Trigger PLUS Based on the Value of a Basket of Equity Indices due April 29, 2022

 

Principal at Risk Securities

The Trigger Performance Leveraged Upside Securities^SM (Trigger PLUS) do not bear interest and are unsecured notes issued by GS Finance Corp. and guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The amount that you will be paid on your Trigger PLUS at stated maturity (expected to be April 29, 2022) is based on the performance of a weighted basket composed of the S&P 500^® Index (60.00%), EURO STOXX 50^® Index (30.00%) and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (10.00%) as measured from April 26, 2019 to and including the valuation date (expected to be April 26, 2022).

 

The initial basket value is 100, and the final basket value (the basket closing value on the valuation date) will equal the sum of the products, as calculated separately for each index, of: (i) the final index value multiplied by (ii) the applicable multiplier. The multiplier will equal, for each index, the quotient of (i) the weighting of such index multiplied by 100 divided by (ii) the initial index value.

At maturity, if the final basket value is greater than the initial basket value of 100, the return on your Trigger PLUS will be positive and equal to the product of the leverage factor of 175% multiplied by the basket percent increase (the percentage increase in the final basket value from the initial basket value), subject to the maximum payment of $14.005 per Trigger PLUS. If the final basket value is equal to or less than the initial basket value but greater than or equal to the trigger level of 75.00% of the initial basket value, you will receive the principal amount of your Trigger PLUS. However, if the final basket value is less than the trigger level, you will lose a significant portion of your investment. Declines in one index may offset an increase in the other index. Due to the unequal weighting of each basket component, the performance of the S&P 500^® Index will have a significantly larger impact on your return on the notes than the performance of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index or the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

At maturity, for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS, you will receive an amount in cash equal to:

•if the final basket value is greater than the initial basket value, the sum of (i) $10 plus (ii) the product of (a) $10 times (b) 1.75 times (c) the basket percent increase, subject to the maximum payment at maturity of $14.005;

•if the final basket value is equal to or less than the initial basket value, but greater than or equal to the trigger level, $10; or

•if the final basket value is less than the trigger level, the product of (i) $10 times (ii) the quotient of (a) the final basket value divided by (b) the initial basket value. Under these circumstances, you will lose a significant portion or all of your investment.

The Trigger PLUS are for investors who seek the potential to earn 175% of any positive return of the basket, subject to the maximum payment at maturity, are willing to forgo interest payments and are willing to risk losing their entire investment if the final basket value is less than the trigger level.

 

Your investment in the Trigger PLUS involves certain risks, including the credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. See page PS-13. You should read the disclosure herein to better understand the terms and risks of your investment.

* Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, acting as dealer for the offering, will receive a selling concession of $0.30 for each Trigger PLUS it sells. It has informed us that it intends to internally allocate $0.05 of the selling concession for each Trigger PLUS as a structuring fee. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC will receive an underwriting discount of $0.0175 for each Trigger PLUS.

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

The Trigger PLUS are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

 

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The issue price, underwriting discount and net proceeds listed on the cover page relate to the Trigger PLUS we sell initially. We may decide to sell additional Trigger PLUS after the date of this document, at issue prices and with underwriting discounts and net proceeds that differ from the amounts set forth above. The return (whether positive or negative) on your investment in Trigger PLUS will depend in part on the issue price you pay for such Trigger PLUS.

GS Finance Corp. may use this document in the initial sale of the Trigger PLUS. In addition, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any other affiliate of GS Finance Corp. may use this document in a market-making transaction in a Trigger PLUS after its initial sale. Unless GS Finance Corp. or its agent informs the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this document is being used in a market-making transaction.

 

 

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We refer to the Trigger PLUS we are offering by this document as the “offered Trigger PLUS” or the “Trigger PLUS”. Each of the offered Trigger PLUS has the terms described under “Summary Terms” and “Additional Provisions” in this document. Please note that in this document, references to “GS Finance Corp.”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean only GS Finance Corp. and do not include its subsidiaries or affiliates, references to “The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.”, our parent company, mean only The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and do not include its subsidiaries or affiliates and references to “Goldman Sachs” mean The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates, including us. Also, references to the “accompanying prospectus” mean the accompanying prospectus, dated July 10, 2017, references to the “accompanying prospectus supplement” mean the accompanying prospectus supplement, dated July 10, 2017, for Medium-Term Notes, Series E, and references to the “accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735” mean the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735, dated July 10, 2017, in each case of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The Trigger PLUS will be issued under the senior debt indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 20, 2015, each among us, as issuer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. This indenture, as so supplemented and as further supplemented thereafter, is referred to as the “GSFC 2008 indenture” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Investment Summary

Trigger Performance Leveraged Upside Securities

The Trigger PLUS Based on the Value of a Basket of Equity Indices due April 29, 2022 (the “Trigger PLUS”) can be used:

However, you will not receive dividends on the stocks comprising the underlying indices (the “underlying index stocks”) or any interest payments on your Trigger PLUS.

If the final basket value is less than the trigger level, the Trigger PLUS are exposed on a 1:1 basis to the negative performance of the basket from the initial basket value to the final basket value.

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Key Investment Rationale

The Trigger PLUS offer leveraged exposure to a limited range of positive performance of the basket. In exchange for enhanced performance of 175.00% of the appreciation of the basket, investors forgo performance above the maximum payment at maturity of $14.005 per Trigger PLUS. At maturity, if the basket has appreciated in value, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment plus the leveraged upside payment, subject to the maximum payment at maturity of $14.005 per Trigger PLUS. If the basket has not appreciated in value or has depreciated in value, but the final basket value is greater than or equal to the trigger level of 75.00% of the initial basket value, investors will receive the stated principal amount of their investment. However, if the basket has depreciated in value and the final basket value is less than the trigger level, investors will lose 1.00% for every 1.00% decline in the basket value from April 26, 2019 to the valuation date of the Trigger PLUS. Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be at least 25.00% less than the stated principal amount, will represent a loss of more than 25.00% and could be zero. Investors will not receive dividends on the underlying index stocks or any interest payments on the Trigger PLUS and investors may lose their entire initial investment in the Trigger PLUS. All payments on the Trigger PLUS are subject to the credit risk of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor.

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How the Trigger PLUS Work

 

Payoff Diagram

The payoff diagram below illustrates the payment at maturity on the Trigger PLUS based on the following terms:

 

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How it works

 

 

Additional Hypothetical Examples

 

The following examples are provided for purposes of illustration only. They should not be taken as an indication or prediction of future investment results and merely are intended to illustrate the impact that the various hypothetical basket closing values or hypothetical closing values of the underlying indices on the valuation date could have on the payment at maturity assuming all other variables remain constant.

The examples below are based on a range of final basket values and closing values of the underlying indices that are entirely hypothetical; the basket closing value on any day throughout the life of the Trigger PLUS, including the final basket value on the valuation date, cannot be predicted. The underlying indices have been highly volatile in the past — meaning that the closing values of the underlying indices have changed considerably in relatively short periods — and their performances cannot be predicted for any future period.

The information in the following examples reflects hypothetical rates of return on the offered Trigger PLUS assuming that they are purchased on the original issue date at the stated principal amount and held to the stated maturity date. If you sell your Trigger PLUS in a secondary market prior to the stated maturity date, your return will depend upon the market value of your Trigger PLUS at the time of sale, which may be affected by a number of factors that are not reflected in the examples below such as interest rates, the volatility of the underlying indices and the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, and the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor. The information in the examples also reflects the key terms and assumptions in the box below.

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Moreover, we have not yet set the initial basket component values that will serve as the baseline for determining the amount that we will pay on your Trigger PLUS, at maturity. We will not do so until April 26, 2019. As a result, the actual initial basket component values may differ substantially from the underlying index closing values prior to April 26, 2019.

For these reasons, the actual performance of the basket over the life of your Trigger PLUS, as well as the amount payable at maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the hypothetical examples shown below or to the historical underlying index closing values shown elsewhere in this document. For information about the historical values of the underlying indices during recent periods, see “The Basket and the Underlying Indices — Historical Index Closing Values of the Underlying Indices and Basket Closing Values” below. Before investing in the offered Trigger PLUS, you should consult publicly available information to determine the values of the underlying indices between the date of this document and the date of your purchase of the offered Trigger PLUS.

Also, the hypothetical examples shown below do not take into account the effects of applicable taxes. Because of the U.S. tax treatment applicable to your Trigger PLUS, tax liabilities could affect the after-tax rate of return on your Trigger PLUS to a comparatively greater extent than the after-tax return on the underlying index stocks.

The values in the left column of the table below represent hypothetical final basket values and are expressed as percentages of the initial basket value. The amounts in the right column represent the hypothetical payments at maturity, based on the corresponding hypothetical final basket value, and are expressed as percentages of the stated principal amount of a Trigger PLUS (rounded to the nearest one-thousandth of a percent). Thus, a hypothetical payment at maturity of 100.000% means that the value of the cash payment that we would deliver for each $10 of the outstanding stated principal amount of the offered Trigger PLUS on the stated maturity date would equal 100.000% of the stated principal amount of a Trigger PLUS, based on the corresponding hypothetical final basket value and the assumptions noted above.

If, for example, the final basket value were determined to be 25.000% of the initial basket value, the payment at maturity that we would deliver on your Trigger PLUS at maturity would be 25.000% of the stated principal amount of your Trigger PLUS, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you purchased your Trigger PLUS on the

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original issue date at the stated principal amount and held them to the stated maturity date, you would lose 75.000% of your investment (if you purchased your Trigger PLUS at a premium to stated principal amount you would lose a correspondingly higher percentage of your investment). If the final basket value were determined to be zero, you would lose your entire investment in the Trigger PLUS. In addition, if the final basket value were determined to be 175.000% of the initial basket value, the payment at maturity that we would deliver on your Trigger PLUS at maturity would be limited to the maximum payment at maturity, or 140.050% of each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS, as shown in the table above. As a result, if you hold your Trigger PLUS to the stated maturity date, you would not benefit from any increase in the final basket value beyond approximately 122.886% of the initial basket value.

The following examples illustrate the hypothetical payment at maturity for each Trigger PLUS based on hypothetical basket component closing values on the valuation date (which we refer to as the final basket component values) for each of the underlying indices, calculated based on the key terms and assumptions above. The values in Column A represent hypothetical initial basket component values for each basket component, and the values in Column B represent the hypothetical final basket component values for each of the underlying indices. The percentages in Column C represent hypothetical final basket component values for each basket component in Column B expressed as percentages of the corresponding hypothetical initial basket component values in Column A. The amounts in Column D represent the applicable multiplier for each basket component, and the amounts in Column E represent the products of the values in Column B times the corresponding amounts in Column D. The final basket value for each example is shown beneath each example, and will equal the sum of the products shown in Column E.  The basket percent increase will equal the quotient of (i) the final basket value for such example minus the initial basket value divided by (ii) the initial basket value, expressed as a percentage. The values below have been rounded for ease of analysis.

Example 1: The final basket value is greater than the initial basket value. The payment at maturity amount equals the maximum payment at maturity.

 

In this example, the hypothetical final basket component values for all of the underlying indices are greater than the applicable hypothetical initial basket component values, which results in the hypothetical final basket value being greater than the initial basket value of 100.00. Since the hypothetical final basket value was determined to be 150.00, the hypothetical payment at maturity for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS will equal $10 plus leveraged upside payment, which equals:

$10 + ($10 × 175.00% × 50.00%) = $18.75, which exceeds the maximum payment amount of $14.005.

Since this hypothetical payment at maturity exceeds the maximum payment amount, the hypothetical payment at maturity that we would deliver on your Trigger PLUS would be the maximum payment amount of $14.005 for each $10 face amount of your Trigger PLUS (i.e. 140.05% of each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS).

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Example 2: The final basket value is greater than the initial basket value.

 

In this example, the hypothetical final basket component values for all of the underlying indices are greater than the applicable hypothetical initial basket component values, which results in the hypothetical final basket value being greater than the initial basket value of 100.00. Since the hypothetical final basket value was determined to be 105.00, the hypothetical payment at maturity for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS will equal $10 plus the leveraged upside, which equals:

$10 + ($10 × 175.00% × 5.00%) = $10.875.

Example 3: The final basket value is less than the initial basket value but greater than the trigger level. The payment at maturity equals the $10 principal amount.

 

In this example, the hypothetical final basket component values for all of the underlying indices are less than the applicable hypothetical initial basket component values, which results in the hypothetical final basket value being less than the initial basket value of 100.00. Since the hypothetical final basket value of 95.00 is greater than the trigger level of 75.00% of the initial basket value but less than the hypothetical initial basket value of 100.00, the hypothetical payment at maturity for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS will equal the principal amount of the Trigger PLUS, or $10.

Example 4: The final basket value is less than the trigger level. The cash settlement amount is less than the $10 principal amount.

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In this example, the hypothetical final basket component value of the S&P 500^® Index is less than its hypothetical initial basket component value, while the hypothetical final basket component values of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index are greater than the applicable hypothetical initial basket component values.

Because the basket is unequally weighted, increases in the lower weighted basket components will be offset by a decrease in the more heavily weighted basket component. In this example, the large decline in the S&P 500^® Index results in the hypothetical final basket value being less than the initial basket value of 100.00 even though the EURO STOXX 50^® Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index increased.

Since the hypothetical final basket value of 72.00 is less than the trigger level of 75.00% of the hypothetical initial basket value, the hypothetical payment at maturity for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS will equal:

$10 x (72.00/100.00) = $7.20

Example 5: The final basket value is less than the trigger level. The cash settlement amount is less than the $10 principal amount.

 

In this example, the hypothetical final basket component values for all of the underlying indices are less than the applicable hypothetical initial basket component values, which results in the hypothetical final basket value being less than the initial basket value of 100.00. Since the hypothetical final basket value of 60.00 is less than the trigger level of 75.00% of the hypothetical initial basket value, the hypothetical payment at maturity for each $10 principal amount of your Trigger PLUS will equal:

$10 x (60.00/100.00)= $6.00

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The payments at maturity shown above are entirely hypothetical; they are based on market prices for the underlying index stocks that may not be achieved on the valuation date and on assumptions that may prove to be erroneous. The actual market value of your Trigger PLUS on the stated maturity date or at any other time, including any time you may wish to sell your Trigger PLUS, may bear little relation to the hypothetical payments at maturity shown above, and these amounts should not be viewed as an indication of the financial return on an investment in the offered Trigger PLUS. The hypothetical payments at maturity on Trigger PLUS held to the stated maturity date in the examples above assume you purchased your Trigger PLUS at their stated principal amount and have not been adjusted to reflect the actual issue price you pay for your Trigger PLUS. The return on your investment (whether positive or negative) in your Trigger PLUS will be affected by the amount you pay for your Trigger PLUS. If you purchase your Trigger PLUS for a price other than the stated principal amount, the return on your investment will differ from, and may be significantly lower than, the hypothetical returns suggested by the above examples. Please read “Risk Factors — The Market Value of Your Trigger PLUS May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” below.

Payments on the Trigger PLUS are economically equivalent to the amounts that would be paid on a combination of other instruments. For example, payments on the Trigger PLUS are economically equivalent to a combination of an interest-bearing bond bought by the holder (although the Trigger PLUS do not pay interest) and one or more options entered into between the holder and us (with one or more implicit option premiums paid over time). The discussion in this paragraph does not modify or affect the terms of the Trigger PLUS or the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Trigger PLUS, as described elsewhere in this document.

 

 

 

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Risk Factors

 

Your Trigger PLUS Do Not Bear Interest

You will not receive any interest payments on your Trigger PLUS. As a result, even if the payment at maturity payable for your Trigger PLUS on the stated maturity date exceeds the stated principal amount of your Trigger PLUS, the overall return you earn on your Trigger PLUS may be less than you would have earned by investing in a non-indexed debt security of comparable maturity that bears interest at a prevailing market rate.

You May Lose Your Entire Investment in the Trigger PLUS

You can lose your entire investment in the Trigger PLUS. The cash payment on your Trigger PLUS, if any, on the stated maturity date will be based on the performance of a weighted basket composed of the S&P 500^® Index, EURO STOXX 50^® Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as measured from the initial basket value set on April 26, 2019 to the basket closing value on the valuation date. If the final basket value is less than the trigger level, you will lose 1.00% of the stated principal amount of your Trigger PLUS for every 1.00% decline in the basket value from April 26, 2019 to the valuation date of the Trigger PLUS, and you will lose a significant portion or all of your interest. Thus, you may lose your entire investment in the Trigger PLUS.

Also, the market price of your Trigger PLUS prior to the stated maturity date may be significantly lower than the purchase price you pay for your Trigger PLUS. Consequently, if you sell your Trigger PLUS before the stated maturity date, you may receive far less than the amount of your investment in the Trigger PLUS.

The Trigger PLUS Are Subject to the Credit Risk of the Issuer and the Guarantor

Although the return on the Trigger PLUS will be based on the performance of the underlying indices, the payment of any amount due on the Trigger PLUS is subject to the credit risk of GS Finance Corp., as issuer of the Trigger PLUS, and the credit risk of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor of the Trigger PLUS. The Trigger PLUS are our unsecured obligations.  Investors are dependent on our ability to pay all amounts due on the Trigger PLUS, and therefore investors are subject to our credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of our creditworthiness. Similarly, investors are dependent on the ability of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor of the Trigger PLUS, to pay all amounts due on the Trigger PLUS, and therefore are also subject to its credit risk and to changes in the market’s view of its creditworthiness.  See “Description of the Notes We May Offer — Information About Our Medium-Term Notes, Series E Program — How the Notes Rank Against Other Debt” on page S-4 of the accompanying prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer— Guarantee by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.” on page 42 of the accompanying prospectus.

The Return on Your Trigger PLUS May Change Significantly Despite Only a Small Incremental Change in the Value of the Basket

If the final basket value is less than the trigger level, you will lose all or a substantial portion of your investment in the Trigger PLUS. This means that while a 25.00% drop between the initial basket value and the final basket value will not result in a loss of principal on the Trigger PLUS, a decrease in the final basket value to less than 75.00% of the initial basket value will result in a loss of a significant portion of the stated principal amount of the Trigger PLUS despite only a small incremental change in the value of the basket.

The Return on Your Trigger PLUS Will Be Limited

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Your ability to participate in any change in the value of the basket over the life of your Trigger PLUS will be limited because of the maximum payment at maturity of $14.005 per Trigger PLUS (140.050% of the stated principal amount). The maximum payment at maturity will limit the payment at maturity you may receive for each of your Trigger PLUS, no matter how much the value of the basket may rise over the life of your Trigger PLUS. Although the leverage factor provides 175.00% exposure to any increase in the final basket value over the initial basket value, because the payment at maturity will be limited to 140.050% of the stated principal amount per Trigger PLUS, any increase in the final basket value over the initial basket value by more than approximately 22.886% of the initial basket value will not further increase the return on the Trigger PLUS. Accordingly, the amount payable for each of your Trigger PLUS may be significantly less than it would have been had you invested directly in the underlying indices.

The Lower Performance of One Underlying Index May Offset an Increase in Any of the Other Underlying Indices

Declines in the value of one underlying index may offset an increase in the value of any of the other underlying indices. As a result, any return on the basket — and thus on your Trigger PLUS — may be reduced or eliminated, which will have the effect of reducing the amount payable in respect of your Trigger PLUS at maturity. In addition, because the underlying indices are not equally weighted, increases in the lower weighted underlying indices may be offset by even small decreases in the more heavily weighted underlying index.

The Return on Your Trigger PLUS Will Not Reflect Any Dividends Paid on the Underlying Index Stocks

The underlying index publishers calculate the respective values of the underlying indices by reference to the prices of the applicable underlying index stocks, without taking account of the value of dividends paid on those stocks. Therefore, the return on your Trigger PLUS will not reflect the return you would realize if you actually owned the underlying index stocks and received the dividends paid on those stocks. You will not receive any dividends that may be paid on any of the underlying index stocks by the underlying index stock issuer. See “—Investing in the Trigger PLUS is Not Equivalent to Investing in the Underlying Indices; You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Underlying Index Stock” below for additional information.

The Estimated Value of Your Trigger PLUS At the Time the Terms of Your Trigger PLUS Are Set On the Pricing Date (as Determined By Reference to Pricing Models Used By GS&Co.) Is Less Than the Original Issue Price Of Your Trigger PLUS

The original issue price for your Trigger PLUS exceeds the estimated value of your Trigger PLUS as of the time the terms of your Trigger PLUS are set on the pricing date, as determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models and taking into account our credit spreads. Such expected estimated value on the pricing date is set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Trigger PLUS”; after the pricing date, the estimated value as determined by reference to these models will be affected by changes in market conditions, the creditworthiness of GS Finance Corp., as issuer, the creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., as guarantor, and other relevant factors. The price at which GS&Co. would initially buy or sell your Trigger PLUS (if GS&Co. makes a market, which it is not obligated to do), and the value that GS&Co. will initially use for account statements and otherwise, also exceeds the estimated value of your Trigger PLUS as determined by reference to these models. As agreed by GS&Co. and the distribution participants, this excess (i.e., the additional amount described under “Estimated Value of Your Trigger PLUS”) will decline to zero on a straight line basis over the period from the date hereof through the applicable date set forth above under “Estimated Value of Your Trigger PLUS”. Thereafter, if GS&Co. buys or sells your Trigger PLUS it will do so at prices that reflect the estimated value determined by reference to such pricing models at that time. The price at which GS&Co. will buy or sell your Trigger PLUS at any time also will reflect its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured securities.

In estimating the value of your Trigger PLUS as of the time the terms of your Trigger PLUS are set on the pricing date, as disclosed above under “Estimated Value of Your Trigger PLUS”, GS&Co.’s pricing models consider certain variables, including principally our credit spreads, interest rates (forecasted, current and historical rates), volatility, price-sensitivity analysis and the time to maturity of the Trigger PLUS. These pricing models are proprietary and rely in part on certain assumptions about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. As a result, the actual value you would receive if you sold your Trigger PLUS in the secondary market, if any, to others may differ, perhaps materially, from the estimated value of your Trigger PLUS determined by reference to our

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models due to, among other things, any differences in pricing models or assumptions used by others. See “— The Market Value of Your Trigger PLUS May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” below.

The difference between the estimated value of your Trigger PLUS as of the time the terms of your Trigger PLUS are set on the pricing date and the original issue price is a result of certain factors, including principally the underwriting discount and commissions, the expenses incurred in creating, documenting and marketing the Trigger PLUS, and an estimate of the difference between the amounts we pay to GS&Co. and the amounts GS&Co. pays to us in connection with your Trigger PLUS. We pay to GS&Co. amounts based on what we would pay to holders of a non-structured note with a similar maturity. In return for such payment, GS&Co. pays to us the amounts we owe under your Trigger PLUS.  

In addition to the factors discussed above, the value and quoted price of your Trigger PLUS at any time will reflect many factors and cannot be predicted. If GS&Co. makes a market in the Trigger PLUS, the price quoted by GS&Co. would reflect any changes in market conditions and other relevant factors, including any deterioration in our creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness or the creditworthiness or perceived creditworthiness of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. These changes may adversely affect the value of your Trigger PLUS, including the price you may receive for your Trigger PLUS in any market making transaction. To the extent that GS&Co. makes a market in the Trigger PLUS, the quoted price will reflect the estimated value determined by reference to GS&Co.’s pricing models at that time, plus or minus its then current bid and ask spread for similar sized trades of structured Trigger PLUS (and subject to the declining excess amount described above).

Furthermore, if you sell your Trigger PLUS, you will likely be charged a commission for secondary market transactions, or the price will likely reflect a dealer discount. This commission or discount will further reduce the proceeds you would receive for your Trigger PLUS in a secondary market sale.

There is no assurance that GS&Co. or any other party will be willing to purchase your Trigger PLUS at any price and, in this regard, GS&Co. is not obligated to make a market in the Trigger PLUS. See “— Your Trigger PLUS May Not Have an Active Trading Market” below.

The Amount Payable on Your Trigger PLUS Is Not Linked to the Index Closing Values of the Underlying Indices at Any Time Other than the Valuation Date

The final basket value will be based on the index closing value of each of the underlying indices on the valuation date (subject to adjustment as described elsewhere in this document). Therefore, if the index closing values of the underlying indices dropped precipitously on the valuation date, the payment at maturity for your Trigger PLUS may be significantly less than it would have been had the payment at maturity been linked to the index closing values prior to such drop in the values of the underlying indices. Although the actual value of the underlying indices on the stated maturity date or at other times during the life of your Trigger PLUS may be higher than the index closing values of the underlying indices on the valuation date, you will not benefit from the index closing values of the underlying indices at any time other than on the valuation date.

The Market Value of Your Trigger PLUS May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors

When we refer to the market value of your Trigger PLUS, we mean the value that you could receive for your Trigger PLUS if you chose to sell them in the open market before the stated maturity date. A number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, will influence the market value of your Trigger PLUS, including:

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These factors, and many other factors, will influence the price you will receive if you sell your Trigger PLUS before maturity, including the price you may receive for your Trigger PLUS in any market making transaction. If you sell your Trigger PLUS before maturity, you may receive less than the principal amount of your Trigger PLUS or the amount you may receive at maturity.

You cannot predict the future performance of the underlying indices based on their historical performance. The actual performance of the underlying indices over the life of the offered Trigger PLUS or the payment at maturity may bear little or no relation to the historical index closing values of the underlying indices or to the hypothetical examples shown elsewhere in this document.

Your Trigger PLUS May Not Have an Active Trading Market

Your Trigger PLUS will not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or included in any interdealer market quotation system, and there may be little or no secondary market for your Trigger PLUS. Even if a secondary market for your Trigger PLUS develops, it may not provide significant liquidity and we expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your Trigger PLUS in any secondary market could be substantial.

If the Values of the Underlying Indices Change, the Market Value of Your Trigger PLUS May Not Change in the Same Manner

The price of your Trigger PLUS may move quite differently than the performance of the underlying indices. Changes in the value of one or more of the underlying indices may not result in a comparable change in the market value of your Trigger PLUS. Even if the value of one or more of the underlying indices increases above its initial basket component value during some portion of the life of the Trigger PLUS, the market value of your Trigger PLUS may not reflect this amount. We discuss some of the reasons for this disparity under “— The Market Value of Your Trigger PLUS May Be Influenced by Many Unpredictable Factors” above.

Anticipated Hedging Activities by Goldman Sachs or Our Distributors May Negatively Impact Investors in the Trigger PLUS and Cause Our Interests and Those of Our Clients and Counterparties to be Contrary to Those of Investors in the Trigger PLUS

Goldman Sachs expects to hedge our obligations under the Trigger PLUS by purchasing listed or over-the-counter options, futures and/or other instruments linked to the underlying indices and the underlying index stocks. Goldman Sachs also expects to adjust the hedge by, among other things, purchasing or selling any of the foregoing, and perhaps other instruments linked to the underlying indices or the underlying index stocks, at any time and from time to time, and to unwind the hedge by selling any of the foregoing on or before the valuation date for your Trigger PLUS. Alternatively, Goldman Sachs may hedge all or part of our obligations under the Trigger PLUS with unaffiliated distributors of the Trigger PLUS which we expect will undertake similar market activity. Goldman Sachs may also enter into, adjust and unwind hedging transactions relating to other index-linked securities whose returns are linked to changes in the value of the underlying indices or the underlying index stocks, as applicable.

In addition to entering into such transactions itself, or distributors entering into such transactions, Goldman Sachs may structure such transactions for its clients or counterparties, or otherwise advise or assist clients or counterparties in entering into such transactions. These activities may be undertaken to achieve a variety of objectives, including: permitting other purchasers of the Trigger PLUS or other securities to hedge their investment in whole or in part; facilitating transactions for other clients or counterparties that may have business objectives or investment strategies that are inconsistent with or contrary to those of investors in the Trigger PLUS; hedging the exposure of Goldman Sachs to the Trigger PLUS including any interest in the Trigger PLUS that it reacquires or retains as part of the offering process, through its market-making activities or otherwise; enabling Goldman Sachs to comply with its internal risk limits or otherwise manage firmwide, business unit or product risk; and/or enabling Goldman Sachs to take directional views as to relevant markets on behalf of itself or its clients or

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counterparties that are inconsistent with or contrary to the views and objectives of the investors in the Trigger PLUS.

Any of these hedging or other activities may adversely affect the values of the underlying indices — directly or indirectly by affecting the value of the underlying index stocks — and therefore the market value of your Trigger PLUS and the amount we will pay on your Trigger PLUS, if any, at maturity. In addition, you should expect that these transactions will cause Goldman Sachs or its clients, counterparties or distributors to have economic interests and incentives that do not align with, and that may be directly contrary to, those of an investor in the Trigger PLUS. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any distributor will have any obligation to take, refrain from taking or cease taking any action with respect to these transactions based on the potential effect on an investor in the Trigger PLUS, and may receive substantial returns on hedging or other activities while the value of your Trigger PLUS declines. In addition, if the distributor from which you purchase Trigger PLUS is to conduct hedging activities in connection with the Trigger PLUS, that distributor may otherwise profit in connection with such hedging activities and such profit, if any, will be in addition to the compensation that the distributor receives for the sale of the Trigger PLUS to you. You should be aware that the potential to earn fees in connection with hedging activities may create a further incentive for the distributor to sell the Trigger PLUS to you in addition to the compensation they would receive for the sale of the Trigger PLUS.

Goldman Sachs’ Trading and Investment Activities for its Own Account or for its Clients, Could Negatively Impact Investors in the Trigger PLUS

Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. As such, it acts as an investor, investment banker, research provider, investment manager, investment advisor, market maker, trader, prime broker and lender. In those and other capacities, Goldman Sachs purchases, sells or holds a broad array of investments, actively trades securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps, indices, baskets and other financial instruments and products for its own account or for the accounts of its customers, and will have other direct or indirect interests, in the global fixed income, currency, commodity, equity, bank loan and other markets. Any of Goldman Sachs’ financial market activities may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on the market for your Trigger PLUS, and you should expect that the interests of Goldman Sachs or its clients or counterparties will at times be adverse to those of investors in the Trigger PLUS.

Goldman Sachs regularly offers a wide array of securities, financial instruments and other products into the marketplace, including existing or new products that are similar to your Trigger PLUS, or similar or linked to the underlying indices or underlying index stocks. Investors in the Trigger PLUS should expect that Goldman Sachs will offer securities, financial instruments, and other products that will compete with the Trigger PLUS for liquidity, research coverage or otherwise.

The Policies of the Underlying Index Publishers and Changes That Affect the Underlying Indices or the Underlying Index Stocks Comprising the Underlying Indices Could Affect the Payment at Maturity and the Market Value of the Trigger PLUS

The policies of the underlying index publishers concerning the calculation of the values of the underlying indices, additions, deletions or substitutions of underlying index stocks comprising the underlying indices and the manner in which changes affecting the underlying index stocks or their issuers, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, are reflected in the value of the underlying indices, could affect the values of the underlying indices and, therefore, the payment at maturity and the market value of your Trigger PLUS before the stated maturity date. The payment at maturity and the market value of your Trigger PLUS could also be affected if an underlying index publisher changes these policies, for example, by changing the manner in which it calculates such underlying index value or if such underlying index publisher discontinues or suspends calculation or publication of the value of the underlying index, in which case it may become difficult to determine the market value of your Trigger PLUS. If events such as these occur, the calculation agent — which initially will be GS&Co., our affiliate — may determine the index closing values of the underlying indices on any such date — and thus the payment at maturity — in a manner it considers appropriate, in its sole discretion. We describe the discretion that the calculation agent will have in determining the index value of the underlying indices on any index business day or

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the valuation date and the payment at maturity more fully under “Supplemental Terms of the Notes— Discontinuance or Modification of an Underlying” and “— Role of Calculation Agent” on page S-28 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735.

Investing in the Trigger PLUS is Not Equivalent to Investing in the Underlying Indices; You Have No Shareholder Rights or Rights to Receive Any Underlying Index Stock

Investing in your Trigger PLUS is not equivalent to investing in the underlying indices and will not make you a holder of any of the underlying index stocks. Neither you nor any other holder or owner of your Trigger PLUS will have any rights with respect to the underlying index stocks, including any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions, any rights to make a claim against the underlying index stocks or any other rights of a holder of the underlying index stocks. Your Trigger PLUS will be paid in cash and you will have no right to receive delivery of any underlying index stocks.

We May Sell an Additional Aggregate Stated Principal Amount of the Trigger PLUS at a Different Issue Price

At our sole option, we may decide to sell an additional aggregate stated principal amount of the Trigger PLUS subsequent to the date of this document. The issue price of the Trigger PLUS in the subsequent sale may differ substantially (higher or lower) from the original issue price you paid as provided on the cover of this document.

If You Purchase Your Trigger PLUS at a Premium to Stated Principal Amount, the Return on Your Investment Will Be Lower Than the Return on Trigger PLUS Purchased at Stated Principal Amount and the Impact of Certain Key Terms of the Trigger PLUS Will be Negatively Affected

The payment at maturity will not be adjusted based on the issue price you pay for the Trigger PLUS. If you purchase Trigger PLUS at a price that differs from the stated principal amount of the Trigger PLUS, then the return on your investment in such Trigger PLUS held to the stated maturity date will differ from, and may be substantially less than, the return on Trigger PLUS purchased at stated principal amount. If you purchase your Trigger PLUS at a premium to stated principal amount and hold them to the stated maturity date the return on your investment in the Trigger PLUS will be lower than it would have been had you purchased the Trigger PLUS at stated principal amount or a discount to stated principal amount.

An Investment in the Offered Trigger PLUS Is Subject to Risks Associated with Foreign Securities Markets

The value of your Trigger PLUS is linked, in part, to the EURO STOXX 50^® Index, which is comprised of stocks from one or more foreign securities markets and to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which is comprised of stocks traded in the equity markets of emerging market countries. Investments linked to the value of foreign equity securities involve particular risks. Any foreign securities market may be less liquid, more volatile and affected by global or domestic market developments in a different way than are the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Both government intervention in a foreign securities market, either directly or indirectly, and cross-shareholdings in foreign companies, may affect trading prices and volumes in that market. Also, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than about those U.S. companies that are subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, foreign companies are subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements that differ from those applicable to U.S. reporting companies.

The prices of securities in a foreign country are subject to political, economic, financial and social factors that are unique to such foreign country's geographical region. These factors include: recent changes, or the possibility of future changes, in the applicable foreign government's economic and fiscal policies; the possible implementation of, or changes in, currency exchange laws or other laws or restrictions applicable to foreign companies or investments in foreign equity securities; fluctuations, or the possibility of fluctuations, in currency exchange rates; and the possibility of outbreaks of hostility, political instability, natural disaster or adverse public health developments. The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union (popularly known as “Brexit”). The effect of Brexit is uncertain, and Brexit has and may continue to contribute to volatility in the prices of securities of companies located in Europe and currency exchange rates, including the valuation of the euro and British pound in particular. Any one of these factors, or the combination of more than one of these factors, could negatively

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affect such foreign securities market and the price of securities therein. Further, geographical regions may react to global factors in different ways, which may cause the prices of securities in a foreign securities market to fluctuate in a way that differs from those of securities in the U.S. securities market or other foreign securities markets. Foreign economies may also differ from the U.S. economy in important respects, including growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources and self-sufficiency, which may have a positive or negative effect on foreign securities prices.

The countries whose markets are represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index include Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, may present the risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times. It will also likely be more costly and difficult for the index sponsor to enforce the laws or regulations of a foreign country or trading facility, and it is possible that the foreign country or trading facility may not have laws or regulations which adequately protect the rights and interests of investors in the stocks included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Your Investment in the Trigger PLUS Will Be Subject to Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

Because the Trigger PLUS are linked, in part, to an underlying index (the MSCI Emerging Markets Index) that is a U.S. dollar denominated index whose underlying index stock prices are converted by the underlier sponsor into U.S. dollars for purposes of calculating the value of the underlying index, investors in the Trigger PLUS will be exposed to currency exchange rate risk with respect to each of the currencies represented in the underlying index which are converted in such manner. An investor’s net exposure will depend on the extent to which the currencies represented in the underlying index strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar and the relative weight of each relevant currency represented in the overall underlying index. If, taking into account such weighting, the U.S. dollar strengthens against the component currencies, the value of the underlying index may be adversely affected and the amount payable at maturity of the Trigger PLUS may be reduced.

Regulators Are Investigating Potential Manipulation of Published Currency Exchange Rates

It has been reported that the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority and regulators from other countries are in the process of investigating the potential manipulation of published currency exchange rates. If such manipulation has occurred or is continuing, certain published exchange rates may have been, or may be in the future, artificially lower (or higher) than they would otherwise have been. Any such manipulation could have an adverse impact on any payments on, and the value of, your Trigger PLUS and the trading market for your Trigger PLUS. In addition, we cannot predict whether any changes or reforms affecting the determination or publication of exchange rates or the supervision of currency trading will be implemented in connection with these investigations. Any such changes or reforms could also adversely impact your Trigger PLUS.

Your Trigger PLUS Are Linked, in part, to an Underlying Index Which Is Comprised of Underlying Index Stocks That Are Traded in a Foreign Currency But Not Adjusted to Reflect Their U.S. Dollar Value, And, Therefore, the Return on Your Trigger PLUS Will Not Be Adjusted for Changes in the Foreign Currency Exchange Rate

Your Trigger PLUS are linked, in part, to an underlying index (the EURO STOXX 50^® Index) whose underlying index stocks are traded in foreign currencies but not adjusted to reflect their U.S. dollar value. The amount payable on your Trigger PLUS will not be adjusted for changes in the applicable exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. The amount payable will be based upon the overall changes in the levels of the underlying indices. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, however, may reflect changes in the economy of the foreign countries in which the applicable underlying index’s component stocks are listed that, in turn, may affect the level of the applicable underlying index.

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Your Trigger PLUS May Be Subject to an Adverse Change in Tax Treatment in the Future

The tax consequences of an investment in your Trigger PLUS are uncertain, both as to the timing and character of any inclusion in income in respect of your Trigger PLUS.

The Internal Revenue Service announced on December 7, 2007 that it is considering issuing guidance regarding the proper U.S. federal income tax treatment of an instrument such as your Trigger PLUS that are currently characterized as pre-paid derivative contracts, and any such guidance could adversely affect the tax treatment and the value of your Trigger PLUS. Among other things, the Internal Revenue Service may decide to require the holders to accrue ordinary income on a current basis and recognize ordinary income on payment at maturity, and could subject non-U.S. investors to withholding tax. Furthermore, in 2007, legislation was introduced in Congress that, if enacted, would have required holders that acquired instruments such as your Trigger PLUS after the bill was enacted to accrue interest income over the term of such instruments even though there will be no interest payments over the term of such instruments. It is not possible to predict whether a similar or identical bill will be enacted in the future, or whether any such bill would affect the tax treatment of your Trigger PLUS. We describe these developments in more detail under “Supplemental Discussion of Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page S-95 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735. You should consult your tax advisor about this matter. Except to the extent otherwise provided by law, GS Finance Corp. intends to continue treating the Trigger PLUS for U.S. federal income tax purposes in accordance with the treatment described under “Supplemental Discussion of Federal Income Tax Consequences” on page S-95 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735 unless and until such time as Congress, the Treasury Department or the Internal Revenue Service determine that some other treatment is more appropriate.

United States Alien Holders Should Consider the Withholding Tax Implications of Owning the Trigger PLUS

The Treasury Department has issued regulations under which amounts paid or deemed paid on certain financial instruments (“871(m) financial instruments”) that are treated as attributable to U.S.-source dividends could be treated, in whole or in part depending on the circumstances, as a “dividend equivalent” payment that is subject to tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate under an applicable treaty), which in the case of any amounts a United States alien holder receives upon the sale, exchange or maturity of the Trigger PLUS, could be collected via withholding. If these regulations were to apply to the Trigger PLUS, we may be required to withhold such taxes if any U.S.-source dividends are paid on the stocks included in the S&P 500^® Index, the EURO STOXX 50^® Index or the MSCI Emerging Markets Index during the term of the Trigger PLUS. We could also require a United States alien holder to make certifications (e.g., an applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-8) prior to the maturity of the Trigger PLUS in order to avoid or minimize withholding obligations, and we could withhold accordingly (subject to the United States alien holder’s potential right to claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service) if such certifications were not received or were not satisfactory. If withholding was required, we would not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts so withheld. These regulations generally will apply to 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2021, but will also apply to certain 871(m) financial instruments (or a combination of financial instruments treated as having been entered into in connection with each other) that have a delta (as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations) of one and are issued (or significantly modified and treated as retired and reissued) on or after January 1, 2017.  In addition, these regulations will not apply to financial instruments that reference a “qualified index” (as defined in the regulations).  We have determined that, as of the issue date of your Trigger PLUS, your Trigger PLUS will not be subject to withholding under these rules.  In certain limited circumstances, however, you should be aware that it is possible for United States alien holders to be liable for tax under these rules with respect to a combination of transactions treated as having been entered into in connection with each other even when no withholding is required.  You should consult your tax advisor concerning these regulations, subsequent official guidance and regarding any other possible alternative characterizations of your Trigger PLUS for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding May Apply to Payments on Your Trigger PLUS, Including as a Result of the Failure of the Bank or Broker Through Which You Hold the Trigger PLUS to Provide Information to Tax Authorities

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Please see the discussion under “United States Taxation — Taxation of Debt Securities — Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Withholding” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the applicability of FATCA to payments made on your Trigger PLUS. The discussion in that section is hereby modified to reflect regulations proposed by the Treasury Department indicating its intent to eliminate the requirements under FATCA of withholding on gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, maturity or other disposition of relevant financial instruments. The Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations pending their finalization.

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The Basket and the Underlying Indices

The Basket

The basket is composed of three underlying indices with the following basket component weightings within the basket: S&P 500^® Index (60.00%), the EURO STOXX 50^® Index (30.00%) and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (10.00%).

The S&P 500^® Index

The S&P 500^® Index includes a representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The S&P 500^® Index is calculated, maintained and published by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P”).

As of July 31, 2017, companies with multiple share class lines are no longer eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500^® Index. Constituents of the S&P 500^® Index prior to July 31, 2017 with multiple share class lines will be grandfathered in and continue to be included in the S&P 500^® Index. If an S&P 500^® Index constituent reorganizes into a multiple share class line structure, that company will be reviewed for continued inclusion in the S&P 500^® Index at the discretion of the S&P Index Committee. Also as of July 31, 2017, the criteria employed by S&P for purposes of making additions to the S&P 500^® Index were changed as follows:

 

 

Effective February 20, 2019, company additions to the S&P 500^® Index should have an unadjusted company market capitalization of $8.2 billion or more (an increase from the previous requirement of an unadjusted company market capitalization of $6.1 billion or more).

As of March 22, 2019, the 500 companies included in the S&P 500^® Index were divided into eleven Global Industry Classification Sectors. The Global Industry Classification Sectors include (with the approximate percentage currently included in such sectors indicated in parentheses): Communication Services (9.47%), Consumer Discretionary (10.08%), Consumer Staples (7.30%), Energy (5.44%), Financials (12.66%), Health Care (14.59%), Industrials (9.32%), Information Technology (21.24%), Materials (2.61%), Real Estate (3.10%) and Utilities (3.39%). (Sector designations are determined by the underlying index publisher using criteria it has selected or developed. Index publishers may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index publishers may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices.) As of the close of business on September 21, 2018, S&P and MSCI, Inc. updated the Global Industry Classification Sector structure. Among other things, the update broadened the Telecommunications Services sector and renamed it the Communication Services sector. The renamed sector includes the previously existing Telecommunication Services Industry group, as well as the Media Industry group, which was moved from the Consumer Discretionary sector and renamed the Media & Entertainment Industry group. The Media & Entertainment Industry group contains three industries: Media, Entertainment and Interactive Media & Services. The Media industry continues to consist of the Advertising, Broadcasting, Cable & Satellite and Publishing sub-industries. The Entertainment industry contains the Movies & Entertainment sub-industry (which includes online entertainment streaming companies in addition to companies previously classified in such industry prior to September 21, 2018) and the Interactive Home Entertainment sub-industry (which includes companies previously classified in the Home Entertainment Software sub-industry prior to September 21, 2018 (when the Home Entertainment Software sub-industry was a sub-industry in the Information Technology sector)), as well as producers of interactive gaming products, including mobile gaming applications). The Interactive Media &

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Services industry and sub-industry includes companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms, where revenues are derived primarily through pay-per-click advertisements, and includes search engines, social media and networking platforms, online classifieds and online review companies. The Global Industry Classification Sector structure changes are effective for the S&P 500^® Index as of the open of business on September 24, 2018 to coincide with the September 2018 quarterly rebalancing.

The above information supplements the description of the underlying index found in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735. This information was derived from information prepared by the underlying index publisher, however, the percentages we have listed above are approximate and may not match the information available on the underlying index publisher’s website due to subsequent corporation actions or other activity relating to a particular stock. For more details about the underlying index, the underlying index publisher and license agreement between the underlying index publisher and the issuer, see “The Underlyings - S&P 500^® Index” on page S-40 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735.

The S&P 500^® Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use by GS Finance Corp. (“Goldman”). Standard & Poor’s^® and S&P^® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones^® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”) and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes by Goldman. Goldman’s securities are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or any of their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such securities.

The EURO STOXX 50^® Index

The EURO STOXX 50^® Index is a free-float market capitalization-weighted index of 50 European blue-chip stocks and was created by and is sponsored and maintained by STOXX Limited. Publication of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index began on February 26, 1998, based on an initial index value of 1,000 at December 31, 1991. The value of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index is disseminated on the STOXX Limited website. STOXX Limited is under no obligation to continue to publish the index and may discontinue publication of it at any time. Additional information regarding the EURO STOXX 50^® Index may be obtained from the STOXX Limited website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this document.

The top ten constituent stocks of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index as of March 19, 2019, by weight, are: Total S.A. (5.57%), SAP SE (4.43%), Sanofi (3.67%), LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (3.50%), LINDE PLC (3.48%), Allianz SE (3.48%), Siemens AG (3.27%), Unilever N.V. (3.00%), Banco Santander S.A. (2.98%) and ASML Holding N.V. (2.92%); constituent weights may be found on the STOXX Limited website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this document.

As of March 19, 2019, the sixteen industry sectors which comprise the EURO STOXX 50^® Index represent the following weights in the index: Automobiles & Parts (4.03%), Banks (10.76%), Chemicals (4.51%), Construction & Materials (2.91%), Food & Beverage (4.41%), Health Care (9.78%), Industrial Goods & Services (10.64%), Insurance (6.75%), Media (1.03%), Oil & Gas (7.22%), Personal & Household Goods (10.44%), Real Estate (0.85%), Retail (3.90%), Technology (9.86%), Telecommunications (4.78%) and Utilities (4.66%); industry weightings may be found on the STOXX Limited website. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Sector designations are determined by the underlying index publisher using criteria it has selected or developed. Index publishers may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index publishers may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices.

As of March 19, 2019, the eight countries which comprise the EURO STOXX 50^® Index represent the following weights in the index: Belgium (2.60%), Finland (1.29%), France (38.90%), Germany (27.43%), Ireland (4.43%), Italy (4.90%), Netherlands (10.18%) and Spain (10.28%); country weightings may be found on the STOXX Limited website.

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The above information supplements the description of the underlying index found in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735. This information was derived from information prepared by the underlying index publisher, however, the percentages we have listed above are approximate and may not match the information available on the underlying index publisher's website due to subsequent corporate actions or other activity relating to a particular stock. For more details about the underlying index, the underlying index publisher and license agreement between the underlying index publisher and the issuer, see “The Underlyings — EURO STOXX 50^® Index” on page S-75 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735.

The EURO STOXX 50^® is the intellectual property of STOXX Limited, Zurich, Switzerland and/or its licensors (“Licensors”), which is used under license. The securities or other financial instruments based on the underlying index are in no way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by STOXX and its Licensors and neither STOXX nor its Licensors shall have any liability with respect thereto.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index

MSCI Inc., which we refer to as “MSCI”, through numerous data vendors, on the MSCI website and in real time on Bloomberg Financial Markets and Reuters Limited. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float adjusted market capitalization index and is part of the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is considered a “standard” index, which means it consists of all eligible large capitalization and mid-capitalization stocks, as determined by MSCI, in the relevant emerging markets.

MSCI Emerging Markets Index Stock Weighting by Country

as of April 12, 2019

*Information provided by MSCI. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

 

MSCI Emerging Markets Index Stock Weighting by Sector

as of April 12, 2019

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*Information provided by MSCI.  Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

**Sector designations are determined by the underlying index sponsor using criteria it has selected or developed. Index publishers may use very different standards for determining sector designations. In addition, many companies operate in a number of sectors, but are listed in only one sector and the basis on which that sector is selected may also differ. As a result, sector comparisons between indices with different index publishers may reflect differences in methodology as well as actual differences in the sector composition of the indices.

As of the close of business on September 21, 2018, MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC updated the Global Industry Classification Sector structure. Among other things, the update broadened the Telecommunications Services sector and renamed it the Communication Services sector. The renamed sector includes the previously existing Telecommunication Services Industry group, as well as the Media Industry group, which was moved from the Consumer Discretionary sector and renamed the Media & Entertainment Industry group. The Media & Entertainment Industry group contains three industries: Media, Entertainment and Interactive Media & Services. The Media industry continues to consist of the Advertising, Broadcasting, Cable & Satellite and Publishing sub-industries. The Entertainment industry contains the Movies & Entertainment sub-industry (which includes online entertainment streaming companies in addition to companies previously classified in such industry prior to September 21, 2018) and the Interactive Home Entertainment sub-industry (which includes companies previously classified in the Home Entertainment Software sub-industry prior to September 21, 2018 (when the Home Entertainment Software sub-industry was a sub-industry in the Information Technology sector)), as well as producers of interactive gaming products, including mobile gaming applications). The Interactive Media & Services industry and sub-industry includes companies engaged in content and information creation or distribution through proprietary platforms, where revenues are derived primarily through pay-per-click advertisements, and includes search engines, social media and networking platforms, online classifieds and online review companies. The Global Industry Classification Sector structure changes are effective for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as of the open of business on December 3, 2018 to coincide with the November 2018 semi-annual index review. 

As of the close on May 31, 2018, MSCI began a multi-step process to include, in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, large cap China A shares that are not in trading suspension. As part of the first step of the inclusion process, which resulted from the May 2018 semi-annual index review, MSCI added such large cap China A shares to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index at 2.5% of their foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization. In connection with the August 2018 quarterly index review, MSCI implemented the second step of the inclusion process by increasing the foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization of those existing China A share constituents from 2.5% to 5%. With the implementation of this second step, and the inclusion of additional China A shares in connection with the August 2018 quarterly index review, China A shares were initially expected to represent approximately 0.75% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

MSCI has announced that, beginning in May 2019, it will begin a three-step process to further increase the weight of China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The first step will coincide with the May 2019 semi-annual index review, when MSCI will increase the foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization of all large cap China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index from 5% to 10% and add large cap ChiNext shares at 10% of their foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization. The second step will coincide with the August 2019 quarterly index review, when MSCI will increase the foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization of all large cap China A shares from 10% to 15%. The third step will coincide with the November 2019 semi annual index review, when MSCI will increase the foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization of all large cap China A shares from 15% to 20% and add mid cap China A shares, including eligible ChiNext shares, to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index at 20% of their foreign inclusion factor-adjusted market capitalization. On completion of this three-step implementation, there will be 253 large- and 168 mid-cap China A

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shares, including 27 ChiNext shares, on a pro forma basis in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, representing a weight of 3.3% in the pro forma index.

MSCI has announced that, beginning in June 2019, it expects to include the MSCI Saudi Arabia Index in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, representing on a pro forma basis a weight of approximately 2.6% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index with 32 securities, following a two-step inclusion process. The first inclusion step is expected to coincide with the May 2019 semi-annual index review and the second inclusion step is expected to take place as part of the August 2019 quarterly index review. In addition, MSCI has announced the reclassification of the MSCI Argentina Index from a “frontier market” to an “emerging market”, and the MSCI Argentina Index is expected to be included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index coinciding with the May 2019 semi-annual index review. MSCI expects to continue to restrict the inclusion in the MSCI Argentina Index to only foreign listings of Argentinian companies, such as American depositary receipts.

The above information supplements the description of the underlier found in the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735.  For more details about the underlying index, the underlying index sponsor and license agreement between the underlying index sponsor and the issuer, see “The Underliers — MSCI Indices” on page S-46 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735.  The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a price return index and, therefore, the paragraph under “The Underliers — MSCI Indices – Calculation Methodology for the MSCI Indices – Daily Total Return Methodology” on page S-51 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735 does not apply to the underlying index.  Additional information about the underlier is available on the MSCI website. We are not incorporating by reference the website or any material it includes in this document.

The MSCI indices are the exclusive property of MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). MSCI and the MSCI index names are service mark(s) of MSCI or its affiliates and are licensed for use for certain purposes by GS Finance Corp. and its affiliates. These notes, based on such index, have not been passed on by MSCI as to their legality or suitability, and are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such notes. No purchaser, seller or holder of the notes, or any other person or entity, should use or refer to any MSCI trade name, trademark or service mark to sponsor, endorse, market or promote the notes without first contacting MSCI to determine whether MSCI’s permission is required. Under no circumstances may any person or entity claim any affiliation with MSCI without the prior written permission of MSCI. The general terms supplement contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with GS Finance Corp. and any related notes.

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April 2019

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Historical Index Closing Values of the Underlying Indices and Basket Closing Values

The respective index closing values of the underlying indices have fluctuated in the past and may, in the future, experience significant fluctuations. Any historical upward or downward trend in the index closing value of any of the underlying indices during any period shown below is not an indication that the underlying indices are more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time during the life of your Trigger PLUS.

You should not take the historical index closing values of the underlying indices or the historical basket closing values as an indication of the future performance of the underlying indices or the basket. We cannot give you any assurance that the future performance of the underlying indices, the basket or the underlying index stocks will result in your receiving an amount greater than the outstanding principal amount of your Trigger PLUS on the stated maturity date, or that you will not lose a significant portion or all of your investment.

Neither we nor any of our affiliates make any representation to you as to the performances of the underlying indices. Before investing in the offered Trigger PLUS, you should consult publicly available information to determine the values of the underlying indices between the date of this document and the date of your purchase of the offered Trigger PLUS. The actual performance of each underlying index over the life of the offered Trigger PLUS, as well as the payment at maturity, if any, may bear little relation to the historical index closing values shown below.

The tables below shows the high, low and period end index closing values of the S&P 500^® Index, EURO STOXX 50^® Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index for each of the four calendar quarters in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 (through April 12, 2019). We obtained the index closing values listed in the tables below from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. Although the official closing values of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index are published to six decimal places by the underlying index publisher, Bloomberg Financial Services reports the values of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index to fewer decimal places.

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April 2019

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Historical Quarterly High, Low and Period End Index Closing Values of the S&P 500^® Index

 

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April 2019

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Historical Quarterly High, Low and Period End Index Closing Values of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index

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April 2019

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Historical Quarterly High, Low and Period End Index Closing Values of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index

The graphs below show the daily historical index closing values of the S&P 500^® Index, EURO STOXX 50^® Index and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index from January 1, 2007 through April 11, 2019. We obtained the index closing values in the graphs below from Bloomberg Financial Services, without independent verification. Although the official closing values of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index are published to six decimal places by the underlying index publisher, Bloomberg Financial Services reports the values of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index to fewer decimal places.

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April 2019

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Historical Performance of the S&P 500^® Index

Historical Performance of the EURO STOXX 50^® Index

 

 

 

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Historical Performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index

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April 2019

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Historical Basket Values

The following graph is based on the basket closing value for the period from January 1, 2007 through April 11, 2019 assuming that the basket closing value was 100 on January 1, 2007. We derived the basket closing values based on the method to calculate the basket closing value as described in this document and on actual index closing values of the underlying indices on the relevant date. The basket closing value has been normalized such that its hypothetical value on January 1, 2007 was 100. As noted in this document, the initial basket value will be set at 100 on April 26, 2019. The basket closing value can increase or decrease due to changes in the values of the underlying indices.

Historical Performance of the Basket

 

 

 

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April 2019

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Additional Information About the Trigger PLUS

This section is meant as a summary and should be read in conjunction with the section entitled “Supplemental Terms of the Notes” on page S-16 of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735. This document supersedes any conflicting provisions of the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735. 

 

Please read this information in conjunction with the summary terms on the front cover of this document.

 

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April 2019

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April 2019

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April 2019

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We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this document, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This document, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is an offer to sell only the PLUS offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this document, the accompanying general terms supplement no. 1,735, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is current only as of the respective dates of such documents.

 

$

 

 

GS Finance Corp.

 

 

 

Trigger PLUS Based on the Value of a Basket of Equity Indices due April 29, 2022

 

 

Principal at Risk Securities

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

 

 

 

April 2019