UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
LendingTree, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
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(Title of Class of Securities)
52602Q105
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(CUSIP Number)
May 24, 2001
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[_] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[_] Rule 13d-1(d)
Page 1 of 9 pages
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CUSIP No. 52602Q105 13G
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1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
New York
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5. Sole Voting Power
Number of 0
Shares ----------------------------------------------------------
6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
142,492
Owned by
----------------------------------------------------------
Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting 0
Person ----------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
With:
142,492
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9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
142,492
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10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
[_]
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11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
0.8%
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12. Type of Reporting Person
BD-PN-IA
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Page 2 of 9 pages
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CUSIP No. 52602Q105 13G
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1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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5. Sole Voting Power
Number of 1,281,881
Shares ----------------------------------------------------------
6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
142,492
Owned by
----------------------------------------------------------
Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting 1,281,881
Person ----------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
With:
142,492
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9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,424,373
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10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
[_]
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11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
7.6%
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12. Type of Reporting Person
HC-CO
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Page 3 of 9 pages
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CUSIP No. 52602Q105 13G
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1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person
Stone Street Fund 1999, L.P.
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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5. Sole Voting Power
Number of 0
Shares ----------------------------------------------------------
6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
142,429
Owned by
----------------------------------------------------------
Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting 0
Person ----------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
With:
142,429
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9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
142,429
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10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
[_]
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11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
0.8%
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12. Type of Reporting Person
PN
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Page 4 of 9 pages
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CUSIP No. 52602Q105 13G
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1. Name of Reporting Person
I.R.S. Identification No. of above Person
Stone Street 1999, L.L.C.
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a) [_]
(b) [_]
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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5. Sole Voting Power
Number of 0
Shares ----------------------------------------------------------
6. Shared Voting Power
Beneficially
142,429
Owned by
----------------------------------------------------------
Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power
Reporting 0
Person ----------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
With:
142,429
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9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
142,429
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10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
[_]
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11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
0.8%
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12. Type of Reporting Person
OO
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Page 5 of 9 pages
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
LendingTree, Inc.
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
11115 Rushmore Drive
Charlotte, NC 28277
Item 2(a). Name of Persons Filing:
Goldman, Sachs & Co., The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Stone
Street Fund 1999, L.P., and Stone Street 1999, L.L.C.
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
Goldman, Sachs & Co. - New York
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. - Delaware
Stone Street Fund 1999, L.P. - Delaware
Stone Street 1999, L.L.C. - Delaware
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
52602Q105
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or
13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a :
(a).[_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b).[_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c).[_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d).[_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
(e).[_] An investment adviser in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f).[_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g).[_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance
with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h).[_] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i).[_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j).[_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box [X].
Page 6 of 9 pages
Item 4. Ownership.(1)(2)
(a). Amount beneficially owned:
See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s).
(b). Percent of Class:
See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s).
(c). Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i). Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See the
response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s).
(ii). Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: See the
response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s).
(iii). Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of: See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached
cover page(s).
(iv). Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of: See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached
cover page(s).
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person.
Not Applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
Company.
See Exhibit (99.2)
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification.
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were
not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer
of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having that purpose or effect.
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(1) On March 7, 2001, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ("GS Group") and Stone
Street Fund 1999, L.P. ("Stone Street") entered into a voting agreement (the
"Voting Agreement") with the Issuer and certain other shareholders in the
Issuer. As a result of having entered into the Voting Agreement, and only for
such time as the Voting Agreement was in effect, GS Group, Stone Street and such
other shareholders may have been deemed to constitute a "group" within the
meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A copy of the
Voting Agreement was filed as an exhibit to a statement on Schedule 13D filed by
the reporting persons on March 30, 2001. The Voting Agreement terminated on May
24, 2001 and, as a result, any such deemed "group" terminated on that date.
(2) GS Group and Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs") each disclaim
beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by (i) any client
accounts with respect to which Goldman Sachs or employees of Goldman Sachs have
voting or investment discretion, or both and (ii) certain investment entities,
of which a subsidiary of GS Group or Goldman Sachs is the general partner,
managing general partner or other manager, to the extent interests in such
entities are held by persons other than GS Group, Goldman Sachs or their
affiliates.
Page 7 of 9 pages
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge
and belief, I certify that the information set forth in
this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: June 5, 2001
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
By:/s/ Roger S. Begelman By:/s/ Roger S. Begelman
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Roger S. Begelman Name: Roger S. Begelman
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
STONE STREET FUND 1999, L.P. STONE STREET 1999, L.L.C.
By:/s/ Roger S. Begelman By:/s/ Roger S. Begelman
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Name: Roger S. Begelman Name: Roger S. Begelman
Title: Attorney-in-fact Title: Attorney-in-fact
Page 8 of 9 pages
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Exhibit
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99.1 Joint Filing Agreement, dated June 5, 2001, between Goldman
Sachs & Co., The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Stone Street
Fund 1999, L.P., and Stone Street 1999, L.L.C.
99.2 Item 7 Information
99.3 Power of Attorney, dated December 8, 2000, relating to
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
99.4 Power of Attorney, dated December 8, 2000, relating to The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
99.5 Power of Attorney, dated December 16, 1999, relating to
Stone Street Fund 1999, L.P.
99.6 Power of Attorney, dated December 16, 1999, relating to
Stone Street 1999, L.L.C.
Page 9 of 9 pages