NEW YORK – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) today reported net earnings of US$577 million for its fiscal second quarter ended May 25, 2001. Earnings per diluted share were US$1.06 compared to US$1.40 for the 2001 first quarter and US$1.48 for the second quarter of 2000. Diluted earnings per share excluding the amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets were US$1.13 for the second quarter of 2001. Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (1) was 21.1% for the first half of 2001 and 17.7% for the second quarter.
(1)Tangible shareholders’ equity excludes goodwill and other intangible assets.
Business Highlights
(2)Thomson Financial Securities Data – January 1, 2001 through May 25, 2001.
“We continue to feel the impact of difficult economic and market conditions, and the near-term outlook remains uncertain,” said Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The challenging business environment, however, has not lessened the firm’s leadership across core businesses, demonstrating the strength of Goldman Sachs’ global franchise in good markets and bad.”
Business Segment Net Revenues
Global Capital Markets
In a challenging business environment, net revenues in the firm’s Global Capital Markets segment, which includes Investment Banking and Trading and Principal Investments, were US$2.48 billion, 25% lower than the first quarter of 2001 and 17% below the second quarter of 2000.
Investment Banking
Net revenues in Investment Banking were US$792 million compared to US$1.15 billion for the first quarter of 2001 and US$1.59 billion for the second quarter of 2000. The net revenue reduction was primarily due to declines in the high technology and communications, media and entertainment sectors.
Net revenues in Financial Advisory were US$321 million compared to US$712 million for the same 2000 period, reflecting significantly reduced industry-wide activity in mergers and acquisitions. Net revenues in the firm’s Underwriting business were US$471 million, down significantly from the same 2000 period, reflecting lower levels of activity in worldwide equity new issues.
The firm’s transaction backlog increased during the second quarter but remained significantly lower than it was at the beginning of fiscal 2001.
Trading and Principal Investments
Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were US$1.69 billion for the second quarter, 22% lower than the record first quarter of 2001 and 21% higher than the second quarter of 2000.
FICC net revenues increased 50% over the same 2000 period, primarily due to increased liquidity and customer activity in the firm’s global corporate bond businesses and increased customer flow and market volatility in currencies and commodities.
Net revenues in Equities of US$739 million were down significantly from a strong second quarter of 2000, primarily due to reduced customer flow and lower volatility in the firm’s equity derivatives and European shares businesses. Net revenues from Spear, Leeds & Kellogg (SLK), which were not included in the second quarter of 2000, partially offset these reductions.
Net revenues in Principal Investments were US$5 million as gains from real estate dispositions were offset by unrealized losses on the firm’s merchant banking investments in the high technology and telecommunications sectors.
Asset Management and Securities Services
Net revenues in the firm’s Asset Management and Securities Services segment were US$1.51 billion, an increaseof 6% compared to the prior quarter and 30% compared to the same period in 2000.
Asset Management net revenues of US$357 million were essentially unchanged compared to last year’s second quarter, as fees earned on higher assets under management were offset by lower incentive and fund origination fees. Net inflows of US$10 billion and market appreciation in certain asset classes led to growth in assets under management during the quarter.
Securities Services net revenues of US$287 million increased 14% over the same 2000 period, due to increased spreads in the firm’s fixed income matched book partially offset by lower levels of customer activity in securities lending and margin lending.
Commissions increased 55% compared to the same period last year, reflecting the contribution from SLK’s clearing and execution business and the increased share of income and gains from the firm’s merchant banking funds.
Expenses
Operating expenses were US$3.04 billion, 12% below the first quarter of 2001 and 5% above last year’s second quarter.
Compensation and benefits of US$1.91 billion declined 19% from the prior quarter and 8% from the same period last year, commensurate with lower net revenue levels. The ratio of compensation and benefits to net revenueswas 49% for the first half of 2001. Employment levels were essentially unchanged during the quarter.
Non-compensation-related expenses were US$1.01 billion, 3% above the first quarter of 2001 and 40% above the same 2000 period. In addition to the inclusion of SLK, the growth in these expenses compared to last year was primarily due to growth in employment levels during 2000 partially offset by the effect of expense reduction initiatives implemented in 2001.
The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2001 was 39%, unchanged from the first quarter of 2001 and down compared to 40% for the second quarter of 2000.
Capital
As of May 25, 2001, total capital was US$48.56 billion, consisting of US$18.02 billion in shareholders’ equity and US$30.54 billion in long-term debt. Book value per share was US$35.11, based on common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements, of 513.2 million at period end. The firm repurchased 2.9 million shares of its common stock during the quarter.
Dividend
The Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (the Board) declared a dividend of US$0.12 per share to be paid on August 30, 2001, to common shareholders of record on July 31, 2001.
Share Repurchase Program
On June 18, 2001, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional 15 million shares of common stock pursuant to the firm’s existing share repurchase program. The total share authorization under the repurchase program is now 30 million shares, of which 12.9 million had been repurchased through the second quarter of 2001. The repurchase program is being effected from time to time, depending on market conditions and other factors, through open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions.
Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and securities 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 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 24, 2000.
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 24, 2000.
Conference Call
A conference call to discuss the firm’s results, outlook and related matters will be held at 11:00 a.m., E.D.T. 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 (U.S. 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 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 (U.S. domestic) or 1-706-645-9291 (international) passcode number 1136838, 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®, 85KB].
Printable Version
You may also wish to view a printable version [PDF, 29KB] of the press release and financial data.
Contacts
Investor Contact:
John Andrews
Tel: 1-212-357-2674
Media Contact:
Kate Baum
Tel: 1-212-902-5400
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