SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------------- FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2000 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. ----------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) DELAWARE NO. 001-14965 NO. 13-4019460 -------- ------------- -------------- (State or Other Jurisdic- (Commission (IRS Employer tion of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 85 BROAD STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004 ----- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 902-1000 -------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS. Goldman Sachs has become aware that a Dutch shareholders' association intends to initiate legal proceedings in the Netherlands courts based on alleged misstatements and omissions relating to the initial public offering of World Online in March 2000. Goldman Sachs and ABN AMRO Rothschild served as joint global coordinators of the offering, which raised approximately $2.9 billion. Goldman Sachs has not been informed of the amount of damages that may be sought. -2- SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. (Registrant) Date: May 4, 2000 By: /s/ DAVID A. VINIAR ----------------------------------- Name: David A. Viniar Title: Chief Financial Officer