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UNITED STATES

FORM 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

       For the quarterly period ended August 29, 2003

or

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

       For the transition period                                           to

Commission File Number: 001-14965

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

(212) 902-1000

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.          x     Yes     o     No

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).          x     Yes     o     No

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

      As of October 3, 2003 there were 473,467,335 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

FORM 10-Q

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PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1: Financial Statements (Unaudited)

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Cash payments for interest approximated the related expense for each of the fiscal periods presented.

Cash payments of income taxes, net of refunds, were $716 million and $1.01 billion during the nine months ended August 2003 and August 2002, respectively.

Noncash activities:

The value of common stock issued in connection with business combinations was $139 million and $47 million for the nine months ended August 2003 and August 2002, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Note 1. Description of Business

      The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Group Inc.), a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the firm), is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals.

      The firm’s activities are divided into three segments:

	•	Investment Banking. This segment comprises Financial Advisory and Underwriting;
	•	Trading and Principal Investments. This segment comprises Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC), Equities and Principal Investments (Principal Investments primarily represents net revenues from the firm’s merchant banking investments and the firm’s investment in the convertible preferred stock of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG)); and
	•	Asset Management and Securities Services. This segment comprises Asset Management, Securities Services and Commissions.

Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

     Basis of Presentation

      These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Group Inc. and all other entities in which the firm has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

      The usual condition for a controlling financial interest in an entity is ownership of a majority of the voting interest. Accordingly, the firm consolidates entities in which it has all, or a majority of, the voting interest. A controlling financial interest can also exist in entities whose activities are predetermined or significantly limited, or whose independent equity investors do not hold an equity investment with substantive risks and rewards. These types of entities were commonly referred to as special-purpose entities (SPEs) prior to the issuance of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” and are now known as variable interest entities (VIEs).

      The firm consolidates all SPEs it controls and those in which it holds a majority of the SPE’s substantive risks and rewards. The firm also consolidates all SPEs to which it has transferred assets unless independent investors have made a substantive majority equity investment in legal form or the transferred assets are financial instruments and the SPE is a qualifying SPE (QSPE) as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities.” The firm consolidates all VIEs created after January 31, 2003 where it is the primary beneficiary, generally defined as holding a majority of the expected losses or a majority of the expected residual returns. The firm’s financial interests in, and derivative transactions with, non-consolidated SPEs and VIEs are accounted for at fair value, in the same manner as other financial instruments. As of August 2003, the firm had no material additional financial commitments or guarantees in respect of these entities.

      When the firm does not have a controlling financial interest in an entity but exerts significant influence over the entity’s operating and financial policies (generally defined as owning a voting

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or economic interest of 20% to 50%), the firm accounts for its investment in accordance with the equity method of accounting as prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.”

      If the firm does not have a controlling financial interest in, or exert significant influence over, an entity, the firm accounts for its investment at fair value.

      The firm has also formed numerous non-consolidated private investment funds with third-party investors that are typically organized as limited partnerships. The firm acts as general partner and also holds limited partnership interests in the funds. The firm does not hold a majority of the economic interests in any of the funds. The firm’s investments in these funds are included in “Financial instruments owned, at fair value” in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of June 30, 2003 (the most recent investment fund reporting date), the funds’ total assets were approximately $13.10 billion.

      The firm’s principal U.S. and international subsidiaries include Goldman, Sachs & Co. (GS&Co.), J. Aron & Company and Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, L.P. (SLK) in New York, Goldman Sachs International (GSI) in London and Goldman Sachs (Japan) Ltd. (GSJL) in Tokyo.

      These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Group Inc. for the fiscal year ended November 29, 2002. The condensed consolidated financial information as of November 29, 2002 has been derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included herein. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation.

      These condensed 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, 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; consequently, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.

      These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Interim period operating results may not be indicative of the operating results for a full year.

      Unless otherwise stated herein, all references to August 2003 and August 2002 refer to the firm’s fiscal period ended or the dates, as the context requires, August 29, 2003 and August 30, 2002, respectively. All references to November 2002 refer to the firm’s fiscal year ended or the date, as the context requires, November 29, 2002.

      Investment Banking. Underwriting revenues and fees from mergers and acquisitions and other corporate finance advisory assignments are recorded when the services related to the underlying transaction are completed under the terms of the engagement. Expenses associated with such transactions are deferred until the related revenue is recognized or the engagement is otherwise concluded. Underwriting revenues are presented net of related expenses. Expenses associated with advisory transactions are recorded as non-compensation expenses, net of client reimbursements.

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      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 in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition at their contractual amounts plus accrued interest. These amounts are presented on a net-by-counterparty basis when the requirements of FIN No. 41, “Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements,” are satisfied. The firm takes possession of securities purchased under agreements to resell, monitors the market value of these securities on a daily basis and obtains additional collateral as appropriate.

      Securities borrowed and loaned are recorded 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 delivers or obtains additional collateral as appropriate. Income or expense on repurchase agreements and collateralized financing arrangements is recognized as interest over the life of the transaction.

      Financial Instruments. Gains and losses on financial instruments are recorded on a trade-date basis in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. The condensed consolidated statements of financial condition generally reflect purchases and sales of financial instruments on a trade-date basis.

      “Financial instruments owned, at fair value” and “Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value” in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition consist of financial instruments carried at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in the firm’s results of operations. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

      Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value, and the firm uses them when available. If quoted market prices in active markets are not available, management’s estimate of fair value is based on, if available, quoted prices or recent transactions in less active markets and/or prices of similar instruments.

      If prices are not readily available either through quoted market prices in active markets or alternative pricing sources, or if liquidating a position is reasonably expected to affect market prices, fair value is based on valuation models or management’s estimate, using the best information available, of amounts that could be realized under current market conditions, assuming an orderly liquidation over a reasonable period of time. The firm’s valuation models consider, among other inputs, contractual and market prices, yield curves, credit, volatility factors, prepayment rates and/or correlations of the underlying positions.

      The inputs used in the firm’s valuation models are based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available, or, if not, quoted market prices or recent transactions in less active markets, and prices of similar instruments. Where such information is not readily available, inputs are derived from other market data taking into account observable market movements that could reasonably be expected to affect the derived input. Different valuation models and assumptions could produce materially different estimates of fair value.

      In general, transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales under SFAS No. 140 when the firm has relinquished control over the transferred assets. For transfers accounted for

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as sales, any related gains or losses are recognized in net revenues. Transfers that are not accounted for as sales are accounted for as repurchase agreements and collateralized financing arrangements, with the related interest expense recognized in net revenues over the life of the transaction.

      Principal investments are initially carried at cost as an approximation of fair value. The carrying value of such investments is adjusted when changes in the underlying fair values are readily determinable. For public investments, values are determined using quoted market prices discounted for restrictions on sale. For private investments, adjustments to carrying value are made if there are third-party transactions evidencing a change in value. Downward adjustments are also made if management determines that the expected realizable value of the investment is less than the carrying value. In reaching that determination, management considers many factors including, but not limited to, the operating cash flows and financial performance of the companies or properties relative to budgets or projections, trends within sectors and/or regions, underlying business models, expected exit timing and strategy, and any specific rights or terms associated with the investment, such as conversion features and liquidation preferences.

      Principal Investments includes the firm’s investment in the convertible preferred stock of SMFG. The firm’s investment in SMFG is carried at fair value, which is derived from market data, such as SMFG’s common stock price and credit spreads, and which incorporates the impact of the transfer restrictions on the firm’s investment as well as downside protection on the conversion strike price.

      Asset Management. Asset management fees are generally recognized over the period that the related service is provided based upon average net asset values. In certain circumstances, the firm is entitled to receive incentive fees when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets. Incentive fees are generally based on investment performance over a twelve-month period and are not subject to adjustment once the measurement period ends. Accordingly, incentive fees are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings when the measurement period ends. Asset management fees and incentive fees are included in “Asset management and securities services” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

      Commissions. The firm generates commissions from executing and clearing client transactions on stock, options and futures markets worldwide. These commissions are recorded on a trade-date basis in “Asset management and securities services” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

      Merchant Banking Overrides. 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 funds’ 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 the condensed consolidated statements of earnings only when all material contingencies have been resolved. Overrides are included in “Asset management and securities services” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

      Basic earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Common shares outstanding includes common

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stock and restricted stock units for which no future service is required as a condition to the delivery of the underlying common stock. Diluted EPS includes the determinants of basic EPS and, in addition, reflects the dilutive effect of the common stock deliverable pursuant to stock options and to restricted stock units for which future service is required as a condition to the delivery of the underlying common stock.

      Effective for fiscal 2003, the firm began to account for stock-based employee compensation in accordance with the fair-value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure,” using the prospective adoption method. Under this method of adoption, compensation expense is recognized over the relevant service period based on the fair value of stock options and restricted stock units granted for fiscal 2003 and future years.

      Stock-based employee compensation, including stock options, for the three and nine months ended August 2002 was accounted for under the intrinsic value-based method as prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Therefore, no compensation expense was recognized for those stock options that had no intrinsic value on the date of grant.

      If the firm were to recognize compensation expense over the relevant service period under the fair-value method of SFAS No. 123 with respect to stock options granted for the year ended November 2002 and all prior years, net earnings would have decreased, resulting in pro forma net earnings and EPS as presented below:

      Assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S. currencies are translated at rates of exchange prevailing on the date of the condensed consolidated statement of financial condition, and revenues and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange for the fiscal period. Gains

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or losses on translation of the financial statements of a non-U.S. operation, when the functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar, are included, net of hedges, in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Hedge effectiveness is assessed based on changes in forward exchange rates; accordingly, forward points are reflected as a component of the currency translation adjustment in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Foreign currency remeasurement gains or losses on transactions in non-functional currencies are included in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

      In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” The statement specifies the accounting for certain employee termination benefits, contract termination costs and costs to consolidate facilities or relocate employees and is effective for exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

      In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies the accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. In addition, the statement clarifies when a contract is a derivative and when a derivative contains a financing component that warrants special reporting in the statement of cash flows. As required, the firm adopted SFAS No. 149 prospectively for contracts entered into or modified, and hedging relationships designated, after June 30, 2003. Adoption did not have a material effect on the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

      In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity, and imposes certain additional disclosure requirements. The provisions of SFAS No. 150 are generally effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. The firm must apply the provisions of SFAS No. 150 to all financial instruments at the beginning of the firm’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. Adoption will not have a material effect on the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

      In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” FIN No. 46 requires a company to consolidate a VIE if the company has variable interests that give it a majority of the expected losses or a majority of the expected residual returns of the entity. Prior to FIN No. 46, VIEs were commonly referred to as special-purpose entities (SPEs). As required, the firm adopted FIN No. 46 for VIEs created after January 31, 2003. The firm must apply FIN No. 46 to VIEs created before February 1, 2003 as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. Adoption will not have a material effect on the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

      In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-3, “Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.” EITF Issue No. 02-3 precludes mark-to-market accounting for energy-trading contracts that are not derivatives pursuant to SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The firm has adopted the provisions of EITF Issue No. 02-3 related to energy-trading contracts as of the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2003, and the effect of adoption was

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not material to the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. EITF Issue No. 02-3 also communicates the FASB staff’s view that the transaction price for a derivative contract is the best information available with which to estimate fair value at the inception of a contract when the estimate is not based on other observable market data. The application of the FASB staff’s view did not have a material effect on the firm’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 3. Financial Instruments

      The following table sets forth the firm’s financial instruments owned, including those pledged as collateral, at fair value, and financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value:

      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. The firm includes certain 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.

      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. Risk exposures are managed through diversification, by controlling position sizes and by 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. Gains and losses on derivatives used for

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trading purposes are generally included in “Trading and principal investments” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

      The firm also enters into derivative contracts to manage the interest rate, currency and equity-linked exposure on its long-term borrowings. These derivatives generally include interest rate futures contracts, interest rate swap agreements, currency swap agreements and equity-linked contracts, which are primarily utilized to convert a substantial portion of the firm’s long-term debt into U.S. dollar-based floating rate obligations. Certain interest rate swap contracts are designated as fair-value hedges. The gains or losses associated with the ineffective portion of these fair-value hedges are included in “Trading and principal investments” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings and were not material for the three and nine months ended August 2003 and August 2002.

      Derivative contracts are reported on a net-by-counterparty basis on the firm’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition when management believes a legal right of setoff exists under an enforceable netting agreement. The fair value of derivative financial instruments, computed in accordance with the firm’s netting policy, is set forth below:

      The firm securitizes commercial and residential mortgages and home equity loans, government and corporate bonds, and other types of financial assets. The firm acts as underwriter of the beneficial interests that are sold to investors. The firm derecognizes financial assets transferred in securitizations provided it has relinquished control over such assets. Transferred assets are accounted for at fair value prior to securitization. Underwriting net revenues are recognized in connection with the sales of the underlying beneficial interests to investors.

      The firm may retain interests in securitized financial assets, which it generally attempts to sell as quickly as possible, subject to prevailing market conditions. Retained interests are accounted for at fair value and are included in “Total financial instruments owned, at fair value” in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

      During the nine months ended August 2003 and August 2002, the firm securitized $78.71 billion and $101.35 billion, respectively, of financial assets, including $60.25 billion and $65.25 billion, respectively, of agency mortgage-backed securities. Cash flows received on retained interests and other securitization cash flows were approximately $787 million and $261 million for the nine months ended August 2003 and August 2002, respectively. As of August 2003, the firm held $5.61 billion of retained interests, including $2.67 billion of retained interests, for which the fair value is based on quoted market prices in active markets.

      The following table sets forth the weighted average key economic assumptions used in measuring the fair value of retained interests for which fair value is based on alternative pricing

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sources with reasonable, little or no price transparency and the sensitivity of those fair values to immediate adverse changes of 10% and 20% in those assumptions:

     The preceding table does not give effect to the offsetting benefit of other financial instruments that are held to hedge risks inherent in these retained interests. Changes in fair value based on a 10% adverse variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in assumptions to the change in fair value is not usually linear. In addition, the impact of a change in a particular assumption is calculated independently of changes in any other assumption. In practice, simultaneous changes in assumptions might magnify or counteract the sensitivities disclosed above.

     Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

      The firm, in the ordinary course of its business, utilizes VIEs such as trusts, limited partnerships and limited liability companies to securitize commercial and residential mortgages and home equity loans, government and corporate bonds, and other types of financial instruments. The firm holds variable interests in such entities in the form of senior and subordinated debt, preferred and common stock, interest rate, foreign currency and credit derivatives as well as residual interests in asset-backed securitization vehicles. The following table summarizes the firm’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its significant variable

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interests in consolidated and non-consolidated VIEs, excluding QSPEs, in accordance with FIN No. 46, and the total assets of such VIEs: