NEW YORK – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) today reported net earnings of $662 million for its fiscal first quarter ended February 28, 2003. Earnings per diluted share were $1.29 compared to $0.98 for both the fourth quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2002. Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity (1) was 18.3% and annualized return on average shareholders’ equity was 13.7% for the first quarter of 2003.
Business Highlights
“The economic environment continues to be difficult and uncertain,” said Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite these conditions, in the first quarter we benefited from the diversity of our franchise as demonstrated by record results within FICC and Asset Management, and our continued leadership in other key businesses.”
Net Revenues
Investment Banking
Net revenues in Investment Banking were $718 million compared to $523 million for the fourth quarter of 2002 and $893 million for the first quarter of 2002.
Net revenues in Financial Advisory were $337 million compared to $457 million for the first quarter of 2002, primarily reflecting a 20% decrease in industry-wide completed mergers and acquisitions. (3) Net revenues in the firm’s Underwriting business were $381 million compared to $436 million for the same 2002 period, primarily reflecting a 59% decline in industry-wide common stock offerings and a 78% decline in industry-wide initial public offerings, (3) partially offset by increased net revenues from convertible offerings and mortgage-backed securities new issuance activity.
The reduction in Investment Banking net revenues compared to the same period last year was due to lower levels of activity across substantially all sectors. The firm’s investment banking backlog declined during the quarter.
Trading and Principal Investments
Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were $2.15 billion compared to $990 million for the fourth quarter of 2002 and $1.33 billion for the first quarter of 2002.
FICC net revenues of $1.88 billion increased 54% compared to the same 2002 period, reflecting strong net revenues across nearly all businesses, as the firm operated in a favorable environment characterized by a steep yield curve, increased volatility in interest rates and commodities, favorable financing rates, and strong customer demand, particularly in mortgages. Higher net revenues in credit products, interest rate derivatives and mortgages were partially offset by decreased net revenues in currencies. In addition, net revenues in the firm’s commodities business were essentially unchanged from the first quarter of 2002.
Net revenues in Equities increased to $349 million from $105 million for the first quarter of 2002, primarily due to the negative effect of a single block trade in the first quarter of 2002, as well as an improved performance in equity derivatives, partially offset by lower net revenues in the firm’s U.S. shares business.
Principal Investments recorded negative net revenues of $77 million, primarily due to an unrealized loss of $44 million related to the firm’s convertible preferred stock investment in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG), as well as declines in the fair value of certain real estate investments.
The firm’s investment in SMFG is carried at fair value, which is derived from market data, such as SMFG’s common stock price and credit spreads, and which incorporates the impact of transfer restrictions on the firm’s investment as well as downside protection on the conversion strike price.
As of February 28, 2003, the aggregate carrying value of the firm’s principal investments held directly or through the firm’s merchant banking funds was $3.03 billion, consisting of convertible preferred stock in SMFG of $1.23 billion, other corporate principal investments of $1.05 billion and real estate principal investments of $748 million.
Asset Management and Securities Services
Net revenues in Asset Management and Securities Services were $1.32 billion, 4% lower than both the fourth quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2002.
Asset Management net revenues of $455 million increased 8% compared to last year’s first quarter, primarily due to higher incentive income, as the return on assets under management of certain funds exceeded benchmark returns or other performance targets. During the quarter, assets under management declined by $2 billion, reflecting net asset inflows of $4 billion, primarily in equity and fixed income assets, more than offset by market depreciation of $6 billion.
Securities Services net revenues were $251 million compared to $207 million for the same 2002 period, primarily reflecting increased spreads in the firm’s matched book business and higher customer balances in the firm’s securities lending and margin lending businesses.
Commissions were $612 million compared to $745 million for the same period last year, primarily reflecting lower equity transaction volumes in U.S. shares, as well as lower merchant banking overrides (i.e., an increased share of a fund’s income and gains when the return on the fund’s investments exceeds certain threshold returns).
Expenses
Operating expenses were $3.17 billion, 46% higher than the fourth quarter of 2002 and 15% higher than the first quarter of 2002.
Compensation and benefits of $2.09 billion increased 16% compared to the same period last year, commensurate with higher net revenue levels. The ratio of compensation and benefits to net revenues was 50% for the quarter, consistent with last year’s first quarter. Employment levels decreased 4% during the quarter.
Non-compensation-related expenses of $1.03 billion increased 23% compared to the same period last year, reflecting higher professional services and other expenses, primarily due to a provision of $100 million for a number of litigation and regulatory proceedings, as well as higher occupancy and depreciation and amortization expenses, reflecting exit costs of $97 million associated with reductions in the firm’s global office space, the largest single portion of which related to the firm’s exercise of an early termination option on its lease at 10 Hanover Square in New York. These increases were partially offset by lower communications and technology and market development costs. Excluding the impact of the provision for litigation and regulatory proceedings and the global office space exit costs, non-compensation-related expenses were essentially unchanged from the same period last year.
The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2003 was 35.0%, unchanged from fiscal year 2002 and down from 37.5% from the first quarter of 2002.
Capital
As of February 28, 2003, total capital was $62.91 billion, consisting of $19.51 billion in shareholders’ equity and $43.40 billion in long-term debt. Book value per share was $40.05 based on common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements, of 487.3 million at period end. Tangible book value per share was $30.18. (1)
During the quarter, the firm repurchased 3.9 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $68.82 per share. The remaining share authorization under the firm’s existing common stock repurchase program is 15.7 million shares.
Dividend
The Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. declared a dividend of $0.12 per share to be paid on May 29, 2003 to common shareholders of record on April 29, 2003.
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
On May 8, 2003, up to approximately 24 million shares of common stock related to the firm’s initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent acquisitions held by people no longer active at the firm become eligible for sale.
On June 26, 2003, approximately 54 million shares of common stock related to the firm’s IPO and subsequent acquisitions, primarily held by people who are active at the firm, become eligible for sale. In addition, approximately 11 million employee stock options granted at the time of the IPO become exercisable on that date. Substantially all of these shares will be subject to compliance with blackout procedures and volume restrictions designed, in part, to facilitate orderly sales.
Footnotes
| (1) | Tangible shareholders’ equity equals total shareholders’ equity less goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. Management believes that tangible shareholders’ equity is a meaningful measure because it reflects the equity deployed in the firm’s businesses. Annualized return on average tangible shareholders’ equity is computed by dividing annualized net earnings by average monthly tangible shareholders’ equity. Tangible book value per share is computed by dividing tangible shareholders’ equity by the number of common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units granted to employees with no future service requirements. The following table sets forth the reconciliation of shareholders’ equity to tangible shareholders’ equity: |
| Average for the Three Months Ended February 28, 2003 |
As of February 28, 2003 |
|
| (unaudited) | (in millions) | |
| Shareholders’ Equity | $19,283 | $19,514 |
| Less: Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets | 4,823 | 4,809 |
| Tangible Shareholders’ Equity | $ 14,460 | $ 14,705 |
| (2) | Thomson Financial Securities Data - November 30, 2002 through February 28, 2003. |
| (3) | Thomson Financial Securities Data - November 30, 2002 through February 28, 2003 and December 1, 2001 through February 22, 2002. |
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 29, 2002.
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 29, 2002.
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 (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 as an audio webcast through the Investor Relations 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 8987656, beginning approximately two hours after the event.
Financial Data
Financial data are available in a spreadsheet [Microsoft® Excel®, 87KB].
Printable Version
You may also wish to view a printable version [PDF, 43KB] of the press release and financial data.
Contacts
Investor Contact:
John Andrews
Tel: 1–212–357–2674
Media Contact:
Peter Rose
Tel: 1–212–902–3144
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.