Goldman Sachs Announces Consent Solicitations for 5.793% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal APEX of Goldman Sachs Capital II and Floating Rate Normal APEX of Goldman Sachs Capital III

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), the sponsor of Goldman Sachs Capital II and Goldman Sachs Capital III, each a statutory trust organized under Delaware law, today announced that it will solicit consents from holders of record at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 19, 2012, of Goldman Sachs Capital II's 5.793% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal APEX, liquidation amount $1,000 per security (CUSIP No. 381427AA1; NYSE: GS/PE), and Goldman Sachs Capital III's Floating Rate Normal APEX, liquidation amount $1,000 per security (CUSIP No. 38144QAA7; NYSE: GS/PF), to certain amendments to the related trust documents in order to provide greater flexibility in the remarketing of the junior subordinated notes of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. underlying the 5.793% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal APEX and the Floating Rate Normal APEX.

The consent solicitations will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 6, 2012, unless otherwise extended or terminated earlier. The Solicitation Agent for the consent solicitations is Goldman, Sachs & Co.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has filed preliminary consent solicitation statements on Schedule 14A in respect of the consent solicitations with the SEC. You may obtain these documents without charge on the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Alternatively, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will arrange to send you the consent solicitation materials if you request them by contacting the Solicitation Agent or the Information and Tabulation Agent at the respective telephone numbers listed below.

You can also access the consent solicitation materials by visiting www.gbsc-usa.com/Goldman.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.