NEW YORK – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) today reported net earnings of US$2.31 billion, or US$4.26 per diluted share, for the year ended November 30, 2001. In 2000, net earnings were US$3.25 billion, or US$6.35 per diluted share, excluding the after-tax charge of US$180 million related to the firm’s combination with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, L.P. (SLK) on October 31, 2000. (1) Return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (2) was 17.8% for the full year of 2001.
Fourth quarter net earnings were US$497 million, or US$0.93 per diluted share, compared to US$1.50, excluding the SLK charge,(1) for the same 2000 quarter and US$0.87 for the third quarter of 2001. Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity(2) was 15.0% for the fourth quarter.
Annual Business Highlights
“In the face of difficult market conditions, we are pleased with the year’s results and with Goldman Sachs’ continued leadership in our most important businesses,” said Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Looking ahead, while we remain cautious about the near-term operating environment, we are confident in the strength of our franchise and the firm’s longer-term growth prospects.”
(1) Including the SLK charge, net earnings in 2000 were US$3.07 billion, or US$6.00 per diluted share, for the full year and US$601 million, or US$1.16 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter.
(2) Tangible shareholders’ equity excludes goodwill and other intangible assets.
(3) Thomson Financial Securities Data – January 1, 2001 through November 30, 2001.
Business Segment Net Revenues
Global Capital Markets
In a challenging business climate, net revenues in the firm’s Global Capital Markets segment, which includes Investment Banking and Trading and Principal Investments, were US$10.19 billion for the full year, 15% lower than 2000. Net revenues for the fourth quarter were US$2.06 billion, 8% below the fourth quarter of 2000 and 12% lower than the third quarter of 2001.
Investment Banking
Full Year
Investment Banking generated net revenues of US$3.84 billion compared to US$5.37 billion for 2000 as the slowdown in global economic growth led to significantly lower equity valuations and reduced investment banking activity. Net revenues in Financial Advisory decreased 20% from the prior year to US$2.07 billion, primarily reflecting a 39% decline in industry-wide completed mergers and acquisitions.(1) Net revenues in the firm’s Underwriting business declined 36% to US$1.77 billion, primarily reflecting a 49% decline in industry-wide equity new issue volume.(1) The reduction in Investment Banking net revenues was primarily due to lower levels of activity in the communications, media and entertainment, telecommunications, high technology and industrial sectors. The firm’s backlog continued to decline during the fourth quarter, ending the year significantly lower than it was at the end of 2000.
Fourth Quarter
Net revenues in Investment Banking were US$797 million, compared to US$1.22 billion for the fourth quarter of 2000 and US$1.10 billion for the third quarter of 2001. Net revenues in Financial Advisory were US$381 million compared to US$624 million for the same 2000 period, primarily reflecting lower levels of worldwide activity in mergers and acquisitions. Net revenues in the firm’s Underwriting business were US$416 million, compared to US$596 million for the same 2000 period, primarily reflecting decreased activity in global equity markets.
(1) Thomson Financial Securities Data – January 1, 2001 through November 30, 2001 and January 1, 2000 through November 24, 2000.
Trading and Principal Investments
Full Year
Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were US$6.35 billion for the year, compared to US$6.63 billion in 2000.
Net revenues in FICC were US$4.05 billion, up 35% compared to 2000, as the firm capitalized on lower interest rates, increased volatility and strong customer demand. This increase was driven by strong performances in commodities, currencies, the firm’s credit-sensitive businesses and fixed income derivatives.
Equities net revenues were US$2.92 billion compared to US$3.49 billion for 2000 reflecting reduced volatility and customer flow, the introduction of decimalization and lower net revenues in equity arbitrage, partially offset by the contribution from SLK.
Principal Investments experienced negative net revenues of US$621 million for 2001 due to mark-to-market losses on both private and public investments, primarily in the high technology and telecommunications sectors.
Fourth Quarter
Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were US$1.26 billion for the fourth quarter compared to US$1.03 billion for the fourth quarter of 2000 and US$1.24 billion for the third quarter of 2001.
FICC net revenues of US$867 million were significantly higher than the same 2000 period reflecting strong performances in commodities, fixed income derivatives, money markets and the firm’s credit-sensitive businesses.
Net revenues in Equities were US$435 million compared to US$782 million for the fourth quarter of 2000 primarily due to lower net revenues in equity arbitrage, reduced customer flow and the impact of decimalization, partially offset by the contribution from SLK.
Principal Investments experienced negative net revenues of US$41 million for the fourth quarter due to mark-to-market losses on both private and public investments.
Asset Management and Securities Services
Full Year
Asset Management and Securities Services net revenues increased 23%, compared to 2000, to US$5.63 billion.
Asset Management net revenues of US$1.47 billion increased 10% compared to 2000, reflecting an increase of 11% in average assets under management. Net inflows of US$67 billion, principally in money market assets, were partially offset by declines in equity asset values due to market depreciation.
Securities Services net revenues of US$1.13 billion increased 21% over 2000, primarily due to increased spreads in the firm’s fixed income matched book and the contribution from SLK, partially offset by lower net revenues in securities lending and margin lending.
Commissions increased 31%, compared to 2000, to US$3.02 billion, principally reflecting the contribution from SLK’s clearing and execution business.
Fourth Quarter
Net revenues in the firm’s Asset Management and Securities Services segment were US$1.37 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2000 and 3% compared to the prior quarter.
Asset Management net revenues of US$368 million increased 3% compared to last year’s fourth quarter, primarily reflecting higher assets under management partially offset by lower incentive income. Net inflows were US$27 billion during the quarter, principally in money market assets.
Securities Services net revenues of US$270 million increased 25% over the same 2000 period, primarily due to increased spreads in the firm’s fixed income matched book and the contribution from SLK, partially offset by lower net revenues in securities lending and margin lending.
Commissions increased 23% compared to the same period last year to US$731 million, primarily reflecting the contribution from SLK’s clearing and execution business.
Expenses
Operating expenses were US$12.12 billion for 2001, 7% above 2000 excluding the SLK charge.
Compensation and benefits of US$7.70 billion were essentially unchanged from the prior year as incremental expense from the inclusion of SLK was offset by lower discretionary compensation. The ratio of compensation and benefits to net revenues for fiscal year 2001 was 49% compared to 49% for the nine-month period ended August 31, 2001 and 47% for fiscal 2000. Employment levels were essentially unchanged from November 2000.
Non-compensation-related expenses were US$3.95 billion, 28% above 2000. 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 income tax rate for fiscal year 2001 declined to 37.5% compared to 39.0% for the nine months ended August 31, 2001 and 38.9% for the full year of 2000. The reduction in the tax rate was primarily due to declines in state and local taxes.
Impact of September 11th Terrorist Attack
Certain properties occupied by Goldman Sachs were affected by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. During the fourth quarter, the firm recorded expenses related to the attack, which were wholly offset by an expected insurance recovery. These expenses, and the related insurance recovery, pertain to write-offs of damaged technology and telecommunications equipment, certain employee-related expenditures and other business recovery costs.
Capital
As of November 30, 2001, total capital was US$49.25 billion, consisting of US$18.23 billion in shareholders’ equity and US$31.02 billion in long-term debt. Book value per share was US$36.33, based on common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements, of 501.8 million at period end. The firm repurchased 16.3 million shares of its common stock during the year including 3.7 million shares in the fourth quarter.
Dividend
The Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. declared a dividend of US$0.12 per share to be paid on February 21, 2002 to common shareholders of record on January 22, 2002.
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 StatementsThis 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 and “Item 5: Other Information” in the firm’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended February 23, 2001, May 25, 2001 and August 31, 2001. Many of these risks and factors may be more likely to occur as a result of the September 11, 2001
terrorist attack.
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. Many of these factors may be more likely
to occur as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. 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 and “Item 5: Other Information” in the firm’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended February 23, 2001, May 25, 2001 and August 31, 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 2626454, 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®, 83KB].
Printable Version
You may also wish to view a printable version [PDF, 33KB] 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
Our weekly newsletter with insights and intelligence from across the firm
By submitting this information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Goldman Sachs and accept our privacy policy. You can opt-out at any time.