GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC
S-1, 1999-03-29
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 29, 1999
 
                                                 REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                 <C>
             DELAWARE                              6211                             13-4019460
  (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF      (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL              (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)        CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)           IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                85 BROAD STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
                                 (212) 902-1000
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                                 ROBERT J. KATZ
                                GREGORY K. PALM
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                85 BROAD STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
                                 (212) 902-1000
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
              RICARDO A. MESTRES, JR.                                   ALAN L. BELLER
                    JOHN P. MEAD                                    CHRISTOPHER E. AUSTIN
                   DAVID B. HARMS                                   CHRISTOPHER J. WALTON
                ROBERT W. REEDER III                          CLEARY, GOTTLIEB, STEEN & HAMILTON
                SULLIVAN & CROMWELL                                   ONE LIBERTY PLAZA
                  125 BROAD STREET                                 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10006
              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004                                  (212) 225-2000
                   (212) 558-4000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
          APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
                            ------------------------
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [X]
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
 
    If the delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434 under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]
                            ------------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
         TITLE OF EACH CLASS               AMOUNT TO BE          OFFERING PRICE           AGGREGATE              AMOUNT OF
   OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED         REGISTERED(1)           PER UNIT(2)         OFFERING PRICE(2)       REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                    <C>                    <C>                    <C>
    % Notes due 200  ................     $1,000,000,000              100%              $1,000,000,000            $278,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) This registration statement also covers an undeterminable amount of the
    Notes that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after the initial
    sale, in market-making transactions by affiliates of the registrant.
 
(2) Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee.
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
     This registration statement covers $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of   % Notes due 200  (the "Notes") of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ("GS
Inc.") for sale in an initial offering. This registration statement also covers
an undeterminable amount of the Notes for resale by affiliates of GS Inc.,
including Goldman, Sachs & Co., in market-making transactions on an ongoing
basis after the initial offering has begun. The prospectus to be used in the
initial offering follows immediately after this explanatory note. The prospectus
to be used in market-making transactions will be identical, except that it will
have:
 
     - different front and back cover pages; and
 
     - a section entitled "Plan of Distribution" instead of the section entitled
       "Underwriting".
 
The alternate and additional pages of the market-making prospectus follow
immediately after the prospectus for the initial offering.
 
                                        i
<PAGE>   3
 
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary
prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
                  Subject to Completion. Dated March 29, 1999.
 
                                 $1,000,000,000
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
[GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]
                                   % Notes due 200
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will pay interest on the Notes on May 15 and
November 15 of each year. The first interest payment date will be November 15,
1999.
 
     Goldman Sachs will not be permitted to redeem the Notes before they mature,
unless the principal amount of all outstanding Notes falls below $100,000,000.
In that event, Goldman Sachs may redeem the remaining Notes in whole at any
time, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest
to the redemption date.
 
     Goldman Sachs does not plan to list the Notes for trading on any securities
exchange.
 
     See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 12 to read about certain factors you
should consider before investing in the Notes.
 
                            ------------------------
 
    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 PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Per Note    Total
                                                              --------    -----
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Initial public offering price...............................      %        $
Underwriting discount.......................................      %        $
Proceeds, before expenses, to Goldman Sachs.................      %        $
</TABLE>
 
     The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued
interest, if any. Interest on the Notes will accrue from             , 1999 and
must be paid by the purchaser if the Notes are delivered after             ,
1999.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes against payment in New York,
New York on             , 1999.
 
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                      Prospectus dated             , 1999.
<PAGE>   4
 
                            OUR BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
 
1.  Our clients' interests always come first. Our experience shows that if we
serve our clients well, our own success will follow.
 
2.  Our assets are our people, capital and reputation. If any of these is ever
diminished, the last is the most difficult to restore. We are dedicated to
complying fully with the letter and spirit of the laws, rules and ethical
principles that govern us. Our continued success depends upon unswerving
adherence to this standard.
 
3.  Our goal is to provide superior returns to our shareholders. Profitability
is critical to achieving superior returns, building our capital and attracting
and keeping our best people. Significant employee stock ownership aligns the
interests of our employees and our shareholders.
 
4.  We take great pride in the professional quality of our work. We have an
uncompromising determination to achieve excellence in everything we undertake.
Though we may be involved in a wide variety and heavy volume of activity, we
would, if it came to a choice, rather be best than biggest.
 
5.  We stress creativity and imagination in everything we do. While recognizing
that the old way may still be the best way, we constantly strive to find a
better solution to a client's problems. We pride ourselves on having pioneered
many of the practices and techniques that have become standard in the industry.
 
6.  We make an unusual effort to identify and recruit the very best person for
every job. Although our activities are measured in billions of dollars, we
select our people one by one. In a service business, we know that without the
best people, we cannot be the best firm.
 
7.  We offer our people the opportunity to move ahead more rapidly than is
possible at most other places. We have yet to find the limits to the
responsibility that our best people are able to assume. Advancement depends
solely on ability, performance and contribution to the Firm's success, without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual
orientation, or any other impermissible criterion or circumstance.
 
8.  We stress teamwork in everything we do. While individual creativity is
always encouraged, we have found that team effort often produces the best
results. We have no room for those who put their personal interests ahead of the
interests of the Firm and its clients.
 
9.  The dedication of our people to the Firm and the intense effort they give
their jobs are greater than one finds in most other organizations. We think that
this is an important part of our success.
 
10.  We consider our size an asset that we try hard to preserve. We want to be
big enough to undertake the largest project that any of our clients could
contemplate, yet small enough to maintain the loyalty, the intimacy and the
esprit de corps that we all treasure and that contribute greatly to our success.
 
11.  We constantly strive to anticipate the rapidly changing needs of our
clients and to develop new services to meet those needs. We know that the world
of finance will not stand still and that complacency can lead to extinction.
 
12.  We regularly receive confidential information as part of our normal client
relationships. To breach a confidence or to use confidential information
improperly or carelessly would be unthinkable.
 
13.  Our business is highly competitive, and we aggressively seek to expand our
client relationships. However, we must always be fair competitors and must never
denigrate other firms.
 
14.  Integrity and honesty are at the heart of our business. We expect our
people to maintain high ethical standards in everything they do, both in their
work for the Firm and in their personal lives.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that
you should consider before investing in the Notes. You should read the entire
prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in the Notes discussed
under "Risk Factors" on pages 12-22.
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
 
     Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and securities firm
with three principal business lines:
 
     - Investment Banking;
     - Trading and Principal Investments; and
     - Asset Management and Securities Services.
 
Our goal is to be the advisor of choice for our clients and a leading
participant in global financial markets. We provide services worldwide to a
substantial and diversified client base, which includes corporations, financial
institutions, governments and high net worth individuals.
 
     For our fiscal year ended November 27, 1998, our net revenues were $8.5
billion and our pre-tax earnings were $2.9 billion. As of the end of fiscal
1998, our total assets were $217.4 billion and our partners' capital was $6.3
billion.
 
     We have over time produced strong earnings growth and attractive returns on
partners' capital through different economic and market conditions. Over the
last 15 years, our pre-tax earnings have grown from $462 million in 1983 to $2.9
billion in 1998, representing a compound annual growth rate of 13%. Economic and
market conditions can, however, significantly affect our performance. For
example, in the second half of fiscal 1998, the Firm's performance was adversely
affected by turbulence in global financial markets.
 
     We have achieved this growth, which has been generated without the benefit
of a large acquisition, by maintaining an intense commitment to our clients,
focusing on our core businesses and key opportunities and operating as an
integrated franchise.
 
     Because we believe that the needs of our clients are global and that
international markets have high growth potential, we have built upon our
strength in the United States to achieve leading positions in other parts of the
world. Today, the Firm has a strong global presence as evidenced by the
geographic breadth of our transactions, leadership in our core products and the
size of our international operations. As of the end of fiscal 1998, we operated
offices in 23 countries and 36% of our 13,000 employees were based outside the
United States.
 
     We are committed to a distinctive culture and set of core values. These
values are reflected in our Business Principles, which emphasize placing our
clients' interests first, integrity, commitment to excellence and innovation,
and teamwork.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
                                ($ in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    AS OF OR FOR
                                                                YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                          --------------------------------
                                                            1996        1997        1998
                                                            ----        ----        ----
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
Net revenues:
  Investment Banking....................................  $  2,113    $  2,587    $  3,368
  Trading and Principal Investments.....................     2,693       2,926       2,379
  Asset Management and Securities Services..............     1,323       1,934       2,773
                                                          --------    --------    --------
Total net revenues......................................  $  6,129    $  7,447    $  8,520
                                                          ========    ========    ========
Pre-tax earnings(1).....................................  $  2,606    $  3,014    $  2,921
Total assets............................................   152,046     178,401     217,380
Adjusted assets(2)......................................    93,279     119,883     144,906
Partners' capital.......................................     5,309       6,107       6,310
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)(3)................     1.23x       1.23x       1.21x
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
Read the table above in conjunction with the footnotes to "Selected Consolidated
Financial Data" as well as the following footnotes:
(1) Since the Firm has been a partnership, payments to the Firm's profit
    participating limited partners have been accounted for as distributions of
    partners' capital rather than as compensation expense. As a result, the
    Firm's pre-tax earnings and compensation and benefits expense have not
    reflected any payments for services rendered by its profit participating
    limited partners. Accordingly, pre-tax earnings understate the expected
    operating costs to be incurred by the Firm after its conversion to corporate
    form as described below. As a corporation, the Firm will include payments
    for services rendered by its former profit participating limited partners in
    compensation and benefits expense. For financial information that reflects
    pro forma compensation and benefits expense as if we had been a corporation,
    see "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
(2) Adjusted assets represent total assets less securities purchased under
    agreements to resell, certain securities borrowed transactions and, with
    respect to November 27, 1998, an increase of $11.64 billion in total assets
    related to the adoption of the provisions of Statement of Financial
    Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 125 that were deferred by SFAS No. 127.
(3) For purposes of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" represent
    pre-tax earnings plus fixed charges and "fixed charges" represent interest
    expense plus that portion of rent expense that, in our opinion, approximates
    the interest factor included in rent expense. For a pro forma ratio of
    earnings to fixed charges reflecting our conversion to corporate form,
    please see "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information". The ratio of
    earnings to fixed charges does not give effect to this offering of the Notes
    or our new medium-term note program described below.
 
                            ----------------------------
 
                     STRATEGY AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS LINES
 
     Our strategy is to grow our three core businesses -- Investment Banking,
Trading and Principal Investments, and Asset Management and Securities
Services -- in markets throughout the world. Our leadership position in
investment banking provides us with access to governments, financial
institutions and corporate clients globally. Trading and principal investing has
been an important part of our culture and earnings, and we remain committed to
these businesses irrespective of their volatility. Managing wealth is one of the
fastest growing segments of the financial services industry and we are
positioning our asset management and securities services businesses to take
advantage of that growth. Our assets under supervision, for example, have grown
from $92.7 billion as of the end of fiscal 1994 to $336.8 billion as of the end
of fiscal 1998, representing a compound annual growth rate of 38%.
 
INVESTMENT BANKING
 
     Investment Banking represented 39% of fiscal 1998 net revenues and 35% of
fiscal 1997 net revenues. We are a market leader in both the financial advisory
and underwriting
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
businesses, serving over 3,000 clients worldwide. For the period January 1, 1994
to December 31, 1998, we had the industry-leading market share of 25.3% in
worldwide mergers and acquisitions advisory services, having advised on over
$1.7 trillion of transactions. Over the same period, we also achieved number one
market shares of 15.2% in underwriting worldwide initial public offerings and
14.4% in underwriting worldwide common stock issues. The source for this market
share information is Securities Data Company.
 
TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     Trading and Principal Investments represented 28% of fiscal 1998 net
revenues and 39% of fiscal 1997 net revenues. We make markets in equity and
fixed income products, currencies and commodities; enter into swaps and other
derivative transactions; engage in proprietary trading and arbitrage; and make
principal investments. In trading, we focus on building lasting relationships
with our most active clients while maintaining leadership positions in our key
markets. We believe our research, market-making and proprietary activities
enhance our understanding of markets and ability to serve our clients.
 
ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES
 
     Asset Management and Securities Services represented 33% of fiscal 1998 net
revenues and 26% of fiscal 1997 net revenues. We provide global investment
management and advisory services; earn commissions on agency transactions; earn
management fees and derive overrides from our merchant banking funds; and
provide prime brokerage, securities lending and financing services. As of the
end of fiscal 1998, the Firm had $336.8 billion of assets under supervision, of
which $194.8 billion represented assets under management. Our asset management
business is rapidly growing, with net asset inflows that averaged over $125
million per business day during fiscal 1998. We manage merchant banking funds
that had $15.5 billion of capital commitments as of the end of fiscal 1998.
 
     Assets under supervision are comprised of assets under management and other
client assets. Assets under management typically generate fees based on a
percentage of their value. Other client assets are comprised of assets in
brokerage accounts of primarily high net worth individuals, on which the Firm
earns commissions.
 
     We pursue our strategy to grow our three core businesses through an
emphasis on:
 
EXPANDING HIGH VALUE-ADDED BUSINESSES
 
     To achieve strong growth and high returns, we seek to build leadership
positions in high value-added services for our clients. For example, we have
substantially increased the number of professionals in investment banking to
improve and expand our ability to execute mergers and acquisitions, initial
public offerings and high-yield financings. In trading, we structure and execute
large and complex transactions for institutional investors, pension funds and
corporate clients around the world. In asset management, we emphasize equity and
alternative investment products and use our established international presence
to build a global asset management franchise.
 
INCREASING THE STABILITY OF OUR EARNINGS
 
     We seek to balance the stability of our earnings with return on equity and
long-term earnings growth. We believe our trading businesses are key ingredients
to our success. While we plan to continue to grow our trading businesses, the
financial market shocks of the past year underscored the importance of our
strategy to emphasize growth in our investment banking, asset management and
securities services businesses. Through a greater relative emphasis on these
businesses, we plan to gradually increase the stability of our earnings.
 
PURSUING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 
     We believe that our global reach will allow us to take advantage of growth
in international markets. In Europe, for example, the recent establishment of
the Economic and Monetary Union is expected, over time, to create a large
pan-European market rivaling
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
the U.S. capital markets in size and liquidity. We believe this will generate
increased activity across our businesses in the region. In Asia, we expect
increased mergers and acquisitions advisory opportunities as a result of
corporate restructurings and increased trading opportunities as we meet the
liquidity needs of our clients. In the longer term, we anticipate additional
opportunities in asset management activities due to an expected shift towards
privatization of pension systems and changing demographics.
 
LEVERAGING THE FRANCHISE
 
     We believe our various businesses are generally stronger and more
successful because they are part of the Goldman Sachs franchise. Our culture of
teamwork fosters cooperation among our businesses, which allows us to provide
our clients with a full range of products and services on a coordinated basis.
Our investment bankers, for example, refer clients who are selling their
businesses to those in the Firm who manage wealth. In addition, our merchant
banking investments in companies lead to future clients for investment banking.
 
                             COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
 
STRONG CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
 
     We focus on building long-term client relationships. In fiscal 1998, over
75% of our Investment Banking revenues represented business from existing
clients of the Firm. We also aggressively pursue new client relationships as
evidenced by the over 400 investment banking transactions we completed for
first-time clients in fiscal 1998. In our trading businesses, we structure and
execute transactions across a wide array of markets and countries to meet our
clients' needs. In our asset management business, we managed assets for three of
the five largest pension pools in the United States as ranked as of September
30, 1998 by Pensions & Investments and maintain accounts for 41% of the 1998
"Forbes 400 List of the Richest Americans".
 
DISTINCTIVE PEOPLE AND CULTURE
 
     Our most important asset is our people. We seek to reinforce our employees'
commitment to our culture and values through recruiting, training, a
comprehensive review system and a compensation philosophy that rewards teamwork.
We were ranked number seven in Fortune magazine's "The 100 Best Companies to
Work for in America" in January 1999 and were ranked number three in Fortune
magazine's 1999 "The Top 50 MBA Dream Companies", the highest-ranked investment
banking and securities firm in each case.
 
GLOBAL REACH
 
     Over the past decade, we have made a significant commitment to building a
worldwide business. We have achieved leading positions in major international
markets by capitalizing on our product knowledge and global research, as well as
by building a local presence where appropriate. In doing so, we have become one
of the few truly global investment banking and securities firms with the ability
to execute large and complex cross-border transactions. We had the number one
market share of 23.2% in cross-border mergers and acquisitions for the period
from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1998, according to Securities Data Company.
In addition, in Japan, we were the largest non-Japanese mutual fund manager as
of January 31, 1999, according to The Investment Trusts Association.
 
                                OUR HEADQUARTERS
 
     Our headquarters are located at 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004,
telephone (212) 902-1000.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
                         INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
 
     We believe that significant growth and profit opportunities exist in the
financial services industry over the long term. These opportunities derive from
long-term trends, including financial market deregulation, the globalization of
the world economy, the increasing focus of companies on shareholder value,
consolidations in various industries, growth in investable funds and
accelerating technology and financial product innovation. We believe that over
the last 15 years these trends, coupled with generally declining interest rates
and favorable market conditions, have contributed to a substantially higher rate
of growth in activity in the financial services industry than the growth in
overall economic activity. While the future economic environment may not be as
favorable as that experienced in the last 15 years and there may be periods of
adverse economic and market conditions, we believe that these trends should
continue to affect the financial services industry positively over the long
term.
 
     The following table sets forth selected key industry indicators:
 
                            KEY INDUSTRY INDICATORS
                          ($ in billions, except GDP)
                         (volume in millions of shares)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     AS OF OR FOR
                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          -----------------------------------     CAGR(6)
                                           1983     1988     1993      1998       '83-'98
                                           ----     ----     ----      ----       -------
<S>                                       <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>         <C>
Worldwide GDP ($ in trillions)(1).......  $   10   $   18   $    24   $    29(7)     8%(7)
Worldwide mergers and acquisitions(2)...      96      527       460     2,522       24
Worldwide equity issued(2)..............      50       51       172       269       12
Worldwide debt issued(2)................     146      631     1,546     2,932       22
Worldwide equity market
  capitalization(3).....................   3,384    9,728    14,016    23,541(7)    15(7)
NYSE average daily volume...............      85      162       265       674       15
Worldwide pension assets(4).............  $1,900   $3,752   $ 6,560   $ 9,694(7)    12(7)
U.S. mutual fund assets(5)..............     293      810     2,075     5,530       22
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Gross domestic product. Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit, January
    1999.
(2) Source: Securities Data Company.
(3) Source: International Finance Corporation.
(4) Source: InterSec Research Corp.
(5) Source: Investment Company Institute.
(6) Compound annual growth rate.
(7) Data as of December 31, 1997; compound annual growth rate 1983-1997.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
     We refer to the initial offering of the Notes as the "Offering". Please
refer to "Description of Notes We Are Offering" in this prospectus for more
information about the Notes.
 
Notes offered..............       % Notes due 200 .
 
Issuer.....................  The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
 
Stated maturity............  May 15, 200 .
 
Total principal amount
being issued...............  $1,000,000,000.
 
Ranking....................  General, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations.
 
Interest rate..............    % annually.
 
Date interest starts
accruing...................            , 1999.
 
Interest payment dates.....  Every May 15 and November 15.
 
First interest payment
date.......................  November 15, 1999.
 
Regular record dates for
  interest.................  May 1 for May 15 interest; November 1 for November
                             15 interest.
 
Redemption features........  We will not be permitted to redeem the Notes before
                             they mature, unless the principal amount of all
                             outstanding Notes falls below $100,000,000. In that
                             event, we may redeem the remaining Notes in whole
                             at any time, at a price equal to 100% of their
                             principal amount plus accrued interest to the
                             redemption date.
 
Book-entry issuance and
  settlement...............  We will issue the Notes only in book-entry
                             form -- i.e., as global Notes registered in the
                             name of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New
                             York, or its nominee. The sale of the Notes will
                             settle in immediately available funds through DTC.
 
Use of proceeds............  We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of
                             the Notes to provide additional funds for our
                             operations and for other general corporate
                             purposes, including the repayment of short-term
                             obligations.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
                           OUR COMMON STOCK OFFERING
 
     Shortly before the closing of this Offering, the Firm will convert from
partnership to corporate form, with GS Inc. as the successor parent company, and
GS Inc. will complete an initial public offering of its Common Stock. In that
offering, GS Inc. expects to sell 42,000,000 shares for its own account and two
of its shareholders expect to sell a total of 18,000,000 shares for their
accounts. In addition, GS Inc. will grant the underwriters of that offering
options to purchase up to 9,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock. We refer
to that offering as the "Common Stock Offering".
 
     We expect to receive net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering of
approximately $1.8 billion, based on an assumed initial public offering price
that may change and after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company in the Common Stock Offering. This
amount also assumes that the underwriters' options to purchase additional shares
are not exercised. We intend to use those proceeds in the manner described below
under "Use of Proceeds".
 
     The Firm is managed by its principal owners. Simultaneously with our
conversion from partnership to corporate form and our Common Stock Offering, we
will make equity-based awards to substantially all of our employees. Following
those transactions, our employees, including former partners, will own
approximately 66% of the Company. None of our employees will be selling shares
in the Common Stock Offering. We will also complete a number of other
transactions in order to convert from partnership to corporate form at the time
of the closing of the Common Stock Offering. For a more detailed description of
these and other transactions, see "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Incorporation and Related Transactions", "Management -- The
Employee IPO Awards" and "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
 
                          OUR MEDIUM-TERM NOTE PROGRAM
 
     At or about the time of the closing of this Offering, we plan to begin
offering debt securities on an ongoing basis under a new medium-term note
program. Under that program, we expect to issue up to $15 billion aggregate
principal amount of our debt securities over the next two years. Those debt
securities will be general, unsecured obligations of GS Inc. and will rank
equally in right of payment with the Notes. The specific terms of those debt
securities, including as to maturity and interest, will be fixed at the time of
sale. We do not know the principal amount of debt securities we will sell under
our new medium-term note program or when sales will occur.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The summary historical consolidated income statement and balance sheet data
set forth below have been derived from the Firm's consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto. The Firm's consolidated financial statements
have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants,
as of November 28, 1997 and November 27, 1998 and for the years ended November
29, 1996, November 28, 1997 and November 27, 1998. These financial statements
are included elsewhere in this prospectus, together with the report thereon of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
     The summary historical consolidated income statement and balance sheet data
set forth below as of November 25, 1994, November 24, 1995 and November 29, 1996
and for the years ended November 25, 1994 and November 24, 1995 have been
derived from audited consolidated financial statements of the Firm not included
in this prospectus.
 
     The pro forma data set forth below as of and for the year ended November
27, 1998 have been derived from the pro forma data set forth in "Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Information" included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
     The summary consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations", "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information" and the consolidated
financial statements and the notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             AS OF OR FOR YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                  -------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1994        1995        1996        1997        1998
                                                   ----        ----        ----        ----        ----
                                                                      ($ in millions)
<S>                                               <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
  Net revenues..................................  $ 3,537    $  4,483    $  6,129    $  7,447    $  8,520
  Pre-tax earnings(1)...........................      508       1,368       2,606       3,014       2,921
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets(2)...............................  $95,296    $100,066    $152,046    $178,401    $217,380
  Adjusted assets (unaudited)(3)................   75,772      73,552      93,279     119,883     144,906
  Long-term borrowings..........................   14,418      13,358      12,376      15,667      19,906
  Partners' capital.............................    4,771       4,905       5,309       6,107       6,310
 
PRO FORMA DATA (UNAUDITED)(4):
  Pro forma net earnings........................       --          --          --          --    $  1,316
  Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed
    charges(5)..................................       --          --          --          --        1.16x
  Pro forma stockholders' equity as adjusted for
    the Common Stock Offering...................       --          --          --          --    $  6,291
 
SELECTED DATA AND RATIOS (UNAUDITED):
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)(5)......     1.06x       1.14x       1.23x       1.23x       1.21x
  Assets under supervision:
    Assets under management.....................  $43,671    $ 52,358    $ 94,599    $135,929    $194,821
    Other client assets.........................   49,061      57,716      76,892     102,033     142,018
                                                  -------    --------    --------    --------    --------
  Total assets under supervision................  $92,732    $110,074    $171,491    $237,962    $336,839
                                                  =======    ========    ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
 (1) Since the Firm has been a partnership, payments to the Firm's profit
     participating limited partners have been accounted for as distributions of
     partners' capital rather than as compensation expense. As a result, the
     Firm's pre-tax earnings and compensation and benefits expense have not
     reflected any payments for services rendered by its profit participating
     limited partners. Accordingly, pre-tax earnings understate the expected
     operating costs to be incurred by the Firm after its conversion to
     corporate form. As a corporation, the Firm will include payments for
     services rendered by its former profit participating limited partners in
     compensation and benefits expense. For financial information that reflects
     pro forma compensation and benefits expense as if we had been a
     corporation, see "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
 
 (2) Total assets and liabilities as of November 27, 1998 were increased by
     $11.64 billion due to the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that
     were deferred by SFAS No. 127. For a discussion of SFAS Nos. 125 and 127,
     see "Accounting Developments" in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
     statements.
 
 (3) Adjusted assets represent total assets less securities purchased under
     agreements to resell, certain securities borrowed transactions and, with
     respect to November 27, 1998, an increase of $11.64 billion in total assets
     related to the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were
     deferred by SFAS No. 127.
 
 (4) Reflects such adjustments as are necessary, in the opinion of management,
     for a fair presentation of the results of operations and stockholders'
     equity of the Firm on a pro forma basis. See "Pro Forma Consolidated
     Financial Information" for more detailed information concerning these
     adjustments.
 
 (5) For purposes of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings"
     represent pre-tax earnings plus fixed charges and "fixed charges" represent
     interest expense plus that portion of rent expense that, in our opinion,
     approximates the interest factor included in rent expense. Neither the pro
     forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges nor the historical ratio of
     earnings to fixed charges gives effect to this Offering of the Notes or our
     new medium-term note program.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     An investment in securities of the Firm, such as the Notes, involves a
number of risks, some of which, including market, liquidity, credit,
operational, legal and regulatory risks, could be substantial and are inherent
in the businesses of the Firm. You should carefully consider the following
information about these risks, together with the other information in this
prospectus, before investing in the Notes.
 
                   MARKET FLUCTUATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT
                          OUR BUSINESSES IN MANY WAYS
 
     As an investment banking and securities firm, our businesses are materially
affected by conditions in the financial markets and economic conditions
generally, both in the United States and elsewhere around the world. The equity
and debt markets in the United States and elsewhere have achieved record or near
record levels, and this favorable business environment will not continue
indefinitely. In the event of a market downturn, our businesses could be
adversely affected in many ways, including those described below. Our revenues
are likely to decline in such circumstances and, if we were unable to reduce
expenses at the same pace, our profit margins would erode. For example, in the
second half of fiscal 1998, we recorded negative net revenues from our Trading
and Principal Investments business and from mid-August to mid-October the number
of equity underwritings and announced mergers and acquisitions transactions in
which we participated declined substantially due to adverse economic and market
conditions. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Business Environment" for a discussion of the market
environment in which we operated during that period. Even in the absence of a
market downturn, the Firm is exposed to substantial risk of loss due to market
volatility.
 
Losses from Trading and Investment Activity
 
     The Firm generally maintains large trading and investment positions in the
fixed income, currency, commodity and equity markets. To the extent that the
Firm owns assets, i.e., has long positions, in any of those markets, a downturn
in those markets could result in losses from a decline in the value of those
long positions. Conversely, to the extent that the Firm has sold assets it does
not own, i.e., has short positions, in any of those markets, an upturn in those
markets could expose the Firm to potentially unlimited losses as it attempts to
cover its short positions by acquiring assets in a rising market. The Firm may
from time to time have a trading strategy consisting of holding a long position
in one asset and a short position in another, from which the Firm expects to
earn revenues based on changes in the relative value of the two assets. If,
however, the relative value of the two assets changes in a direction or manner
that the Firm does not anticipate or against which it is not hedged, the Firm
might realize a loss in those paired positions. We incurred significant losses
in our Trading and Principal Investments business in the second half of fiscal
1998 from this type of "relative value" trade. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Business
Environment" for a discussion of those losses and the market environment in
which we operated during that period. In addition, the Firm maintains
substantial trading positions that can be adversely affected by the level of
volatility in the financial markets, i.e., the degree to which trading prices
fluctuate over a particular period, in a particular market, regardless of market
levels.
 
Lower Revenues from Investment Banking Activity
 
     Unfavorable financial or economic conditions would likely reduce the number
and size of transactions in which we provide underwriting, mergers and
acquisitions advisory and other services. Our Investment Banking revenues, in
the form of financial advisory and underwriting fees, are directly related to
the number and size of the transactions in which we participate and would
therefore be adversely affected by a sustained market downturn. In particular,
our results of operations would be adversely affected by a significant
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
reduction in the number or size of mergers and acquisitions transactions.
 
Lower Revenues from Commissions and Asset Management Fees
 
     A market downturn could lead to a decline in the volume of transactions
that we execute for our customers and, therefore, to a decline in the revenues
we receive from commissions and spreads. In addition, because the fees that we
charge for managing our clients' portfolios are in many cases based on the value
of those portfolios, a market downturn that reduces the value of our clients'
portfolios or increases the amount of withdrawals would reduce the revenue we
receive from our asset management business.
 
Concentration of Risk
 
     The Firm has committed substantial amounts of capital to its arbitrage,
market-making, block trading, underwriting and lending businesses. These
activities often require the Firm to take large positions in the securities of a
particular issuer or issuers in a particular industry, country or region. In the
past, concentration of risk has increased the losses that we have incurred in
these activities. Moreover, the trend in all major capital markets is towards
larger and more frequent commitments of capital in many of these activities. For
example, as described under "Business -- Trading and Principal
Investments -- Equities", we are experiencing an increase in the number and size
of block trades that we execute, and we expect this trend to continue.
 
Ineffectiveness of Hedges
 
     We utilize a variety of instruments and strategies to hedge our exposure to
various types of risk. Many of these strategies are based on historical trading
patterns and correlations. For example, if we hold a long position in an asset,
we may hedge this position by taking a short position in an asset where the
short position has, historically, moved in a direction that would offset a
change in value in the long position. However, these strategies may not be fully
effective in mitigating our risk exposure in all market environments or against
all types of risk. We have often hedged our exposure to corporate fixed income
securities by taking a short position in U.S. Treasury securities, since
historically the value of U.S. Treasury securities has changed in a manner
similar to changes in the value of corporate fixed income securities. Due to the
"flight to quality" in mid-August to mid-October 1998, however, the prices for
corporate fixed income securities declined while the prices for U.S. Treasury
securities increased and, as a result, we incurred losses on both positions.
Unexpected market developments also affected other hedging strategies during
this time, and unanticipated developments could impact these or different
hedging strategies in the future. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Management" for a
discussion of the policies and procedures we use to identify, monitor and manage
the risks we assume in conducting our businesses and of refinements we have made
to our risk management policies and procedures as a result of our recent
experience.
 
Prolonged Market Downturn
 
     While the Firm encountered extremely difficult market conditions in
mid-August to mid-October 1998, the financial markets rebounded late in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1998. At some time in the future, there may be a more
sustained period of market decline or weakness that will leave us operating in a
difficult market environment and subject us to the risks that we describe in
this section for a longer period of time.
 
Other Risks Increased by Market Risk
 
     In addition to the potentially adverse effects on our businesses described
above, market risk could exacerbate other risks that we face. For example, if we
incur substantial trading losses, our need for liquidity could rise sharply
while our access to liquidity could be impaired. In addition, in conjunction
with a market downturn, our customers and counterparties could incur substantial
losses of their own, thereby weakening their financial condition and increasing
our credit risk to
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
 
them. Our liquidity risk and credit risk are described below.
 
                        OUR RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND
                       PROCEDURES MAY LEAVE US EXPOSED TO
                       UNIDENTIFIED OR UNANTICIPATED RISK
 
     We have devoted significant resources to develop our risk management
policies and procedures and expect to continue to do so in the future.
Nonetheless, our policies and procedures to identify, monitor and manage risks
may not be fully effective. Certain of our methods of managing risk are based
upon our use of observed historical market behavior. As a result, these methods
may not predict future risk exposures, which could be significantly greater than
the historical measures indicate. For example, the market movements of the late
third and early fourth quarters of fiscal 1998 were larger and involved greater
divergences in relative asset values than we anticipated. This caused us to
experience trading losses that were greater and recurred more frequently than
certain of our risk measures indicated were likely to occur. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Business Environment" for a discussion of the market environment
in which we operated during the second half of fiscal 1998 and "-- Risk
Management" for a discussion of the policies and procedures we use to identify,
monitor and manage the risks we assume in conducting our businesses and of
refinements we have made to our risk management policies and procedures as a
result of our recent experience.
 
     Other risk management methods depend upon evaluation of information
regarding markets, clients or other matters that is publicly available or
otherwise accessible by the Firm. This information may not in all cases be
accurate, complete, up-to-date or properly evaluated. Management of operational,
legal and regulatory risk requires, among other things, policies and procedures
to record properly and verify a large number of transactions and events, and
these policies and procedures may not be fully effective.
 
                    LIQUIDITY RISK COULD IMPAIR OUR ABILITY
                     TO FUND OPERATIONS AND JEOPARDIZE OUR
                              FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
     Liquidity, i.e., ready access to funds, is essential to our businesses. In
addition to maintaining a cash position, we rely on three principal sources of
liquidity: borrowing in the debt markets; access to certain other funding
sources, such as the repurchase and securities lending markets; and selling
securities and other assets. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity" for a discussion of
our sources of liquidity.
 
Continuous Borrowing Needs
 
     We depend on continuous access to the debt capital markets to finance our
day-to-day operations. An inability to raise money in the long-term or
short-term debt markets, or to engage in repurchase agreements or securities
lending, could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our access
to debt in amounts adequate to finance our activities could be impaired by
factors that affect the Firm in particular or the financial services industry in
general. For example, lenders could develop a negative perception of our
long-term or short-term financial prospects if we incurred large trading losses,
if the level of our business activity decreased due to a market downturn, if
regulatory authorities took significant action against the Firm or if we
discovered that one of our employees had engaged in serious unauthorized or
illegal activity. Our ability to borrow in the debt markets also could be
impaired by factors that are not specific to the Firm, such as a severe
disruption of the financial markets or negative views about the prospects for
the investment banking, securities or financial services industries generally.
 
     We also depend on banks to finance our day-to-day operations. As a result
of the recent consolidation in the banking industry, certain of our lenders have
merged or consolidated with other banks and financial institutions. While we
have not been materially adversely affected to date, it is possible that further
consolidation could lead to a loss of a number of our key banking relationships
and
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
a reduction in the amount of credit extended to us.
 
Dependence on Access to Short-Term Debt Markets
 
     The Firm depends on the issuance of commercial paper and promissory notes
as a principal source of unsecured short-term funding for its operations. As of
the end of fiscal 1998, the Firm had $20.8 billion of outstanding commercial
paper and promissory notes with a weighted average maturity of approximately 63
days. The Firm's liquidity depends to an important degree on its ability to
refinance these borrowings on a continuous basis. Investors who hold the Firm's
outstanding commercial paper and promissory notes have no obligation to purchase
new instruments when the outstanding instruments mature.
 
Dependence on Ability to Sell Assets
 
     If we were unable to borrow in the debt capital markets, we would need to
liquidate assets in order to meet our maturing liabilities. In certain market
environments, such as times of market volatility or uncertainty, overall market
liquidity may decline. In a time of reduced liquidity, we may be unable to sell
certain assets, or we may have to sell assets at depressed prices, which could
adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
 
     Our ability to sell our assets may be impaired by other market participants
seeking to sell similar assets into the market at the same time. In the late
third and early fourth quarters of fiscal 1998, for example, the markets for
certain assets were adversely affected by simultaneous attempts by a number of
institutions to sell similar assets.
 
Dependence on Credit Ratings
 
     Our borrowing costs and our access to the debt capital markets depend
significantly on our credit ratings. These ratings are assigned by rating
agencies, which may reduce or withdraw their ratings or place the Firm on
"credit watch" with negative implications at any time. Credit ratings are also
important to the Firm when competing in certain markets and when seeking to
engage in longer-term transactions, including over-the-counter derivatives. A
reduction in our credit ratings could increase our borrowing costs and limit our
access to the capital markets. This, in turn, could reduce our earnings and
adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, a reduction in the credit rating of
the Notes could adversely affect their market value or your ability to sell the
Notes. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Liquidity -- Credit Ratings" for additional information
concerning our credit ratings.
 
                    CREDIT RISK EXPOSES US TO LOSSES CAUSED
                         BY FINANCIAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS
                          EXPERIENCED BY THIRD PARTIES
 
     We are exposed to the risk that third parties that owe us money, securities
or other assets will not perform their obligations. These parties include our
trading counterparties, customers, clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses
and other financial intermediaries as well as issuers whose securities we hold.
These parties may default on their obligations to us due to bankruptcy, lack of
liquidity, operational failure or other reasons. This risk may arise, for
example, from holding securities of third parties; entering into swap or other
derivative contracts under which counterparties have long-term obligations to
make payments to us; executing securities, futures, currency or commodity trades
that fail to settle at the required time due to non-delivery by the counterparty
or systems failure by clearing agents, exchanges, clearing houses or other
financial intermediaries; and extending credit to our clients through bridge or
margin loans or other arrangements. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Management -- Credit Risk"
for a further discussion of the credit risks to which we are exposed.
 
Increased Credit Exposure in Recent Years
 
     In recent years, we have significantly expanded our swaps and other
derivatives businesses and placed a greater emphasis on providing credit and
liquidity to our clients. As a result, our credit exposures have increased
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
in amount and in duration. In addition, as competition in the financial services
industry has increased, we have experienced pressure to assume longer-term
credit risk, extend credit against less liquid collateral and price more
aggressively the credit risks that we take.
 
Country Risk
 
     Country, regional and political risks are components of credit risk, as
well as market risk. Economic or political pressures in a country or region,
including those arising from local market disruptions or currency crises, may
adversely affect the ability of clients or counterparties located in that
country or region to obtain foreign exchange or credit and, therefore, to
perform their obligations to us. See "-- We Are Exposed to Risks in Emerging and
Other Markets" for a further discussion of our exposure to these risks.
 
Systemic Risk
 
     The commercial soundness of many financial institutions may be closely
interrelated as a result of credit, trading, clearing or other relationships
between the institutions. As a result, concerns about, or a default by, one
institution could lead to significant liquidity problems or losses in, or
defaults by, other institutions. This is sometimes referred to as "systemic
risk" and may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing
agencies, clearing houses, banks, securities firms and exchanges, with which we
interact on a daily basis.
 
     The possibility of default by a major market participant in the second half
of fiscal 1998 and concerns throughout the financial industry regarding the
resulting impact on markets led us to participate in an industry-wide consortium
that invested in Long-Term Capital Portfolio, L.P., which is described under
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity -- The Balance Sheet". Actual defaults, increases in
perceived default risk and other similar events could arise in the future and
could have an adverse effect on the financial markets and on the Firm.
 
Uncertainty in Managing Credit Risk
 
     Although we regularly review our credit exposure to specific clients and
counterparties and to specific industries, countries and regions that we believe
may present credit concerns, default risk may arise from events or circumstances
that are difficult to detect, such as fraud. We may also fail to receive full
information with respect to the trading risks of a counterparty. In addition, in
cases where we have extended credit against collateral, we may find that we are
undersecured, for example, as a result of sudden declines in market values that
reduce the value of collateral.
 
                     FIRM AND THIRD-PARTY COMPUTER SYSTEMS
                     MAY NOT ACHIEVE YEAR 2000 READINESS --
                         YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
 
     With the year 2000 approaching, many institutions around the world are
reviewing and modifying their computer systems to ensure that they are Year 2000
compliant. The issue, in general terms, is that many existing computer systems
and microprocessors (including those in non-information technology equipment and
systems) use only two digits to identify a year in the date field with the
assumption that the first two digits of the year are always "19". Consequently,
on January 1, 2000, computers that are not Year 2000 compliant may read the year
as 1900. Systems that calculate, compare or sort using the incorrect date may
malfunction.
 
     Because the Firm is dependent, to a very substantial degree, upon the
proper functioning of its computer systems, a failure of its systems to be Year
2000 compliant would have a material adverse effect on the Firm. Failure of this
kind could, for example, cause settlement of trades to fail, lead to incomplete
or inaccurate accounting, recording or processing of trades in securities,
currencies, commodities and other assets, result in generation of erroneous
results or give rise to uncertainty about our exposure to trading risks and our
need for liquidity. If not remedied, potential risks include business
interruption or shutdown, financial loss, regulatory actions, reputational harm
and legal liability.
 
     In addition, the Firm depends upon the proper functioning of third-party
computer
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   19
 
and non-information technology systems. These parties include trading
counterparties, financial intermediaries such as securities and commodities
exchanges, depositories, clearing agencies, clearing houses and commercial banks
and vendors such as providers of telecommunication services and other utilities.
We are in the process of assessing counterparties, intermediaries and vendors
with whom we have important financial or operational relationships to determine
the extent of their Year 2000 preparedness. We have not yet received sufficient
information from all parties about their remediation plans to assess the
effectiveness of their efforts. Moreover, in many cases, we are not in a
position to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information we receive
from third parties and as a result are dependent on their willingness and
ability to disclose, and to address, their Year 2000 problems. In addition, in
some international markets in which we do business, the level of awareness and
remediation efforts relating to the Year 2000 issue may be less advanced than in
the United States.
 
     If third parties with whom we interact have Year 2000 problems that are not
remedied, problems could include the following:
 
- - in the case of vendors, disruption of important services upon which the Firm
  depends, such as telecommunications and electrical power;
 
- - in the case of third-party data providers, receipt of inaccurate or
  out-of-date information that would impair our ability to perform critical data
  functions, such as pricing our securities or other assets;
 
- - in the case of financial intermediaries, such as exchanges and clearing
  agents, failed trade settlements, inability to trade in certain markets and
  disruption of funding flows;
 
- - in the case of banks and other lenders, disruption of capital flows
  potentially resulting in liquidity stress; and
 
- - in the case of counterparties and customers, financial and accounting
  difficulties for those parties that expose the Firm to increased credit risk
  and lost business.
 
Disruption or suspension of activity in the world's financial markets is also
possible.
 
     In addition, we believe that uncertainty about the success of remediation
efforts generally may cause many market participants to reduce the level of
their market activities temporarily as they assess the effectiveness of these
efforts during a "phase-in" period beginning in late 1999. We believe that
lenders are likely to take similar steps, which will result in a reduction in
available funding sources. Consequently, there may be a downturn in customer and
general market activity for a short period of time before and after January 1,
2000. If this occurs, our net revenues may be adversely affected, possibly
materially, depending on how long the reduction in activity continues and how
broadly it affects the markets. In addition, we expect to reduce our own trading
activities and the size of our balance sheet in order to manage the number and
type of our transactions that settle during this period and our related funding
needs. This also could reduce our net revenues. We cannot predict the magnitude
of the impact that these kinds of reductions would have on our businesses.
 
     We may also be exposed to litigation with our customers and counterparties
as a result of Year 2000 problems. For example, litigation could arise from
problems relating to our internal systems or to external systems on which we
depend, as well as from problems involving companies in which our clients or the
funds we manage hold investments.
 
     The Firm is implementing a worldwide program to prepare its computer
systems to be Year 2000 compliant. We have substantially completed most phases
of this process with respect to our mission-critical systems, and we expect to
complete this process with respect to our remaining systems during 1999. We also
plan to participate in numerous industry-sponsored and other tests of both our
mission-critical and non-mission-critical systems during the first half of 1999.
We currently estimate that the total cost of implementing our Year 2000 program
will be between $140 million and $150 million, which includes the costs of
technology personnel but does not include the costs of most non-
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   20
 
technology personnel. Over half of this amount has been spent to date. We expect
most of the remaining expenditures to cover remediation, testing and contingency
planning during 1999. The Firm's Year 2000 program may not be effective and our
estimates about the timing and cost of completing our program may not be
accurate. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Risk Management -- Operational and Year 2000
Risks -- Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure" for more detailed information
concerning our current state of readiness.
 
                    OTHER OPERATIONAL RISKS MAY DISRUPT OUR
                    BUSINESSES, RESULT IN REGULATORY ACTION
                         AGAINST US OR LIMIT OUR GROWTH
 
     We face operational risk arising from mistakes made in the confirmation or
settlement of transactions or from transactions not being properly recorded,
evaluated or accounted for. Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability
to process, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions across numerous and
diverse markets in many currencies, and the transactions we process have become
increasingly complex. Consequently, we rely heavily on our financial, accounting
and other data processing systems. If any of these systems do not operate
properly or are disabled, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our
businesses, liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational
damage. The inability of our systems to accommodate an increasing volume of
transactions could also constrain our ability to expand our businesses. In
recent years, we have substantially upgraded and expanded the capabilities of
our data processing systems and other operating technology, and we expect that
we will need to continue to upgrade and expand in the future to avoid disruption
of, or constraints on, our operations.
 
                  LEGAL AND REGULATORY RISKS ARE INHERENT AND
                         SUBSTANTIAL IN OUR BUSINESSES
 
     Substantial legal liability or a significant regulatory action against the
Firm could have a material financial effect on the Firm or cause significant
reputational harm to the Firm, which in turn could seriously harm our business
prospects.
 
Exposure to Legal Liability; Rising Litigation Costs
 
     We face significant legal risk in our businesses and the volume and amount
of damages claimed in litigation against financial intermediaries are
increasing. These risks include potential liability under securities or other
laws for materially false or misleading statements made in connection with
securities and other transactions, potential liability for the "fairness
opinions" and other advice we provide to participants in corporate transactions
and disputes over the terms and conditions of complex trading arrangements. We
also face the possibility that counterparties in complex or risky trading
transactions will claim that we improperly failed to tell them of the risks or
that they were not authorized or permitted to enter into these transactions with
us and that their obligations to the Firm are not enforceable. Particularly in
our rapidly growing business focused on high net worth individuals, we are
increasingly exposed to claims against the Firm for recommending investments
that are not consistent with a client's investment objectives or engaging in
unauthorized or excessive trading. During a prolonged market downturn, we would
expect these types of claims to increase. We are also subject to claims arising
from disputes with employees for alleged discrimination or harassment, among
other things. These risks often may be difficult to assess or quantify and their
existence and magnitude often remain unknown for substantial periods of time. We
incur significant legal expenses every year in defending against litigation, and
we expect to continue to do so in the future. See "Business -- Legal Matters"
for a discussion of certain legal matters in which we are currently involved.
 
Extensive Regulation of the Firm
 
     The financial services industry is subject to extensive regulation. In the
United States alone, our businesses are regulated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and various other federal
and state governmental
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   21
authorities. In addition, the Firm is subject to regulation by various
self-regulatory organizations such as the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., the NYSE and other exchanges. The Firm is also subject to
regulation by governmental and self-regulatory organizations in virtually all
other jurisdictions in which it operates around the world.
 
     The requirements imposed by our regulators are designed to ensure the
integrity of the financial markets and to protect customers and other third
parties who deal with the Firm and are not designed to protect shareholders of
the Firm. Consequently, these regulations often serve to limit the Firm's
activities, including through net capital, customer protection and market
conduct requirements. We face the risk of significant intervention by regulatory
authorities, including extended investigation and surveillance activity,
adoption of costly or restrictive new regulations and judicial or administrative
proceedings that may result in substantial penalties to the Firm. Among other
things, the Firm could be fined or prohibited from engaging in certain business
activities. See "Business -- Regulation" for a further discussion of the
regulatory environment in which we conduct our businesses.
 
Legal Restrictions on Our Clients
 
     New laws or regulations or changes in enforcement of existing laws or
regulations applicable to the Firm's clients may also adversely affect our
businesses. For example, changes in antitrust enforcement could affect the level
of mergers and acquisitions activity and changes in regulation could restrict
the activities of the Firm's clients and, therefore, the Firm's services on
their behalf.
 
               WE DEPEND ON FUNDS FROM OUR REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
     Because GS Inc. will be a holding company, it will depend on dividends,
distributions and other payments from its subsidiaries to fund all payments on
its debt obligations, including its obligations to make payments on the Notes.
Many of those subsidiaries, including Goldman, Sachs & Co., our principal U.S.
subsidiary, are subject to laws that authorize regulatory bodies to block or
reduce the flow of funds from those subsidiaries to us. Regulatory action of
that kind could adversely affect GS Inc.'s ability to make payments on the
Notes.
 
     In addition, Goldman, Sachs & Co. is structured as a partnership in which
we are a general partner, and we may structure other subsidiaries the same way.
A general partner of a partnership may be liable for the partnership's
obligations. Therefore, if, for example, there were a bankruptcy or liquidation
proceeding with respect to any partnership subsidiary in which we are a general
partner and the assets of that subsidiary were insufficient to meet all its
outstanding liabilities and obligations, our own assets could become available
to the subsidiary's creditors.
 
                   HOLDERS OF NOTES MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED
                        BECAUSE WE ARE A HOLDING COMPANY
 
     As a holding company, our right to participate in a distribution of assets
of any of our subsidiaries, whether on liquidation, reorganization or otherwise,
will be subject to the prior claims of the creditors of that subsidiary. The
ability of holders of Notes to benefit from distributions of assets from our
subsidiaries will also be subject to those prior claims. Consequently, the Notes
will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and
obligations of our subsidiaries. This means that, if any of our subsidiaries
were to become bankrupt or insolvent, its assets would be used to satisfy its
own liabilities and obligations before we could use its assets to make payment
on our own liabilities and obligations, including the Notes.
 
   WE MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN WAIVERS OF SOME OF OUR COVENANTS UNDER THE NOTES
                             WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL
 
     The indenture governing the Notes permits us to issue an unlimited amount
of debt securities in different series from time to time. The Notes will be a
single, distinct series of debt securities under the indenture. If we want to
make some types of changes to the indenture or obtain a waiver of compliance
with our covenants under it, we must obtain the approval of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of all series of debt securities that we issue
under the indenture and
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   22
 
that are affected by the change or waiver, taken together as a single class. In
many cases, the approval of those holders will be sufficient for us to make the
change or to obtain the waiver, even if it affects the Notes and the holders of
a majority in principal amount of the Notes do not grant their approval. For a
description of provisions governing consents and waivers, see "Description of
Notes We Are Offering -- Modification and Waiver of Covenants -- Changes
Requiring Majority Approval".
 
                    EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT COULD HARM THE FIRM
                      AND IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT AND DETER
 
     There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud or
other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry in recent
years, and we run the risk that employee misconduct could occur. Misconduct by
employees could include binding the Firm to transactions that exceed authorized
limits or present unacceptable risks, or hiding from the Firm unauthorized or
unsuccessful activities, which, in either case, may result in unknown and
unmanaged risks or losses. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper
use or disclosure of confidential information, which could result in regulatory
sanctions and serious reputational or financial harm. It is not always possible
to deter employee misconduct and the precautions we take to prevent and detect
this activity may not be effective in all cases.
 
                  THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY IS INTENSELY
                     COMPETITIVE AND RAPIDLY CONSOLIDATING
 
     The financial services industry -- and all of our businesses -- are
intensely competitive, and we expect them to remain so. We compete on the basis
of a number of factors, including transaction execution, our products and
services, innovation, reputation and price. We have experienced intense price
competition in certain businesses in recent years, such as underwriting fees on
investment grade debt offerings and privatizations. We believe we may experience
pricing pressures in these and other areas in the future as some of our
competitors seek to obtain market share by reducing prices.
 
Trend Toward Consolidation and Increasing Competition
 
     In recent years, there has been substantial consolidation and convergence
among companies in the financial services industry. In particular, a number of
large commercial banks, insurance companies and other broad-based financial
services firms have established or acquired broker-dealers or have merged with
other financial institutions. Many of these firms have the ability to offer a
wide range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage,
asset management and investment banking services, which may enhance their
competitive position. They also have the ability to support investment banking
and securities products with commercial banking, insurance and other financial
services revenues in an effort to gain market share, which could result in
pricing pressure in our businesses.
 
Increased Need for Capital
 
     This trend toward consolidation and convergence has significantly increased
the capital base and geographic reach of our competitors. This trend has also
hastened the globalization of the securities and other financial services
markets. As a result, we have had to commit capital to support our international
operations and to execute large global transactions.
 
Competition in Non-U.S. Markets
 
     We believe that some of our most significant challenges and opportunities
will arise outside the United States, as described under "Industry and Economic
Outlook". In order to take advantage of these opportunities, we will have to
compete successfully with financial institutions based in important non-U.S.
markets, particularly in Europe. Certain of these institutions are larger,
better capitalized and have a stronger local presence and a longer operating
history in these markets.
 
Competition from Alternative Trading Systems
 
     Securities and futures transactions are now being conducted through the
Internet and other alternative, non-traditional trading systems, and it appears
that the trend toward alternative trading systems will continue and
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   23
 
probably accelerate. A dramatic increase in computer-based or other electronic
trading may adversely affect the Firm's commission and trading revenues, reduce
the Firm's participation in the trading markets and associated access to market
information and lead to the creation of new and stronger competitors.
 
                           WE ARE EXPOSED TO RISKS IN
                           EMERGING AND OTHER MARKETS
 
     We conduct our businesses in major markets around the world, including many
developing markets in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We are subject to
political, economic, legal, operational and other risks that are inherent in
operating in other countries, which range from difficulties in settling
transactions in emerging markets to possible nationalization, expropriation,
price controls and other restrictive governmental actions. We also face the risk
that exchange controls or similar restrictions imposed by foreign governmental
authorities may restrict our ability to convert local currency received or held
by us in their countries into U.S. dollars or other currencies, or to take those
dollars or other currencies out of those countries.
 
     To date, a relatively small part of our business has been conducted in
emerging and other markets. As we expand our businesses in these areas, our
exposure to these risks will increase.
 
     In the last several years, various emerging market countries have
experienced severe economic and financial disruptions, including significant
devaluations of their currencies and low or negative growth rates in their
economies. The possible effects of these conditions include an adverse impact on
our businesses and increased volatility in financial markets generally.
Moreover, economic or market problems in a single country or region are
increasingly affecting other markets generally. For example, the economic crisis
in Russia in August 1998 adversely affected other emerging markets and led to
turmoil in financial markets worldwide. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Business
Environment" for a discussion of the business environment in which we operated
during the second half of fiscal 1998. A continuation of these situations could
adversely affect global economic conditions and world markets and, in turn,
could adversely affect the Firm's businesses. Among the risks are regional or
global market downturns and, as noted above, increasing liquidity and credit
risks, particularly in Japan where the economy continues to be weak and we have
significant exposure.
 
     Moreover, in many countries, the laws and regulations applicable to the
securities and financial services industries are uncertain and evolving, and it
may be difficult for us to determine the exact requirements of local laws in
every market. Our inability to remain in compliance with local laws in a
particular foreign market could have a significant and negative effect not only
on our businesses in that market but also on the Firm's reputation generally.
These uncertainties may also make it difficult for us to structure our
transactions in such a way that the results we expect to achieve are legally
enforceable in all cases. See "-- Legal and Regulatory Risks Are Inherent and
Substantial in Our Businesses -- Exposure to Legal Liability; Rising Litigation
Costs" for additional information concerning these matters and
"Business -- Regulation" for a discussion of the regulatory environment in which
we conduct our businesses.
 
                        OUR CONVERSION TO CORPORATE FORM
                  MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT,
                       RETAIN AND MOTIVATE KEY EMPLOYEES
 
     The Firm's performance is largely dependent on the talents and efforts of
highly skilled individuals. Competition in the financial services industry for
qualified employees is intense. Our continued ability to compete effectively in
our businesses depends on our ability to attract new employees and to retain and
motivate our existing employees.
 
     In connection with the Common Stock Offering and the Firm's conversion from
partnership to corporate form, the profit participating limited partners who are
active in the Firm's businesses will receive substantial amounts of Common Stock
in exchange for their interests in the Firm. Because these shares of Common
Stock will be received in exchange for partnership interests, ownership
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   24
 
of these shares will not be dependent upon these partners' continued employment.
However, these shares will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer under
a shareholders' agreement and a portion may be pledged to support these
partners' obligations under noncompetition agreements. The transfer restrictions
under the shareholders' agreement may, however, be waived, as described under
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Shareholders'
Agreement -- Transfer Restrictions" and "-- Waivers". The steps taken by the
Firm to encourage the continued service of these individuals in the Firm's
businesses after the Common Stock Offering may not be effective. For a
description of the compensation plan for our senior professionals to be
implemented after the Common Stock Offering, see "Management -- The Partner
Compensation Plan".
 
     In connection with the Common Stock Offering and the Firm's conversion from
partnership to corporate form, employees other than the profit participating
limited partners who are active in the Firm's businesses will receive
equity-based awards. The incentives to attract, retain and motivate employees
provided by these awards or by future arrangements, including equity-based
arrangements, may not be as effective as the opportunity, which existed prior to
conversion, to become a partner of the Firm. See "Management -- The Employee IPO
Awards" for a description of these equity-based awards.
 
                          THE FIRM WILL BE CONTROLLED
                         BY ITS PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
     Upon consummation of the Common Stock Offering, the Firm's Managing
Directors initially will be able to elect the entire Board of Directors and
control the management and policies of the Company. See "Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions -- Shareholders' Agreement -- Voting" and "-- Voting
Agreement" for a discussion of the Firm's voting arrangements.
 
                            THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR
                              MARKET FOR THE NOTES
 
     The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
We do not intend to list the Notes on a securities exchange. While Goldman,
Sachs & Co. has advised us that it intends to make a market in the Notes, it is
not obligated to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without
notice.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   25
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     We expect to receive net proceeds from the sale of the Notes in the
Offering of approximately $1.0 billion. We intend to use the net proceeds from
this Offering to provide additional funds for our operations and for other
general corporate purposes, including the repayment of short-term obligations.
 
     We do not expect to receive any proceeds from subsequent resales of the
Notes by GS&Co. or any of our other affiliates in market-making transactions. We
expect our affiliates to retain the proceeds of their market-making resales and
not pay the proceeds to us.
 
     We intend to use the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering to provide
additional funds for our operations and for other general corporate purposes,
including the purchase of short-term marketable securities.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   26
 
                  PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The following Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information is based upon
the historical consolidated financial statements of the Firm. In addition to the
Common Stock Offering, this information reflects the pro forma effects of the
following items:
 
- - the incorporation transactions (the "Incorporation Transactions") and the
  related transactions described under "Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions -- Incorporation and Related Transactions";
 
- - compensation to Managing Directors who were profit participating limited
  partners active in the Firm's businesses (the "PLPs");
 
- - equity-based compensation;
 
- - the provision for corporate income taxes;
 
- - the redemption of the Firm's senior limited partnership interests (the
  "SLPs");
 
- - certain cash distributions by The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. ("Group L.P.") to
  its partners in the first and second quarters of fiscal 1999 in accordance
  with the Firm's partnership agreement, including distributions for partner
  income taxes related to the Firm's earnings in fiscal 1998; and
 
- - the recognition of certain net tax assets.
 
These items are collectively referred to as the "Pro Forma Adjustments".
 
     The Pro Forma Consolidated Income Statement Information does not give
effect to certain of these items because of their non-recurring nature. These
are:
 
- - the restricted stock units awarded to employees on a formula basis (the
  "Formula RSUs");
 
- - the initial irrevocable contribution of shares of Common Stock to a
  nonqualified defined contribution plan (the "DCP");
 
- - the recognition of certain net tax assets; and
 
- - a cash contribution to a Goldman Sachs charitable foundation (the "Charitable
  Contribution").
 
The Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet Information, however, does give effect
to these non-recurring items.
 
     This Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information, including the pro forma
ratio of earnings to fixed charges, does not give effect to this Offering or the
Firm's new medium-term note program.
 
     The Pro Forma Adjustments are based upon available information and certain
assumptions that management believes are reasonable. The Pro Forma Consolidated
Financial Information and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
 
     THE PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IS NOT
NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OR FINANCIAL CONDITION THAT
MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED HAD THE PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS ACTUALLY TAKEN PLACE AS OF THE
DATES SPECIFIED, OR THAT MAY BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   27
 
              PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION
                                  (unaudited)
                      (in millions, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 27, 1998
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       PRO FORMA
                                                                                       ADJUSTMENT     AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                        FOR THE         FOR THE
                                                        PRO FORMA                     COMMON STOCK    COMMON STOCK
                                         HISTORICAL    ADJUSTMENTS     PRO FORMA        OFFERING        OFFERING
                                         ----------    -----------    ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
Total revenues.........................   $22,478        $    --        $22,478          $  --          $22,478
Interest expense, principally on short-
  term funding.........................    13,958             28(a)      13,986             --           13,986
                                          -------        -------        -------          -----          -------
Revenues, net of interest expense......     8,520            (28)         8,492             --            8,492
Compensation and benefits, excluding
  Employee IPO Awards..................     3,838            303(b)       4,141             --            4,141
Employee IPO Awards....................        --            360(c)         360             --              360
Other operating expenses...............     1,761             --          1,761             --            1,761
                                          -------        -------        -------          -----          -------
Total operating expenses...............     5,599            663          6,262             --            6,262
Pre-tax earnings.......................     2,921           (691)         2,230             --            2,230
Provision for taxes....................       493            421(d)         914             --              914
                                          -------        -------        -------          -----          -------
Net earnings...........................   $ 2,428        $(1,112)       $ 1,316          $  --          $ 1,316
                                          =======        =======        =======          =====          =======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.....      1.21x                         1.16x                           1.16x
Common Shares outstanding:
  Basic................................                                     426(e)          42(f)           468
  Diluted..............................                                     430(e)          42(f)           472
Earnings per Share:
  Basic................................                                 $  3.09                         $  2.81
  Diluted..............................                                    3.06                            2.79
</TABLE>
 
                PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
                                  (unaudited)
                      (in millions, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 1998
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        PRO FORMA
                                                                                        ADJUSTMENT     AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                         FOR THE         FOR THE
                                            PRO FORMA                                  COMMON STOCK    COMMON STOCK
                              HISTORICAL   ADJUSTMENTS                   PRO FORMA       OFFERING        OFFERING
                              ----------   -----------                  ------------   ------------    ------------
<S>                           <C>          <C>                          <C>            <C>             <C>
Total assets................   $217,380      $(1,510)(g)(h)(i)(k)(l)      $215,870        $1,788(f)      $217,658
 
Long-term borrowings........     19,906          371(a)                     20,277            --           20,277
Total liabilities...........    210,996          371(a)                    211,367            --          211,367
Partners' capital...........      6,384       (6,384)(a)(h)(i)(j)(k)            --            --               --
Stockholders' equity........         --        4,503(g)(j)(l)                4,503         1,788(f)         6,291
Book value per share........                                              $  10.58                       $  13.45
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Pro Forma Consolidated
                             Financial Information.
                                       25
<PAGE>   28
 
             NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), the Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information is
presented on a condensed basis. The Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet
Information was prepared as if the Pro Forma Adjustments had occurred as of
November 27, 1998. Historical partners' capital includes partners' capital
allocated for income taxes and potential withdrawals. Book value per share
equals stockholders' equity divided by Common Shares outstanding of 425,709,041
prior to the Common Stock Offering and 467,709,041 as adjusted for the Common
Stock Offering. These amounts include the Nonvoting Common Stock, shares of
Common Stock irrevocably contributed to the DCP and shares of Common Stock
underlying the Formula RSUs. "Common Stock" means the shares of common stock of
GS Inc., par value $.01 per share. "Nonvoting Common Stock" means the shares of
nonvoting common stock of GS Inc., par value $.01 per share. "Common Shares"
means the Common Stock and the Nonvoting Common Stock. The Nonvoting Common
Stock will have no voting rights (except as required by law) but will otherwise
have the same rights and privileges, including dividend rights, as the Common
Stock.
 
     The Pro Forma Consolidated Income Statement Information for the fiscal year
ended November 27, 1998 was prepared as if the Pro Forma Adjustments had taken
place at the beginning of fiscal 1998.
 
     For pro forma purposes, the Common Stock Offering and, where applicable,
the related transactions reflect an assumed initial public offering price of
$45.00 per share.
 
     For purposes of the pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
"earnings" represent pre-tax earnings plus fixed charges and "fixed charges"
represent interest expense plus that portion of rent expense that, in our
opinion, approximates the interest factor included in rent expense. The pro
forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges does not give effect to this Offering
of Notes or our new medium-term note program.
 
NOTE 2: PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS
 
     (a) THE RETIRED LIMITED PARTNERS OF THE FIRM (THE "RLPS") EXCHANGE FOR
DEBENTURES.  Adjustment to reflect the issuance of junior subordinated
debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") to the RLPs in exchange for
their interests in Group L.P. and certain affiliates. These Junior Subordinated
Debentures will have a principal amount of $295 million, an initial carrying
value of $371 million and an effective interest rate of 7.5%.
 
     (b) COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, EXCLUDING EMPLOYEE IPO AWARDS.  Adjustment
to reflect (i) total compensation and benefits related to services rendered by
the former PLPs of the Firm offset by (ii) the effect of equity-based
compensation, issued in lieu of cash compensation, 50% of which will be expensed
over the four-year period following the year of grant. The estimated total
compensation attributable to the former PLPs of the Firm is based upon measures
of financial performance described under "Management -- The Partner Compensation
Plan -- Determination of Salary and Bonus".
 
     (c) EMPLOYEE IPO AWARDS.  Adjustment to reflect the amortization of the
30,604,685 restricted stock units awarded to employees on a discretionary basis
(the "Discretionary RSUs"). These Discretionary RSUs will have a value of $1.4
billion, approximately 26% of which will be amortized as a non-cash expense in
the year of grant. The remaining Discretionary RSUs will be amortized over the
four years following the year of grant.
 
     The stock options to purchase 40,000,400 shares of Common Stock awarded to
employees on a discretionary basis (the "Discretionary Options") will be
accounted for pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion ("APB") No. 25, as
permitted by paragraph 5 of SFAS No. 123. Since these options will have no
intrinsic value on the
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   29
      NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- (CONTINUED)
 
date of grant, no compensation expense will
be recognized pursuant to APB No. 25. The estimated fair value of these
Discretionary Options on the date of grant is $600 million using a Black-Scholes
option pricing model. If SFAS No. 123 had been applied, compensation expense of
$157 million would have been included in the Pro Forma Consolidated Income
Statement Information. See "Management -- The Employee IPO Awards" for a
description of these awards.
 
     (d) PRO FORMA PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES.  Adjustment to reflect a pro
forma provision for income taxes for the Company in corporate form at an
effective tax rate of 41%.
 
     (e) PRO FORMA COMMON SHARES.  Common Shares outstanding after giving effect
to the Pro Forma Adjustments. Basic Common Shares outstanding of 425,709,041
prior to the Common Stock Offering includes the Nonvoting Common Stock, shares
of Common Stock irrevocably contributed to the DCP and shares of Common Stock
underlying the Formula RSUs. Diluted Common Shares outstanding of 429,704,653
prior to the Common Stock Offering reflects the dilutive effect of the Common
Stock deliverable pursuant to the Discretionary RSUs.
 
     (f) ADJUSTMENT FOR THE COMMON STOCK OFFERING.  Common Shares as adjusted to
reflect the issuance of 42,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the Firm in
the Common Stock Offering. Net proceeds to the Firm from the Common Stock
Offering reflect the deduction of underwriting discounts and estimated expenses
payable by the Firm in connection with the Common Stock Offering. The adjustment
for the Common Stock Offering excludes 9,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the underwriters' options to purchase additional shares in the
Common Stock Offering.
 
     (g) CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION.  Adjustment to reflect the Charitable
Contribution of $200 million.
 
     (h) RLPS EXCHANGE FOR CASH.  Adjustment to reflect the payment of $892
million in cash to the RLPs in exchange for their interests in Group L.P. and
certain affiliates.
 
     (i) SLPS REDEMPTION FOR CASH.  Adjustment to reflect the redemption of the
SLPs for cash of $904 million by Group L.P. prior to the Incorporation
Transactions.
 
     (j) PLP, RLP, SUMITOMO BANK CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. ("SBCM") AND KAMEHAMEHA
ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION ("KAA") EXCHANGE FOR COMMON SHARES.  Adjustment of $3,530
million to reflect the issuance of 264,680,458 shares of Common Stock to PLPs,
47,264,592 shares of Common Stock to RLPs, 31,612,076 shares of Common Stock and
6,238,094 shares of Nonvoting Common Stock to SBCM and 30,962,950 shares of
Common Stock to KAA, in exchange for their respective interests in Group L.P.
and certain affiliates.
 
     (k) CASH DISTRIBUTIONS.  Adjustment to reflect certain cash distributions
by Group L.P. to its partners, including SBCM and KAA, in the first and second
quarters of fiscal 1999 in accordance with the Firm's partnership agreement,
including distributions for partner income taxes related to the Firm's earnings
in fiscal 1998.
 
     The Firm expects that cash distributions for partner income taxes in the
first and second quarters of fiscal 1999 related to the Firm's earnings in
fiscal 1999 will be significant due, in part, to certain expenses that are not
deductible to the partners in these periods. The Company expects to record a
substantial tax asset on the consummation of the Common Stock Offering related
to these expenses. These cash distributions and the related tax asset are not
reflected in the Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet Information.
 
     (l) NET TAX ASSETS.  Adjustment to reflect the addition to equity
associated with the recognition of $1,173 million in net tax assets under SFAS
No. 109. These net tax assets relate to (i) the conversion of Group L.P. to
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   30
      NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION -- (CONTINUED)
 
corporate form, (ii) the 31,306,667 Formula RSUs and the initial irrevocable
contribution of 13,644,204 shares of Common Stock contributed to the DCP and
(iii) the Charitable Contribution. As discussed in Note 2(k) above, the Company
expects to record a substantial tax asset on the consummation of the Common
Stock Offering related to certain expenses that are not deductible to the
partners in fiscal 1999. This additional tax asset is not reflected in the Pro
Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet Information.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   31
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the Firm
as of November 27, 1998 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Pro
Forma Adjustments, and as further adjusted for:
 
- - the sale of 42,000,000 shares of Common Stock by the Company in the Common
  Stock Offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $45.00 per
  share, the midpoint of the currently assumed range of initial public offering
  prices for that offering, and after deduction of the underwriting discounts
  and estimated expenses payable
  by the Company in the Common Stock Offering; and
 
- - the sale of the Notes in this Offering.

     This table should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto and the Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
Information and the notes thereto, and assumes no exercise of the underwriters'
options to purchase additional shares in the Common Stock Offering.
 
     The table below does not give effect to the Company's new medium-term note
program (the "MTN Program").
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 1998
                                                              ------------------------------
                                                                                 PRO FORMA
                                                                PRO FORMA       AS ADJUSTED
                                                               AS ADJUSTED        FOR THE
                                                                 FOR THE          COMMON
                                                                 COMMON            STOCK
                                                                  STOCK        OFFERING AND
                                                                OFFERING       THIS OFFERING
                                                              -------------    -------------
                                                                     ($ in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>
Short-term borrowings (including commercial paper)(1).......     $27,430         $ 27,430
                                                                 =======         ========
Long-term borrowings(2):
  Senior debt, other than the Notes(3)......................     $19,906         $ 19,906
  Notes to be sold in this Offering.........................          --            1,000
  Junior Subordinated Debentures(4).........................         371              371
                                                                 -------         --------
          Total long-term borrowings........................      20,277           21,277
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share;
     shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding....          --               --
  Common Stock, par value $.01 per share; 2,000,000,000
     shares authorized, 430,164,280 shares issued and
     outstanding(5).........................................           4                4
  Restricted stock units; 61,911,352 units issued and
     outstanding(6).........................................       2,786            2,786
  Nonvoting Common Stock, par value $.01 per share;
     shares authorized and 6,238,094 shares issued and
     outstanding............................................           0                0
  Additional paid-in capital................................       5,927            5,927
  Retained earnings.........................................      (1,049)          (1,049)
  Unearned compensation(7)..................................      (1,377)          (1,377)
                                                                 -------         --------
          Total stockholders' equity........................       6,291            6,291
                                                                 -------         --------
            Total capitalization............................     $26,568         $ 27,568
                                                                 =======         ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Includes current portion of long-term borrowings of $2,955 million. See Note
    4 to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding
    the Firm's short-term borrowings.
 
(2) See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for further information
    regarding the Firm's long-term borrowings.
 
(3) Includes subordinated debt of GS&Co. of $275 million.
 
(4) Consists of Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the RLPs as part of the
    Incorporation Transactions. See "Certain Relationships and Related
    Transactions -- Incorporation and Related Transactions" for further
    information regarding the Incorporation Transactions.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   32
 
(5) Common Stock outstanding includes 13,644,204 shares of Common Stock
    irrevocably contributed to the DCP. Common Stock outstanding does not
    include 40,000,400 shares of Common Stock deliverable pursuant to the
    Discretionary Options. See "Management -- The Employee IPO Awards" for more
    detailed information regarding these awards.
 
(6) Restricted stock units includes 31,306,667 shares of Common Stock underlying
    the Formula RSUs and 30,604,685 shares of Common Stock underlying the
    Discretionary RSUs.
 
(7) Unearned compensation relates to the award of the Discretionary RSUs.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   33
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The selected historical consolidated income statement and balance sheet
data set forth below have been derived from the Firm's consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto. The Firm's consolidated financial statements
have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants,
as of November 28, 1997 and November 27, 1998 and for the years ended November
29, 1996, November 28, 1997 and November 27, 1998. These financial statements
are included elsewhere in this prospectus, together with the report thereon of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
     The selected historical consolidated income statement and balance sheet
data set forth below as of November 25, 1994, November 24, 1995 and November 29,
1996 and for the years ended November 25, 1994 and November 24, 1995 have been
derived from audited consolidated financial statements of the Firm not included
in this prospectus.
 
     The pro forma data set forth below as of and for the year ended November
27, 1998 have been derived from the pro forma data set forth in "Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Information" included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
     The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations", "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information" and the consolidated
financial statements and the notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    AS OF OR FOR YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                           ---------------------------------------------------
                                                            1994       1995       1996       1997       1998
                                                            ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                                             ($ in millions)
<S>                                                        <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
  Total revenues.........................................  $12,452   $ 14,324   $ 17,289   $ 20,433   $ 22,478
  Interest expense.......................................    8,915      9,841     11,160     12,986     13,958
                                                           -------   --------   --------   --------   --------
  Net revenues...........................................    3,537      4,483      6,129      7,447      8,520
  Compensation and benefits(1)...........................    1,789      2,005      2,421      3,097      3,838
  Other operating expenses...............................    1,240      1,110      1,102      1,336      1,761
                                                           -------   --------   --------   --------   --------
  Pre-tax earnings(1)....................................  $   508   $  1,368   $  2,606   $  3,014   $  2,921
                                                           =======   ========   ========   ========   ========
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets(2)........................................  $95,296   $100,066   $152,046   $178,401   $217,380
  Adjusted assets (unaudited)(3).........................   75,772     73,552     93,279    119,883    144,906
  Long-term borrowings...................................   14,418     13,358     12,376     15,667     19,906
  Total liabilities(2)...................................   89,981     94,686    145,753    171,864    210,996
  Partners' capital......................................    4,771      4,905      5,309      6,107      6,310
PRO FORMA DATA (UNAUDITED):(4)
  Pro forma net earnings.................................       --         --         --         --   $  1,316
  Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges(5)........       --         --         --         --       1.16x
  Pro forma stockholders' equity as adjusted for the
    Common Stock Offering................................       --         --         --         --   $  6,291
SELECTED DATA AND RATIOS (UNAUDITED):
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)(5)...............     1.06x      1.14x      1.23x      1.23x      1.21x
  Employees:
    United States........................................    5,822      5,356      5,818      6,879      8,349
    International........................................    3,176      2,803      3,159      3,743      4,684
                                                           -------   --------   --------   --------   --------
  Total employees(6).....................................    8,998      8,159      8,977     10,622     13,033
                                                           =======   ========   ========   ========   ========
  Assets under supervision:
    Assets under management..............................  $43,671   $ 52,358   $ 94,599   $135,929   $194,821
    Other client assets..................................   49,061     57,716     76,892    102,033    142,018
                                                           -------   --------   --------   --------   --------
  Total assets under supervision.........................  $92,732   $110,074   $171,491   $237,962   $336,839
                                                           =======   ========   ========   ========   ========
</TABLE>
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   34
 
(1) Since the Firm has been a partnership, payments to the Firm's profit
    participating limited partners have been accounted for as distributions of
    partners' capital rather than as compensation expense. As a result, the
    Firm's pre-tax earnings and compensation and benefits expense have not
    reflected any payments for services rendered by its profit participating
    limited partners. Accordingly, pre-tax earnings understate the expected
    operating costs to be incurred by the Firm after its conversion to corporate
    form. As a corporation, the Firm will include payments for services rendered
    by its former profit participating limited partners in compensation and
    benefits expense. For financial information that reflects pro forma
    compensation and benefits expense as if we had been a corporation, see "Pro
    Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
 
(2) Total assets and liabilities as of November 27, 1998 were increased by
    $11.64 billion due to the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that
    were deferred by SFAS No. 127. For a discussion of SFAS Nos. 125 and 127,
    see "Accounting Developments" in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
    statements.
 
(3) Adjusted assets represent total assets less securities purchased under
    agreements to resell, certain securities borrowed transactions and, with
    respect to November 27, 1998, an increase of $11.64 billion in total assets
    related to the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were deferred
    by SFAS No. 127.
 
(4) Reflects such adjustments as are necessary, in the opinion of management,
    for a fair presentation of the results of operations and stockholders'
    equity of the Firm on a pro forma basis. See "Pro Forma Consolidated
    Financial Information" for more detailed information concerning these
    adjustments.
 
(5) For purposes of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" represent
    pre-tax earnings plus fixed charges and "fixed charges" represent interest
    expense plus that portion of rent expense that, in our opinion, approximates
    the interest factor included in rent expense. Neither the pro forma ratio of
    earnings to fixed charges nor the historical ratio of earnings to fixed
    charges gives effect to this Offering of the Notes or the MTN Program.
 
(6) Excludes employees of the Firm's two property management subsidiaries, The
    Archon Group, L.P. ("Archon") and Archon Group (France) S.C.A. ("Archon
    France"). Substantially all of the costs of these employees are reimbursed
    to the Firm by the real estate investment funds to which the two companies
    provide property management services. In addition, as of November 27, 1998,
    the Firm had 3,400 temporary staff and consultants. For more detailed
    information regarding the Firm's employees, see "Business -- Employees".
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   35
 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     Goldman Sachs' pre-tax earnings were $1.19 billion in the first quarter
ended February 26, 1999, compared to $1.02 billion in the first quarter of last
year. Net revenues for the quarter were $2.99 billion and operating expenses
were $1.80 billion. In the first quarter of 1998, net revenues were $2.47
billion and operating expenses were $1.45 billion.
 
     The Firm's investment banking business performed well during the quarter,
particularly in financial advisory and debt underwriting, and assets under
management continued to increase. The Firm's trading business achieved a strong
performance, recovering significantly in the first quarter of 1999 from the
difficult conditions experienced in the second half of 1998.
 
     Partners' capital increased to approximately $6.6 billion as of February
26, 1999 from $6.3 billion as of November 27, 1998.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   36
 
        MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
                             RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The Firm is a global investment banking and securities firm that provides a
wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base.
 
     The Firm's activities are divided into three principal business lines:
 
- - Investment Banking, which includes financial advisory services and
  underwriting;
 
- - Trading and Principal Investments, which includes fixed income, currency and
  commodities ("FICC"), equities and principal investments (principal
  investments reflect primarily the Firm's investments in its merchant banking
  funds); and
 
- - Asset Management and Securities Services, which includes asset management,
  securities services and commissions.
 
     All references to 1996, 1997 and 1998 refer to the Firm's fiscal year
ended, or the date, as the context requires, November 29, 1996, November 28,
1997 and November 27, 1998, respectively.
 
     The "Company", the "Firm", "Goldman Sachs", "we" and "our" mean, prior to
the principal incorporation transactions that are described under "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions -- Incorporation and Related
Transactions -- Incorporation Transactions" (the "Incorporation Transactions"),
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Group L.P."),
and its consolidated subsidiaries and, after the Incorporation Transactions, The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("GS Inc."), and its
consolidated subsidiaries.
 
                              BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
 
     Economic and market conditions can significantly affect the Firm's
performance. For a number of years leading up to the second half of 1998, the
Firm operated in a generally favorable macroeconomic environment characterized
by low inflation, low interest rates and strong equity markets in the United
States and many international markets. This favorable economic environment
provided a positive climate for the Firm's investment banking activities, as
well as for the Firm's customer-driven and proprietary trading activities.
Economic conditions were also favorable for wealth creation which contributed
positively to growth in the Firm's asset management businesses.
 
     From mid-August to mid-October 1998, the Russian economic crisis, the
turmoil in Asian and Latin American emerging markets and the resulting "flight
to quality" by many investors led to substantial declines in global financial
markets. Investors broadly sold credit-sensitive products, such as corporate and
high-yield debt, and bought higher-rated instruments, such as U.S. Treasury
securities, which caused credit spreads to widen dramatically. This market
turmoil also caused a widespread decline in global equity markets.
 
     As a major dealer in fixed income securities, the Firm maintains
substantial inventories of corporate and high-yield debt. In the second half of
1998, the Firm sought to hedge the interest rate risk on these positions through
short positions in U.S. Treasury securities. As a result, the Firm suffered
losses from both the decline in the prices of corporate and high-yield debt
instruments that it owned and the increase in the prices of the U.S. Treasury
securities in which the Firm had short positions.
 
     These market shocks also led to trading losses in the Firm's fixed income
relative value trading positions. Relative value trading positions are intended
to profit from a perceived temporary dislocation in the relationship between the
values of different financial instruments. From mid-August to mid-October 1998,
the components of these relative value positions moved in directions that the
Firm did not anticipate and the volatilities of certain positions increased to
three times prior levels. When the Firm and other market participants with
similar positions simultaneously sought to reduce positions and exposures, this
caused a substantial reduction in market liquidity and a continuing decline in
prices.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   37
 
     In the second half of 1998, the Firm also experienced losses in equity
arbitrage and in the value of certain merchant banking investments.
 
     Later in the fourth quarter of 1998, market conditions improved as the U.S.
Federal Reserve cut interest rates, the International Monetary Fund finalized a
credit agreement with Brazil and a consortium of 14 financial institutions,
including Goldman Sachs, recapitalized Long-Term Capital Portfolio, L.P.
("LTCP"). For a further discussion of LTCP, see "-- Liquidity -- The Balance
Sheet" below.
 
     The Firm's earnings in the second half of 1998 were adversely affected by
market conditions from mid-August to mid-October. In this difficult business
environment, Trading and Principal Investments recorded net revenues of $464
million in the third quarter of 1998 and net revenues of negative $663 million
in the fourth quarter of 1998. As a result, Trading and Principal Investments
did not make a significant contribution to pre-tax earnings in 1998.
 
                             RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     Management believes that the best measure by which to assess the Firm's
historical profitability is pre-tax earnings because, as a partnership, the Firm
generally has not been subject to U.S. federal or state income taxes. See
"-- Provision for Taxes" below and Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements for a further discussion of the Firm's provision for taxes.
 
     Since the Firm has been a partnership, payments to the Firm's profit
participating limited partners have been accounted for as distributions of
partners' capital rather than as compensation expense. As a result, the Firm's
compensation and benefits expense has not reflected any payments for services
rendered by its profit participating limited partners and has therefore
understated the expected operating costs to be incurred by the Firm after the
Common Stock Offering. As a corporation, the Firm will include these payments to
its former profit participating limited partners in compensation and benefits
expense, as discussed in "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
Moreover, in connection with the Common Stock Offering, the Firm will record the
effect of certain non-recurring items in the second quarter of 1999. These
non-recurring items are:
 
- - the award of the Formula RSUs;
 
- - the initial irrevocable contribution of shares of Common Stock to the DCP;
 
- - the recognition of certain net tax assets; and
 
- - the Charitable Contribution.
 
As a result, the Firm expects to record a substantial pre-tax loss in the second
quarter of 1999.
 
     The composition of the Firm's historical net revenues has varied over time
as financial markets and the scope of the Firm's operations have changed. The
composition of net revenues can also vary over the shorter term due to
fluctuations in economic and market conditions. As a result, period-to-period
comparisons may not be meaningful. See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of
various factors that could affect the Firm's future performance.
 
OVERVIEW
 
     The following table sets forth the Firm's net revenues and pre-tax
earnings:
 
                               FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
Net revenues...........................................  $6,129    $7,447    $8,520
Pre-tax earnings.......................................   2,606     3,014     2,921
</TABLE>
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   38
 
     1998 VERSUS 1997.  The Firm's net revenues were $8.52 billion in 1998, an
increase of 14% compared to 1997. Net revenue growth was strong in Investment
Banking, which increased 30%, due to higher levels of mergers and acquisitions
activity, and in Asset Management and Securities Services, which increased 43%,
due to increased commissions, higher customer balances in securities services
and increased asset management fees. Net revenues in Trading and Principal
Investments decreased 19% compared to the prior year, due primarily to a 30%
reduction of net revenues in FICC. Pre-tax earnings in 1998 were $2.92 billion
compared to $3.01 billion in the prior year.
 
     1997 VERSUS 1996.  The Firm's net revenues were $7.45 billion in 1997, an
increase of 22% compared to 1996. Net revenue growth was strong in Asset
Management and Securities Services, which increased 46%, due to increased
commissions and asset management fees and higher customer balances in securities
services. Net revenues in Investment Banking increased 22%, due to increased
levels of mergers and acquisitions and debt underwriting activity. Net revenues
in Trading and Principal Investments increased 9% over the prior year, due to
higher net revenues in FICC and principal investments. Pre-tax earnings were
$3.01 billion in 1997, an increase of 16% over the prior year.
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's principal
business lines:
 
                    NET REVENUES BY PRINCIPAL BUSINESS LINE
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
Investment Banking.....................................  $2,113    $2,587    $3,368
Trading and Principal Investments......................   2,693     2,926     2,379
Asset Management and Securities Services...............   1,323     1,934     2,773
                                                         ------    ------    ------
Total net revenues.....................................  $6,129    $7,447    $8,520
                                                         ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Net revenues in the Firm's principal business lines represent total
revenues less allocations of interest expense to specific securities,
commodities and other positions in relation to the level of financing incurred
by each position. Interest expense is allocated to Trading and Principal
Investments and the securities services component of Asset Management and
Securities Services. Net revenues may not be indicative of the relative
profitability of any principal business line.
 
INVESTMENT BANKING
 
     The Firm provides a broad range of investment banking services to a diverse
group of corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. The
Firm's investment banking activities are divided into two categories:
 
- - FINANCIAL ADVISORY. Financial advisory includes advisory assignments with
  respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense
  activities, restructurings and spin-offs; and
 
- - UNDERWRITING. Underwriting includes public offerings and private placements of
  equity and debt securities.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   39
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Investment
Banking business:
 
                        INVESTMENT BANKING NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
Financial advisory.....................................  $  931    $1,184    $1,774
Underwriting...........................................   1,182     1,403     1,594
                                                         ------    ------    ------
Total Investment Banking...............................  $2,113    $2,587    $3,368
                                                         ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     1998 VERSUS 1997.  The Investment Banking business achieved net revenues of
$3.37 billion in 1998, an increase of 30% compared to 1997. Net revenue growth
was strong in financial advisory and, to a lesser extent, in underwriting as the
Firm's global presence and strong client base enabled it to capitalize on higher
levels of activity in many industry groups, including communications, media and
entertainment, financial institutions, general industrials and retail. Net
revenue growth in the Firm's Investment Banking business was strong in all major
regions in 1998 compared to the prior year.
 
     Financial advisory revenues increased 50% compared to 1997 due to increased
revenues from mergers and acquisitions advisory assignments, which principally
resulted from consolidation within certain industries and generally favorable
U.S. and European stock markets. Despite a substantial decrease in the number of
industry-wide underwriting transactions in August and September of 1998,
underwriting revenues increased 14% for the year, primarily due to increased
revenues from equity and high-yield corporate debt underwriting activities.
 
     1997 VERSUS 1996.  The Investment Banking business achieved net revenues of
$2.59 billion in 1997, an increase of 22% compared to 1996. Net revenue growth
was strong in both financial advisory and underwriting, particularly in the
financial institution, general industrial and real estate groups.
 
     Financial advisory revenues increased 27% compared to 1996 primarily due to
increased revenues from mergers and acquisitions activity in the market as a
whole. Underwriting revenues increased 19% primarily due to increased revenues
from investment grade and high-yield debt underwriting, which resulted from
lower interest rates. Revenues from equity underwriting activities increased
modestly over 1996 levels.
 
TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     The Firm's Trading and Principal Investments business facilitates customer
transactions and takes proprietary positions through market making in and
trading of fixed income and equity products, currencies, commodities, and swaps
and other derivatives. The Trading and Principal Investments business includes
the following:
 
- - FICC.  The Firm makes markets in and trades fixed income products, currencies
  and commodities, structures and enters into a wide variety of derivative
  transactions and engages in proprietary trading and arbitrage activities;
 
- - EQUITIES.  The Firm makes markets in and trades equities and equity-related
  products, structures and enters into equity derivative transactions and
  engages in proprietary trading and equity arbitrage; and
 
- - PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS.  Principal investments primarily represents the Firm's
  net revenues from its investments in its merchant banking funds.
 
     Net revenues from principal investments do not include management fees and
over-
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   40
 
rides from the Firm's merchant banking funds. Overrides represent an increased
share of a fund's income and gains to the Firm when the return on investments
exceeds certain threshold returns to fund investors. These management fees and
overrides are included in the net revenues of Asset Management and Securities
Services.
 
     Substantially all of the Firm's inventory is marked-to-market daily and,
therefore, its value and the Firm's net revenues are subject to fluctuations
based on market movements. In addition, net revenues derived from the Firm's
principal investments in privately held concerns and in real estate may
fluctuate significantly depending on the revaluation or sale of these
investments in any given period.
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Trading and
Principal Investments business:
 
                 TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
FICC...................................................  $1,749    $2,055    $1,438
Equities...............................................     730       573       795
Principal investments..................................     214       298       146
                                                         ------    ------    ------
Total Trading and Principal Investments................  $2,693    $2,926    $2,379
                                                         ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     1998 VERSUS 1997.  Net revenues in Trading and Principal Investments were
$2.38 billion in 1998, a decrease of 19% compared to 1997. This decrease in net
revenues was concentrated in the second half of the year. See "-- Business
Environment" above for a discussion of the losses suffered in Trading and
Principal Investments in the second half of 1998. For the full year, significant
net revenue reductions in FICC and principal investments were partially offset
by increased net revenues in equities.
 
     Net revenues in FICC decreased 30% compared to 1997 due to an
extraordinarily difficult environment in the second half of 1998. The net
revenue reduction in FICC was concentrated in fixed income arbitrage and
high-yield debt trading, which experienced losses in 1998 due to a reduction in
liquidity and widening credit spreads in the second half of the year. An
increase in net revenues from market making and trading in fixed income
derivatives, currencies and commodities partially offset this decline.
 
     Net revenues in equities increased 39% compared to 1997 as higher net
revenues in derivatives and European shares were partially offset by losses in
equity arbitrage. The derivatives business generated significantly higher net
revenues due, in part, to strong customer demand for over-the-counter ("OTC")
products, particularly in Europe. Net revenues from European shares increased as
the Firm benefited from generally favorable equity markets and increased
customer demand. The equity arbitrage losses were due principally to the
underperformance of various equity positions versus their benchmark hedges, to
widening of spreads in a variety of relative value trades and to lower prices
for event-oriented securities resulting from a reduction in announced mergers
and acquisitions and other corporate activity in the second half of 1998.
 
     Net revenues from principal investments declined 51% compared to 1997 as
investments in certain publicly held companies decreased in value during the
second half of 1998. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in gains
on the disposition of certain investments.
 
     1997 VERSUS 1996.  The Trading and Principal Investments business achieved
net revenues of $2.93 billion in 1997, an increase of 9% compared to 1996.
Strong performances in FICC and principal investments more
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   41
 
than offset a net revenue reduction in equities.
 
     Net revenues in FICC increased 17% compared to 1996 due principally to
higher net revenues from market making and trading in currencies, fixed income
derivatives and commodities. Fixed income arbitrage activities also contributed
to net revenue growth in FICC. Net revenues from market making in and trading of
emerging market debt securities and corporate bonds declined in 1997 compared to
1996.
 
     Net revenues in equities decreased 22% in 1997 compared to 1996 due
principally to reductions in net revenues from derivatives and convertibles
resulting from volatility in the global equity markets in October and November
1997 and declining asset values in Japan in late November 1997. This reduction
was partially offset by increased net revenues from higher customer trading
volume in certain European OTC markets.
 
     Net revenues from principal investments increased 39% in 1997 compared to
1996 as certain companies in which the Firm invested through its merchant
banking funds completed initial public offerings and the Firm's positions in
other publicly held companies increased in value.
 
ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES
     Asset Management and Securities Services is comprised of the following:
 
- - ASSET MANAGEMENT.  Asset management generates management fees by providing
  investment advisory services to a diverse and rapidly growing client base of
  institutions and individuals;
 
- - SECURITIES SERVICES.  Securities services includes prime brokerage, financing
  services and securities lending and the Firm's matched book businesses, all of
  which generate revenue primarily in the form of fees or interest rate spreads;
  and
 
- - COMMISSIONS.  Commission-based businesses include agency transactions for
  clients on major stock and futures exchanges. Overrides derived from the
  Firm's merchant banking funds are also included in commissions.
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Asset
Management and Securities Services business:
 
             ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
Asset management.......................................  $  242    $  458    $  675
Securities services....................................     354       487       730
Commissions............................................     727       989     1,368
                                                         ------    ------    ------
Total Asset Management and Securities Services.........  $1,323    $1,934    $2,773
                                                         ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Firm's assets under supervision are comprised of assets under
management and other client assets. Assets under management typically generate
fees based on a percentage of their value and include the Firm's mutual funds,
separate accounts managed for institutional and individual investors, the Firm's
merchant banking funds and other alternative investment funds. Other client
assets are comprised of assets in brokerage accounts of primarily high net worth
individuals, on which the Firm earns commissions.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   42
 
The following table sets forth the Firm's assets under supervision:
 
                            ASSETS UNDER SUPERVISION
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                  --------------------------------
                                                    1996        1997        1998
                                                    ----        ----        ----
<S>                                               <C>         <C>         <C>
Assets under management.........................  $ 94,599    $135,929    $194,821
Other client assets.............................    76,892     102,033     142,018
                                                  --------    --------    --------
Total assets under supervision..................  $171,491    $237,962    $336,839
                                                  ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     1998 VERSUS 1997.  The Asset Management and Securities Services business
achieved net revenues of $2.77 billion in 1998, an increase of 43% compared to
1997. All major components of the business line exhibited strong net revenue
growth.
 
     Asset management revenues increased 47% during this period, reflecting a
41% increase in average assets under management over 1997. In 1998,
approximately 80% of the increase in assets under management was attributable to
net asset inflows, with the remaining 20% reflecting market appreciation. Net
revenues from securities services increased 50% primarily due to growth in the
Firm's securities borrowing and lending businesses. Commission revenues
increased 38% as generally strong and highly volatile equity markets resulted in
increased transaction volumes in listed equity securities. Merchant banking
overrides also contributed significantly to the increase in commission revenues.
 
     1997 VERSUS 1996.  The Asset Management and Securities Services business
achieved net revenues of $1.93 billion in 1997, an increase of 46% compared to
1996. All major components of the business line exhibited strong net revenue
growth.
 
     Asset management revenues increased 89% during this period, reflecting a
73% increase in average assets under management due to strong net asset inflows,
market appreciation and assets added through the acquisitions of Liberty
Investment Management in January 1997 and Commodities Corporation in June 1997.
Net revenue growth in securities services was 38%, principally reflecting growth
in the Firm's securities borrowing and lending businesses. Commission revenues
increased 36% as customer trading volumes increased significantly on many of the
world's principal stock exchanges, including those in the United States where
industry-wide volumes increased substantially in the third and fourth quarters
of 1997. Merchant banking overrides also contributed significantly to the
increase in commission revenues.
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
     In recent years, the Firm's operating expenses have increased as a result
of numerous factors, including higher levels of compensation, expansion of the
Firm's asset management business, expansion of the Firm's global operations,
greater levels of business activity and complexity and additional systems and
consulting costs relating to various technology initiatives.
 
     Since the Firm has been a partnership, payments to the Firm's profit
participating limited partners have been accounted for as distributions of
partners' capital rather than as compensation expense. As a result, the Firm's
compensation and benefits expense has not reflected any payments for services
rendered by its profit participating limited partners. Accordingly, the Firm's
compensation and benefits, the principal component of its operating expenses,
will increase significantly after the Common Stock Offering since, as a
corporation, the Firm will include these payments to its former profit
participating
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   43
limited partners in compensation and benefits expense. For financial information
that reflects pro forma compensation and benefits expense as if the Firm had
been a corpora- tion, see "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
 
     The following table sets forth the Firm's operating expenses and number of
employees:
 
                        OPERATING EXPENSES AND EMPLOYEES
                                ($ in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                       ----------------------------
                                                        1996      1997       1998
                                                        ----      ----       ----
<S>                                                    <C>       <C>        <C>
Compensation and benefits............................  $2,421    $ 3,097    $ 3,838
Brokerage, clearing and exchange fees................     278        357        424
Market development...................................     137        206        287
Communications and technology........................     173        208        265
Depreciation and amortization........................     172        178        242
Occupancy............................................     154        168        207
Professional services and other......................     188        219        336
                                                       ------    -------    -------
Total operating expenses.............................  $3,523    $ 4,433    $ 5,599
                                                       ======    =======    =======
Employees at fiscal year-end(1)......................   8,977     10,622     13,033
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Excludes employees of the Firm's two property management subsidiaries,
    Archon and Archon France. Substantially all of the costs of these employees
    are reimbursed to the Firm by the real estate investment funds to which the
    two companies provide property management services. In addition, as of
    November 1998, the Firm had approximately 3,400 temporary staff and
    consultants. For more detailed information regarding the Firm's employees,
    see "Business -- Employees".
 
                            ------------------------
 
     1998 VERSUS 1997.  Operating expenses were $5.60 billion in 1998, an
increase of 26% over 1997, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits
expense.
 
     Compensation and benefits increased as a percentage of net revenues to 45%
from 42% in 1997, principally as a result of increases in employment levels and
in expenses associated with temporary staff and consultants. Employment levels
increased 23% during the year, with particularly strong growth in asset
management. Expenses associated with the Firm's temporary staff and consultant
populations were $330 million in 1998, an increase of 85% compared to 1997,
reflecting greater business activity, the Firm's global expansion and consulting
costs associated with various technology initiatives, including preparations for
the Year 2000 and the establishment of the European Economic and Monetary Union
(the "EMU").
 
     Brokerage, clearing and exchange fees increased 19%, primarily due to
higher transaction volumes in European and U.S. equities and futures contracts.
Market development expenses increased 39% and professional services and other
expenses increased 53%, due to higher levels of business activity and the Firm's
global expansion. Communications and technology expenses increased 27%,
reflecting higher telecommunications and market data costs associated with
higher employment levels and additional spending on technology initiatives.
Depreciation and amortization increased 36%, principally due to capital
expenditures on telecommunications and technology-related equipment and
leasehold improvements. Occupancy expenses increased 23%, reflecting additional
office space needed to accommodate higher employment levels.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   44
 
     1997 VERSUS 1996.  Operating expenses were $4.43 billion in 1997, an
increase of 26% over 1996, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits
expense.
 
     Compensation and benefits increased as a percentage of net revenues to 42%
from 40% in 1996. This increase primarily reflected higher compensation due to
higher profit levels and an 18% increase in employment levels across the Firm
due to higher levels of market activity and the Firm's global expansion into new
businesses and markets. Expenses associated with the Firm's temporary staff and
consultant populations also contributed to the increase in compensation and
benefits as a percentage of net revenues. These expenses were $178 million in
1997, an increase of 55% compared to 1996, reflecting greater business activity,
the Firm's global expansion and consulting costs associated with various
technology initiatives.
 
     Brokerage, clearing and exchange fees increased 28%, primarily due to
higher transaction volumes in global equities, derivatives and currencies.
Market development expenses increased 50% and professional services and other
expenses increased 16%, due to higher levels of business activity and the Firm's
global expansion. Communications and technology expenses increased 20%,
reflecting higher telecommunications and market data costs associated with
higher employment levels and additional spending on technology initiatives.
Depreciation and amortization increased 3%. Occupancy expenses increased 9%,
reflecting additional office space needed to accommodate higher employment
levels.
 
PROVISION FOR TAXES
 
     Group L.P., as a partnership, generally has not been subject to U.S.
federal and state income taxes. The earnings of Group L.P. and certain of its
subsidiaries have been subject to the 4% New York City unincorporated business
tax. In addition, certain of the Firm's non-U.S. subsidiaries have been subject
to income taxes in their local jurisdictions. The amount of the Firm's provision
for income and unincorporated business taxes has varied significantly from year
to year depending on the mix of earnings among the Firm's subsidiaries. For
information on the pro forma effective tax rate of the Firm under corporate
form, see "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
 
GEOGRAPHIC DATA
 
     For a summary of the total revenues, net revenues, pre-tax earnings and
identifiable assets of the Firm by geographic region, see Note 9 to the
consolidated financial statements.
 
                                   CASH FLOWS
 
     The Firm's cash flows are primarily related to the operating and financing
activities undertaken in connection with its trading and market-making
transactions.
 
YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1998
 
     Cash and cash equivalents increased to $2.84 billion in 1998. Cash of $62
million was provided by operating activities. Cash of $656 million was used for
investing activities, primarily for leasehold improvements and the purchase of
telecommunications and technology-related equipment and certain financial
instruments. Financing activities provided $2.10 billion of cash, reflecting an
increase in the net issuance of long-term and short-term borrowings, partially
offset by a decrease in net repurchase agreements, distributions to partners,
cash outflows related to partners' capital allocated for income taxes and
potential withdrawals and the termination of the Firm's Profit Participation
Plans. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of
the termination of the Profit Participation Plans.
 
YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1997
 
     Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $1.33 billion in 1997. Operating
activities provided cash of $70 million. Cash of $693 million was used for
investing activities, primarily for the purchase of certain financial
instruments and technology-related equipment. Cash of $258 million was used for
financing activities, principally due to a decrease in net repurchase
agreements, distributions to partners and cash outflows related to partners'
capital allocated for income taxes
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   45
 
and potential withdrawals, partially offset by the net issuance of long-term and
short-term borrowings.
 
YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1996
 
     Cash and cash equivalents increased to $2.21 billion in 1996. Cash of
$14.63 billion was used for operating activities, primarily to fund higher net
trading assets due to increased levels of business activity. Cash of $218
million was used for investing activities, primarily for the purchase of
technology-related equipment and leasehold improvements. Financing activities
provided $16.10 billion of cash, reflecting an increase in net repurchase
agreements and the net issuance of long-term borrowings, partially offset by
distributions to partners and cash outflows related to partners' capital
allocated for income taxes and potential withdrawals.
 
                                   LIQUIDITY
 
MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT OF LIQUIDITY
 
     Management believes that one of the most important issues for a company in
the financial services sector is access to liquidity. Accordingly, the Firm has
established a comprehensive structure to oversee its liquidity and funding
policies.
 
     The Finance Committee has responsibility for establishing and assuring
compliance with the Firm's asset and liability management policies and has
oversight responsibility for managing liquidity risk, the size and composition
of the balance sheet and the credit ratings of the Firm. See "-- Risk
Management -- Risk Management Structure" below for a further description of the
Firm's committees that participate in the risk management process. The Finance
Committee meets monthly, and more often when necessary, to evaluate the Firm's
liquidity position and funding requirements.
 
     The Firm's Treasury Department manages the capital structure, funding,
liquidity and relationships with creditors and rating agencies on a global
basis. The Treasury Department works jointly with the Firm's global funding desk
in managing the Firm's borrowings. The global funding desk is primarily
responsible for the transactional short-term funding activity of the Firm.
 
LIQUIDITY POLICIES
 
     In order to maintain an appropriate level of liquidity, management has
implemented several liquidity policies as outlined below.
 
     DIVERSIFICATION OF FUNDING SOURCES AND LIQUIDITY PLANNING.  The Firm
maintains diversified funding sources with both banks and non-bank lenders
globally. Management believes that the Firm's relationships with its lenders are
critical to its liquidity. The Firm maintains close contact with its primary
lenders to keep them advised of significant developments affecting the Firm.
 
     The Firm also has access to diversified funding sources with over 800
creditors, including banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, bank trust
departments and other asset managers. The Firm monitors its creditors to
maintain broad and diversified credit, and no single creditor represented more
than 5% of the Firm's uncollateralized funding sources as of November 1998.
Uncollateralized funding sources principally include the Firm's short-term and
long-term borrowings and letters of credit.
 
     The Firm accesses liquidity in a variety of markets in the United States as
well as in Europe and Asia. In addition, the Firm makes extensive use of the
repurchase agreement market and has raised debt in the private placement, Rule
144A and commercial paper markets, as well as through Eurobonds, moneybroker
loans, commodity-based financings, letters of credit and promissory notes. The
Firm also intends to begin raising debt in the public securities market,
including through this Offering and its new MTN Program. The Firm seeks to
structure its liabilities to avoid significant amounts of debt coming due on any
one day or during any single week or year. In addition, the Firm maintains and
updates annually a liquidity crisis plan that provides guidance in the event of
a liquidity crisis. The annual update of this plan is reviewed and approved by
the Finance Committee.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   46
 
     ASSET LIQUIDITY.  The Firm maintains a highly liquid balance sheet. Many of
the Firm's assets are readily funded in the repurchase agreement markets, which
generally have proven to be a consistent source of funding, even in periods of
market stress. Substantially all of the Firm's inventory turns over rapidly and
is marked-to-market daily. The Firm maintains long-term borrowings and partners'
capital substantially in excess of its less liquid assets.
 
     DYNAMIC LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT.  The Firm seeks to manage the composition of
its asset base and the maturity profile of its funding to ensure that it can
liquidate its assets prior to its liabilities coming due, even in times of
liquidity stress. The Firm has traditionally been able to fund its liquidity
needs through collateralized funding, such as repurchase transactions and
securities lending, as well as short-term and long-term borrowings and partners'
capital. To further evaluate the adequacy of its liquidity management policies
and guidelines, the Firm performs weekly "stress funding" simulations of
disruptions to the Firm's access to unsecured credit.
 
     EXCESS LIQUIDITY.  In addition to maintaining a highly liquid balance sheet
and a significant portion of longer-term liabilities to assure liquidity even
during adverse conditions, the Firm seeks to maintain a liquidity cushion that
consists principally of unencumbered U.S. government and agency obligations to
ensure the availability of immediate liquidity. This pool of highly liquid
assets averaged $14.17 billion during 1998 and $12.54 billion during 1997.
 
     LIQUIDITY RATIO MAINTENANCE.  It is the Firm's policy to further manage its
liquidity by maintaining a "liquidity ratio" of at least 100%. This ratio
measures the relationship between the loan value of the Firm's unencumbered
assets and its short-term unsecured liabilities. The maintenance of this
liquidity ratio is intended to ensure that the Firm could fund its positions on
a fully secured basis in the event that the Firm were unable to replace its
unsecured debt maturing within one year. Under this policy, the Firm seeks to
maintain unencumbered assets in an amount that, if pledged or sold, would
provide the funds necessary to replace unsecured obligations that are scheduled
to mature (or where holders have the option to redeem) within the coming year.
 
     INTERCOMPANY FUNDING.  Most of the liquidity of the Firm is raised by Group
L.P., which then lends the necessary funds to its subsidiaries and affiliates.
The Firm carefully manages its intercompany exposure by generally requiring
intercompany loans to have maturities equal to or shorter than the maturities of
the aggregate borrowings of Group L.P. This policy ensures that the
subsidiaries' obligations to Group L.P. will generally mature in advance of
Group L.P.'s third-party long-term borrowings. In addition, many of the advances
made to the Firm's subsidiaries and affiliates are secured by marketable
securities or other liquid collateral. The Firm generally funds its equity
investments in subsidiaries with partners' capital.
 
THE BALANCE SHEET
 
     The Firm maintains a highly liquid balance sheet that fluctuates
significantly between financial statement dates. In the fourth quarter of 1998,
the Firm temporarily decreased its total assets to reduce risk and increase
liquidity in response to difficult conditions in the global financial markets.
 
     The Firm's total assets were $217.38 billion as of November 1998 and
$178.40 billion as of November 1997. Adjusted assets were $144.91 billion as of
November 1998 and $119.88 billion as of November 1997.
 
     The Firm's balance sheet size as of November 1998 increased by $11.64
billion due to the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were deferred
by SFAS No. 127. For a discussion of SFAS Nos. 125 and 127, see "-- Accounting
Developments" below and Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.
 
     As of November 1998, the Firm held approximately $1.04 billion in
high-yield debt securities and $1.49 billion in bank loans, all of which are
valued on a mark-to-market basis. These assets may be relatively illiquid during
times of market stress. The Firm seeks
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   47
 
to diversify its holdings of these assets by industry and by geographic
location.
 
     As of November 1998, the Firm held approximately $1.17 billion of emerging
market securities and $109 million in loans to emerging market countries, all of
which are valued on a mark-to-market basis. Of the $1.28 billion in emerging
market securities and loans, approximately $968 million were sovereign
obligations, many of which are collateralized as to principal at stated
maturity.
 
     In September 1998, a consortium of 14 banks and brokerage firms, including
Goldman Sachs, made an equity investment in LTCP, a major market participant.
The objectives of this investment were to provide sufficient capital to permit
LTCP to continue active management of its positions and, over time, to reduce
risk exposures and leverage, to return capital to the participants in the
consortium and ultimately to realize the potential value of the portfolio. The
Firm invested $300 million in LTCP.
 
CREDIT RATINGS
 
     The Firm relies upon the debt capital markets to fund a significant portion
of its day-to-day operations. The cost and availability of debt financing is
influenced by the Firm's credit ratings. Credit ratings are also important to
the Firm when competing in certain markets and when seeking to engage in
longer-term transactions, including OTC derivatives. A reduction in the Firm's
credit ratings could increase its borrowing costs and limit its access to the
capital markets. This, in turn, could reduce the Firm's earnings and adversely
affect its liquidity.
 
LONG-TERM DEBT
 
     As of November 1998, the Firm's consolidated long-term borrowings were
$19.91 billion. Substantially all of these borrowings were unsecured and
consisted principally of senior borrowings with maturities extending to 2024.
The weighted average maturity of the Firm's long-term borrowings as of November
1998 was approximately four years. Substantially all of the Firm's long-term
borrowings are swapped into U.S. dollar obligations with short-term floating
rates of interest in order to minimize the Firm's exposure to interest rates and
foreign exchange movements. See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements
for further information regarding the Firm's long-term borrowings.
 
                             REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
     Many of the Firm's principal subsidiaries are subject to extensive
regulation in the United States and elsewhere. GS&Co., a registered U.S.
broker-dealer, is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), the Chicago Board of Trade, the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). Goldman Sachs International ("GSI"), a
registered U.K. broker-dealer, is subject to regulation by the Securities and
Futures Authority Limited ("SFA") and the Financial Services Authority ("FSA").
Goldman Sachs (Japan) Ltd., a Tokyo-based broker-dealer, is subject to
regulation by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the Financial Supervisory
Agency, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Tokyo International Financial Futures
Exchange and the Japan Securities Dealers Association. Several other
subsidiaries of the Firm are regulated by securities, investment advisory,
banking and other regulators and authorities around the world. Compliance with
the rules of these regulators may prevent the Firm from receiving distributions,
advances or repayment of liabilities from these subsidiaries. See Note 8 to the
consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the Firm's
regulated subsidiaries.
 
                                RISK MANAGEMENT
 
     The Firm has a comprehensive risk management process to monitor, evaluate
and manage the principal risks assumed in conducting its activities. These risks
include market, credit, liquidity, operational, legal and reputational
exposures.
 
RISK MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
 
     The Firm seeks to monitor and control its risk exposure through a variety
of separate
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   48
 
but complementary financial, credit, operational and legal reporting systems.
The Firm believes that it has effective procedures for evaluating and managing
the market, credit and other risks to which it is exposed. Nonetheless, the
effectiveness of the Firm's policies and procedures for managing risk exposure
can never be completely or accurately predicted or fully assured. For example,
unexpectedly large or rapid movements or disruptions in one or more markets or
other unforeseen developments can have a material adverse effect on the Firm's
results of operations and financial condition. The consequences of these
developments can include losses due to adverse changes in inventory values,
decreases in the liquidity of trading positions, higher volatility in the Firm's
earnings, increases in the Firm's credit risk to customers and counterparties
and increases in general systemic risk. See "Risk Factors -- Market Fluctuations
Could Adversely Affect Our Businesses in Many Ways" for a discussion of the
effect that market fluctuations can have on the Firm's businesses.
 
     The Firm has established risk control procedures at several levels
throughout the organization. Trading desk managers have the first line of
responsibility for managing risk within prescribed limits. These managers have
in-depth knowledge of the primary sources of risk in their individual markets
and the instruments available to hedge the Firm's exposures. In addition, a
number of committees described in the following table are responsible for
establishing trading limits, monitoring adherence to these limits and for
general oversight of the Firm's risk management process.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>   49
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               COMMITTEE                                          FUNCTION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>
  Management Committee                   All risk control functions ultimately report to the
                                         Management Committee. Through both direct and delegated
                                         authority, the Management Committee approves all of the
                                         Firm's:
                                         - operating activities;
                                         - trading risk parameters; and
                                         - customer review guidelines.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Risk Committees                        The Firmwide Risk Committee:
                                         - periodically reviews the activities of existing
                                           businesses;
                                         - approves new businesses and products;
                                         - approves divisional market risk limits and reviews
                                           business unit market risk limits;
                                         - approves inventory position limits for selected country
                                           exposures and business units;
                                         - approves sovereign credit risk limits and credit risk
                                           limits by ratings group; and
                                         - reviews scenario analyses based on abnormal or
                                           "catastrophic" market movements.
                                         The FICC Risk Committee sets market risk limits for
                                         individual business units and sets issuer-specific net
                                         inventory position limits.
                                         The Equities Risk Committee sets market risk limits for
                                         individual business units that consist of gross and net
                                         inventory position limits and, for equity derivatives,
                                         limits based on market move scenario analysis.
                                         The Asset Management Control Oversight Committee and the
                                         Asset Management Risk Committee oversee various
                                         operational, credit, pricing and business practices
                                         issues.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Global Compliance and Control          The Global Compliance and Control Committee provides
     Committee                           oversight of the Firm's compliance and control functions,
                                         including internal audit, reviews the Firm's legal,
                                         reputational, operational and control risks, and
                                         periodically reviews the activities of existing
                                         businesses.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Commitments Committee                  The Commitments Committee approves:
                                         - equity and non-investment grade debt underwriting
                                           commitments;
                                         - loans extended by the Firm; and
                                         - unusual financing structures and transactions that
                                           involve significant capital exposure.
                                         The Commitments Committee has delegated to the Credit
                                         Department the authority to approve underwriting
                                         commitments for investment grade debt and certain other
                                         products.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Credit Policy Committee                The Credit Policy Committee establishes and reviews broad
                                         credit policies and parameters that are implemented by the
                                         Credit Department.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Finance Committee                      The Finance Committee is responsible for oversight of the
                                         Firm's capital, liquidity and funding needs and for
                                         setting certain inventory position limits.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       47
<PAGE>   50
 
     Segregation of duties and management oversight are fundamental elements of
the Firm's risk management process. Accordingly, departments that are
independent of the revenue producing units, such as the Firmwide Risk, Credit,
Controllers, Global Operations, Central Compliance, Management Controls and
Legal Departments, in part perform risk management functions, which include
monitoring, analyzing and evaluating risk.
 
MARKET RISK
 
     The potential for changes in the market value of the Firm's trading
positions is referred to as "market risk". The Firm's trading positions result
from underwriting, market making and proprietary trading activities.
 
     The broadly defined categories of market risk include exposures to interest
rates, currency rates, equity prices and commodity prices.
 
- - Interest rate risks primarily result from exposures to changes in the level,
  slope and curvature of the yield curve, the volatility of interest rates,
  mortgage prepayment speeds and credit spreads.
 
- - Currency rate risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward
  prices and volatilities of currency rates.
 
- - Equity price risks result from exposures to changes in prices and volatilities
  of individual equities, equity baskets and equity indices.
 
- - Commodity price risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward
  prices and volatilities of commodities, such as electricity, natural gas,
  crude oil, petroleum products and precious and base metals.
 
     The Firm seeks to manage these risk exposures through diversifying
exposures, controlling position sizes and establishing hedges in related
securities or derivatives. For example, the Firm may hedge a portfolio of common
stock by taking an offsetting position in a related equity-index futures
contract. The ability to manage an exposure may, however, be limited by adverse
changes in the liquidity of the security or the related hedge instrument and in
the correlation of price movements between the security and related hedge
instrument.
 
     In addition to applying business judgment, senior management uses a number
of quantitative tools to manage the Firm's exposure to market risk. These tools
include:
 
- - risk limits based on a summary measure of market risk exposure referred to as
  Value-at-Risk or "VaR";
 
- - risk limits based on a scenario analysis that measures the potential effect of
  a significant widening of credit spreads on the Firm's trading net revenues;
 
- - inventory position limits for selected business units and country exposures;
  and
 
- - scenario analyses which measure the potential effect on the Firm's trading net
  revenues of abnormal market movements.
 
     The Firm also estimates the broader potential impact of a sustained market
downturn on its investment banking and merchant banking activities.
 
     VaR.  VaR is the potential loss in value of the Firm's trading positions
due to adverse movements in markets over a defined time horizon with a specified
confidence level.
 
     For the VaR numbers reported below, a one-day time horizon and a 95%
confidence level were used. This means that there is a one in 20 chance that
daily trading net revenues will fall below the expected daily trading net
revenues by an amount at least as large as the reported VaR. Thus, shortfalls
from expected trading net revenues on a single trading day greater than the
reported VaR would be anticipated to occur, on average, about once a month.
Shortfalls on a single day can exceed reported VaR by significant amounts.
Shortfalls can also accumulate over a longer time horizon such as a number of
consecutive trading days. For a discussion of the limitations of the Firm's risk
measures, see "Risk Factors -- Our Risk Management Policies and Procedures May
Leave Us Exposed to Unidentified or Unanticipated Risk".
 
     The VaR numbers below are shown separately for interest rate, currency,
equity and commodity products, as well as for the Firm's overall trading
positions.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>   51
 
     These VaR numbers include the underlying product positions and related
hedges, which may include positions in other product areas. For example, the
hedge of a foreign exchange forward may include an interest rate futures
position and the hedge of a long corporate bond position may include a short
position in the related equity.
 
     VaR METHODOLOGY, ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS.  The modeling of the risk
characteristics of the Firm's trading positions involves a number of assumptions
and approximations. While management believes that these assumptions and
approximations are reasonable, there is no uniform industry methodology for
estimating VaR, and different assumptions and/or approximations could produce
materially different VaR estimates.
 
     The Firm uses historical data to estimate its VaR and, to better reflect
asset volatilities and correlations, these historical data are weighted to give
greater importance to more recent observations. Given its reliance on historical
data, VaR is most effective in estimating risk exposures in markets in which
there are no sudden fundamental changes or shifts in market conditions. An
inherent limitation of VaR is that past changes in market risk factors, even
when weighted toward more recent observations, may not produce accurate
predictions of future market risk. For example, the asset volatilities to which
the Firm was exposed in the second half of 1998 were substantially larger than
those reflected in the historical data used during that time period to estimate
the Firm's VaR. Moreover, VaR calculated for a one-day time horizon does not
fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or offset
with hedges within one day.
 
     VaR also should be evaluated in light of the methodology's other
limitations. For example, when calculating the VaR numbers shown below, the Firm
assumes that asset returns are normally distributed. Non-linear risk exposures
on options and the potentially mitigating impact of intra-day changes in related
hedges would likely produce non-normal asset returns. Different distributional
assumptions could produce a materially different VaR.
 
     The following table sets forth the Firm's daily VaR for substantially all
of its trading positions:
 
                                   DAILY VaR
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             AS OF
                                                            NOVEMBER
                     RISK CATEGORIES                          1998
                     ---------------                        --------
<S>                                                         <C>
Interest rates............................................   $ 27.3
Currency rates............................................      9.0
Equity prices.............................................     25.3
Commodity prices..........................................      7.0
Diversification effect(1).................................    (25.7)
                                                             ------
Firmwide..................................................   $ 42.9
                                                             ======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Equals the difference between Firmwide daily VaR and the sum of the daily
    VaRs for the four risk categories. This effect arises because the four
    market risk categories are not perfectly correlated.
                            ------------------------
 
     For a discussion of what the Firm's daily VaR would have been as of
November 1998 had the Firm used its volatility and correlation data as of May
29, 1998, see "Business -- Trading and Principal Investments -- Trading Risk
Management -- Risk Reduction".
 
NON-TRADING RISK
 
     The market risk associated with the Firm's non-trading financial
instruments, including its investments in its merchant banking funds, is
measured using a sensitivity analysis that estimates the potential reduction
 
                                       49
<PAGE>   52
 
in the Firm's net revenues associated with
hypothetical market movements. As of November 1998, non-trading market risk was
not material.
 
RECENT ENHANCEMENTS TO RISK MANAGEMENT
 
     While VaR continues to be a core tool in the Firm's risk management
process, management has increased its emphasis on the supplemental measures
described below:
 
- - CREDIT SPREAD LIMITS.  In addition to VaR, the Firmwide Risk Committee now
  sets market risk limits based on a scenario analysis of widening credit
  spreads similar to those experienced in the second half of 1998; and
 
- - SCENARIO ANALYSES.  Management is using scenario analyses that reflect more
  extreme market conditions, such as large increases in market volatility as
  well as substantial and sustained adverse movements in the volatility and
  correlation of the Firm's relative value positions.
 
     Notwithstanding these measures, the Firm continues to hold trading
positions that are substantial in both number and size, and is subject to
significant market risk. In addition, management may choose to increase the
Firm's risk levels in the future. See "Risk Factors -- Market Fluctuations Could
Adversely Affect Our Businesses in Many Ways" and "-- Our Risk Management
Policies and Procedures May Leave Us Exposed to Unidentified or Unanticipated
Risk" for a discussion of the risks associated with the Firm's trading
positions.
 
VALUATION OF TRADING INVENTORY
 
     Substantially all of the Firm's inventory positions are marked-to-market on
a daily basis and changes are recorded in net revenues. The individual business
units are responsible for pricing the positions they manage. The Controllers
Department, in conjunction with the Firmwide Risk Department, regularly performs
pricing reviews.
 
TRADING NET REVENUES DISTRIBUTION
 
     The following chart sets forth the frequency distribution for substantially
all of the Firm's daily trading net revenues for the year ended November 1998:
 
                           DAILY TRADING NET REVENUES
 
<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>
Daily Trading Net Revenues 
  in Millions of Dollars                     Number of Days
- ------------------------------------------------------------
less than(60)....................................  9
(60)-(40)........................................  5
(40)-(20)........................................ 22
(20)-0........................................... 31
0-20............................................. 87
20-40............................................ 67
40-60............................................ 24
greater than 60..................................  6
</TABLE>
 
               DAILY TRADING NET REVENUES IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
 
                                       50
<PAGE>   53
 
CREDIT RISK
 
     Credit risk represents the loss that the Firm would incur if a counterparty
or issuer of securities or other instruments it holds fails to perform its
contractual obligations to the Firm. To reduce its credit exposures, the Firm
seeks to enter into netting agreements with counterparties that permit the Firm
to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties. The Firm does not
take into account any such agreements when calculating credit risk, however,
unless management believes a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable
master netting agreement.
 
     For most businesses, counterparty credit limits are established by the
Credit Department, which is independent of the revenue-producing departments,
based on guidelines set by the Firmwide Risk and Credit Policy Committees. The
Firm's global credit management systems monitor current and potential credit
exposure to individual counterparties and on an aggregate basis to
counterparties and their affiliates. The systems also provide the Firm's
management with information regarding overall credit risk by product, industry
sector, country and region.
 
RISK LIMITS
 
     Business unit risk limits are established by the risk committees and may be
further segmented by the business unit managers to individual trading desks.
 
     Market risk limits are monitored on a daily basis by the Firmwide Risk
Department and are reviewed regularly by the appropriate risk committee. Limit
violations are reported to the appropriate risk committee and the appropriate
business unit managers.
 
     Inventory position limits are monitored by the Controllers Department and
position limit violations are reported to the appropriate business unit managers
and the Finance Committee. When inventory position limits are used to monitor
market risk, they are also monitored by the Firmwide Risk Department and
violations are reported to the appropriate risk committee.
 
DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
 
     Derivative contracts are financial instruments, such as futures, forwards,
swaps or option contracts, that derive their value from underlying assets,
indices, reference rates or a combination of these factors. Derivative
instruments may be entered into by the Firm in privately negotiated contracts
("OTC derivatives"), or they may be listed and traded on an exchange.
 
     Most of the Firm's derivative transactions are entered into for trading
purposes. The Firm uses derivatives in its trading activities to facilitate
customer transactions, to take proprietary positions and as a means of risk
management. The Firm also enters into non-trading derivative contracts to manage
the interest rate and currency exposure on its long-term borrowings.
 
     Derivatives are used in many of the Firm's businesses, and the Firm
believes that the associated market risk can only be understood relative to the
underlying assets or risks being hedged, or as part of a broader trading
strategy. Accordingly, the market risk of derivative positions is managed with
all of the Firm's other non-derivative risk.
 
     Derivative contracts are reported on a net-by-counterparty basis on the
Firm's consolidated statements of financial condition where management believes
a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable master netting agreement.
 
     For an OTC derivative, the Firm's credit exposure is directly with its
counterparty and continues until the maturity or termination of such contract.
 
     The following table sets forth the distribution, by credit rating, of
substantially all of the Firm's exposure with respect to OTC derivatives as of
November 1998, after taking into consideration the effect of netting agreements.
The categories shown reflect the internally determined public rating agency
equivalents used by the Firm.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>   54
 
                        OTC DERIVATIVES CREDIT EXPOSURE
                                ($ in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CREDIT RATING EQUIVALENT                          AMOUNT        PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------                          ------        ----------
<S>                                           <C>               <C>
AAA/Aaa.....................................      $ 2,170           12%
AA/Aa2......................................        5,571           30
A/A2........................................        4,876           26
BBB/Baa2....................................        3,133           17
BB/Ba2 or lower.............................        1,970           11
Unrated(1)..................................          730            4
                                                  -------          ---
                                                  $18,450          100%
                                                  =======          ===
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) In lieu of making an individual assessment of such counterparties' credit,
    the Firm makes a determination that the collateral held in respect of such
    obligations is sufficient to cover the Firm's exposure. In making this
    determination, the Firm takes into account various factors, including legal
    uncertainties and market volatility.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     As of November 1998, the Firm held approximately $2.97 billion in
collateral against these OTC derivatives exposures. This collateral consists
predominantly of cash and U.S. government and agency securities and is usually
received by the Firm pursuant to agreements entitling the Firm to require
additional collateral upon certain increases in exposure or the occurrence of
negative credit events.
 
     In addition to obtaining collateral and seeking netting agreements, the
Firm attempts to mitigate default risk on derivatives by entering into
agreements that enable the Firm to terminate or reset the terms of transactions
after certain time periods or upon the occurrence of credit-related events, and
by seeking third-party guarantees of the obligations of some counterparties.
 
     Derivatives transactions may also involve the legal risk that they are not
authorized or appropriate for a counterparty, that documentation has not been
properly executed or that executed agreements may not be enforceable against the
counterparty. The Firm attempts to minimize these risks by obtaining advice of
counsel on the enforceability of agreements as well as on the authority of a
counterparty to effect the derivative transaction.
 
OPERATIONAL AND YEAR 2000 RISKS
 
     OPERATIONAL RISK.  The Firm may face reputational damage, financial loss or
regulatory risk in the event of an operational failure or error. A systems
failure or failure to enter a trade properly into the Firm's records may result
in an inability to settle transactions in a timely manner or a breach of
regulatory requirements. Settlement errors or delays may cause losses due to
damages owed to counterparties or movements in prices. These operational and
systems risks may arise in connection with the Firm's own systems or as a result
of the failure of an agent acting on the Firm's behalf.
 
     The Global Operations Department is responsible for establishing,
maintaining and approving policies and controls with respect to the accurate
inputting and processing of transactions, clearance and settlement of
transactions, the custody of securities and other instruments and the detection
and prevention of employee errors or improper or fraudulent activities. Its
personnel work closely with the Information Technology Department in creating
systems to enable appropriate supervision and management of its policies. The
Global Operations Department is also responsible, together with other areas of
the Firm, including the Legal and Compliance Departments, for ensuring
compliance with applicable regulations with respect to the clearance and
settlement of transactions and the margining of positions. The Network
Management Department oversees the Firm's relationships with its clearance and
settlement agents, regularly reviews agents' performance
 
                                       52
<PAGE>   55
 
and meets with these agents to review operational issues.
 
     YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE.  The Firm has determined that it will be
required to modify or replace portions of its information technology systems,
both hardware and software, and its non-information technology systems so that
they will properly recognize and utilize dates beyond December 31, 1999. The
Firm presently believes that with modifications to existing software,
conversions to new software and replacement of some hardware, the Year 2000
issue will be satisfactorily resolved in its own systems worldwide. However, if
such modifications and conversions are not made or are not completed on a timely
basis, the Year 2000 issue would have a material adverse effect on the Firm.
Moreover, even if these changes are successful, failure of third parties to
which the Firm is financially or operationally linked to address their own Year
2000 problems would also have a material adverse effect on the Firm. For a
description of the Year 2000 issue and some of the related risks, including
possible "worst-case" scenarios, see "Risk Factors -- Firm and Third-Party
Computer Systems May Not Achieve Year 2000 Readiness -- Year 2000 Readiness
Disclosure".
 
     Recognizing the broad scope and complexity of the Year 2000 problem, the
Firm established a Year 2000 Oversight Committee to promote awareness and ensure
the active participation of senior management. This Committee, together with
numerous sub-committees chaired by senior managers throughout the Firm and the
Firm's Global Year 2000 Project Office, is responsible for planning, managing
and monitoring the Firm's Year 2000 efforts on a global basis. The Firm's
Management Controls Department assesses the scope and sufficiency of the Firm's
Year 2000 Program and verifies that the principal aspects of the Firm's Year
2000 program are being implemented according to plan.
 
     The Firm's Year 2000 plans are based on a five phase approach, which
includes awareness; inventory, assessment and planning; remediation; testing;
and implementation. The awareness phase (in which the Firm defined the scope and
components of the problem, its methodology and approach and obtained senior
management support and funding) was completed in September 1997. The Firm also
completed the inventory, assessment and planning phase for its systems in
September 1997. By the end of December 1998, the Firm had completed the
remediation phase for approximately 99% of its mission-critical systems and had
completed the application testing and implementation phases for approximately
95% of its mission-critical systems. The Firm plans to complete all three of
these phases for approximately 99% of its mission-critical systems by the end of
March 1999 and for the remaining 1% by the end of June 1999. During the first
half of calendar 1999, the Firm is scheduled to conduct internal integration
testing with respect to critical securities and transaction flows in order to
validate that its systems can successfully perform critical business functions
beginning in January 2000. With respect to its non-mission-critical systems, the
Firm expects to complete its Year 2000 efforts during calendar 1999.
 
     For technology products that are supplied by third-party vendors, the Firm
has completed an inventory, ranked products according to their importance, and
developed a strategy for achieving Year 2000 readiness for substantially all
non-compliant versions of software and hardware. While this process included
collecting information from vendors, the Firm is not relying solely on vendors'
verifications that their products are Year 2000 compliant or ready. The Firm is
also testing vendor-supplied products that it considers mission-critical to help
determine whether they will perform properly and support the Firm's systems
beginning in January 2000. As of December 31, 1998, the Firm's mission-critical
mainframe computers and products had been tested and substantial progress had
been made in testing the Firm's telecommunications and non-mainframe technology
infrastructure. Since telecommunications carriers have indicated that they will
not test with individual companies, the Firm is relying on information provided
by these vendors as to whether they are Year 2000 compliant.
 
                                       53
<PAGE>   56
 
     The Firm is also addressing Year 2000 issues that may exist outside its own
technology activities, including its facilities, external service providers and
other third parties with which it interfaces. The Firm has inventoried and
ranked its customers, business and trading partners, utilities, exchanges,
depositories, clearing and custodial banks and other third parties with which
the Firm has important financial and operational relationships.
 
     By the end of December 1998, the Firm had participated in approximately 50
"external", i.e., industry-wide or point-to-point, tests with exchanges and
clearing houses as well as the "Beta" test sponsored by the Securities Industry
Association ("SIA") for its U.S. members in July 1998, which the Firm
successfully completed. By the end of June 1999, the Firm expects to have
participated in approximately 110 additional external tests, including the SIA
"Streetwide" test occurring in March and April 1999 and other major industry
tests in those global markets where the Firm conducts significant business.
 
     Acknowledging that a Year 2000 failure, whether internal or external, could
have an adverse effect on the ability to conduct day-to-day business, the Firm
is employing a comprehensive and global approach to contingency planning. The
Firm's contingency planning objective is to identify potential system failure
points that support processes that are critical to the Firm's mission and to
develop contingency plans for those failures that may reasonably be expected to
occur, with the general goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practical, that
minimum acceptable levels of service can be maintained by the Firm. In the event
of system failures, the Firm's contingency plans will not guarantee that
existing levels of service will be fully maintained, especially if these
failures involve external systems or processes over which the Firm has little or
no direct control or involve multiple failures across a variety of systems.
 
     The Firm anticipates that contingency plans for its core business units
will be completed during June 1999, and by September 30, 1999 for the rest of
the Firm. In addition, the Firm is developing contingency plans for funding and
balance sheet management and other related activities. The Firm expects its
contingency plans to include establishing additional sources of liquidity that
could be drawn upon in the event of systems disruption. The Firm is also
developing a crisis management group to guide it through the transition period.
The Firm expects to reduce trading activity in the period leading up to January
2000 to minimize the impact of potential Year 2000-related failures. A reduction
in trading activity by the Firm or by other market participants in anticipation
of possible Year 2000 problems could adversely affect the Firm's results of
operations, as discussed under "Risk Factors -- Firm and Third-Party Computer
Systems May Not Achieve Year 2000 Readiness -- Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure".
 
     The Firm has incurred and expects to continue to incur expenses allocable
to internal staff, as well as costs for outside consultants, to complete the
remediation and testing of internally-developed systems and the replacement and
testing of third-party products and services, including non-technology products
and services, in order to achieve Year 2000 compliance. These costs are also
attributable to the Firm's Year 2000 contingency planning efforts. The Firm
currently estimates that these costs will total between $140 million and $150
million, over half of which has been spent to date. These estimates include the
cost of technology personnel but do not include the cost of most non-technology
personnel involved in the Firm's Year 2000 effort. The remaining cost of the
Firm's Year 2000 program is expected to be incurred in 1999 and early 2000. The
Year 2000 program costs will continue to be funded through operating cash flow.
These costs are expensed as incurred. The Firm does not expect that the costs
associated with implementing its Year 2000 program will have a material adverse
effect on its results of operations, financial condition, liquidity or capital
resources.
 
     The costs of the Year 2000 program and the date on which the Firm plans to
complete the Year 2000 modifications are based on current estimates, which
reflect numerous assumptions about future events, including the continued
availability of certain resources,
 
                                       54
<PAGE>   57
 
the timing and effectiveness of third-party remediation plans and other factors.
The Firm can give no assurance that these estimates will be achieved, and actual
results could differ materially from the Firm's plans. Specific factors that
might cause material differences include, but are not limited to, the
availability and cost of personnel trained in this area, the ability to locate
and correct relevant computer source codes and embedded chip technology, the
results of internal and external testing and the timeliness and effectiveness of
remediation efforts of third parties.
 
     In order to focus attention on the Year 2000 problem, management has
deferred several technology projects that address other issues. However, the
Firm does not believe that this deferral will have a material adverse effect on
its results of operations or financial condition.
 
                            ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
 
     In June 1996, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS
No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and
Extinguishments of Liabilities", effective for transactions occurring after
December 31, 1996. SFAS No. 125 establishes standards for distinguishing
transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales from transfers
that are accounted for as secured borrowings.
 
     The provisions of SFAS No. 125 relating to repurchase agreements,
securities lending transactions and other similar transactions were deferred by
the provisions of SFAS No. 127, "Deferral of the Effective Date of Certain
Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125", and became effective for transactions
entered into after December 31, 1997. This Statement requires that the
collateral obtained in certain types of secured lending transactions be recorded
on the balance sheet with a corresponding liability reflecting the obligation to
return such collateral to its owner. Effective January 1, 1998, the Firm adopted
the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were deferred by SFAS No. 127. The adoption
of this standard increased the Firm's total assets and liabilities by $11.64
billion as of November 1998.
 
     In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share"
("EPS"), effective for periods ending after December 15, 1997, with restatement
required for all prior periods. SFAS No. 128 establishes new standards for
computing and presenting EPS. This Statement replaces primary and fully diluted
EPS with "basic EPS", which excludes dilution, and "diluted EPS", which includes
the effect of all potentially dilutive common shares and other dilutive
securities. Because the Firm has not historically reported EPS, this Statement
will have no impact on the Firm's historical financial statements. This
Statement will, however, apply to financial statements of the Firm prepared
after the Common Stock Offering. See "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
Information" for a calculation of pro forma EPS.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income", effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997, with
reclassification of earlier periods required for comparative purposes. SFAS No.
130 establishes standards for the reporting and presentation of comprehensive
income and its components in the financial statements. The Firm intends to adopt
this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 1999. This Statement is limited to
issues of reporting and presentation and, therefore, will not affect the Firm's
results of operations or financial condition.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information", effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997, with reclassification of earlier periods required for
comparative purposes. SFAS No. 131 establishes the criteria for determining an
operating segment and establishes the disclosure requirements for reporting
information about operating segments. The Firm intends to adopt this standard at
the end of fiscal 1999. This Statement is limited to issues of reporting and
presentation and, therefore, will not affect the Firm's results of operations or
financial condition.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>   58
 
     In February 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures
about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits", effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997, with restatement of disclosures for earlier
periods required for comparative purposes. SFAS No. 132 revises certain
employers' disclosures about pension and other post-retirement benefit plans.
The Firm intends to adopt this standard at the end of fiscal 1999. This
Statement is limited to issues of reporting and presentation and, therefore,
will not affect the Firm's results of operations or financial condition.
 
     In March 1998, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP")
No. 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained
for Internal Use", effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998.
SOP No. 98-1 requires that certain costs of computer software developed or
obtained for internal use be capitalized and amortized over the useful life of
the related software. The Firm currently expenses the cost of all software
development in the period in which it is incurred. The Firm intends to adopt
this Statement in fiscal 2000 and is currently assessing its effect.
 
     In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities", effective for fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 1999. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for
derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in
other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives), and for hedging
activities. This Statement requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as
either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial condition and measure
those instruments at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of
a derivative instrument depends on its intended use and the resulting
designation. The Firm intends to adopt this standard in fiscal 2000 and is
currently assessing its effect.
 
                                       56
<PAGE>   59
 
                         INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
 
     As a global provider of financial services, the Firm is affected by overall
macroeconomic and market conditions in various regions around the world. For a
number of years, we have operated in a generally favorable macroeconomic
environment characterized by low inflation, low and declining interest rates and
strong equity markets. In particular, the U.S. economy, the largest in the world
and an important influence on overall world economic activity, has been
undergoing one of the longest periods of post-war economic expansion. As of
December 1998, the current U.S. expansion had lasted 93 months compared to a
post-war average period of expansion of 46 months.
 
     Recognizing that the favorable macroeconomic and market environments will
be subject to periodic reversals, which may significantly and adversely affect
our businesses, we believe that significant growth and profit opportunities
exist for financial intermediaries in the United States and abroad. These
opportunities derive from several long-term trends, including the following:
 
- - DEREGULATION.  Financial market deregulation, including the elimination of
  bank deposit interest rate ceilings and the expansion of commercial banks and
  other financial institutions into securities underwriting activities, has
  resulted in the creation of new and broader sources of credit, which have
  reduced the variability and the cyclicality in the supply of credit. This, in
  turn, has in the past reduced volatility in economic activity, leading to
  longer economic expansions with increased investment spending, thereby
  resulting in higher levels of capital raising;
 
- - GLOBALIZATION.  Heightened global competition has created a need for
  cross-border capabilities and economies of scale, resulting in increased joint
  venture and mergers and acquisitions activity;
 
- - FOCUS ON SHAREHOLDER VALUE.  Increasing focus on shareholder value has fueled
  an increase in restructuring and strategic initiatives, thereby yielding
  additional financial advisory and capital-raising opportunities;
 
- - CONSOLIDATION.  Moderate growth, limited pricing flexibility and the need for
  economies of scale have substantially increased consolidation opportunities in
  certain industries, and record levels of profit have provided companies with
  the resources to pursue strategic combinations, thereby creating substantial
  demand for mergers and acquisitions advisory services and subsequent capital
  raising;
 
- - DEMOGRAPHICS.  Changing demographics in the United States and other developed
  economies have increased the pool of savings available for private investment
  and the need for increased funding of pension plans due to the aging of the
  population, creating substantial demand for investment products and services;
  and
 
- - FINANCIAL PRODUCT INNOVATION.  Technology and financial expertise have led to
  the development of new financial products better tailored to the risk/reward
  requirements of investors, thereby increasing trading flows and proprietary
  investment opportunities.
 
     We believe that over the last 15 years these trends, coupled with generally
declining interest rates and favorable market conditions, have contributed to a
substantially higher rate of growth in activity in the financial services
industry than the growth in overall economic activity. The future economic
environment may not be as favorable as that experienced in the last 15 years
and, in particular, the period of declining interest rates in the United States
may not continue. There may also be periods of adverse economic and market
conditions. Nonetheless, we believe that these trends should continue to affect
the financial services industry positively over the long term. However, see
"Risk Factors -- Market Fluctuations Could Adversely Affect Our Businesses in
Many Ways" for a discussion of the effect that adverse economic conditions and
market fluctuations can have on the Firm's businesses.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>   60
 
     The following table sets forth selected key industry indicators:
 
                            KEY INDUSTRY INDICATORS
                          ($ in billions, except GDP)
                         (volume in millions of shares)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             AS OF OR FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                            --------------------------------------     CAGR
                                             1983      1988      1993       1998      '83-'98
                                             ----      ----      ----       ----      -------
<S>                                         <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>
GENERAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY:
($ in trillions)
Worldwide GDP(1)..........................  $   10    $   18    $    24    $    29(8)    8%(8)
U.S. GDP(2)...............................       4         5          7          9       6
 
ADVISORY ACTIVITIES/FINANCING:
Worldwide mergers and acquisitions(3).....      96       527        460      2,522      24
Worldwide equity issued(3)................      50        51        172        269      12
Worldwide debt issued(3)..................     146       631      1,546      2,932      22
 
WORLD EQUITY MARKETS:
Worldwide equity market
  capitalization(4).......................   3,384     9,728     14,016     23,541(8)   15(8)
U.S. market capitalization(4).............   1,898     2,794      5,136     11,309(8)   14(8)
FT/S&P Actuaries World Indices(TM) -- The
  World Index(5)..........................      NA       129        178        359      11
Dow Jones Industrial Average..............   1,259     2,169      3,754      9,181      14
S&P 500...................................     165       278        466      1,229      14
NYSE average daily volume.................      85       162        265        674      15
 
INVESTED FUNDS:
Worldwide pension assets(6)...............  $1,900    $3,752    $ 6,560    $ 9,694(8)   12(8)
Number of U.S. mutual funds(7)............   1,026     2,715      4,558      7,343      14
U.S. mutual fund assets(7)................  $  293    $  810    $ 2,075    $ 5,530      22
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Gross domestic product. Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit, January
    1999.
(2) Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
(3) Source: Securities Data Company.
(4) Source: International Finance Corporation.
(5) Index is calculated on a local currency basis based on total returns. CAGR
    is based on 1988-1998 data. The FT/S&P Actuaries World Indices are owned by
    FTSE International Limited, GS&Co. and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
    The Indices are compiled by FTSE International and Standard & Poor's Ratings
    Services in conjunction with the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of
    Actuaries.
(6) Source: InterSec Research Corp.
(7) Source: Investment Company Institute.
(8) Data as of December 31, 1997; CAGR 1983-1997.
                           -------------------------
 
     We believe scale, global resources and leading market positions are
important competitive advantages for financial intermediaries in this
environment. In addition, we believe that circumstances in certain regions
should provide opportunities for financial intermediaries.
 
                                     EUROPE
 
     The EMU commenced on January 1, 1999 and created a monetary union in Europe
with a single currency. As a result, we believe that over time a pan-European
capital market will develop that is likely to rival that of the United States in
size and liquidity. Financial intermediaries generally are expected to ben-
 
                                       58
<PAGE>   61
 
efit from a number of anticipated developments including:
 
- - pan-European consolidation and financial restructuring yielding an increase in
  mergers and acquisitions activity;
 
- - an increase in third-party assets under management and a major shift towards
  investments in equity securities due to an expected move to private pension
  fund systems, changing demographics and the elimination of intra-EMU currency
  risk;
 
- - a reallocation of equity portfolios to reflect pan-European indices;
 
- - the establishment of a European high-yield market to fund the growth of
  emerging high-growth industries and to satisfy investors' demands for higher
  yield; and
 
- - increased equity issuance and higher equity trading volumes.
 
                                      ASIA
 
     Since 1997, the currency weakness and disruptions, the deterioration in
certain of the region's banking systems, the weakness in the property sector in
many of the region's countries, as well as slowing consumer income growth, have
led to a significant and continuing weakening of these economies and their stock
markets. These developments have adversely affected the economic and market
conditions in the region and at times have affected economic and market
conditions elsewhere. We believe, however, that financial intermediaries could
have significant opportunities in this region if stability improves and the
economies, which represent approximately 60% of the world's population, resume
their growth. In the near term, these potential opportunities could include:
 
- -  an increase in mergers and acquisitions and other financial advisory services
   in connection with corporate restructurings;
 
- -  an increase in trading opportunities as financial intermediaries meet the
   liquidity needs of their clients; and
 
- -  an increase in capital raising as Asian corporations and governments access
   the international capital markets rather than the regional banking system to
   refinance and to fund future growth.
 
In the longer term, these potential opportunities could include:
 
- -  the emergence of corporate and real estate principal investment opportunities
   as a result of corporate and government restructurings; and
 
- -  an increase in third-party assets under management and a major shift towards
   investments in equity securities due to an anticipated move to private
   pension fund systems, changing demographics and the relaxation of foreign
   exchange restrictions.
 
                                       59
<PAGE>   62
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
                                    OVERVIEW
 
     Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and securities firm
with three principal business lines:
 
- - Investment Banking;
- - Trading and Principal Investments; and
- - Asset Management and Securities Services.
 
Our goal is to be the advisor of choice for our clients and a leading
participant in global financial markets. We provide services worldwide to a
substantial and diversified client base, which includes corporations, financial
institutions, governments and high net worth individuals.
 
     For 1998, our net revenues were $8.5 billion and our pre-tax earnings were
$2.9 billion. As of November 1998, our total assets were $217.4 billion and our
partners' capital was $6.3 billion.
 
     We have over time produced strong earnings growth and attractive returns on
partners' capital through different economic and market conditions. Over the
last 15 years, our pre-tax earnings have grown from $462 million in 1983 to $2.9
billion in 1998, representing a CAGR of 13%. Economic and market conditions can,
however, significantly affect our performance. For example, in the second half
of 1998, the Firm's performance was adversely affected by turbulence in global
financial markets.
 
     We have achieved this growth, which has been generated without the benefit
of a large acquisition, by maintaining an intense commitment to our clients,
focusing on our core businesses and key opportunities and operating as an
integrated franchise.
 
     Because we believe that the needs of our clients are global and that
international markets have high growth potential, we have built upon our
strength in the United States to achieve leading positions in other parts of the
world. Today, the Firm has a strong global presence as evidenced by the
geographic breadth of our transactions, leadership in our core products and the
size of our international operations. As of November 1998, we operated offices
in 23 countries and 36% of our 13,000 employees were based outside the United
States.
 
     We are committed to a distinctive culture and set of core values. These
values are reflected in our Business Principles, which emphasize placing our
clients' interests first, integrity, commitment to excellence and innovation,
and teamwork.
 
     The Firm is managed by its principal owners. Simultaneously with the
closing of the Common Stock Offering, we will make equity-based awards to
substantially all of our employees. Following the Common Stock Offering, our
employees, including former partners, will own approximately 66% of the Company.
None of our employees will be selling shares in the Common Stock Offering.
 
     The Firm is the successor to a commercial paper business founded in 1869 by
Marcus Goldman. Since then, we have grown our business as a participant and
intermediary in securities and other financial activities to become one of the
leading firms in the industry.
 
     In 1989, Group L.P. was formed to serve as the parent company of the
Goldman Sachs organization. As of November 30, 1996, Group L.P. was
restructured. On that date, the non-retiring former general partners of Group
L.P. converted their general partner interests into limited partner interests
and became profit participating limited partners of Group L.P. Concurrently, The
Goldman Sachs Corporation was admitted as Group L.P.'s sole general partner. The
common stock of The Goldman Sachs Corporation is owned by the profit
participating limited partners, all of whom are active in the Firm's businesses.
 
     GS Inc. was formed to succeed to the business of Group L.P. Simultaneously
with the closing of the Common Stock Offering, we will complete a number of
transactions in order to convert from partnership to corporate form. See
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Incorporation and Related
Transactions" for additional information concerning these transactions.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>   63
 
                               MARKET SHARE DATA
 
     Except as otherwise indicated, all amounts with respect to the volume,
number and market share of mergers and acquisitions and underwriting
transactions and related ranking information have been derived from information
compiled and classified by Securities Data Company ("SDC"). SDC obtains and
gathers its information from sources it considers reliable, but SDC does not
guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. In the case of
mergers and acquisitions, data are based upon the dollar value of announced
transactions for the period indicated, taken as a whole, with full credit to
each of the advisors to each party in a transaction. In the case of
underwritings, data are based upon the dollar value of total proceeds raised
(exclusive of any option to purchase additional shares) with equal credit to
each bookrunner for the period indicated, taken as a whole. As a result of this
method of compiling data, percentages may add to more than 100%.
 
                     STRATEGY AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS LINES
 
     Our strategy is to grow our three core businesses -- Investment Banking,
Trading and Principal Investments, and Asset Management and Securities
Services -- in markets throughout the world. Our leadership position in
investment banking provides us with access to governments, financial
institutions and corporate clients globally. Trading and principal investing has
been an important part of our culture and earnings, and we remain committed to
these businesses irrespective of their volatility. Managing wealth is one of the
fastest growing segments of the financial services industry and we are
positioning our asset management and securities services businesses to take
advantage of that growth. Our assets under supervision, for example, have grown
from $92.7 billion as of November 1994 to $336.8 billion as of November 1998,
representing a compound annual growth rate of 38%.
 
     Our business lines are comprised of various product and service offerings
that are set forth in the following chart:
 
                PRIMARY PRODUCTS AND ACTIVITIES BY BUSINESS LINE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                TRADING AND PRINCIPAL        ASSET MANAGEMENT AND
    INVESTMENT BANKING               INVESTMENTS              SECURITIES SERVICES
    ------------------          ---------------------        --------------------
<S>                          <C>                          <C>
- -- Equity and debt           -- Bank loans                -- Commissions
underwriting                 -- Commodities               -- Institutional and high
- -- Financial restructuring   -- Currencies                net worth asset management
   advisory services         -- Equity and fixed income   -- Margin lending
- -- Mergers and acquisitions     derivatives               -- Matched book
advisory services            -- Equity and fixed income   -- Merchant banking fees
- -- Real estate advisory         securities                   and overrides
   services                  -- Principal investments     -- Mutual funds
                             -- Proprietary arbitrage     -- Prime brokerage
                                                          -- Securities lending
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
INVESTMENT BANKING
 
     Investment Banking represented 39% of 1998 net revenues and 35% of 1997 net
revenues. We are a market leader in both the financial advisory and underwriting
businesses, serving over 3,000 clients worldwide. For the period January 1, 1994
to December 31, 1998, we had the industry-leading market share of 25.3% in
worldwide mergers and acquisitions advisory services, having advised on over
$1.7 trillion of transactions. Over the same period, we also achieved number one
market shares of 15.2% in underwriting worldwide initial public offerings and
14.4% in underwriting worldwide common stock issues.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>   64
 
TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     Trading and Principal Investments represented 28% of 1998 net revenues and
39% of 1997 net revenues. We make markets in equity and fixed income products,
currencies and commodities; enter into swaps and other derivative transactions;
engage in proprietary trading and arbitrage; and make principal investments. In
trading, we focus on building lasting relationships with our most active clients
while maintaining leadership positions in our key markets. We believe our
research, market-making and proprietary activities enhance our understanding of
markets and ability to serve our clients.
 
ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES
 
     Asset Management and Securities Services represented 33% of 1998 net
revenues and 26% of 1997 net revenues. We provide global investment management
and advisory services; earn commissions on agency transactions; earn management
fees and derive overrides from our merchant banking funds; and provide prime
brokerage, securities lending and financing services. As of November 1998, the
Firm had $336.8 billion of assets under supervision, of which $194.8 billion
represented assets under management. Our asset management business is rapidly
growing, with net asset inflows that averaged over $125 million per business day
during 1998. We manage merchant banking funds that had $15.5 billion of capital
commitments as of November 1998.
 
     We pursue our strategy to grow our three core businesses through an
emphasis on:
 
EXPANDING HIGH VALUE-ADDED BUSINESSES
 
     To achieve strong growth and high returns, we seek to build leadership
positions in high value-added services for our clients. For example, we have
substantially increased the number of professionals in investment banking to
improve and expand our ability to execute mergers and acquisitions, initial
public offerings and high-yield financings. In trading, we structure and execute
large and complex transactions for institutional investors, pension funds and
corporate clients around the world. In asset management, we emphasize equity and
alternative investment products and use our established international presence
to build a global asset management franchise.
 
INCREASING THE STABILITY OF OUR EARNINGS
 
     We seek to balance the stability of our earnings with return on equity and
long-term earnings growth. We believe our trading businesses are key ingredients
to our success. While we plan to continue to grow our trading businesses, the
financial market shocks of the past year underscored the importance of our
strategy to emphasize growth in our investment banking, asset management and
securities services businesses. Through a greater relative emphasis on these
businesses, we plan to gradually increase the stability of our earnings.
 
PURSUING INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 
     We believe that our global reach will allow us to take advantage of growth
in international markets. In Europe, for example, the recent establishment of
the EMU is expected, over time, to create a large pan-European market rivaling
the U.S. capital markets in size and liquidity. We believe this will generate
increased activity across our businesses in the region. In Asia, we expect
increased mergers and acquisitions advisory opportunities as a result of
corporate restructurings and increased trading opportunities as we meet the
liquidity needs of our clients. In the longer term, we anticipate additional
opportunities in asset management activities due to an expected shift towards
privatization of pension systems and changing demographics.
 
LEVERAGING THE FRANCHISE
 
     We believe our various businesses are generally stronger and more
successful because they are part of the Goldman Sachs franchise. Our culture of
teamwork fosters cooperation among our businesses, which allows us to provide
our clients with a full range of products and services on a coordinated basis.
Our investment bankers, for example, refer clients who are selling their
businesses to those in the Firm who manage wealth. In addition, our merchant
banking
                                       62
<PAGE>   65
 
investments in companies lead to future clients for investment banking.
 
                             COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
 
STRONG CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
 
     We focus on building long-term client relationships. In 1998, over 75% of
our Investment Banking revenues represented business from existing clients of
the Firm. We also aggressively pursue new client relationships as evidenced by
the over 400 investment banking transactions we completed for first-time clients
in 1998. In our trading businesses, we structure and execute transactions across
a wide array of markets and countries to meet our clients' needs. In our asset
management business, we managed assets for three of the five largest pension
pools in the United States as ranked as of September 30, 1998 by Pensions &
Investments and maintain accounts for 41% of the 1998 "Forbes 400 List of the
Richest Americans".
 
DISTINCTIVE PEOPLE AND CULTURE
 
     Our most important asset is our people. We seek to reinforce our employees'
commitment to our culture and values through recruiting, training, a
comprehensive 360-degree review system and a compensation philosophy that
rewards teamwork. We were ranked number seven in Fortune magazine's "The 100
Best Companies to Work for in America" in January 1999 and were ranked number
three in Fortune magazine's 1999 "The Top 50 MBA Dream Companies", the
highest-ranked investment banking and securities firm in each case.
 
GLOBAL REACH
 
     Over the past decade, we have made a significant commitment to building a
worldwide business. We have achieved leading positions in major international
markets by capitalizing on our product knowledge and global research, as well as
by building a local presence where appropriate. In doing so, we have become one
of the few truly global investment banking and securities firms with the ability
to execute large and complex cross-border transactions. We had the number one
market share of 23.2% in cross-border mergers and acquisitions for the period
from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1998. In addition, in Japan, we were the
largest non-Japanese mutual fund manager as of January 31, 1999, according to
The Investment Trusts Association.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------------
                                                               1996      1997      1998
                                                               ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
Net revenues:
  Investment Banking........................................  $2,113    $2,587    $3,368
  Trading and Principal Investments.........................   2,693     2,926     2,379
  Asset Management and Securities Services..................   1,323     1,934     2,773
                                                              ------    ------    ------
Total net revenues..........................................  $6,129    $7,447    $8,520
                                                              ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               INVESTMENT BANKING
 
     The Firm provides a broad range of investment banking services to a diverse
group of over 3,000 clients worldwide, including corporations, financial
institutions, governments and individuals. Our investment banking activities are
divided into two categories:
 
- - FINANCIAL ADVISORY.  Financial advisory includes advisory assignments with
  respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures,
 
                                       63
<PAGE>   66
 
corporate defense activities, restructurings and spin-offs; and
 
- - UNDERWRITING.  Underwriting includes public offerings and private placements
  of equity and debt securities.
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Investment
Banking business:
 
                        INVESTMENT BANKING NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              ------------------------
                                                               1996     1997     1998
                                                               ----     ----     ----
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>      <C>
Financial advisory..........................................  $  931   $1,184   $1,774
Underwriting................................................   1,182    1,403    1,594
                                                              ------   ------   ------
Total Investment Banking....................................  $2,113   $2,587   $3,368
                                                              ======   ======   ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     In Investment Banking, we provide our clients with quality advice and
execution as part of our effort to develop and maintain long-term relationships
as their lead investment bank.
 
ORGANIZATION
 
     We have continuously adapted our organizational structure to meet changing
market dynamics and our clients' needs. Our current structure, which is
organized along regional, execution and industry groups, seeks to combine
client-focused investment bankers with execution and industry expertise. Because
our businesses are global, we have adapted our organization to meet the demands
of our clients in each geographic region. Through our commitment to teamwork, we
believe that we provide services in an integrated fashion for the benefit of our
clients.
 
     We believe an important competitive advantage in our marketing effort is
Investment Banking Services ("IBS"), a core group of professionals who focus on
developing and maintaining strong client relationships. These bankers, who are
organized regionally and/or by industry group, work with senior executives of
our clients to identify areas where Goldman Sachs can provide capital-raising,
financial advisory or other products and services. The broad base of experience
and knowledge of our IBS professionals enables them to analyze our clients'
objectives efficiently and to bring to bear the appropriate resources of the
Firm to satisfy those objectives.
 
     The Firm's Corporate Finance, Debt and Equity Capital Markets, Leveraged
Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions groups bring product expertise and
innovation to clients in a variety of industries. These groups are responsible
for the execution of specific client transactions as well as the building of
strong client relationships.
 
     In an effort to serve our clients' needs in targeted industries, we have
established several industry focus groups. These include: Chemicals;
Communications, Media and Entertainment; Energy and Power; Financial
Institutions; Healthcare; High Technology; Hotels and Gaming; Real Estate;
Retailing; and Transportation. Drawing on specialized knowledge of
industry-specific trends, these groups provide the full range of investment
banking products and services to our clients.
 
     Reflecting our commitment to innovation, Investment Banking has established
a New Products group whose professionals focus on creating new financial
products. These professionals have particular expertise in integrating finance
with accounting, tax and securities laws and work closely with other investment
banking teams to provide innovative solutions to difficult client problems. Our
structuring expertise has proven to be particularly valuable in addressing
client needs in areas such as complex cross-border mergers
 
                                       64
<PAGE>   67
 
and acquisitions and convertible and other hybrid equity financings.
 
FINANCIAL ADVISORY
 
     Financial advisory includes a broad range of advisory assignments with
respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities,
restructurings and spin-offs. Goldman Sachs is a leading investment bank in
worldwide mergers and acquisitions. During calendar 1998, we advised on 340
mergers and acquisitions transactions with a combined value of $957 billion.
 
     The Firm's mergers and acquisitions capabilities are evidenced by its
significant share of assignments in large, complex transactions where it
provides multiple services, including "one-stop" acquisition financing, currency
hedging and cross-border structuring expertise. Goldman Sachs advised on seven
of the ten largest mergers and acquisitions transactions through December 31,
1998. We have also been successful in Europe, including in intra-country
transactions, and we are a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor in France,
Germany and Spain.
 
     The following table illustrates the Firm's leadership in the mergers and
acquisitions advisory market for the indicated period taken as a whole:
 
              GOLDMAN SACHS' MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS MARKET DATA
            For the period January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1998
                                ($ in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               MARKET               NUMBER OF
                     CATEGORY                       RANK(1)    SHARE     VOLUME    TRANSACTIONS
                     --------                       -------    ------    ------    ------------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>
Worldwide.........................................   1          25.3%    $1,715       1,334
Worldwide, transactions over $500 million.........   1          34.8      1,593         470
Worldwide, transactions over $1 billion...........   1          38.4      1,470         297
United States.....................................   1          32.8      1,316         907
United States, transactions over $500 million.....   1          41.3      1,228         339
United States, transactions over $1 billion.......   1          44.3      1,142         221
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Rank in any one year during the period presented may vary from the rank for
    the period taken as a whole.
                            ------------------------
 
     Mergers and acquisitions is an example of how one activity can generate
cross-selling opportunities for other areas of the Firm. For example, a client
we are advising in a purchase transaction may seek our assistance in obtaining
financing and in hedging interest rate or foreign currency risks associated with
the acquisition. In the case of dispositions, owners and senior executives of
the acquired company often will seek asset management services. In these cases,
our high net worth relationship managers provide comprehensive advice on
investment alternatives and execute the client's desired strategy.
 
UNDERWRITING
 
     Since January 1, 1994, Goldman Sachs has served as lead manager in
transactions that have raised more than $900 billion of capital for clients
worldwide. The Firm underwrites a wide range of securities and other
instruments, including common and preferred stock, convertible securities,
investment grade debt, high-yield debt, sovereign and emerging markets debt,
municipal debt, bank loans, asset-backed securities and real estate-related
securities, such as mortgage-backed securities and the securities of real estate
investment trusts.
 
                                       65
<PAGE>   68
 
     EQUITY UNDERWRITING.  Equity underwriting has been a long-term core
strength of the Firm. The following table illustrates the Firm's
leadership position in equity underwriting for the indicated period taken as a
whole:
 
                 GOLDMAN SACHS' EQUITY UNDERWRITING MARKET DATA
            For the period January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1998
                                ($ in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               TOTAL
                                                                     MARKET   PROCEEDS   NUMBER OF
                        CATEGORY                           RANK(1)   SHARE     RAISED    ISSUES(2)
                        --------                           -------   ------   --------   ---------
<S>                                                        <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>
Worldwide Initial Public Offerings ("IPOs")..............   1         15.2%     $ 44        300
Worldwide IPOs, proceeds over $500 million...............   1         23.3        25         59
Worldwide public common stock offerings..................   1         14.4       101        634
U.S. IPOs................................................   1         15.3        31        179
U.S. IPOs, proceeds over $500 million....................   1         30.1        16         29
U.S. public common stock offerings.......................   2         14.3        71        381
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Rank in any one year during the period presented may vary from the rank for
    the period taken as a whole.
(2) The number of issues reflects the number of tranches; an offering by a
    single issuer could have multiple tranches.
                            ------------------------
 
     As with mergers and acquisitions, we have been particularly successful in
winning mandates for large, complex equity underwritings. As evidenced in the
chart above, our market share of IPOs with total proceeds over $500 million is
substantially higher than our market share of all IPOs. We believe our
leadership in large IPOs reflects our expertise in complex transactions,
research strengths, track record and distribution capabilities. In the
international arena, we have also acted as lead manager on many of the largest
IPOs. We were named the Asian Equity House of the Year by International
Financing Review in 1998.
 
     We believe that a key factor in our equity underwriting success is the
close working relationship between the investment bankers, research analysts and
sales force as coordinated by our Equity Capital Markets group. Goldman Sachs'
equities sales force is one of the most experienced and effective sales
organizations in the industry. With 350 institutional sales professionals and
420 high net worth relationship managers located in every major market around
the world, Goldman Sachs has relationships with a large and diverse group of
investors.
 
     Global Investment Research is critical to our ability to succeed in the
equity underwriting business. We believe that high quality equity research is a
significant competitive advantage in the market for new equity issues. In this
regard, Goldman Sachs' research has been consistently ranked among the
industry's global leaders. See "-- Global Investment Research" for detailed
information regarding our Global Investment Research Department.
 
     DEBT UNDERWRITING.  We engage in the underwriting and origination of
various types of debt instruments that we broadly categorize as follows:
investment grade debt for corporations, governments, municipalities and
agencies; leveraged finance, which includes high-yield debt and bank loans for
non-investment grade issuers; emerging market debt, which includes corporate and
sovereign issues; and asset-backed securities. We have employed a focused
approach in debt underwriting, emphasizing high value-added areas in servicing
our clients.
 
     We believe that the leveraged finance market is a key growth opportunity
for our debt underwriting business. Over the last three years, we have more than
doubled the
 
                                       66
<PAGE>   69
 
number of debt underwriting professionals dedicated to this area.
 
     The table below sets forth our rank, market position, our total proceeds
raised and the number of debt transactions in which we have acted as underwriter
in the following areas for the indicated period taken as a whole:
 
                  GOLDMAN SACHS' DEBT UNDERWRITING MARKET DATA
            For the period January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1998
                                ($ in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           TOTAL
                                                                MARKET    PROCEEDS    NUMBER OF
                    CATEGORY(1)                      RANK(5)    SHARE      RAISED     ISSUES(6)
                    -----------                      -------    ------    --------    ---------
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>
Worldwide debt(2)..................................     3         8.4%      $695        4,684
Worldwide straight debt(3).........................     3         8.9        559        4,165
U.S. investment grade straight debt(3).............     3        12.0        419        3,590
U.S. investment grade industrial straight
  debt(3)..........................................     1        19.5         81          517
U.S. high-yield debt(4)............................     5         8.0         33          184
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) All categories include publicly registered and Rule 144A issues.
(2) Includes non-convertible preferred stock, mortgage-backed securities,
    asset-backed securities and taxable municipal debt.
(3) "Straight debt" excludes non-convertible preferred stock, mortgage-backed
    securities, asset-backed securities and municipal debt.
(4) Excludes issues with both investment grade and non-investment grade ratings,
    often referred to as "split-rated issues".
(5) Rank in any one year during the period presented may vary from the rank for
    the period taken as a whole.
(6) The number of issues reflects the number of tranches; an offering by a
    single issuer could have multiple tranches.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                       TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     The Firm's Trading and Principal Investments business facilitates customer
transactions and takes proprietary positions through market making in and
trading of fixed income and equity products, currencies, commodities, and swaps
and other derivatives. In order to meet the needs of our clients, our Trading
and Principal Investments business is diversified across a wide range of
products. For example, we make markets in traditional investment grade debt
securities, structure complex derivatives and securitize mortgages and insurance
risk. A fundamental tenet of our approach is that we believe our willingness and
ability to take risk distinguishes us and substantially enhances our client
relationships. Our Trading and Principal Investments business includes the
following:
 
- - FIXED INCOME, CURRENCY AND COMMODITIES. The Firm makes markets in and trades
  fixed income products, currencies and commodities, structures and enters into
  a wide variety of derivative transactions and engages in proprietary trading
  and arbitrage activities;
 
- - EQUITIES.  The Firm makes markets in and trades equities and equity-related
  products, structures and enters into equity derivative transactions and
  engages in proprietary trading and equity arbitrage; and
 
- - PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS.  Principal investments primarily represents the Firm's
  net revenues from its investments in its merchant banking funds.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>   70
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Trading and
Principal Investments business:
 
                 TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              ------------------------
                                                               1996     1997     1998
                                                               ----     ----     ----
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>      <C>
FICC........................................................  $1,749   $2,055   $1,438
Equities....................................................     730      573      795
Principal investments.......................................     214      298      146
                                                              ------   ------   ------
Total Trading and Principal Investments.....................  $2,693   $2,926   $2,379
                                                              ======   ======   ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
FIXED INCOME, CURRENCY AND COMMODITIES
 
     FICC is a large and diversified operation through which we engage in a
variety of customer-driven market making and proprietary trading and arbitrage
activities. FICC's principal products are:
 
- - Bank loans
- - Commodities
- - Currencies
- - Derivatives
- - Emerging market debt
- - Global government securities
- - High-yield securities
- - Investment grade corporate securities
- - Money market instruments
- - Mortgage securities and loans
- - Municipal securities
 
     We generate trading net revenues from our customer-driven business in three
ways. First, in large, highly liquid markets we undertake a high volume of
transactions for modest spreads. Second, by capitalizing on our strong market
relationships and capital position, we also undertake transactions in less
liquid markets where spreads are generally larger. Finally, we generate net
revenues from structuring and executing transactions that address complex client
needs.
 
     In our proprietary activities, we assume a variety of risks and devote
substantial resources to identify, analyze and benefit from these exposures. We
leverage our strong research capabilities and capitalize on our proprietary
analytical models to analyze information and make informed trading judgments. We
seek to benefit from perceived disparities in the value of assets in the trading
markets and from macroeconomic and company-specific trends.
 
     FICC has established itself as a leading market participant by using a
three-part approach to deliver high quality service to its clients. First, we
offer broad market making, research and market knowledge to our clients on a
global basis. Second, we create innovative solutions to complex client problems
by drawing upon our structuring and trading expertise. Third, we use our
expertise to take positions in markets when we believe the return is at least
commensurate with the risk.
 
     A core activity in FICC is market making in a broad array of securities and
products. For example, we are a primary dealer in many of the largest government
bond markets around the world, including the United States, Japan, the United
Kingdom and Canada; we are a member of the major futures exchanges; and we have
interbank dealer status in the currency markets in New York, London, Tokyo and
Hong Kong. The Firm's willingness to make markets in a broad range of fixed
income, currency and commodity products and their derivatives is crucial both to
the Firm's client relationships and to support its underwriting business by
providing secondary market liquidity. Our clients value counterparties that are
active in the marketplace and are willing to provide liquidity and
research-based points of view. In addition, we believe that our significant
investment in research capabilities
 
                                       68
<PAGE>   71
 
and proprietary analytical models are critical to our ability to provide advice
to our clients. Our research capabilities include quantitative and qualitative
analyses of global economic, currency and financial market trends, as well as
credit analyses of corporate and sovereign fixed income securities.
 
     Our clients often confront complex problems that require creative
approaches. We assist our clients who seek to hedge or reallocate their risks
and profit from expected price movements. To do this we bring to bear the
ability of our experienced professionals to understand the needs of our clients
and our ability to manage the risks associated with complex solutions to
problems. In recognition of our ability to meet these client needs, we were
ranked by Institutional Investor in February 1999 as the number two derivatives
dealer for the second straight year. In addition, we were named by Euroweek in
January 1999 as the "Best provider of swaps and other derivatives".
 
EQUITIES
 
     The Firm engages in a variety of market-making, proprietary trading and
arbitrage activities in equity securities and equity-related products (such as
convertible securities and equity derivative instruments) on a global basis.
Goldman Sachs makes markets and positions blocks of stock to facilitate
customers' transactions and to provide liquidity in the marketplace. The Firm is
a member of most of the major stock exchanges, including New York, London,
Frankfurt, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
 
     As agent, the Firm executes brokerage transactions in equity securities for
institutional and individual customers that generate commission revenues.
Commissions earned on agency transactions are recorded in Asset Management and
Securities Services.
 
     In equity trading, as in FICC, the Firm generates net revenues from our
customer-driven business in three ways. First, in large, highly liquid principal
markets, such as the OTC market for equity securities, we undertake a high
volume of transactions for modest spreads. In the Nasdaq National Market, we
were the second largest market maker by aggregate volume in the top 100 most
actively traded stocks in calendar 1998. Second, by capitalizing on our strong
market relationships and capital position, we also undertake large transactions,
such as block trades and positions in securities, in which we benefit from
spreads that are generally larger. Finally, the Firm also benefits from
structuring complex transactions.
 
     Goldman Sachs was a pioneer and is a leader in the execution of large block
trades (trades of 50,000 or more shares) in the United States and abroad. In
calendar 1998, we executed over 50 block trades of at least $100 million each.
The Firm has been able to capitalize on its expertise in block trading, its
global distribution network and its willingness to commit capital to effect
increasingly large and complex customer transactions. We expect corporate
consolidation and restructuring and increased demand for certainty and speed of
execution by sellers and issuers of securities to increase both the frequency
and size of sales of large blocks of equity securities. We believe that we are
well positioned to benefit from this trend. Block transactions, however, expose
the Firm to increased risks, including those arising from holding large and
concentrated positions and decreasing spreads. See "Risk Factors -- Market
Fluctuations Could Adversely Affect Our Businesses in Many Ways -- Concentration
of Risk" for a discussion of the risks associated with holding a large position
in a single issuer and "-- The Financial Services Industry Is Intensely
Competitive and Rapidly Consolidating" for a discussion of the competitive risks
that we face.
 
     The Firm is active in the listed options and futures markets and
structures, distributes and executes OTC derivatives on market indices, industry
groups and individual company stocks to facilitate customer transactions and its
proprietary activities. We develop quantitative strategies and render advice
with respect to portfolio hedging and restructuring and asset allocation
transactions. The Firm also creates specially tailored instruments to enable
sophisticated investors to undertake hedging strategies and establish or
liquidate investment positions. The Firm is one of the leading participants in
the trading and devel-
                                       69
<PAGE>   72
 
opment of equity derivative instruments. The Firm is an active participant in
the trading of futures and options on most of the major exchanges in the United
States, Europe and Asia.
 
     Equity arbitrage has long been an important part of our equity franchise.
Our strategy is based on making investments on a global basis through a
diversified portfolio across different markets and event categories. This
business focuses on event-oriented special situations where the Firm is not
acting as an advisor and relative value trades. These special situations include
mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, recapitalizations and legal
and regulatory events. Equity arbitrage leverages the Firm's global
infrastructure and network of research analysts to analyze carefully a broad
range of trading and investment strategies across a wide variety of markets.
Investment decisions are the product of rigorous fundamental, situational and,
frequently, regulatory and legal analysis. Although market conditions led us to
decrease the number and size of positions maintained by our equity arbitrage
business during 1998, we believe that over time, as opportunities present
themselves, our equity arbitrage business will likely increase its activity.
 
TRADING RISK MANAGEMENT
 
     We believe that our trading and market-making capabilities are key
ingredients to our success. While these businesses have generally earned
attractive returns, we have in the past incurred significant trading losses in
periods of market turbulence such as in 1994 and 1998. Our trading risk
management process seeks to balance our ability to profit from trading positions
with our exposure to potential losses. Risk management includes input from all
levels of the Firm, from the trading desks to the Firmwide Risk Committee. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Risk Management" for a further discussion of our risk management
policies and procedures.
 
     1998 EXPERIENCE.  From mid-August to mid-October 1998, the Russian economic
crisis, the turmoil in Asian and Latin American emerging markets and the
resulting "flight to quality" by many investors led to substantial declines in
global financial markets. Investors broadly sold credit-sensitive products, such
as corporate and high-yield debt, and bought higher-rated instruments, such as
U.S. Treasury securities, which caused credit spreads to widen dramatically.
This market turmoil also caused a widespread decline in global equity markets.
 
     As a major dealer in fixed income securities, we maintain substantial
inventories of corporate and high-yield debt. In the second half of 1998, we
sought to hedge the interest rate risk on these positions through short
positions in U.S. Treasury securities. As a result, we suffered losses from both
the decline in the prices of corporate and high-yield debt instruments that we
owned and the increase in the prices of the U.S. Treasury securities in which we
had short positions.
 
     These market shocks also led to trading losses in our fixed income relative
value trading positions. Relative value trading positions are intended to profit
from a perceived temporary dislocation in the relationship between the values of
different financial instruments. From mid-August to mid-October 1998, the
components of these relative value positions moved in directions that we did not
anticipate and the volatilities of certain positions increased to three times
prior levels. When we and other market participants with similar positions
simultaneously sought to reduce positions and exposures, this caused a
substantial reduction in market liquidity and a continuing decline in prices.
 
     In the second half of 1998, we also experienced losses in equity arbitrage
and in the value of certain merchant banking investments.
 
     RISK REDUCTION.  Over the course of this period, we actively reduced our
positions and exposure to severe market disruptions of the type described above.
Our current scenario models estimate our exposure to a substantial widening in
credit spreads and adverse movements in relative value trades of the type
experienced in mid-August to mid-October 1998. These models indicate that, as of
 
                                       70
<PAGE>   73
 
November 1998, our exposure to a potential reduction in net trading revenues as
a result of these events was over 40% lower than in August 1998. In addition,
the daily VaR of substantially all of our trading positions declined from $47
million as of May 29, 1998 to $43 million as of November 1998. The November 1998
daily VaR reflects the reduction in positions discussed above, offset by the
higher market volatility, changes in correlation and other market conditions
experienced in the second half of 1998. If the daily VaR as of November 1998 had
been determined using the volatility and correlation data as of May 29, 1998,
the daily VaR would have been $31 million. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Management"
for a discussion of VaR and its limitations.
 
     As part of the continuous effort to refine our risk management policies and
procedures, we have recently made a number of adjustments to the way that we
evaluate risk and set risk limits. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Management -- Market Risk"
for a further discussion of our policies and procedures for evaluating market
risk and setting related limits.
 
     Notwithstanding these actions, the Firm continues to hold trading positions
that are substantial in both number and size, and is subject to significant
market risk. In addition, management may choose to increase the Firm's risk
levels in the future. See "Risk Factors -- Market Fluctuations Could Adversely
Affect Our Businesses in Many Ways" and "-- Our Risk Management Policies and
Procedures May Leave Us Exposed to Unidentified or Unanticipated Risk" for a
discussion of the risks associated with the Firm's trading positions.
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     In connection with its merchant banking activities, the Firm invests with
its clients by making principal investments in funds that it raises and manages.
As of November 1998, the Firm had committed $2.8 billion, of which $1.7 billion
had been funded, of the $15.5 billion total equity capital committed for its
merchant banking funds. The funds' investments generate capital appreciation or
depreciation and, upon disposition, realized gains or losses. See "-- Asset
Management and Securities Services -- Merchant Banking" for a discussion of our
merchant banking funds. As of November 1998, the Firm's aggregate carrying value
of its principal investments held directly or through its merchant banking funds
was approximately $1.4 billion, which was comprised of corporate principal
investments with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $609 million and
real estate investments with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $753
million.
 
                    ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES
 
     Asset Management and Securities Services is comprised of the following:
 
- - ASSET MANAGEMENT.  Asset management generates management fees by providing
  investment advisory services to a diverse and rapidly growing client base of
  institutions and individuals;
 
- - SECURITIES SERVICES.  Securities services includes prime brokerage, financing
  services and securities lending and the Firm's matched book businesses, all of
  which generate revenue primarily in the form of fees or interest rate spreads;
  and
 
- - COMMISSIONS.  Commission-based businesses include agency transactions for
  clients on major stock and futures exchanges. Overrides derived from the
  Firm's merchant banking funds are also included in commissions.
 
                                       71
<PAGE>   74
 
     The following table sets forth the net revenues of the Firm's Asset
Management and Securities Services business:
 
             ASSET MANAGEMENT AND SECURITIES SERVICES NET REVENUES
                                 (in millions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------------
                                                               1996      1997      1998
                                                               ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
Asset management............................................  $  242    $  458    $  675
Securities services.........................................     354       487       730
Commissions.................................................     727       989     1,368
                                                              ------    ------    ------
Total Asset Management and Securities Services..............  $1,323    $1,934    $2,773
                                                              ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
ASSET MANAGEMENT
 
     The Firm is seeking to build a premier global asset management business. We
offer a broad array of investment strategies and advice across all major asset
classes: global equity, fixed income (including money markets), currency and
alternative investment products (i.e., investment vehicles with non-traditional
investment objectives and/or strategies). Assets under supervision are comprised
of assets under management and other client assets. Assets under management
typically generate fees based on a percentage of their value and include our
mutual funds, separate accounts managed for institutional and individual
investors, our merchant banking funds and other alternative investment funds.
Other client assets are comprised of assets in brokerage accounts of primarily
high net worth individuals, on which we earn commissions.
 
     Over the last five years, the Firm has rapidly grown its assets under
supervision, as set forth in the graph below:
 
                            ASSETS UNDER SUPERVISION
                                 (in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Assets under
                                                    management          Other client assets         Totals
<S>                                           <C>                      <C>                          <C>

'1994'                                                  44                       49                  $ 93 
'1995'                                                  52                       58                   110
'1996'                                                  94                       77                   171
'1997'                                                 136                      102                   238
'1998'                                                 195                      142                   337
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     As of November 1998, equities and alternative investments represented 51%
of our total assets under management. Since 1996, these two asset classes have
been the primary drivers of our growth in assets under management. The Firm had
net asset inflows that averaged over $125 million per business day during 1998,
excluding market appreciation. In 1998, approximately 80% of the increase in
assets under management was
 
                                       72
<PAGE>   75
 
attributable to net asset inflows, with the remaining 20% reflecting market
appreciation.
 
     The following table sets forth the amount of assets under management by
asset class:
 
                     ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY ASSET CLASS
                                 (in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                      ------------------------------------
                                                      1994    1995    1996    1997    1998
                                                      ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
<S>                                                   <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
ASSET CLASS
Equity..............................................  $ 6     $  9    $ 34    $ 52    $ 69
Fixed income and currency...........................   17       19      26      36      50
Money markets.......................................   18       20      27      31      46
Alternative investment(1)...........................    3        4       8      17      30
                                                      ---     ----    ----    ----    ----
Total...............................................  $44     $ 52    $ 95    $136    $195
                                                      ===     ====    ====    ====    ====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Includes private equity, real estate, quantitative asset allocation and
    other funds that are managed by the Firm.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Since the beginning of 1996, we have increased the resources devoted to the
asset management business, including adding over 850 employees. In addition,
over the past three years, the Firm has made three asset management acquisitions
in order to expand its geographic reach and broaden its global equity and
alternative investment portfolio management capabilities.
 
     The Firm's global reach has been important in growing assets under
management. From November 1996 to November 1998, our assets under management,
excluding our merchant banking funds, sourced from outside the United States
grew by over $30 billion. As of November 1998, we managed approximately $40
billion sourced from Europe.
 
     In Japan, deregulation, high individual savings rates and low local rates
of return have been important drivers of growth for our asset management
business during the 1990s. Over the last three years, we have built a
significant asset management business in Japan, and, as of January 31, 1999, we
managed $24 billion of assets sourced from Japan. In Japan, as of January 31,
1999, we were the largest non-Japanese investment trust manager, according to
The Investment Trusts Association, and we managed four of the top 15 open-ended
mutual funds ranked by mutual fund assets, according to IFIS Inc. We believe
that substantial opportunities exist to grow our asset management business in
Japan, by increasing our institutional client base and expanding the third-party
distribution network through which we offer our mutual funds.
 
     CLIENTS.  Our primary clients are institutions, high net worth individuals
and retail investors. We access clients through both direct and third-party
channels.
 
                                       73
<PAGE>   76
 
     The table below sets forth the amount of assets under supervision by
distribution channel and client category as of November 1998:
 
                ASSETS UNDER SUPERVISION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
                                 (in billions)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   ASSETS UNDER
                                  SUPERVISION(1)      PRIMARY INVESTMENT VEHICLES
                                  --------------      ---------------------------
<S>                               <C>                <C>
- - Directly distributed
  -- Institutional..............      $  121         Separate managed accounts
                                                     Commingled vehicles
 
  -- High net worth
     individuals................         156         Brokerage accounts
                                                     Limited partnerships
                                                     Separate managed accounts
- - Third-party distributed
  -- Institutional and retail...          48         Mutual funds
                                      ------
Total...........................      $  325
                                      ======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Excludes $12 billion in our merchant banking funds.
                            ------------------------
 
     Our institutional clients include corporations, insurance companies,
pension funds, foundations and endowments. We managed assets for three of the
five largest pension pools in the United States as ranked as of September 30,
1998 by Pensions & Investments and we have 17 clients for whom we manage at
least $1 billion each.
 
     In the individual high net worth area, we have established approximately
10,000 high net worth accounts worldwide, including accounts with 41% of the
1998 "Forbes 400 List of the Richest Americans". We believe this is a high
growth opportunity because this market (defined as the market for individual
investors with a net worth in excess of $5 million) is highly fragmented,
growing rapidly and accounts for approximately $10 trillion of investable assets
according to a study by McKinsey & Co. At the center of our effort is a team of
over 420 relationship managers, located in 12 U.S. and six international
offices. These professionals have an average of over seven years of experience
at the Firm and have exhibited low turnover and superior productivity relative
to the industry average.
 
     In the third-party distribution channel, we distribute our mutual funds on
a worldwide basis through banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and other
financial intermediaries. As of December 31, 1998, we were the third largest
manager in the U.S. institutional money market sector according to information
compiled by Strategic Insight. In Japan, we also utilize a third-party
distribution network consisting principally of the largest Japanese brokerage
firms.
 
MERCHANT BANKING
 
     The Firm has an established successful record in the corporate and real
estate merchant banking business, having raised $15.5 billion of committed
capital for 15 private investment funds, as of November 1998, of which $9.0
billion had been funded. The Firm has committed $2.8 billion and funded $1.7
billion of these amounts; clients of the Firm, including pension plans,
endowments, charitable institutions and high net worth individuals, have
provided the remainder. Some of these investment funds pursue, on a global
basis, long-term investments in equity and debt securities in privately
negotiated transactions, leveraged buyouts and acquisitions. As of November
1998, these funds had total committed capital of $7.7 billion, which includes
two funds with $1.0 billion of committed capital that are in the process of
 
                                       74
<PAGE>   77
 
being wound down. Other funds, with total committed capital of $7.8 billion as
of November 1998, invest in real estate operating companies and debt and equity
interests in real estate assets.
 
     Our strategy with respect to each merchant banking fund is to invest
opportunistically to build a portfolio of investments that is diversified by
industry, product type, geographic region and transaction structure and type.
Our merchant banking funds leverage the Firm's long-standing relationships with
companies, investors, entrepreneurs and financial intermediaries around the
world to source potential investment opportunities. In addition, our merchant
banking funds and their portfolio companies have generated business for other
areas of the Firm, including equity underwriting, leveraged and other financing
fees and merger advisory fees.
 
     Located in eight offices around the world, our investment professionals
identify, manage and sell investments on behalf of our merchant banking funds.
The Firm has two subsidiaries that manage real estate assets, Archon and Archon
France. In addition, our merchant banking professionals work closely with other
areas of the Firm and benefit from the expertise of specialists in debt and
equity research, investment banking, leveraged and mortgage finance and equity
capital markets.
 
     Merchant banking activities generate three revenue streams. First, the Firm
receives a management fee that is generally a percentage of a fund's committed
capital, invested capital, total gross acquisition cost or asset value. These
annual management fees, which are included in our asset management revenues,
have historically been a recurring source of revenue. Second, the Firm receives
from each fund, after that fund has achieved a minimum return for fund
investors, an increased share of the fund's income and gains ("override") which
is a percentage, typically 20%, of the capital appreciation and gains from the
fund's investments. Revenues from overrides are included in commissions. Third,
the Firm, as a substantial investor in these funds, is allocated its
proportionate share of the funds' unrealized appreciation or depreciation
arising from changes in fair value as well as gains and losses upon realization.
These items are included in Trading and Principal Investments.
 
SECURITIES SERVICES
 
     Securities services consists predominantly of Global Securities Services,
which provides prime brokerage, financing services and securities lending to a
diversified U.S. and international customer base, including hedge funds, pension
funds and high net worth individuals. Securities services also includes the
Firm's matched book businesses.
 
     We offer prime brokerage services to our clients, allowing them the
flexibility to trade with most brokers while maintaining a single source for
financing and portfolio reports. Our prime brokerage activities provide
multi-product clearing and custody in 50 markets, consolidated multi-currency
accounting and reporting and offshore fund administration and servicing for our
most active clients. Additionally, we provide financing to our clients through
margin loans collateralized by securities held in the client's account. In
recent years, the Firm has significantly increased its prime brokerage client
base.
 
     Securities lending activities principally involve the borrowing and lending
of equity securities to cover customer and Firm short sales and to finance the
Firm's long positions. In addition, we are an active participant in the
securities lending broker-to-broker business and the third-party agency lending
business. Trading desks in New York, Boston, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong provide
24-hour coverage in equity markets worldwide. We believe the rapidly developing
international stock lending market presents a significant growth opportunity for
us.
 
     Lenders of securities include pension plan sponsors, mutual funds,
insurance companies, investment advisors, endowments, bank trust departments and
individuals. We have entered into exclusive relationships with certain lenders
that have given us access to large pools of securities, certain of which are
often hard to locate in the general lender market, thereby providing us with a
competitive advantage. The Firm believes that a significant cause of the growth
in short sales,
 
                                       75
<PAGE>   78
 
which require the borrowing of securities, has been the rapid increase in
complex trading strategies such as index arbitrage, convertible bond and warrant
arbitrage, option strategies, and sector and market neutral strategies where
shares are sold short to hedge exposure from derivative instruments.
 
COMMISSIONS
 
     The Firm generates commissions by executing agency transactions on major
stock and futures exchanges worldwide. The Firm effects agency transactions for
clients located throughout the world. In recent years, aggregate commissions
have increased as a result of growth in transaction volume on the major
exchanges. As discussed above, commissions also include overrides from merchant
banking funds and commissions earned from brokerage transactions for high net
worth individuals. For a discussion regarding overrides, see "-- Merchant
Banking" above, and for a discussion regarding high net worth individuals, see
"-- Asset Management -- Clients" above.
 
     In anticipation of continued growth in electronic connectivity and online
trading, the Firm has made strategic investments in alternative trading systems
to gain experience and participate in the development of this market. See "Risk
Factors -- The Financial Services Industry Is Intensely Competitive and Rapidly
Consolidating -- Competition from Alternative Trading Systems" for a discussion
of the competitive risks posed by these alternative trading systems.
 
                           GLOBAL INVESTMENT RESEARCH
 
     The Global Investment Research Department provides fundamental research on
economies, debt and equity markets, commodities markets, industries and
companies on a worldwide basis. For over two decades, the Firm has committed the
resources on a global scale to develop an industry-leading position for its
investment research products. We believe that investment research is a
significant factor in the Firm's strong competitive position in debt and equity
underwritings and in its generation of commission revenues.
 
     Major investors worldwide recognize the Firm for its value-added research
products, which are highly rated in client polls across the Americas, Europe and
Asia. The Firm's Research Department is the only one to rank in the top three in
each of the last 15 calendar years in Institutional Investor's "All-America
Research Team" survey. In December 1998, the Research Department also achieved
top honors for global investment research from Institutional Investor. In
Europe, based on the Institutional Investor "1999 All-Europe Research Team"
survey, the Research Department ranked number one for coverage of pan-European
sectors and number three in European Strategy and Economics.
 
     Global Investment Research employs a team approach that provides equity
research coverage of approximately 2,300 companies worldwide, 53 economies and
26 stock markets. This is accomplished through four groups:
 
- - the Economic Research group, which formulates macroeconomic forecasts for
  economic activity, foreign exchange, and interest rates based on the globally
  coordinated views of its regional economists;
 
- - the Portfolio Strategy group, which forecasts equity market returns and
  provides recommendations on both asset allocation and industry representation;
 
- - the Company/Industry group, which provides fundamental analysis, forecasts and
  investment recommendations for companies and industries worldwide. Equity
  research analysts are organized regionally by sector and globally into more
  than 20 industry teams, which allows for extensive collaboration and knowledge
  sharing on important investment themes; and
 
- - the Commodities Research group, which provides research on the global
  commodity markets.
 
                             INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
 
     Technology is fundamental to our overall business strategy. The Firm is
committed to the ongoing development, maintenance and use of technology
throughout the organization, with expenditures, including employee
 
                                       76
<PAGE>   79
 
costs, of approximately $970 million in 1998 and a budget of $1.2 billion in
1999. The Firm has developed significant software and systems over the past
several years. Our technology initiatives can be broadly categorized into three
efforts:
 
- - enhancing client service through increased connectivity and the provision of
  high value-added, tailored services;
 
- - risk management; and
 
- - overall efficiency and control.
 
     We have tailored our services to our clients by providing them with
electronic access to our products and services. For example, we developed the GS
Financial Workbench(SM), an Internet web site that clients and employees can use
to download research reports, access earnings and valuation models, submit
trades, monitor accounts, build and view presentations, calculate derivative
prices and view market data. First made available in early 1995, the GS
Financial Workbench(SM) represents a joint effort among all of our business
areas to create one comprehensive site for clients and employees to access the
Firm's products and services.
 
     We have also developed software that enables us to monitor and analyze our
market and credit risks. This risk management software not only analyzes market
risk on Firmwide, divisional and trading desk levels, but also breaks down the
Firm's risk into its underlying exposures, thereby permitting management to
evaluate exposures on the basis of specific interest rate, currency rate, equity
price or commodity price changes. To assist further in the management of the
Firm's credit exposures, data from many sources are aggregated daily into credit
management systems that give senior management and professionals in the Credit
and Controllers Departments the ability to receive timely information with
respect to credit exposures worldwide, including netting information, and the
ability to analyze complex risk situations effectively. Our software accesses
these data, allows for quick analysis at the level of individual trades and
interacts with other systems in the Firm.
 
     Technology has been a significant factor in improving the overall
efficiency of many areas of the Firm. By automating many trading procedures, we
have substantially increased our efficiency and accuracy.
 
     The Firm currently has projects under way to ensure that the Firm's
technology is Year 2000 compliant. See "Risk Factors -- Firm and Third-Party
Computer Systems May Not Achieve Year 2000 Readiness -- Year 2000 Readiness
Disclosure" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Risk Management -- Operational and Year 2000
Risks -- Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure" for a further discussion of the risks
we face in achieving Year 2000 readiness and our progress to date.
 
                                   EMPLOYEES
 
     Management believes that one of the strengths and principal reasons for the
success of Goldman Sachs is the quality and dedication of its people and the
shared sense of being part of a team. The Firm was ranked number seven in
Fortune magazine's "The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America" in January
1999 and was ranked number three in Fortune magazine's 1999 "The Top 50 MBA
Dream Companies", the highest ranking investment banking and securities firm in
each case. The Firm strives to maintain a work environment that fosters
professionalism, excellence, diversity and cooperation among its employees
worldwide.
 
     Instilling the Goldman Sachs culture in all employees is a continuous
process, of which training is an essential part. The Firm recently opened a
34,000 square foot training center in New York City, near its world
headquarters. All employees are offered the opportunity to participate in
Firm-sponsored education and periodic seminars that are held at various
locations throughout the world. The Firm also sponsors off-site meetings for the
various business units that are designed to promote collaboration among
co-workers.
 
     Another important part of instilling the Goldman Sachs culture in all
employees is the Firm's employee review process. Employees are reviewed by
supervisors, co-workers and
 
                                       77
<PAGE>   80
 
employees they supervise in a 360-degree
review process that is integral to the Firm's team approach. In 1998, over
140,000 reviews were completed, evidencing the comprehensive nature of this
process.
 
     The Firm also believes that good citizenship is an important part of being
a member of the Goldman Sachs team. To that end, the Firm established its
Community TeamWorks initiative in 1997. As part of Community TeamWorks, all
employees are offered the opportunity to spend a day working at a charitable
organization of their choice while continuing to receive their full salary for
that day. In 1998, approximately two-thirds of the Firm's employees participated
in Community TeamWorks. The commitment of the Firm's partners to the community
is also demonstrated by their having given over $90 million in each of the last
two years to charities, including private foundations.
 
     As of November 1998, we had approximately 13,000 employees. In addition,
Archon and Archon France, subsidiaries of the Firm that provide real estate
services for the Firm's real estate investment funds, had approximately 1,000
and 170 employees, respectively, as of November 1998. The Firm is reimbursed for
substantially all of the costs of these employees by these funds.
 
     See "Management -- The Employee IPO Awards" for a discussion of the steps
taken by the Firm to encourage the continued service of its employees after the
Common Stock Offering and see "Risk Factors -- Our Conversion to Corporate Form
May Adversely Affect Our Ability to Recruit, Retain and Motivate Key Employees"
for a discussion of the factors that may have an adverse impact on the
effectiveness of these efforts.
 
                                  COMPETITION
 
     The financial services industry -- and all of our businesses -- are
intensely competitive, and we expect them to remain so. Our competitors are
other brokers and dealers, investment banking firms, insurance companies,
investment advisors, mutual funds, hedge funds, commercial banks and merchant
banks. We compete with some of our competitors globally and with some others on
a regional, product or niche basis. We compete on the basis of a number of
factors, including transaction execution, our products and services, innovation,
reputation and price.
 
     Competition is also intense for the attraction and retention of qualified
employees. Our ability to continue to compete effectively in our businesses will
depend upon our ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate our
existing employees. See "-- Employees" for a discussion of our efforts in this
regard.
 
     In recent years there has been substantial consolidation and convergence
among companies in the financial services industry. In particular, a number of
large commercial banks, insurance companies and other broad-based financial
services firms have established or acquired broker-dealers or have merged with
other financial institutions. Many of these firms have the ability to offer a
wide range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage,
asset management and investment banking services, which may enhance their
competitive position. They also have the ability to support investment banking
and securities products with commercial banking, insurance and other financial
services revenues in an effort to gain market share, which could result in
pricing pressure in our businesses.
 
     This trend toward consolidation and convergence has significantly increased
the capital base and geographic reach of our competitors. This trend has also
hastened the globalization of the securities and other financial services
markets. As a result, we have had to commit capital to support our international
operations and to execute large global transactions.
 
     We believe that some of our most significant challenges and opportunities
will arise outside the United States. See "Industry and Economic Outlook" for a
discussion of these challenges and opportunities. In order to take advantage of
these opportunities, we will have to compete successfully with financial
institutions based in important non-U.S. markets, particularly in Europe.
Certain of these institutions are larger, better capitalized and
                                       78
<PAGE>   81
 
have a stronger local presence and a longer operating history in these markets.
 
     We have experienced intense price competition in certain businesses in
recent years. For example, equity and debt underwriting discounts have been
under pressure for a number of years and the ability to execute trades
electronically, through the Internet and other alternative trading systems may
increase the pressure on trading commissions. It appears that this trend toward
alternative trading systems will continue and perhaps accelerate. Similarly,
underwriting spreads in Latin American and other privatizations have been
subject to considerable pressure in the last year. We believe that we may
experience pricing pressures in these and other areas in the future as some of
our competitors seek to obtain market share by reducing prices.
 
     See "Risk Factors -- The Financial Services Industry Is Intensely
Competitive and Rapidly Consolidating" for a discussion of the competitive risks
we face in our businesses.
 
                                   REGULATION
 
     Goldman Sachs' business is, and the securities and commodity futures and
options industries generally are, subject to extensive regulation in the United
States and elsewhere. As a matter of public policy, regulatory bodies in the
United States and the rest of the world are charged with safeguarding the
integrity of the securities and other financial markets and with protecting the
interests of customers participating in those markets, not with protecting the
interests of Goldman Sachs' shareholders or creditors. In the United States, the
SEC is the federal agency responsible for the administration of the federal
securities laws. GS&Co. is registered as a broker-dealer and as an investment
adviser with the SEC and as a broker-dealer in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Certain self-regulatory organizations, such as the NYSE, adopt rules
and examine broker-dealers, such as GS&Co. In addition, state securities and
certain other regulators also have regulatory or oversight authority over GS&Co.
Similarly, Goldman Sachs' business is also subject to regulation by various
non-U.S. governmental and regulatory bodies and self-regulatory authorities in
virtually all countries where the Firm has offices.
 
     Broker-dealers are subject to regulations that cover all aspects of the
securities business, including sales methods, trade practices among
broker-dealers, use and safekeeping of customers' funds and securities, capital
structure, record-keeping, the financing of customers' purchases and the conduct
of directors, officers and employees. Additional legislation, changes in rules
promulgated by self-regulatory organizations or changes in the interpretation or
enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or
elsewhere, may directly affect the mode of operation and profitability of
Goldman Sachs.
 
     The U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies and self-regulatory
organizations, as well as state securities commissions in the United States, are
empowered to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in censure,
fine, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or the suspension or expulsion of
a broker-dealer or its directors, officers or employees. Occasionally, the
Firm's subsidiaries have been subject to investigations and proceedings, and
sanctions have been imposed for infractions of various regulations relating to
the Firm's activities, none of which has had a material adverse effect on
Goldman Sachs or its business.
 
     The commodity futures and options industry in the United States is subject
to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended ("CEA"). The CFTC is
the federal agency charged with the administration of the CEA and the
regulations thereunder. GS&Co. is registered with the CFTC as a futures
commission merchant, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor.
 
     As a registered broker-dealer and member of various self-regulatory
organizations, GS&Co. is subject to the SEC's Rule 15c3-1 (the "Uniform Net
Capital Rule"). The Uniform Net Capital Rule specifies the minimum level of net
capital a broker-dealer must maintain and also requires that at least a minimum
part of its assets be kept in relatively liquid form. GS&Co. is also subject to
the net capital requirements of the CFTC and various securities and commodity
exchanges.
 
                                       79
<PAGE>   82
 See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the
Firm's net capital.
 
     The SEC and various self-regulatory organizations impose rules that require
notification when net capital falls below certain predefined criteria, dictate
the ratio of subordinated debt to equity in the regulatory capital composition
of a broker-dealer and constrain the ability of a broker-dealer to expand its
business under certain circumstances. Additionally, the Uniform Net Capital Rule
imposes certain requirements that may have the effect of prohibiting a
broker-dealer from distributing or withdrawing capital and requiring prior
notice to the SEC for certain withdrawals of capital.
 
     In January 1999, the SEC adopted revisions to the Uniform Net Capital Rule
and related regulations that permit the registration of OTC derivatives dealers
as broker-dealers. An OTC derivatives dealer can, upon adoption of a risk
management framework in accordance with the new rules, utilize a capital
requirement based upon proprietary models for estimating market risk exposures.
The Firm has established Goldman Sachs Financial Markets, L.P. and is in the
process of registering this company with the SEC as an OTC derivatives dealer to
conduct in a more capital efficient manner certain OTC derivative businesses now
conducted in other affiliates.
 
     Goldman Sachs is an active participant in the international fixed income
and equity markets. Many of the Firm's affiliates that participate in those
markets are subject to comprehensive regulations that include some form of
capital adequacy rule and other customer protection rules. For example, Goldman
Sachs provides investment services in and from the United Kingdom under a
regulatory regime that is undergoing comprehensive restructuring aimed at
implementing the FSA as the United Kingdom's unified regulator. The relevant
Goldman Sachs entities in London are at present regulated by the SFA in respect
of their investment banking, individual asset management, brokerage and
principal trading activities, and the Investment Management Regulatory
Organization ("IMRO") in respect of their institutional asset management and
fund management activities. Certain of these Goldman Sachs entities are also
regulated by the London Stock Exchange and other U.K. securities and commodities
exchanges of which they are members. It is expected, however, that commencing in
2000 the responsibilities of the SFA and IMRO will be taken over by the FSA. The
investment services that are subject to oversight by U.K. regulators are
regulated in accordance with European Union directives requiring, among other
things, compliance with certain capital adequacy standards, customer protection
requirements and conduct of business rules. These standards, requirements and
rules are similarly implemented, under the same directives, throughout the
European Union and are broadly comparable in scope and purpose to the regulatory
capital and customer protection requirements imposed under the SEC and CFTC
rules. European Union directives also permit local regulation in each
jurisdiction, including those in which the Firm operates, to be more restrictive
than the requirements of such directives and these local requirements can result
in certain competitive disadvantages to the Firm. In addition, the Japanese
Ministry of Finance and the Financial Supervisory Agency in Japan as well as
German, French and Swiss banking authorities, among others, regulate various of
the Firm's subsidiaries and also have capital standards and other requirements
comparable to the rules of the SEC.
 
     Compliance with net capital requirements of these and other regulators
could limit those operations of the Firm's subsidiaries that require the
intensive use of capital, such as underwriting and trading activities and the
financing of customer account balances, and also could restrict the Firm's
ability to withdraw capital from its regulated subsidiaries, which in turn could
limit the Firm's ability to repay debt, including the Notes. See "Risk
Factors -- Legal and Regulatory Risks Are Inherent and Substantial in Our
Businesses" and "-- We Depend on Funds from Our Regulated Subsidiaries" for a
discussion of limitations on our ability to receive funds from regulated
subsidiaries.
 
                                       80
<PAGE>   83
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     We are involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration
proceedings (including those described below) concerning matters arising in
connection with the conduct of our businesses. We believe, based on currently
available information, that the results of such proceedings, in the aggregate,
will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, but might be
material to our operating results for any particular period, depending, in part,
upon the operating results for such period.
 
MOBILEMEDIA SECURITIES LITIGATION
 
     GS&Co. has been named as a defendant in a purported class action lawsuit
commenced in December 1996 and pending in federal court in New Jersey. This
lawsuit was brought on behalf of purchasers of common stock of MobileMedia
Corporation ("MobileMedia") in an underwritten offering in 1995 and purchasers
of senior subordinated notes of MobileMedia Communications Inc. in a concurrent
underwritten offering. Defendants are MobileMedia, certain of its officers and
directors, and the lead underwriters, including GS&Co. MobileMedia is currently
reorganizing in bankruptcy.
 
     GS&Co. underwrote 2,242,500 shares of common stock, for a total price of
approximately $53 million, and GSI underwrote 718,750 shares, for a total price
of approximately $17 million. GS&Co. underwrote approximately $38 million in
principal amount of the senior subordinated notes.
 
     The consolidated class action complaint alleges violations of the
disclosure requirements of the federal securities laws and seeks compensatory
and/or rescissory damages. In light of MobileMedia's bankruptcy, the action
against it has been stayed. Defendants' motion to dismiss was denied in October
1998.
 
UNDERWRITERS ANTITRUST LITIGATION
 
     GS&Co. is one of numerous financial services companies that have been named
as defendants in certain purported class actions brought in New York federal
court by purchasers of securities in public offerings, who claim that the
defendants engaged in conspiracies in violation of federal antitrust laws in
connection with these offerings. The plaintiffs in each instance seek treble
damages as well as injunctive relief. One of the actions, which was commenced in
August 1998, alleges that the defendants have conspired to discourage or
restrict the resale of securities for a period after the offerings, including by
imposing "penalty bids". Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint in November
1998. The plaintiffs amended their complaint in February 1999, modifying their
claims in various ways, including limiting the proposed class to retail
purchasers of public offerings. Several other actions, commenced in November and
December 1998, allege that the defendants, many of whom are also named in the
other action discussed above, have conspired to fix at 7% the discount that
underwriting syndicates receive from issuers of shares in certain offerings.
 
ROCKEFELLER CENTER PROPERTIES, INC. LITIGATION
 
     Several former shareholders of Rockefeller Center Properties, Inc. ("RCPI")
brought purported class actions in the federal and state courts in Delaware
arising from the acquisition of RCPI by an investor group in July 1996. The
defendants in the actions include, among others, GS&Co., Whitehall Real Estate
Partnership V, a fund advised by GS&Co., a GS&Co. Managing Director and other
members of the investor group. The federal court actions, which have since been
consolidated, were filed beginning in November 1996, and the state court action
was filed in June 1998.
 
     The complaints generally allege that the proxy statement disseminated to
former RCPI stockholders in connection with the transaction was deficient, in
violation of the disclosure requirements of the federal securities laws. The
plaintiffs are seeking, among other things, unspecified damages, rescission of
the acquisition, and/or disgorgement.
 
     In a series of decisions, the federal court has granted summary judgment
dismissing all the claims in the federal action. The plaintiffs have appealed
those rulings.
 
                                       81
<PAGE>   84
 
     The state action has been stayed pending disposition of the federal action.
 
REICHHOLD CHEMICALS LITIGATION
 
     Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. and Reichhold Norway ASA (collectively,
"Reichhold") brought a claim in March 1998 in the Commercial Court in London
against GSI in relation to Reichhold's 1997 purchase of the polymer division of
one of GSI's Norwegian clients, Jotun A/S. Reichhold claims that it overpaid by
$40 million based upon misrepresentations concerning the financial performance
of the polymer division.
 
     In November 1998, the Commercial Court granted GSI's application for a stay
of the action pending the outcome of arbitration proceedings between Reichhold
and Jotun A/S in Norway. The stay order is currently being reviewed by an
appellate court.
 
MATTERS RELATING TO MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
 
     GS&Co., together with a number of other firms active in the municipal
securities area, has received requests beginning in June 1995 for information
from the SEC and certain other federal and state agencies and authorities with
respect to the pricing of escrow securities sold by GS&Co. to certain municipal
bond issuers in connection with the advanced refunding of municipal securities.
GS&Co. understands that certain municipal bond issuers to which GS&Co. sold
escrow securities have also received such inquiries.
 
     There have been published reports that an action under the Federal False
Claims Act was filed in February 1995 alleging unlawful and undisclosed
overcharges in certain advance refunding transactions by a private plaintiff on
behalf of the United States and that GS&Co., together with a number of other
firms, is a named defendant in that action. The complaint was reportedly filed
under seal while the government determines whether it will pursue the claims
directly.
 
     GS&Co. is also one of many municipal underwriting firms that have been
named as defendants in a purported class action brought in Florida federal court
by the Clerk of Collier County, Florida on behalf of municipal issuers which
purchased escrow securities since October 1986 in connection with advance
refundings. The complaint alleges that the securities were excessively "marked
up" in violation of the Investment Advisers Act and Florida law, and seeks to
recover the difference between the actual and alleged "fair" prices. The
plaintiff has undertaken to file an amended complaint before the defendants
respond.
 
                                   PROPERTIES
 
     Our principal executive offices are located at 85 Broad Street, New York,
New York, and comprise approximately 969,000 square feet of leased space,
pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in June 2008 (with an option to renew for
up to 20 additional years). We also occupy over 500,000 square feet at each of 1
New York Plaza and 10 Hanover Square in New York, New York, pursuant to lease
agreements expiring in September 2004 (with an option to renew for ten years)
and June 2018, respectively. We also have a 15-year lease for approximately
590,000 square feet at 180 Maiden Lane in New York, New York, that expires in
March 2014. In total, the Firm leases over 3.1 million square feet in the New
York area, having more than doubled its space since November 1996. We have
additional offices in the United States and elsewhere in the Americas. Together,
these offices comprise approximately 560,000 square feet of leased space.
 
     Consistent with the Firm's global approach to its business, we also have
offices in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. In Europe, we have offices that
total approximately 685,000 square feet. The Firm's largest presence in Europe
is in London, where we lease approximately 536,000 square feet through various
leases, with the principal one, for Peterborough Court, expiring in 2016. An
additional 396,000 square feet of leased space in London is expected to be
occupied during 2001.
 
     In Asia, we have offices that total approximately 360,000 square feet. Our
largest offices in these regions are in Tokyo and Hong Kong. In Tokyo, we
currently lease approxi-
 
                                       82
<PAGE>   85
 
mately 175,000 square feet under a lease that expires in June 2005. In Hong
Kong, we currently lease approximately 103,000 square feet under a lease that
expires in May 2000. We recently entered into a new 12-year lease in Hong Kong
for approximately 190,000 square feet. There are also significant expansion
efforts underway in Tokyo and Singapore.
 
     The Firm's space requirements have increased significantly over the last
several years. Currently, the Firm is at or near capacity at most of its
locations. As a result, the Firm has been actively leasing additional space to
support its anticipated growth. Based on the Firm's progress to date, the Firm
believes that it will be able to acquire additional space to meet its
anticipated needs.
 
                                       83
<PAGE>   86
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
                        DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Set forth below is information concerning the persons who will be the
directors and executive officers of the Company as of the date of this
prospectus. The Company anticipates appointing additional directors who are not
employees of the Company or affiliated with management after the date of this
prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          NAME             AGE                            POSITION
          ----             ---                            --------
<S>                        <C>      <C>
Henry M. Paulson, Jr.      52       Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Robert J. Hurst            53       Director and Vice Chairman
John A. Thain              43       Director, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer
John L. Thornton           45       Director, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer
John L. Weinberg           74       Director
Robert J. Katz             51       General Counsel
Gregory K. Palm            50       General Counsel
Robin Neustein             45       Chief of Staff
Leslie M. Tortora          42       Chief Information Officer
David A. Viniar            43       Chief Financial Officer
Barry L. Zubrow            46       Chief Administrative Officer
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Executive officers are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board
of Directors. A brief biography of each director and executive officer follows.
 
     Mr. Paulson has been Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or Co-Chief
Executive Officer of Group L.P. since June 1998 and served as Chief Operating
Officer from December 1994 to June 1998. From 1990 to November 1994, he was
Co-Head of Investment Banking.
 
     Mr. Hurst has been Vice Chairman of Group L.P. since February 1997 and has
served as Head or Co-Head of Investment Banking since 1990. He is also a
director of VF Corporation and IDB Holding Corporation Ltd.
 
     Mr. Thain has been President of Group L.P. since March 1999 and Co-Chief
Operating Officer since January 1999. From December 1994 to March 1999, he
served as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations, Technology and
Finance. From July 1995 to September 1997, he was also Co-Chief Executive
Officer for European Operations. In 1990, Mr. Thain transferred from FICC to
Operations, Technology and Finance to assume responsibility for Controllers and
Treasury. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Thain was in FICC where he established and
served as Co-Head of the Mortgage Securities Department. Mr. Thain is a director
of The Depository Trust Company.
 
     Mr. Thornton has been President of Group L.P. since March 1999 and Co-Chief
Operating Officer of Group L.P. since January 1999. From August 1998 until
January 1999, he had oversight responsibility for International Operations. From
September 1996 until August 1998, he was Chairman, Goldman Sachs -- Asia, in
addition to his senior strategic responsibilities in Europe. From July 1995 to
September 1997, he was Co-Chief Executive Officer for European Operations. From
1994 to 1995, he was Co-Head of Investment Banking in Europe and from 1992 to
1994 was Head of European Investment Banking Services. Mr. Thornton is also a
director of the Ford Motor Company, BSkyB PLC, Laura Ashley PLC and the Pacific
Century Group.
 
     Mr. Weinberg has been Senior Chairman of Group L.P. since 1990. From 1984
to 1990, he was Senior Partner and Chairman and, from 1976 to 1984, he served
both as Senior Partner and Co-Chairman. Mr. Weinberg is a director of
Knight-Ridder, Inc., Providian Financial Corp. and Tricon Global Restaurants,
Inc.
                                       84
<PAGE>   87
 
     Mr. Katz has been General Counsel of Group L.P. since 1988. From 1980 to
1988, Mr. Katz was a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell.
 
     Mr. Palm has been General Counsel of Group L.P. since 1992. He also has
senior oversight responsibility for Compliance and Management Controls, and is
Co-Chairman of the Global Compliance and Control Committee. From 1982 to 1992,
Mr. Palm was a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell.
 
     Ms. Neustein has been Chief of Staff to the senior partners of Group L.P.
since 1992. From 1991 to 1992, Ms. Neustein managed strategic projects for the
senior partners. Prior to then, she was in Investment Banking.
 
     Ms. Tortora has been Chief Information Officer of Group L.P. and the Head
of Information Technology since March 1999. She has headed the Firm's global
technology efforts since 1994.
 
     Mr. Viniar has been Chief Financial Officer of Group L.P. and Co-Head of
Operations, Finance and Resources since March 1999. From July 1998 until then,
he was the Firm's Deputy Chief Financial Officer and from 1994 until then, he
was Head of Finance, with responsibility for Controllers and Treasury. From 1992
to 1994, Mr. Viniar was Head of Treasury and immediately prior to then was in
the Structured Finance Department of Investment Banking.
 
     Mr. Zubrow has been Chief Administrative Officer of Group L.P. and Co-Head
of Operations, Finance and Resources since March 1999. From 1994 until then he
was the Firm's chief credit officer and Head of the Credit Department. From 1992
to 1994, Mr. Zubrow was Head of the Midwest Group in the Corporate Finance
Department of Investment Banking.
 
     In addition, Mr. Corzine, 52, currently is a Director and Co-Chairman of
the Company, but will resign both positions immediately prior to the date of the
Common Stock Offering. Mr. Corzine has been Co-Chairman of Group L.P. since June
1998 and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Group L.P. from
December 1994 to June 1998 and Co-Chief Executive Officer from June 1998 to
January 1999. Mr. Corzine is a member of the NASD's Board of Governors.
 
     There are no family relationships between any of the executive officers or
directors of the Company.
 
                         THE MANAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP
                                   COMMITTEES
 
     In January 1999, the Management and Partnership Committees were constituted
as part of the Firm's overall governance structure. The Management Committee,
which is chaired by Mr. Paulson, has responsibility for policy, strategy and
management of the Firm's businesses. In addition to Messrs. Paulson, Thain,
Thornton and Hurst, Ms. Neustein and Ms. Tortora, the members of this Committee
and their principal positions within the Firm are: Lloyd C. Blankfein (Co-Head,
FICC), Richard A. Friedman (Co-Head, Merchant Banking), Steven "Mac" M. Heller
(Co-Chief Operating Officer, Investment Banking), Robert S. Kaplan (Co-Chief
Operating Officer, Investment Banking), John P. McNulty (Co-Head, Asset
Management), Michael P. Mortara (Co-Head, FICC), Daniel M. Neidich (Co-Head,
Merchant Banking), Mark Schwartz (President, Goldman Sachs -- Japan), Robert K.
Steel (Co-Head, Equities), and Patrick J. Ward (Co-Head, Equities and Deputy
Chairman -- Europe). Mr. Katz is counsel to the Management Committee.
 
     The Partnership Committee, which is chaired by Messrs. Thain and Thornton,
oversees personnel development and career management issues. It focuses on such
matters as recruiting, training, performance evaluation, diversity, mobility and
succession planning and, together with the Management Committee, is expected to
become integral in the process of selecting and compensating Managing Directors.
In addition to Messrs. Thain and Thornton and Ms. Neustein, the members of this
Committee and their principal positions within the Firm are: David W. Blood
(Head, Asset Management -- Europe), Gary D. Cohn (Head, FICC Commodities and
Emerging Markets), W. Mark Evans (Co-Head, Investment Research), Jacob D.
Goldfield (Head, FICC -- Europe),
 
                                       85
<PAGE>   88
 
David B. Heller (Head, Equities Derivatives Trading), Philip D. Murphy
(President, Goldman Sachs -- Asia), Simon M. Robertson (President, Goldman
Sachs -- Europe), Esta E. Stecher (Head, Tax), John S. Weinberg (Co-Head,
Investment Banking Services), Peter A. Weinberg (Co-Chief Operating Officer,
Investment Banking and Deputy Chairman -- Europe), and Jon Winkelried (Head,
Leveraged Finance). Mr. Palm is counsel to the Partnership Committee.
 
                  INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will
provide for a classified Board of Directors consisting of three classes. The
term of the initial Class I directors will terminate on the date of the 2000
annual meeting of shareholders, the term of the initial Class II directors will
terminate on the date of the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders and the term of
the initial Class III directors will terminate on the date of the 2002 annual
meeting of shareholders. Messrs. Thain and Thornton will be members of Class I,
Mr. Weinberg will be a member of Class II and Messrs. Hurst and Paulson will be
members of Class III. Beginning in 2000, at each annual meeting of shareholders,
successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting
will be elected for a three-year term and until their respective successors have
been elected and qualified. A director may be removed only for cause by the
affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the outstanding shares
of capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors.
 
     It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will meet at least quarterly.
Members of the Board of Directors who are employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries will not be compensated for service on the Board of Directors or
any committee thereof.
 
                      COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors will have an Audit Committee, composed of directors
who are not employed by the Company or affiliated with management. The Audit
Committee will review the results and scope of the audit and other services
provided by the Company's independent auditors as well as review the Company's
accounting and control procedures and policies.
 
     The Board of Directors will also have a Compensation Committee. The
Compensation Committee will oversee the compensation and benefits of the
management and employees of the Company and will consist entirely of
non-employee directors.
 
     The Board of Directors may from time to time establish other committees to
facilitate the management of the Company.
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     Prior to the Common Stock Offering, our business was carried on in
partnership form. As a result, meaningful individual compensation information
for directors and executive officers of the Company based on operating in
corporate form is not available for periods prior to the Common Stock Offering.
 
     The following table sets forth the annual salaries that the Company intends
to pay the Company's Chief Executive Officer and four of the executive officers
named under "-- Directors and Executive Officers" (the "Named Executive
Officers") during fiscal 1999. The Named Executive Officers will also be
entitled to participate in the Partner Compensation Plan and are eligible to
receive awards under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, which are described below.
 
     The amounts payable under the Partner Compensation Plan will be dependent
upon the Company's operating results, and awards under the 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan (other than the awards described under "-- The Employee IPO Awards") will
be determined after the Common Stock Offering. As a result, it is currently not
possible for the Company to estimate the amount of such payments or awards.
However, the amounts payable under the Partner Compensation Plan are expected
substantially to exceed the base salaries indicated. For a discussion of this
Plan, see "-- The Partner Compensation Plan" below. None of the Named Executive
Officers will receive any of the awards described under "-- The Employee IPO
Awards" or initially participate in the DCP.
 
                                       86
<PAGE>   89
 
                              SUMMARY SALARY TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       ANNUAL
                NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                   YEAR    SALARY(1)
                ---------------------------                   ----    ---------
<S>                                                           <C>     <C>
Henry M. Paulson, Jr.,......................................  1999    $600,000
  Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Robert J. Hurst,............................................  1999     600,000
  Director and Vice Chairman
John A. Thain,..............................................  1999     600,000
  Director, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer
John L. Thornton,...........................................  1999     600,000
  Director, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer
David A. Viniar,............................................  1999     600,000
  Chief Financial Officer
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) The actual salary paid to the Named Executive Officers will be a prorated
    portion of these amounts for fiscal 1999.
 
                             ----------------------
 
     Aggregate compensation paid to key employees who are not Named Executive
Officers may exceed that paid to the Named Executive Officers. Each of Messrs.
Paulson, Hurst, Thain, Thornton and Viniar have accrued benefits under The
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Employees' Pension Plan (the "Pension Plan") entitling them
to receive annual benefits upon retirement at age 65 of $10,533, $10,533,
$7,074, $11,801 and $6,906, respectively. These benefits had accrued prior to
November 1992 and none of the Named Executive Officers has earned additional
benefits under the Pension Plan since November 1992.
 
                         EMPLOYMENT, NONCOMPETITION AND
                               PLEDGE AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company is entering into employment agreements ("Employment
Agreements") with each PLP who continues as a Managing Director and pledge
agreements ("Pledge Agreements") and agreements relating to noncompetition and
other matters ("Noncompetition Agreements") with all of the PLPs, whether or not
they retire, including, in both cases, each PLP who is a director or an
executive officer.
 
     The following descriptions of the agreements with the PLPs are not
necessarily complete. You should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the
registration statement for a copy of the form of each agreement. See "Available
Information".
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     Each Employment Agreement has an initial term extending through November
24, 2000 (thereafter no set term), requires the continuing PLP to devote his or
her entire working time to the business and affairs of the Firm and generally
may be terminated at any time by either the continuing PLP or the Firm on 90
days' prior written notice.
 
     The Firm has entered into similar employment agreements with all other
Managing Directors, except that they have no set term.
 
NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS
 
     Each Noncompetition Agreement provides as follows:
 
     CONFIDENTIALITY.  Each PLP is required to protect and use "confidential
information" in accordance with the restrictions placed by the Firm on its use
and disclosure.
 
     NONCOMPETITION.  During the period ending 12 months after the date the PLP
ceases to be employed by the Firm, the PLP may not:
 
- - form, or acquire a 5% or greater ownership, voting or profit participation
  interest in, any Competitive Enterprise; or
 
- - associate with any Competitive Enterprise and in connection with such
  association engage in, or directly or indirectly manage or supervise personnel
  engaged in, any activity that had a relationship to the PLP's activities at
  the Firm.
 
                                       87
<PAGE>   90
 
"Competitive Enterprise" is any business enterprise that engages in any
activity, or owns a significant interest in any entity that engages in any
activity, that competes with any activity in which the Firm is engaged.
 
     NONSOLICITATION.  During the period ending 18 months after the date the PLP
ceases to be employed by the Firm, the PLP may not, directly or indirectly, in
any manner:
 
- - solicit any client with whom the PLP worked, or whose identity became known to
  the PLP in connection with his or her employment with the Firm, to transact
  business with a Competitive Enterprise or reduce or refrain from doing any
  business with the Firm;
 
- - interfere with or damage any relationship between the Firm and any client or
  prospective client; or
 
- - solicit any employee of the Firm to apply for, or accept employment with, any
  Competitive Enterprise.
 
     TRANSFER OF CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS.  Each PLP is required, upon termination
of the PLP's employment, to take all actions and do all things reasonably
requested by the Firm during a 90-day cooperation period to maintain for the
Firm the business, goodwill and business relationships with the Firm's clients
with which the PLP worked.
 
     LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.  In the case of any breach of the noncompetition or
nonsolicitation provisions by the PLP prior to the fifth anniversary of the date
of the consummation of the Common Stock Offering (the "IPO Date"), the PLP will
be liable for liquidated damages. The amount of liquidated damages for each PLP
who initially serves on the Board of Directors, the Management Committee or the
Partnership Committee of the Firm is $15 million, and the amount of liquidated
damages for each other PLP is $10 million. These liquidated damages are in
addition to the forfeiture of any future equity-based awards that may occur as a
result of the breach of any noncompetition or nonsolicitation provisions
contained in those awards.
 
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
 
     The liquidated damage provisions of each Noncompetition Agreement will be
secured by a pledge of stock or other assets with an initial value equal to 100%
of each PLP's liquidated damages amount.
 
     Each Pledge Agreement will terminate on the earliest to occur of:
 
- - the PLP's death;
 
- - the expiration of the 24-month period following the termination of the PLP's
  employment; or
 
- - the fifth anniversary of the IPO Date.
 
NONEXCLUSIVITY AND ARBITRATION
 
     The liquidated damages and pledge arrangements discussed above are not
exclusive of any injunctive relief that the Firm may be entitled to for a breach
of a Noncompetition Agreement and, after the termination of the Pledge
Agreement, the Firm will be entitled to all available remedies for a breach of a
Noncompetition Agreement.
 
     The Employment, Noncompetition and Pledge Agreements generally provide that
any disputes thereunder will be resolved by binding arbitration.
 
                            THE EMPLOYEE IPO AWARDS
 
     On the IPO Date, the Company intends to provide equity-based awards to
employees of the Firm and a limited number of consultants and advisors other
than PLPs in one or more of the following forms:
 
- - substantially all employees will receive a grant of Formula RSUs, with respect
  to which up to an aggregate of 31,306,667 shares of Common Stock will be
  deliverable;
 
- - certain senior employees, principally non-PLP Managing Directors, will be
  selected to participate in the DCP described below, to which the Company will
  make an initial irrevocable contribution of 13,644,204 shares of Common Stock;
 
- - certain employees will receive a grant of Discretionary RSUs, with respect to
  which
 
                                       88
<PAGE>   91
 
  up to an aggregate of 30,604,685 shares of Common Stock will be deliverable;
  and
 
- - certain employees will receive a grant of Discretionary Options, with respect
  to which up to an aggregate of 40,000,400 shares of Common Stock will be
  deliverable.
 
     The Formula RSUs, the Discretionary RSUs and the Discretionary Options will
be granted under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan described below. The award of
Formula RSUs and Discretionary RSUs described below will confer only the rights
of a general unsecured creditor of the Firm and no rights as a shareholder of
the Company until the Common Stock underlying such award is delivered. Any
shares of Common Stock acquired by a Managing Director pursuant to the awards
will be subject to the Shareholders' Agreement described in "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions -- Shareholders' Agreement".
 
FORMULA AWARDS
 
     The Common Stock underlying the Formula RSUs generally will be deliverable
in equal installments on or about the first, second and third anniversaries of
the IPO Date, although the Common Stock may be deliverable earlier in the event
of certain terminations of employment following a change in control. While no
additional service will be required to obtain delivery of the underlying Common
Stock (i.e., the award is "vested"), delivery of the Common Stock will be
conditioned on the grantee's satisfying certain requirements, including not
being terminated under the circumstances described in the award agreement prior
to delivery of the Common Stock and not violating any Firm policy (including in
respect of confidentiality and hedging) or otherwise acting in a manner
detrimental to the Firm (including violating noncompetition or nonsolicitation
provisions of the award). While the RSUs are outstanding, amounts equal to
regular cash dividends that would be paid on the Common Stock underlying the
Formula RSUs, as if the Common Stock had been actually issued, will be paid in
cash at the same time that the dividends are paid generally to the shareholders.
 
DISCRETIONARY AWARDS
 
     DISCRETIONARY RSUS.  The Discretionary RSUs will vest, and the underlying
Common Stock will be delivered, in equal installments on or about the third,
fourth and fifth anniversaries of the IPO Date if the grantee has satisfied
certain conditions and the grantee's employment with the Firm has not been
terminated, with certain exceptions for terminations of employment due to death,
retirement, extended absence or following a change in control. While the RSUs
are outstanding, amounts equal to regular cash dividends that would be paid on
the Common Stock underlying the Discretionary RSUs, as if the Common Stock had
been actually issued, will be paid in cash at the same time that the dividends
are paid generally to the shareholders.
 
     DISCRETIONARY OPTIONS.  The Discretionary Options will be granted with an
exercise price generally equal to the initial public offering price per share in
the Common Stock Offering, although in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions certain
employees may be granted Discretionary Options with a lower exercise price. The
Discretionary Options will generally be exercisable in equal installments
commencing on or about the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the IPO Date
if the grantee has satisfied certain conditions and the grantee's employment
with the Firm has not been terminated, with certain exceptions for terminations
of employment due to death, retirement, extended absence or following a change
in control. Discretionary Options will thereafter generally remain exercisable,
subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, until the tenth anniversary of
the IPO Date or, if earlier, upon expiration of a period, as specified in the
award agreement, following termination of employment.
 
     CONTRIBUTION TO DCP.  On the IPO Date, GS Inc. will make an initial
irrevocable contribution of 13,644,204 shares of Common Stock to the DCP.
Certain senior employees, principally Managing Directors who are not
 
                                       89
<PAGE>   92
PLPs, will be selected to participate in the DCP. The right to receive shares
will vest, and the underlying Common Stock will be distributed to participants
in the DCP, in equal installments on or about the third, fourth and fifth
anniversaries of the initial contribution if the participant has satisfied
certain conditions and the participant's employment with the Firm has not been
terminated, with certain exceptions for terminations of employment due to death
or following a change in control. Dividends paid on shares allocated to
participants will be distributed currently.
 
CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
     The Formula RSUs, the Discretionary RSUs, the Discretionary Options and the
DCP provide that (i) if a change in control occurs and (ii) within 18 months
thereafter a grantee's or participant's employment is terminated by the Firm
other than for cause or the grantee or participant terminates employment for
good reason, in each case, as determined by the Firm:
 
- - the Common Stock underlying any outstanding Formula RSUs will be delivered;
 
- - any outstanding Discretionary RSUs will vest and the Common Stock underlying
  the Discretionary RSUs will be delivered;
 
- - any outstanding unexercised Discretionary Options will become exercisable and
  will be exercisable for a period of one year following such termination of
  employment (but in no event later than the tenth anniversary of the IPO Date)
  and thereafter terminate; and
 
- - under the DCP, any unvested portion of the Common Stock attributable to the
  initial contribution by the Company to the DCP will vest and be distributed.
 
     "Change in control" means the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving GS
Inc. or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
GS Inc. to an entity that is not an affiliate of GS Inc. that, in each case,
requires shareholder approval under the law of GS Inc.'s jurisdiction of
organization, unless immediately following such transaction, either:
 
- - at least 50% of the total voting power of the surviving entity or its parent
  entity is represented by GS Inc.'s securities that were outstanding
  immediately prior to the transaction; or
 
- - at least 50% of the members of the board of directors of the surviving entity,
  or its parent entity, if applicable, following the transaction were incumbent
  directors (including directors whose election or nomination was approved by
  the incumbent directors) at the time of the Board of Directors' approval of
  the execution of the initial agreement providing for the transaction.
 
     "Cause" includes, among other things, the grantee's or participant's
conviction of certain misdemeanors or felonies, violation of applicable laws,
and violation of any Firm policy, including policies with respect to hedging and
confidentiality.
 
     "Good reason" means a materially adverse alteration in the grantee's or
participant's position or in the nature or status of the grantee's or
participant's responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the
change in control, as determined by the Firm, or certain relocations by the Firm
of a grantee's or participant's principal place of employment.
 
THE 1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 
     The following description of The Goldman Sachs 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "SIP") is not necessarily complete. You should refer to the exhibits that
are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the SIP. See "Available
Information".
 
     TYPES OF AWARDS.  The SIP provides for grants of incentive stock options
("ISOs") (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code")), nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation
rights ("SARs"), dividend equivalent rights, restricted stock, restricted stock
units ("RSUs") and other equity-based awards (collectively, "Awards"). The SIP
 
                                       90
<PAGE>   93
 
also permits the making of loans to purchase shares of Common Stock.
 
     SHARES SUBJECT TO THE SIP; OTHER LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS.  The total number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company that may be issued under the SIP may
not exceed           shares. These shares may be authorized but unissued Common
Stock or authorized and issued Common Stock held in the Company's treasury. If
any Award is forfeited or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the
delivery of shares of Common Stock, if shares of Common Stock are surrendered or
withheld from any Award to satisfy a grantee's income tax withholding
obligations or, if shares of Common Stock owned by a grantee are tendered to pay
the exercise price of Awards, then such shares will again become available under
the SIP.
 
     The SIP Committee (as defined below) has the authority to adjust the terms
of any outstanding Awards and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
under the SIP for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of
Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
spin-off, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other
event that the SIP Committee determines affects the Firm's capitalization.
 
     ELIGIBILITY.  Awards may be made to any director, officer or employee of
the Firm, including any prospective employee, and to any consultant or advisor
to the Firm selected by the SIP Committee.
 
     ADMINISTRATION.  The SIP will be administered by the Board of Directors or
a committee appointed by the Board of Directors (the "SIP Committee").
 
     The SIP Committee will have the authority to construe, interpret and
implement the SIP, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the SIP. The determination of the SIP Committee on all matters
relating to the SIP or any Award agreement will be final and binding.
 
     STOCK OPTIONS AND SARS.  The SIP Committee may grant ISOs and nonqualified
stock options (collectively, "options") to purchase shares of Common Stock from
the Company (at the price set forth in the Award agreement), and SARs in such
amounts, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the SIP Committee may
determine. No grantee of an option or SAR will have any of the rights of a
shareholder of GS Inc. with respect to shares subject to their Award until the
issuance of the shares.
 
     RESTRICTED STOCK.  The SIP Committee may grant restricted shares of Common
Stock in amounts, and subject to terms and conditions, as the SIP Committee may
determine. The grantee will have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the
restricted stock, subject to any restrictions and conditions as the SIP
Committee may include in the Award agreement.
 
     RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.  The SIP Committee may grant RSUs in amounts, and
subject to terms and conditions, as the SIP Committee may determine. Recipients
of RSUs have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Firm and no
rights as a shareholder of GS Inc. until the Common Stock underlying the RSUs is
delivered.
 
     OTHER EQUITY-BASED AWARDS.  The SIP Committee may grant other types of
equity-based Awards, including the grant of unrestricted shares, in amounts, and
subject to terms and conditions, as the SIP Committee may determine. These
Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock, or the payment
in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock,
and may include Awards designed to comply with, or take advantage of certain
benefits of, the local laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions.
 
     CHANGE IN CONTROL.  The SIP Committee may provide in any Award agreement
for provisions relating to a "change in control" of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, including, without limitation, the acceleration of
the exercisability of, or the lapse of restrictions with respect to, the Award.
 
     DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS.  The SIP Committee may in its discretion
include in the Award agreement a dividend equivalent right entitling the grantee
to receive amounts equal to the dividends that would be paid, during
                                       91
<PAGE>   94
the time such Award is outstanding, on the shares of Common Stock covered by
such Award as if such shares were then outstanding.
 
     NONASSIGNABILITY.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in the Award
agreement or approved by the SIP Committee, no Award or right granted to any
person under the SIP will be assignable or transferable other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution, and all Awards and rights will be
exercisable during the life of the grantee only by the grantee or the grantee's
legal representative.
 
     AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.  Except as otherwise provided in an Award
agreement, the Board of Directors may from time to time suspend, discontinue,
revise or amend the SIP and the SIP Committee may amend the terms of any Award
in any respect.
 
     U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE SIP.  The following is a brief
description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences generally
arising with respect to Awards.
 
     The grant of an option or SAR will create no tax consequences for the
participant or the Company. Upon exercising an option, other than an ISO, the
participant will generally recognize ordinary income equal to the difference
between the exercise price and the fair market value of the shares acquired on
the date of exercise and the Company generally will be entitled to a tax
deduction in the same amount. A participant generally will not recognize taxable
income upon exercising an ISO and the Company will not be entitled to any tax
deduction with respect to an ISO if the participant holds the shares for the
applicable periods specified in the Code.
 
     With respect to other Awards, upon the payment of cash or the issuance of
shares or other property that is either not restricted as to transferability or
not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (e.g., delivery under the RSUs),
the participant will generally recognize ordinary income equal to the cash or
the fair market value of shares or other property delivered. The Company
generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary
income recognized by the participant.
 
THE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
 
     The Goldman Sachs Defined Contribution Plan (the "DCP") is not intended to
be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and is not subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
 
     The following description of the DCP is not necessarily complete. You
should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a
copy of the DCP. See "Available Information".
 
     ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION.  The Board of Directors or a committee
appointed by the Board of Directors (the "DCP Committee") will select the
employees to participate in the DCP.
 
     CONTRIBUTIONS.  The Company will make an initial irrevocable contribution
to the trust underlying the DCP (the "Trust") of 13,644,204 shares of Common
Stock simultaneously with the completion of the Common Stock Offering. The
Company may contribute additional shares of Common Stock or cash to the Trust
from time to time in its sole discretion. The Company currently intends to make
ongoing contributions to the DCP and to reallocate forfeitures under the DCP to
participants.
 
     ALLOCATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.  There will be established an account in the
name of each participant (the "Account") and a separate account (the
"Unallocated Account") to which any forfeitures of Common Stock will be credited
pending reallocation to participants. The DCP Committee will designate the
number of shares of Common Stock allocable to the Account of each participant.
Any Common Stock remaining in the Unallocated Account as of the last day of each
plan year due to forfeitures and any distributions received on Common Stock
credited to the Unallocated Account, will be reallocated among the Accounts of
participants who are employed by the Company on the last day of each plan year
pro rata to each such participant's share of the Company contributions for that
plan
 
                                       92
<PAGE>   95
 
year, or on such other formulaic basis as the DCP Committee may determine.
 
     VOTING AND TENDERING OF COMMON STOCK. Shares of Common Stock allocated to
participants who are parties to the Shareholders' Agreement will be voted in
accordance with the Shareholders' Agreement and will be tendered by the trustee
of the Trust in accordance with confidential instructions provided by the
participants if the transfer restrictions under the Shareholders' Agreement are
waived (and will not be tendered if the transfer restrictions are not waived).
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Shareholders' Agreement"
for a discussion of those provisions. Any shares of Common Stock allocated to
Accounts of participants who are not subject to the Shareholders' Agreement will
be voted and tendered by the trustee of the Trust in accordance with
confidential instructions provided by the participant. Shares held in Accounts
with respect to which the trustee of the Trust does not receive voting or
tendering directions will not be voted or tendered.
 
     Shares of Common Stock held in the Unallocated Account will be voted by the
trustee in the same proportion as the shares of Common Stock allocated to
participants' Accounts with respect to which voting instructions are received.
 
     DIVIDENDS.  Any cash dividends on shares of Common Stock allocated to a
participant's Account will be distributed to each participant after the end of
the calendar quarter in which such dividend is received.
 
     VESTING AND DISTRIBUTION.  With respect to the initial contribution of
Common Stock to the DCP, the right to receive shares of Common Stock allocated
to a participant's Account generally will become vested, and the Common Stock
generally will be distributable, in equal installments on or about the third,
fourth and fifth anniversaries of the date of such contribution if the
participant satisfies certain conditions and the participant's employment with
the Firm has not been terminated, with certain exceptions for termination due to
death or following a change in control.      With respect to contributions to
the DCP (other than the initial contribution), the DCP Committee may determine
the dates on which the right to receive Common Stock (or cash) allocated to a
participant's Account will vest and be distributed.
 
     ADMINISTRATION OF THE DCP.  The DCP will be administered by the DCP
Committee. The Board of Directors may, however, determine allocations of
contributions or resolve to otherwise administer the DCP.
 
     AMENDMENTS.  Subject to limitations with respect to contributions
previously made to the DCP, the Board of Directors reserves the right to modify,
alter, amend or terminate the DCP or the Trust. No modification or amendment of
the DCP may be made which would cause or permit any part of the assets of the
Trust to be used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive
benefit of participants or their beneficiaries, or which would cause any part of
the assets of the Trust to revert to or become the property of the Firm.
 
     LIMIT ON LIABILITY.  All distributions under the DCP will be paid or
provided solely from the assets of the Trust and the Company will have no
responsibility or liability to any participant or beneficiary relating to the
Common Stock or other assets of the Trust. The agreement establishing the Trust
will provide that no creditor of the Company will have any rights to the assets
of the Trust.
 
     U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. The following is a brief description
of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences generally arising with
respect to participation in the DCP. A participant in the DCP will recognize
ordinary income upon the vesting of shares of Common Stock allocated to such
participant's Account in an amount equal to the fair market value of the vested
shares. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction equal to the fair
market value of the shares at the time of the contribution in the taxable year
in which the participant recognizes income under the DCP in respect of the
vesting of shares of Common Stock.
 
                         THE PARTNER COMPENSATION PLAN
 
OVERVIEW
 
     To perpetuate the sense of partnership and teamwork that exists among the
Firm's senior professionals, and to reinforce the
 
                                       93
<PAGE>   96
alignment of employee and shareholder interests, the Board of Directors has
adopted The Goldman Sachs Partner Compensation Plan (the "Partner Compensation
Plan") for the purpose of compensating senior professionals. The Partner
Compensation Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee
appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Partner Compensation Plan Committee").
 
     Individuals will be selected to participate in the Partner Compensation
Plan for a one- for two-fiscal year cycle ("Contract Period"). Upon selection to
the Partner Compensation Plan, participants will be allocated a percentage
interest in a pool for annual bonus payments in addition to base salaries. The
size of the pool will be established by the Partner Compensation Plan Committee
annually, taking into account the Firm's results of operations and other
measures of financial performance. The Partner Compensation Plan Committee may
also retain an unallocated percentage of the pool that it may allocate among
participants at fiscal year end in its sole discretion. By linking the Partner
Compensation Plan participant's annual bonus payments to the Firm's results as a
whole, as opposed to the results of any participant's individual business unit,
the Firm believes it will provide additional incentives for teamwork. Further,
the Firm believes that the tying of the bonus payments to overall financial
results will more closely align the interests of the participants with the
Firm's shareholders. Finally, the Firm believes that the retention of a
percentage of the pool for allocation among participants at fiscal year end in
amounts determined at the sole discretion of the Partner Compensation Plan
Committee will provide appropriate compensation flexibility.
 
     The following description of the Partner Compensation Plan is not
necessarily complete. You should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the
registration statement for a copy of the Partner Compensation Plan. See
"Available Information".
 
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
 
     Consistent with the Firm's historical practice of partnership elections,
the initial Contract Period will be through the end of fiscal 2000. Although the
employees who will participate in the initial Contract Period have not yet been
designated, it is expected that the participants will consist of the continuing
PLPs. Prior to the Contract Period commencing with fiscal 2001, and on or before
each succeeding Contract Period, the Partner Compensation Plan Committee will
determine the participants in the Partner Compensation Plan. Individual
participants may also be added from time to time outside the biennial selection
process.
 
DETERMINATION OF SALARY AND BONUS
 
     The aggregate amount of compensation to be included in the Partner
Compensation Plan for each fiscal year will be determined by the Partner
Compensation Plan Committee, taking into account measures of the Company's
financial performance it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to,
earnings per share, return on average common equity, pre-tax income, pre-tax
operating income, net revenues, net income, profits before taxes, book value per
share, stock price, earnings available to common shareholders and ratio of
compensation to net revenues.
 
     Prior to the commencement of the first fiscal year in any Contract Period,
and prior to the completion of the Common Stock Offering in the case of the
initial Contract Period, the Partner Compensation Plan Committee will determine
both the salaries of and the percentage of the Partner Compensation Plan pool
that may be allocable to any particular participant (the "Allocation
Percentage"). The Allocation Percentage so determined is expected to be
applicable for each fiscal year within a Contract Period. Any remaining portion
of the Partner Compensation Plan pool not so allocated will be allocated to
individual participants at the end of the fiscal year in amounts determined by
the Partner Compensation Plan Committee.
 
     Amounts payable under the Partner Compensation Plan will be satisfied in
cash or as equity-based Awards under the SIP, as determined by the Partner
Compensation Plan Committee and recommended to the SIP Committee.
 
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<PAGE>   97
 
                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth as of the date of this prospectus certain
information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by:
 
- -  each director and Named Executive Officer of the Company; and
 
- -  all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
 
This information gives effect to the Incorporation Transactions, the Related
Transactions and the Common Stock Offering.
     Except as otherwise indicated, the persons or entities listed below have
sole voting and investment power with respect to Common Shares beneficially
owned by them. None of our employees will be selling shares in the Common Stock
Offering.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                                                      OWNED (3)
                                                              -------------------------
NAME                                                            NUMBER       PERCENT(4)
- ----                                                            ------       ----------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
  Henry M. Paulson, Jr.(1)..................................                        *
  Robert J. Hurst(1)........................................                        *
  John A. Thain(1)..........................................                        *
  John L. Thornton(1).......................................                        *
  John L. Weinberg(1).......................................                        *
  David A. Viniar(1)........................................                        *
All directors and executive officers as a group (11
  persons)(2)...............................................
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 *  Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
 
(1) c/o The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York
    10004. Excludes any shares of Common Stock subject to the Shareholders'
    Agreement that are owned by other parties to the Shareholders' Agreement.
    While each of Messrs. Paulson, Hurst, Thain, Thornton and Viniar is a party
    to the Shareholders' Agreement and, other than Mr. Viniar, is a member of
    the Shareholders' Committee, each disclaims beneficial ownership of the
    shares of Common Stock subject to the Shareholders' Agreement other than
    those specified above for each such person individually. See "Certain
    Relationships and Related Transactions -- Shareholders' Agreement" for a
    discussion of the Shareholders' Agreement.
 
(2) Each executive officer is a party to the Shareholders' Agreement and each
    disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock subject to the
    Shareholders' Agreement other than those specified above. See "Certain
    Relationships and Related Transactions -- Shareholders' Agreement" for a
    discussion of the Shareholders' Agreement.
 
(3) For purposes of this table, information as to the shares of Common Stock
    assumes that the underwriters' options to purchase additional shares in the
    Common Stock Offering are not exercised. For purposes of this table,
    "beneficial ownership" is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the
    Securities Exchange Act of 1934, pursuant to which a person or group of
    persons is deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of any shares of Common
    Stock that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days after the
    date of this prospectus. For purposes of computing the percentage of
    outstanding shares of Common Stock held by each person or group of persons
    named above, any shares which such person or persons has the right to
    acquire within 60 days after the date of this prospectus are deemed to be
    outstanding but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of
    computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
 
(4) Based on 461,470,947 shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
    the closing of the Common Stock Offering. This amount includes 31,306,667
    shares of Common Stock underlying the Formula RSUs.
 
                                       95
<PAGE>   98
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     The following descriptions of certain provisions of agreements and other
documents discussed below are not necessarily complete. You should refer to the
exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of each
agreement and document. See "Available Information".
 
                     INCORPORATION AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     Simultaneously with the consummation of the Common Stock Offering, we will
complete a number of transactions in order to have the Company succeed to the
business of Group L.P.
 
     The principal incorporation transactions (the "Incorporation Transactions")
and related transactions (the "Related Transactions") are summarized below.
 
INCORPORATION TRANSACTIONS
 
     Pursuant to a plan of incorporation (the "Plan of Incorporation"):
 
- - The Goldman Sachs Corporation ("GS Corp."), which is the general partner of
  Group L.P., will merge into GS Inc. In this transaction, the PLPs who are
  shareholders of GS Corp. will receive Common Stock and the other shareholders
  of GS Corp. will receive Common Stock, Junior Subordinated Debentures or cash
  (or a combination thereof);
 
- - The PLPs will exchange their interests in Group L.P. and certain affiliates
  for 264,680,458 shares of Common Stock (these amounts include shares issuable
  to PLPs in the merger of GS Corp. into GS Inc.);
 
- - The RLPs will exchange their interests in Group L.P. and certain affiliates
  for cash, Junior Subordinated Debentures or Common Stock (or a combination
  thereof). It is expected that these transactions will result in the payment of
  approximately $892 million in cash and the issuance of $295 million principal
  amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures and of 47,264,592 shares of Common
  Stock (these amounts include the securities and cash issuable to the RLPs in
  the merger of GS Corp. into GS Inc.);
 
- - SBCM will exchange its interests in Group L.P. and GS&Co. for 31,612,076
  shares of Common Stock and 6,238,094 shares of Nonvoting Common Stock;
 
- - KAA will exchange its interests in Group L.P. for 30,962,950 shares of Common
  Stock; and
 
- - After all the interests of Group L.P. have been transferred to GS Inc., Group
  L.P. will be merged into GS Inc.
 
RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
- - The Formula RSUs, Discretionary RSUs and Discretionary Options will be
  granted, the initial irrevocable contribution of shares of Common Stock to the
  DCP will be made and certain senior employees, principally Managing Directors
  who are not PLPs, will be selected to participate in the DCP; and
 
- - After the completion of the Common Stock Offering, we will make a $200 million
  cash contribution to a Goldman Sachs charitable foundation.
 
                            SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
 
PERSONS AND SHARES COVERED
 
     Each PLP and each other person who is or becomes a Managing Director on the
IPO Date or thereafter will be a party to the Shareholders' Agreement
(collectively, the "Covered Persons"). After completion of the Common Stock
Offering, approximately        shares of Common Stock will be subject to the
Shareholders' Agreement.
 
     The shares covered by the Shareholders' Agreement (the "Covered Shares")
will include generally all shares of Common Stock acquired from the Company by a
Covered Person. Covered Shares will include:
 
- - any shares of Common Stock received by the PLPs pursuant to the Incorporation
  Transactions (except for certain shares that aggregate less than
  shares);
 
- - any shares of Common Stock received by Covered Persons from the DCP;
 
                                       96
<PAGE>   99
 
- - any shares of Common Stock received by Covered Persons pursuant to the Formula
  or Discretionary RSUs or the Discretionary Options; and
 
- - unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, any shares of Common
  Stock received by the Covered Persons from the Company through any other
  employee compensation, benefit or similar plan.
 
Covered Shares will not include any shares of Common Stock purchased by a
Covered Person in the open market or in a subsequent underwritten public
offering.
 
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
 
     Each Covered Person will agree in the Shareholders' Agreement, among other
things, to:
 
- - have beneficial ownership of Covered Shares at least equal to 25% of the
  cumulative number of Covered Shares beneficially owned by him or her at the
  time he or she became a Covered Person or acquired by him or her thereafter
  and with no credit for dispositions (the "General Transfer Restrictions") for
  so long as he or she is a Covered Person and an employee of the Company (an
  "Employee Covered Person"); and
 
- - comply with the underwriters' 180-day lockup arrangement in connection with
  the Common Stock Offering.
 
     The PLPs will also be subject to limitations on their ability to transfer
Covered Shares received in connection with the Incorporation Transactions. Under
these restrictions, each PLP has agreed that he or she will not transfer the
Covered Shares received pursuant to the Plan of Incorporation until the third
anniversary of the IPO Date (the "PLP Transfer Restrictions" and, together with
the General Transfer Restrictions, the "Transfer Restrictions"). The PLP
Transfer Restrictions will lapse as to such Covered Shares in equal installments
on each of the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the IPO Date. The
Transfer Restrictions applicable to a Covered Person terminate upon the death of
the Covered Person.
 
WAIVERS
 
     Except in the case of a third-party tender or exchange offer, the PLP
Transfer Restrictions may be waived or terminated at any time by the
Shareholders' Committee. The Shareholders' Committee also has the power to waive
the General Transfer Restrictions to permit Covered Persons to:
 
- - participate as sellers in underwritten public offerings of Common Stock and
  tender and exchange offers and share repurchase programs by the Company;
 
- - transfer Covered Shares to charities, including charitable foundations;
 
- - transfer Covered Shares held in employee benefit plans; and
 
- - transfer Covered Shares in specific transactions (for example, to immediate
  family members and trusts) or circumstances.
 
     In the case of a third-party tender or exchange offer, the Transfer
Restrictions may be waived or terminated:
 
- - if the Board of Directors is recommending acceptance or is not making any
  recommendation with respect to acceptance of the tender or exchange offer, by
  a majority of the Voting Interests (as defined below under "-- Voting"); or
 
- - if the Board of Directors is recommending rejection of the tender or exchange
  offer, by 66 2/3% of the outstanding Voting Interests.
 
     In the case of a tender or exchange offer by the Firm, a majority of the
outstanding Voting Interests may also elect to waive or terminate the Transfer
Restrictions.
 
VOTING
 
     Prior to any vote of the shareholders of the Company, the Shareholders'
Agreement requires a separate, preliminary vote of the Voting Interests on each
matter upon which a vote of the shareholders is proposed to be taken (the
"Preliminary Vote"). Each Covered Share held by an Employee Covered Person and
each other Covered Share subject to the PLP Transfer Restrictions ("Voted
Covered Shares") will be voted in accor-
 
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<PAGE>   100
 
dance with the majority of the votes cast by the Voting Interests in the
Preliminary Vote. In elections of directors, each Voted Covered Share will be
voted in favor of the election of those persons receiving the highest numbers of
votes cast by the Voting Interests in the Preliminary Vote. "Voting Interests"
are Covered Shares beneficially owned by all Covered Persons through December
31, 2000 and thereafter are Covered Shares beneficially owned by all Employee
Covered Persons.
 
OTHER RESTRICTIONS
 
     The Shareholders' Agreement also prevents the Covered Persons from engaging
in certain activities relating to any securities of the Company with any person
who is not a Covered Person or a director, officer or employee of the Company
("Restricted Persons"). Among other things, a Covered Person may not:
 
- - participate in a proxy solicitation to or with a Restricted Person;
 
- - deposit any Covered Shares in a voting trust or subject any Covered Shares to
  any voting agreement or arrangement that includes any Restricted Person;
 
- - form, join or in any way participate in a "group" with any Restricted Person;
  or
 
- - together with any Restricted Person, propose certain transactions with the
  Company or seek the removal of any directors of the Company or any change in
  the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
TERM, AMENDMENT AND CONTINUATION
 
     The Shareholders' Agreement is to continue in effect until the earlier of
January 1, 2050, and the time it is terminated by the vote of 66 2/3% of the
outstanding Voting Interests. The PLP Transfer Restrictions will not terminate
upon the expiration or termination of the Shareholders' Agreement unless
previously waived or terminated or unless subsequently waived or terminated by
the Board of Directors. The Shareholders' Agreement may generally be amended at
any time by a majority of the outstanding Voting Interests.
 
     Unless otherwise terminated, in the event of any transaction in which a
third party succeeds to the business of the Company and in which Covered Persons
hold securities of the third party, the Shareholders' Agreement will remain in
full force and effect as to the securities of the third party, and the third
party shall succeed to the rights and obligations of the Company under the
Shareholders' Agreement.
 
INFORMATION REGARDING THE SHAREHOLDERS' COMMITTEE
 
     The terms and provisions of the Shareholders' Agreement will be
administered by the Shareholders' Committee. The Shareholders' Committee will
initially consist of those Covered Persons who are both employees of the Firm
and members of the Board of Directors of the Company. It is possible that over
time all or a majority of the members of the Shareholders' Committee will not be
members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
     Members of the Shareholders' Committee are entitled to indemnification from
the Company in their capacities as members of the Shareholders' Committee.
 
                                VOTING AGREEMENT
 
     Both SBCM and KAA have agreed to vote their shares of Common Stock in the
same manner as a majority of the shares of Common Stock held by the Managing
Directors of the Company are voted. The obligations of SBCM and KAA under the
Voting Agreement are enforceable by the Company. The Managing Directors will
have no right to enforce the SBCM and KAA voting agreements.
 
                         INSTRUMENT OF INDEMNIFICATION
 
     In connection with the Common Stock Offering, the Company will enter into
an Instrument of Indemnification (the "Instrument of Indemnification"). The
Instrument of Indemnification will cover certain former partners of the Firm,
including the PLPs, each current director and executive officer of GS Inc., the
RLPs, SBCM and KAA (each an "Indemnitee"). Under the Instrument of
Indemnification, in the event any Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a
party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such
Indemnitee was a general or
 
                                       98
<PAGE>   101
 
limited partner, shareholder, member, director, officer, employee or agent
(each, a "Designated Capacity") of Group L.P. or certain of its affiliates or
subsidiaries or is serving or served, at the request of Group L.P. or certain of
its affiliates or subsidiaries, in a Designated Capacity in another enterprise,
the Company is, subject to certain exceptions, obligated to indemnify and hold
such Indemnitee harmless from any losses, damages or expenses incurred by such
Indemnitee in the action, suit or proceeding. The Instrument of Indemnification
does not duplicate the obligations of the Company under the Tax Indemnification
Agreement described below. The indemnification obligation of the Company under
the Instrument of Indemnification also extends to the indemnification
obligations that certain Indemnitees, including each current director and
executive officer of GS Inc., may have to other Indemnitees.
 
     The Instrument of Indemnification also provides that the Company will,
subject to certain exceptions, release each Indemnitee from all actions, suits
or other claims that Group L.P. may have had or which the Company, as a
successor to Group L.P., may have arising out of an Indemnitee's partnership or
other interest in Group L.P. or certain of its affiliates or subsidiaries or
arising out of the conduct of such Indemnitee engaged in the conduct of the
business of Group L.P. or its affiliates or subsidiaries.
 
                      DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION
 
     The Company will enter into agreements that provide indemnification to the
Company's directors and certain officers. These agreements are in addition to
the Company's indemnification obligations under its By-Laws. The agreements,
among other things, will indemnify the Company's directors and certain officers
to the fullest extent permitted by law for certain expenses (including
attorneys' fees) and all losses, claims, liabilities, judgments, fines and
settlement amounts incurred by such person arising out of or in connection with
such person's service as a director or officer of the Company with respect to
the Incorporation Transactions and the Common Stock Offering.
 
                       TAX INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND
                                RELATED MATTERS
 
     An entity that has historically operated in corporate form generally is
liable for any adjustments to the corporation's taxes for periods prior to its
initial public offering. In contrast, the partners of Group L.P., rather than
the Company, will be liable for any adjustments to many taxes (including U.S.
federal and state income taxes) attributable to the operations of Group L.P. and
its affiliates prior to the Common Stock Offering. In connection with the Common
Stock Offering, the Company will enter into an agreement (the "Tax
Indemnification Agreement") to indemnify certain former limited partners of
Group L.P., including the PLPs, each current director and executive officer of
GS Inc., the RLPs, SBCM and KAA (collectively, the "Tax Indemnitees"), against
certain increases in each Tax Indemnitee's taxes that relate to activities of
Group L.P. or certain of its affiliates in respect of periods prior to the
Common Stock Offering ("Increased Taxes"). The Company will be required to make
additional payments to offset any taxes payable by a Tax Indemnitee in respect
of payments made pursuant to the Tax Indemnification Agreement only to the
extent the payments made to that Tax Indemnitee exceed a fixed amount. Any
payment of Increased Taxes by the Company will be offset by any tax benefit
received by the Tax Indemnitee.
 
     The Tax Indemnification Agreement includes provisions that permit the
Company to control any tax proceeding or contest which might result in the
Company being required to make a payment under the Tax Indemnification
Agreement.
 
     The Incorporation Transactions are structured in a manner that is not
expected to result in a significantly disproportionate tax or other burden to
any partner of Group L.P. If the Incorporation Transactions were to have a
disproportionate effect on any partner, the Company may, but is not required to,
make special payments and arrangements with any person who incurs a
disproportionate tax or other burden.
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<PAGE>   102
 
                      DESCRIPTION OF NOTES WE ARE OFFERING
 
Please note that in this section entitled "Description of Notes We Are
Offering", the terms "GS INC.", "WE", "OUR" and "US" refer only to The Goldman
Sachs Group, Inc. and do not include its consolidated subsidiaries, while the
term the "FIRM" refers to GS Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Also, in this section, the term "HOLDERS" means those who have Notes registered
in their own names, on the books that we or the Trustee maintain for this
purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in Notes issued in
book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or in Notes registered in
"street name". Owners of beneficial interests in the Notes should read the
subsection entitled "-- Legal Ownership of Notes".
 
                          FINANCIAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
 
     The specific financial terms of the Notes that we are offering are as
follows:
 
- - TITLE OF THE NOTES:    % Notes due 200
 
- - ISSUER OF THE NOTES:  GS Inc.
 
- - TOTAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT BEING ISSUED: $1,000,000,000
 
- - DUE DATE FOR PRINCIPAL:  May 15, 200
 
- - INTEREST RATE:    % annually
 
- - DATE INTEREST STARTS ACCRUING:
 
- - DUE DATES FOR INTEREST:  every May 15 and November 15
 
- - FIRST DUE DATE FOR INTEREST:  November 15, 1999
 
- - REGULAR RECORD DATES FOR INTEREST:  every May 1 and November 1
 
- - REDEMPTION:  We will not have the option to redeem the Notes before they
  mature, unless the principal amount of all the outstanding Notes falls below
  $100,000,000, as we describe below under "-- When We Can Redeem the Notes".
 
- - FORM OF NOTES:  We will issue the Notes only in global form, and you will not
  be permitted to withdraw Notes from DTC (as defined below) except in the
  limited situations we describe below under "-- We Will Issue the Notes in
  Global Form".
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                ABOUT YOUR NOTE
 
THE NOTES WILL BE ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE
 
     As required by U.S. federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that
are publicly offered, the Notes are governed by a document called the
"INDENTURE". The Indenture is a contract between us and                , which
acts as "TRUSTEE". The Trustee has two main roles:
 
- - First, the Trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are
  limitations on the extent to which the Trustee acts on your behalf, which we
  describe below under "-- Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default".
 
- - Second, the Trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you
  interest payments and notices.
 
     The Indenture permits us to issue different series of debt securities from
time to time. The Notes will be a single, distinct series of debt securities.
The specific terms of each other series may differ from those of the Notes. The
Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of debt securities that we may
issue, nor does it limit the number of other series or the aggregate amount of
any particular series.
 
     The Indenture and the Notes do not limit our ability to incur other debt or
to issue other securities. Also, we are not subject to financial or similar
restrictions by the terms of the
 
                                       100
<PAGE>   103
 
Notes, except as we describe below under "-- Restrictive Covenant and
Defeasance".
 
     When we refer to a "SERIES OF DEBT SECURITIES", we mean a series, such as
the Notes, issued under the Indenture.
 
HOW THE NOTES RANK AGAINST OTHER DEBT
 
     The Notes will not be secured by any property or assets of the Firm. Thus,
by owning these Notes, you are one of our unsecured creditors. The Notes will
not be subordinated to any of our other debt obligations. This means that, in a
bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding against us, the Notes would rank equally in
right of payment with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of GS Inc. The
specific terms of other debt, including those of other series we may issue under
the Indenture, however, will differ from those of the Notes. For example, other
debt will have different due dates for principal and interest and may permit
holders to accelerate the maturity in different circumstances.
 
     An investment in the Notes involves risks because we are a holding company
and because our principal U.S. subsidiary, GS&Co., is a partnership in which we
are a general partner. We summarize these risks above under "Risk Factors -- We
Depend on Funds from Our Regulated Subsidiaries" and "-- Holders of Notes May Be
Adversely Affected Because We Are a Holding Company".
 
STATED MATURITY AND MATURITY
 
     The day on which the principal amount of the Notes is scheduled to become
due is called the "STATED MATURITY" of the principal. The principal may become
due sooner, by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default. The day on
which the principal actually becomes due, whether at the stated maturity or
earlier, is called the "MATURITY" of the principal.
 
     We also use the terms "stated maturity" and "maturity" to refer to the
dates when interest payments become due. For example, we may refer to a regular
interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due
as the "stated maturity" of that installment. When we refer to the "stated
maturity" or the "maturity" of the Notes without specifying a particular
payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the
principal.
 
THIS SECTION IS ONLY A SUMMARY
 
     The Indenture and its associated documents, including the Notes, contain
the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The Indenture and
the Notes are governed by New York law. A copy of the Indenture has been filed
with the SEC as part of our registration statement. See "Available Information"
below for information on how to obtain a copy.
 
     Because this section provides only a summary, it does not describe every
aspect of the Indenture and the Notes. For example, in this section, we use
terms that have been given special meaning in the Indenture. In this section,
however, we describe the meaning for only the more important of those terms.
 
 When we define a specialized term used in this section, it appears in BOLD,
 ITALICIZED type.
 
                            LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF NOTES
 
     We refer to those who have Notes registered in their own names, on the
books that we or the Trustee maintain for this purpose, as the "Holders" of
those Notes. Those persons are the legal holders of those Notes. We refer to
those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in Notes that are
not registered in their own names as "INDIRECT HOLDERS" of those Notes. As we
discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in Notes
issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
 
BOOK-ENTRY HOLDERS
 
     We will issue the Notes in book-entry form. This means the Notes will be
represented by one or more global Notes registered in the name of a financial
institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial
institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system. These
 
                                       101
<PAGE>   104
 
participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the Notes on
behalf of themselves or their customers.
 
     Under the Indenture, only the person in whose name a Note is registered is
recognized as the Holder of that Note. Consequently, for Notes issued in global
form, we will recognize only the depositary as the Holder of the Notes and we
will make all payments on the Notes to the depositary. The depositary passes
along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the
payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary
and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or
with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the
Notes.
 
     As a result, investors will not own Notes directly. Instead, they will own
beneficial interests in a global Note, through a bank, broker or other financial
institution that participates in the depositary's book-entry system or holds an
interest through a participant. As long as the Notes are issued in global form,
investors will be indirect holders, and not Holders, of the Notes.
 
STREET NAME HOLDERS
 
     If in the future we terminate the global Notes, investors may choose to
hold their Notes in their own names or in "STREET NAME". Notes held by an
investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or
other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would
hold only a beneficial interest in those Notes through an account he or she
maintains at that institution.
 
     For Notes held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary
banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the Notes are
registered as the Holders of those Notes and we will make all payments on those
Notes to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their
customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in
their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so.
Investors who hold Notes in street name will be indirect holders, not Holders,
of those Notes.
 
LEGAL HOLDERS
 
     Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the Trustee and those of any
third parties employed by us or the Trustee, run only to the Holders of the
Notes. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in
global Notes, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the
case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a Note or has no
choice because we are issuing the Notes only in global form.
 
     For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the Holder, we have
no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that Holder is
required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law,
to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we
want to obtain the approval of the Holders for any purpose -- e.g., to amend the
Indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation
to comply with a particular provision of the Indenture -- we would seek the
approval only from the Holders, and not the indirect holders, of the Notes.
Whether and how the Holders contact the indirect holders is up to the Holders.
 
     When we refer to "YOU", we mean those who invest in the Notes being offered
by this prospectus, whether they are the Holders or only indirect holders of
those Notes. When we refer to "YOUR NOTES", we mean the Notes in which you hold
a direct or indirect interest.
 
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INDIRECT HOLDERS
 
     If you hold Notes through a bank, broker or other financial institution,
either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own
institution to find out:
 
- - how it handles securities payments and notices;
 
- - whether it imposes fees or charges;
 
- - how it would handle a request for the Holders' consent, if ever required;
                                       102
<PAGE>   105
 
- - whether and how you can instruct it to send you Notes registered in your own
  name so you can be a Holder, if that is permitted in the future;
 
- - how it would exercise rights under the Notes if there were a default or other
  event triggering the need for Holders to act to protect their interests; and
 
- - if the Notes are in book-entry form, how the depositary's rules and procedures
  will affect these matters.
 
                     WE WILL ISSUE THE NOTES IN GLOBAL FORM
 
     We have chosen to issue the Notes in book-entry form. This means all the
Notes will be represented, at least initially, by one or more global Notes.
 
WHAT IS A GLOBAL NOTE?
 
     A "GLOBAL NOTE" is a Note that we deposit with and register in the name of
a financial institution, or its nominee, that we select. The financial
institution that we select for this purpose is called the "DEPOSITARY". We have
selected The Depository Trust Company of New York, New York, known as "DTC", to
be the Depositary for the Notes, at least initially.
 
     A global Note may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone
other than the Depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations
arise. We describe those situations below under "-- Special Situations When a
Global Note Will Be Terminated". As a result of these arrangements, the
Depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and Holder of all
the Notes, and investors will be permitted only to own beneficial interests in a
global Note. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a
broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the
Depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose Note
is represented by a global Note will not be a Holder of the Note, but only an
indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global Note.
 
     The Notes will be represented by one or more global Notes at all times
unless and until the global Notes are terminated under one of the special
situations we describe below.
 
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR GLOBAL NOTES
 
     As an indirect holder, an investor's rights relating to a global Note will
be governed by the account rules of the investor's financial institution and of
the Depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do
not recognize this type of investor as a Holder of Notes and instead deal only
with the Depositary that holds the global Note.
 
     Because the Notes will be issued only in the form of global Notes, an
investor should be aware of the following:
 
- - An investor cannot get Notes registered in his or her own name, and cannot get
  non-global certificates for his or her interest in the Notes, except in the
  special situations we describe below.
 
- - An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or
  broker for payments on the Notes and protection of his or her legal rights
  relating to the Notes, as we describe above under "-- Legal Ownership of
  Notes".
 
- - An investor may not be able to sell interests in the Notes to some insurance
  companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their
  securities in non-book-entry form.
 
- - The Depositary's policies, which may change from time to time, will govern
  payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor's
  interest in a global Note. We and the Trustee have no responsibility for any
  aspect of the Depositary's actions or for its records of ownership interests
  in a global Note. We and the Trustee also do not supervise the Depositary in
  any way.
 
- - The Depositary will require that those who purchase and sell interests in a
  global Note within its book-entry system use immediately available funds.
 
- - Financial institutions that participate in the Depositary's book-entry system,
  and through which investors hold their interests
                                       103
<PAGE>   106
in the global Notes, may also have their own policies affecting payments,
notices and other matters relating to the Notes. There may be more than one
financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not
monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
 
SPECIAL SITUATIONS WHEN A GLOBAL NOTE WILL BE TERMINATED
 
     In a few special situations described below, a global Note will be
terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global
form representing the Notes it represented. After that exchange, the choice of
whether to hold the Notes directly or in street name will be up to the investor.
Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their
interests in a global Note transferred on termination to their own names, so
that they will be Holders. We have described the rights of Holders and street
name investors above under "-- Legal Ownership of Notes".
 
     The special situations for termination of the global Notes are:
 
- - when the Depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer
  qualified to continue as Depositary, and we do not appoint another institution
  to act as Depositary within 60 days;
 
- - when we notify the Trustee that we wish to terminate the global Notes; or
 
- - when an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured or waived; we
  discuss defaults later under "-- Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default".
 
When a global Note is terminated, only the Depositary, and not we or the
Trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose
names the Notes represented by the global Note will be registered and,
therefore, who will be the Holders of those Notes.
 
                          WHEN WE CAN REDEEM THE NOTES
 
     We will not be permitted to redeem the Notes before their stated maturity,
except in the following special situation. If the aggregate principal amount of
all the outstanding Notes ever falls below $100,000,000, we may choose, at our
option, to redeem the remaining outstanding Notes on any day we select after
that time. If we do so, we must redeem all the Notes outstanding on the
redemption date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount
plus accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, we must
give the Trustee and the Holders of the remaining Notes written notice of
redemption, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the redemption
date we select. We will give the notice in the manner described below in
"-- Notices".
 
     We or our affiliates may purchase Notes from investors who are willing to
sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in
private transactions at negotiated prices. For example, we currently expect
GS&Co. to make a market in the Notes by purchasing and reselling Notes from time
to time. Notes that we or our affiliates purchase may, at our discretion, be
held, resold or cancelled. If the Firm purchases and cancels enough Notes, the
principal amount of the outstanding Notes would fall below $100,000,000, and we
would then be entitled to redeem the remaining Notes on any day after that time
as described above.
 
     The Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund -- that
is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial
account to repay your Note. In addition, you will not be entitled to require us
to buy your Note from you before its stated maturity.
 
                        MERGERS AND SIMILAR TRANSACTIONS
 
     We are generally permitted to merge or consolidate with another firm. We
are also permitted to sell substantially all our assets to another firm. We may
not take any of these actions, however, unless all the following conditions are
met:
 
- - If the successor firm in the transaction is not GS Inc., the successor firm
  must be organized as a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability
  company or other simi-
                                       104
<PAGE>   107
  lar entity and must expressly assume GS Inc.'s obligations under the Notes and
  the Indenture. The successor firm may be organized under the laws of any
  jurisdiction, whether in the United States or elsewhere.
 
- - Immediately after the transaction, no default under the Notes has occurred and
  is continuing. For this purpose, "default under the Notes" means an Event of
  Default or an event that would be an Event of Default if the requirements for
  giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific
  period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under
  "-- Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default".
 
If the conditions described above are satisfied, we will not need to obtain the
approval of the Holders in order to merge or consolidate or to sell all or
substantially all our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish
to merge or consolidate with another firm or sell all or substantially all our
assets. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other
types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock
or assets of another firm, any transaction that involves a change of control of
GS Inc. but in which we do not merge or consolidate and any transaction in which
we sell less than substantially all our assets.
 
     Also, if we merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all our assets
and the successor firm is a non-U.S. entity, we will not be obligated to
compensate you for any resulting adverse tax consequences relating to the Notes.
 
                      RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND DEFEASANCE
 
RESTRICTION ON LIENS
 
     In the Indenture, we promise not to create or guarantee any debt for
borrowed money that is secured by a lien on our voting or profit participating
equity ownership interests in our subsidiary, GS&Co. (or in any subsidiary
owning those interests), unless we also secure the Notes on an equal or priority
basis with the other secured debt. Our promise, however, is subject to an
important exception: we may secure debt for borrowed money with liens on those
interests without securing the Notes if our Board of Directors determines that
the liens do not materially detract from or interfere with the then-present
value or control of those interests.
 
     Except as noted above, the Indenture does not restrict our ability to put
liens on our interests in our subsidiaries other than GS&Co., nor does it
restrict our ability to sell or otherwise dispose of our interests in any of our
subsidiaries, including GS&Co.
 
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
     FULL DEFEASANCE.  If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as
described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other
obligations on the Notes. This is called "FULL DEFEASANCE". To do so, each of
the following must occur:
 
- - We must deposit in trust for the benefit of all Holders a combination of money
  and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will
  generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the
  Notes on their various due dates.
 
- - There must be a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an Internal Revenue
  Service ruling that lets us make the above deposit without causing you to be
  taxed on your Notes any differently than if we did not make the deposit and
  just repaid the Notes ourselves. Under current federal tax law, the deposit
  and our legal release from the Notes would be treated as though we took back
  your Notes and gave you your share of the cash and notes or bonds deposited in
  trust. In that event, you could recognize gain or loss on your Notes.
 
- - We must deliver to the Trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming the
  tax law change described above.
 
     If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, you would have to rely solely on
the trust deposit for payments on your Notes. You could not look to us for
payment in the event of any shortfall.
 
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<PAGE>   108
 
     COVENANT DEFEASANCE.  Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the
same type of deposit described above and be released from certain restrictive
covenants relating to the Notes. This is called "COVENANT DEFEASANCE". In that
event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants. In order to
achieve covenant defeasance, we must do both of the following:
 
- - We must deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders a combination of money
  and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will
  generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the
  Notes on their various due dates.
 
- - We must deliver to the Trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that
  under current U.S. federal income tax law we may make the above deposit
  without causing you to be taxed on your Notes any differently than if we did
  not make the deposit and just repaid the Notes ourselves.
 
     If we accomplish covenant defeasance with regard to your Note, the
following provisions of the Indenture and the Notes would no longer apply:
 
- - our promise not to create liens on our voting or profit participating equity
  ownership interests in GS&Co. described above under "-- Restriction on Liens";
  and
 
- - the Event of Default resulting from a breach of covenants, described below in
  the third item under "-- Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default -- Events of
  Default".
 
     If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for
repayment of your Notes in the event of any shortfall in the trust deposit. In
fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred, such as our
bankruptcy, and your Notes became immediately due and payable, there may be a
shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to
obtain payment of the shortfall.
 
                    DEFAULT, REMEDIES AND WAIVER OF DEFAULT
 
     You will have special rights if an Event of Default with respect to the
Notes occurs and is not cured, as described in this subsection.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     The term "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any of the following:
 
- - We do not pay the principal on any Note on its due date.
 
- - We do not pay interest on any Note within 30 days after its due date.
 
- - We remain in breach of our covenant described under "-- Restrictive Covenant
  and Defeasance -- Restriction on Liens" above, or any other covenant we make
  in the Indenture for the benefit of the Notes, for 60 days after we receive a
  notice of default stating that we are in breach. The notice must be sent by
  the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 10% in principal amount of the
  Notes.
 
- - We file for bankruptcy or other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
  reorganization relating to GS Inc. occur. Those events must arise under U.S.
  federal or state law, unless we merge, consolidate or sell our assets as
  described above and the successor firm is a non-U.S. entity. If that happens,
  then those events must arise under U.S. federal or state law or the law of the
  jurisdiction in which the successor firm is legally organized.
 
REMEDIES IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OCCURS
 
     If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes may
declare the entire principal amount of all the Notes to be due immediately. If
an Event of Default occurs because of events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization relating to GS Inc., the entire principal amount of all the Notes
will be automatically accelerated, without any action by the Trustee or any
Holder.
 
     Each of the situations described above is called an "ACCELERATION OF THE
MATURITY" of the Notes. If the maturity of the Notes is
 
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<PAGE>   109
 
accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the Holders of
a majority in principal amount of the Notes may cancel the acceleration for all
the Notes.
 
     If an Event of Default occurs, the Trustee will have special duties. In
that situation, the Trustee will be obligated to use those of its rights and
powers under the Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in
doing so, that a prudent person would use in that situation in conducting his or
her own affairs.
 
     Except as described in the prior paragraph, the Trustee is not required to
take any action under the Indenture at the request of any Holders unless the
Holders offer the Trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability.
This is called an "INDEMNITY". If reasonable indemnity is provided, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy
available to the Trustee. These majority Holders may also direct the Trustee in
performing any other action under the Indenture with respect to the Notes.
 
     Before you bypass the Trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal
legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your
interests relating to the Notes, the following must occur:
 
- - You must give the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred
  and the Event of Default must not have been cured or waived.
 
- - The Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes must make a
  written request that the Trustee take action because of the default and they
  or you must offer reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the cost and
  other liabilities of taking that action.
 
- - The Trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have
  been taken.
 
- - During those 60 days, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
  Notes must not have given the Trustee directions that are inconsistent with
  the written request of the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
  the Notes.
 
You are entitled, however, at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of
money due on your Note on or after its due date.
 
WAIVER OF DEFAULT
 
     The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes
may waive a default for all the Notes. If this happens, the default will be
treated as if it has not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on any
Note, however, without the approval of the particular Holder of that Note.
 
WE WILL GIVE THE TRUSTEE INFORMATION ABOUT DEFAULTS ANNUALLY
 
     Each year, we will give the Trustee a written statement of two of our
officers, certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the
Indenture and the Notes, or else specifying any default known to them.
 
   Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or
   brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a
   request of the Trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of
   the maturity.
 
                      MODIFICATION AND WAIVER OF COVENANTS
 
     There are three types of changes we can make to the Indenture and the
Notes.
 
CHANGES REQUIRING EACH HOLDER'S APPROVAL
 
     First, there are changes that cannot be made without the approval of each
Holder of a Note affected by the change. Here is a list of those types of
changes:
 
- - change the stated maturity for any principal or interest payment on a Note;
 
- - reduce the principal amount, the interest rate or the redemption price for a
  Note;
 
- - permit redemption of a Note if not previously permitted;
 
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<PAGE>   110
 
- - change the currency of any payment on a Note;
 
- - change the place of any payment on a Note;
 
- - impair the Holder's right to sue for payment of any amount due on its Note;
 
- - reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Notes and any other affected
  series of debt securities, taken together, the approval of whose Holders is
  needed to change the Indenture or the Notes;
 
- - reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Notes and any other affected
  series of debt securities, taken separately or together, as the case may be,
  the approval of whose Holders is needed to waive our compliance with the
  Indenture or to waive defaults; and
 
- - change the provisions of the Indenture dealing with modification and waiver in
  any other respect, except to increase any required percentage referred to
  above or to add to the provisions that cannot be changed or waived without
  approval.
 
CHANGES NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL
 
     The second type of change does not require any approval by Holders of
Notes. This type is limited to clarifications and changes that would not
adversely affect the Notes in any material respect. Nor do we need any approval
to make changes that affect only debt securities to be issued under the
Indenture after the changes take effect.
 
     We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect a
particular Note, even if they affect other Notes or other debt securities. In
those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the Holder of that Note;
we need only obtain any required approvals from the Holders of the affected
Notes or other debt securities.
 
CHANGES REQUIRING MAJORITY APPROVAL
 
     Any other change to the Indenture and the Notes would require the following
approval:
 
- - If the change affects only the Notes, it must be approved by the Holders of a
  majority in principal amount of the Notes.
 
- - If the change affects the Notes as well as one or more other series of debt
  securities issued under the Indenture, it must be approved by the Holders of a
  majority in principal amount of the Notes and all other series affected by the
  change, with the Notes and the other series voting together as one class for
  this purpose.
 
In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent. Most
changes fall into this category.
 
     The same majority approval would be required for us to obtain a waiver of
any of our covenants in the Indenture. Our covenants include the promises we
make about merging and putting liens on our interests in GS&Co., which we
describe above under "-- Mergers and Similar Transactions" and "-- Restrictive
Covenant and Defeasance". If the Holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will
not have to comply with it. The Holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any
provision in a particular Note, or in the Indenture as it affects that Note,
that we cannot change without the approval of the Holder of that Note as
described above in "-- Changes Requiring Each Holder's Approval", unless that
Holder approves the waiver.
 
   Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or
   brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we
   seek to change the Indenture or the Notes or request a waiver.
 
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<PAGE>   111
 
                      SPECIAL RULES FOR ACTION BY HOLDERS
 
     When Holders take any action under the Indenture, such as giving a notice
of default, declaring an acceleration, approving any change or waiver or giving
the Trustee an instruction, we will apply the following rules. We may apply
similar rules to other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture.
 
ONLY OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE
 
     Only Holders of outstanding Notes will be eligible to participate in any
action by Holders. Also, we will count only outstanding Notes in determining
whether the various percentage requirements for taking action have been met. For
these purposes, a Note will not be "outstanding":
 
- - if it has been surrendered for cancellation;
 
- - if we have deposited or set aside, in trust for its Holder, money for its
  payment or redemption;
 
- - if we have fully defeased it as described above under "-- Restrictive Covenant
  and Defeasance -- Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance -- Full Defeasance"; or
 
- - if we or one of our affiliates, such as GS&Co., is the beneficial owner.
 
In some situations, Holders of debt securities of other series may be eligible
to participate in an action by Holders of Notes. In that event, we may follow
special rules in calculating the principal amount of their debt securities that
is to be treated as outstanding for the purposes described above. This may
happen, for example, if the principal amount is payable in a foreign currency,
increases over time or is not to be fixed until maturity.
 
DETERMINING RECORD DATES
 
     We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the
purpose of determining the Holders that are entitled to take action under the
Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, only the Trustee will be entitled
to set a record date for action by Holders. If we or the Trustee set a record
date for an approval or other action to be taken by Holders, that vote or action
may be taken only by persons or entities who are Holders on the record date and
must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the
Trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the Trustee, as applicable,
may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may
not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. In
addition, record dates for any global Note may be set in accordance with
procedures established by the Depositary from time to time.
 
                          FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER
 
     If any Notes cease to be issued in global form, those Notes will be issued:
 
- - only in fully registered form;
 
- - without interest coupons; and
 
- - in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000.
 
     Holders may exchange their Notes for Notes of smaller denominations or
combined into fewer Notes of larger denominations, as long as the total
principal amount is not changed. This is called an "EXCHANGE".
 
     Holders may exchange or transfer their Notes at the office of the Trustee.
We have appointed the Trustee to act as our agent for registering Notes in the
names of Holders and transferring Notes. We may appoint another entity to
perform these functions or perform them ourselves.
 
     Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or
exchange their Notes, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other
governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or
exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the Holder's
proof of legal ownership.
 
     We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any
particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through
which any transfer agent acts.
 
     As long as the Notes are issued in global form, only the Depositary will be
entitled to transfer and exchange Notes as described in this subsection, since
it will be the sole Holder of the Notes.
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<PAGE>   112
 
                               PAYMENT MECHANICS
 
WHO RECEIVES PAYMENT?
 
     We will pay interest on the Notes on the interest payment dates stated
above under "-- Financial Terms of the Notes", and at maturity. Each payment of
interest due on an interest payment date or at maturity will include interest
accrued from and including the last date to which interest has been paid or made
available for payment, or from the issue date, if none has been paid or made
available for payment, to but excluding the relevant payment date. We will
compute interest on the Notes on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months.
 
     If interest is due on a Note on an interest payment date, we will pay the
interest to the Holder in whose name the Note is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date relating to the interest payment date. If
interest is due at maturity but on a day that is not an interest payment date,
we will pay the interest to the person or entity entitled to receive the
principal of the Note. If principal is due on a Note at maturity, we will pay
the amount to the Holder of the Note against surrender of the Note at the proper
place of payment.
 
     The "REGULAR RECORD DATE" relating to an interest payment date for any Note
will be the May 1 or November 1 next preceding the interest payment date,
whether or not that preceding day is a Business Day. For the purpose of
determining the Holder at the "close of business" on a regular record date when
business is not being conducted, the close of business will mean 5:00 P.M., New
York City time, on that day.
 
     "BUSINESS DAY" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday
that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are
authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
 
HOW WE WILL MAKE PAYMENTS
 
     PAYMENTS ON GLOBAL NOTES.  As long as the Notes are issued in global form,
we will make payments on the Notes in accordance with the applicable policies of
the Depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will pay
directly to the Depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who
own beneficial interests in a global Note. An indirect holder's right to receive
those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the Depositary and
its participants, as described above under "-- We Will Issue the Notes in Global
Form".
 
     PAYMENTS ON NON-GLOBAL NOTES.  If the global Notes are terminated and we
issue Notes in non-global form, we will make payments on the Notes as follows.
We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on
the interest payment date to the Holder at his or her address shown on the
Trustee's records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We
will make all other payments by check at the Paying Agent described below,
against surrender of the Note. All payments by check will be made in "next day"
funds -- i.e., funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed.
 
     Alternatively, if a non-global Note has a face amount of at least
$1,000,000 and the Holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes
due on the Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at
a bank in New York City, on the due date. To request wire payment, the Holder
must give the Paying Agent appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five
Business Days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any
interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given
by the person or entity who is the Holder on the relevant regular record date.
In the case of any other payment, payment will be made only after the Note is
surrendered to the Paying Agent. Any wire instructions, once properly given,
will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner
described above.
 
    Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or
    brokers for information on how they will receive payments on the Notes.
 
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<PAGE>   113
 
PAYMENT WHEN OFFICES ARE CLOSED
 
     If any payment is due on a Note on a day that is not a Business Day, we
will make the payment on the next day that is a Business Day. Payments postponed
to the next Business Day in this situation will be treated under the Indenture
as if they were made on the original due date. Postponement of this kind will
not result in a default under the Notes or the Indenture, and no interest will
accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next day that
is a Business Day.
 
PAYING AGENT
 
     If we issue Notes in non-global form, we may appoint one or more financial
institutions to act as our paying agents, and at whose designated offices the
Notes may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We call each of those
offices a "PAYING AGENT". We may add, replace or terminate Paying Agents from
time to time. We may also choose to act as our own Paying Agent. Initially, we
have appointed the Trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as
the Paying Agent. We must notify you of changes in the Paying Agents.
 
UNCLAIMED PAYMENTS
 
     Regardless of who acts as Paying Agent, all money paid by us to a Paying
Agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to
a Holder will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, the Holder may look
only to us for payment and not to the Trustee, any other Paying Agent or anyone
else.
 
                                    NOTICES
 
     As long as we issue the Notes in global form, notices to be given to
Holders will be given only to the Depositary, in accordance with its applicable
policies as in effect from time to time. If we issue the Notes in non-global
form, notices to be given to Holders will be sent by mail to the respective
addresses of the Holders as they appear in the Trustee's records, and will be
deemed given when mailed. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular
Holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular Holder, will affect the
sufficiency of any notice given to another Holder.
 
 Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for
 information on how they will receive notices.
 
                       OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRUSTEE
 
                    is initially serving as the Trustee, for the Notes and all
other series of debt securities to be issued under the Indenture.
               has provided commercial banking and other services for us and our
affiliates in the past and may do so in the future. Among other things,
             provides us with a line of credit, holds debt securities issued by
us and serves as trustee or agent with regard to other debt obligations of the
Firm.
 
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                             UNITED STATES TAXATION
 
     This summary describes the principal United States federal income tax
consequences of owning Notes. It applies to you only if you acquire Notes in the
Offering at the initial offering price and you hold your Notes as capital assets
for tax purposes. This summary does not apply to you if you are a member of a
class of holders subject to special rules, such as:
 
- - a dealer in securities or currencies;
 
- - a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of
  accounting for your securities holdings;
 
- - a bank;
 
- - a life insurance company;
 
- - a tax-exempt organization;
 
- - a person that holds Notes that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest
  rate or currency risks;
 
- - a person that holds Notes as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for
  tax purposes; or
 
- - a person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.
 
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"CODE"), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the
Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These
laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
 
 Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the consequences of owning
 these Notes in your particular circumstances under the Code and the laws of
 any other taxing jurisdiction.
 
                             UNITED STATES HOLDERS
 
     This section describes the tax consequences to a United States Holder. You
are a "UNITED STATES HOLDER" if you are a beneficial owner of a Note that is:
 
- - a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
- - a domestic corporation;
 
- - an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax
  regardless of its source; or
 
- - a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the
  trust's administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to
  control all substantial decisions of the trust.
 
If you are not a United States Holder, this section does not apply to you and
you should refer to "-- United States Alien Holders" below.
 
     You will be taxed on any interest on your Note as ordinary income at the
time you receive the interest or it accrues, depending on your method of
accounting for tax purposes.
 
     When you sell your Note or your Note is retired, you will generally
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize on
the sale or retirement and the amount that you paid for your Note. This gain or
loss will be capital gain or loss, except to the extent attributable to accrued
but unpaid interest. Capital gain of a non-corporate United States Holder is
generally taxed at a maximum rate of 20% where the property is held for more
than one year.
 
     In general, if you are a non-corporate United States Holder, we are
required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all payments of principal and
interest on your Note and the proceeds of the sale of your Note before maturity
within the United States. Additionally, backup withholding at a rate of 31% will
apply to any payments, if you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer
identification number, or you are notified by the Internal Revenue Service that
you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on
your federal income tax returns.
 
                          UNITED STATES ALIEN HOLDERS
 
     This summary describes the tax consequences to a United States Alien
Holder. You are a "UNITED STATES ALIEN HOLDER" if you are
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<PAGE>   115
the beneficial owner of a Note and are, for United States federal income tax
purposes:
 
- - a nonresident alien individual;
 
- - a foreign corporation;
 
- - a foreign partnership; or
 
- - an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to United States federal
  income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from a Note.
 
     Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject
to the discussion of backup withholding below, if you are a United States Alien
Holder of a Note:
 
- - we and our Paying Agents will not deduct United States withholding tax from
  payments of principal and interest to you if, in the case of interest:
 
  1. you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined
     voting power of all classes of stock of GS Inc. entitled to vote,
 
  2. you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us through
     stock ownership, and
 
     a. you certify to us or our agent under penalties of perjury, that you are
        not a United States person and provide your name and address, or
 
     b. a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution
        that holds customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or
        business and holds the Note certifies to us or our agent under penalties
        of perjury that a similar statement has been received from you by it or
        by a similar financial institution between it and you and furnishes the
        payor with a copy thereof; and
 
- - no deduction for any United States federal withholding tax will be made if you
  realize any gain on the sale or exchange of your Note.
 
Further, a Note held by an individual, who at death is not a citizen or resident
of the United States will not be includible in the individual's gross estate for
United States federal estate tax purposes if:
 
- - the decedent did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
  combined voting power of all classes of stock of GS Inc. entitled to vote at
  the time of death; and
 
- - the income on the Note would not have been effectively connected with a United
  States trade or business of the decedent at the same time.
 
     If you receive a payment after December 31, 1999, recently finalized
Treasury regulations will apply. Under these Final Withholding Regulations,
after December 31, 1999, you may use an alternative method to satisfy the
certification requirement described above. Additionally, if you are a partner in
a foreign partnership, after December 31, 1999, you, rather than the foreign
partnership, must provide the certification described above, and the partnership
must provide certain information, including a United States taxpayer
identification number. The Internal Revenue Service will apply a look-through
rule in the case of tiered partnerships.
 
     You are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting
on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 with respect to any payments of principal
or interest made by us or a Paying Agent, provided that you provide the
certification described above, and provided further that the payor does not have
actual knowledge that you are a United States person.
 
     In general, payment of the proceeds from the sale of Notes to or through a
United States office of a broker is subject to both United States backup
withholding and information reporting. If, however, you are a United States
Alien Holder, you will not be subject to information reporting and backup
withholding if you certify as to your non-United States status under penalties
of perjury or otherwise establish an exemption. Payments of the proceeds from
the sale by a United States Alien Holder of a Note made to or through a foreign
office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup
withholding. However, information reporting,
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<PAGE>   116
 
but not backup withholding, may apply to a payment made outside the United
States of the proceeds of a sale of a Note through an office outside the United
States if the broker is:
 
- - a United States person;
 
- - a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes;
 
- - a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected
  with a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period; or
 
- - with respect to payments made after December 31, 1999, a foreign partnership,
  if at any time during its tax year:
 
  1. one or more of its partners are "U.S. persons" as defined in U.S. Treasury
     regulations who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or
     capital interest in the partnership, or
 
  2. the foreign partnership is engaged in a United States trade or business
 
unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the holder or
beneficial owner is a non-U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption.
 
     If you receive payment of the proceeds from the sale of a Note to or
through the United States office of a broker, the payment is subject to
information reporting and backup withholding unless you certify as to your non-
United States status, under penalties of perjury, or otherwise establish an
exemption.
 
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<PAGE>   117
 
                                     ERISA
 
     This section is only relevant to you if you are an insurance company, or
the fiduciary of a pension plan or an employee benefit plan proposing to invest
in the Notes.
 
     GS Inc. and certain of its affiliates may each be considered a "party in
interest" within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or a "disqualified person" within the meaning of the
Code with respect to many employee benefit plans. Prohibited transactions within
the meaning of ERISA or the Code may arise, for example, if the Notes are
acquired by or with the assets of a pension or other employee benefit plan for
which GS Inc. or any of its affiliates is a service provider, unless those Notes
are acquired pursuant to an exemption for transactions effected on behalf of
that plan by a "qualified professional asset manager" or an "in-house asset
manager" or pursuant to any other available exemption. The assets of a pension
or other employee benefit plan may include assets held in the general account of
an insurance company that are deemed to be "plan assets" under ERISA.
 
 If you are an insurance company, or the fiduciary of a pension plan or an
 employee benefit plan, and propose to invest in the Notes, you should consult
 your legal counsel.
 
                             VALIDITY OF THE NOTES
 
     The validity of the Notes offered and sold in the Offering will be passed
upon for the Company by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York and for the
Underwriters by Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New York. Certain
legal matters will be passed upon for the Company by one of the Company's
General Counsel, Robert J. Katz or Gregory K. Palm. Sullivan & Cromwell has in
the past represented, and continues to represent, one or more of the
Underwriters and their affiliates in a variety of matters.
 
     Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton has in the past represented, and
continues to represent, the Company in a variety of matters.
 
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<PAGE>   118
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements of the Firm as of November 28, 1997 and November
27, 1998 and for each of the three fiscal years in the fiscal period ended
November 27, 1998 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance
on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on
the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
 
     The income statement data and balance sheet data (other than adjusted
assets) set forth in "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" for each of the five
fiscal years ended November 27, 1998 included in this prospectus have been so
included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
 
     Except as otherwise indicated, all amounts with respect to the volume,
number and market share of mergers and acquisitions and underwriting
transactions and related ranking information included in this prospectus have
been derived from information compiled and classified by Securities Data Company
and have been so included in reliance on Securities Data Company's authority as
experts in compiling and classifying information as to securities transactions.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     As a result of the Common Stock Offering, GS Inc. will be required to file
annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by GS Inc. at the SEC's
public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please
call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference
room. GS Inc.'s filings with the SEC will also be available to the public
through the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
     GS Inc. has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1
relating to the Notes. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement
and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever
a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document, please
be aware that the reference is not necessarily complete and that you should
refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of
the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration
statement at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, D.C. as well as
through the SEC's Internet site noted above.
 
                                       116
<PAGE>   119
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PAGE
                                                              ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Report of Independent Accountants...........................  F-2
Consolidated Statements of Earnings.........................  F-3
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition..............  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital.....  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.......................  F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................  F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   120
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Partners,
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.:
 
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition
and the related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in partners'
capital and cash flows (included on pages F-3 to F-23 of this Prospectus)
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. and Subsidiaries (the "Firm") as of November 27,
1998 and November 28, 1997, and the results of their consolidated operations and
their consolidated cash flows for the three fiscal years in the period ended
November 27, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Firm's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, which require that we plan and perform
the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
We have also previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated statements of financial condition as of November 29,
1996, November 24, 1995 and November 25, 1994, and the related consolidated
statements of earnings, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for the
fiscal years ended November 24, 1995 and November 25, 1994 (none of which are
presented herein); and we expressed unqualified opinions on those consolidated
financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the selected
historical consolidated income statement and balance sheet data (other than
adjusted assets) for each of the five fiscal years in the period ended November
27, 1998 (included on pages 31 and 32 of this Prospectus) is fairly stated, in
all material respects, in relation to the consolidated financial statements from
which it has been derived.
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
New York, New York
January 22, 1999.
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   121
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                            -----------------------------------
                                                             1996          1997          1998
                                                             ----          ----          ----
                                                                       (in millions)
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>              <C>
REVENUES:
Investment banking........................................  $ 2,113       $ 2,587       $ 3,368
Trading and principal investments.........................    2,496         2,303         2,015
Asset management and securities services..................      981         1,456         2,085
Interest income...........................................   11,699        14,087        15,010
                                                            -------       -------       -------
          Total revenues..................................   17,289        20,433        22,478
Interest expense, principally on short-term funding.......   11,160        12,986        13,958
                                                            -------       -------       -------
          Revenues, net of interest expense...............    6,129         7,447         8,520
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Compensation and benefits.................................    2,421         3,097         3,838
Brokerage, clearing and exchange fees.....................      278           357           424
Market development........................................      137           206           287
Communications and technology.............................      173           208           265
Depreciation and amortization.............................      172           178           242
Occupancy.................................................      154           168           207
Professional services and other...........................      188           219           336
                                                            -------       -------       -------
          Total operating expenses........................    3,523         4,433         5,599
Pre-tax earnings..........................................    2,606         3,014         2,921
Provision for taxes.......................................      207           268           493
                                                            -------       -------       -------
Net earnings..............................................  $ 2,399       $ 2,746       $ 2,428
                                                            =======       =======       =======
</TABLE>
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   122
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------
                                                                1997        1998
                                                                ----        ----
                                                                 (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $  1,328    $  2,836
Cash and securities segregated in compliance with U.S.
  federal and other regulations (principally U.S. government
  obligations)..............................................     4,903       7,887
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing
  organizations.............................................     3,754       4,321
Receivables from customers and counterparties...............    10,060      14,953
Securities borrowed.........................................    51,058      69,158
Securities purchased under agreements to resell.............    39,376      37,484
Right to receive securities.................................        --       7,564
Financial instruments owned, at fair value:
  Commercial paper, certificates of deposit and time
     deposits...............................................     1,477       1,382
  U.S. government, federal agency and sovereign
     obligations............................................    25,736      24,789
  Corporate debt............................................    11,321      10,744
  Equities and convertible debentures.......................    11,870      11,066
  State, municipal and provincial obligations...............     1,105         918
  Derivative contracts......................................    13,788      21,299
  Physical commodities......................................     1,092         481
Other assets................................................     1,533       2,498
                                                              --------    --------
                                                              $178,401    $217,380
                                                              ========    ========
LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH:
Short-term borrowings, including commercial paper...........  $ 21,008    $ 27,430
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations.....       952         730
Payables to customers and counterparties....................    22,995      36,179
Securities loaned...........................................    17,627      21,117
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase..............    44,057      36,257
Obligation to return securities.............................        --       9,783
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair
  value:
  U.S. government, federal agency and sovereign
     obligations............................................    22,371      22,360
  Corporate debt............................................     1,708       1,441
  Equities and convertible debentures.......................     6,357       6,406
  Derivative contracts......................................    15,964      24,722
  Physical commodities......................................        78         966
Other liabilities and accrued expenses......................     3,080       3,699
Long-term borrowings........................................    15,667      19,906
                                                              --------    --------
                                                               171,864     210,996
Commitments and contingencies
Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential
  withdrawals...............................................       430          74
Partners' capital...........................................     6,107       6,310
                                                              --------    --------
                                                              $178,401    $217,380
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   123
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              -----------------------------
                                                               1996       1997       1998
                                                               ----       ----       ----
                                                                      (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Partners' capital, beginning of year........................  $ 4,905    $ 5,309    $ 6,107
Additions:
  Net earnings..............................................    2,399      2,746      2,428
  Capital contributions.....................................        4         89          9
                                                              -------    -------    -------
          Total additions...................................    2,403      2,835      2,437
Deductions:
  Returns on capital and certain distributions to
     partners...............................................     (473)      (557)      (619)
  Termination of the Profit Participation Plans.............       --         --       (368)
  Transfers to partners' capital allocated for income taxes
     and potential withdrawals, net.........................   (1,526)    (1,480)    (1,247)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
          Total deductions..................................   (1,999)    (2,037)    (2,234)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Partners' capital, end of year..............................  $ 5,309    $ 6,107    $ 6,310
                                                              =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   124
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              -------------------------------
                                                                1996       1997        1998
                                                                ----       ----        ----
                                                                       (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>        <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net earnings..............................................  $  2,399    $ 2,746    $  2,428
  Non-cash items included in net earnings:
    Depreciation and amortization...........................       172        178         242
    Deferred income taxes...................................        85         32          23
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Cash and securities segregated in compliance with U.S.
     federal and other regulations..........................    (1,445)      (670)     (2,984)
    Net receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing
     organizations..........................................       169     (1,599)       (789)
    Net payables to customers and counterparties............     4,279      2,339       8,116
    Securities borrowed, net................................   (17,075)    (8,124)    (14,610)
    Financial instruments owned, at fair value..............    (9,415)    (7,439)        148
    Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at
     fair value.............................................     5,276     11,702       7,559
    Other, net..............................................       926        905         (71)
                                                              --------    -------    --------
      Net cash (used for)/provided by operating
       activities...........................................   (14,629)        70          62
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Property, leasehold improvements and equipment............      (258)      (259)       (476)
  Financial instruments owned, at fair value................       115       (360)       (180)
  Acquisitions, net of cash acquired........................       (75)       (74)         --
                                                              --------    -------    --------
      Net cash used for investing activities................      (218)      (693)       (656)
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Short-term borrowings, net................................       391      1,082       2,193
  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, net.......    16,012     (4,717)     (5,909)
  Issuance of long-term borrowings..........................     5,172      7,734      10,527
  Repayment of long-term borrowings.........................    (3,986)    (1,855)     (2,058)
  Capital contributions.....................................         4         89           9
  Returns on capital and certain distributions to
    partners................................................      (473)      (557)       (619)
  Termination of the Profit Participation Plans.............        --         --        (368)
  Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential
    withdrawals.............................................    (1,017)    (2,034)     (1,673)
                                                              --------    -------    --------
      Net cash provided by/(used for) financing
       activities...........................................    16,103       (258)      2,102
                                                              --------    -------    --------
  Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......     1,256       (881)      1,508
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year................       953      2,209       1,328
                                                              --------    -------    --------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year......................  $  2,209    $ 1,328    $  2,836
                                                              ========    =======    ========
</TABLE>
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
 
Cash payments for interest approximated the related expense for each of the
fiscal periods presented. Payments of income taxes were not material.
 
A zero coupon bond of $32 million representing a portion of the acquisition
price of CIN Management Limited was recorded on the consolidated statement of
financial condition as of November 1996 and was excluded from the consolidated
statement of cash flows as it represented a non-cash item.
 
An increase in total assets and liabilities of $11.64 billion related to the
provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were deferred under SFAS No. 127 was excluded
from the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended November 1998
as it represented a non-cash item.
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   125
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
NOTE 1.  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
     The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Group
L.P."), together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the "Firm"),
is a global investment banking and securities firm that provides a wide range of
services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base.
 
     The Firm's activities are divided into three principal business lines:
 
     - Investment Banking, which includes financial advisory services and
       underwriting;
 
     - Trading and Principal Investments, which includes fixed income, currency
       and commodities ("FICC"), equities and principal investments (principal
       investments reflect primarily the Firm's investments in its merchant
       banking funds); and
 
     - Asset Management and Securities Services, which includes asset
       management, securities services and commissions.
 
NOTE 2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Group L.P.
and its U.S. and international subsidiaries including Goldman, Sachs & Co.
("GS&Co.") and J. Aron & Company in New York, Goldman Sachs International
("GSI") in London and Goldman Sachs (Japan) Ltd. ("GSJL") in Tokyo. Certain
reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current
presentation.
 
     These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles that require management to make
estimates and assumptions regarding trading inventory valuations, partner
retirements, the outcome of pending litigation and other matters that affect the
consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. These estimates and
assumptions are based on judgment and available information and, consequently,
actual results could be materially different from these estimates.
 
     Unless otherwise stated herein, all references to 1996, 1997 and 1998 refer
to the Firm's fiscal year ended, or the date, as the context requires, November
29, 1996, November 28, 1997 and November 27, 1998, respectively.
 
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     The Firm defines cash equivalents as highly liquid overnight deposits held
in the ordinary course of business.
 
  REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND COLLATERALIZED FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
 
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under
agreements to repurchase, principally U.S. government, federal agency and
investment-grade foreign sovereign obligations, represent short-term
collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual
amounts plus accrued interest. These amounts are presented on a net-by-
counterparty basis, where management believes a legal right of setoff exists
under an enforceable master netting agreement. The Firm takes possession of
securities purchased under agreements to resell, monitors the market value of
the underlying securities on a daily basis and obtains additional collateral as
appropriate.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   126
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     Securities borrowed and loaned are recorded on the statements of financial
condition based on the amount of cash collateral advanced or received. These
transactions are generally collateralized by either cash, securities or letters
of credit. The Firm takes possession of securities borrowed, monitors the market
value of securities loaned and obtains additional collateral as appropriate.
Income or expense is recognized as interest over the life of the transaction.
 
  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     Gains and losses on financial instruments and commission income and related
expenses are recorded on a trade date basis in the consolidated statements of
earnings. For purposes of the consolidated statements of financial condition
only, purchases and sales of financial instruments, including agency
transactions, are generally recorded on a settlement date basis. Recording such
transactions on a trade date basis would not result in a material adjustment to
the consolidated statements of financial condition.
 
     Substantially all financial instruments used in the Firm's trading and
non-trading activities are carried at fair value or amounts that approximate
fair value and unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings. Fair
value is based generally on listed market prices or broker or dealer price
quotations. To the extent that prices are not readily available, fair value is
based on either internal valuation models or management's estimate of amounts
that could be realized under current market conditions, assuming an orderly
liquidation over a reasonable period of time. Certain over-the-counter ("OTC")
derivative instruments are valued using pricing models that consider, among
other factors, current and contractual market prices, time value, and yield
curve and/or volatility factors of the underlying positions. The fair value of
the Firm's trading and non-trading assets and liabilities is discussed further
in Notes 3, 4 and 5.
 
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     Principal investments are carried at fair value, generally as evidenced by
quoted market prices or by comparable substantial third-party transactions.
Where fair value is not readily ascertainable, principal investments are
recorded at cost or management's estimate of the realizable value.
 
     The Firm is entitled to receive merchant banking overrides (i.e., an
increased share of a fund's income and gains) when the return on the fund's
investments exceeds certain threshold returns. Overrides are based on investment
performance over the life of each merchant banking fund, and future investment
underperformance may require amounts previously distributed to the Firm to be
returned to the funds. Accordingly, overrides are recognized in earnings only
when management determines that the probability of return is remote. Overrides
are included in "Asset Management and Securities Services" on the consolidated
statements of earnings.
 
  DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
 
     Derivatives used for trading purposes are reported at fair value and are
included in "Derivative contracts" on the consolidated statements of financial
condition. Gains and losses on derivatives used for trading purposes are
included in "Trading and Principal Investments" on the consolidated statements
of earnings.
 
     Derivatives used for non-trading purposes include interest rate futures
contracts and interest rate and currency swap agreements, which are primarily
utilized to convert a substantial portion of the Firm's fixed rate debt into
U.S. dollar-based floating rate obligations. Gains and losses on
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   127
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
these transactions are generally deferred and recognized as adjustments to
interest expense over the life of the derivative contract. Gains and losses
resulting from the early termination of derivatives used for non-trading
purposes are generally deferred and recognized over the remaining life of the
underlying debt. If the underlying debt is terminated prior to its stated
maturity, gains and losses on these transactions, including the associated
hedges, are recognized in earnings immediately.
 
     Derivatives are reported on a net-by-counterparty basis on the consolidated
statements of financial condition where management believes a legal right of
setoff exists under an enforceable master netting agreement.
 
  PROPERTY, LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Depreciation and amortization generally are computed using accelerated cost
recovery methods for all property and equipment and for leasehold improvements
where the term of the lease is greater than the economic useful life of the
asset. All other leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis
over the term of the lease.
 
  GOODWILL
 
     The cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets
acquired at acquisition date is recorded as goodwill and amortized over periods
of 15 to 25 years on a straight-line basis.
 
  PROVISION FOR TAXES
 
     The Firm accounts for income taxes incurred by its corporate subsidiaries
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes". The consolidated statements of earnings for the
periods presented include a provision for, or benefit from, income taxes on
income earned, or losses incurred, by Group L.P. and its subsidiaries including
a provision for, or benefit from, unincorporated business tax on income earned,
or losses incurred, by Group L.P. and its subsidiaries conducting business in
New York City. No additional income tax provision is required in the
consolidated statements of earnings because Group L.P. is a partnership and the
remaining tax effects accrue directly to its partners.
 
  FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
 
     Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other
than the U.S. dollar are translated using currency exchange rates prevailing at
the end of the period presented, while revenues and expenses are translated
using average exchange rates during the period. Gains or losses resulting from
the translation of foreign currency financial statements are recorded as
cumulative translation adjustments, and are included as a component of
"Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential withdrawals" on the
consolidated statements of financial condition. Gains or losses resulting from
foreign exchange transactions are recorded in earnings.
 
  INVESTMENT BANKING
 
     Underwriting revenues and fees from mergers and acquisitions and other
corporate finance advisory assignments are recorded when the underlying
transaction is completed under the terms of the engagement. Syndicate expenses
related to securities offerings in which the Firm acts as an underwriter or
agent are deferred until the related revenue is recognized.
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   128
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
  ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS
 
     In June 1996, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS
No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and
Extinguishments of Liabilities", effective for transactions occurring after
December 31, 1996. SFAS No. 125 establishes standards for distinguishing
transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales from transfers
that are accounted for as secured borrowings.
 
     The provisions of SFAS No. 125 relating to repurchase agreements,
securities lending transactions and other similar transactions were deferred by
the provisions of SFAS No. 127, "Deferral of the Effective Date of Certain
Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125", and became effective for transactions
entered into after December 31, 1997. This Statement requires that the
collateral obtained in certain types of secured lending transactions be recorded
on the balance sheet with a corresponding liability reflecting the obligation to
return such collateral to its owner. Effective January 1, 1998, the Firm adopted
the provisions of SFAS No. 125 that were deferred by SFAS No. 127. The adoption
of this standard increased the Firm's total assets and liabilities by $11.64
billion as of November 1998.
 
     In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share"
("EPS"), effective for periods ending after December 15, 1997, with restatement
required for all prior periods. SFAS No. 128 establishes new standards for
computing and presenting EPS. This Statement replaces primary and fully diluted
EPS with "basic EPS", which excludes dilution, and "diluted EPS", which includes
the effect of all potentially dilutive common shares and other dilutive
securities. Because the Firm has not historically reported EPS, this Statement
will have no impact on the Firm's historical financial statements. This
Statement will, however, apply to financial statements of the Firm prepared
after the Common Stock Offering.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income", effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997, with
reclassification of earlier periods required for comparative purposes. SFAS No.
130 establishes standards for the reporting and presentation of comprehensive
income and its components in the financial statements. The Firm intends to adopt
this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 1999. This Statement is limited to
issues of reporting and presentation and, therefore, will not affect the Firm's
results of operations or financial condition.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information", effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997, with reclassification of earlier periods required for
comparative purposes. SFAS No. 131 establishes the criteria for determining an
operating segment and establishes the disclosure requirements for reporting
information about operating segments. The Firm intends to adopt this standard at
the end of fiscal 1999. This Statement is limited to issues of reporting and
presentation and, therefore, will not affect the Firm's results of operations or
financial condition.
 
     In February 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures
about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits", effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997, with restatement of disclosures for earlier
periods required for comparative purposes. SFAS No. 132 revises certain
employers' disclosures about pension and other post-retirement benefit plans.
The Firm intends to adopt this standard at the end of fiscal 1999. This
Statement is limited to issues of reporting and presentation and, therefore,
will not affect the Firm's results of operations or financial condition.
 
     In March 1998, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP")
No. 98-1, "Accounting for
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   129
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use",
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998. SOP No. 98-1
requires that certain costs of computer software developed or obtained for
internal use be capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the related
software. The Firm currently expenses the cost of all software development in
the period in which it is incurred. The Firm intends to adopt this Statement in
fiscal 2000 and is currently assessing its effect.
 
     In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities", effective for fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 1999. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for
derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in
other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives), and for hedging
activities. This Statement requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as
either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial condition and measure
those instruments at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of
a derivative instrument depends on its intended use and the resulting
designation. The Firm intends to adopt this standard in fiscal 2000 and is
currently assessing its effect.
 
NOTE 3.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     Financial instruments, including both cash instruments and derivatives, are
used to manage market risk, facilitate customer transactions, engage in trading
transactions and meet financing objectives. These instruments can be either
executed on an exchange or negotiated in the OTC market.
 
     Transactions involving financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased,
entail an obligation to purchase a financial instrument at a future date. The
Firm may incur a loss if the market value of the financial instrument
subsequently increases prior to the purchase of the instrument.
 
  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     Substantially all of the Firm's assets and liabilities are carried at fair
value or amounts that approximate fair value.
 
     Trading assets and liabilities, including derivative contracts used for
trading purposes, are carried at fair value and reported as financial
instruments owned and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased on the
consolidated statements of financial condition. Non-trading assets and
liabilities are carried at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value.
 
     Non-trading assets include cash and cash equivalents, cash and securities
segregated in compliance with U.S. federal and other regulations, receivables
from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, receivables from customers and
counterparties, securities borrowed, securities purchased under agreements to
resell, right to receive securities and certain investments, primarily those
made in connection with the Firm's merchant banking activities.
 
     Non-trading liabilities include short-term borrowings, payables to brokers,
dealers and clearing organizations, payables to customers and counterparties,
securities loaned, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, obligation to
return securities, other liabilities and accrued expenses and long-term
borrowings. Fair value of the Firm's long-term borrowings and associated hedges
is discussed in Note 5.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   130
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
  TRADING AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS
 
     The Firm's Trading and Principal Investments business facilitates customer
transactions and takes proprietary positions through market making in and
trading of securities, currencies, commodities and swaps and other derivatives.
Derivative financial instruments are often used to hedge cash instruments or
other derivative financial instruments as an integral part of the Firm's
strategies. As a result, it is necessary to view the results of any activity on
a fully-integrated basis, including cash positions, the effect of related
derivatives and the financing of the underlying positions.
 
     Net revenues represent total revenues less allocations of interest expense
to specific securities, commodities and other positions in relation to the level
of financing incurred by each. The following table sets forth the net revenues
of the Firm's Trading and Principal Investments business:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                         --------------------------
                                                          1996      1997      1998
                                                          ----      ----      ----
                                                               (in millions)
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>
FICC...................................................  $1,749    $2,055    $1,438
Equities...............................................     730       573       795
Principal investments..................................     214       298       146
                                                         ------    ------    ------
Total Trading and Principal Investments................  $2,693    $2,926    $2,379
                                                         ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
  RISK MANAGEMENT
 
     The Firm seeks to monitor and control its risk exposure through a variety
of separate but complementary financial, credit, operational and legal reporting
systems for individual entities and the Firm as a whole. Management believes
that it has effective procedures for evaluating and managing the market, credit
and other risks to which it is exposed. The Management Committee, the Firm's
primary decision-making body, determines (both directly and through delegated
authority) the types of business in which the Firm engages, approves guidelines
for accepting customers for all product lines, outlines the terms under which
customer business is conducted and establishes the parameters for the risks that
the Firm is willing to undertake in its business.
 
     MARKET RISK.  The Firmwide Risk Committee, which reports to senior
management and meets weekly, is responsible for managing and monitoring all of
the Firm's risk exposures. In addition, the Firm maintains segregation of
duties, with credit review and risk-monitoring functions performed by groups
that are independent from revenue-producing departments.
 
     The potential for changes in the market value of the Firm's trading
positions is referred to as "market risk". The Firm's trading positions result
from underwriting, market making and proprietary trading activities.
 
     The broadly defined categories of market risk include exposures to interest
rates, currency rates, equity prices and commodity prices.
 
- - Interest rate risks primarily result from exposures to changes in the level,
  slope and curvature of the yield curve, the volatility of interest rates,
  mortgage prepayment speeds and credit spreads.
 
- - Currency rate risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward
  prices and volatilities of currency rates.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   131
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
- - Equity price risks result from exposures to changes in prices and volatilities
  of individual equities, equity baskets and equity indices.
 
- - Commodity price risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward
  prices and volatilities of commodities, such as electricity, natural gas,
  crude oil, petroleum products and precious and base metals.
 
     These risk exposures are managed through diversification, by controlling
position sizes and by establishing offsetting hedges in related securities or
derivatives. For example, the Firm may hedge a portfolio of common stock by
taking an offsetting position in a related equity-index futures contract. The
ability to manage these exposures may, however, be limited by adverse changes in
the liquidity of the security or the related hedge instrument and in the
correlation of price movements between the security and the related hedge
instrument.
 
     CREDIT RISK.  Credit risk represents the loss that the Firm would incur if
a counterparty or issuer of securities or other instruments it holds fails to
perform its contractual obligations to the Firm. To reduce its credit exposures,
the Firm seeks to enter into netting agreements with counterparties that permit
the Firm to offset receivables and payables with such counterparties. The Firm
does not take into account any such agreements when calculating credit risk,
however, unless management believes a legal right of setoff exists under an
enforceable master netting agreement.
 
     Credit concentrations may arise from trading, underwriting and securities
borrowing activities and may be impacted by changes in economic, industry or
political factors. The Firm's concentration of credit risk is monitored actively
by the Credit Policy Committee. As of November 1998, U.S. government and federal
agency obligations represented 7% of the Firm's total assets. In addition, most
of the Firm's securities purchased under agreements to resell are collateralized
by U.S. government, federal agency and sovereign obligations.
 
  DERIVATIVE ACTIVITIES
 
     Most of the Firm's derivative transactions are entered into for trading
purposes. The Firm uses derivatives in its trading activities to facilitate
customer transactions, to take proprietary positions and as a means of risk
management. The Firm also enters into non-trading derivative contracts to manage
the interest rate and currency exposure on its long-term borrowings. Non-
trading derivatives related to the Firm's long-term borrowings are discussed in
Note 5.
 
     Derivative contracts are financial instruments, such as futures, forwards,
swaps or option contracts, that derive their value from underlying assets,
indices, reference rates or a combination of these factors. Derivatives may
involve future commitments to purchase or sell financial instruments or
commodities, or to exchange currency or interest payment streams. The amounts
exchanged are based on the specific terms of the contract with reference to
specified rates, securities, commodities or indices.
 
     Derivative contracts exclude certain cash instruments, such as
mortgage-backed securities, interest-only and principal-only obligations and
indexed debt instruments, that derive their values or contractually required
cash flows from the price of some other security or index. Derivatives also
exclude option features that are embedded in cash instruments, such as the
conversion features and call provisions embedded in bonds. The Firm has elected
to include commodity-related contracts in its derivative disclosure, although
not required to do so, as these contracts may be settled in cash or are readily
convertible into cash.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   132
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The gross notional (or contractual) amounts of derivative financial
instruments represent the volume of these transactions and not the amounts
potentially subject to market risk. In addition, measurement of market risk is
meaningful only when all related and offsetting transactions are taken into
consideration. Gross notional (or contractual) amounts of derivative financial
instruments used for trading purposes with off-balance-sheet market risk are set
forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                             ----------------------
                                                               1997         1998
                                                               ----         ----
                                                                 (in millions)
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>
INTEREST RATE RISK:
Financial futures and forward settlement contracts.........  $334,916    $  406,302
Swap agreements............................................   918,067     1,848,977
Written option contracts...................................   351,359       423,561
 
EQUITY PRICE RISK:
Financial futures and forward settlement contracts.........     7,457         7,405
Swap agreements............................................     1,993         2,752
Written option contracts...................................    51,916        54,856
 
CURRENCY AND COMMODITY PRICE RISK:
Financial futures and forward settlement contracts.........   355,882       420,138
Swap agreements............................................    32,355        51,502
Written option contracts...................................   179,481       183,929
</TABLE>
 
     Market risk on purchased option contracts is limited to the market value of
the option; therefore, purchased option contracts have no off-balance-sheet
market risk. The gross notional (or contractual) amounts of purchased option
contracts used for trading purposes are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------
                                                                1997        1998
                                                                ----        ----
                                                                 (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
PURCHASED OPTION CONTRACTS:
Interest rate...............................................  $301,685    $509,770
Equity......................................................    24,021      59,571
Currency and commodity......................................   180,859     186,748
</TABLE>
 
     The Firm utilizes replacement cost as its measure of derivative credit
risk. Replacement cost, as reported in financial instruments owned, at fair
value on the consolidated statements of financial condition, represents amounts
receivable from various counterparties, net of any unrealized losses owed where
management believes a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable master
netting agreement. Replacement cost for purchased option contracts is the market
value of the contract. The Firm controls its credit risk through an established
credit approval process, by monitoring counterparty limits, obtaining collateral
where appropriate and, in some cases, using legally enforceable master netting
agreements.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   133
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The fair value of derivative financial instruments used for trading
purposes, computed in accordance with the Firm's netting policy, is set forth
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                           ------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1997                      1998
                                                           ----------------------    ----------------------
                                                           ASSETS     LIABILITIES    ASSETS     LIABILITIES
                                                           -------    -----------    -------    -----------
                                                                            (in millions)
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>            <C>        <C>
PERIOD END:
Forward settlement contracts.............................  $ 3,634      $ 3,436      $ 4,061      $ 4,201
Swap agreements..........................................    4,269        5,358       10,000       11,475
Option contracts.........................................    5,787        7,166        7,140        9,038
                                                           -------      -------      -------      -------
Total....................................................  $13,690      $15,960      $21,201      $24,714
                                                           =======      =======      =======      =======
MONTHLY AVERAGE:
Forward settlement contracts.............................  $ 3,351      $ 3,162      $ 4,326      $ 3,979
Swap agreements..........................................    3,397        4,020        7,340        8,158
Option contracts.........................................    4,511        5,059        6,696        8,958
                                                           -------      -------      -------      -------
Total....................................................  $11,259      $12,241      $18,362      $21,095
                                                           =======      =======      =======      =======
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 4.  SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
 
     The Firm obtains secured short-term financing principally through the use
of repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements, collateralized
mainly by U.S. government, federal agency, investment grade foreign sovereign
obligations and equity securities. The Firm obtains unsecured short-term
borrowings through issuance of commercial paper, promissory notes and bank
loans. The carrying value of these short-term obligations approximates fair
value due to their short-term nature.
 
     Short-term borrowings are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                         ------------------
                                                          1997       1998
                                                          ----       ----
                                                           (in millions)
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>
Commercial paper.......................................  $ 4,468    $10,008
Promissory notes(1)....................................   10,411     10,763
Bank loans and other(1)................................    6,129      6,659
                                                         -------    -------
Total(2)...............................................  $21,008    $27,430
                                                         =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) As of November 1997 and November 1998, short-term borrowings included $2,454
    million and $2,955 million of long-term borrowings maturing within one year,
    respectively.
 
(2) Weighted average interest rates for total short-term borrowings, including
    commercial paper, were 5.43% as of November 1997 and 5.19% as of November
    1998.
 
     The Firm maintains unencumbered securities with a market value in excess of
all uncollateralized short-term borrowings.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   134
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5.  LONG-TERM BORROWINGS
 
     The Firm's long-term borrowings are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                         -------------------
                                                           1997       1998
                                                           ----       ----
                                                            (in millions)
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
Fixed-rate obligations(1)
  U.S. dollar denominated..............................  $ 5,217     $ 5,260
  Non-U.S. dollar denominated..........................    1,556       2,066
Floating-rate obligations(2)
  U.S. dollar denominated..............................    8,342      11,858
  Non-U.S. dollar denominated..........................      552         722
                                                         -------     -------
Total long-term borrowings(3)..........................  $15,667     $19,906
                                                         =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Interest rate ranges for U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar fixed rate
    obligations are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   AS OF
                                                                 NOVEMBER
                                                              ---------------
                                                               1997     1998
                                                               ----     ----
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>
U.S. dollar denominated
  High......................................................   10.10%   10.10%
  Low.......................................................    5.82     5.74
Non-U.S. dollar denominated
  High......................................................    9.51     9.51
  Low.......................................................    1.90     1.90
</TABLE>
 
(2) Floating interest rates generally are based on LIBOR, the U.S. treasury bill
    rate or the federal funds rate. Certain equity-linked and indexed
    instruments are included in floating rate obligations.
(3) Long-term borrowings bear fixed or floating interest rates and have
    maturities that range from 1 to 30 years from the date of issue.
 
     Long-term borrowings by maturity date are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            AS OF NOVEMBER 1997               AS OF NOVEMBER 1998
                       ------------------------------    ------------------------------
                        U.S.      NON-U.S.                U.S.      NON-U.S.
                       DOLLAR      DOLLAR      TOTAL     DOLLAR      DOLLAR      TOTAL
                       ------     --------     -----     ------     --------     -----
                                                (in millions)
<S>                    <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>
MATURITY DATES:
1998.................  $ 1,159     $  135     $ 1,294    $    --     $   --     $    --
1999.................    2,436        451       2,887      2,443        199       2,642
2000.................    2,544        263       2,807      4,293        272       4,565
2001.................      971        142       1,113      2,261        148       2,409
2002.................    1,376        281       1,657      1,669        265       1,934
2003.................      941        109       1,050      1,409        412       1,821
2004-24..............    4,132        727       4,859      5,043      1,492       6,535
                       -------     ------     -------    -------     ------     -------
Total................  $13,559     $2,108     $15,667    $17,118     $2,788     $19,906
                       =======     ======     =======    =======     ======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   135
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The Firm enters into non-trading derivative contracts, such as interest
rate and currency swap agreements, to effectively convert a substantial portion
of its fixed rate long-term borrowings into U.S. dollar-based floating rate
obligations. Accordingly, the aggregate carrying value of these long-term
borrowings and related hedges approximates fair value. The effective weighted
average interest rates for long-term borrowings, after hedging activities, are
set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             AS OF              AS OF
                                         NOVEMBER 1997      NOVEMBER 1998
                                        ---------------    ----------------
                                        AMOUNT     RATE    AMOUNT     RATE
                                        ------     ----    ------     ----
                                                  ($ in millions)
<S>                                     <C>        <C>     <C>        <C>
Long-term borrowings:
Fixed-rate obligations................  $   291    7.76%   $   222     8.09%
Floating-rate obligations.............   15,376    5.84     19,684     5.63
                                        -------            -------
          Total long-term
            borrowings................  $15,667    5.88    $19,906     5.66
                                        =======            =======
</TABLE>
 
     The notional amounts, fair value and carrying value of the related swap
agreements used for non-trading purposes are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                           --------------
                                                           1997       1998
                                                           ----       ----
                                                            (in millions)
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
Notional amount........................................   $8,708     $10,206
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      AS OF NOVEMBER
                                      -----------------------------------------------
                                               1997                     1998
                                      ----------------------    ---------------------
                                      ASSETS     LIABILITIES    ASSETS    LIABILITIES
                                      ------     -----------    ------    -----------
                                                       (in millions)
<S>                                   <C>        <C>            <C>       <C>
Fair value..........................   $212          $4          $519         $7
Carrying value......................     98           4            98          8
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 6.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
  LITIGATION
 
     The Firm is involved in a number of judicial, regulatory and arbitration
proceedings concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of its
businesses. Management believes, based on currently available information, that
the results of such proceedings, in the aggregate, will not have a material
adverse effect on the Firm's financial condition, but might be material to the
Firm's operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, upon the
operating results for such period.
 
  LEASES
 
     The Firm has obligations under long-term non-cancelable lease agreements,
principally for office space, expiring on various dates through 2016. Certain
agreements are subject to periodic escalation charges for increases in real
estate taxes and other charges. Minimum rental
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   136
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
commitments, net of minimum sublease rentals, under non-cancelable leases for
1999 and the succeeding four years and rent charged to operating expense for the
last three years are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  (in millions)
<S>                                               <C>
MINIMUM RENTAL COMMITMENTS:
1999..........................................       $  142
2000..........................................          139
2001..........................................          139
2002..........................................          136
2003..........................................          128
Thereafter....................................          860
                                                     ------
          Total...............................       $1,544
                                                     ======
 
NET RENT EXPENSE:
1996..........................................       $   83
1997..........................................           87
1998..........................................          104
</TABLE>
 
  OTHER COMMITMENTS
 
     The Firm acts as an investor in merchant banking transactions which
includes making long-term investments in equity and debt securities in privately
negotiated transactions, corporate acquisitions and real estate transactions,
and in connection with a bridge loan fund. In connection with these activities,
the Firm had commitments to invest up to $670 million and $1.39 billion in
corporate and real estate merchant banking investment and bridge loan funds as
of November 1997 and November 1998, respectively.
 
     In connection with loan origination and participation, the Firm had loan
commitments of $5.23 billion and $1.51 billion as of November 1997 and November
1998, respectively. These commitments are agreements to lend to counterparties,
have fixed termination dates and are contingent on all conditions to borrowing
set forth in the contract having been met. Since these commitments may expire
unused, the total commitment amount does not necessarily reflect the actual
future cash flow requirements.
 
     The Firm also had outstanding guarantees of $786 million and $790 million
relating to its fund management activities as of November 1997 and November
1998, respectively.
 
     The Firm had pledged securities of $23.60 billion and $22.88 billion as
collateral for securities borrowed of approximately equivalent value as of
November 1997 and November 1998, respectively.
 
     The Firm obtains letters of credit issued to counterparties by various
banks that are used in lieu of securities or cash to satisfy various collateral
and margin deposit requirements. Letters of credit outstanding were $10.13
billion and $8.81 billion as of November 1997 and November 1998, respectively.
 
NOTE 7.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
     The Firm sponsors various pension plans and certain other post-retirement
benefit plans, primarily health care and life insurance, which cover most
employees worldwide. The Firm also provides certain benefits to former or
inactive employees prior to retirement. Plan benefits are
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>   137
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
primarily based on the employee's compensation and years of service. Pension
costs are determined actuarially and are funded in accordance with the Internal
Revenue Code. Plan assets are held in a trust and consist primarily of listed
stocks and U.S. bonds. A summary of these plans is set forth below:
 
  DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS
 
     The components of pension expense/(income) are set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------
                                                              1996    1997    1998
                                                              ----    ----    ----
                                                                 (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>     <C>     <C>
Service cost, benefits earned during the period.............  $ 15    $ 15    $ 14
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation...............     8      10      11
Return on plan assets.......................................   (24)    (18)    (14)
Net amortization............................................    14       4      (1)
                                                              ----    ----    ----
          Total pension expense.............................  $ 13    $ 11    $ 10
                                                              ====    ====    ====
U.S. plans..................................................  $ (1)   $ (3)   $ (3)
International plans.........................................    14      14      13
                                                              ----    ----    ----
          Total pension expense.............................  $ 13    $ 11    $ 10
                                                              ====    ====    ====
</TABLE>
 
     The weighted average assumptions used to develop net periodic pension cost
and the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation are set
forth below. The assumptions represent a weighted average of the assumptions
used for the U.S. and international plans and are based on the economic
environment of each applicable country.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------------
                                                              1996    1997    1998
                                                              ----    ----    ----
<S>                                                           <C>     <C>     <C>
U.S. PLANS:
Discount rate...............................................  7.50%   7.50%   7.00%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels..............  5.00    5.00    5.00
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets............  7.50    7.50    7.50
INTERNATIONAL PLANS:
Discount rate...............................................  5.70    5.70    5.00
Rate of increase in future compensation levels..............  5.30    5.30    4.75
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets............  7.00    7.00    6.00
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>   138
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The funded status of the qualified plans is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED
                                                                 NOVEMBER
                                                              --------------
                                                              1997     1998
                                                              ----     ----
                                                              (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
Actuarial present value of vested benefit obligation........  $(149)   $(203)
                                                              -----    -----
Accumulated benefit obligation..............................   (151)    (207)
Effect of future salary increases...........................    (16)     (21)
                                                              -----    -----
Projected benefit obligation................................   (167)    (228)
Plan assets at fair market value............................    187      208
                                                              -----    -----
Projected benefit obligation less than/(greater than) plan
  assets....................................................     20      (20)
Unrecognized net loss.......................................      2       43
Unrecognized net transition gain............................    (20)     (18)
                                                              -----    -----
Prepaid pension cost, end of year...........................  $   2    $   5
                                                              =====    =====
PREPAID PENSION COST:
U.S. plans..................................................  $   2    $   5
International plans.........................................     --       --
                                                              -----    -----
Prepaid pension cost, end of year...........................  $   2    $   5
                                                              =====    =====
</TABLE>
 
  POST-RETIREMENT PLANS
 
     The Firm has unfunded post-retirement benefit plans that provide medical
and life insurance for eligible retirees, employees and dependents. The Firm's
accrued post-retirement benefit liability was $50 million and $53 million as of
November 1997 and November 1998, respectively. The Firm's expense for these
plans was $6 million, $7 million and $6 million in the years ended 1996, 1997
and 1998, respectively.
 
  POST-EMPLOYMENT PLANS
 
     Post-employment benefits include, but are not limited to, salary
continuation, supplemental unemployment benefits, severance benefits,
disability-related benefits, and continuation of health care and life insurance
coverage provided to former or inactive employees after employment but before
retirement. The accrued but unfunded liability under the plans was $12 million
and $10 million as of November 1997 and November 1998, respectively. The Firm's
expense for these plans was $2 million in each of the fiscal years ended 1996,
1997 and 1998.
 
  DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS
 
     The Firm contributes to employer sponsored U.S. and international defined
contribution plans. The Firm's contribution to the U.S. plans was $39 million,
$44 million and $48 million for the years ended 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively. The Firm's contribution to the international plans was $7 million,
$14 million and $10 million for the years ended 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>   139
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 8.  CAPITAL
 
  PARTNERS' CAPITAL
 
     Partners' capital includes both the general partner's and limited partners'
capital and is subject to certain withdrawal restrictions. As of November 1998,
the Firm had $6.31 billion in partners' capital. Managing directors that are
participating limited partners in Group L.P. ("PLPs") who elect to retire are
entitled to redeem their capital over a period of not less than five years
following retirement, but often reinvest a significant portion of their capital
as limited partners for longer periods. Partners' capital was reduced by $368
million in 1998 due to the termination of the Profit Participation Plans under
which certain employees received payments based on the earnings of the Firm.
Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential withdrawals
represents management's estimate of net amounts currently distributable,
primarily to the PLPs, under the Partnership Agreement, for items including,
among other things, income taxes and capital withdrawals.
 
     Sumitomo Bank Capital Markets, Inc. ("SBCM"), a limited partner that had
capital invested of approximately $834 million as of November 1998, may require
Group L.P. to redeem its capital over a five-year period beginning no earlier
than 2007. Kamehameha Activities Association ("KAA"), a limited partner that had
capital invested of approximately $757 million as of November 1998, may require
Group L.P. to redeem $391 million of its capital over a five-year period
beginning no earlier than 2010 and $366 million of its capital over a five-year
period beginning no earlier than 2013.
 
     Institutional Limited Partners (other than SBCM and KAA) had aggregate
capital invested of $755 million as of November 1998. Group L.P. must repay
these Institutional Limited Partners' capital as follows: $270 million in six
equal annual installments commencing in December 2001, $257 million in March
2005, $146 million in November 2013 and $82 million in November 2023.
 
     Group L.P. may defer any required redemption of capital if the redemption
would cause a subsidiary subject to regulatory authority to be in violation of
the rules of such authority or if the withdrawal of funds to satisfy the
redemption from an unregulated subsidiary would have a material effect on such
subsidiary.
 
  REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES
 
     GS&Co. is a registered U.S. broker-dealer subsidiary, which is subject to
the Securities and Exchange Commission's "Uniform Net Capital Rule", and has
elected to compute its net capital in accordance with the "Alternative Net
Capital Requirement" of that rule. As of November 1997 and November 1998, GS&Co.
had regulatory net capital, as defined, of $1.77 billion and $3.25 billion,
respectively, which exceeded the amounts required by $1.37 billion and $2.70
billion, respectively.
 
     GSI, a registered U.K. broker-dealer and subsidiary of Group L.P., is
subject to the capital requirements of the Securities and Futures Authority
Limited and GSJL, a Tokyo-based broker-dealer, is subject to the capital
requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Finance and the Financial Supervisory
Agency. As of November 1997 and November 1998, GSI and GSJL were in compliance
with their local capital adequacy requirements.
 
     Certain other subsidiaries of the Firm are also subject to capital adequacy
requirements promulgated by authorities of the countries in which they operate.
As of November 1997 and November 1998, these subsidiaries were in compliance
with their local capital adequacy requirements.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>   140
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 9.  GEOGRAPHIC DATA
 
     The Firm's activities as an investment banking and securities firm
constitute a single business segment pursuant to SFAS No. 14 "Financial
Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise".
 
     Due to the highly integrated nature of international financial markets, the
Firm manages its business based on the profitability of the enterprise as a
whole, not by geographic region. Accordingly, management believes that
profitability by geographic region is not necessarily meaningful.
 
     The total revenues, net revenues, pre-tax earnings and identifiable assets
of Group L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries by geographic region are
summarized below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                      -----------------------------
                                                       1996       1997       1998
                                                       ----       ----       ----
                                                              (in millions)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
TOTAL REVENUES:
Americas(1).........................................  $12,864    $15,091    $15,972
Europe..............................................    3,762      4,463      5,156
Asia................................................      663        879      1,350
                                                      -------    -------    -------
Total...............................................  $17,289    $20,433    $22,478
                                                      =======    =======    =======
 
NET REVENUES:
Americas(1).........................................  $ 4,397    $ 5,104    $ 5,436
Europe..............................................    1,355      1,739      2,180
Asia................................................      377        604        904
                                                      -------    -------    -------
Total...............................................  $ 6,129    $ 7,447    $ 8,520
                                                      =======    =======    =======
 
PRE-TAX EARNINGS:
Americas(1).........................................  $ 1,963    $ 2,061    $ 1,527
Europe..............................................      536        683        913
Asia................................................      107        270        481
                                                      -------    -------    -------
Total...............................................  $ 2,606    $ 3,014    $ 2,921
                                                      =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>   141
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                       -----------------------------------
                                                         1996         1997         1998
                                                         ----         ----         ----
                                                                  (in millions)
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>          <C>
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS:
Americas(1)..........................................  $ 171,345    $ 206,312    $ 229,412
Europe...............................................     62,172       80,551      106,721
Asia.................................................      6,894       13,240       19,883
Eliminations.........................................    (88,365)    (121,702)    (138,636)
                                                       ---------    ---------    ---------
Total................................................  $ 152,046    $ 178,401    $ 217,380
                                                       =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Americas principally represents the United States.
 
NOTE 10.  QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1996
                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                        1ST       2ND       3RD       4TH
                                                        ---       ---       ---       ---
                                                                  (in millions)
<S>                                                    <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Total revenues.......................................  $4,030    $4,656    $4,313    $4,290
Interest expense, principally on short-term
  funding............................................   2,566     2,986     2,845     2,763
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Revenues, net of interest expense....................   1,464     1,670     1,468     1,527
Operating expenses...................................     899       961       879       784
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Pre-tax earnings.....................................     565       709       589       743
Provision for taxes..................................      21        23        31       132
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
     Net earnings....................................  $  544    $  686    $  558    $  611
                                                       ======    ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1997
                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                        1ST       2ND       3RD       4TH
                                                        ---       ---       ---       ---
                                                                  (in millions)
<S>                                                    <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Total revenues.......................................  $4,932    $4,608    $5,957    $4,936
Interest expense, principally on short-term
  funding............................................   2,975     2,934     3,727     3,350
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Revenues, net of interest expense....................   1,957     1,674     2,230     1,586
Operating expenses...................................   1,052     1,064     1,298     1,019
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Pre-tax earnings.....................................     905       610       932       567
Provision for taxes..................................      44        99        60        65
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
     Net earnings....................................  $  861    $  511    $  872    $  502
                                                       ======    ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 1998
                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                        1ST       2ND       3RD       4TH
                                                        ---       ---       ---       ---
                                                                  (in millions)
<S>                                                    <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Total revenues.......................................  $5,903    $6,563    $5,735    $4,277
Interest expense, principally on short-term
  funding............................................   3,431     3,574     3,591     3,362
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Revenues, net of interest expense....................   2,472     2,989     2,144       915
Operating expenses...................................   1,450     1,952     1,389       808
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
Pre-tax earnings.....................................   1,022     1,037       755       107
Provision for taxes..................................     138       190       102        63
                                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
     Net earnings....................................  $  884    $  847    $  653    $   44
                                                       ======    ======    ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>   142
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Goldman Sachs and the underwriters for this Offering (the "Underwriters")
named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the
Notes. Subject to certain conditions, each Underwriter has severally agreed to
purchase the number of Notes indicated in the following table. GS&Co. is the
representative of the Underwriters.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Underwriters                      Principal Amount of Notes
                 ------------                      -------------------------
<S>                                                <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co............................
 
                                                        --------------
          Total................................         $1,000,000,000
                                                        ==============
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Notes sold by the Underwriters to the public will initially be offered at
the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any
Notes sold by the Underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount
of up to $     per Note from the initial public offering price. Any such
securities dealers may resell any Notes purchased from the Underwriters to other
brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $ per Note from the initial public
offering price. If all the Notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the
representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms.
 
     The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
Goldman Sachs does not plan to list the Notes on a securities exchange. Goldman
Sachs has been advised by GS&Co. that GS&Co. intends to make a market in the
Notes. Other affiliates of Goldman Sachs may also do so. Neither GS&Co. nor any
other affiliate, however, is obligated to do so and any of them may discontinue
market-making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity or the trading market for the Notes.
 
     In connection with this Offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell
Notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales,
stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short
sales. Short sales involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater principal
amount of Notes than they are required to purchase in this Offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Notes while this
Offering is in progress.
 
     The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a
particular Underwriter repays to the Underwriters a portion of the underwriting
discount received by it because the representative has repurchased Notes sold by
or for the account of that Underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering
transactions.
 
     These activities by the Underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the market price of the Notes. As a result, the price of the Notes may be
higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these
activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the Underwriters at any
time. These transactions may occur in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
 
     GS&Co. has also informed Goldman Sachs that it does not expect sales made
by the Underwriters in this Offering to accounts over which they exercise
discretionary authority to exceed five percent of the aggregate initial offering
price of the Notes. No such sales will be made without the prior written
approval of the customer to which such account relates.
 
     Goldman Sachs estimates that its share of the total expenses of this
Offering, exclud-
 
                                       U-1
<PAGE>   143
 
ing underwriting discounts and commissions, whether paid to GS&Co. or any other
Underwriter, will be approximately $          .
 
     Goldman Sachs has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
     GS&Co. is a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs. Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. imposes certain
requirements when an NASD member such as GS&Co. distributes an affiliated
company's debt securities. GS&Co. has advised Goldman Sachs that this Offering
will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 2720.
 
                                       U-2
<PAGE>   144
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
     No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any
information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must
not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities it
describes, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful
to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its
date.
 
                               ------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Page
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
Our Business Principles...............     2
Prospectus Summary....................     3
Risk Factors..........................    12
Use of Proceeds.......................    23
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
  Information.........................    24
Capitalization........................    29
Selected Consolidated Financial
  Data................................    31
Recent Developments...................    33
Management's Discussion And Analysis
  of Financial Condition And Results
  of Operations.......................    34
Industry and Economic Outlook.........    57
Business..............................    60
Management............................    84
Principal Shareholders................    95
Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions........................    96
Description of Notes We Are
  Offering............................   100
United States Taxation................   112
ERISA.................................   115
Validity of the Notes.................   115
Experts...............................   116
Available Information.................   116
Index to Consolidated Financial
  Statements..........................   F-1
Underwriting..........................   U-1
</TABLE>
 
                               ------------------
     Through and including                , 1999 (the 40th day after the date of
this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities,
whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a
prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a
prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold
allotments or subscriptions.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
                                 $1,000,000,000
 
                               THE GOLDMAN SACHS
                                  GROUP, INC.
 
                                  % Notes due 200
                               ------------------
 
                              [GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]
 
                               ------------------
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                       Representative of the Underwriters
            -------------------------------------------------------
            -------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   145
 
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary
prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
                       [Alternate Front Cover Page for Market-Making Prospectus]
 
                  Subject to Completion. Dated March 29, 1999.
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
[GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]
                                    % Notes due 200
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will pay interest on the Notes on May 15 and
November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 1999.
 
     Goldman Sachs will not be permitted to redeem the Notes before they mature,
unless the principal amount of all outstanding Notes falls below $100,000,000.
In that event, Goldman Sachs may redeem the remaining Notes in whole at any
time, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest
to the redemption date.
 
     The Notes are not listed for trading on any securities exchange.
 
     See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 12 to read about certain factors you
should consider before investing in the Notes.
 
                            ------------------------
 
    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 PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     Goldman, Sachs & Co., a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs, will use this
prospectus in connection with offers and sales of the Notes in market-making
transactions. These transactions may occur in the open market or may be
privately negotiated, at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time
of sale or at negotiated prices. Goldman, Sachs & Co. may act as principal or
agent in these transactions.
 
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                      Prospectus dated             , 1999.
<PAGE>   146
 
                                   [Alternate Page for Market-Making Prospectus]
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     GS&Co., a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs, will use this prospectus in
connection with offers and sales of the Notes in market-making transactions from
time to time. These transactions may occur in the open market or may be
privately negotiated, at prices related to prevailing market prices at the time
of sale or at negotiated prices. In these transactions, GS&Co. may act as
principal or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a transaction in
which GS&Co. acts as principal or as agent for both counterparties in a
transaction in which GS&Co. does not act as principal. GS&Co. may receive
compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both
counterparties in some transactions.
 
     Other affiliates of Goldman Sachs may also engage in transactions of this
kind and may use this prospectus for this purpose. Neither GS&Co. nor any other
affiliate of Goldman Sachs, however, is obligated to make a market in the Notes
and may stop doing so at any time without notice.
 
     Goldman Sachs does not expect to receive the proceeds from market-making
transactions. Goldman Sachs does not expect GS&Co. or any other affiliate that
engages in these transactions to pay the proceeds from their market-making
resales to Goldman Sachs.
 
     GS&Co. does not expect the amount of Notes held, as a result of
market-making resales, by accounts over which it exercises discretionary
authority to exceed, at any time, five percent of the aggregate initial offering
price of the Notes.
 
     GS&Co. acted as the lead underwriter in connection with the original
Offering and sale of the Notes and received underwriting compensation in the
form of a discount totaling approximately $          .
 
     In this prospectus the term "Offering" means the initial offering of the
Notes, which occurred in connection with their original issuance on
               , 1999. This term does not refer to any subsequent resale of the
Notes by GS&Co. or other affiliates in market-making transactions.
 
                                       U-1
<PAGE>   147
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
     No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any
information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must
not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities it
describes, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful
to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its
date.
 
                               ------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Page
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
Our Business Principles...............     2
Prospectus Summary....................     3
Risk Factors..........................    12
Use of Proceeds.......................    23
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
  Information.........................    24
Capitalization........................    29
Selected Consolidated Financial
  Data................................    31
Recent Developments...................    33
Management's Discussion And Analysis
  of Financial Condition And Results
  of Operations.......................    34
Industry and Economic Outlook.........    57
Business..............................    60
Management............................    84
Principal Shareholders................    95
Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions........................    96
Description of Notes We Are
  Offering............................   100
United States Taxation................   112
ERISA.................................   115
Validity of the Notes.................   115
Experts...............................   116
Available Information.................   116
Index to Consolidated Financial
  Statements..........................   F-1
Plan of Distribution..................   U-1
</TABLE>
 
                               ------------------
 
     Through and including           , 1999 (the 40th day after the date of this
prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or
not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus.
This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when
acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
                                                      [Alternate Back Cover Page
                                                   for Market-Making Prospectus]
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
                               THE GOLDMAN SACHS
                                  GROUP, INC.
 
                                % Notes due 200
 
                               ------------------
 
                              [GOLDMAN SACHS LOGO]
 
                               ------------------
 
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
            -------------------------------------------------------
 
            -------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   148
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated
other than the SEC registration fee and the NASD fees), other than underwriting
discounts and commissions, to be incurred in connection with the distribution of
the securities registered under this registration statement.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                AMOUNT
                                                              TO BE PAID
                                                              ----------
<S>                                                           <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.........   $278,000
NASD fees...................................................     30,500
Legal fees and expenses.....................................      *
Fees and expenses of qualification under state securities
  laws (including legal fees)...............................     10,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................      *
Printing and engraving fees.................................      *
Rating agency fees..........................................      *
Trustee's fees and expenses.................................      *
Miscellaneous...............................................      *
                                                               --------
     Total..................................................   $  *
                                                               ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* To be completed by amendment.
 
  ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and
individuals against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or
proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being
or having been a director, officer, employee of or agent to the registrant. The
statute provides that it is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking
indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Section 6.4 of the
registrant's By-Laws provides for indemnification by the registrant of any
director or officer (as such term is defined in the By-Laws) of the registrant,
or who is or was a director of any of its Subsidiaries, is or was a member of
the Shareholders' Committee acting pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement (as
defined in the prospectus included in this registration statement) or, at the
request of the registrant, is or was serving as a director or officer of, or in
any other capacity for, any other enterprise, to the fullest extent permitted by
law. The By-Laws also provide that the registrant shall advance expenses to a
director or officer and, if reimbursement of such expenses is demanded in
advance of the final disposition of the matter with respect to which such demand
is being made, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director
or officer to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that the director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the registrant. To the extent
authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors of the registrant, the
registrant may provide to any one or more employees of the registrant one or
more officers, employees and other agents of any subsidiary or one or more
directors, officers, employees and other agents of any other enterprise, rights
of indemnification and to receive payment or reimbursement of expenses,
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   149
 
including attorneys' fees, that are similar to the rights conferred in the
By-Laws of the registrant on directors and officers of the registrant or any
subsidiary or other enterprise. The By-Laws do not limit the power of the
registrant or its Board of Directors to provide other indemnification and
expense reimbursement rights to directors, officers, employees, agents and other
persons otherwise than pursuant to the By-Laws. The registrant intends to enter
into agreements with certain directors, officers and employees who are asked to
serve in specified capacities at subsidiaries and other entities.
 
     The registrant will enter into agreements to provide indemnification to its
directors and certain officers. These agreements are in addition to the
registrant's indemnification obligations under its By-Laws. These agreements,
among other things, will indemnify the registrant's directors and certain
officers to the fullest extent permitted by law for certain expenses (including
attorneys' fees) and all losses, claims, liabilities, judgments, fines and
settlement amounts incurred by such person arising out of or in connection with
such person's service as a director or officer of the registrant with respect to
the Incorporation Transactions (as defined in the prospectus included in this
registration statement) and the Common Stock Offering (as defined in the
prospectus included in the registration statement).
 
     Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a
corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of
the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for
payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. The registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides for such limitation of liability.
 
     Policies of insurance are maintained by the registrant under which its
directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the
limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in connection with the
defense of, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of,
actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties by reason of being or
having been such directors or officers.
 
     Reference is also made to Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement filed as
Exhibit 1.1 to the registration statement for information concerning the
Underwriters' obligation to indemnify the registrant and its officers and
directors in certain circumstances.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
     As part of the Incorporation Transactions, the registrant will enter into
definitive binding agreements to issue: (i) shares of the registrant's common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to certain profit
participating limited partners (the "PLPs") of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
("Group L.P.") in exchange for all of the PLPs' interests in Group L.P. and
certain other entities; (ii) shares of Common Stock and 12% junior subordinated
debentures (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") of the registrant to certain
retired limited partners (the "RLPs") of Group L.P. in exchange for all of such
limited partners' interests in Group L.P. and certain other entities; (iii)
shares of Common Stock and shares of the registrant's nonvoting common stock,
par value $.01 per share ("Nonvoting Common Stock") to Sumitomo Bank Capital
Markets, Inc. ("SBCM"); and (iv) shares of Common Stock to Kamehameha Activities
Association ("KAA"). Also simultaneously with the Common Stock Offering (as
defined in the prospectus included in this registration statement), the
registrant will make awards of restricted stock units and/or stock options to
substantially all of its employees and will make an irrevocable contribution of
Common Stock to a nonqualified defined contribution plan. The offering and sale
of the shares of Common Stock, Junior Subordinated Debentures and Nonvoting
Common Stock
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   150
 
to the PLPs, RLPs, SBCM and KAA will not be registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), because they will have been offered
and sold in transactions either exempt from registration under the Securities
Act pursuant to Section 4(2) and Rule 506 thereunder or outside the United
States to persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States in
reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act. The foregoing employee
awards and contribution of Common Stock will not be registered under the
Securities Act because the awards and contribution either will not involve an
offer or sale for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Securities Act or will be
offered and sold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities
Act pursuant to Section 4(2) and Rule 506 thereunder.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     (a) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<C>    <S>
  1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  2.1  Plan of Incorporation.*
  3.1  Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
       the registrant.*
  3.2  By-Laws of the registrant.*
  4.1  Form of Indenture between the registrant and
                      .
  4.2  Form of debt securities of the registrant (included in
       Exhibit 4.1).
  5.1  Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the registrant.*
 10.1  Lease, dated June 11, 1985, between Metropolitan Life
       Insurance Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.**
 10.2  Lease, dated April 5, 1994, between The Chase Manhattan Bank
       (National Association) and The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
       ("Group L.P."), as amended.**
 10.3  Lease, dated as of August 22, 1997, between Ten Hanover LLC
       and Group L.P.**
 10.4  Lease, dated as of July 16, 1998, between TCC Acquisition
       Corp. and Group L.P.**
 10.5  Agreement for Lease, dated April 2, 1998, among (i) JC No. 3
       (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square Management Limited
       trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii) Goldman Sachs
       International ("GSI"), (iii) Restamove Limited, (iv) Group
       L.P. and (v) Itochu Corporation.**
 10.6  Annexure 1 to Agreement for Lease, dated April 2, 1998,
       among (i) JC No. 3 (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square
       Management Limited trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii)
       GSI, (iii) Restamove Limited, (iv) Group L.P. and (v) Itochu
       Corporation (Form of Occupational Lease among (i) JC No. 3
       (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square Management Limited
       trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii) GSI and (iii)
       Group L.P.).**
 10.7  Agreement relating to Developer's Fit Out Works to be
       carried out at 120 Fleet Street, London, dated April 2,
       1998, among (i) JC No. 3 (UK) Limited and Fleet Street
       Square Management Limited, (ii) Goldman Sachs Property
       Management, (iii) Itochu Corporation and (iv) Group L.P.**
 10.8  Agreement relating to One Carter Lane, London EC4, dated
       March 25, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees Limited, GSI,
       Group L.P., English Property Corporation plc and MEPC plc.**
 10.9  Fit Out Works Agreement relating to One Carter Lane, London
       EC4, dated March 25, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees
       Limited, GSI, Goldman Sachs Property Management, Group L.P.,
       English Property Corporation plc and MEPC plc.**
10.10  Underlease of premises known as One Carter Lane, London EC4,
       dated September 9, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees Limited,
       GSI and Group L.P.**
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   151
<TABLE>
<C>    <S>
10.11  Lease, dated March 5, 1994, among Shine Hill Development
       Limited, Shine Belt Limited, Fair Page Limited, Panhy
       Limited, Maple Court Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia)
       Finance, as amended.**
10.12  Guarantee, dated November 17, 1993, between Shine Hill
       Development Limited and Group L.P.**
10.13  Agreement for Lease, dated November 29, 1998, between Turbo
       Top Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia) Finance.**
10.14  Summary of Tokyo Leases.*
10.15  The Goldman Sachs 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.*
10.16  The Goldman Sachs Defined Contribution Plan.*
10.17  Trust Agreement.*
10.18  The Goldman Sachs Partner Compensation Plan.*
10.19  Form of Employment Agreement.*
10.20  Form of Agreement Relating to Noncompetition and Other
       Covenants.*
10.21  Form of Pledge Agreement.*
10.22  Award Agreement (Formula RSUs).*
10.23  Award Agreement (Discretionary RSUs).*
10.24  Form of Option Agreement (Discretionary Options).*
10.25  Form of Tax Indemnification Agreement, dated as of
                 , 1999, by and among GS Inc. and various parties.*
10.26  Shareholders' Agreement, dated as of           , 1999, among
       GS Inc. and various parties.*
10.27  Instrument of Indemnification.*
10.28  Form of Indemnification Agreement.*
 12.1  Statement re computation of ratios of earnings to fixed
       charges.
 21.1  List of subsidiaries of Group L.P.**
 23.1  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 23.2  Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the registrant
       (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).*
 23.3  Consent of Securities Data Company.
 24.1  Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
 25.1  Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.*
 27.1  Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 *  To be filed by amendment.
 
**  Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the
    registrant's registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-74449).
 
     (B) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     Condensed financial information of Group L.P. and report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP thereon.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   152
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;
 
             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the registration statement; and
 
             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
        or any material change to such information in the registration
        statement.
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     (B) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
     this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
     form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
     registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
     be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
     offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
     deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     (C) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the
registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   153
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York on the
29th day of March, 1999.
 
                                          THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/   DAVID A. VINIAR
                                            ------------------------------------
                                          Name: David A. Viniar
                                          Title:  Chief Financial Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints John A. Thain, Robert J. Katz, Gregory K.
Palm and David A. Viniar and each of them severally, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact with power of substitution and resubstitution to sign in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any and all things and
execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or
advisable under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), and any
rules, regulations and requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of the debt securities of the registrant, including specifically,
but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to
sign his name in his respective capacity as a member of the Board of Directors
or officer of the registrant, this registration statement and/or such other form
or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission as any of them
may deem appropriate in respect of the debt securities of the registrant, to any
and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) to this
registration statement, to any related Rule 462(b) registration statement and to
any other documents filed with the Commission, as fully for all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, and his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on March 29, 1999:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        TITLE                                              SIGNATURE
                        -----                                              ---------
<S>                                                      <C>
 
Director and Co-Chairman of the Board
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                         Jon S. Corzine
 
Director, Co-Chairman of the Board and
  Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)                                    /s/ HENRY M. PAULSON, JR.
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                     Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
 
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   154
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        TITLE                                              SIGNATURE
                        -----                                              ---------
<S>                                                      <C>
Director and Vice Chairman                                            /s/ ROBERT J. HURST
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                        Robert J. Hurst
 
Director, President and Chief Operating Officer                        /s/ JOHN A. THAIN
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                         John A. Thain
 
Director, President and Chief Operating Officer                       /s/ JOHN L. THORNTON
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                        John L. Thornton
 
Director                                                              /s/ JOHN L. WEINBERG
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                        John L. Weinberg
 
Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)                                       /s/ DAVID A. VINIAR
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                        David A. Viniar
 
Principal Accounting Officer                                           /s/ SARAH G. SMITH
                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                         Sarah G. Smith
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   155
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Partners,
The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.:
 
In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements of The
Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. and Subsidiaries as of November 27, 1998 and November
28, 1997, and the three fiscal years in the period ended November 27, 1998,
which financial statements are included on pages F-3 to F-23 of this Form S-1,
we have also audited the financial statement schedule listed in Item 16(b)
herein.
 
In our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to
the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information required to be included therein.
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
New York, New York
January 22, 1999.
 
                                       S-1
<PAGE>   156
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE IV
 
                 CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
             CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              -----------------------------
                                                               1996       1997       1998
                                                               ----       ----       ----
                                                                      (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
REVENUES:
Equity earnings of subsidiaries.............................  $ 2,184    $ 2,378    $ 1,780
Principal investments.......................................      208        339        540
Interest income, principally from affiliates................    2,602      2,943      4,369
                                                              -------    -------    -------
     Total revenues.........................................    4,994      5,660      6,689
Interest expense, principally on short-term funding.........    2,547      2,858      4,201
                                                              -------    -------    -------
     Revenues, net of interest expense......................    2,447      2,802      2,488
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Compensation and benefits...................................       13         12          9
Other.......................................................       33         29         43
                                                              -------    -------    -------
     Total operating expenses...............................       46         41         52
Pre-tax earnings............................................    2,401      2,761      2,436
Provision for unincorporated business taxes.................        2         15          8
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Net earnings................................................  $ 2,399    $ 2,746    $ 2,428
                                                              =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                  See note to condensed financial statements.
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   157
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE IV
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
 
       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                AS OF NOVEMBER
                                                              ------------------
                                                               1997       1998
                                                               ----       ----
                                                                (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $     4    $    11
Financial instruments owned, at fair value..................    1,896      2,147
Receivables from affiliates.................................   23,767     33,562
Subordinated loan receivables from affiliates...............    6,889      8,668
Investment in subsidiaries..................................    5,005      5,077
Other.......................................................      434      1,123
                                                              -------    -------
                                                              $37,995    $50,588
                                                              =======    =======
LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH:
Short-term borrowings, including commercial paper...........  $16,597    $23,364
Payables to affiliates......................................      119      1,679
Other.......................................................      137        147
Long-term borrowings:
  With third parties........................................   14,290     18,584
  With affiliates...........................................      315        430
                                                              -------    -------
                                                               31,458     44,204
Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential
  withdrawals...............................................      430         74
Partners' capital...........................................    6,107      6,310
                                                              -------    -------
                                                              $37,995    $50,588
                                                              =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                  See note to condensed financial statements.
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   158
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE IV
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
 
            CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                                              -----------------------------
                                                               1996       1997       1998
                                                               ----       ----       ----
                                                                      (in millions)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net earnings..............................................  $ 2,399    $ 2,746    $ 2,428
  Non-cash items included in net earnings:
    Equity in earnings of subsidiaries......................   (2,184)    (2,378)    (1,780)
    Depreciation and amortization...........................       25         19         35
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
  Financial instruments owned, at fair value................     (110)      (395)        (8)
  Other, net................................................      (43)       (98)      (501)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
    Net cash provided by/(used for) operating activities....       87       (106)       174
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Financial instruments owned, at fair value................      126       (331)      (243)
  Receivables from affiliates, net..........................   (1,476)    (4,320)    (8,235)
  Subordinated loan receivables from affiliates.............     (480)    (1,528)    (1,779)
  Investment in subsidiaries................................    2,031      2,147      1,362
  Property, leasehold improvements and equipment............       (1)        (4)      (145)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
    Net cash provided by/(used for) investing activities....      200     (4,036)    (9,040)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Short-term borrowings, net................................      496         39      2,586
  Issuance of long-term borrowings..........................    4,636      7,498     10,289
  Repayment of long-term borrowings.........................   (3,886)    (1,005)    (1,698)
  Capital contributions.....................................        4         89          9
  Returns on capital and certain distributions to
    partners................................................     (473)      (557)      (619)
  Termination of the Profit Participation Plan..............       --         --        (21)
  Partners' capital allocated for income taxes and potential
    withdrawals, net........................................   (1,017)    (2,034)    (1,673)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
    Net cash (used for)/provided by financing activities....     (240)     4,030      8,873
                                                              -------    -------    -------
  Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......       47       (112)         7
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year................       69        116          4
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year......................  $   116    $     4    $    11
                                                              =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
 
Cash payments for interest approximated the related expense for each of the
fiscal periods presented. Payments of unincorporated business taxes were not
material.
 
Cash payments of $347 million related to the termination of the Profit
Participation Plans in 1998 were paid by Group L.P.'s subsidiaries and were
excluded from the condensed statement of cash flows above as these payments
represented non-cash items to Group L.P.
 
                  See note to condensed financial statements.
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   159
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE IV
 
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
 
          NOTE TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (PARENT COMPANY ONLY)
 
NOTE 1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     The condensed unconsolidated financial statements of The Goldman Sachs
Group, L.P. ("Group L.P.") should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. and Subsidiaries and the
footnotes thereto. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year
amounts to conform to the current presentation.
 
     Investment in subsidiaries is accounted for using the equity method.
 
     The condensed unconsolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that require management
to make estimates and assumptions regarding investment valuations, partner
retirements, the outcome of pending litigation and other matters that affect the
condensed unconsolidated financial statements and related disclosures. These
estimates and assumptions are based on judgment and available information and,
consequently, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   160
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                   NUMBERED
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION                               PAGE
- -------   ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<C>       <S>                                                           <C>
  1.1     Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  2.1     Plan of Incorporation.*
  3.1     Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
          the registrant.*
  3.2     By-Laws of the registrant.*
  4.1     Form of Indenture between the registrant and
                         .
  4.2     Form of debt securities of the registrant (included in
          Exhibit 4.1).
  5.1     Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the registrant.*
 10.1     Lease, dated June 11, 1985, between Metropolitan Life
          Insurance Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.**
 10.2     Lease, dated April 5, 1994, between The Chase Manhattan Bank
          (National Association) and The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
          ("Group L.P."), as amended.**
 10.3     Lease, dated as of August 22, 1997, between Ten Hanover LLC
          and Group L.P.**
 10.4     Lease, dated as of July 16, 1998, between TCC Acquisition
          Corp. and Group L.P.**
 10.5     Agreement for Lease, dated April 2, 1998, among (i) JC No. 3
          (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square Management Limited
          trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii) Goldman Sachs
          International ("GSI"), (iii) Restamove Limited, (iv) Group
          L.P. and (v) Itochu Corporation.**
 10.6     Annexure 1 to Agreement for Lease, dated April 2, 1998,
          among (i) JC No. 3 (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square
          Management Limited trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii)
          GSI, (iii) Restamove Limited, (iv) Group L.P. and (v) Itochu
          Corporation (Form of Occupational Lease among (i) JC No. 3
          (UK) Limited and Fleet Street Square Management Limited
          trading as Fleet Street Partnership, (ii) GSI and (iii)
          Group L.P.).**
 10.7     Agreement relating to Developer's Fit Out Works to be
          carried out at 120 Fleet Street, London, dated April 2,
          1998, among (i) JC No. 3 (UK) Limited and Fleet Street
          Square Management Limited, (ii) Goldman Sachs Property
          Management, (iii) Itochu Corporation and (iv) Group L.P.**
 10.8     Agreement relating to One Carter Lane, London EC4, dated
          March 25, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees Limited, GSI,
          Group L.P., English Property Corporation plc and MEPC plc.**
 10.9     Fit Out Works Agreement relating to One Carter Lane, London
          EC4, dated March 25, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees
          Limited, GSI, Goldman Sachs Property Management, Group L.P.,
          English Property Corporation plc and MEPC plc.**
 10.10    Underlease of premises known as One Carter Lane, London EC4,
          dated September 9, 1998, among Britel Fund Trustees Limited,
          GSI and Group L.P.**
 10.11    Lease, dated March 5, 1994, among Shine Hill Development
          Limited, Shine Belt Limited, Fair Page Limited, Panhy
          Limited, Maple Court Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia)
          Finance, as amended.**
 10.12    Guarantee, dated November 17, 1993, between Shine Hill
          Development Limited and Group L.P.**
 10.13    Agreement for Lease, dated November 29, 1998, between Turbo
          Top Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia) Finance.**
 10.14    Summary of Tokyo Leases.*
 10.15    The Goldman Sachs 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.*
 10.16    The Goldman Sachs Defined Contribution Plan.*
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   161
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT                                                                   NUMBERED
  NO.                             DESCRIPTION                               PAGE
- -------   ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<C>       <S>                                                           <C>
 10.17    Trust Agreement.*
 10.18    The Goldman Sachs Partner Compensation Plan.*
 10.19    Form of Employment Agreement.*
 10.20    Form of Agreement Relating to Noncompetition and Other
          Covenants.*
 10.21    Form of Pledge Agreement.*
 10.22    Award Agreement (Formula RSUs).*
 10.23    Award Agreement (Discretionary RSUs).*
 10.24    Form of Option Agreement (Discretionary Options).*
 10.25    Form of Tax Indemnification Agreement, dated as of
                      , 1999, by and among GS Inc. and various
          parties.*
 10.26    Shareholders' Agreement, dated as of             , 1999,
          among GS Inc. and various parties.*
 10.27    Instrument of Indemnification.*
 10.28    Form of Indemnification Agreement.*
 12.1     Statement re computation of ratios of earnings to fixed
          charges.
 21.1     List of subsidiaries of Group L.P.**
 23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 23.2     Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the registrant
          (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).*
 23.3     Consent of Securities Data Company.
 24.1     Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
 25.1     Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.*
 27.1     Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
*  To be filed by amendment.
 
** Incorporated herein by reference to the corresponding exhibit to the
   registrant's registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-74449).

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                                         Draft of March 29, 1999





                          The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

                                       TO

                                 Name of Trustee
                                                Trustee

                                  ------------
                                 

                                    INDENTURE

                          Dated as of ________, 1999


                                  ------------
<PAGE>   2
                         THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.

    CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318,
                 INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

TRUST INDENTURE
  ACT SECTION                                              INDENTURE SECTION
Section 310(a)(1) .......................................     609
     (a) (2)      .......................................     609
     (a) (3)      .......................................     Not Applicable
     (a) (4)      .......................................     Not Applicable
     (b)          .......................................     608
                                                              610
Section 311(a)    .......................................     613
     (b)          .......................................     613
Section 312(a)    .......................................     701
                                                              702
     (b)          .......................................     702
     (c)          .......................................     702
Section 313(a)    .......................................     703
     (b)          .......................................     703
     (c)          .......................................     703
     (d)          .......................................     703
Section 314(a)    .......................................     704
     (a) (4)      .......................................     101
                                                             1004
     (b)          .......................................     Not Applicable
     (c) (1)      .......................................     102
     (c) (2)      .......................................     102
     (c) (3)      .......................................     Not Applicable
     (d)          .......................................     Not Applicable
     (e)          .......................................     102
Section 315(a)    .......................................     601
     (b)          .......................................     602
     (c)          .......................................     601
     (d)          .......................................     601
     (e)          .......................................     514
Section 316(a)    .......................................     101
     (a) (1)(A)   .......................................     502
                                                              512
     (a) (1)(B)   .......................................     513
     (a) (2)      .......................................     Not Applicable
     (b)          .......................................     508
     (c)          .......................................     104
Section 317(a) (1).......................................     503
     (a) (2)      .......................................     504
     (b)          .......................................     1003
Section 318(a)    .......................................     107

- -------------------

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.

<PAGE>   3

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   ----------
                                                                            PAGE

PARTIES........................................................................1
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY........................................................1

                                           ARTICLE ONE

                                DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                                     OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions.......................................................1
                  Act      ....................................................2
                  Affiliate....................................................2
                  Applicable Procedures........................................2
                  Authenticating Agent.........................................2
                  Board of Directors...........................................2
                  Board Resolution.............................................2
                  Business Day.................................................2
                  Commission...................................................3
                  Company  ....................................................3
                  Company Request or Company Order.............................3
                  Corporate Trust Office.......................................3
                  corporation..................................................3
                  Covenant Defeasance..........................................3
                  Defaulted Interest...........................................3
                  Defeasance...................................................3
                  Depositary...................................................3
                  Event of Default.............................................3
                  Exchange Act.................................................3
                  Expiration Date..............................................3
                  Global Security..............................................4
                  GS&Co.   ....................................................4
                  Holder   ....................................................4
                  Indenture....................................................4
                  interest ....................................................4
                  Interest Payment Date........................................4
                  Investment Company Act.......................................4
                  Maturity ....................................................4
                  Notice of Default............................................4
                  Officers' Certificate........................................4
                  Opinion of Counsel...........................................4

- --------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
      of the Indenture.


<PAGE>   4

                                                                            PAGE



             Original Issue Discount Security..................................5
             Outstanding.......................................................5
             Paying Agent......................................................6
             Permitted Lien....................................................6
             Person   .........................................................6
             Place of Payment..................................................6
             Predecessor Security..............................................6
             Redemption Date...................................................6
             Redemption Price..................................................6
             Regular Record Date...............................................6
             Responsible Officer...............................................6
             Securities........................................................7
             Securities Act....................................................7
             Security Register and Security Registrar..........................7
             Special Record Date...............................................7
             Stated Maturity...................................................7
             Subsidiary........................................................7
             Trust Indenture Act...............................................7
             Trustee  .........................................................7
             U.S. Government Obligation........................................7
             Vice President....................................................7
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions..............................8
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee............................8
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.....................................9
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company............................11
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver........................................11
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act................................12
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.........................12
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns...........................................12
SECTION 110. Separability Clause..............................................12
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture............................................12
SECTION 112. Governing Law....................................................13
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays...................................................13

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms Generally..................................................13
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.........................................14
SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security......................................15


                                      -ii-


<PAGE>   5


                                                                            PAGE



SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.............................18
SECTION 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication..................19

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.............................19
SECTION 302. Denominations....................................................22
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating...................22
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.............................................23
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange..............24
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.................26
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved...................27
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners............................................28
SECTION 309. Cancellation.....................................................28
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest..........................................29

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture..........................29
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.......................................30

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                    REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default................................................30
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment...............32
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee..33
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.................................33
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities......34
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected...................................34
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits..............................................35
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
             Premium and Interest and to Convert..............................35
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies...............................36
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative...................................36
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.....................................36


                                      -iii-

<PAGE>   6
                                                                            PAGE



SECTION 512. Control by Holders...............................................36
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults..........................................37
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs............................................37
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws..........................37

                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                   THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities..............................38
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults...............................................38
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee........................................38
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities...........39
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities..............................................39
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust..............................................40
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement...................................40
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests............................................40
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility..........................40
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor................41
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor...........................42
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business......43
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company................44
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent..............................44

                                          ARTICLE SEVEN

                        HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders........46
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders...........46
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee...............................................46
SECTION 704. Reports by Company...............................................47

                                          ARTICLE EIGHT

                      CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.............47
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted............................................48



                                             -iv-


<PAGE>   7


                                                                            PAGE



                                          ARTICLE NINE

                                     SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders...............48
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders..................50
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.............................51
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures................................51
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act..............................51
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures...............51

                                  ARTICLE TEN

                                   COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest......................52
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.................................52
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust...............53
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.............................53
SECTION 1005. Restriction on Certain Liens....................................53
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.....................................54

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article........................................55
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee...........................55
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed...............55
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption............................................56
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.....................................57
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date...........................57
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.....................................58

                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                  SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article........................................58
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities...........58
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.......................59


                                       -v-
<PAGE>   8


                                                                            PAGE



                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                       DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance....59
SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge........................................60
SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance.............................................60
SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.................60
SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be
              Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.........................62
SECTION 1306. Reinstatement...................................................63


TESTIMONIUM...................................................................64
SIGNATURES AND SEALS..........................................................64
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..............................................................65



                                      -vi-
<PAGE>   9
         INDENTURE, dated as of ________ __, 1999, between The Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at
85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 and .............................., a
 ........................... duly organized and existing under the laws of
 ........, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").


                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

         The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

         All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

         NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

         For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as
follows:


                                   ARTICLE ONE

                        DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                             OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. Definitions.

         For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

                  (1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings
         assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the
         singular;

                  (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
         Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
         meanings assigned to them therein;

                  (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
         meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles;

                  (4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
         "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case
         may be, of this Indenture;
<PAGE>   10
                  (5) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
         words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to
         any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and

                  (6) when used with respect to any Security, the words
         "convert", "converted" and "conversion" are intended to refer to the
         right of the Holder or the Company to convert or exchange such Security
         into or for securities or other property in accordance with such terms,
         if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated
         by Section 301, and these words are not intended to refer to any right
         of the Holder or the Company to exchange such Security for other
         Securities of the same series and like tenor pursuant to Section 304,
         305, 306, 906 or 1107 or another similar provision of this Indenture,
         unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the
         terms of any Security that may be converted mean such terms as may be
         specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 301.

         "Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.

         "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.

         "Applicable Procedures" of a Depositary means, with respect to any
matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that
are applicable to such matter at such time.

         "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.

         "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company
or any duly authorized committee of that board.

         "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

         "Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law
or executive order to close; provided that, when used with respect to any
Security, "Business Day" may have


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   11
such other meaning, if any, as may be specified for such Security as
contemplated by Section 301.

      "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

      "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor Person.

      "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by any two of the following: a Chairman of the
Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
or any other officer or officers of the Company designated in writing by or
pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee
from time to time.

      "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee in
 ................................................................ at which at any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

      "corporation" means a corporation, association, company (including a
limited liability company), joint-stock company, business trust or other similar
entity.

      "Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

      "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.

      "Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

      "Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in
whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for
such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

      "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.

      "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

      "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   12
      "Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such
legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

      "GS&Co." means Goldman, Sachs & Co., a New York partnership, or any other
Person that is a Subsidiary and becomes the successor to GS&Co. as a result of a
merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of GS&Co.,
but only for as long as such other Person continues to be a Subsidiary and such
successor.

      "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.

      "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

      "interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security
which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable
after Maturity.

      "Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security, means the
Stated Maturity of an instalment of interest on such Security.

      "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

      "Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an instalment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

      "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 501(4).

      "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by any two of the
following: a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President, a
Vice President, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, a Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, or any other officer or officers of the Company
designated in a writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors
and delivered to the Trustee from time to time. One of the officers signing an
Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal
executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

      "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   13
      "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for
an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.


      "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date
of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture, except:

            (1) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to
      the Trustee for cancellation;

            (2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
      necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any
      Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated
      in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent)
      for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are
      to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
      this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been
      made;

            (3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to
      Section 1302; and

            (4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
      exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
      and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities
      in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
      satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser
      in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of
the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B)
if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a
Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as
contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated
in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which
shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent,
determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section
301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security
described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in
such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon
the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be
disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only
Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   14
shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

      "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.

      "Permitted Lien" means each such pledge, lien and other encumbrance as the
Board of Directors determines does not materially detract from or interfere with
the value or control, as of the date of such determination, of the Company's
voting or profit participating equity ownership interests in GS&Co. (or in any
Subsidiary that owns any such interests).

      "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.

      "Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any series
and subject to Section 1002, means the place or places where the principal of
and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as
specified as contemplated by Section 301.

      "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

      "Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

      "Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

      "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.

      "Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any
assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller
or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   15
to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.

      "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture
and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture.

      "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

      "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings
specified in Section 305.

      "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

      "Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any
instalment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in
such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
instalment of principal or interest is due and payable.

      "Subsidiary" means any Person a majority of the combined voting power of
the total outstanding ownership interests in which is, at the time of
determination, beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by the
Company or one or more other Subsidiaries. For this purpose, "voting power"
means power to vote in an ordinary election of directors (or, in the case of a
Person that is not a corporation, ordinarily to appoint or approve the
appointment of Persons holding similar positions), whether at all times or only
as long as no senior class of ownership interests has such voting power by
reason of any contingency.

      "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at
the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

      "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean
or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there
is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities
of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

      "U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

      "Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president".


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   16
SECTION 102.   Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

      Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.

      Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition
or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include,

         (1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
   opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
   relating thereto;

         (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
   investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
   certificate or opinion are based;

         (3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has
   made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
   express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
   has been complied with; and

         (4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
   such condition or covenant has been complied with.


SECTION 103.   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

      In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

      Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of, or representation by, counsel may
be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or
opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating
that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession
of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care
should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to
such matters are erroneous.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   17
      Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.

SECTION 104.   Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

      Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken
by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

      The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or
writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing,
or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

      The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

      Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the
same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in
reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such
Security.

      The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any
record date is set pursuant to


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   18
this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on
such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant
action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date;
provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or
prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in
this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new
record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set
pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall
automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect),
and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any
action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly
after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own
expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders
and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to
each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106.

      The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such
action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

      With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   19
such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its
right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th
day after the applicable record date.

      Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to
all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 105.   Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

      Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

         (1)  the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient
   for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to
   or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention:
   ................., or

         (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
   every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
   writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to
   it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of
   this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to
   the Trustee by the Company.


SECTION 106.   Notice to Holders; Waiver.

      Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is
given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice
in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be
the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with
the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity
of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

      In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason
of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then
such notification as shall


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   20
be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient
notification for every purpose hereunder.

      Where this Indenture provides for Notice of any event to a Holder of a
Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the
Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to its Applicable
Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the
earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

SECTION 107.   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

      If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of
the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.


SECTION 108.   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

      The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.


SECTION 109.   Successors and Assigns.

      All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind
its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.


SECTION 110.   Separability Clause.

      In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.


SECTION 111.   Benefits of Indenture.

      Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall
give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder
and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under this Indenture.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   21
SECTION 112.   Governing Law.

      This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the State of New York.


SECTION 113.   Legal Holidays.

      In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity
of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert his
Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities
(other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such
provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal
(and premium, if any), or conversion of such Security need not be made at such
Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business
Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the
Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Maturity, or on such date
for conversion, as the case may be.


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS


SECTION 201.   Forms Generally.

      The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth
in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to
a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each
case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities.

      The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of
such Securities.


                                      -13-
<PAGE>   22
SECTION 202.   Form of Face of Security.

      [Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations thereunder.]

                          The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.


No. .........                                                         $ ........

      The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to
 ..............................................., or registered assigns, the
principal sum of ...................................... Dollars on
 ........................................................ [if the Security is to
bear interest prior to Maturity, insert -- , and to pay interest thereon from
 ............. or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on ............ and
 ............ in each year, commencing ........., at the rate of ....% per annum,
until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable,
insert -- , provided that any principal and premium, and any such instalment of
interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ...% per annum (to
the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from
the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for
payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable,
and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ....... or
 ....... (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date
and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided
in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert -- The
principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of ....% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand.]


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   23
      Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert -- any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in ............, in such coin
or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the
option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register; and provided, further, that if this Security is a Global
Security, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the
Depositary as permitted in the Indenture.

      Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

      Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:


                                               The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.


                                               By:
                                               Name:
                                               Title:

Attest:

 .........................................


SECTION 203.   Form of Reverse of Security.

      This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of ________ __, 1999 (herein called the
"Indenture", which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and ..................., as Trustee (herein
called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   24
be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated
on the face hereof [if applicable, insert -- , limited in aggregate principal
amount to $...........].

      [If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice, at any
time [if applicable, insert -- on or after .........., 20..], as a whole or in
part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable,
insert -- on or before ..............., ...%, and if redeemeD] during the
12-month period beginning ............. of the years indicated,


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Redemption                                   Redemption
Year                   Price               Year                     Price
<S>                <C>                     <C>                  <C>

</TABLE>


and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption with accrued interest to the
Redemption Date, but interest instalments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior
to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or
one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the
relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]

      [If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert -- In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

      [If applicable, insert -- The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance
at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive
covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon
compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

      [If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -- If
an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due
and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

      [If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -- If an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to -- insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   25
payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in
each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]

      The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of all series to be affected (considered together as one
class for this purpose). The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting
the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time
Outstanding of all series to be affected under the Indenture (considered
together as one class for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all
Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be
affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered separately for
this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to
waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any
Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor
or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made
upon this Security.

      As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder
of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing
shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the
enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon
on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

      No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest
on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency,
herein prescribed.

      As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   26
Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in
any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security
are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly
executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of
authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

      The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of
this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities
of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

      No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

      Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

      All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


SECTION 204.   Form of Legend for Global Securities.

      Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the
Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A
SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE
REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   27
SECTION 205.   Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

      The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the
following form:

      This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.


                             ..........................................,
                                                              As Trustee


                             By.........................................
                                                      Authorized Officer


                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 THE SECURITIES


SECTION 301.   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

      The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

      The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of any series,

      (1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the
Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

      (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the
series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for
Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section
304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to
Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder);

      (3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be
payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest;

      (4) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the
series is payable;


                                      -19-
<PAGE>   28
      (5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue,
the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the
Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

      (6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

      (7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and
the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than
by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem
the Securities shall be evidenced;

      (8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any
Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or
at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the
price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities
of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to
such obligation;

      (9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof, the
denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

      (10) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

      (11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the
currency, currencies, composite currency, composite currencies or currency units
in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the
series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in
the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for
purposes of the definition of "Outstanding" in Section 101;

      (12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of
the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder
thereof, in one or more currencies, composite currencies or currency units other
than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the
currency, currencies, composite currency, composite currencies or currency units
in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to
which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the
terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so
payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

      (13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;


                                      -20-
<PAGE>   29
        (14) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the
principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose
thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be
due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in
any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount
shall be determined);

        (15) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or
both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which
any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

        (16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such
case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any
legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition
to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 204 and any circumstances in addition
to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section
305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in
part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the
Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

        (17) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to
any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the
requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due
and payable pursuant to Section 502;

        (18) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten
which applies to Securities of the series;

        (19) any provisions necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance,
payment or conversion  of any Securities of the series that may be converted
into securities or other property other than Securities of the same series and
of like tenor, whether in addition to, or in lieu of, any payment of principal
or other amount and whether at the option of the Company or otherwise; and

        (20) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by
Section 901(5)).

        All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except
as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the
Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or
determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate referred to
above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   30
        If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

SECTION 302.        Denominations.

        The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form
without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as
contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series
shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof.

SECTION 303.        Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

        The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by a Chairman
of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President of 
the Company (or any other officer of the Company designated in writing by or
pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee
from time to time), under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by a
Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company. The signature of any of these
officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

        Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

        At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the
form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301,
in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

        (1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   31
        (2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

        (3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

        Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.

        Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

        No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any
Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security
has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder
but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such
Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all
purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304.        Temporary Securities.

        Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they
are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   32
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

        If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause
definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.
After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary
Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of
such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without
charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive
Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor
and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of
any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

SECTION 305.        Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

        The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby
appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and
transfers of Securities as herein provided.

        Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series
at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount.

        At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged
for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to
be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.

        All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

        Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   33
by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

        No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

        If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that
series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of
redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

        The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only
to Global Securities:

        (1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or
a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or
custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single
Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

        (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it (i) is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii)
has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such
Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition
to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as
contemplated by Section 301. If the Company receives a notice of the kind
specified in Clause (A) above, it may designate a successor Depositary for such
Global Security within 60 days after receiving such notice. If the Company
designates a successor Depositary as aforesaid, such Global Security shall
promptly be exchanged in whole for one or more other Global Securities
registered in the name of the successor Depositary, whereupon such designated
successor shall be the Depositary for such successor Global Security or Global
Securities and the provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Section
shall continue to apply thereto.

        (3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for
other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in
exchange for a

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   34
Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in
such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

        (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or
otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a
Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person
other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

SECTION 306.        Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

        If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

        If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii)
such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and
any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security
of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding.

        In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

        Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

        Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu
of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

        The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   35
SECTION 307.        Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

        Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect
to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid
to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.

        Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

           (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
        to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
        respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
        business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
        Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company
        shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest
        proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the
        proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with
        the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to
        be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
        satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the
        proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
        benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
        Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date
        for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than
        15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed
        payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of
        the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify
        the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the
        expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of
        such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given
        to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in
        Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.
        Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
        Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted
        Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of
        such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered
        at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer
        be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

           (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
        Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent
        with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such
        Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by
        such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of
        the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment
        shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   36
        Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued
and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

        In the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record
Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than
any Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest
whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such
Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest
(whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the
Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case
of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the
date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the
provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply with such additions, changes
or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.

SECTION 308.        Persons Deemed Owners.

        Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security
for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and
(subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 309.        Cancellation.

        All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund
payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered
to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time
deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated
and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery
to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated
hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so
delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be
authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided
in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled
Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company
Order.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   37
SECTION 310.        Computation of Interest.

        Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.        Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

        This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect
(except as to any surviving rights of conversion, registration of transfer or
exchange of any Security expressly provided for herein or in the terms of such
Security), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

        (1)    either

           (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
        than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
        have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii)
        Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
        trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
        repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in
        Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

           (B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation

           (i) have become due and payable, or

           (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one
           year, or

           (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
           arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
           redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
           Company,

        and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited
        or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for
        the purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the
        entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
        Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to
        the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become
        due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the
        case may be;

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   38
        (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
    hereunder by the Company; and

        (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
    and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein
    provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
    have been complied with.


        Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

SECTION 402.        Application of Trust Money.

        Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust
and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All
moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any
Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted shall be
returned to the Company upon Company Request.

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                    REMEDIES

SECTION 501.        Events of Default.

        "Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of
any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

        (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
    series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for
    a period of 30 days; or

        (2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any
    Security of that series at its Maturity; or

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   39
        (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due
    by the terms of a Security of that series; or

        (4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
    of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a
    default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section
    specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this
    Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that
    series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days
    after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company
    by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least
    10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a
    written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
    remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

        (5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a
    decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case
    or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
    reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
    Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
    seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in
    respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or
    appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
    sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial
    part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its
    affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any
    such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
    consecutive days (provided that, if any Person becomes the successor to the
    Company pursuant to Article Eight and such Person is a corporation,
    partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the law of a
    jurisdiction outside the United States, each reference in this Clause 5 to
    an applicable Federal or State law of a particular kind shall be deemed to
    refer to such law or any applicable comparable law of such non-U.S.
    jurisdiction, for as long as such Person is the successor to the Company
    hereunder and is so organized and existing); or

        (6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
    under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
    or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a
    bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or
    order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or
    proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
    reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy
    or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a
    petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any
    applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such
    petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian,
    receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar
    official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the
    making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission
    by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become
    due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any
    such action (provided that, if any Person becomes the successor to the
    Company pursuant to Article Eight and such Person is a corporation,


                                      -31-
<PAGE>   40
    partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the law of a
    jurisdiction outside the United States, each reference in this Clause 6 to
    an applicable Federal or State law of a particular kind shall be deemed to
    refer to such law or any applicable comparable law of such non-U.S.
    jurisdiction, for as long as such Person is the successor to the Company
    hereunder and is so organized and existing); or

        (7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
    that series.

SECTION 502.        Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

        If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 501(5) or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that
series (or, in the case of any Security of that series which specifies an amount
to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such
amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable
immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given
by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified
amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to Securities of any series
at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of
that series (or, in the case of any Security of that series which specifies an
amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof,
such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and
without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any
Holder, become immediately due and payable.

        At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

        (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient
    to pay

           (A)      all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

           (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that
        series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of
        acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed
        therefor in such Securities,

           (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest
        upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such
        Securities, and

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   41
           (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
        reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
        Trustee, its agents and counsel;

    and

        (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
    other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
    which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been
    cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.

SECTION 503.        Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
                    Trustee.

        The Company covenants that if

        (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when
    such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a
    period of 30 days, or

        (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
    any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue
principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

        If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504.        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

        In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other
obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall
be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to
take any and all actions authorized under

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   42
the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee
allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized
to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on
any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver,
assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any
such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such
payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the
making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 607.

        No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan
of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.

SECTION 505.        Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

        All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disburse
ments and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has
been recovered.

SECTION 506.        Application of Money Collected.

        Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be
applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and,
in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium
or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the
payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

        FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
and

        SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal
    of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for
    the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without
    preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable
    on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   43
SECTION 507.        Limitation on Suits.

        No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless

        (1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
    continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

        (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
    Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the
    Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its
    own name as Trustee hereunder;

        (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
    indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
    compliance with such request;

        (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
    and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

        (5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
    to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
    principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision
of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of
such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any
other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such
Holders.

SECTION 508.        Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
    Premium and Interest and to Convert.

        Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any
Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive
payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), and, if the
terms of such Security so provide, to convert such Security in accordance with
its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if
applicable, any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   44
SECTION 509.        Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

        If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue
as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510.        Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

        Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee
or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and
in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511.        Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

        No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case
may be.

SECTION 512.        Control by Holders.

        The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series, provided that

        (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with
    this Indenture, and

        (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
    which is not inconsistent with such direction.

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   45
SECTION 513.        Waiver of Past Defaults.

        The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default

        (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any
    Security of such series, or

        (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
    Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
    Outstanding Security of such series affected.

        Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514.        Undertaking for Costs.

        In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against
any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust
Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act
shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make
such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or, if applicable, in
any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance
with its terms.

SECTION 515.        Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

        The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or
take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   46
                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                   THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.        Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

        The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder,
or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602.        Notice of Defaults.

        If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series,
the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such
default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided,
however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section
501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders
shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the
purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect
to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603.        Certain Rights of Trustee.

        Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

        (1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
    from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
    opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
    debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
    believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the
    proper party or parties;

        (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
    sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any
    resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a
    Board Resolution;

        (3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
    deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
    suffering or omitting any

                                      -38-
<PAGE>   47
    action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically
    prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an
    Officers' Certificate;

        (4) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such
    counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization
    and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
    hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

        (5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
    rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
    of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
    have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
    costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance
    with such request or direction;

        (6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
    facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
    instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
    bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
    document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry
    or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the
    Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it
    shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company,
    personally or by agent or attorney; and

        (7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
    perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
    attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
    negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by
    it hereunder.

SECTION 604.        Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

        The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605.        May Hold Securities.

        The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>   48
SECTION 606.        Money Held in Trust.

        Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no
liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise
agreed with the Company.

SECTION 607.        Compensation and Reimbursement.

        The Company agrees

        (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
    all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
    limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
    of an express trust);

        (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
    Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
    advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of
    this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
    disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
    disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
    faith; and

        (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
    loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its
    part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
    of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
    defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the
    exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

SECTION 608.        Conflicting Interests.

        If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a
conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with
respect to Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 609.        Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

        There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for
Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. If any such

                                      -40-
<PAGE>   49
Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to
the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act,
the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition
so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610.        Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

        No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of Section 611.

        The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one
or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.

        The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of
any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.

        If at any time:

        (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written
    request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
    Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

        (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall
    fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such
    Holder, or

        (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a
    bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall
    be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the
    Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
    conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

                                      -41-
<PAGE>   50
        If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect
to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of
such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal
or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance
with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or
the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least
six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition
any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series.

        The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 611.        Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

        In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect
to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument
accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any
further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the
Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of
its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money
held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

        In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring
Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more
series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each
successor Trustee shall accept such

                                      -42-
<PAGE>   51
appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or
desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all
the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to
the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with
respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in
the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of
this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall
constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from
any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon
the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided
therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of
the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those
series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

        Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the
first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

        No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of
such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article.

SECTION 612.        Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

        Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated,
but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger,
conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such
authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

                                      -43-
<PAGE>   52
SECTION 613.        Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

        If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or
any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).

SECTION 614.        Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

        The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial conversion or
partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so
authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be
valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee
hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication
and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of
authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and
delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate
of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.
Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all
times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized
under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and
surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination
by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the
combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating
Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
this Section.

        Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

        An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate
the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with

                                      -44-
<PAGE>   53
the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give
notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders
of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will
serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment
hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an
Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed
unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

        The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee
shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions
of Section 607.

        If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to
this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:

        This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                     ........................................,
                                                                    As Trustee

                                     By......................................,

                                                       As Authenticating Agent

                                     By.......................................

                                                            Authorized Officer


                                      -45-
<PAGE>   54
                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY


SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

      The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

      (1) semi-annually, not later than May 15 and November 15 in each year, a
   list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
   addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the immediately
   preceding May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, and

      (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30
   days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar
   form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such
   list is furnished;

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.


SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

      The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

      The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding
rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust
Indenture Act.

      Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with
the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any
agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of
information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act.


SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.

      The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee
and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

                                      -46-
<PAGE>   55

      Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than
12 months shall be transmitted no later than ............ in each calendar year,
commencing in ............

      A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.


SECTION 704. Reports by Company.

      The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit
to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries
thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and
in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information,
documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within
15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission.

                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE


SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

      The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with
or merge into the Company, unless:

      (1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
   Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
   as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into
   which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or
   transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company
   substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust,
   shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic or
   foreign jurisdiction and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental
   hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the
   Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and
   interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every
   covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or
   observed and, for each Security that by its terms provides for conversion,
   shall have provided for the right to convert such Security in accordance with
   its terms;

                                      -47-
<PAGE>   56

      (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any
   indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as
   a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such
   Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event
   which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
   Default, shall have happened and be continuing;

      (3) if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such
   conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company would
   become subject to a pledge, lien or other similar encumbrance which would not
   be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or such successor Person, as the
   case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to
   secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness
   secured thereby; and

      (4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and
   an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger,
   conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in
   connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with
   this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating
   to such transaction have been complied with.

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted.

      Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into,
any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and
assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section
801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company
is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed
to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the
Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person
had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a
lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants
under this Indenture and the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES


SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

      Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

                                      -48-
<PAGE>   57

      (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the
   assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
   in the Securities; or

      (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders
   of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the
   benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants
   are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to
   surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

      (3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders
   of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default
   are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that
   such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the
   benefit of such series); or

      (4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such
   extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
   Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal,
   and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance
   of Securities in uncertificated form; or

      (5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture
   in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such
   addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security
   of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture
   and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of
   the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall
   become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

      (6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Section
   801(3) or Section 1005 or otherwise; or

      (7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
   permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

      (8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by
   a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and
   to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
   necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
   hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section
   611; or

      (9) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture with
   respect to any Securities that by their terms may be converted into
   securities or other property other than Securities of the same series and of
   like tenor, in order to permit or facilitate the issuance, payment or
   conversion of such Securities; or

      (10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein
   which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to
   make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
   this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (9) shall
   not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series
   in any material respect.


                                      -49-
<PAGE>   58
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

      With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture
(considered together as one class for this purpose), by Act of said Holders
delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby,

      (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any instalment of
   principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount
   thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the
   redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original
   Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable
   upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to
   Section 502, or permit the Company to redeem any Security if, absent such
   supplemental indenture, the Company would not be permitted to do so, or
   change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any
   Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right
   to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
   Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
   Redemption Date), or

      (2) if any Security provides that the Holder may require the Company to
   repurchase or convert such Security, impair such Holder's right to require
   repurchase or conversion of such Security on the terms provided therein, or

      (3) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
   Securities of any one or more series (considered separately or together as
   one class, as applicable), the consent of whose Holders is required for any
   such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for
   any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
   certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
   Indenture, or

      (4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section
   1006, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other
   provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent
   of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided,
   however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any
   Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and
   concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1006, or the deletion of this
   proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8).

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more

                                      -50-
<PAGE>   59
particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of
Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision,
shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of
Securities of any other series.

      It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.


SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

      In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

      Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this
Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.


SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

      Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.


SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

      Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution
of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if
required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to
any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.



                                      -51-
<PAGE>   60
                                   ARTICLE TEN

                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

      The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.


SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

      The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities may be surrendered
for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect
of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company
will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change
in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail
to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the
Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and
demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and
the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

      The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or
surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such
designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency
in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The
Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation
or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or
agency.

      With respect to any Global Security, the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be
presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or
exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor,
provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery
effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global
Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such
Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, except as
otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section
301.


                                      -52-
<PAGE>   61
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

      If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect
to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a
sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due
until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act.

      Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series
of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any
premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit (or, if the
Company has deposited any trust funds with a trustee pursuant to Section
1304(1), cause such trustee to deposit) with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to
pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and
(unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the
Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

      The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in
respect of the Securities of that series.

      The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by
the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such
Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such
Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such
money.

      Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter,
as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof,
and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust
money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon
cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being
required to make any such repayment, may, at the expense of the Company, cause
to be published once, in 

                                      -53-
<PAGE>   62
a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that
such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which
shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed
balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.


SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.

      The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof
the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge.


SECTION 1005. Restriction on Certain Liens.

      The Company will not create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness
for borrowed money that is secured by a pledge, lien or other similar
encumbrance (except for Permitted Liens) on the Company's voting or profit
participating equity ownership interests in GS&Co. (or in any Subsidiary that
owns any such interests), unless the Company also secures the Securities equally
and ratably with (or, at the option of the Company, prior to) the indebtedness
secured thereby.


SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

      Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of a specific series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities
of any one or more series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any
term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to
Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series
or in Article Eight or Section 1005 if, before the time for such compliance, the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all
series affected by such waiver (considered together as one class for this
purpose) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such
instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition,
but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition
except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become
effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>   63
                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES


SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.

      Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity
shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with
this Article.


SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

      The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at
the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series
(including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company
shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the
Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such
series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be
redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of
any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or
elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

      If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless
all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or
unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular
Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the
Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series
not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem
fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a
portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, provided that
the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an
authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized
denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series
and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only
a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected
not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the
Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called
for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>   64

      If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part
before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the
Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so
far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have
been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated
by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

      The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and each Security Registrar
in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case
of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal
amount thereof to be redeemed.

      The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with
respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such
Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

      For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the
case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion
of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.


SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.

      Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date,
to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the
Security Register.

      All notices of redemption shall state:

      (1) the Redemption Date,

      (2) the Redemption Price,

      (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting
   of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and,
   in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal
   amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all
   the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are
   to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be
   redeemed,

      (4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and
   payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
   interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

                                      -56-
<PAGE>   65
      (5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for
   payment of the Redemption Price,

      (6) for any Securities that by their terms may be converted, the terms of
   conversion, the date on which the right to convert the Security to be
   redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be
   surrendered for conversion, and

      (7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

      Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the
Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.


SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

      Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee
or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent,
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date
shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which
are to be redeemed on that date, other than any Securities called for redemption
on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

      If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited
with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for
the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of
such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the
last paragraph of Section 307 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the
Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be
discharged from such trust.

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

      Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to
be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall
be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, instalments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on
or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the
close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the
provisions of Section 307.

                                      -57-
<PAGE>   66
      If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear
interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the
Security.


SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

      Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at
a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                  SINKING FUNDS


SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

      The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for
the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

      The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms
of any Securities is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment",
and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of
such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If
provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund
payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking
fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by
the terms of such Securities.


SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

      The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than
any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities
of a series which have been converted in accordance with their terms or which
have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms
of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund
payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction
of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with 

                                      -58-
<PAGE>   67
respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the
terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such
Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been
previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and
credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified
in the Securities so to be redeemed (or at such other prices as may be specified
for such Securities as contemplated in Section 301), for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall
be reduced accordingly.


SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

      Not less than 90 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to
the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the
Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying the
amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to
the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and
will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less
than 60 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall
select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the
manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to
be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided
in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such
Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections
1106 and 1107.

                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                       DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE


SECTION 1301. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

      The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302 or
Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to such
Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided
pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below
in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or
in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.


                                      -59-
<PAGE>   68
SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.

      Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with
respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called
"Defeasance"). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such
Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities
and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at
the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated
or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to
receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any
premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002
and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee
hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the
Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any
Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have
Section 1303 applied to such Securities.


SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance.

      Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1)
the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 801(3) and
Section 1005, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18), 901(2) or
901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence
of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to any of Section 801(3)
and Section 1005, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18),
901(2) or 901(7)) and 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of
Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this
Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are
satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose, such
Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent
so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any
reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other
document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be
unaffected thereby.


SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

      The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1302
or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may
be:

                                      -60-
<PAGE>   69
      (1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited
   with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements
   contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this
   Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making
   the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated
   solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an
   amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled
   payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their
   terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any
   payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case
   sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
   public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to
   the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee
   (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of
   and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated
   Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such
   Securities. As used herein, "U.S. Government Obligation" means (x) any
   security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for
   the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
   America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised
   by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America
   the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
   obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or
   (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and
   (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of
   the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government
   Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for
   the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any
   specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government
   Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required
   by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the
   amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount
   received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the
   specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary
   receipt.

      (2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any
   Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
   have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the
   Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
   Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has
   been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or
   (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that,
   the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal
   income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to
   be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal
   income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as
   would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to
   occur.

      (3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any
   Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
   have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
   Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income
   tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant 

                                      -61-
<PAGE>   70
   Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject
   to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same
   times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not
   to occur.

      (4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
   Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other
   Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange,
   will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

      (5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
   become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other
   Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit
   or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and (6), at
   any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being
   understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such
   90th day).

      (6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to
   have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act
   (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

      (7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or
   violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or
   instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

      (8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust
   arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the
   meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered
   under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

      (9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
   Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
   precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been
   complied with.

SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be
   Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

      Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money
and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with
the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and
Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to
collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any
Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with
the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal
and any premium and interest, but 

                                      -62-
<PAGE>   71
money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.

      The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for
the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

      Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with
respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm
of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then
be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as
the case may be, with respect to such Securities.


SECTION 1306. Reinstatement.

      If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in
accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any
order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining
or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or
released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such
Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply
all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities
in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes
any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security
following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment
from the money so held in trust.

                                  -----------------------------



                                      -63-
<PAGE>   72

      This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.

                                 By..............................

Attest:


 ......................................


                                 [NAME OF TRUSTEE]

                                 By..............................

Attest:


 ......................................



                                      -64-
<PAGE>   73
STATE OF NEW YORK  )
                   )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )


      On the .... day of ..........., ...., before me personally came
 ..........................., to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he is .................... of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
one of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing
instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to
said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of
the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto
by like authority.



                                                  ..............................


STATE OF NEW YORK  )
                   )  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )


      On the .... day of ..........., ...., before me personally came
 ..........................., to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did
depose and say that he is .................... of
 ................................., one of the corporations described in and
which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal;
that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said
corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.



                                                  ..............................



                                      -65-

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1
 
                 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER
                                        --------------------------------------------------
                                         1994      1995       1996       1997       1998
                                         ----      ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                         ($ IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                     <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 
Net earnings..........................  $  500    $ 1,348    $ 2,399    $ 2,746    $ 2,428
Add:
  Provision for taxes.................       8         20        207        268        493
  Portion of rents representative of
     an interest factor...............      27         29         28         29         35
  Interest expense on all
     indebtedness.....................   8,915      9,841     11,160     12,986     13,958
                                        ------    -------    -------    -------    -------
Earnings, as adjusted.................  $9,450    $11,238    $13,794    $16,029    $16,914
                                        ======    =======    =======    =======    =======
Fixed charges:
  Portion of rents representative of
     an interest factor...............  $   27    $    29    $    28    $    29    $    35
  Interest expense on all
     indebtedness.....................   8,915      9,841     11,160     12,986     13,958
                                        ------    -------    -------    -------    -------
Fixed charges.........................  $8,942    $ 9,870    $11,188    $13,015    $13,993
                                        ======    =======    =======    =======    =======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges....    1.06x      1.14x      1.23x      1.23x      1.21x
                                        ======    =======    =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                            ------------------------
 
We consent to the inclusion in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our reports dated January 22, 1999, on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements, selected historical
consolidated income statement and balance sheet data (other than adjusted
assets) and the financial statement schedule of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
and Subsidiaries. We also consent to the references to our firm under the
captions "Experts", "Summary Consolidated Financial Data", and "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data".
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
New York, New York
March 29, 1999.

<PAGE>   1


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3

                     



                            SECURITIES DATA COMPANY



We hereby consent to the use of the information we provided for use in the
Registration Statement relating to the offering of debt securities by The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and to the references to our name in the Registration
Statement, including under the caption "Experts".




Securities Data Company,
A division of Thomson Information Services 



/s/ Kenneth J. Seng
- --------------------
Kenneth J. Seng
Director, Account Management
& Client Training


March 26, 1999


<TABLE> <S> <C>



<ARTICLE> BD                                          <F1>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-27-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1997<F2>
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-27-1998
<CASH>                                          10,723<F3>
<RECEIVABLES>                                   19,274
<SECURITIES-RESALE>                             37,484
<SECURITIES-BORROWED>                           69,158
<INSTRUMENTS-OWNED>                             70,679
<PP&E>                                             956<F4>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 217,380
<SHORT-TERM>                                    27,430
<PAYABLES>                                      36,909
<REPOS-SOLD>                                    36,257
<SECURITIES-LOANED>                             21,117
<INSTRUMENTS-SOLD>                              55,895
<LONG-TERM>                                     19,906
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   210,996<F5>
<TRADING-REVENUE>                                2,015<F6>
<INTEREST-DIVIDENDS>                            15,010
<COMMISSIONS>                                    1,368<F7>
<INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES>                    3,368
<FEE-REVENUE>                                      717<F7>
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,958
<COMPENSATION>                                   3,838
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,921
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,921
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,428
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>The amounts disclosed in the financial data summary should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.
<F2>Represents the first Monday of the period.
<F3>Includes cash and cash equivalents and cash and securities segregated 
in compliance with U.S. federal and other regulations as disclosed on the 
consolidated statement of financial condition.
<F4>Included in other assets on the consolidated statement of financial condition.
<F5>Excludes partners' capital and partners' capital allocated for income taxes 
and potential withdrawals as disclosed on the consolidated statement of 
financial condition.
<F6>Includes revenues from principal investments, which mainly represents
revenues from investments in merchant banking funds.
<F7>Included in revenues from asset management and securities services on the
consolidated statement of earnings.
</FN>
        



</TABLE>


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