Goldman's July 2020 agreement with the Government of Malaysia settled their 1MDB dispute on terms of a US$2.5 billion payment and a US$1.4 billion asset recovery guarantee.

About: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Claim made by: Goldman Sachs, company statement
Published: 24 July 2020
Original: Goldman Sachs Announcement on Agreement with Government of Malaysia
Evidence score: 75 How it was scored
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026

Why this label

Goldman's July 2020 announcement set out an agreement in principle with a US$2.5 billion payment and a guarantee that Malaysia receives at least US$1.4 billion from 1MDB assets^S2. Goldman says it signed the settlement agreement on 18 August 2020^S4. That described the position in 2020. Goldman's June 2026 quarterly filing says it started arbitration against Malaysia in October 2023 over the recovery and crediting of assets. It says Malaysia demanded a final payment of about US$1 billion in August 2025 and that the arbitral process is ongoing^S5. A Bloomberg report carried by The Edge Singapore quotes both sides on the dispute^S3. The settlement can no longer be described as a closed matter between the parties.

Current procedural position

Settlement agreement signed 18 August 2020^S4. Arbitration started by Goldman in October 2023 and ongoing per its 10-Q filed 3 August 2026^S5. No award found as of October 2026.

Record supporting the assessment

The firm initiated arbitration against the Government of Malaysia in October 2023

^S5 Tier B The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Form 10-Q filed with the SEC), Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees, 3 August 2026

In August 2025, the Government of Malaysia made a demand

^S5 Tier B The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Form 10-Q filed with the SEC), Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees, 3 August 2026

We filed for arbitration against the Government of Malaysia for violating its obligations

^S3 Tier C The Edge Singapore (Bloomberg), Goldman sues Malaysia as 1MDB settlement dispute escalates, Date not shown on page

Conflicting or limiting record

a guarantee that the Government of Malaysia receives at least $1.4 billion in proceeds from assets related to 1MDB

^S2 Tier B Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs Announcement on Agreement with Government of Malaysia, 24 July 2020

Evidence score: 75 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

Component	Points	Max	Reason
Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition?	22	30	A company filing with the SEC states the dispute, with no tribunal record.
DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts?	17	20	The filing states the arbitration, the demand and the open process.
CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point?	10	15	A Bloomberg report quotes both parties on the same dispute.
Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes?	8	15	The change from settled to disputed is clear but the award is pending.
CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments?	9	10	Checked against the 10-Q filed 3 August 2026.
ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment?	9	10	The filing is on SEC EDGAR.
Total	75	100

Timeline

24 July 2020Goldman announces agreement in principle with Malaysia^S2
18 August 2020Settlement agreement signed, per Goldman^S4
October 2023Goldman starts arbitration against Malaysia^S5
August 2025Malaysia demands a final payment of about US$1 billion^S5

Related cases

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. v Government of MalaysiaArbitral tribunal (forum not named in Goldman's filing, reported by Bloomberg as a London arbitration court). Arbitration. Not published.Stage: Ongoing as of the 10-Q filed 3 August 2026^S5

Responses

Goldman Sachs, Date not shown on page: Goldman said Malaysia violated its obligations and that it seeks to credit assets against its guarantee.^S3

Revision history

25 October 2026 Assessment first published with label Outdated.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

S5Tier B Commitments, Contingencies and GuaranteesThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Form 10-Q filed with the SEC). Company filing. 3 August 2026.Note 18 of the same 10-Q. Supports the October 2023 arbitration, the August 2025 demand and Goldman's position. It does not name the arbitral forum.
S3Tier C Goldman sues Malaysia as 1MDB settlement dispute escalatesThe Edge Singapore (Bloomberg). Press report. Date not shown on page.Bloomberg copy quoting Goldman and the 1MDB Taskforce on the arbitration and the interim payment term. The page shows no date and no named reporter, and the arbitration is confirmed in Goldman's SEC filing.
S2Tier B Goldman Sachs Announcement on Agreement with Government of MalaysiaGoldman Sachs. Company statement. 24 July 2020.Company account of the July 2020 agreement in principle. It does not mention an interim payment term.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
S4Tier B Legal ProceedingsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Form 10-Q filed with the SEC). Company filing. 3 August 2026.Note 27 of the 10-Q for the quarter to 30 June 2026. Supports the 2020 settlement agreement date, the GS Malaysia sentence and the May 2024 dismissal. Company account only.

Other claims about The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Supported91
The US Department of Justice said in October 2020 that Goldman Sachs conspired to pay more than US$1.6 billion in bribes in connection with 1MDB bond deals.
Regulator statement, 22 October 20204 records citedBribery
Unresolved52
Malaysia's 1MDB Taskforce said Malaysia is entitled to a US$250 million interim payment from Goldman under the 2020 settlement.
Press report, Date not shown on page4 records citedCorporate status