FWP 1 gs-fwp.htm FWP gs-fwp.htm

 

Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 dated September 16, 2021 / Registration Statement No. 333-253421

STRUCTURED INVESTMENTS

Opportunities in U.S. Equities

GS Finance Corp.

 

Auto-Callable Trigger PLUS Based on the Value of the S&P 500® Index due October 4, 2023  

Principal at Risk Securities

The securities are unsecured notes issued by GS Finance Corp. and guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

You should read the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement dated September 15, 2021, which we refer to herein as the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, to better understand the terms and risks of your investment, including the credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

 

KEY TERMS

Issuer / Guarantor:

GS Finance Corp. / The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Underlying index:

S&P 500® Index (Bloomberg symbol, “SPX Index”)

Pricing date:

expected to price on or about September 30, 2021

Original issue date:

expected to be October 5, 2021

Call observation date:

October 7, 2022, subject to postponement

Call payment date:

October 13, 2022, subject to postponement

Valuation date:

expected to be September 29, 2023

Stated maturity date:

expected to be October 4, 2023, subject to postponement

Automatic call feature:

if, as measured on the call observation date, the index closing value is greater than or equal to the initial index value, your securities will be automatically called and you will receive for each $10 principal amount an amount in cash equal to at least $10.695 (set on the pricing date). No payments will be made after the call payment date.

Payment at maturity:

if the final index value is greater than the initial index value, the sum of (i) $10 plus (ii) the leveraged upside payment;

if the final index value is equal to or less than the initial index value but greater than or equal to the downside threshold level, $10; or

if the final index value is less than the downside threshold level, the product of (i) $10 times (ii) the index performance factor

This amount will be less than the stated principal amount of $10, will represent a loss of more than 20.00% and could be zero.

Leveraged upside payment:

$10 × leverage factor × index percent increase

Leverage factor:

125.00%

Index percent increase:

(final index value - initial index value) / initial index value

Initial index value:

the index closing value on the pricing date

Final index value:

the index closing value on the valuation date

Downside threshold level:

80.00% of the initial index value

Index performance factor:

final index value / initial index value

CUSIP / ISIN:

36261U200 / US36261U2006

Estimated value range:

$9.00 to $9.30 (which is less than the original issue price; see the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement)

Payment on the Call Payment Date*

If your securities are automatically called on the call observation date (i.e., on the call observation date the index closing value is equal to or greater than the initial index value), the cash payment that we would deliver for each $10 principal amount of your securities on the call payment date would be $10.695. If, for example, the index closing value on the call observation date was determined to be 125.00% of the initial index value, your securities would be automatically called and the cash payment that we would deliver on your securities on the call payment date would be 106.95% of the principal amount of your securities or $10.695 for each $10 of securities. No further payments would be made on the securities following an automatic call. You will not participate in any appreciation of the underlying index.

* assumes the amount payable on the call payment date if the securities are automatically called will be equal to $10.695.

Hypothetical Payment Amount At Maturity

The Securities Have Not Been Automatically Called

Hypothetical Final Index Value

(as Percentage of Initial Index Value)

Hypothetical Payment at Maturity

(as Percentage of Stated Principal Amount)

200.000%

225.000%

150.000%

162.500%

125.000%

131.250%

110.000%

112.500%

105.000%

106.250%

100.000%

100.000%

95.000%

100.000%

90.000%

100.000%

80.000%

100.000%

79.999%

79.999%

60.000%

60.000%

50.000%

50.000%

30.000%

30.000%

25.000%

25.000%

0.000%

0.000%

 

 

 

This document does not provide all of the information that an investor should consider prior to making an investment decision. You should not invest in the securities without reading the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and related documents for a more detailed description of the underlying index (including historical index closing values), the terms of the securities and certain risks.


 

 

About Your Securities

The amount that you will be paid on your securities is based on the performance of the S&P 500® Index. The securities may be automatically called on the call observation date.

Your securities will be automatically called if the index closing value on the call observation date is greater than or equal to the initial index value (set on the pricing date), resulting in a payment on the call payment date equal to at least $10.695 (set on the pricing date). No payments will be made after the call payment date.

At maturity, if not previously called, (i) if the final index value (the index closing value on the valuation date) is greater than the initial index value, the return on your securities will be positive and equal to the product of the leverage factor of 125.00% multiplied by the index percent increase (the percentage increase in the final index value from the initial index value); (ii) if the final index value is equal to or less than the initial index value but greater than or equal to the downside threshold level (80.00% of the initial index value), you will receive the principal amount of your securities; or (iii) if the final index value is less than the downside threshold level, you will receive a payment at maturity based on the index performance factor (the quotient of the final index value divided by the initial index value).

The securities are for investors who seek a return of at least 6.95% if their securities are automatically called or the potential to earn 125.00% of any positive return of the underlying index if their securities are not automatically called, in exchange for the risk of losing all or a significant portion of the principal amount of their securities if the securities remain outstanding to maturity.

GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. have filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, underlier supplement no. 23, general terms supplement no. 2,913 and preliminary pricing supplement listed below) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus, prospectus supplement, underlier supplement no. 23, general terms supplement no. 2,913 and preliminary pricing supplement and any other documents relating to this offering that GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. have filed with the SEC for more complete information about us and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at sec.gov. Alternatively, we will arrange to send you the prospectus, prospectus supplement, underlier supplement no. 23, general terms supplement no. 2,913 and preliminary pricing supplement if you so request by calling (212) 357-4612.

The securities are notes that are part of the Medium-Term Notes, Series F program of GS Finance Corp. and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. This document should be read in conjunction with the following:


This document does not provide all of the information that an investor should consider prior to making an investment decision. You should not invest in the securities without reading the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and related documents for a more detailed description of the underlying index (including historical index closing values), the terms of the securities and certain risks.


 

 

RISK FACTORS

An investment in the securities is subject to risks. Many of the risks are described in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913, accompanying underlier supplement no. 23, accompanying prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Below we have provided a list of certain risk factors discussed in such documents. In addition to the below, you should read in full “Risk Factors” in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Notes” in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913, “Additional Risk Factors Specific to the Securities” in the accompanying underlier supplement no. 23, as well as the risks and considerations described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Your securities are a riskier investment than ordinary debt securities. Also, your securities are not equivalent to investing directly in the underlying index stocks, i.e., the stocks comprising the underlying index to which your Securities are linked. You should carefully consider whether the offered securities are appropriate given your particular circumstances.

The following risk factors are discussed in greater detail in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement:

Risks Related to Structure, Valuation and Secondary Market Sales

You May Lose Your Entire Investment in the Securities

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

The Amount You Will Receive on the Call Payment Date Will Be Capped

Your Securities Are Subject to Automatic Redemption

The Amount You Will Receive on the Call Payment Date or on the Stated Maturity Date is Not Linked to the Index Closing Value at Any Time Other Than on the Call Observation Date or the Valuation Date, as the Case May Be

The Return on Your Securities May Change Significantly Despite Only a Small Incremental Change in the Value of the Underlying Index

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

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

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

Your Securities May Not Have an Active Trading Market

If the Value of the Underlying Index Changes, the Market Value of Your Securities May Not Change in the Same Manner

Investing in the Securities is Not Equivalent to Investing in the Underlying Index; You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Underlying Index Stock

We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Stated Principal Amount of the Securities at a Different Issue Price

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

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest

Other Investors May Not Have the Same Interests as You

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

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

Additional Risks Related to the Underlying Index

The Policies of the Underlying Index Publisher and Changes That Affect the Underlying Index or the Underlying Index Stocks Comprising the Underlying Index Could Affect the Payment at Maturity and the Market Value of the Securities

Risks Related to Tax

The Tax Consequences of an Investment in Your Securities Are Uncertain

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

 

This document does not provide all of the information that an investor should consider prior to making an investment decision. You should not invest in the securities without reading the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and related documents for a more detailed description of the underlying index (including historical index closing values), the terms of the securities and certain risks.


 

 

The following risk factors are discussed in greater detail in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 2,913:

Risks Related to Structure, Valuation and Secondary Market Sales

Past Performance is No Guide to Future Performance

The Calculation Agent Will Have the Authority to Make Determinations That Could Affect the Market Value of Your Notes, When Your Notes Mature and the Amount, If Any, Payable on Your Notes

The Calculation Agent Can Postpone the Determination Date, Averaging Date, Call Observation Date or Coupon Observation Date If a Market Disruption Event or Non-Trading Day Occurs or Is Continuing

Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest

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

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 Regularly Provides Services to, or Otherwise Has Business Relationships with, a Broad Client Base, Which May Include the Sponsors of the Underlier or Underliers or Constituent Indices, As Applicable, the Investment Advisors of the Underlier or Underliers, As Applicable, or the Issuers of the Underlier or the Underlier Stocks or Other Entities That Are Involved in the Transaction

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

Risks Related to Tax

Certain Considerations for Insurance Companies and Employee Benefit Plans

 

The following risk factor is discussed in greater detail in the accompanying underlier supplement no. 23:

Risks Relating to Securities Linked to Underliers

Except to the Extent The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Is One of the Companies Whose Common Stock Comprises an Underlier, and Except to the Extent That We or Our Affiliates May Currently or in the Future Own Securities of, or Engage in Business With, the Applicable Underlier Sponsor or the Underlier Stock Issuers, There Is No Affiliation Between the Underlier Stock Issuers or Any Underlier Sponsor and Us

 

The following risk factors are discussed in greater detail in the accompanying prospectus supplement:

The Return on Indexed Notes May Be Below the Return on Similar Securities

The Issuer of a Security or Currency That Serves as an Index Could Take Actions That May Adversely Affect an Indexed Note

An Indexed Note May Be Linked to a Volatile Index, Which May Adversely Affect Your Investment

An Index to Which a Note Is Linked Could Be Changed or Become Unavailable

We May Engage in Hedging Activities that Could Adversely Affect an Indexed Note

Information About an Index or Indices May Not Be Indicative of Future Performance

We May Have Conflicts of Interest Regarding an Indexed Note

 

The following risk factors are discussed in greater detail in the accompanying prospectus:

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

The application of regulatory resolution strategies could increase the risk of loss for holders of our securities in the event of the resolution of Group Inc.

The application of Group Inc.’s proposed resolution strategy could result in greater losses for Group Inc.’s security holders

 

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

You should review carefully the discussion in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement under the caption “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the securities, and you should consult your tax advisor.

 

 

This document does not provide all of the information that an investor should consider prior to making an investment decision. You should not invest in the securities without reading the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement and related documents for a more detailed description of the underlying index (including historical index closing values), the terms of the securities and certain risks.