Goldman's Rainbow Ipo

GOLDMAN SACHS HAS AGREED TO INCLUDE 17 MINORITY-OWNED AND THREE WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS among the 130-odd underwriters handling its historic initial public offering. Many of the 20 firms were included as underwriters, say sources close to Goldman, after talks with the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who has recently pushed for minorities to have a stronger presence on Wall Street.

Two of the firms, Muriel Siebert and the black-owned Utendahl Capital Partners, sit in the bracket just below such co-managers as Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns. Most of the others will participate at the mezzanine level, where 76 firms handle sales of shares to the public.