Goldman Sachs 2013 Annual Report Download - page 188

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Guarantees of Securities Issued by Trusts. The firm has
established trusts, including Goldman Sachs Capital I, the
APEX Trusts, the 2012 Trusts, and other entities for the
limited purpose of issuing securities to third parties, lending
the proceeds to the firm and entering into contractual
arrangements with the firm and third parties related to this
purpose. The firm does not consolidate these entities. See
Note 16 for further information about the transactions
involving Goldman Sachs Capital I, the APEX Trusts, and
the 2012 Trusts.
The firm effectively provides for the full and unconditional
guarantee of the securities issued by these entities. Timely
payment by the firm of amounts due to these entities under
the guarantee, borrowing, preferred stock and related
contractual arrangements will be sufficient to cover
payments due on the securities issued by these entities.
Management believes that it is unlikely that any
circumstances will occur, such as nonperformance on the
part of paying agents or other service providers, that would
make it necessary for the firm to make payments related to
these entities other than those required under the terms of
the guarantee, borrowing, preferred stock and related
contractual arrangements and in connection with certain
expenses incurred by these entities.
Indemnities and Guarantees of Service Providers. In
the ordinary course of business, the firm indemnifies and
guarantees certain service providers, such as clearing and
custody agents, trustees and administrators, against
specified potential losses in connection with their acting as
an agent of, or providing services to, the firm or
its affiliates.
The firm may also be liable to some clients for losses caused
by acts or omissions of third-party service providers,
including sub-custodians and third-party brokers. In
addition, the firm is a member of payment, clearing and
settlement networks as well as securities exchanges around
the world that may require the firm to meet the obligations
of such networks and exchanges in the event of
member defaults.
In connection with its prime brokerage and clearing
businesses, the firm agrees to clear and settle on behalf of its
clients the transactions entered into by them with other
brokerage firms. The firm’s obligations in respect of such
transactions are secured by the assets in the client’s account
as well as any proceeds received from the transactions
cleared and settled by the firm on behalf of the client. In
connection with joint venture investments, the firm may
issue loan guarantees under which it may be liable in the
event of fraud, misappropriation, environmental liabilities
and certain other matters involving the borrower.
The firm is unable to develop an estimate of the maximum
payout under these guarantees and indemnifications.
However, management believes that it is unlikely the firm
will have to make any material payments under these
arrangements, and no material liabilities related to these
guarantees and indemnifications have been recognized in
the consolidated statements of financial condition as of
December 2013 and December 2012.
Other Representations, Warranties and Indemnifications.
The firm provides representations and warranties to
counterparties in connection with a variety of commercial
transactions and occasionally indemnifies them against
potential losses caused by the breach of those representations
and warranties. The firm may also provide indemnifications
protecting against changes in or adverse application of certain
U.S. tax laws in connection with ordinary-course transactions
such as securities issuances, borrowings or derivatives.
In addition, the firm may provide indemnifications to some
counterparties to protect them in the event additional taxes
are owed or payments are withheld, due either to a change
in or an adverse application of certain non-U.S. tax laws.
These indemnifications generally are standard contractual
terms and are entered into in the ordinary course of
business. Generally, there are no stated or notional
amounts included in these indemnifications, and the
contingencies triggering the obligation to indemnify are not
expected to occur. The firm is unable to develop an estimate
of the maximum payout under these guarantees and
indemnifications. However, management believes that it is
unlikely the firm will have to make any material payments
under these arrangements, and no material liabilities related
to these arrangements have been recognized in the
consolidated statements of financial condition as of
December 2013 or December 2012.
186 Goldman Sachs 2013 Annual Report