Goldman Sachs 2015 Annual Report Download - page 188

THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Commercial Lending. The firm’s commercial lending
commitments are extended to investment-grade and non-
investment-grade corporate borrowers. Commitments to
investment-grade corporate borrowers are principally used
for operating liquidity and general corporate purposes. The
firm also extends lending commitments in connection with
contingent acquisition financing and other types of
corporate lending as well as commercial real estate
financing. Commitments that are extended for contingent
acquisition financing are often intended to be short-term in
nature, as borrowers often seek to replace them with other
funding sources.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) provides
the firm with credit loss protection on certain approved
loan commitments (primarily investment-grade commercial
lending commitments). The notional amount of such loan
commitments was $27.03 billion and $27.51 billion as of
December 2015 and December 2014, respectively. The
credit loss protection on loan commitments provided by
SMFG is generally limited to 95% of the first loss the firm
realizes on such commitments, up to a maximum of
approximately $950 million. In addition, subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions, upon the firm’s request,
SMFG will provide protection for 70% of additional losses
on such commitments, up to a maximum of $1.13 billion,
of which $768 million of protection had been provided as
of both December 2015 and December 2014. The firm also
uses other financial instruments to mitigate credit risks
related to certain commitments not covered by SMFG.
These instruments primarily include credit default swaps
that reference the same or similar underlying instrument or
entity, or credit default swaps that reference a market
index.
Warehouse Financing. The firm provides financing to
clients who warehouse financial assets. These arrangements
are secured by the warehoused assets, primarily consisting
of consumer and corporate loans.
Contingent and Forward Starting Resale and
Securities Borrowing Agreements/Forward Starting
Repurchase and Secured Lending Agreements
The firm enters into resale and securities borrowing
agreements and repurchase and secured lending agreements
that settle at a future date, generally within three business
days. The firm also enters into commitments to provide
contingent financing to its clients and counterparties
through resale agreements. The firm’s funding of these
commitments depends on the satisfaction of all contractual
conditions to the resale agreement and these commitments
can expire unused.
Letters of Credit
The firm has commitments under letters of credit issued by
various banks which the firm provides to counterparties in
lieu of securities or cash to satisfy various collateral and
margin deposit requirements.
Investment Commitments
The firm’s investment commitments of $6.05 billion and
$5.16 billion as of December 2015 and December 2014,
respectively, include commitments to invest in private
equity, real estate and other assets directly and through
funds that the firm raises and manages. Of these amounts,
$2.86 billion and $2.87 billion as of December 2015 and
December 2014, respectively, relate to commitments to
invest in funds managed by the firm. If these commitments
are called, they would be funded at market value on the
date of investment.
Leases
The firm has contractual obligations under long-term
noncancelable lease agreements for office space expiring on
various dates through 2069. Certain agreements are subject
to periodic escalation provisions for increases in real estate
taxes and other charges.
The table below presents future minimum rental payments,
net of minimum sublease rentals.
$ in millions
As of
December 2015
2016 $ 317
2017 313
2018 301
2019 258
2020 226
2021 - thereafter 1,160
Total $2,575
Rent charged to operating expense was $249 million for
2015, $309 million for 2014 and $324 million for 2013.
Operating leases include office space held in excess of
current requirements. Rent expense relating to space held
for growth is included in “Occupancy.” The firm records a
liability, based on the fair value of the remaining lease
rentals reduced by any potential or existing sublease
rentals, for leases where the firm has ceased using the space
and management has concluded that the firm will not
derive any future economic benefits. Costs to terminate a
lease before the end of its term are recognized and measured
at fair value on termination.
176 Goldman Sachs 2015 Form 10-K