Goldman Sachs 2015 Annual Report Download - page 134

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 3.
Significant Accounting Policies
The firm’s significant accounting policies include when and
how to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities,
accounting for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets,
and when to consolidate an entity. See Notes 5 through 8
for policies on fair value measurements, Note 13 for
policies on goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, and
below and Note 12 for policies on consolidation
accounting. All other significant accounting policies are
either described below or included in the following
footnotes:
Financial Instruments Owned, at Fair Value and
Financial Instruments Sold, But Not Yet Purchased,
at Fair Value Note 4
Fair Value Measurements Note 5
Cash Instruments Note 6
Derivatives and Hedging Activities Note 7
Fair Value Option Note 8
Loans Receivable Note 9
Collateralized Agreements and Financings Note 10
Securitization Activities Note 11
Variable Interest Entities Note 12
Other Assets, including Goodwill and
Identifiable Intangible Assets Note 13
Deposits Note 14
Short-Term Borrowings Note 15
Long-Term Borrowings Note 16
Other Liabilities and Accrued Expenses Note 17
Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees Note 18
Shareholders’ Equity Note 19
Regulation and Capital Adequacy Note 20
Earnings Per Common Share Note 21
Transactions with Affiliated Funds Note 22
Interest Income and Interest Expense Note 23
Income Taxes Note 24
Business Segments Note 25
Credit Concentrations Note 26
Legal Proceedings Note 27
Employee Benefit Plans Note 28
Employee Incentive Plans Note 29
Parent Company Note 30
Consolidation
The firm consolidates entities in which the firm has a
controlling financial interest. The firm determines whether
it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first
evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a
variable interest entity (VIE).
Voting Interest Entities. Voting interest entities are
entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is
sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities
independently and (ii) the equity holders have the power to
direct the activities of the entity that most significantly
impact its economic performance, the obligation to absorb
the losses of the entity and the right to receive the residual
returns of the entity. The usual condition for a controlling
financial interest in a voting interest entity is ownership of a
majority voting interest. If the firm has a majority voting
interest in a voting interest entity, the entity is consolidated.
Variable Interest Entities. A VIE is an entity that lacks
one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity.
The firm has a controlling financial interest in a VIE when
the firm has a variable interest or interests that provide it
with (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that
most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance
and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the
right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially
be significant to the VIE. See Note 12 for further
information about VIEs.
Equity-Method Investments. When the firm does not
have a controlling financial interest in an entity but can
exert significant influence over the entity’s operating and
financial policies, the investment is accounted for either
(i) under the equity method of accounting or (ii) at fair value
by electing the fair value option available under U.S. GAAP.
Significant influence generally exists when the firm owns
20% to 50% of the entity’s common stock or in-substance
common stock.
In general, the firm accounts for investments acquired after
the fair value option became available, at fair value. In
certain cases, the firm applies the equity method of
accounting to new investments that are strategic in nature
or closely related to the firm’s principal business activities,
when the firm has a significant degree of involvement in the
cash flows or operations of the investee or when cost-
benefit considerations are less significant. See Note 13 for
further information about equity-method investments.
122 Goldman Sachs 2015 Form 10-K