Goldman Sachs Reports First Quarter Earnings Per Share of US$0.98

NEW YORK – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) today reported net earnings of US$524 million for its fiscal first quarter ended February 22, 2002. Earnings per diluted share were US$0.98 compared to US$0.93 for the 2001 fourth quarter and US$1.40 for the first quarter of 2001. Annualized return on average tangible shareholders' equity (1) was 15.4% for the first quarter of 2002.


Business Highlights


  • Goldman Sachs maintained its leading investment banking position, ranking first in global public
    stock offerings, as well as in announced and completed worldwide mergers and acquisitions.(2)

  • Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) produced record quarterly net revenues of
    US$1.22 billion, 9% above last year's first quarter.

  • Asset Management generated record quarterly net revenues of US$423 million. Assets under management
    grew 14% from a year ago to US$344 billion.

  • In January 2002, Goldman Sachs began to implement a new explicit fee-based pricing structure in its Nasdaq trading business.


    "Weakness in the capital markets, compounded by an erosion of corporate and investor confidence, has depressed activity in a number of our most important businesses," said Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While we have seen some encouraging economic data of late, the current environment remains very challenging. We will continue to manage the franchise with discipline and, as always, focus on the needs of our clients."

(1) Tangible shareholders' equity excludes goodwill and other intangible assets.

(2) Thomson Financial Securities Data - December 1, 2001 through February 22, 2002.

 



Business Segment Net Revenues


Global Capital Markets

Net revenues in the firm's Global Capital Markets segment, which includes Investment Banking and Trading and Principal Investments, were US$2.22 billion, 8% above the fourth quarter of 2001 and 33% below the first quarter of 2001.

Investment Banking

Net revenues in Investment Banking were US$893 million, compared to US$797 million for the fourth quarter of 2001 and US$1.15 billion for the first quarter of 2001.

Net revenues in Financial Advisory decreased 37% from record first quarter 2001 results to US$457 million, reflecting significantly reduced industry-wide activity in mergers and acquisitions. Net revenues in the firm's Underwriting business were US$436 million compared to US$415 million for the same 2001 period, as increased net revenues from equity underwriting were partially offset by lower net revenues from debt issuances. The reduction in Investment Banking net revenues was due to lower levels of activity across nearly all sectors, particularly communications, media and entertainment, high technology and healthcare. The firm's backlog declined slightly compared to the end of 2001.


Trading and Principal Investments

Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were US$1.33 billion for the first quarter, 5% higher than the fourth quarter of 2001 and 38% lower than the first quarter of 2001.

FICC net revenues of US$1.22 billion increased 9% compared to the same 2001 period, primarily reflecting higher net revenues across many of the firm's businesses, particularly currencies, mortgages, fixed income derivatives and corporate bonds offset, in part, by decreased net revenues in leveraged finance.

Net revenues in Equities were US$105 million compared to US$1.18 billion for the record first quarter of 2001, primarily due to lower net revenues in the firm's European and U.S. shares businesses, including the negative effect of a single block trade, as well as reduced market volatility and customer flow in equity derivatives and the continuing impact of decimalization. In addition, net revenues in equity arbitrage were lower than the same prior year period.

Net revenues in Principal Investments were US$3 million as realized gains, primarily from energy sector and real estate dispositions, were offset by mark-to-market losses on both private and public investments.

Asset Management and Securities Services

Net revenues in the firm's Asset Management and Securities Services segment were US$1.38 billion, essentially flat compared to the prior quarter and a decrease of 4% compared to the same period in 2001.

Asset Management net revenues of US$423 million increased 15% compared to last year's first quarter, primarily reflecting a 15% increase in average assets under management. Incentive fees also contributed to the increase in net revenues.

Securities Services net revenues were US$207 million compared to US$281 million for the same 2001 period, primarily due to decreased spreads in securities lending and margin lending, lower margin lending balances and lower net revenues in the firm's fixed income matched book.

Commissions were US$745 million compared to US$778 million for the first quarter of 2001 as lower merchant banking overrides (i.e., an increased share of a fund's income and gains), reduced clearing and execution fees and lower equity commissions were partially offset by the inclusion of the firm's Nasdaq fee-based business.

In January 2002, the firm began to implement a new fee-based pricing structure in its Nasdaq trading business. Previously the firm did not charge explicit fees in this business but rather earned market-making revenues based generally on the difference between bid and ask prices. As a result of this change, a substantial portion of the firm's Nasdaq net revenues will now be reported in Commissions.




Expenses


Operating expenses were US$2.76 billion, 2% above the fourth quarter of 2001 and 21% below last year's first quarter. The firm continued to focus on cost containment in light of the difficult business environment. Employment levels decreased 2% during the quarter and non-compensation-related expenses, excluding amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets, declined 12% compared to the prior quarter. Over the remainder of the year, the firm expects to reduce employment levels modestly and to closely control its expenses.

Compensation and benefits of US$1.80 billion decreased 24% from the same period last year commensurate with lower net revenues. The ratio of compensation and benefits to net revenues was 50% for the quarter, consistent with last year's first quarter.

Non-compensation-related expenses were US$835 million for the quarter. Excluding amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets, these expenses declined 12% compared to the same period last year, primarily due to the continued effect of expense reduction initiatives implemented during 2001. Amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets was lower in the first quarter of 2002 reflecting the adoption of the goodwill non-amortization provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2002 was 37.5%, unchanged from fiscal year 2001.

 



Capital


As of February 22, 2002, total capital was US$53.07 billion, consisting of US$18.50 billion in shareholders' equity and US$34.57 billion in long-term debt. Book value per share was US$37.11, based on common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements, of 498.4 million at period end. The firm repurchased 3.2 million shares of its common stock during the quarter.

On March 18, 2002, the Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the Board) authorized the repurchase of an additional 15 million shares of common stock pursuant to the firm's existing share repurchase program. The remaining share authorization under the repurchase program, including the newly-authorized amount, is now 19 million shares.



Dividend


The Board declared a dividend of US$0.12 per share to be paid on May 30, 2002 to common shareholders of record on April 30, 2002.

 



Shares Eligible for Future Sale


At the time of the firm's initial public offering (IPO), former profit participating limited partners and former retired limited partners received shares of common stock in exchange for their interests in Goldman Sachs. The firm also issued shares in connection with its acquisitions of Hull, Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, L.P. (SLK) and Benjamin Jacobson & Sons. Shares issued in the IPO and in these acquisitions become transferable, in part, beginning on the third anniversary of the IPO, unless the
transfer restrictions are waived before that time.

Shares are also deliverable to employees beginning on or about the third anniversary of the IPO pursuant to restricted stock units, contributions made to the firm's defined contribution plan and upon exercise of stock options.

The following table shows the shares that will become eligible for sale (subject in the case of employees to compliance with employee sales and blackout procedures designed, in part, to facilitate orderly sales), and the stock options that will become exercisable on May 8, 2002 and June 21, 2002 (the day following the expected release of our second quarter earnings):


  May 8, 2002 June 21, 2002
 
  (in millions)
 
Former profit participating limited partners 2.6 19.1
Former retired limited partners 15.2 0.5
Former owners of Hull, SLK and Benjamin Jacobson & Sons 2.7 7.8
Shares underlying employee restricted stock units and
shares contributed to the defined contribution plan
-- 16.0
 
 
Total shares eligible for sale 20.5 43.4
 
 
Employee stock options that become exercisable -- 11.7
 

 


Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals. Founded in 1869, it is one of the oldest and largest investment banking firms. The firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.

 


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements


This press release contains "forward-looking statements". These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the firm's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the firm's control. It is possible that the firm's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect the firm's future results, see "Business - Certain Factors That May Affect Our Business" in the firm's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001.

Statements about the firm's investment banking transaction backlog also may constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to the risk that the terms of these transactions may be modified or that they may not be completed at all; therefore, the net revenues that we expect to earn from these transactions may differ, possibly materially, from those currently expected. Important factors that could result in a modification of the terms of a transaction or a transaction not being completed include, in the case of underwriting transactions, a decline in general economic conditions, volatility in the securities markets generally or an adverse development with respect to the issuer of the securities and, in the case of financial advisory transactions, a decline in the securities markets, an adverse development with respect to a party to the transaction or a failure to obtain a required regulatory approval. For a discussion of
other important factors that could adversely affect our investment banking transactions, see "Business - Certain Factors That May Affect Our Business" in the firm's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001.

 


Conference Call


A conference call to discuss the firm's results, outlook and related matters will be held at 11:00 am (ET). The call will be open to the public. Members of the public who would like to listen to the conference call should dial 1-888-281-7154 (US domestic) and 1-706-679-5627 (international). The number should be dialed at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The conference call will also be accessible as an audio webcast through the Shareholders section of the firm's Web site, http://www.gs.com/our_firm/investor_relations. There is no charge to access the call. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the firm's Web site or by dialing 1-800-642-1687 (US domestic) or 1-706-645-9291 (international) passcode number 3495180, beginning approximately one hour after the event. Please direct any questions regarding obtaining access to the conference call to Goldman Sachs Investor Relations, via e-mail, at investor-relations@gs.com.



Financial Data


Financial data are available in a spreadsheet
[Microsoft® Excel®, 75KB].

 


Printable Version


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Contacts


Investor Contact
:
John Andrews
Tel: 1-212-357-2674

Media Contact:
Kate Baum
Tel: 1-212-902-5400