<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Great Plains Software, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value
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(Title of Class of Securities)
39119E105
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(CUSIP Number)
Page 1 of 11 pages
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- -----------------------
CUSIP NO. 39119E105 13G
- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
New York
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
1,835,077
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
1,835,077
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
1,835,077
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
13.4%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
BD-PN-IA
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 2 of 11 pages
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CUSIP NO. 39119E105 13G
- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 2,000
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
1,835,077
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 2,000
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
1,835,077
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
1,837,077
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
13.4%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
HC-PN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 3 of 11 pages
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CUSIP NO. 39119E105 13G
- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
GS Capital Partners, L.P.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
1,577,523
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
1,577,523
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
1,577,523
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
11.5%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
PN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 4 of 11 pages
<PAGE>
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CUSIP NO. 39119E105 13G
- -----------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
GS Advisors, L.P.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Delaware
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
1,577,523
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
1,577,523
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
1,577,523
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
11.5%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
PN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 5 of 11 pages
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Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
Great Plains Software, Inc.
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1701 S.W. 38th Street
Fargo, ND 58103
Item 2(a). Name of Persons Filing:
Goldman, Sachs & Co., The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.,
GS Capital Partners, L.P. and GS Advisors, L.P.
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
Goldman, Sachs & Co. - New York
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. - Delaware
GS Capital Partners, L.P. - Delaware
GS Advisors, L.P. - Delaware
Item 2(d). Title and Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $.01 par value
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
39119E105
Item 3. Not applicable. This Schedule 13G was filed pursuant to Rule
13d-1(d).
Item 4. Ownership./(1)(2)/
(a). Amount beneficially owned:
See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s).
(b). Percent of Class:
See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s).
- ------------------------------
/(1)/ Includes 2,000 currently exercisable Stock Options granted to Sanjeev K.
Mehra, Managing Director of Goldman, Sachs & Co., pursuant to the Great Plains
Software, Inc. November 24, 1997 Outside Director's Stock Option Agreement. The
Stock Options are held by Sanjeev K. Mehra for the benefit of The Goldman Sachs
Group, L.P.
/(2)/ The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. ("GS Group") and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
("Goldman Sachs") each disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities
beneficially owned by (i) any client accounts with respect to which Goldman
Sachs or employees of Goldman Sachs have voting or investment discretion, or
both and (ii) certain investment entities, of which a subsidiary of GS Group or
Goldman Sachs is the general partner, managing general partner or other manager,
to the extent interests in such entities are held by persons other than GS
Group, Goldman Sachs or their affiliates.
Page 6 of 11 pages
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(c). Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i). Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached
cover page(s).
(ii). Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached
cover page(s).
(iii). Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of:
See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached
cover page(s).
(iv). Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of:
See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached
cover page(s).
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person.
Not Applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
Company.
See Exhibit (99.2)
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification.
Not Applicable
Page 7 of 11 pages
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: February 14, 1998
THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
By: /s/ Hans L. Reich By: /s/ Hans L. Reich
------------------------ ------------------------
Name: Hans L. Reich Name: Hans L. Reich
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
GS CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. GS ADVISORS, L.P.
By: /s/ Hans L. Reich By: /s/ Hans L. Reich
------------------------ ------------------------
Name: Hans L. Reich Name: Hans L. Reich
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
Page 8 of 11 pages
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Exhibit
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<S> <C>
99.1 Joint Filing Agreement, dated February 14, 1998 between The
Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., Goldman, Sachs & Co., GS Capital
Partners, L.P. and GS Advisors, L.P.
99.2 Item 7 Information
</TABLE>
Page 9 of 11 pages
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EXHIBIT (99.1)
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the undersigned agree to the joint filing of a Statement on
Schedule 13G (including any and all amendments thereto) with respect to the
Common Stock, $.01 par value of Great Plains Software, Inc. and further agree to
the filing of this agreement as an Exhibit thereto. In addition, each party to
this Agreement expressly authorizes each other party to this Agreement to file
on its behalf any and all amendments to such Statement on Schedule 13G.
Date: February 14, 1998
THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
By: /s/ Hans L. Reich By: /s/ Hans L. Reich
----------------------- -----------------------
Name: Hans L. Reich Name: Hans L. Reich
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
GS CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. GS ADVISORS, L.P.
By: /s/ Hans L. Reich By: /s/ Hans L. Reich
----------------------- -----------------------
Name: Hans L. Reich Name: Hans L. Reich
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
Page 10 of 11 pages
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EXHIBIT (99.2)
ITEM 7 INFORMATION
The securities being reported on by The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. ("GS
Group"), as a parent holding company, are owned by GS Capital Partners, L.P.,
Stone Street Fund 1994, L.P. and Bridge Street Fund 1994, L.P., each a Delaware
limited partnership (and collectively, the "Investing Entities"), or may be
deemed to be beneficially owned by Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs"), a
broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act and an investment
adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The
general partner, managing general partner or other manager of each of the
Investing Entities is an affiliate of GS Group. GS Group is the general partner
of and owns a 99% interest in Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs is the investment
manager of certain of the Investing Entities.
Page 11 of 11 pages
