LOGO

69,000,000 Shares

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Common Stock


This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. This prospectus relates to an offering of 55,200,000 shares in the United States and Canada. In addition, 9,200,000 shares are being offered outside the United States, Canada and the Asia/ Pacific region and 4,600,000 shares are being offered in the Asia/Pacific region.

Goldman Sachs is offering 51,000,000 of the shares to be sold in the offerings. Sumitomo Bank Capital Markets, Inc. and Kamehameha Activities Association are each offering an additional 9,000,000 shares.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the common stock. Goldman Sachs will list the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GS".

See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 11 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of the common stock.


Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Per Share

Total

Initial public offering price $53.00 $3,657,000,000
Underwriting discount $ 2.25 $ 155,250,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to Goldman Sachs $50.75 $2,588,250,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling shareholders $50.75 $ 913,500,000

This offering includes 9,000,000 shares of common stock purchased by the underwriters pursuant to options granted by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. See "Underwriting".

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares in New York, New York on May 7, 1999.


Global Coordinator

Goldman, Sachs & Co.


Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. Credit Suisse First Boston Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Lehman Brothers Merrill Lynch & Co. J.P. Morgan & Co.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter PaineWebber Incorporated

Prudential Securities

Salomon Smith Barney Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc. Schroder & Co. Inc.


Prospectus dated May 3, 1999.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Prospectus Summary
Risk Factors
Use of Proceeds
Dividend Policy
Reports of Independent Accountants on
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
Information
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
Information
Dilution
Capitalization
Selected Consolidated Financial
Data
Report of Independent Accountants on
Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
Industry and Economic Outlook
Business
Management
Principal and Selling Shareholders
Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions
Description of Capital Stock
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
Validity of Common Stock
Experts
Available Information
Index to Consolidated Financial
Statements
Underwriting