Section 3.

Additional amounts also will not be paid with respect to any payment of principal of or interest on this Security to any United States Alien who is a fiduciary or a partnership, or who is not the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that the Company would not be required to pay additional amounts to any beneficiary or settlor of such fiduciary or any member of such a partnership, or to any beneficial owner of the payment, if that Person had been treated as the beneficial owner of this Security for this purpose.

 

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In addition, any amounts to be paid on this Security will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and no additional amounts will be required to be paid on account of any such deduction or withholding.

The term “United States Alien” means any Person who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a nonresident alien fiduciary of an estate or trust that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from this Security. For the purposes of this Section 3 and Section 4 only, (a) the term “United States” means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), together with the territories, possessions and all other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of America and (b) the term “U.S. Taxing Authority” means the United States of America or any state, other jurisdiction or taxing authority in the United States.

Except as specifically provided in this Security, the Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

Whenever in the Securities of this series (or in the 2008 Indenture, including in Sections 5.01(1) and (2) thereof, insofar as applicable to this series) there is a reference, in any context, to the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of this series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of any payment of additional amounts to United States Aliens in respect of such payment of principal or interest to the extent that, in such context, such additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Section 3 or any corresponding section of another Security of this series, as the case may be. Express mention of the payment of additional amounts in any provision of any Security of this series shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in the provisions of any Security of this series (or of the 2008 Indenture insofar as it applies to this series) where such express mention is not made.

 

4.

Redemption at the Company’s Option.

(a)    The Securities of this series may be redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, if, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of any U.S. Taxing Authority (as defined in Section 3 above), or any amendment to or change in any official interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, which amendment or change becomes effective or is announced on or after September 22, 2016, the Company will become obligated to pay, on the next Interest Payment Date, additional amounts in respect of any Security of this series pursuant

 

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to Section 3 of this Security or any corresponding section of another Security of this series. If the Company becomes entitled to redeem the Securities of this series, it may do so on any day thereafter pursuant to the 2008 Indenture; provided, however, that (1) the Company gives the Holder of this Security notice of such redemption not more than 60 days nor less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption as provided in the 2008 Indenture, (2) no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date on which the Company would be obligated to pay such additional amounts and (3) at the time such notice is given, such obligation to pay such additional amounts remains in effect. Immediately prior to the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities pursuant to this Section 4(a), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company to so redeem the Securities have occurred. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date, all as provided in the 2008 Indenture.

(b)    On November 15, 2020, the Securities of this series may be redeemed, at the Company’s option, in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Notice of a redemption pursuant to this Section 4(b) must be provided to the Holder of this Security not more than 60 days nor less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date, all as provided in the 2008 Indenture.

(c)    In addition, the Securities of this series may be redeemed, at the Company’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on or after March 27, 2017 (or, if any additional Securities of this series are issued after September 27, 2016, beginning six months after the last issue date for the additional Securities of this series), except for November 15, 2020, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed or (2) as determined by the Quotation Agent described below, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest, to November 15, 2021, on the Securities to be redeemed, not including any portion of these payments of interest accrued as of the date on which the Securities are to be redeemed, discounted to the date on which the Securities are to be redeemed on a semi-annual basis, applying the 30/360 (ISDA) Day Count Convention , at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 20 basis points, plus, in each case, interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. Notice of a redemption pursuant to this Section 4(c) must be provided to the Holder of this Security not more than 60 days nor less than 15 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date, all as provided in the 2008 Indenture.

 

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“Treasury Rate” means:    

 

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the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the week immediately prior to the date of calculation, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities”, for the maturity most closely corresponding to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed, or if no maturity is within three months before or after this time period, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to this time period will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or

 

•

if the release or any successor release is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the annual rate equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (as defined below), calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed as a percentage of its principal amount, equal to the Comparable Treasury Price (as defined below) for the Redemption Date.

The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date.

“Quotation Agent” shall initially mean Goldman, Sachs & Co. or its successor. However, if Goldman, Sachs & Co. ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City, the Company will appoint another primary U.S. Government securities dealer to serve as the Quotation Agent.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as being the most recently issued United States Treasury note or bond as displayed by Bloomberg L.P. (or any successor service) on screens PX1 through PX8 (or any other screens as may replace such screens on such service) that has a remaining term comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer (as defined below) and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

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“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) the Quotation Agent or (2) any other primary U.S. Government securities dealer selected by the Quotation Agent after consultation with the Company.

 

5.

Defeasance.

The 2008 Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the 2008 Indenture. Both of such provisions are applicable to this Security.

 

6.

Modification and Waiver.

The 2008 Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities to be affected under the 2008 Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected, considered together as one class for this purpose (such Securities to be affected may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series). The 2008 Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected under the 2008 Indenture, considered together as one class for this purpose (such affected Securities may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any particular series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities so affected, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the 2008 Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the 2008 Indenture (with each such series considered separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the 2008 Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

7.

Remedies.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the 2008 Indenture.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the 2008 Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the 2008 Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such

 

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Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

If so provided pursuant to the terms of any specific Securities, the above-referenced provisions of the 2008 Indenture regarding the ability of Holders to waive certain defaults, or to request the Trustee to institute proceedings (or to give the Trustee other directions) in respect thereof, may be applied differently with regard to such Securities.

No reference herein to the 2008 Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the 2008 Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

8.

Transfer and Exchange.

As provided in the 2008 Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

As provided in the 2008 Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(Reverse of Security continued on next page)

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This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the 2008 Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 3.05 thereof on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.

 

9.

Governing Law.

This Security and the 2008 Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

9.

Terms Defined in the 2008 Indenture.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the 2008 Indenture but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the 2008 Indenture.

 

(Reverse of Security continued on next page)

-14-

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ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)
the attached Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Date:                            Signature Guaranteed   NOTICE: Signature must be Medallion Signature Guaranteed.				NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name of the Holder as written upon the face of the attached Security in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

-15-

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

September 27, 2016

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and delivery, on the date hereof, of $2,250,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 2.35% Notes due 2021 (the “2.35% Notes due 2021”) and $1,250,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s Floating Rate Notes due 2021 (the “FRN due 2021” and, together with the 2.35% Notes due 2021, the “Notes”). The Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, on September 15, 2014, a registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-198735) (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) relating to the proposed offer and sale of an unspecified principal amount of the Company’s unsecured debt securities, including the Notes. The Notes are being issued under an indenture, dated as of July 16, 2008 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the following documents:

 

1.

The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company.

 

2.

The Indenture.

 

3.

Certificates of officers of the Company with respect to the authorization of the Notes, the determination of the terms of the Notes and related matters.

 

4.

Forms of the Notes.

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.			-2-

 

We also have examined such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. Upon the basis of such examination, it is our opinion that the Notes constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in the Registration Statement or any related prospectus or other offering material regarding the Company or the Notes or their offering and sale.

We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed, without independent verification, that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Notes conform to the forms thereof examined by us, that the Trustee’s certificates of authentication of the Notes have been manually signed by one of the Trustee’s authorized officers, that the Notes have been delivered against payment as contemplated in the Registration Statement and that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

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