GS offers 150% leveraged buffered S&P 500 notes
GS Finance Corp. is offering leveraged buffered S&P 500® index-linked notes that pay a cash amount at maturity tied to the S&P 500’s performance from the trade date to the determination date.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
GS Finance Corp. is offering leveraged buffered S&P 500® index-linked notes that pay a cash amount at maturity tied to the S&P 500’s performance from the trade date to the determination date. Each $1,000 face amount participates at a 150% upside rate, subject to a maximum settlement amount expected between $1,104.10 and $1,122.10. The notes include a 15% buffer (buffer level = 85% of the initial underlier level) that preserves principal if the final level is within the buffer; if the underlier falls below the buffer level the investor suffers a leveraged loss (the disclosure shows a 75.294% loss example when the final level is 21% of the initial level). The notes do not bear interest, are senior unsecured obligations of GS Finance Corp. and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Insights
Notes offer enhanced upside with a capped payoff and a defined downside buffer.
The product pairs a 150% upside participation with a 15% buffer, creating asymmetric exposure: limited capped gains (maximum settlement ~$1,104.10–$1,122.10 per $1,000 face) and leveraged downside below the buffer (buffer rate ~117.65%). The face amount used in examples is $1,000.
Valuation and secondary market pricing will reflect GS&Co.’s proprietary models, bid/ask spreads and issuer/guarantor credit spreads. Liquidity is not guaranteed; GS&Co. may make a market but is not obligated to do so.
U.S. federal tax treatment is uncertain; issuer counsel treats the notes as pre-paid derivatives.
Sidley Austin LLP opines the notes may be characterized as a pre-paid derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes; holders would likely recognize capital gain or loss on sale or maturity. This treatment is an opinion, not definitive authority.
FATCA withholding generally applies and the notes are currently determined not to be subject to section 871(m) dividend-equivalent withholding as of issue date; possible different IRS treatment could change timing/character of taxable income.
Key Figures
Key Terms
buffer rate financial
maximum settlement amount financial
pre-paid derivative contract regulatory
FATCA withholding regulatory
FAQ
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AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.


