Goldman Sachs To Present At The Merrill Lynch 2004 Banking & Financial Services Investor Conference

NEW YORK, -- Friday, November 12, 2004 The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) today announces that Henry M. Paulson Jr., Chairman & CEO, is scheduled to make a presentation on the firm, the business environment and related matters, at the Merrill Lynch 2004 Banking & Financial Services Conference on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 8:00am (EST).

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of our Web site, www.gs.com/our_firm/investor_relations/.

Please direct any questions regarding obtaining access to the webcast to Goldman Sachs Investor Relations, via e-mail, at gs-investorrelations@gs.com

Goldman Sachs 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. Founded in 1869, it is one of the oldest and largest investment banking firms. The firm is headquartered inNew York and maintains offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.